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Michelin Extends Corvette Fitment Portfolio

The Corvette has been ‘king of the hill’ in the American performance car word for more than half a century, and the latest incarnation of the fibreglass bodied Chevrolet comes with a range of engine options delivering up to 638hp. A car so well endowed in the motor department obviously needs a tyre up to the job, and Michelin now has a product for the entire model range. The manufacturer has announced that its Pilot Sport PS2 ZP (zero pressure), already supplied for the Corvette C5, C6, and ZR1 models, will as of August 1 become available on the Corvette C6 Z06. The addition of tyre sizes for the C6 Z06, says Michelin, completes the transformation of its UHP portfolio that began in December 2007 with Michelin’s very first original equipment fitment for the Corvette ZR1.

17th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Raybestos Taps Police Veteran as Brake Consultant

Retired cop Ronnie Faison has joined Raybestos as technical consultant and official spokesperson for the new Raybestos Police Braking System. Faison served for 35 years as equipment superintendent for the North Carolina Highway Patrol, managing one of the largest police fleets in the country, Raybestos said.

“The North Carolina Highway Patrol was involved in countless research and development tests with Raybestos product engineers at our driver training facility,” said Faison. “They are constantly striving to improve their product and that’s why Raybestos police brakes have always outperformed the competition, and why the new complete Police Braking System from Raybestos will perform unlike anything else in the fleet industry.”

In his new role, Faison’s responsibilities will include everything from product development and testing to public speaking engagements and appearing in Raybestos product spotlights and ads. (Tire Review/Akron)

14th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandvulc Celebrates Low Carbon and Efficiency Award from Motor Transport

On 1 July Bandvulc won the Low Carbon and Efficiency Award at the Motor Transport Awards in London. Bandvulc was up against stiff competition from companies such as Tesco, United Biscuits, John Lewis, DPD and A F Blakemores, but was judged to be winner by an independent panel of experts drawn from the industry. According to the company, these annual awards are the ‘Oscars’ of the Motor Transport Industry and recognise companies demonstrating innovation, outstanding service, efficiency and quality.

6th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Rally Tyres “Performing Brilliantly”: Tom Cave

Following a Rally Poland with large measures of success and frustration, young British World Rally Championship driver Tom Cave reserved special praise for his tyre supplier Yokohama, which uniquely provides the rubber for his Ford Fiesta: “The Yokohama tyres worked extremely well for us this weekend. We used the 195 section tyres and the outright grip was exactly what we needed. The tyres were also incredibly consistent and stood up to the conditions exceptionally well. We had no damage or puncture issues at all and they were very hard wearing as well as performing brilliantly.”

The 17 year-old from Aberdovey won 13 of the 15 stages he contested in his class (Group N3, up to 2000cc), but was denied the class victory when the cylinder head gasket on his Ford Fiesta rally car failed on Saturday, meaning he had to retire from the second day and incur time penalties before rejoining and finishing the event on Sunday. Though disappointed with the result, Cave expressed his delighted with the pace that he, co-driver Craig Parry, the team and the Yokohama tyres had demonstrated over the weekend. Commenting after the finish, he said; “While I’m obviously extremely disappointed that we didn’t get the result we hoped for up until the problem with the engine, we can definitely take a lot of positives from this event. Fastest stage time in class with the exception of one proper stage shows that our notes were working very well and the car was perfect, except for the engine problem. I think this was the weekend where everything seemed to come together – at the beginning and the end, at any rate!”

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Konig Wheels Support Largest Middle East’s Modified Car Competition

With modifiers bringing cars to the Barbican Turbo and the Top 100 in Abu Dhabi from as far as Oman and Qatar last year, this time round Konig Wheels wants to get in on the action. Hamid Moaref, manager of Konig Wheels & Accessories division, Varga Trading, in the Middle East stated: “We’ve been strong supporters of Barbican Turbo from day one – it’s important to have a show dedicated purely to customising vehicles in this region…It’s all about finding the most stylish ‘show cars’ in the region and this fits perfectly with the Konig Wheels brand as our motto is ‘style is king’”. All entries to the Top 100 will receive a 20 per cent discount voucher for Konig Wheels from the organisers.

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Claims NASCAR Tyre Wear Problems Resolved

The 2008 NASCAR season was not a good one for Goodyear. The US stock car series was plagued by excessive tyre wear, leading to the ‘competition caution’ flag frequently seeing light of day. The manufacturer now believes it has ironed out all of last year’s problems.

“When we left Indianapolis last year, there was one thing we were very clear about and that was that we were going to get it right,” said Greg Stucker, director of Race Tire Sales at Goodyear. “I want everybody to be just as clear today that we’re very confident we have done exactly that.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Opens Door to Earthmover Tyre Test Centre

Around 140 earthmover dealers converged upon the Spanish provincial capital Almeria in early June. And while the port city’s mild climate is perfect for year-round swimming and its architecture conveys a strong Moroccan flavour, the assembled party were not in town for a short sightseeing holiday – Almeria is also home to the Michelin Technology Center, the world’s largest facility devoted exclusively to the development of earthmover tyres. And awaiting the European dealer continent was an assortment of equipment ready for hands-on testing.

12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Driver Gordon Wins Baja 500

Victory in the 41st Baja 500 has gone to Toyo supported US driver Robby Gordon. Gordon, driving a Chevrolet truck fitted with Toyo 37 x 13.50 R17 Open Country M/T-R race tyres, covered the 700 kilometre Mexican race at an average of around 80 km/h, enough to give him wins in two of the season’s three races.

“I am really excited with the way that the Toyo tyres performed in the Baja 500,” commented Gordon. “We had zero flat tyres and very good management. With a tyre that performs like this, it is going to make it tough for the competition to beat us.”

11th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Exclusive Tyre Supplier to Volvo Video Game

Computer bound employees around the world have been blessed with the opportunity for a spot of workplace skiving (an activity the responsible and hard-working lads at T&A would, of course, never condone) courtesy of a new video game called “Volvo – The Game”. This timely coffee break tip has been passed on by Pirelli, who is present in the game as exclusive tyre provider.

The racing game has been developed by the Swedish company SimBin, a firm noted for its racing related titles. During the course of the action, users are offered the chance to drive a range Volvo cars, from the oldest to the new concept S60 unveiled at the previous Detroit Auto Show.

10th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Tyres on Top in Sidecar Manx TT

Riders choosing the Japanese tyre brand Yokohama have dominated timed practice for this year’s sidecar class of the world-famous Isle of Man TT races. Fastest in evening practice was last year’s double winner Nick Crowe, posting a time of 19min30sec to give an average lap speed of 116.03mph, just shy of the lap record. This year, 34 of the 47 runners and riders have chosen to use Yokohama tyres, which have experienced an unbroken run of 15 victories. Eight of the top ten riders are using Yokohama as well as customer service from dealer Express Tyres.

5th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MotoGP Competition “Tight” with Single Tyre Supplier

Previewing the fourth round of this year’s MotoGP championship, which takes place at Le Mans at the weekend, Hiroshi Yamada predicts that competition will continue to be fierce following the presence of three different riders at the top of the leaderboard after each of the first three Grand Prix weekends: “We’ve now had three races of this new season with Bridgestone supporting all riders and teams as the series’ Official Tyre Supplier, and in this time I am very pleased to have seen three championship leaders. Casey is only 11 points behind Valentino and Jorge and Dani are tied on points for third position, so we could see another change at the French Grand Prix.

“Valentino will want to win to keep himself on-track for his 100th victory in Mugello and Casey will want to make amends for last year’s race, but Jorge and Dani are also fast at Le Mans, Colin Edwards has performed well there in the past and after his excellent fourth position in Jerez, Randy de Puniet will carry a lot of confidence into his home grand prix so I think competition at the front will be tight. We had full wet race in 2007 and last year rain fell in the middle of the race, so I hope this year we will have another exciting battle but with dry conditions!”

12th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Briton Achieves First 125cc MotoGP Win on Dunlop Tyres

In his 50th Grand Prix, Bradley Smith shot to his first ever victory by a 13-second margin at the Gran Premio bwin.com de España on the 3rd May. This is the first time Britain has provided a winner in the category since Chas Mortimer won in Spain in 1973.

36 years down the line, Smith brought a win home for the UK, racing on his Birmingham-manufactured Dunlop tyres. Smith got away brilliantly, taking the holeshot and immediately building up a good lead at the front. By the midway point in the race the 18 year-old from Oxford had gained an 18 second advantage, riding a lonely race and eventually crossing the line 13 seconds ahead of the chasing pack for his maiden GP triumph.

Dunlop, which designs, develops and produces all of its racing tyres at its Fort Dunlop plant, was pleased with the victory: “It was great to see a British rider on British tyres win this race, especially as it is the first time a UK rider has seen a win in 36 years. Congratulations to Bradley Smith for winning with such finesse and passing the chequered flag 13 seconds ahead of the competition. When the Brit’s do it, they do it well!” said Pat Walsh, sales manager Motorcycle Race for Dunlop.

6th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Delivers a Le Mans 24 Hours One-Two Win

Following an eight-year absence, Michelin has marked its return to motorcyling’s Endurance World Championship with a one-two finish in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours on April 19. The French manufacturer came back to the series this year alongside Yamaha Austria Racing Team, winner of this weekend’s race in France, and with the factory Honda that finished on the second step of the podium.

The 32nd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours, notes Michelin, was marked by particularly taxing weather, including non-stop rain throughout the night from Saturday to Sunday. Paradoxically, it adds, it was these extremely slippery conditions that enabled the top two teams to pull clear of their rivals – and Michelin attributes this ability to its tyres, developed especially to provide all-important grip on cold, wet tracks.

21st April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Scottish Rally Championship 2009 Gets off to ‘Gripping Start’

Organisers of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship are celebrating a successful start to the season with registrations reportedly running well ahead of 2008. Despite the tough economic conditions and falling registrations elsewhere in the UK, the series continues to attract some of the country’s top rally teams. With two rounds now complete, the championship has already attracted over 200 registrations, almost 10 per cent up on the same time last year and calls to the organisers suggest this number could climb still higher as the series heads to Aberdeen for the Granite City Rally in April.

The series, which is sponsored by Hankook, is proving increasingly popular with junior drivers, and competitors outside Scotland who have been attracted by the package being offered by the SRC as well as to Scottish crews. Launched in Glasgow last year by Scottish rally legend Jimmy McRae, the series includes eight classic rallies from February to October, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Double Win for Dunlop Direzza

The winner of the Street Touring Ultra class at this year’s Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competition, held in California, may have appeared familiar. The man taking the honours at the event was none other than last year’s winner, Richard Jung. At both the 2008 and 2009 competitions Jung attained victory on Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tyres.

“There has been a lot of hype about new street tyres from some of Dunlop’s competitors for this type of competition, so it was satisfying to get a repeat victory as evidence that the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is still the tyre to beat,” said Jung. “Enthusiasts are getting the message that this Dunlop tyre is proven to be the fastest in competition. You can feel the difference when you push the Star Specs, which is an advantage, because it allows a more consistent feel and reduced the need for suspension adjustments between runs.”

7th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors