The rebranding of Qualitread retreading products in Europe under the Bridgestone brand name continues in January with the renaming of the M729 drive tread and R168 trailer tread as Bridgestone Retread products. In April the Qualitread M729 EVO regional drive tyre will also join the Bridgestone Retread line-up.
China’s Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber has entered into a joint venture agreement with Thai Hua Rubber to establish a tyre production facility in Thailand’s Rayong Province. According to Bangkok based newspaper The Nation, the plant will be set up with a five billion baht (₤102.7 million) investment from the two parties; Hangzhou Zhongce holds an 85 per cent share in the joint venture, with the remainder belonging to the Thailand based rubber company.
The Caterham-Lola SP/300.R will be fitted with brand new ultra-high performance racing tyres developed by Cooper Tire. The new tyre is being developed in parallel with Caterham’s chassis, so that it “evolves” with the chassis, according to Cooper. Caterham has a long-time relationship with Cooper via the US company’s Avon Tyres brand, which has been the OE fitment for all Caterham Cars since 1991.
Market figures released by Pirelli Tyre show Europe’s OE passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre market to have grown 13 per cent year-on-year during 2010, while eight per cent growth was witnessed in the replacement market. The tyre maker’s information for the European truck tyre market shows 18 per cent growth in the replacement segment during the year. Information for the OE truck sector is currently not available.
Registrations of new passenger cars throughout the EU27 region of Western and Eastern Europe decreased 5.5 per cent year-on-year during 2010, with a total of 13,360,599 new units registered throughout the year. In releasing the year’s registration statistics, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association commented the depressed 2010 results were “marked by the ending of government fleet renewal schemes in many EU countries.” Registrations in December amounted to 1,009,638 units, 3.2 per cent less than a year earlier.
During the first quarter of 2011, Bridgestone will implement price increases on all consumer, commercial, retreaded and specialty tyres sold in Europe. Prices will rise by an average of six per cent, however this will vary between markets and product categories.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres reports securing a major deal to support the new fleet of Bombardier CRJ1000 Next Gen regional jets operated by Spanish carrier Air Nostrum. The Valencia based airline operates as a franchise of Iberia Airlines and has 20 of the new aircraft on order, with options on a further 15. This will be the largest fleet of CRJ1000s in the world and Air Nostrum will take delivery of its first aircraft later this month. Dunlop Aircraft Tyres will supply the two nosewheel and four mainwheel tyres for each of the 100-seat aircraft.
In addition to price rises in the US, as of January 1 Nexen has increased tyre prices in Europe. According to Nexen Tire Europe, prices for all product segments, including passenger car, 4×4 and light commercial vehicles, have gone up by at least nine per cent. The company says it was compelled to take this inevitable measure as “in the previous few months raw material costs, above all for natural rubber, have skyrocketed.” The company notes that in addition to natural rubber, prices of all products necessary for tyre production have increased.
Thanks to a combination of bad weather and economic gloom, most sectors of the motorcycle and scooter tyre replacement industry suffered during 2010. So it is good to hear of one manufacturer reporting a large growth in sales. This manufacturer is the maker of Sava tyres. And while Bike Tyrestore, the UK trade distributor for the Slovenian produced brand, comments that Sava is not yet a “household name”, it notes that its products are approaching dominance in the UK motor scooter replacement tyre market and Sava is also making strong progress in the fields of light motorcycle and on/off road tyre sales.
Audi’s new A7 Sportback, released in Europe in Autumn 2010 and now being introduced into global markets, is to be fitted with Yokohama Advan tyres as original equipment. Yokohama Rubber reports its Advan Sport in size 265/35R20 99Y XL has been selected for the four door coupe, the fourth Audi model to be shipped with Yokohama tyres as original equipment.
During times of snow such as we have recently been experiencing in the UK and across larges swathes of Europe, chain maker RUD-Erlau is recommending that, as in Scandinavia, all commercial and rescue vehicles should carry a set of traction chains. While snow may be fun for the kids, “the last thing you want to be is either sliding on the stuff or stuck fast with nothing but a thermos for company” the company said in a statement, addressing those of us with both safety concerns and tight schedules to meet.
Europe’s passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre markets returned to year-on-year growth in November, reports Pirelli. The Italian tyre maker estimates a three per cent year-on-year growth in the region’s (excluding Russia) original equipment market plus replacement market growth of 15 per cent. Year to date, Pirelli’s estimates peg European OE market growth at 13 per cent and the aftermarket at eight per cent.
During recent years Vredestein has steadily built up its Eastern European business and overseen this region from its operation in Poland, which was established three years ago. Now, from January 1, 2011 onwards, Apollo Vredestein’s markets in Eastern Europe and the CIS will also be serviced by a second “Area Manager Export”, who will take on the responsibility of building up the company’s activities and structure within the region. Stepping into this role is Thomas Mittendorf, who is currently Apollo Vredestein’s public relations and media manager. Mittendorf explained to Tyres & Accessories that he will mainly take care of tyre markets in the Baltic States, the Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus – markets where Apollo Vredestein currently operates no marketing organisation of its own.
Nissan’s ‘Leaf’ electric car goes on sale in December 2010 and will hit the streets fitted with tyre’s from Bridgestone’s Ecopia range as original equipment. In Europe and Japan the Ecopia EP150 is being supplied to Nissan in size 205/55R16 91V while North American customers will receive their Leaf fitted with a size P205/55R16 89H version of the Ecopia EP422, a product designed for all-season use in this particular market. Beyond this fitment, Bridgestone states it will “continue working to bolster its line-up of Ecopia tyres, roll them out globally, and increase their use as original equipment.”
Cooper Tire will continue as the official control tyre supplier and title sponsor of the prestigious British F3 International Series until at least the end of the 2014 season. Cooper took over the supply and sponsorship of British F3 in 2009 from its Avon Tyres brand, which had previously been sole supplier to the series for 27 years, and now supplies the British GT Championship. The Cooper Tire British F3 International Series is widely acknowledged as one of the toughest domestic single-seater championships in the world and is a recognised route to the pinnacle of the sport for aspiring Formula 1 drivers, having produced 2009 FIA F1 World champion Jenson Button, and current F1 drivers Mark Webber, Rubens Barrichello, 2008 British F3 champion Jaime Algersuari, and newly signed Sauber driver and 2007 National Class champion Sergio Perez.
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