An agreement has been reached whereby Taiwanese tyre manufacturer Kenda will make passenger car radials for Cooper-Avon. Cooper says that a number of brand names will be manufactured, including Cooper and Avon, initially T-rated tyres and, again initially, for sale in Europe. The agreement frees up valuable capacity for high performance tyre production at Cooper-Avon’s Melksham plant, says Managing Director Ron Shield.
Following Michelin’s acquisition of several retreaders in the USA last year forced Bandag, the largest competitor in that market, to take over some erstwhile franchises, we are now hearing of successes for Goodyear’s retreading system, Treadco. The retreading business of Oliver (Oliver is part of the Cooper-Group) seems to be suffering significantly under the growing pressure.
Consumer demand for run-flat tyres is at an all-time high. In the U.S., for example, a recent study found that nearly seven out of eight consumers place run-flat tyres at the top of their list of features desired on new automobiles. Therefore it is expected that the demand for run-flats will increase within the next few years. This is one of the reasons why Pirelli has developed such a tyre on its own, regardless of the fact that the company is working together with Goodyear and Sumitomo on Michelin’s PAX system. But the launch of the new tyre – called “Eufori@” – was not the only premiere for Pirelli: this run-flat is also the first tyre manufactured using the Italians’ MIRS technology. In size 205/45 R17, the “Eufori@” is original equipment on the new Mini Cooper S, shown at the Tokyo Motorshow at the same time. The name of the tyre, which will of course also be available for the replacement market and in the additional size 225/45 R17, was chosen from more than 20,000 suggestions made during an internet campaign at the end of last year. “We expect that in three years run-flats will account for about 10 % of the high performance tyre market”, explains Francesco Gori, Senior Vice President Market Development Unit at Pirelli. “Other car manufacturers who are interested to use Eufori@ as original equipment are BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and VW/Audi”, adds Maurizio Boiocchi, responsible for research and development at Pirelli Reifenwerke. From remarks such as these, one gets the impression that run-flats will become standard equipment on cars much faster than did other features, such as ABS.
Within days of RubberNetwork.com receiving the all clear from the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt), Yokohama Rubber Co has joined Continental, Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Sumitomo and Cooper in the global electronic purchasing and procurement market. The RubberNetwork marketplace will be open to all tyre and rubber industry manufacturers and suppliers. The European launch of the market is scheduled for early July.
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company has filed tentative agreement to settle 32 lawsuits brought against the company in the past 10 months. This involves a five year plan offering free replacement tyres for all Cooper produced steel-belted radial tyres, made between 1985 and 2001, that suffered tread separations.
Cooper-Avon has introduced the Avanza AV9 range of tyres, designed for transit and express vans. The tyre is available in 15 sizes, R and T speed ratings and aspect ratios of 65, 70, 75 and 82.
Cooper Tire & Rubber has reported financial figures for the third quarter. Turnover was down 6 per cent compared with 3Q last year ($791 million against $844 million). Operating profit was $46 million (3Q 2000 – $60 m) and net income $14.4 m ($23.4 m). For the first nine months of this year, Cooper’s sales totalled $2.4 billion and net income was $36 million. These figures were down 7 per cent and 62 per cent respectively on figures for the same period last year. Cooper has embarked on a restructuring programme designed to save up to $30 million annually and $4 million was saved during the third quarter.
Cooper-Avon Tyres is to manufacture the Cooper Cobra VHP at its factory in Melksham. The tyre has been specially designed for European motoring and comes in H and V speed ratings, in 17 sizes and aspect ratios from 45 to 70 series. The Cobra VHP is the third Cooper brand tyre to be made at Melksham, joining the Sportmaster GLE and Discoverer Sport HP.
Each year the motorcycle exhibition in Dortmund attracts many visitors, even though Munich has established a bigger show (every other year) for two-wheel fans in the meantime. More than 400 exhibitors took part in the 17th show from 28 February to 4 March and around 1,000 motorbikes could be seen in Dortmund. And on the tyre side? Only Dunlop presented a new tyre: the tyre manufacturer says that the D208 GP (front tyre 120/70 ZR 17, rear tyre 180/55 ZR 17) was developed based on experiences in motorsport. But apart from this, no more information was available. Dunlop couldn’t even tell NEUE REIFENZEITUNG a date for the official launch of the new product in Germany. And at all other tyre manufacturers‘ stands – Bridgestone, Cooper-Avon, Metzeler/Pirelli, Michelin – one could only see exactly the same product range as presented at Intermot last autumn – very disappointing so far. The only excitement for this year’s motorbike season will arise from the question if Bridgestone will be able to pass Metzeler and can climb to number one of the German market for motorbike tyres.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company introduces its newest addition to its line of tyres – the Lifeliner Touring SLE (Sport Luxury Edition). The product offers optimized tread compound to balance wear and wet/winter traction. It is equipped with optimized bead contour, as well, for a more uniform fit to the rim and an improved ride quality. Offset shoulder slots bvreak up tire pitch harmonics, allowing for a more quiet ride. The Touring SLE is offered in three separate speed ratings: T, H and V.
Cooper Tire and Rubber has issued a warning about offers being made for company shares by TRC Capital Corporation. The company is trying to buy a small amount of Cooper stock at a price below market value. Investors assume the price offered is at a premium and accept, selling shares at below market value. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has been asked to review the offer for potential illegalities.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced the intention, as of June 30, 2001, to purchase certain manufacturing assets used in Hercules’ retread operation and will soon begin to supply retread products to customers formerly served by Hercules. This purchase will significantly increase sales in the Oliver Retreading Systems and Products unit, which is a part of Cooper’s new commercial division. Also included in this sale are certain assets of the Cedco equipment division, which will benefit Oliver’s Salisbury equipment operation. The final price is subject to certain valuations at closing but will not exceed $8.5 million.
Cooper-Avon has introduced another two new tyres to its range of products available in Europe. First of these is the Lifeliner Touring SLE (Sport Luxury Edition) and it is the first premium touring tyre from Cooper to be available in three speed ratings; T, H and V. The second product is the Discoverer M+S, which is a winter tyre made in Findlay Ohio, but designed for European roads. It features a number of pin holes for those countries where studded tyres are acceptable.
In 1997, Avon Tyres, a British-owned rubber goods and tyre manufacturer for over 120 years, was taken over by the American manufacturer Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. The subsequent three years or so have been among the most eventful in Avon’s long history; fears that the British company (annual turnover in excess of 100 million Pounds) would be absorbed by its new parent (annual turnover approaching $4 billion) proved to be groundless. This came as a relief to locals, as Avon was (and still is) the town of Melksham’s largest employer and plays an important part in community life. On the contrary, Cooper has invested heavily in its first manufacturing base outside the USA and Avon has reorganised, rethought its product offering and, in an uncertain economic climate, prospered. Our article examines how the company has changed and examines its prospects for the future. Managing Director Ron Shield and Marketing Director Julian Baldwin outline the events since the takeover and the way that the Cooper-Avon relationship has developed.
Cooper Tire is launching a new Cooper-branded tyre in Europe, aimed at the small van and light truck market. The Discoverer AST II replaces the p-metric sizes of the Discoverer Radial AST and is available in twelve, S-rated sizes for 15 and 16 inch rims. The new tyre will be made at Coopers Findlay, Ohio factory.
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