Tyre manufacturer Maxxis International has received original equipment accreditation from PSA. The company says it has developed its MA-510 tyre in conjunction with PSA specifically for the European OE market – it already complies with the European type approval standard 661/2009 – and is supplying the tyre in size 175/65R14 on the Peugeot 206+.
Since Avon Tyres began supplying control tyres to the British GT Championship in 2006 drivers have clocked up some 200,000 racing miles on its products. Now they’ll have the chance to add a few more miles to the tally following the signing of an agreement to extend the tyre maker’s title sponsorship and control tyre supply until the end of the 2014 season. Avon’s first outing under the new agreement will be at Oulton Park on April 23 to 25 next year.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ TM900 High Power super single tyre is designed to fit the most advanced high power tractors, and now an extra large size (900/60R42) is on the market for the New Holland T9 from 350 to 500hp and the Case Steiger from 350 up to 450hp both in Europe and North America. At higher horsepower, tractors require dual tyres, which are typically recommended for field application only; Trelleborg says its super single 900/60R42 TM900 High Power has been engineered to combine outstanding performances both in the field and on the road.
The UK's automotive components industry is at a critical "tipping point" and could vanish by the middle of the decade without urgent action, members of the Welsh Automotive Forum were warned. It wouldn't run down gradually but, like a ship sinking, would suddenly vanish, said Prof. Garel Rhys, chairman of WAF. "In 2008 the automotive manufacturing sector employed more than 163,000 people but two years later it was down to 116,000 – that's a 28 per cent cut and an absolute blood letting," he said speaking at WAF's winter networking dinner.
CGS Tyres has notified its customers that prices for all its products in all markets, including Europe and North America, will increase by 7.5 to 10 per cent. This price rise, which will take effect January 1, 2011, is being taken in response to rising raw materials prices.
The Marangoni Group has announced that it will use the Marix brand – until now reserved for car, off-road and light commercial vehicle retreads – to represent all products made at the factory in Rovereto (Trento), the second biggest retreading production site in Europe. Retreads for trucks and earthmoving machinery will therefore now also be branded Marix by Marangoni.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has announced a price increase on agricultural and forestry tyres and wheels effective 1 January, 2011. The increases will be in the range six to 10 per cent in Europe and North America. The price hike includes all tyres and wheels for agricultural, forestry and light industrial application and is the result of escalating raw material costs, according to the company.
Having brought its first Formula One tyre test to a satisfactory conclusion, Pirelli reports that its next private test will take place in Bahrain from 12 – 16 December. There will be another private test session in Europe during January, before all the teams reconvene at the beginning of February for the first official test.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director commented: "We've passed our first test with full marks. All the teams have done plenty of laps and everyone has worked very hard. We've focused on the development of the front tire and that has given us the most satisfaction. On Monday, we begin to analyze the data collected over the last two days"
The recession of 2009 is fast becoming little more than an unpleasant memory and companies within the tyre industry are looking forward to a good and profitable 2011. Many are already preparing for this by investing in advertising for the coming year. Tyres & Accessories’ sister publication, Neue Reifenzeitung, is sent to German-speaking tyre industry professionals and thus provides an ideal platform for those wishing to maintain and expand market share in the important Central European region.
Alcoa Wheel Products Europe has introduced a new 22.5 x 11.75 wheel with 120 mm offset and a 5000 kilogram load index. The product, which is designed for truck front steer axles and trailer axles, reportedly weighs just 23.6 kilos and is available with 26 mm mounting holes in four finishes – Brushed, Mirror Polished, Dura-Bright and Dura-Flange.
Motor Wheel Service reports that it successfully launched xlite coach at Euro Bus Expo 2010, receiving over 100 enquiries for the new forged aluminium wheel range. Available in 9.00 x 22.5 inches and 11.75 x 22.5 inches, the product range has been specially adapted for the coach market and is available immediately.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ financial results for the nine months to September 30 show a 19 per cent increase in net sales plus a return to the black. During the nine-month period the company took in net sales of 424,514 million yen (£3.2 billion), as opposed to 356,662 during the same period of 2009. Operating income amounted to 28,640 million yen (£215.2 million), 190 per cent more year-on-year. Ordinary income was for the nine months was 25,311 million yen (£190.2 million) and net income 14,036 million yen (£105.5 million).
Toyota recently celebrated the sale of its 20 millionth vehicle in Europe, just 10 years after recording its 10 millionth sale in the continent. The company's entry into the European market began in 1963, supplying 190 Crown models to a distributor in Denmark. Today, Toyota has nine production plants in Europe, building vehicles, engines and transmissions, as well as R&D, design and training centres. The company's investment in its European operations stands at 1.2 billion Euros and it employs around 3,000.
Kumho has been the official tyre supplier to the Formula Three Euro Series since 2003. The newly-crowned 2010 Euro F3 champion on Kumho’s slicks is Edoardo Mortara. He contested the series previously in 2008, then had a year in GP2 before returning to F3 this year. He holds duel Italian and French nationality but races under the Italian flag and is responsible for two firsts for the series: the first victory for the French Signature team and the first for a VW-engined car. As official supplier, Kumho makes some 10,000 tyres available to the series per annum.
Kirkby Tyres has announced that it is now offering the Galaxy and Primex tyre brands to the OE and replacement markets in the UK and Ireland. The range includes the popular Mighty Mow, Turf Special, Beefy Baby, Super Trencher and others, says the tyre wholesaler based in Speke. Alliance acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the Galaxy and Primex brands in December 2009, when it bought key GPX International Tire Corp assets. Trelleborg Wheel Systems had previously held the European distribution rights to the Galaxy brand, and had continued to supply European customers in the first quarter of 2010.
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