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Pirelli Scorpion Ready for Rally d’Italia Sardegna

After battling it out in the Argentine Sierras, the World Rally Championship is back in Europe and drivers are getting ready to hit the tough gravel roads of Sardinia. The Rally d’Italia Sardegna, the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is also another challenge for Pirelli Scorpion tyres – which, for this rally, come with a hard compound and, as usual, cannot be hand-cut.

This is the sixth year in which the Italian rally has been held in Sardinia and it will again be based in Olbia, although special stages will bring the teams to the southern end of the island where they will have to face challenging and mostly fast terrain, in places narrow and winding with a sandy surface concealing a hard base: all this will make the second passage even harder and the Pirelli Scorpion tyres will be put to the test together with the skill and precision of the drivers.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tesco Extends Bandvulc Contract

Tesco, the largest retailer in the UK and third largest globally, is to continue its long term agreement with Bandvulc Tyres, the Devon-based commercial tyre manager and retreader. Bandvulc’s tyre management facility, BTC, manages all of the commercial tyre requirements of Tesco Distribution, Fuel and Northern Ireland operations, making it one of the largest non-transport fleets in Europe.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Delticom Reports Improved Q1 Profits

During the opening quarter of the current fiscal year Delticom AG enjoyed a more than 300 per cent increase in year-on-year net income, up from 0.5 million euros to 1.9 million. This growth came on the back of a 19.8 per cent increase in sales to 51 million euros. These revenues are divided up into 46.7 million euros for the company’s eCommerce segment – an increase of 21.4 per cent – and 4.3 million euros for the Wholesale segment. EBIT rose from 0.5 million euros to 2.6 million year-on-year, with a quarterly EBIT margin of 5.2 per cent.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Launches RING24h Breakdown Service

According to Marangoni, research shows that each year 13 per cent of trucks and buses experience tyre problems. This is clearly a major issue for the road transport industry, not only in terms of related costs (service, vehicle and driver downtime, wages that still have to be paid, along with a less efficient usage of resources) but also due to the late delivery penalties imposed upon transport companies and the consequent potential loss of customers. When such unplanned stoppages occur abroad, the possibility of language barriers when contacting the breakdown service also exists.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin 2Q Tyre Volumes Predicted to Be -18%

Assuming stable share, Michelin’s second quarter tyre sales volume is expected to be inline with analysts’ earlier estimates of a drop of 18 per cent. However, Michelin’s monthly tyre market data, which has become something of barometer in the current unstable market conditions, shows that the leading French tyre manufacture is performing better than analysts had expected. In an investor’s note entitled ‘Punctured but still rolling” Morgan Stanley described the company’s recent performance as “slightly better than our expectations, after adjusting for an average two fewer selling days across Europe.” Year-on-year growth rates remain negative, but the pace of the decline is considered to be “more on track to meet or exceed [forecasted] tyre sales to dealers.”

As a result of the fact that tyre prices are positively correlated with both volume and input costs, Morgan Stanley suggested manufacturers remain under pressure to cut prices: “Investors must prepare for a reasonable level of price ‘give back’ to struggling tyre dealers, distributors and consumers in this environment…We believe depressed volumes and the tailwinds from lower raw material that will materialize in the second half will continue to put at risk the pricing discipline – and the profitability – of the industry.”

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Truck OE Tyre Sales Down 74%

European truck tyre OE sales reportedly fell an enormous 74 per cent in April, while replacement tyre volumes were down 44 per cent. The figures, which are sourced from leading tyre manufacturer Michelin, show that most global markets are affected (China aside). As far as truck tyre sales are concerned, the good news is that everyone’s best guess is that this segment cannot remain under this “particular pressure” forever and that there is still a good chance of improvement, or at least a slowing in the downward trend in time for the second half of 2009.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s Poland TBR Facility Officially Opened

A traditional “kagami-biraki” sake barrel breaking ceremony attended by more than a hundred guests and a guided factory tour has marked the official opening of Bridgestone’s new 200 million truck and bus radial facility in Stargard, northwest Poland. Senior company management including Bridgestone Corporation CEO Shoshi Arakawa and Bridgestone Europe CEO Toru Tsuda presided over the May 18 events and played host to numerous local, regional and national officials such as Mrs Grazyna Henclewska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, Mr. Tanabe, Japan’s Ambassador to Poland and Mr. Husejko, Marshal of West Pomerania.

19th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ContiSportContact 3 Specially Modified for Panamera Fitment

Hot on the heels of OE reports from Michelin and Pirelli is news that Continental has especially adapted its ContiSportContact 3 for the Porsche Panamera. Conti states the new sports saloon will be launched with its tyres, tweaked to match the car’s chassis and particular specifications. This limited series of Porsche specific tyres will display the designation ‘N0’ after the product name as a point of difference from the standard ContiSportContact 3.

The Panamera’s front wheels will be fitted with size 255/45 ZR 19 (100Y) tyres while the rear will wear size 285/40 ZR 19 (103Y). The alternative sizes 245/50 ZR 18 (100Y) and 275/45 ZR 18 (103Y) have also been approved by Porsche for the Panamera and also carry the special designation ‘N0’.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Launches Next Generation Commercial Tyres

Continental has announced the launch of its new range of commercial vehicle regional and long distance tyres. The manufacturer has called the launch its “biggest for ten years”, representing four new design features for the second generation of steer and drive tyres, joining the HTR 2, which has been on the market for about a year. The tyres feature entirely new inner liner technology, dubbed AirKeep for its ability to stay inflated for longer, in addition to modifications to the belt, bead and contour design.

Conti is backing up its new range with a “Technology Truck” tour throughout Europe, including a visit to the UK in June, to showcase the range to fleet managers and dealers, as well as providing a new electronic tool, based on research conducted by Continental and certified by DEKRA, which calculates the economic and ecological benefits of fitting the new range to customers’ fleets: the ContiCostCalculator. The series 2 regional and long distance tyres will be available initially in the following sizes: Regional HSR 2 (steer) and HDR 2 (drive) – 295/80R22.5, 315/80R22.5, 315/70R22.5; HTR 2 (trailer) – 385/65R22.5, 445/65R22.5. Long-Distance HSL 2 (steer) and HDL 2 (drive) – 295/60R22.5, 315/60R22.5. The HTL 1 series trailer tyre is still available in sizes 385/55R22.5, 385/55R19.5 and 445/45R19.5.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Vredestein Banden Buyout Imminent

Apollo’s vice chairman Neeraj Kanwar was quoted today as saying “We are looking at closing this deal [to acquire Vredestein Banden] in the next few days,” a new press release indicates. Indian manufacturer Apollo Tyres expects to acquire Dutch sector player Vredestein Banden for an undisclosed sum soon, according to Dow Jones. The company’s board gave the green light to the buyout, which is part of Apollo’s strategy to expand its presence in Europe, on 30 April.

Vredestein Banden is fully owned by tyre producer Amtel-Vredestein NV. The company went into bankruptcy last month, but its unit Vredestein Banden and its European subsidiaries, which have separate financing arrangements, remained unaffected.

13th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dow Europe May Divest Synthetic Rubber Wing

According to reports, Dow Chemical Company has said that its Dow Europe GmbH (Dow) subsidiary is “exploring divestiture options for its synthetic rubber business.” No further details or timeframe have been released at this stage, however, the move is being seen as part of the company’s ongoing work to streamline its portfolio of businesses. Dow’s Synthetic Rubber business produces and distributes synthetic rubbers. The business is located in central Germany and includes five production plants and a research centre in city of Schkopau.

12th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Volkswagen 1st European OEM Supplied by Hankook Hungary

Volkswagen has become the recipient of Hankook’s first-ever OE delivery to a European vehicle manufacturer from its Dunaujvaros factory. The supply of Hungarian produced tyres to Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge in Hanover, Germany is taking place under an agreement to fit the Hankook product as original equipment on Volkswagen’s Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California van models.

Europe’s largest automobile manufacturer is kitting out the fifth generation of its “T5” van family with the size 215/65 R16C version of Hankook’s new Radial RA 28. Hankook describes the tyre to be fitted as a “specially balanced tyre perfectly suited to the variety of uses of such vehicles”, and notes it is exclusively supplied to Volkswagen in Germany.

8th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

First Quarter Delivered ‘Unprecedented’ Low Demand, Says Rhodia

In reporting Rhodia’s first quarter 2009 results, company chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu has reflected upon a difficult three-month period. “As anticipated, we faced in the first quarter unprecedented low levels of demand,” said Clamadieu. “This, combined with the absorption of costly raw material inventories, resulted in a major adverse impact on profitability.”

6th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook CEO ‘Looking Forward’ to What Lies Ahead

Hankook Tire reports that effective cost management and initial signs of a reviving market have helped it recover from negative territory in the previous financial quarter to post sales of KRW 1.1346 trillion (£599.7 million) in the first quarter of 2009. This result, 13.8 per cent up on a year earlier, is supplemented by operating profits of KRT 35.3 billion (£18.6 million), despite the market remaining, in Hankook’s words, a “challenging” one.

During the first quarter exports from Korea rose 7.3 per cent year-on-year, with export demand showing a 19.9 per cent increase to North America and 8.9 per cent to Europe from a year earlier. The company also states that its Hungarian plant, the main production facility for the European market, has seen a “significant” 24.7 per cent growth in sales from the final quarter of 2008 and an 87.0 per cent increase from a year earlier.

5th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ContiTech Moves Spanish Hose & Pipe Production to Hungary

Continental is also making changes outside of its tyre business – the company has announced plans to end vehicle hose and pipe production in its Industrias del Caucho site facility in Spain to two existing Hungarian facilities, Vác and Makó. Machinery from the Spanish factory has already been installed in Hungary, and further equipment will be added later in the year.

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors