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Conti: Casumina Tyres are for Asian Market

Continental AG has published a clarification of press coverage that suggested it had signed a five-year deal to import 170,000 truck tyres into Europe from the Casumina factory in Vietnam. Company representatives told Tyres & Accessories: “The information [that] Continental AG, will import 170,000 truck tyres for sale in EU countries is definitely wrong and not part of the contract.”

Herbert Mensching, managing director of Continental for Marketing and Sales Commercial Vehicle Tires Europe commented: “These bias truck tyres are typical for the Asian market; they are not being used in Europe. There is no intention to import these tyres into the European market”.

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Government Relations in Hungary on Track, Assures Hankook

A representative from Hankook Tire has commented on published news regarding the company’s operations in Hungary, allegations initially released by South Korea’s official news agency, Yonhap News, and repeated in the English language newspaper the Korea Times.

The Korea Times reported that the Hungarian government has cancelled previously agreed upon subsidy payments. However, when speaking with Tyres & Accessories, Hankook Europe public relations manager Felix Kinzer refuted the occurrence of any such event. “Both contract parties are fulfilling their contractual obligations according to the agreement,” stated Mr. Kinzer. “Part of these obligations is paying the subsidies according to the progress of the investment.” The more Hankook invests, reiterated Kinzer, the more they will continue to receive in subsidies.

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Farewells Motocross WGP

Bridgestone Europe has announced it will cease supplying tyres to teams participating in the Motocross World Grand Prix championships after the 2007 season. After a decade of top-level motocross, including three world titles, the company has decided to concentrate resources on MotoGP track racing from 2008.

“With an increased number of MotoGP teams riding on Bridgestone – including new world champion Casey Stoner with the Ducati Corse team – and a year-round development and testing program, Bridgestone has reluctantly decided to stop supporting the FIM motocross world championships and concentrate resources on MotoGP,” said Gunther Podevyn, senior manager Motorcycle Tyre Products, Bridgestone Europe.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Establishes a New Partnership in Brazil

In late October Marangoni announced the largest acquisition of new business the company has made outside of Europe. Its Brazil subsidiary, Marangoni do Brazil, has reached an agreement with Release Pneu Point to convert all eight of the retreading plants operated by Pneu Point to the Ringtread system. This conversion will be complete by the end of 2007. Pneu Point is a fast growing group that is active in the area of new vehicle distribution and new and retreaded tyre services, and Marangoni believes the adoption of the Ringtread system will permit Pneu Point to accelerate the growth of its retreading division and will allow a better integration with all its other activities.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Raise Truck & Agri Tyre Prices in US

Michelin North America has announced price increases for some of its tyre product lines. Commercial truck tyre prices will increase by up to six per cent on Michelin and BFGoodrich brand replacement tyres and up to four per cent on MRT retreads sold in the United States, effective January 1, 2008. Agricultural and Compact Line tyre prices will be raised by up to seven per cent on products sold in the United States, also effective as of January 1, 2008.

21st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Releases MotoGP Technology in New Tyre

The latest addition to Bridgestone’s Battlax range of tyres was shown off for the first time at the EICMA 2007 show in Milan. The Battlax BT-016, an advanced hypersport tyre, is designed to provide riders with maximum sport performance via the grip performance offered by Bridgestone’s MotoGP multi-layer compound technology. Compared to the BT-014 it will progressively replace, the new BT-016 provides handling improvement in all riding modes – with noticeably better contact feel, feedback, stability and grip – as well as longer wear life and lower noise levels.

Bridgestone has combined its top MotoGP construction technology with its latest multi-compound technology from SACT (Straight And Cornering Technology) to produce a sport tyre that gives high-level grip performance in braking, cornering and acceleration. The BT-016 front tyre features a new 3-Layer Compound (3LC): a centre compound for linear handling and longer wear life, flanked by a shoulder compound to secure high grip and a strong contact feeling. The rear BT-016 tyre features Bridgestone’s new 5-Layer Compound (5LC) technology, its first ever use on a street tyre. The centre compound gives good stability and higher mileage; the shoulder compound transfers the engine power to the road with strong traction; while the edge compound provides strong side grip and a sense of sure-footed contact at deep lean angles. Bridgestone comments that the line holding feels almost like riding on a rail.

21st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Revolution Opens In Style

Tuning company Revolution threw open the doors to their £1.4m premises in November and not only did the ‘Who’s Who’ of the tuning World turn up to help them celebrate, but also droves of their loyal customers. Yokohama rolled up with their full roadshow rig and tuned BMW demo car. Toyo presented the impressive Pontiac drag car of Malcolm Francis, and Buddy Club showcased their stunning DC5 Integra ATC racer. There really was something for everyone. Even KITT from the cult 1980s television programme Knight Rider put in an appearance! Also on hand were representatives and demo cars from the likes of Eibach, Koni and Whiteline.

15th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Artificial Turf May Be Unsafe, Officials Claim

(Akron/Tire Review – New Haven Register) Every new expanse of artificial turf contains plastic grass and about 120 tons of finely chopped tyres that may emit a small amount of cancer-causing agents. The layer of rubber “crumbs” makes the surface softer and more forgiving. It also gives off dozens of compounds that have not been studied or assessed for safety in the United States. Despite assurances from the Connecticut Department of Public Health that the chemicals in artificial turf are little cause for concern, environmentalists and a growing number of public officials in the Northeast are questioning the wisdom of building athletic fields containing the equivalent of 26,000 tyres of unknown composition.

Outdoor sports were played on grass and dirt until 1966 and the advent of the enclosed Houston Astrodome, which was too dark inside to grow grass. A Monsanto subsidiary produced ersatz grass that came to be called Astroturf. In 1967, Indiana State built the first stadium with outdoor Astroturf. Astroturf evolved into a product similar to a plastic shag carpet in-filled with granulated rubber.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Reports £831 million Sales in 2006

Kwik-Fit’s 2006 accounts show the company achieved turnover of £830.9 million (up 4.4 per cent) during its full year since being sold to PAI. EBITDA increased to £100 million in 2006, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year. In August 2005 CVC Capital Partners sold Kwik-Fit to PAI for around £800 million, despite reported bidding from a Bridgestone/Mitsubishi partnership.

According to reports, the group traded in line with expectations during the early part of 2007 with growth in sales boosted by new services like MOT testing in the UK and fleet business in continental Europe.

There are also said to be plans to open 50 new outlets across Europe. In addition, the company is expected to upgrade its estate in the UK, France and Holland with significant capital investment.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Close to US Tyre Plant Decision

(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire Co. is indeed planning to build its first US tyre plant, and hopes to announce its location by the end of this year. Dr. Sae Chul Oh, Kumho’s president, revealed the plans at last week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Company officials said that as many as five locations in Georgia and Alabama are being considered. The South Korean tyremaker is seeking a location that gives it the best access to US auto plants, a skilled labor force, optimum labor costs and ample access for workers and management. The plant will be based on Kumho’s modular Automated Production Unit technology, which it unveiled a few years ago in South Korea.

At the same time, Oh said, the company is also considering a plant for Europe. Oh said that for now only one will be built, and it appears the US is the first choice. A European plant would most likely be located in Eastern Europe.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

High Mileage Not a “Supreme Importance” for Winter Tyres, says Conti

Rating winter tyres according to just one criterion fails to take account of the many demands placed upon them, claim experts working with Continental Tyres. They report, for example, that mileage performance on its own cannot be considered to be of “supreme importance” for a winter tyre. Rather, a high level of grip on both wet and dry roads and in typical winter weather conditions – features that require a softer and therefore faster wearing compound – should be given higher priority.

“What makes a really good winter tyre is having a well-balanced design incorporating a wide range of driving characteristics,” explained Alexander Lührs, press officer at Continental. “And here what counts is not achieving outstanding performance in one or the other discipline, but rather offering a design that is as balanced as possible, so that overall its characteristics meet the highest demands.” Above all, a tyre needs to provide good driving characteristics in typical winter weather conditions, including effective aquaplaning prevention and short braking distances in the wet.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Car Market Still Buoyant, Says Report

The much publicised “credit crunch” which has seen interest rates rise sharply this year has not scared off UK car buyers, says ACF Car Finance. The UK market came in at 419,000 units (+1.3 per cent) in September, which is thought to have been spurred on by the new registration plate which pushed private retail sales up by 1.5 per cent. The UK market performed better than was expected, despite fears of a slowing economy and the increased cost of borrowing money.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Reports Improved Third Quarter Sales & Net Income

Bridgestone announced its third quarter results on November 1, along with combined results for the first three quarters of the year. These figures revealed a 303.7 billion (£1.28 billion) or 14 per cent increase in net sales for the first nine months of the year, with sales for Q1 to Q3 2007 recorded as 2,466.7 billion yen (£10.36 billion). Operating income increased 32 per cent during the same period, rising to 162.8 billion yen (£683 million), with net income jumping 64 per cent to 82.3 billion yen (£345.6 million).

The company received 1,993 billion yen (£8.37 billion) through the sale of tyres during the first nine months of the year, 16 per cent more than for the same period of 2006. Operating income for Bridgestone’s tyre operation was 123.1 billion yen (£516.9 million), an increase of 44 per cent over 2006. Bridgestone reports that it worked to “maximise sales momentum by introducing appealing new products worldwide, while at the same time improving and expanding strategic production sites around the world in support of those products that have been identified as strategic and important to the company’s future growth.”

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Deldo Announces Further Warehouse Extensions

Belgian wholesaler Deldo, who in September completed an 8,000 square metre extension of its central warehouse in the port city of Antwerp, has announced plans to further extend the facility. In January the company will begin the work of adding a further 10,000 square metres to its warehouse/storage premises, giving the company a total warehouse space of 70,000 square metres.

The company claims its facility to be the largest in Europe and intends in part to use the increased space to further its stock of winter tyres, thereby improving availability. The company reports it is now able to offer neighbouring countries, such as Germany, a 24/48 hour delivery service.

31st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nordic Pneu Joins Starco Group

On 1 December 2007 Starco NV will officially takeover Nordic Pneu. Nordic Pneu, based in Saint Arnoult en-Yvelines near Paris, is a tyre and wheel wholesaler that primarily sells to the French aftermarket in the agriculture, forestry, industry and passenger car segments. The company has an annual turnover of 12 million euros and has 12 employees. Karl Mjörndal has been both owner and daily manager of Nordic Pneu since 1986. According to a company statement Starco is the fastest growing company in its part of the industry and expects to achieve 125 million euros of turnover in 2007.

Nordic Pneu’s integration into the Starco Group is a natural step in view of the globalisation of the business and the “generational change” of the company, according to the companies. It also fits with Starco’s goal of distributing throughout Europe. For this reason the warehouse at Nordic Pneu has been selected to be one of Starco’s distribution centres on the ‘Hansa-line’. This line is said to symbolise Starco’s aftermarket strategy, which focuses on ensuring fast delivery of tyres and wheels for vehicles within the selected segments anywhere in Europe.

29th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors