Soybean has long been considered good for us, and now it appears it may also be good for our tyres. Goodyear Tire & Rubber announced today that tests undertaken at its Innovation Center in the US show using soybean oil in tyres can potentially increase tread life by ten per cent; it can also reduce the company’s use of petroleum-based oil by up to seven million US gallons, or 26.5 million litres, per annum.
Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe describes the renewal of its contract with GE Equipment Services Europe B.V. as being “one of the largest tyre deals in Europe.” The company initially won the tyre contract for GE’s TIP Trailer Services operation in 2006, and the renewed contract covers the supply and service of tyres for the 70,000 strong pan-European TIP fleet for the coming three years.
Back in mid-June, only a short time after manufacturers were able to release their tyre labelling data into the public domain on 30 May, Michelin became the first tyre manufacturer to share details of its labelling position across its range with Tyres & Accessories. The details show market leading wet grip has been a key factor in tyre development for years before the introduction of tyre labelling and therefore make for interesting reading.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using a commercial truck tyre casing from Yokohama Tire Corporation to establish a SmartWay verification program for retreaded tyres fitted to Class 8 line-haul trucks. “We are excited that the EPA has designated the RY617 steer and all-position tyre for their verification program as the benchmark casing for retread technologies,” said Rick Phillips, Yokohama director of commercial sales. When a retread receives EPA certification, fleets using those tyres become compliant with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations for low rolling resistance tyres.
Bridgestone has announced an overhaul of its consumer focused point of sale material. The action comes following an “extensive review of all collateral”, Bridgestone said. The manufacturer has also formed an independent focus group of drivers, who Bridgestone says have “helped shape the new look and feel as well as content”. The new product posters and leaflets are designed to “position the product with the relevant audience” instantly, with “a plain English explanation of what the main features of the product are, closing with bullet points summarising the main benefits,” Bridgestone states
The Firestone Tyre Pressure Calculator app is on track to hit 10,000 downloads by this year’s harvest. The free app, which is already available for iPhones, was launched for android devices at the 2012 Cereals Show in Lincolnshire.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Cooper Tire & Rubber and its consortium partners a US$6.9 million grant for research into the guayule plant. The grant covers a four year period and Cooper says research its research focus is on developing enhanced manufacturing processes, testing and utilising guayule natural rubber for use in tyres, and evaluating the remaining guayule plant biomass as a source of bio-fuel for the transportation industry.
Anyone who’s watched the 1955 film The Dam Busters – or even Star Wars Episode IV, whose climatic sequence is said to have been inspired by this British classic – will marvel in the Guy Gibson-like precision shown by a runaway tyre on the A1 yesterday. The tyre was witnessed bouncing along the main road before shooting 25 feet in the air and scoring a direct hit in the middle of a BP petrol station sign – an act we can see for ourselves thanks to our ever present friend, the surveillance video camera. Surprisingly, no motorist has contacted the police or come forward to claim a missing wheel or tyre.
Omni-United has added the Radar RCX8 to its CUV tyre range to its portfolio, which comprises over 120 tyre sizes. Produced in one of Omni’s manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, the Radar RCX8 (CUV) is described as a high-performance, all-season touring and crossover tyre for performance SUVs. Currently available in eight sizes – 255/65R18, 235/60R17, 255/60R17, 235/60R18, 245/60R18, 235/55R18, 255/55R18 and 245/50R20, the RCX8 is designed to handle unique combinations of road and weather conditions encountered by SUVs throughout the year. Radar dealers will have the added advantage of choosing a variety of tyre sizes and patterns for mixed container shipments.
Kumho Tires has gained “official recognition” for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 13,339 tons over the past five years. In a press statement, the Korean company’s Australian subsidiary reported that Kumho Tires achieved this reduction through upgrading production facilities and adopting renewable energy strategies while at the same time working to develop and manufacture more efficient fuel saving tyres. Kumho’s CO2 reduction plan was launched in 2005 by Kemco (Korea Energy Management Corporation) and was devised in response to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
An upgraded version of the free internet fuel saving calculator Goodyear Dunlop first launched in February 2012 is now available. Among the improvements in the new 2.0 release are EU tyre label grades, updated data, more truck configurations and additional languages.
"It is very encouraging that new car sales increased again in June with a boost to private registrations of 9.8 per cent said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT's new car registration figures, which show month on month sales were up 3.5 per cent compared to June last year.
Chancellor George Osborne's plans to raise duty on fuel prices by 3.02 pence per litre at the beginning of August have been subject to a storm of protest from all sectors of the automotive industry.
Preliminary figures released by the European Environment Agency show that Europeans are buying more efficient cars, with average carbon dioxide emissions from cars continuing to fall.
RMI Petrol, the trade association representing independent forecourt retailers in the UK has changed its name to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). It will still be part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).
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