Ferrari Archives - Page 11 of 18 - Tyrepress

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Beru TSS a Factory Option for Audi R8

Audi’s R8 has become the latest in a string of performance vehicles to offer drivers and passengers the added safety of Beru’s Tire Safety System (TSS). The recently launched sports car comes fitted with a 420HP engine capable of propelling the vehicle to speeds in excess of 180 mph, and the optionally fitted TSS provides the added safety of direct monitoring that constantly checks tyre pressure whilst the vehicle is moving and pre-warning the driver of damage through insufficient tyre pressure or through gradual or sudden loss of pressure.

In order to ensure the proper functioning of the TSS system in many different driving situations, the components are tested on a high-speed racetrack. In addition to the enormously high centrifugal forces on the TSS sensors, signal transmission between the TSS tyre electronics, antenna and control unit must meet the highest demands.

27th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Technology, Practicality Moving Us Closer to Fewer Speed Ratings

(Akron/Tire Review) For too many years, we’ve been explaining to our customers why they need speed-rated tyres. It’s the right choice, for example, if the vehicle came OE with a V-rated UHP radial. To make that rating, the tyre must be able to run at sustained speeds of up to 149 mph.

“But I don’t drive 149 mph,” the customer tells us. And, common sense says they’re right. If you drive that fast, your clothes will go out of style before you get out of jail.

About 30 years ago, speed-rated tyres seemed like a darned good idea. They arrived via Europe, where sporty performance cars and speed-rated tyres were all the rage. The tyres were so good that U.S. tyremakers, who were literally not yet up to speed, were embarrassed.

24th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Damascus Road Experience

That’s it – I’m converted. If I previously had any niggling hesitancies about the need for run-flat or cold-weather tyres, the events of the previous few weeks have well and truly seen them off. And don’t even get me started about indirect tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS)! So far 2007 has seen two bouts of snow hit most of Great Britain. In mid-February thousands of schools closed and traffic ground to a halt because a measly inch or two fell. Thinking back I saw dozens of cars squirm and understeer on the thin layer of motorway slush, largely because there was hardly a cold weather tyre in sight.

29th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

A Brief History of the Wheel

It is not known whether the first individual to contemplate the design of a wheel had vehicles or potter’s throwing tables in mind, but archaeologists have established that the first wooden wheel was created, for whatever purpose, more than 5,000 years ago. However it was some time afterwards that a stroke of genius led to the replacement of the solid disk wheel by one featuring spokes. This particular development made the transport of goods over longer distances possible for the first time. Therefore, if the invention of the wheel was man’s first revolution, then the development of the wheel with spokes could be seen as the second. And as a result mobility became possible, although still as a privilege for the wealthy.

26th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Rejects Favouritism Claims

Bridgestone has rejected allegations that, as the sole Formula One tyre supplier in 2007, they are not treating all teams equally. At a recent Tem Principals’ meeting in Monaco, it was suggested that while at least one team, speculated as being Ferrari, is receiving a free supply of tyres for the season, others are required to pay Bridgestone up to US$5 million (£2.5 million) for their’s.

15th December 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Swift Handling with Goodyear

Goodyear is claiming its Eagle F1 tyre has won more independent tyre tests in its category than any other tyre, and now Suzuki have chosen the award winning tyre for their latest hot hatch, the Suzuki Swift Sport. Every Swift Sport that leaves the factory will have Goodyear Eagle F1 as standard equipment. Former F1 driver Tiff Needell was thrilled by the handling of the Goodyear Eagle F1 equipped Swift on TV’s 5th Gear recently: “Across the Brecon Beacons I wanted to find out if the Swift was as much fun as a Ferrari or Porsche. The Swift feels alive, it feels frisky” raved Needell. The Swift Sport is fitted with 195/50R16 or 195/45R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD-3 tyres as original equipment.

1st December 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Finalises F1 Contracts

Bridgestone Motorsport has finalised contracts for the provision of Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres with the Renault F1 Team, Team McLaren Mercedes, Honda Racing F1 Team, BMW Sauber F1 Team, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. The six new teams are expected to run on Bridgestone F1 tyres for the first time at the Barcelona winter test in Spain, provisionally scheduled for 28-30 November, 2006.

After six years of competitive tyre supply, the FIA Formula One World Championship is about to enter a new era with Bridgestone as the sole supplier of F1 tyres from 2007 to 2010. The new teams will be joining Bridgestone’s current stable of five teams: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, Panasonic Toyota Racing, WilliamsF1 Team, Spyker MF1 Team and Super Aguri F1 Team.

13th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Restructures F1 Group

Hisao Suganuma, the technical manager of Bridgestone’s Formula One tyre group will return to work at the Japanese’ manufacturers motorsport group in Japan in 2007 as part of the company’s staff rotation programme. Suganuma was appointed as F1 technical manager in 2001 and was a key figure in Ferrari’s four F1 world championship victories from 2001-2004. In 2007 Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier in Formula One and has appointed Kees van der Grint and Jun Matsuzaki as joint technical managers in view of the increased workload.

26th October 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Alonso Takes F1 Title As Schumacher Bows Out

The Formula 1 season came to an exciting end at the Brazilian Grand Prix with Fernando Alonso of Renault (Michelin) retaining his world title after finishing second. Ferrari’s (Bridgestone) Felipe Massa led from pole to flag to record a win in his home country – his second career win – and Honda’s (Michelin) Jenson Button finished third.

23rd October 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Caterham Smashes Top Gear Record on Dunlop Tyres

A stunning power lap from a Dunlop test driver in a Caterham CSR260 has smashed the Stig’s Top Gear track record and ousted the Koenigsegg CCX from its place at the top. The 250-horsepower Caterham was pushed to the top with the help of Dunlop track-day tyres and beat supercars such as the Maserati MC12, Pagani Zonda F and Ferrari F60 Enzo in a triumphant day at Dunsfold.

16th October 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Investments Boost Rockingham’s Success

Since Corby Developments Limited acquired the majority shareholding in the Rockingham racing circuit in late 2005, it has implemented a £5 million development plan to give the circuit a major makeover. Billing itself as “Europe’s fastest motor racing circuit” – a claim based on the fact that in 2001 Tony Kanaan went round Rockingham’s 1.5 mile oval in 24.719 seconds in his Ford/Lola Champ car – the scope of the facilities now available at Rockingham has attracted a number of events. This year the circuit has already hosted the Avon-sponsored British GT, 2006 Pickup Truck Racing Championship, SCSA Third Round and the Rockingham VSR Championship.

12th October 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Winners Enjoy Italian Grand Prix

Ten lucky motorists are coming back down to earth after enjoying a dream trip to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza courtesy of Bridgestone UK. Eight of the winners who travelled to the Autodromo Nationale di Monza for the 9 September spectacle were runners-up in a national prize draw run in association with Ford and Rapid Fit. Four pairs of tickets were up for grabs after motorists completed an entry form at participating national outlets following a free tyre check.

26th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Stars Help First Stop Dealers Raise Charity Cash

First Stop tyre dealers rubbed shoulders with stars from TV and radio to help raise more than £1,500 for impoverished African youngsters. The owners of Tyrecraft, Bootle; Tyresave, St Helens; Tyreworld, Widnes; Pemberton Tyres, Wigan; and Ashton Tyre & Exhaust, Ashton-in-Makerfield, were joined by Big Brother celebrities Nikki and Mikey, Coronation Street’s Richard Fleeshman and Radio 2 presenter Sally ‘Traffic’ Boazman at Truckfest North West, which attracted thousands of people to Haydock Park Racecourse on 16/17 September.

20th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Schumacher Wins 90th Grand Prix, Announces Retirement

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will retire from F1 at the end of the season. The announcement follows Schumacher’s first place in the Italian Grand Prix, a result that reduces his title deficit (behind Renault’s Fernando Alonso) to just two points. The Ferrari (Bridgestone) driver’s victory was the 90th in a career in which Schumacher has broken almost every F1 record.

But he has also been a controversial champion. “Where Schumacher cannot draw the right line is on track. He cannot see when he crosses the line between tough but fair, and ruthless but foul. That is exacerbated by his total belief that he cannot be wrong. He has a default mode in the car: if you’re going to pass him, he will drive you off the road. He even did it to me as a team-mate,” former Benetton team-mate, Martin Brundle commented.

11th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Cuts the Mustard With Double Win at Dijon

The sixth round of the International FIA-GT Championship saw double success for Pirelli, with the Maserati MC12, driven by Davies-Biagi, dominating the race. In second and third places came two Aston Martin DBR9s, which were running on Pirelli rubber. In the intensely competitive GT2 category, the Ferrari 430 GTC – also shod with P Zero Racing tyres – led its class from start to finish.

7th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors