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Goodyear Dunlop Launches New Call Centre

As Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd embarks on a fresh approach to its retail business, the company has employed 18 “top retail professionals” and founded a new call centre based at the heart of Goodyear Dunlop’s Birmingham operations.

With the recent announcement of new investment in Hi-Q, the company has pledged to invest in its training, marketing and systems whilst developing a new franchise programme in order to complement its company owned stores to create a strong nationwide brand.

13th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

VTS Offers Free Delivery on Everything

Vintage Tyres, has announced that from March the company intends to expand its delivery service and offer free delivery on all their products to any UK mainland destination. “Free delivery is the final stage in keeping with our total customer support ideals, orders taken before 3pm will be despatched on the same day and should arrive within 48 hours,” said managing director, Chris Marchant.

10th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Exec Awarded ‘Market Leader’ Opportunity

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd has announced that Geraldine McGovern, E-Business & Digital Manager has been accepted to take part in the prestigious Marketing Leaders Programme run by the Marketing Society. The Marketing Leaders Programme draws on the experience of the society’s senior members and Fellows and also utilises the training skills developed by Brand Learning. The programme was developed following an intensive period of consultation with leading marketing directors.

9th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Appoints Farm and Earthmover Specialist

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd has announced the appointment of Stuart Starrs as Farm and Earthmover Tyre Specialist for Scotland. Stuart brings 20 years farm experience to the team reporting directly to Andy Morris, director of Off-The-Road tyres and will focus on developing contacts throughout Scotland co-ordinating promotions and sales as well as resolving any technical queries that may arise.

He joins the company from Coventry-based tractor manufacturer AGCO, manufacturers of Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Challenger tractors for the European market. Here Stuart was area sales manager for England selling tractors to dealers throughout the territory as well as conducting field demonstrations and providing technical support.

8th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Acquires Dunlop International – Update

International News

Further details of Apollo Tyres’ acquisition of Dunlop International (also known as Dunlop South Africa) have emerged. Firstly Dunlop Nigeria (estimated turnover of $65 million, £40 million) is not included in the sale. Apollo representatives gave no reason for this. Furthermore, the Indian company confirmed it would keep the troubled Dunlop Zimbabwe business.

“Dunlop is the only tyre manufacturer in Zimbabwe and it is a profitable operation,” Apollo spokesperson Kankana Das told Tyres & Accessories. However in light of inflation rates as high as 800 per cent any profitability must be difficult to maintain. “Any operation can be profitable as long it is able to pass on price increases to cover the cost push. The Zimbabwe operations have been able to do this,” Das added.

7th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

The New Sava Perfecta

Sava is introducing a new range of summer tyres for cars and Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). The Sava Perfecta range will be available in new popular sizes and is said to offer longevity, reliability and a competitive price tag. The main benefit of Sava Perfecta is greater mileage. Other benefits are shorter wet stopping distances, reduced risk of aquaplaning, better driver control and less noise.

Koos Nooi, Sava brand director Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The Sava Perfecta fulfils the requirements of possibly the largest consumer segment of the European tyre market because it is designed to meet the needs of the rational and safety conscious driver who drives a compact car or MPV. We have tested this tyre against competition, which it has outperformed. Sava Perfecta has met all parameters we set for it.”

7th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Launches New Dunlop SP WinterSport 3D

(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. launched the new Dunlop SP WinterSport 3D, a winter high performance tyre, during its dealer meeting in Nashville. The SP WinterSport will be available in 22 sizes for the 2006-2007 winter season, Goodyear officials said. The new tyre features what the tyremaker calls “3D sipes,” designed to “enhance grip for performance and ultra-performance sports cars,” the company said.

6th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP Team Picks Dunlop

Dunlop has announced that the Tech 3 Yamaha team will compete in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship on Dunlop tyres.

Riders will be Spaniard Carlos Checa, the most experienced rider on the MotoGP grid with ten years of top level experience of riding for different factory teams and on different tyre brands and the young British rider James Ellison. Both will be on board the latest official 2006 factory Yamaha YZR- M1 machines run by the very experienced Tech 3 team.

6th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Ruia Group Acquires Dunlop India and Falcon Tyres

The privately owned Ruia Group has bought Dunlop India Ltd, Falcon Tyres Ltd and India Tyres from the Dubai-based Jumbo Group for a reported 2 billion rupees (£25 million).

“An agreement has been reached between Pawan Kumar Ruia and the (Chhabria) Jumbo Group to hand over both Dunlop India and Falcon Tyres,” said H Sandu, a group spokesman, confirming the development took place at a meeting in Mumbai.

According to India’s United News Agency, Ruia said the figure required for revival of the company was around 1.5 billion rupees, although the National Productivity Council projected the package would be around 2.1 billion rupees. He said the liability of Dunlop stood at around 6 billion rupees and negotiations with the staff and the bank will begin shortly. The Sahagunj and Ambattur factories will be opened shortly and the redevelopment will reportedly take around two years.
After visiting the factory with his family members and a group of executives, Ruia told the Business Standard that the condition of the Sahagunj plant was much better than expected. “I think, we could start production soon at the plant,” he said. However, Ruia qualified his optimism by saying he wanted to restart production in phases.

Most of the production lines, which include rubber pipe and hose production equipment, are reportedly “old”, but the factory also “has a modern conveyor belt line,” the Business Standard reported. At the last count, the Sahagunj unit had 2,700 employees. Production at the Ambattur factory is expected to restart in six months time.
Apart from the Ruias, Metro Tyres, MRF, Hero Honda, the Caparo Group of Lord Swraj Paul and the Sarda Group were all also in the in the running to purchase the assets.

Dunlop says it aims to become a leader in the tyre industry, even if it means getting into alliances with global tyre giants keen on India, said Pawan Ruia at the first media meeting after taking over Dunlop. According to the Business Standard, the Sumitomo name was mentioned as one such company.

3rd February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

New Earthmover Products from Goodyear

In the last few years Goodyear has launched a range of new products in the earthmover market such as the RT3B for wheel loaders; the TL3A+ for wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks; and the RT-5C – the 250 level traction wheel loader tyre that has also proven highly successful in grader applications in size 25.5R25. Other products include the RT4A for rigid dump trucks.

26th January 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Should You Repair Run-Flats?

Surveying the current state of the run-flat aftermarket reveals that there is a fair amount of discontent amongst dealers when it comes to so-called “fail-safe” tyre technology. As you would expect, retailers are interested in the financial benefits, but are not so keen on the short supply and customer satisfaction issues some have faced.

One of the lingering problems in this respect, is the question of whether or not to repair run-flats. For some dealers it all comes down to a question of customer service. One business told T&A recently: “A customer got a flat run-flat on his BMW. When we told him that he had to fork out £200 to replace a two-week old tyre, he was not impressed.”

26th January 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Far From Running-Flat

So far the growth of run-flat tyre sales has been almost exclusively through OE business. As the replacement market becomes more and more visible, Tyres & Accessories to took the opportunity to ask Goodyear Dunlop UK MD, Dick Johnson; Michelin’s Technology Centre Europe director, Bernard Delmas; and Bridgestone UK marketing manager, Andy Lane, for a deeper insight in the development of the run-flat aftermarket.

Last month Bridgestone announced that it had shipped its three-millionth run-flat tyre in total. At the same time the UK wing of the multi-national manufacturer said its run-flat sales boomed in 2005. While 3 million run-flats may sound like a lot of tyres, speaking to other manufacturers puts the Japanese company’s figures into context. Bernard Delmas, director of Michelin’s Technology Centre Europe, described the segment as a “fledgling market” which equated to 1 per cent of 300 million, in terms of the total European OE market.

26th January 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

KMart Buys Shell Australia’s Tyre Depots

In Australia, Kmart Tyre and Auto Service is to acquire 90 Shell Autoserv and Auto Care branches for an undisclosed fee. Under the agreement, effective from 20 February, Shell Autoserv and Auto Care sites will be progressively rebranded as Kmart Tyre and Auto Service.

Kmart’s owner, Coles Myer, said all current Shell Auto Care and Shell Autoserv employees will be offered a role with KMart Tyre and Auto Service. Kmart Tyre and Auto Service managing director John Sink said the deal makes his company the largest car servicing business in Australia with over 280 stores, many located next to Coles Express Service Stations.

20th January 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop and Continental Opt for Christian Salvesen

Logistics specialist Christian Salvesen has agreed warehousing and distribution deals with two of the UK’s leading tyre companies.

Firstly, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has announced that it is to extend its logistics partnership with the company. This will mean that Christian Salvesen will take over the operation of the National Distribution Centre (NDC) at TyreFort in Erdington, Birmingham, in addition to its current responsibilities for the transportation and distribution of tyres, which began in 2002.

20th January 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Designs For The Future

Dunlop Tyres has linked up with the London College of Fashion, challenging students to design a ‘ready to wear’ collection inspired by motorsport. The winning designs were unveiled at Birmingham’s Air nightclub on 11 January during an exclusive Dunlop brand event hosted by Radio 1’s Sara Cox, which also kick-started Dunlop’s presence at the annual Autosport Show.

19th January 2006/by Tyrepress Editors