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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

Masters of Formula Three Return to Zandvoort

Having spent the last two years just over the Belgian border at the Zolder racing circuit, the Masters of Formula Three will be returning to Circuit Park, Zandvoort this year. The prestigious event, in which the strongest racers from the British Formula Three Championship and the Formula Three Euro Series compete, was held for the first time at the Zandvoort circuit in 1991. Following a decision by the Dutch Supreme Court in 2007, the race had to be held at Zolder due to noise levels affecting local residences. However, with new measures in place, the 19th running of the Masters of Formula 3 will be back at its spiritual home on 13 and 14 June, 2009.

The international meeting is closely watched by teams from the GP2 series, the World Series by Renault, A1GP and Formula One. Among others, David Coulthard, Lewis Hamilton and Jos Verstappen all made it into Formula One, boosted by their victories in the Masters of Formula 3.

27th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

December Figures Show Marked Drop in UK Vehicle Production

December vehicle production figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT) show a sharp drop in UK production of both passenger and commercial vehicles. During the month a total of 58,823 passenger cars were produced in the UK, a 47.5 per cent decrease on the previous year’s December production. Just 6,290 commercial vehicles were manufactured in the UK during December, representing a drop of 56.7 per cent.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New CEO for Corus

The Board of Tata Steel has appointed Kirby Adams to succeed Philippe Varin as CEO of Corus and of Tata Steel Europe, the holding company of Tata Steel’s European operations. Varin is stepping down on April 6, 2009, after six years in the role.

American-born Adams was formerly chief executive of BlueScope Steel, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. He has also served as chairman of the International Iron and Steel Institute and has considerable international experience in the metal and mining industry. He will join the Boards of Tata Steel Europe and Tata Steel, subject to necessary approvals. Once Adams has obtained the necessary visa, he will re-locate to London and commence working from early March 2009. Adams will report to Tata Steel managing director B. Muthuraman.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

2008 Sees Reduced Profits for Hankook Tire

Hankook Tire’s figures for 2008 reveal global tyre sales of KRW 4.07 trillion (£2.04 billion) during the year. This is, in the Korean currency, an increase of 25.8 per cent over 2007 tyre sales. Certain regions displayed a significant growth rate in sales: Russia saw an increase of 98 per cent, followed by a 50 per cent increase in Central and South America. In terms of product sales, the company UHP sector sales for 2008 were 35 per cent up on the previous year, and up 48 per cent in Europe.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Launches Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2009

The latest edition of our national Michelin Guide, ‘Great Britain & Ireland 2009’, is scheduled for a January 23 release. This year it carries a price tag of £15.99 in Britain and 19.99 euros in Ireland

Included in this year’s guide are four new two-star restaurants (The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Hibiscus and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon) and 26 new one star establishments. Making-up the list of ‘Rising Stars’ for 2009 are three establishments tipped for two stars (Tom Aikens, The Ledbury and Nathan Outlaw) and one that’s tipped for three stars (Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester). There are also 21 new Bib Gourmand establishments offering ‘good food at moderate prices’ – three courses for less than £28 (40 euros in Ireland).

19th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Appoints New Luxembourg Tech Head

Formerly general director of the Goodyear R&D Technical Centre in the United States, Marc Junio, has been named the new general director of the company’s Luxembourg Technical Centre in Colmar-Berg. His appointment sees him taking over the role from Joe Zekoski, vice president Global Product Development & Technical Centre Operations, who will repatriate to Akron, Ohio.

19th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Dundee Plans Praised

Proposed initiatives to tackle the effects of the economic situation have been well received by union representatives. On January 16 the company announced that discussions with employees and the union Unite have led to a number of measures being put forward in an attempt to avoid redundancies at the company’s Baldovie factory in Dundee. Michelin has proposed temporary plant closures in which employees would be asked to take 56 hours off on full pay, with the proviso they work back the time in 2010, or else take the time off on two-thirds pay without the obligation to work it back.

19th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop, Ferrari to Attempt Le Mans Series Hat-trick

Ferrari has committed to using Dunlop tyres once again to defend its title in the Le Mans Endurance Series GT2. The Italian car giant will be attempting to win a third successive championship title this year, with the Dunlop-shod Ferrari F430 being prepared by Team JMW for the new season. The car will hit the track for the first time in a pre-season test programme in Estoril, Portugal in February.

The team’s driver line up will be headed by 2007 and 2008 Le Mans Series Champion Rob Bell. The British driver has been a major factor in the growing strength of the Ferrari–Dunlop partnership during the past two seasons, and will once again be working closely with the team and Dunlop to develop the latest technology tyres to suit the F430 GT2. Rob’s co-drivers will be announced shortly.

19th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Europe to Launch Ecopia Range in 2009

Starting in April, an extensive range of Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 Ecopia tyres will be gradually introduced into the European market. The tyres, which use the ‘Ecopia’ name to denote their fuel saving characteristics, were first used on electric-powered cars in 1991, and in 1998 the B381 Ecopia low rolling resistance tyre was fitted as OE to the ‘3-litre’ version of the Volkswagen Lupo – a car dubbed “the most environmentally friendly car in the world” by some due to its consumption of only three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Today, certain versions of the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia and Mercedes S-Class are being sold with Ecopia versions of existing patterns, and the Toyota IQ is fitted with an all-new Ecopia tyre.

14th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Andy Davies Appointed MD of Bridgestone Austria

The new managing director taking the reins at Bridgestone’s Austrian operations, Bridgestone Austria GmbH, is perhaps a familiar name to many in the UK tyre industry. After twelve years in the job, incumbent managing director Michael Glockner is moving on to a Brussels based position with the Japanese tyre major. In his place comes 35-year old Andy Davies, who began his career with Bridgestone UK in 1996 before making the cross channel move to a position within Bridgestone Europe in 2001.

14th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop to Partner SEAT for Revamped UK Challenge

SEAT has announced the relaunch for 2009 of the company’s SEAT Leon Supercopa Challenge. The contest will race at Britain’s top circuits and the new championship organizers, Racempower, have chosen Dunlop as the exclusive tyre partner for the one-make series.

This partnership continues the technical collaboration that began in 2007 between the SEAT UK supported championship and Dunlop.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Expect “Very Bad” 4Q Figures from Michelin

Financial analysts have cut their 2008 operating income estimate for Michelin from 1.15 billion to 1.05 billion (-37 per cent compared with 2007). Deutsche Bank’s reduced estimate comes off the back of sharp falls in tyre demand in mature markets.

According to the analysts, mature markets (such as Europe and North America) represent 70 per cent of Michelin’s volumes. “We estimate tyre demand fell sharply in the fourth quarter (-15 per cent) both in OE and in replacement – in passenger as well as truck markets. We believe this weak demand, coupled with a destocking effect, led to a high 25 per cent production cut in the fourth quarter,” the analysts commented, explaining that the magnitude of this volume drop is not sustainable:

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Varta CV Batteries Undergo Four-Year Test

Battery manufacturer Johnson Controls has undertaken a four-year test to confirm that its PROmotive range of calcium-silver alloy premium quality truck batteries provides greater performance than traditional lead acid batteries.

The test programme involved commercial vehicles fitted with PROmotive and traditional batteries, operating in the harsh cold climate of northern Scandinavia and also in southern Europe. Demanding CV applications were chosen, ranging from typical delivery truck stop start and tail lift cycles giving little time for batteries to recharge, to long distance haulage with trucks equipped with numerous heavy power consumers.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Manufacturer Races on Regardless

Special hand-finished racing tyres manufactured in Birmingham by Dunlop are continuing to be popular, despite the difficult financial environment and the knock-on effect this has had on motorsport. According to the tyre manufacturer more people race on Dunlop tyres than any other brand in the UK and the company’s continue to be shipped around the globe as they have done since 1888.

Fort Dunlop produced over 200,000 specialist high technology tyres in 2008 and is set to build on this in 2009. Dunlop race tyres are used in many race championships for cars and motorcycles including the prestigious Le Mans 24 hour race and the famous Isle of Man TT races.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors