The IAAF is urging its members, garages and parts distributors, to take advantage of an opportunity to give the European competition authorities a first-hand view of the difficulties encountered in accessing technical and cataloguing data from the vehicle assemblers. Following the IAAF’s survey of vehicle assemblers at the start of 2014, the European Commission have […]
Most of us know the ‘20p test’ but in the years to come we’ll be able to spend our loose change rather than use it to gauge tread depth. Continental says it intends to add an automatic tread depth reading feature to its eTis (electronic Tire Information System) and aims to make this available for fitment on new vehicle models by 2017. According to Continental, this new feature is made possible by “intelligent software” that deduces tread depth from gradual changes in tyre rolling characteristics. An in-tyre pressure sensor infers running characteristics from the variations in tyre deformation.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems will become a legal requirement on new vehicles on 1 November. From the moment this change in legislation is implemented, increased data requirements in garages have warranted preparations now for automotive systems providers. The specialist repair and maintenance information arm of TecAlliance, TecRMI is expanding its technical data to include information concerning tyre pressure sensors for active and passive TPMS applications.
Sovereign Rotating Machines has launched a new supplement for its range of WPS branded Wiper Motors. Previously seen as a ‘dealer only’ product, wiper motors represent a significant opportunity in the automotive aftermarket and there are just seven part numbers required to cover more than 70 percent of the UK vehicle parc.
Kraiburg Austria reports that it will be both celebrating five decades of history as well as present its latest products when it appears at the 2014 Reifen exhibition in Essen, Germany. Situated in the company’s now familiar location in the Galeria, Kraiburg will be showing a new and slightly larger stand.
Pirelli reports the completion of the first in-season Formula One test using 2014 cars. The Italian tyre maker brought around 250 experimental tyres to the test in Bahrain this week; it says these tyres were designed exclusively with 2015 in mind and included eight new constructions and six new compounds. Testing took place over two days, with Caterham participating on Tuesday 8 April and then Mercedes and Williams the next day. A total of 110 laps and around 595 kilometres were covered on the experimental tyres. Only one single variable was tested at a time – a new compound was tested with a current construction, for example, and vice versa. In order to provide a benchmark the teams alternated prototype runs with baseline runs on the existing tyres.
A brand new UK mobile tyre fitting service launched a crowdfunding campaign this week. Motion Tyres says a series of attractive awards await investors, along with a strong return on investment. The concept aims to combine cutting-edge technology with a back to basics approach to customer care and service delivery.
TecRMI, the specialist repair and maintenance information arm of TecAlliance GmbH and TEXA S.p.A. have agreed to cooperate on the use of adjustment data for the commercial vehicle sector.
The latest census data has revealed that the average distance travelled by commuters to work has increased in all English regions and Wales. The Office of National Statistics analysis of the 2011 Census shows that while those commuting regularly are averaging greater mileage, five per cent fewer workers made regular journeys to work than in 2001.
Half of all road markings on England’s highways are so worn that they need replacing immediately or need to be scheduled for replacement now, according to a survey of nearly 4,000km of the country’s roads. LifeLines England, a report based on the survey carried out by the Road Safety Markings Association, and published today (13 March), found that 52 per cent of markings on motorways, 42 per cent on dual carriageways, and 48 per cent on single carriageways all need replacing immediately or need to be scheduled for replacement now. The survey, the most comprehensive published of its kind, also shows that just 16 per cent of markings on England’s motorways and 13 per cent on single carriageways make the “excellent” grade.
Manheim’s latest monthly UK Market Analysis in 2014 shows that part-exchange values have risen again for the second month in a row, with February witnessing an all-time high of £3,216, which is a £7 increase when compared with the previous month. On the whole, average selling prices have been on a positive trajectory over the past six months, with values rising by £587 over the period. In fact, the positivity goes even further back, as average values in February 2014 are £280 higher when compared with the same period last year.
Trade Garage Equipment have added a new wheel balancer to the company’s range with the addition of the Technique T2120.
Spokesperson Stefan Bullworthy outlined the details of the latest addition: “The rapidly growing portfolio of trade approved Technique garage equipment products, has been enhanced further with the launch of the…powerful trade approved Technique T2120 wheel balancer…
Maxxis says its MAS2 successor, the Victra Sport VS01, addresses the demands of high performance vehicle drivers, and opines it may prove to be one of its most significant product launches in years.
The entire VS01 range of summer tyres comes with a new asymmetric tread pattern and rim protector. Maxxis says sport performance is delivered through the tyre’s high-strength steel belts and high rigidity bead filler, while driver comfort has been aided by the use of finite element analysis to keep noise to a minimum.
Launch UK has unveiled its latest generation of diagnostic tools. Centring on the X-431 PRO, the line is said to offer a full fault system diagnosis for American, Asian and European vehicle manufacturers. As one the first Android based diagnostic tools, X-431 provides greater speed, reliability and ease of use over other diagnostic tools.
While forecasters are predicting that temperatures will drop, British Car Auctions (BCA) has released its latest data on 4×4 used sales. The average value for 4x4s sold at BCA during the fourth quarter of 2013 rose by over £1,100 compared to the third quarter. December recorded the highest values in the second half of the year as 4x4s averaged over £15,000, a rise of £388 compared to December 2013.
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