Dunlop’s new performance tyre, the Sport Maxx, has been put to the test through the ‘Performance Car of the Year’ programme. Hailed as “the toughest media evaluation programme of its kind,” the annual test, conducted by Car & Driving, the UKs motoring media agency, puts top performance vehicles and their tyres through a series of road and track tests all over Europe.
R H Claydon has announced that it has been appointed the sole distributor of Dunlop’s Agricultural, Industrial and MPT tyres in mainland UK and Northern Ireland, from the beginning of October.
Jackie Mead, PA to the general manager of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, has won the inaugural Smart Secretary/PA of the Year Award.
The third “EMT-DSST Technical Training” organised by Goodyear-Dunlop in co-operation with Butler was held in Carpi Modena at the beginning of September.
More than 70 independent Goodyear dealers from northern-central Italy attended the training session, which the company believes “met several goals.”
Mr Marco Moretti, Goodyear Italy marketing manager, introduced the features of run-flat tyres, whilst Mr Alberto Tadolini, Butler sales manager, focused upon the technical and practical skills associated with handling EMT and DSST tyres. Practical application of the theoretical session was also put into play with the use of different Butler tyre changers and trainers. The next session will be held on 6-7 October in Nola, Naples.
Goodyear and Dunlop have exhibited a number of new and forthcoming products at the 60th IAA show in Hanover. While they shared exhibition space, the two brands maintained their independent identities and made every effort to affirm the company’s emphasis on economy.
The 60th International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicle Show will provide the platform for the launch of a number of new Goodyear and Dunlop products and services. As well as exhibiting a range of tyres for trucks, buses and coaches the Goodyear Dunlop stand will highlight the latest news and services from the Europe-wide TruckForce customer support network.
Goodyear Dunlop says that one of its key goals at the IAA show is to help customers evaluate some of the new tyre-related transport solutions that are available. The company believes its can demonstrate how its products and services can reduce costs. The company recently came up with some new concepts. These include maximising the cargo volume in mega-trailers, reducing the risk of overloading axles and increasing trailer brake life by up to 30 per cent. These configurations are said to produce longer tyre life and better fuel consumption in comparison with previous configurations.
On the ‘software’ side, new systems such as FleetOnlineSolutions and RoadsideAssistanceSolutions were both introduced less than a year ago. These internet-based ‘solutions’ will be demonstrated on the stand to show how they can reduce costs and downtime for the fleet operator and to show the latest improvements that have been introduced to the systems.
Key members of Goodyear Dunlop’s European truck tyre marketing and technical management will be present on the stand to meet customers and media on the press and opening days of the show.
The new products and services will be unveiled on Press Day, 22nd September and include tyres which are unique to the industry. The IAA Commercial Vehicle Show runs from the 23 to 29 September in Hanover.
According to the US Tire and Rim Association the number of auto tyre sizes has jumped 120 per cent since 1991 to 249 different sizes. The association claims that 82 per cent of this growth has come in rim sizes of 17 inches or more and it believes the increase is due to the automotive industry’s passion for performance.
Statistics show that about 59 per cent of the increase run in rim diameters of 18 inches or more. However, the total number of tyre sizes actually decreased last year due to a sharp fall in 13 and 14 inch sizes. The number of 15 and 16 inch tyre sizes has also levelled out in that time.
The demand for high performance tyres with their wide, low profile stance is inspired by motorsports, says Warren Croyle, marketing manager for Dunlop tyres in North America. As the industry has increasingly fitted HP tyres as original equipment on everything from the sports coupe, to the family sedan, the effects have had a dramatic impact on the tyre industry and tyre buyer alike, explained the company representative.
As high performance tyres have become increasingly important to consumers so have they to manufacturers. “Dunlop sizing, in particular, enjoys an advantage as the industry trend continues toward lower profile applications,” said Mr Croyle. “We’re well-positioned now, and we plan to introduce even more low profile sizes this year and next. Using technology derived from Dunlop’s experience with low-profile race tyres, engineers are finding new ways to improve the handling capabilities of today’s high performance automotive fleet.”
The tyre manufacturer claims that growth among 17 and 18 inch wheels is slowing. It predicts that by 2008 18 and 20 inch tyre sales will amount to 6 million units; however, 22 and 24 inch sizes are expected to be the fastest growing sizes.
Goodyear Dunlop Europe has appointed Dick Johnson as general manager of Goodyear Dunlop UK, the company has announced.
Goodyear Dunlop have appointed Tony McHugh as national key account manager, in a move designed to strengthen the company’s fleet operations.
After three months of searching and 7000 applicants, Dunlop has finally found a Race Academy winner following the final stage at Silverstone on Tuesday.
Derby-based Andrew Walker won the title after the final three contestants took part in the track ‘shoot-out’ at Silverstone which included a media assessment, drives in the Porsche and Ginetta race car as well as the ARDS assessment and exam that was required to get the race license to compete at Brands Hatch.
The national search was launched at the Autosport Show in January with the intention of discovering a budding Jenson Button or Damon Hill and seven regional finalists were chosen to attend the Dunlop Race Academy.
After completing a fitness test, and a panel interview, featuring representatives from Dunlop, Ginetta and one of Britain’s top GT drivers, Calum Lockie, the drivers had to undergo a driving assessment.
Mr Walker will now take part in the Dunlop Drivers cup at Brands Hatch on 2-3 October.
James Bailey, Dunlop said: “We developed the Race Academy because Dunlop has been part of motorsport for over 100 years in the UK and felt that it was a good opportunity to put something back. We had a great response. 60,000 people looked at the application with around 7,000 entering the on-line test of motorsport and driving knowledge, so it’s proved a popular formula and we hope to repeat it next year.”
The new BMW 1-series, is the latest vehicle to be fitted with Goodyear runflats and is due to be launched across Europe in mid-September.
According to media reports the 1 series is the first volume car to be fitted with runflat tyres as standard. The BMW series will have 16 inch Goodyear Eagle NCT5 EMTs as standard, which will be supported by a tyre pressure warning system. BMW claim the tyres will enable the car to be driven safely for up to 145 kilometres (90 miles) at up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour, with all the tyres punctured.
Goodyear Dunlop Europe OE director, Jean-Jacques Wiroth, said: “This is a significant move by BMW as they expect the new model to do well – it’s also their first entry into the compact hatchback market. Apart from the OE contract our replacement business will benefit through the high volume anticipated”.
The company already supplies runflat tyres to BMW for the 5 series, the 6 series, the Z4 and the Mini.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (SRI) is going to invest £25 million into the increase of production capacities in several of its factories.
According to a German online service, Sumitomo, the second biggest tyre manufacturer in Japan after Bridgestone, wants to respond to growing demand for their products. £15 million will be invested in SRI’s factory in Japan, the remaining £10 million will be allocated to factories in China and Indonesia. The tyre manufacturer says the production capacity will go up by 12 per cent although the time scale in which this will happen is not clear.
In Japan Sumitomo Rubber produces Dunlop brand tyres.
Goodyear Dunlop Europe has been selected to supply replacement tyres for Volvo’s European truck tyre business through its chain of close to 1,000 truck dealers and workshops. According to Henry Johnson, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop’s European truck tyre business, Volvo customers will have the option to benefit from the one-stop shopping approach.
Hi-Q Tyre Services has appointed Naithan Keeping to the role of fleet director. Mr Keeping, 31, joins the Goodyear Dunlop retail network, from ATS, where he was fleet sales director.
Bridgestone UK has appointed Andrew Whitehead as business development manager in a move designed to strengthen the company’s Truck Point network of independent truck tyre dealers.
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