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NHTSA Issues Final TPMS Regulations

(Akron/Tire Review) The National Highway Traffic safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning issued its final regulations concerning installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) on all new passenger vehicles sold in the US.

The precise details of NHTSA’s new regulations must still be determined as a copy of the 187-page document was released only a few hours ago. NHTSA did note that final rule requires automakers to install “a system that can detect when one or more of the vehicle’s tyres are 25 per cent or more below the recommended inflation pressure.”

7th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Master Contract Proposal Sent To Striking Cooper Workers

(Akron/Tire Review) According to reports, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. sent a summary of its latest master contract proposal directly to striking Texarkana, Ark., plant workers last week, urging them to seek union permission to vote on the proposal.

The Texarkana Gazette reported that in the proposal and a letter from Cooper negotiating team to members of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 752, Cooper officials said “it is important for you to see the entire final proposal that is on the table so you can make your own decisions as to whether this is a fair contract.”

6th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper/USWA Injunction Postponed

(Akron/Tire Review) According to a United Steelworkers of America (USWA) website, the union and Cooper Tire & Rubber have “agreed to postpone” an injunction hearing that was scheduled to be held yesterday. No further details were given.

24th March 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Strike Update

(Texarkana/Tire Review) Roughly 1,000 people turned out for a union-organised rally supporting the 1,600 workers that went on strike nearly a week ago at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Texarkana, Arkansas plant. David Boone, union president, said the union’s executive committee received a 95 per cent backing in a vote granting the authority to call a strike.

22nd March 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

US House Passes Lawsuit Bill

The US House of Representatives today followed the Senate’s lead and passed legislation that proponents hope will protect businesses from large-scale class action lawsuits, writes Tire Review. The House approved the same measure that won Senate approval on 10 February by a 279-149 vote. The new law will ban state courts from hearing multi-state class action suits, forcing those actions into the federal court system. The aim is to prevent plaintiff attorneys from “shopping” for sympathetic state courts to file lawsuits, and reap huge fees from multi-million dollar verdicts.

18th February 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Acquires Samara and Belaya Kalitva Facilities from Rusal

Alcoa has announced that it has proceeded with its purchase of Rusal’s fabricating facilities in Samara and Belaya Kalitva in the Russian Federation. One of the two plants will be used for forged wheel production.The news following approval of the relevant Russian governmental organisation, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS). This resulted in an FAS private ruling stipulating condition to ensure that Alcoa complies with its legal requirements and notification obligations. With the final government approvals in place, Alcoa and Rusal say they are taking the necessary steps to complete the transaction.

According to the companies, the terms of the transaction will be disclosed when the deal has been completed, which is expected at the end of January 2005. “The decision is an important step forward for both Alcoa and for Rusal,” said Alexander Bulygin, Rusal’s CEO. “For us, it means we can move ahead with our strategic focus on upstream and alloy production, and on expanding our raw materials access. We welcome Alcoa to Russia and anticipate continuing close relations in the future.”

The Samara facility is located about 500 miles southeast of Moscow. It features cast house, flat rolled products, extrusion, and forging capabilities and serves customers in a number of different markets, including transportation, packaging, and industrial products.

The Belaya Kalitva facility is located about 500 miles south of Moscow. The facility also features cast house, flat rolled products, extrusions, tubes, and forgings capabilities. The Belaya Kalitva facility has specialised plate rolling and finishing equipment that will complement and increase Alcoa’s present supply position. Alcoa claims that with its know how and management systems, the plant will not only be able to expand the product offerings for Russian customers but also will eventually be able to produce products for major customers in the west.

4th January 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Wheel Corporation Issues Record Winter Bonus to Employees

Titan Wheel Corporation (Quincy/Illinois), a subsidiary of Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI), issued a record winter bonus to its employees. The bonus amounted to an average payout of $2,500 per employee. Each employee received $200 of their bonus in Sacajawea golden dollars. This brings the total bonus for the year to approximately $5,000 per employee.

20th December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Rejects Federal TPMS Proposal

Through the collective voice of the US Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) the American tyre industry has registered its “strong opposition” to the proposed federal TPMS regulation, saying: “It may create a false sense of security among consumers.”

According to the association, the rule, proposed by the NHTSA, does not meet the government’s objective of improving consumer safety. Instead the association warns that the rule in its current format may increase the risk of tyre failures.

The proposed rule would mandate that every car, SUV, pickup truck and minivan be equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system that warns drivers when tyre pressure is 25 per cent below the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure. The RMA warns that a 25 per cent drop in a tyre’s recommended pressure would still leave the tyre in an unsafe condition. In a statement released by the association the RMA suggested that under the proposed standard, “motorists could be driving for thousands of miles on tyres that are appreciably under-inflated but still not receive a warning.”

“A tyre pressure monitor that doesn’t provide a timely low-pressure warning to motorists will not enhance safety,” Mr Shea commented adding: “A tyre pressure monitoring system is meant to supplement, not replace, regular tyre maintenance by consumers.”

The RMA supported its argument with the results of research it conducted in 2003. It found that nearly two-thirds of US motorists would be less likely to check their tyre pressure regularly with a TPMS-equipped vehicle. Other criticisms put forward by the RMA include: The fact that the TPMS would not be required to be tested at speeds of above 63 mph; at temperatures below freezing or above 40 degrees Celsius; during turning and braking manoeuvres; or on secondary roads. The RMA also criticised the suggestion that the TPMS system would not be required to work with replacement or full-size spare tyres.

“In short, it is contrary to NHTSA’s mission to promote highway safety to promulgate a TPMS standard that may create a false sense of security among consumers about an issue as important as tyre inflation pressure,” the RMA said stating, “our intent is to work with NHTSA to get this regulation right and to get it done soon,” said RMA president and CEO, Donald B Shea, said.

12th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Manufacturers Form New Federation

The BRMA and ITMA have joined together to set up a new federal body to represent the interests of both associations’ tyre manufacturing members. The new Tyre Industry Federation will come into force as of 1 January 2005 and will take the form of a limited company. The BRMA are describing the union as “formalising the already close working relationship that already exists between them.”

14th October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper in Lawsuit with USWA

The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) is to be tied up in yet another lawsuit, this time with Cooper Tire & Rubber. A grievance has been filed to delay the sale of the company’s Cooper-Standard Automotive division to the Cypress Group and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.

Legal action is being taken on behalf of the 1,500 USWA members that work in four of the division’s plants across America.

1st October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Argentinean Labour Dispute Ends

The intervention of government officials has brought a yearlong labour dispute between Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) Argentina and its workers to an end.

21st September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

US Authority Proposes TPMS System

The US government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially proposed that all new vehicles carry a TPMS. The announcement comes after the NHTSA sent the draft rule to the Office of Management and Budget on 1 July.

16th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Amerityre Plans to Revolutionise Tyre Industry

After passing US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Amerityre is set to launch its polyurethane car tyres into the market within the next 12 months. The American corporation believes that it will initiate a conversion from rubber to polyurethane tyres throughout the whole industry and estimates that the complete conversion will take 12-15 years. Tyres & Accessories will take a look at this unique concept and in particular at the manufacturing differences and advantages that it holds over its rubber alternative.

30th July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Polyurethane Car Tyres Pass Test Standards

Polyurethane car tyres, made by the Amerityre Corporation, have passed US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109, which specify tyre dimensions, load ratings and laboratory test requirements for bead unseating resistance, strength, endurance and high speed performance. Passing the test is the first step towards a tyre being able to be offered for sale in the USA.

28th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Losses continue at Federal-Mogul

American auto supplier, Federal-Mogul, continued to make a loss during the first three months of 2004 but sales figures reveal a turnaround in trading. The company´s first quarter report show increased operating sales of $186 million resulted in net losses of $20 million – down $17 million on the same period in 2003. Federal-Mogul, which continues to undergo financial restructuring after filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in 2001, has attributed the improvements to higher sales of original equipment in both Europe and North America, lower interest payments and favourable exchange rates. Management have also stated that trading figures will not be adversely affected despite a substantial loss of equipment and stock following a fire at the company´s distribution centre in Tennessee. Federal-Mogul currently has one wheel plant, based in Poland, where it produces tyres for a number of German wheel manufacturers.

21st April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors