The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres, Yokohama HPT, has announced the addition of two more motorsport dealers to its network, dealing in both circuit tyres and the latest addition to its rally range, the A053. The new tyre has been used to great effect already by Tristan Pye and is now available in Northern Ireland from TMG Distribution and in the Republic of Ireland, from Murray Motorsport.
Infinity Tyres, part of the Al Dobowi Group recently sponsored the first event of the 2011 horseracing season at York racecourse in a meet which was long awaited by racing professionals and fans. This sponsorship was conducted in conjunction with Bond International, distributor of the brand in the UK and it is reported forms part of two firms’ strategy to “to get closer to the customer”, as Reg Bond, owner and managing director of Bond International, stated. “To promote a brand, you must go to the consumer and a tyre means little to a consumer, what grabs him, is something special, and this is special.”
Bond International, the exclusive UK distributor of Infinity Tyres, aims to increase its monthly sales from the current level of 50-60,000 to 80,000 by 2012. To achieve this, the company must persevere in what it calls its “biggest challenge” for this year, namely to introduce the Infinity brand to its two to three thousand customers throughout the UK. Reaching this goal in turn requires employing the correct marketing strategy.
The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres has announced that it will introduce a new winter tyre for vans and light commercial vehicles to the market, with availability set for the third and fourth quarters of 2011. The new addition to the W.drive range, the WY01, will be aimed at van and cargo vehicles and will utilise the same technology as the W.drive tyres developed for passenger cars, according to a Yokohama HPT statement, yielding greater safety when the temperature falls below seven degrees centigrade. The compound has been created to provide increased grip from the late Autumn to the beginning of Spring.
The UK distributor for Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama has organised a charity rock concert to support the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal. Yokohama HPT Ltd has covered the cost of the concert, so that 100 per cent of the proceeds will go directly to the appeal and support the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in March. The 'Sounds for Sendai' concert will take place on Sunday 22 May at the Marshall Amplification Theatre in Milton Keynes and will feature a stunning line-up headlined by the renowned Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash with support acts Stray and Motherlode.
Pro-Align has added David Haydon as the latest recruit to join its wheel alignment sales team, as field sales executive in the South West. According to the company, both Pro-Align and Haydon are “bowled over” that the ex-county cricketer has brought his proven sales track record to the wheel alignment business.
One of the UK’s most prominent tyre suppliers for specialist application tyres, Speke’s Kirkby Tyres continues to supply Alliance, Double Coin and BKT ranges to the UK. The distributor’s product managers for the Indian Alliance and BKT brands – Ilan Goldstone and Dave Richardson respectively – told Tyres & Accessories that the brands’ continued growth in range coverage is being matched by the manufacturer’s focus on quality. Goldstone commented: “Alliance’s portfolio of tyres continues to grow not only in the industrial sector but across the whole of its product range. As a company they have identified and focused their efforts in producing some of the best performing tyres within their market sectors which has been aided by the construction of their new Indian manufacturing and R&D facility.” Richardson added that the BKT range is also expanding, with research and development “always at the forefront… On a recent trip to their factories in India it was clear to see as every batch of materials gets tested for quality every step of the way.”
Writing in an article published on the association’s website, the NTDA has warned that Phillip Hammond’s recent incendiary decisions regarding MOT frequency look likely to have galvanised the industry against the proposals. In an article not dissimilar to an open letter National Tyre Distributor Association representatives wrote: “If Transport Secretary Philip Hammond was looking to provoke a reaction when he suggested that the interval between MOT tests should be extended, then he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, as the idea has been universally condemned by industry bodies, trade associations and consumer organisations.”
Mullingar-based tyre dealer, Mileage Tyres, has been appointed as an official Avon Tyres distributor, the Cooper Tire-owned brand announced today. Mileage has operated in the Republic of Ireland for more than 20 years, and will now stock products from Avon’s passenger car, UHP and van ranges. The distributor’s sales director Steve Jackson said that the addition of Avon Tyres to its product offering will lead to an increase in footfall and profit for the company.
While the 2011 CV Show was well-attended by tyre majors and equipment suppliers alike, there was also a surprising number of tyre wholesale and distribution companies present. These included Kirkby Tyres & Wheels Ltd and RH Claydon Ltd as well as Tyreline OE Ltd and TD Tyres. What the two well-known wholesalers (Kirkby and RH Claydon) had in common was the fact that both firms were showing the latest Chinese-produced additions to their respective tyre product portfolios.
Birmingham-based Mr Tyre has been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for the new Nordexx tyre range (which was launched at Reifen 2010 by Danish tyre wholesaler Nordisk Daek Import AS (NDI), confirming reports published by Tyres & Accessories in February. The news brings a big business opportunity to the trade and, says Mr Tyre’s wholesale director Louise Larvin, reinforces the company’s reputation in the sector.
The UK distributor for MAK replacement alloy wheels, Yokohama HPT, says it is helping the manufacturer celebrate its 20th anniversary by introducing three new styles into the UK. These include the Venti (Italian for 20); a striking design intended to reiterate the company’s design flair and high quality production values.
Michelin reports that a pair of Agilis van tyres fitted to a vehicle owned by Cumbria-based courier Bryan Davidson have clocked up an impressive 353,000 miles – enough to have taken the van more than 14 times around the world. The 215/75 R 16C Agilis tyres were shipped as an original equipment fitment on the rear axle of Davidson’s 2004 Citroen Relay LWB Hi-Roof van from new and have just been changed – with the odometer reading 353,000 miles. The front tyres lasted around 120,000 miles.
Autologic Diagnostics Ltd will showcase its Autologic diagnostic tool at Automechanika Middle East 2011 in June. Offering an all-encompassing approach to vehicle diagnostics, the software allows for garages to operate independently with success. The UK-based manufacturer has announced it will participate at Automechanika Middle East for the first time in 2011. According to the company, the firm’s participation is in order to increase market awareness of the brand in the GCC region and to introduce their innovative products and services to this fast emerging market.
Nokian Tyres has released its annual report for 2010, a year in which, said CEO Kim Gran, “demand, sales and profitability saw a clear positive turn.” Order intake in the company’s core Nordic and Russian markets experienced “rapid growth” in the second quarter, Gran added, while Nokian was “delighted by the strong growth seen in the sales and profitability of our Central and Eastern European operations.” In the annual report the Finnish tyre maker stated its key strategic objectives into the year 2015, including Nordic market leadership as a tyre manufacturer and distributor plus the leading manufacturer and distributor of premium car tyres in Russia and the CIS as well as one of the top suppliers of special heavy tyres in this region.
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