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Dayton D320 Sport-Touring Added to Bridgestone Range

A new Bridgestone sport-touring tyre has been introduced into the economy passenger car tyre segment. Called the Dayton D320, the new tyre has been designed to provide drivers of family saloons and estates with high level all-round performance and good value for money.

The performance target of the new Dayton D320, says Bridgestone, was to deliver excellent dry handling without sacrificing comfort, while providing the safest possible wet braking and hydroplaning performance. The tyre’s tread features a centre rib intended to provide linear stability and a strong centre feel to road handling, while its tapered design with lens-shaped blocks are designed to help reduce water turbulence on the block edges, for faster drainage away from the contact patch.

27th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper’s Fuel Saver

Among the tyres on show on the Cooper stand was the Cooper GFE. The initials stand for Greater Fuel Efficiency and it is the company’s first low-rolling resistance touring tyre. Compared to the Cooper GSE, rolling resistance is improved by 21 per cent.

The GFE is designed to reduce rolling resistance without sacrificing tread life or traction. This “green” tyre combines state-of-the-art mixing technology together with an enhanced polymer system and silica tread compound, to provide exceptional wear, fuel economy, improved wet traction and a smooth, quiet ride.

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli’s New All-Rounder

Hugh Pace, chairman and CEO of Pirelli Tyre North America, introduced the latest tyre dedicated to the North American market; the Z-rated P Zero Nero All Season. The tyre incorporates a silica-based compound and the asymmetric tread features a solid centre rib for optimum braking and acceleration, while four longitudinal and numerous lateral grooves minimises the risk of aquaplaning. Low rolling resistance maximises fuel economy and the two zero degree nylon cap plies and steel belts minimise footprint deformation under extreme handling conditions.

The P Zero Nero All Season has a growing list of OE homologations and the tyre is available in almost 30 sizes, including a number of runflat dimensions. It is manufactured at Pirelli’s factory in Rome, Georgia, using the company’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) technology.

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear, Dunlop Tires Named ‘Best Buys’

In the US, the February 2009 issue of Consumers Digest showcases the best tyres on the market, as rated by the magazine’s editors, and a handful products from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. made the list. For the “All-Season Car Tires” category, Goodyear’s Assurance TripleTred is the premium selection. The Goodyear Fortera TripleTred is the premium choice in the “All-Season SUV/Truck Tires” category. On the Dunlop side, the SP Sport Signature was is the midrange selection in the “Performance Car Tires” category, while the Dunlop SP 60 is the economy choice in the “All-Season Car Tires” category.

The Consumers Digest comparison list shows top-rated tyres in premium, midrange and economy segments. According to the magazine, best buy is defined as a product that offers the most value for a given amount of money. “We are pleased that yet another independent source has recognized the tremendous value of our tyres,” said Joey Viselli, Goodyear brand director.

“Goodyear’s product development efforts have focused on an application of relevant technology – advancements that are technologically innovative, but which also offer discernible benefits to those who drive on our tyres.”

“This is another great recognition for Dunlop’s outstanding product line. We are pleased when independent sources and consumers recognize the performance of our tyres,” said Todd Hershberger, Dunlop brand director. “Dunlop’s prestige and passion are evident in the continued high level of our products, including the industry-leading original equipment fitments on some of the world’s best automobiles.” (Tire Review/Akron)

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Car Sales Slowest in a Decade

Having heard about the rough ride Western car markets had in 2008, spare a thought for the booming Chinese market. In 2008 5,326,308 cars were sold into the Chinese market, up 6.7 per cent year-on-year. While carmakers selling into European markets would be over the moon with full-year growth of 6.7 per cent, this the lowest year-on-year growth reported in China for a decade. And what’s more in the month of December passenger sales actually fell 5.7 per cent year-on-year to 545,179 units in December.

According to Morgan Stanley’s Chinese automotive market analyst, this is mainly due to production cuts at the key OEMs. It could also signal that the emerging market’s rapid growth rate has peaked: “Although more supportive policy from the government may be implemented soon, such as purchase tax and consumption tax cut, weak car demand sentiment and consumer confidence are not easy to revive amid a slowing economy, in our view,” Morgan Stanley’s Kate Zhu said in an investor’s note.

16th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Cancels Annual Meeting at Resort

Word comes that the economy has bitten the RMA, which has cancelled its 2009 annual meeting. The meeting was to be held in late April at the Sawgrass Golf Resort and Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. RMA said it would hold regional member meetings instead in order to reduce member travel expense.

Oddly, the timing of the 2009 meeting forced RTMA to move its annual National Tire Safety Week program from the last week of April – the same month as Spring Car Care Month – to June. (Tire Review/Akron)

16th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Announces Changes to UK Commercial Management Team

Continental Tyre Group has announced a number of changes within its commercial management structure, changes the company says utilise current expertise and commitment to further strengthen its position in the UK market. Barry Guildford, previously a member of Continental’s Industrial division, joins the truck team as general sales manager – Truck Replacement. Guildford has an extensive background in truck marketing and more than seven years’ experience within the Continental group.

14th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Interstate’s Newest 4×4 Tyre Now Available

Netherlands based Interstate Tire & Rubber reports that its latest 4×4 tyre, displayed at last May’s Essen show in Germany, is now on the market and available in six popular sizes between 16 and 18-inches. Called the Sport SUV GT, the tyre is Interstate’s first rolling resistance optimised 4×4 tyre, and Interstate thus reports that lower fuel consumption is attainable without compromising tread life or traction.

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sport SUV Range From Interstate

Interstate Tires has introduced a new line of tyres, called Sport SUV GT, which comprises a number of popular replacement sizes for small and full size SUVs. The tyres are being marketed as Interstate’s first low rolling resistance SUV tyres, with consequent fuel saving benefits, but without sacrificing tread life or traction.

5th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vietnam’s Rubber Industry Suffers as Synthetic Rubber Use Increases

Vietnam, the world’s fourth largest rubber exporter, is faced with rapidly dropping natural rubber prices as a result of the global recession and the increasing use of synthetic rubber. According to the Vietnam Rubber Association, global tyre production, which accounts for more than half of the world’s rubber supply, is expected to grow more slowly in the years to 2010. Growth of between 2 and 3 per cent is anticipated compared with the 3.4 per cent growth enjoyed in 2007.

Tran Duc Vien, director of the Hanoi Agriculture University, said that current crude oil prices, which have dropped more than 70 per cent since July, are encouraging the use of synthetic rubber, which is in turn causing natural rubber costs to sink. This increased use of synthetic rubber has coincided with Vietnam’s peak latex production period (September to December), and a huge supply of rubber has arrived onto what has become a buyer’s market – in 2007 a ton of natural rubber could fetch US$2,700. In December 2008 this same quantity sold for only around $1,300. Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are forecasting further price drops in 2009.

5th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hybrid Buses Join London Transit Fleet

A red London bus with a BAE Systems hybrid electric drive train joined Transport for London and Metrobus, one of the city’s principal bus operators, in November. The bus, a double-deck model built by Britain’s Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), is among 17 hybrid units built by ADL and BAE Systems that will be evaluated in passenger service starting later this year.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Expresses Desire to Retain Carlisle Operations

Pirelli has reportedly again voiced its desire to retain its operations in Carlisle. According to Cumbria Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Rob Johnston, representatives from the Italian manufacturer told him in talks during the week of November 17 to 21 that it planned to remain in the town. He added that the company’s announcement of dropping a shift at the factory and extending its Christmas period shutdown was infinitely better than the alternatives of redundancies or plant closure.

“The dropping of a shift by Pirelli is clearly bad news for those involved and will mean less money circulating in the local economy,” Johnston told the News and Star newspaper. “While this is disappointing, in the current economic circumstances it could have been a lot worse.

24th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti’s HDL Eco Plus on Top in Fuel Economy Test

Independent testing conducted in Quebec, Canada has found Continental’s HDL Eco Plus drive tyre to deliver up to 2.4 per cent superior fuel economy versus its test competitors. The test used a controlled evaluation tool based on the Society of Automotive Engineers J1321 test method, reports Conti, however the tyre maker has not disclosed which competitor products were evaluated.

18th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

European Monityre Distributors Sought

Following the recent launch of its Monityre tyre pressure monitoring system in the UK, manufacturer Safe Europe plc is now looking to develop a network of the distributors and agents across Europe. After attending several key European trade exhibitions, Safe Europe plc reports several interested parties are considering distributor status in both Germany and the Benelux countries.

According to Paul Marriott, Operations Director at Safe Europe plc, “the proven benefits of Monityre, in terms of improved fuel economy and its green credentials, are equally as important to operators across Europe as well as here in the UK. Already we have attracted interest in our product from certain European countries and we are now a position to make further ongoing distributor appointments throughout Europe.”

11th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Product Range Prompts Company Name Change

Although still a relatively new company, British Recycled Plastic has re-branded itself as British Recycled Products, after releasing a product range made from used car tyres. In its six months of operation, the Yorkshire based company has already amassed a client list that includes high profile customers such as the MoD, ASDA and the City of London Corporation. Director Jason Elliot believes the company’s success lies in its UK based production and sourcing of raw materials.

6th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors