Nexen N’Blue HD, South Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen’s European orientated eco-friendly tyre range, came third in the most recent Auto Express ‘Big Tyre Test 2012’. On two assessments (wet handling and curved aquaplaning), the Nexen N’Blue HD came second overall, with the overall result pleasing engineers and managers alike. It was the first time that Nexen Tire has participated in this test.
Manufacturers wanting to promote their high performance tyres gravitate towards motorsport sponsorship, but where do you turn to highlight the strength and durability of your tyres? Trelleborg may have found the answer; the Swedish tyre maker has announced its support of the ‘World’s Strongest Man’ contest, which will be held in Los Angeles, US from 24 September to 1 October.
The American Le Mans Series’ LMP2 prototype category has become something of a Dunlop specialism in recent seasons, the tyre supplier says. In 2011, Dunlop supplied winning vehicles’ tyres in both International and European Le Mans Series, as well as the Le Mans 24 hour race with Greaves Motorsport. This year, all but one of the teams in the American Le Mans Series, in addition to all the teams in the European series and the new FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMP2 category, have chosen to run on Dunlop tyres. In the latest round of the ALMS, Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker led a one-two finish for Level 5 Motorsports at the Baltimore Sports Car Challenge, the Dunlop-shod team’s second overall win in ALMS with the Honda Performance Development ARX-03b prototype.
Team Falken’s strong tyre performance and experience in last year’s victory allowed it to score a repeat performance at the Baltimore stage of the American Le Mans Series in the GT class. Having spent limited time on the track during practice, including some “light contact with the wall”, Team manager Derrick Walker chose Falken’s 2011 Baltimore tyres over the “new generation” tyres. “We relied on our track record at Baltimore, and the rest was indeed history,” stated Kevin Jones, Falken’s ALMS supervisor.
Riders competing in the 2013 Australian Superbike Championships will have the choice of racing on Pirelli, Michelin or Dunlop tyres as series organiser, International Entertainment Group (IEG), has decided to end the practice of using a control tyre for all but one competition class. IEG will also place a cap on the number of tyres that can be used and the price of tyres, a measure it says will ensure costs are kept to a minimum for all participants.
Federal Tires says it is honoured to have been given a 2012 Taiwan Excellence Award at a presentation held by the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs last month. The tyre maker says the accolade recognises its “success in building a strong reputation as a reliable tyre supplier of high quality products.”
Several Kama-branded tyres produced by the Tatneft-operated Nizhnekamsk Truck Tires Factory and Nizhnekamsk SSC Tire Factory have been voted the winners in the ‘industrial and technology products’ section of this year’s Republic of Tatarstan Best Goods and Services contest. The tyres in question are the Kama 430 in size 395/80R20, Kama NF701 in 11R22.5, Kama NR201 in size 275/70 R22.5 and Kama NF201 in size 275/70 R22.5.
With the ability to sideshift, clamp, rotate and tilt a tyre forward and backward, the latest version of the Cascade’s Tyre Handler is designed to make quick work of changing large OTR tyres commonly used in the mining industry. The Cascade Tyre Handler is designed to handle large tyres weighing up to 16 tons and measuring 4 metres in diameter.
The GB Taekwondo team has begun its final preparations for London 2012, and as the squad limbers up to kick its rivals into next week GB Taekwondo has announced a new partnership with Kumho Tyre UK, a company every bit as Korean as the sport its members practice.
A bit of healthy competition enhances performance, and with this in mind Bridgestone held its 2012 Equipment Maintenance Skills Competition on 12 July. A total of 57 Bridgestone employees from the company’s Japanese and overseas operations took part in the challenge, which was held at Bridgestone’s Global Manufacturing Education Center (G-MEC) building in Tokyo.
Pirelli has provided motorsport students from Myerscough College with competition tyres for the Ford Fiesta R2 rally car they are building as part of their course. Based in Lancashire, northwest England, Myerscough College boasts seven motorsport workshops and several competition cars for the continuing development and expansion of motorsport teaching. The college believes that hands-on experience is an important aspect of learning and therefore encourages students to take part in a wide range of motorsport events throughout the UK.
Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery has told Spanish newspaper El Confidencial that rumours suggesting the company is supplying tyres of inconsistent quality to Formula One teams have not led to any official complaints being made. Hembery was responding to a suggestion that there are “serious differences” between tyres of the same compound made by Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Grands Prix have been surprisingly open to competition in the 2012 season, with seven different winners in eight races, and while Hembery takes credit for the tyres adding to the excitement of the racing, it is also clear that some of the top teams’ feathers have been ruffled by the more competitive championship.
Pirelli’s rally tyres were tested by sodden conditions at Saturday’s rain-soaked RSAC Scottish Rally, round five of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship. Reigning British rally champions, David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae, charged to their fourth victory of the season at the wheel of a Pirelli KM6-equipped Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
The winners of a Pirelli online competition have completed an exclusive McLaren Formula One team factory tour in Woking, Surrey. Bill Massey and Sarah Cooper were announced as the winners of the competition run on the official Pirelli Facebook page last month. Both winners were allowed to bring one guest for a tour of the team’s headquarters.
Ever wanted to get behind the scenes at Le Mans? Only a limited number of people ever get that close in person, but Michelin is providing a rare glimpse into the action that goes into each 24 Hours of Le Mans race via video. Opening the garage doors, Michelin has produced an exclusive video that provides insight into what the Audi team experiences in the run up to, during and after the iconic race, which takes place over the weekend of the 16-17 June.
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