Another comparative tyre test from a German magazine – this time Autozeitung Allrad (issue 2/2104) has put half a dozen 4×4 tyres through their paces. A Mercedes-Benz ML350 was used to test the 255/50 R19 W/Y tyres. Autozeitung Allroad rated four of the six tyres highly.
Goodyear Dunlop’s former EMEA region president Arthur de Bok is now CEO and chairman of Dutch medical device company Mediq’s Management Board. He commenced in this role on 1 April. Announcing de Bok’s appointment, chairman of the company’s Supervisory Board, Rob ter Haar, commented that the board and management were “enthusiastic” about him taking the position. “We are convinced that Arthur, with his extensive experience, is the right person to help Mediq respond to this development and extend Mediq’s lead in this field,” he said.
Dunlop motorsport representatives have sought to clarify that the Dubai 24h, which Hankook recently took over as tyre supplier, has been affected by the decision to closure the company’ Birmingham motorsport tyre factory.
Endurance racing event series the 24H Series has a new title sponsor. Hankook Tire replaces Dunlop in this role and serves as exclusive partner for what is now called the 24H Series powered by Hankook. The tyre maker will also lend its name to various events held during the season, such as ‘Hankook 12H Zandvoort’, ‘Hankook 12H Hungary’, ‘Hankook 24H Dubai’ and ‘Hankook 12H Italy-Mugello’. The 24H Series includes endurance race events for GTs, touring cars and 24H Specials, and depending on weather and track conditions, Hankook will supply endurance tyres from the Ventus Race slick or rain range.
Showcasing significant technological and performance breakthroughs, Falken launched its latest Azensis and Sincera products at the Ascari Race Resort near Malaga, Spain. Tyrepress took the opportunity to speak to Isamu Ishida, managing director, Falken Tyre Europe, and Matt Smith, managing director UK & Ireland, about the direction of Falken post Sumitomo and Goodyear’s Dunlop joint venture, having sampled the benefits of the new tyres at Ascari.
British Touring Car Championship Rob Austin has signed up as HiQ’s official series blogger, and in this first write-up for the season he shares on what’s gone down since the end of the 2013 season. When the BTCC action gets under way for this year, Austin will blog on the Monday after each race. The blog can be read on the hiqonline.co.uk website.
Goodyear has reminded motorists that a tyre’s good label performance only apply when it operates at the correct air pressure. While more than 80 per cent of the company’s EfficientGrip Performance received an ‘A’ rating for wet braking and ‘B’ for rolling resistance, this result would look very different when inflation levels are too low. And then there’s the matter of safety….
Dunlop’s Sport Maxx RT has been selected as the exclusive original equipment fitment for models of the new Subaru WRX and WRX STI sold in North America. Both cars will be launched in this market during the spring; the WRX will roll on size 235/45R17 tyres, whereas the WRX STI receives 18-inch rims and size 245/40R18 tyres.
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship 2014 has launched at Donington Park, with a 31-car grid, running entirely to NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) specifications for the first time. The Goodyear Dunlop Group has extended its partnership with the BTCC, continuing its title sponsorship and exclusive tyre supply. The latest multi-year deal continues Dunlop’s association with the series, started at its inception in 1958. Fast fit network HiQ will continue as Team Championship sponsor.
point S member Pellon Tyre and Auto Centre is celebrating 25 years of business during the course of 2014. For Eric Roberts, managing director of Pellon, which is based in Halifax, 2014 is therefore a particular special year. Prior to owning the company, Roberts worked for Michelin, Goodyear and Dunlop and this was how he came to know the previous owners, the Martin family.
Goodyear Dunlop has appointed Alexander Bleider to the management of its German operation. Bleider has taken on this new role at Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany GmbH in addition to his current position of director of manufacturing within Goodyear Dunlop’s European consumer products business, which he has held since 2008.
More than 17 fleets have fitted the Goodyear Marathon Coach tyre, an all-position tyre for year-round use and the first tyre Goodyear designed specifically for coaches, launched in 2012.
This week Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe is offering the industry a glimpse at the future of tyre technology, exhibiting its “chip-in-tyre” sensor technology at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. As you would expect the technology is designed to enhance the cornering, braking and stability performance of the car. What’s new is the extent to which the Dunlop chip-in-tyre offers direct link between its microchip, the car’s on-board computer and even the increasingly common infotainment screen.
Dunlop says the latest rear touring tyre its motorcycle portfolio, the D407T, will be fitted as original equipment on all 2014 Harley-Davidson Touring models that feature black sidewall tyres; the tyre, which was designed in cooperation with Harley-Davidson, will be supplied for the Road King Classic, Street Glide, Electra Glide Ultra Classic and the Ultra Limited. The D407T also fits all 2009-2013 Harley-Davidson Touring models.
As of the start of this month, Arthur de Bok is no longer with Goodyear. De Bok stepped down as senior vice-president – Sales and Marketing Excellence at Goodyear Tire & Rubber on 28 February. He took on this role on 1 December 2013. Prior to this most recent role, de Bok was president of the tyre maker’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) business unit, a position he held since February 2008, and before that was president of the company’s European Union business. De Bok joined Goodyear in January 2002, taking on the role of vice-president of Goodyear-Dunlop Europe.
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