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TGI Opens Dominican Republic and Venezuela Offices

Tire Group International (TGI) recently opened new sales offices, expanding its Caribbean and South American operations. The first is located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and the other in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Heading these new sales office will be Esteban Martinez (Venezuela) and Guillermo Quintanilla (Dominican Republic). Mr. Martinez comes to TGI with over 25 years of experience in the tyre industry with particular expertise in the Agricultural, Off the Road, and Industrial segments, and Mr. Quintanilla was formally with Shell Oil Company and has extensive experience in the passenger and light truck segments.

19th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Honoured with Award for UK Recycling

In recent years the pendulum has begun to swing away from the ‘throw away’ mindset dominant in western cultures, with the need to become a more sustainable society an increasingly discussed topic. And tyre manufacturers have not stood aloof from such environmental issues – as part of its commitment to develop a sustainable community for the future, Goodyear Dunlop set in place a corporate directive to reduce its landfill waste to zero by December 2007. Not only has the company achieved this goal, as a result of the project’s success Severnside Recycling Company awarded Goodyear Dunlop its Personal Commitment to Recycling award.

12th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Avon ZV5 a First Glimpse at Cooper Tire’s European Know-How

Cooper Tire’s European Technical Centre in Melksham, opened a little over a year ago, has borne its first fruit – the all-new Avon Tyres ZV5 range. This new tyre, intended as a replacement for the ZV3, is aimed at the saloon car market and will be offered in numerous sizes to fit a range of vehicles as diverse as the VW Polo through to the Ford Mondeo and Audi A4.

The asymmetric tread pattern used on the ZV5 incorporates elements that emphasise handling in dry conditions, such as the broad open slots of the tyre’s shoulders, and in the wet, like the wide circumferential grooves intended to minimise the opportunity for aquaplaning. The tread blocks and siping have also been designed to slice through thin films of water, further enhancing braking performance. Steering response compared to that of the ZV3 has been sharpened through the addition of a stiffer lower sidewall layer.

10th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sinton Tyres Now Carries More Cooper Tyres Than Ever

Reportedly the largest independent stockist of the Cooper Tire range in the UK, Sinton Tyres representatives recently told Tyres & Accessories that the wholesaler has increased its Cooper offering still further, particularly on the items that are no longer available from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in Melksham. The move is said to have come as a result of Cooper’s change of strategy in relation to 4×4 tyres.

The result is that Sinton Tyres Limited, reportedly the first authorised key dealer wholesaler to import the Cooper Tire brand back in 1994, now carries a greater breadth of stock than ever before. In fact Cooper Tyres now represent over 95 per cent of the products carried and Ian Bowell, Sinton General Manager, and his team are on hand to give comprehensive advice on options to original equipment specifications wherever required. Delivery is next working day anywhere in mainland UK.

5th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Supports 4×4 Charity Event

Cooper Tire & Rubber Europe has announced that it is supporting one of the UK’s largest off-road charity events this year as 4×4 enthusiasts aim to raise more than £100,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The “Mac 4×4” takes place from 7-9 March and challenges off-roaders from around the UK to take on a 1000-mile trek across some of the country’s most challenging and breathtaking terrain. The 2007 event raised an incredible £108,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and this year, with the 60 entries filled within just 10 days, organisers are aiming to raise even more.

Carl Liversage, from Hampshire, and Nick Gage, from Surrey, opted to use Cooper’s Discoverer STT tyres for their Mitsubishi Pajero, thanks to the rubber’s reputation for tackling off-road courses with ease. Cooper will supply the rubber for free with Merityre, fitting them free of charge. “This event means a lot to people who take part, as they or someone they know has been affected by cancer,” said Liversage, who names his 4 x 4 “LePaj” and uses it as a family vehicle when not off-roading.

5th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Update: TGI Opens China Office

Tire Group International (TGI) has just opened a new office in Qingdao, China. Heading it will be Jing Dong Ling, formerly a quality and mixing engineer with Yellow Sea Tire. Mr. Ling brings over 10 years of experience and knowledge from the quality control side of the tyre building process and will be overseeing all of TGI’s private label production coming out of China (Cosmo, Luna and Industar).

“We are now building three private labels in China. The addition of Mr. Ling will ensure that TGI’s quality standards are being met and that our supply chain is being supervised directly at the source,” said Tony Gonzalez, Tire Group International Chief Executive Officer. “We expect this move will help us better serve our distributors throughout the world with more consistent quality.”

4th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Sees Full Year Sales, Profit Improvements

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. posted 2007 sales of US$2.9 billion, up 13.9 per cent versus 2006, while net income reached $120 million, up from 2006’s loss of $78 million. Cooper’s North American tyre operations contributed $2.2 billion in sales and $119 million in operating profit for the year. Profits for the unit were up $159 million from 2006, Cooper said, including a $26.5 million gain from the sale of its Oliver Rubber Co. business to Michelin North America.

3rd March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

KRT Supports Dealers’ Cooper Sales

As the wholesaler for Cooper 4×4/SUV tyre ranges, Kings Road Tyres offer retailers a nationwide delivery from their network of branches throughout the UK Having good stock levels of popular 4×4 sizes further enhances the strong levels of service KRT offer their customers.

According to Tim Bader, purchasing and marketing manager at KRT, Cooper Tyres offer a great profit opportunity for the independent tyre retailer and Kings Road Tyres ensures that its sales team supports retailers with strong product knowledge and efficient service, whilst maintaining competitive prices.

3rd March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire International Ops Up 29% in Record 4Q Results

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reported net income of $51 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, ended 31 December. Income from continuing operations increased $67 million from a loss of $28 million for the same period last year. The substantial earnings improvement was accompanied by a new record of $765 million in sales for the quarter, a 7 per cent increase over the same period last year. During the quarter, the Company reported a $26.5 million gain on the sale of the operations of the Oliver Rubber Company and explained that it received net cash proceeds of $66 million.

The Company’s International Tire Operations reported sales of $228 million in the quarter, an increase of 29 per cent compared with the fourth quarter of 2006. The segment’s operating profit improved by $8.6 million to $3.8 million from a fourth quarter loss of $4.8 million the previous year. This increase was said to have been driven by higher unit volumes and pricing. For the total year, operating profit for the segment improved to $29 million, a $19 million increase over the same period last year.

29th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Announces 144th Quarterly Dividend

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is to pay a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on common stock 31 March, 2008, to stockholders of record at the close of business 10 March, 2008. The payment represents the 144th consecutive quarterly dividend made by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.

28th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire Appoints General Manager, Mickey Thompson

A new general manager has been appointed to Cooper Tire & Rubber subsidiary Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. Steve Kersh, most recently based in Melksham as Cooper Tire’s director of European sales and marketing, will oversee all aspects of Mickey Thompson operations, including finance, human resources, sales and marketing, supply chain, information technology and business development.

Kersh joined the company in 1993 as a production supervisor, and has served as a management trainee at the Bowling Green, Ohio, hose plant; as international customer service coordinator; international sales trainee; territory manager, international sales; regional manager, international sales; and manager of international sales. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and a master’s in business administration from The University of Findlay, in Ohio.

26th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Promotes Thomas

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. promoted Kurt Thomas to director of North American supply chain, where he will oversee warehousing and logistics, operations planning and new technology/lean supply chain. Thomas had been director of operations for Cooper’s Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels unit. (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Brembo Range Arrives in the UK

Power and Performance Products (Triple P) has introduced the UK to a new two-piece brake disc set from renowned Italian specialists Brembo. Triple P is the exclusive importer for Brembo High Performance products in the UK, and the new Turismo range is aimed at some of the market’s best-performing road cars. Turismo is suitable for the Audi R8, BMW M5 and M6 (E63), Lamborghini Gallardo, Mini Cooper and Cooper S, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Nissan 350Z, Porsche 996/997 – C2S/C4S, and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

14th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Unleashes the Cobra

Industry observers agree that, looking forward to what will happen in 2008, recent developments in the motorcycle market reflect a changing demand in favour of sports touring tyres and modern cruisers. modern cruisers (see opening article for more detailed information on the development of the motorbike sector).

As far as tyres are concerned, this translates into increased call for wider and higher speed rated products. “As a market leader in cruiser cross-ply it is important for us to be up to speed in this segment, Avon motorcyle sales manager, Graham Matcham, told Tyres & Accessories. And that is exactly why Avon used this year’s Motorcycle Trade Expo as the NEC in Birmingham as a platform to launch its new Cobra cruiser tyre.

After having listened long and hard to what their cruiser, custom and touring customers demand from a tyre, Avon came up with a wishlist of tyre characteristics that the company has tried to incorporate in its new Cobra range. The Cobra replaces the popularVenom-R.

Featuring unique snakeskin sidewalls, aggressive tread pattern and low noise emissions, Avon representatives claim the Cobra “silently defeats all roads that stand in its path.” Avon’s development team wanted to improve manoeuvrability at both high and low speeds, dismissing the common belief that wide tyres are unable to corner proficiently. A taxing undertaking for a tyre that can be fitted on some stereotypically cumbersome machines.

In order to achieve their goal, manufacturing techniques first used in Avon’s successful sporty Viper range have been adapted and applied to Cobra. To improve handling in the much wider Cobra sizes, they are formed using A-VBD (Advanced-Variable Density Belt). This construction technology utilises a jointless belt of ultra-strong material. Above the carcass, these strands are wound closely together at the tyre’s centre for increased stability and wear resistance. Towards the tyre’s edges the fibres are then progressively spaced out to allow the tyre to take on a multi-compound effect as the tyre leans.

With a fang mark and coiling indentation appearance, Cobra’s snake-like tread pattern looks commanding. But this aggressive pattern is not just for show. Developed by Avon, Force Following Grooves (FFG) follow the exact direction of forces that are transferred through the tyre. These channels in the tyre’s surface significantly reduce irregular and advanced wear on bikes that carry heavy loads. Each Cobra rear tyre also features the distinctive snake’s head logo on the sidewall.

Stormy weather?

According to Avon motorcyle sales manager, Graham Matcham, 2007 was a very good year, with strong sales performance and the launch of new product, timed to coincide with the development of the sports touring segment. The strategy obviously worked and even competing manufacturers are now describing Avon as “the fastest growing brand in the sports touring segment.” And with the UK sports touring motorbike tyre segment now acounting for upwards of 35 per cent of the market (the largest single segment), this is a good place to be.

Last year Avon aimed to kick to kick up a storm, with the introduction of the its Storm ST touring tyre. But how did it all go, did Avon achieve its objectives? In short yes.

According to European sales figures, Storm sales grew 8 per cent across Europe during 2007. This alone was obviously a successful result, but it is fair to say that UK Storm sales performance blew away the European average, growing 12 per cent last year, 50 per cent ahead of the wider European result.

Avon describes the Storm-ST is its first tyre to include new ‘Reactive Footprint’ (RF) technology. RF technology marries Avon’s unique variable belt density (VBD) carcass with Lifetime Profile Engineering (LPE) and is designed to produce a footprint which changes size and shape, depending on the bike’s lean angle. Avon reports that the result is a contact patch that grows as the bike leans, giving more grip in corners whilst minimising wear rates when travelling in a straight line.

1st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Names Compensation Director

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has promoted Kathy Morgan to director of compensation and special projects. With Cooper since 1985, Morgan has worked in a number of accounting positions, including general accountant, plant cost accountant, managerial accountant, senior cost analyst and as manager of cost accounting. (Tire Review/Akron)

31st January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors