A custom-made trailer fitted with Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres has clocked up an impressive 270,000km with an average of 7 mm tread remaining. In the hands of Devon-based M. R. Horn Transport, the manufacturer estimates that the tyres have another 100,000km of life remaining before they will need to be regrooved. One of a fleet of seven, the trailer is used to carry loads of hay and straw, as well as heavy machinery.
As of the beginning of this week tyrepress.com has a new partner website delivering the latest tyre business news in Italian, PneusNews.it. Describing itself as “the new online magazine for information, documentation and analysis dedicated to the tyre and wheel in Italy”, PneusNews.it comes from the company internationally renowned for producing Neue Reifenzeitung and reifenpresse.de, a magazine and website dedicated to the German-speaking market, and Tyres & Accessories and your current website tyrepress.com for English-speakers across the world. All three products have market-leading e-Newsletters providing cutting-edge news updates.
From 2012, the EU requires maximum vehicle CO2 emissions levels to be reduced to 130 g/km across Europe. Start-stop technology, also known as micro hybrid technology, is a key part of vehicle manufacturers’ efforts to meet this target. Interest in start-stop has already skyrocketed, and forecasts indicate that 70 per cent of all vehicles produced in Europe by 2015 will feature this technology. Under its Varta brand, Johnson Controls Power Solutions EMEA has developed AGM and EFB batteries it says can meet the demands of this technology, and its Varta Start-Stop Plus and Start-Stop batteries are now ready to be launched to the aftermarket.
Maxxis says it will promote its products to “around 75,000 performance car enthusiasts” expected to attend seven shows at which the brand will be present this summer. In addition to this weekend’s Ultimate Street Car show and the British Superbike Championship, Maxxis has today confirmed it will attend Total Vauxhall Live on 7 August and Ford Fair on 8 August). Maxxis is the exclusive tyre partner of Future, the special-interest media company behind some of the UK’s most successful performance events, magazines and websites. The deal guarantees Maxxis a prominent position within the Platinum Retail Village at both Ford Fair – billed as ‘Europe’s biggest and best Ford festival’ – and Total Vauxhall Live, a new Vauxhall circuit event.
During the first quarter of the 2010 financial year, Toyo Rubber received net sales of 72,162 million yen (£528.2 million), a 15.7 per cent increase on the same period last year. This increase in sales was matched by a 13 per cent increase in global tyre sales by volume, with a total of 43,700 tonnes of tyres produced in the three months to June 30, 2010. The bulk of this, 37,500 tonnes, was destined for the Japanese market. Operating income for the quarter was 2,612 million yen (£19.1 million), compared with an operating loss of 3,054 million yen a year earlier, and net income amounted to 743 million yen (£5.4 million) compared with a net loss of 2,620 million yen in the same period of 2009.
Maxxis has announced it will support MSS Colchester Kawasaki in this year’s British Superbike Championship and attend the Ultimate Street Car show at the Santa Pod Raceway – both events are to take place this weekend (6-8 August).
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced that it will implement its third price increase this year on the tread rubber tyre retreading materials (and related products) it sell to the tyre retreading industry. According to an official statement published on 3 August, the prices will be increased by up to 12 per cent with immediate effect in Europe. Marangoni’s management said the increase is due to “sharp rises in the prices of raw materials.”
Red Bull’s Mark Webber used a perfectly timed super soft-medium tyre strategy to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and take the lead of the Formula 1 drivers’ championship in Sunday’s Grand Prix. He was able to extend a lead over Fernando Alonso thanks to a 43 lap first stint on the same set of Bridgestone super soft tyres on which he qualified, continuing to set fastest laps right up until changing to the medium compound, despite searing temperatures at the Hungaroring. He led Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Fernando Alonso across the line by over 17 seconds with teammate Sebastian Vettel in third.
Having taken the opportunity to promote its private Kingstone brand in Europe at Reifen 2010, wholesaler Kings Road Tyres goes into Brityrex looking to build relationships and communicate information effectively in the face-to-face format offered by the exhibition, in addition to continuing the stride made this year with Kingstone.
Wegmann Automotive, the worldwide market leader in balance weights will be presenting the innovations relating to the question of “The Importance of Balancing?” at its Brityrex stand (36B). With the firm’s well known Hofmann Power Weight range being used as the optimum example. Information on show is to include: The results of an extensive series of tests on the benefits of balance weights will be presented at the trade show; a video demonstrating the immediate effects of imbalance on a vehicle safety, comfort and wear consequences; a counter display specially developed for workshops to communicate the “Importance of Balancing” question more clearly to drivers.
Figures released by Pirelli and Michelin show growth in on-road tyre markets across all global regions during June 2010. The Italian and French tyre makers respectively estimated growth in Europe’s OE passenger car tyre market to be nine per cent and 8.9 per cent during the month, with year to date growth in this segment given as 22 per cent and 25.2 per cent. For the European replacement segment, Pirelli and Michelin report June market growth to have been 11 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively, with year to date growth figures exactly the same for both companies. Within Europe the OE truck tyre market is estimated by Pirelli to have grown 69 per cent year-on-year in June, while Michelin logs a 74.7 per cent growth for the month. Year to date growth is given as 30 per cent and 28.7 per cent. According to Pirelli European replacement market truck tyre sales grew 20 per cent in June, with Michelin providing a very similar figure of 19.7 per cent. Year to date, Pirelli and Michelin estimate growth in this segment to be 27 per cent and 28.7 per cent respectively.
Pirelli Spa has reported that the firm closed the first half of 2010 with revenues of 2,426.5 million euros (1H 2009: 2,026.2 million euros), up 19.8 per cent. Pre-tax profits (EBIT) grew 62.8 per cent to 193.4 million euros (2009: 118.8 million euros). Net income of continuing operations more than doubled to 80.8 million euros, compared with 30.3 million euros in the first half of 2009. Such was the success of the tyre business in the first half, the company raised its revenue target. Executives now expect revenues to rise 15 per cent organically compared with the target of more than 10 per cent organic growth estimated in May. Pirelli also announced that it will present its new 2011-2013 three-year plan to the financial community in November.
Alcoa and SAF-Holland have announced that they are working together to develop a new trailer wheel which can be mounted without a separate hub flange. The lightweight forged wheel weighs in at just 28.5 kilos and its size is 22.5 x 11.75. Maximum load per wheel comes in at 4500 kilos. The offset is 60 mm and the disc thickness is 35 mm.
In April Aston Martin launched its first four-door production car, the Rapide. Bridgestone states that it proposed its latest generation Potenza S001 to Aston Martin on the grounds of its response and precision, combined with its high stability levels in the wet. The result of this offer has been the fitment of Bridgestone’s tyre as standard equipment since the Rapide’s debut.
ETRMA, the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association, claims that the market for tyre derived products has become one that is “sustainable and economically viable.” Despite that fact that the recession is having a negative impact on the supply of end-of-life tyres to sorting and recycling companies, the ETRMA confirms that a positive trend in the management of end of life tyres is occurring, and the European recovery rate has now reached 96 per cent. “This achievement also promotes Europe as one of the most advanced regions in the world in the recycling and recovery of tyres,” claims the ETRMA in a press statement.
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