National Motorsport Week, which will run between 25 June and 3 July, will receive the backing of UK motorsport tyre manufacturer Dunlop, the company has announced. The initiative is led by the Motor Sports Association and the Motorsport Industry Association and is intended to encourage more people to participate in motorsport and reaffirm the country’s dominant position internationally.
A Goodyear blimp crashed in Reichelisheim, near Frankfurt on Sunday evening, killing the Australian pilot who had previously helped his three passengers to safety. The blimp, which was operated by Lightship Europe Ltd and leased by Goodyear, reportedly caught fire during a flight organised for journalists to take pictures of the state of Hessen. Goodyear Dunlop Germany expressed its sadness and sympathy for the family of the pilot. Aviation authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the crash.
UK car magazine Auto Express has suggested that fitting high-quality tyres can help to improve the value of readers’ cars, suggesting three tyres for summer and winter. The magazine awarded the Continental SportContact 3 top summer tyre, and the Goodyear UltraGrip 7+ was victorious in the cold weather tyre category. Issue 1,169 of the magazine, currently on shelves, also recommended the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric in the former category, and Conti’s WinterContact TS830 and Dunlop’s SP WinterSport 3D as cold weather alternatives. The summer tyres were tested on 18" and the cold weather products on 16" fitments.
Servicing Stop, the online vehicle servicing company that gained national prominence through its founders’ appearance on BBC Two’s ‘Dragons’ Den’ in 2009, has entered the online tyre retail business with its new website, Good4tyres.co.uk. In announcing the new venture’s launch, Servicing Stop states this will be “another customer centric endeavour” from entrepreneurs Oly and Toby Richmond.
Dunlop Motorsport, IRTA and Dorna Sports have signed a contract for the exclusive supply of tyres to the Moto3 Championship, a deal which will run from the introduction of the new category in 2012 until the end of the 2014 season. An agreement has also been made to extend the existing Moto2 Championship contract until at least the end of 2014. Dunlop will supply tyres and technical support to every competitor in Moto3, the replacement for the 125cc World Championship. Dunlop has exclusively supplied tyres to Moto2 since its inauguration in 2010. Dunlop’s supply has been ratified by Dorna and the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA).
In addition to the MotoGP World Championship, Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya will also see the fifth round of the 2011 Moto2 Championship, on 3-5 June during which tyre supplier Dunlop will debut its dual compound rear tyre. Dunlop will bring the dual compound W919 as the main specification rear tyre with the three series 3868 as a softer second option. For the front, it will supply the 753 medium and 717 hard compound. Dunlop believes the recent Formula One Spanish Grand Prix could represent a new challenge, with the large amount of rubber compound deposited on track from Pirelli’s PZero F1 tyres representing an additional variable.
Transense has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Translogik Limited recently took a further order for “a number” of Truck Tyre Inspection Kits from Goodyear Dunlop for its FOS (Fleet Online Solution) Mobile programme. This relationship began 18 months ago when Goodyear Dunlop began integrating the Translogik tyre inspection probe to work with its FOS system.
Kumho Tyre Australia reports critics had a surprise in store for them when the results of the annual Wheels Magazine Tyre Test were announced. The publication, which has provided Australian motorists with authoritative information for 58 years, gave the Kumho KU39 a ‘podium placing’ by ranking it a close third behind two much more expensive European tyres. Furthermore, Kumho notes, the KU39 “finished ahead of well established and respected Japanese brands in the gruelling and uncompromising Wheels test, making it arguably the best value performance tyre on the Australian market.”
To encourage repeat business at its franchised dealers, Vauxhall has pledged to match the best price on a large selection of the tyres offered through its more than 400 MasterFit retailers throughout the UK. Under what it calls its Tyre Price Promise, the network will price match Continental, Pirelli, Dunlop, Michelin and Firestone brand tyres sold within a five mile radius of its outlets.
A new plant manager has taken charge of Goodyear Dunlop’s factory in Philippsburg, Germany. As of May 1, Klaus Happ has taken over the role from Bruno Kihm, who is now plant manager of the company’s Riesa passenger car tyre factory in the country’s east. Kihm in turn has replaced Dr. Christian Paech, who retired on May 1 after a career with the tyre maker spanning 33 years.
Goodyear Dunlop has updated its fleet with 20 new Mercedes-Benz vans. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDIs were supplied by Birmingham dealer Midlands Truck & Van and work for TruckForce, Goodyear Dunlop’s dedicated mobile truck tyre and breakdown service. They are based across TruckForce’s 15 operating centres, which act as hubs for some 100 satellite depots across England and Wales, and used by technicians who repair, replace and service customers’ tyres at their premises or at the roadside.
Both Goodyear and Dunlop have been producing tyres for over 100 years and van tyres have been a major part of both brand portfolios for many years. The current Goodyear range focuses around two key products for vans; these are the Cargo G26 and Cargo Marathon.
Dunlop India has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange of the resignation of Pawan Kumar Ruia as chairman of the tyre maker’s Board of Directors. Ruia’s resignation took effect on January 31, however the BSE was not notified until April 28. The Ruia Group chairman retains his position as director of the company.
Dunlop has announced it will be the “Official Tyre Partner” for the 2011 Isle of Man TT races. Allan Bell MHK, minister for economic development commented: “The TT Races commercial programme continues to grow and it is fitting that in the year of the centenary of the Mountain Course, one of the companies that has become synonymous with the event has become a commercial partner.” Eddy Geerdink, Dunlop marketing director, commented: “Dunlop is delighted to become the Official Tyre Partner of the TT Races. The Mountain Course is one of the world’s toughest circuits and our success in the event over the years has provided us with excellent recognition for the performance and technology of our tyres.”
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Long established as a leading UK tyre distributor, and named Tyre Wholesaler of the Year at the NTDA Tyre and Fast Fit Awards 2010, Stapleton’s reports it has continued to place an emphasis on customer needs in 2011. This emphasis includes a focus on the company’s product portfolio and in ensuring the needs of both large and small van operators are catered for. The result, says Stapleton’s, is an even broader range that encompasses all van tyre sizes – including premium brands as well as a comprehensive range of mid-price and budget products. The company plans to continue developing its van tyre sector further still throughout the remainder of 2011 in line with its overriding ‘working for the customer’ philosophy.
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