Bridgestone proudly launched its new Ecopia tyre to a selection of the company’s dealer network in November 2010. The event was reportedly held at Stapleford Park Hotel, where the dealers were introduced to the new eco-friendly tyre range that provides reduced costs for its fleets along with reducing their impact on the environment.
India’s Apollo Tyres has begun commercial vehicle tyre exports to neighbouring Bangladesh. Initial sales will focus on cross-ply tyres for heavy and light commercial vehicles and these products will be distributed through the Rahimafrooz Group, Bangladesh’s largest manufacturer and distributor of automotive and industrial batteries.
Cold weather and snowy conditions do not just provide an opportunity for those selling winter tyres, Pro-Align has explained in a new statement. The effects of the climate last long after the snow has cleared, with the quality of road surfaces affected and providing motorists with the additional hazard of potholes. The UK’s pothole problem costs UK motorists around £2.8 billion each year according to the website potholes.co.uk, and Pro-Align says workshops without the latest four wheel alignment equipment may be missing out on a lucrative revenue opportunity. Driving over potholes is a major cause of wheel misalignment, which can reduce vehicle safety, increase fuel costs plus poor vehicle handling, causing distraction and concern for drivers. Unless workshops are equipped with the correct equipment, they will not be able to properly diagnose customer’s alignment problems and carry out the subsequent corrective work, claims the alignment specialist.
14th December 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen reaching the South Pole, just ahead of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. To mark the occasion, Extreme World Races is staging the EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole, in what it describes as "the ultimate off-road test", with winds up to 80 mph and temperatures as low as -56ºC in the coldest, driest and highest desert on earth.
This season’s talking point is shaping up to be winter tyres and what pros and cons are attached to them. In order to provide its customers with some clarity on the issue, Mycompanyfleet, the automotive software division of human resources services provider NorthgateArinso, has outlined the means by which fleet operators can effectively evaluate their need for winter tyres.
The GT Radial GSL213 steer tyre and GT669+ drive tyre have received SmartWay verification from the US Environmental Protection Agency. SmartWay verified products reduce emissions and provide estimated fuel savings of three per cent or greater against market leading on-highway commercial truck tyres. These are the first GT Radial tyres to receive SmartWay verification. “This is an important milestone for our customers and company,” said Tom McNamara, vice president of sales for GITI Tire USA. “Our customers are reducing fuel costs, one of their highest expenses. We have received confirmation on the technology of our products and commitment to the environment.”
Kumho Tires reports that its KLT02e trailer tyre, which will soon be available through dealers in North America, has achieved SmartWay certification by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In order to receive the SmartWay designation, the KLT02e needed to demonstrate a reduction in Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions for an estimated fuel savings of three per cent or greater, relative to the “best selling” new tyres for line haul trucks, when used on all five axles on long haul class 8 trucks.
The Marangoni Group has announced that it will use the Marix brand – until now reserved for car, off-road and light commercial vehicle retreads – to represent all products made at the factory in Rovereto (Trento), the second biggest retreading production site in Europe. Retreads for trucks and earthmoving machinery will therefore now also be branded Marix by Marangoni.
Australian tyre life-cycle management specialist, Brad Bearman of Bear’s Tyres has suggested that his Bear’s Tyre Tracker product could help fleets in the country reduce fuel wastage. “It is an unfortunate fact that the neglect of tyre maintenance is directly attributable to unnecessary fuel wastage, particularly for long haul carriers that spend most of their time of the road," said Bearman.
A further retreader has joined Marangoni Tread North America’s Ringtread dealer network. Arizona based Coyote Tire Retreading, an established firm that services commercial, government and private fleets throughout its home state, has thus added the Italian manufacturer’s splice-less retreading system to its operation. “The Ringtread system will be a top consideration for schools, OTR fleets, and other applications that want superior mileage, improved fuel economy and the reliability that is built into this product” said Coyote Tire Retreading owner Don Woodmansee. “Additionally, the level of support from MTNA is unmatched by any of our previous suppliers.”
In November, Continental Tire the Americas launched the first tyre it has specifically engineered to both meet the needs of the people moving segment and to perform on roads throughout North and South America – the steer and all-position HSR2 SA. This heavy steer regional tyre was designed and will be produced at the company’s Mt. Vernon plant in Illinois, and according to Clif Armstrong, CTA’s marketing director for commercial tyres in the Americas, the HSR2 SA completes the tyre maker’s product portfolio for people movers. Conti’s American people mover range also contains a long-distance steer/all-position tyre for heavier buses and recreational vehicles (the HSL1 Coach, introduced in January 2010) and a steer/all-position tyre for urban bus traffic, the HSU1.
Cooper Tire has announced the first ‘SmartWay’ verification of a member of its commercial vehicle tyre range. The company’s Roadmaster RM180 long haul steer tyre has been added to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership list of low rolling resistance commercial vehicle tyres after meeting the required criteria.
Air-Seal Products Ltd, a UK supplier of tyre sealant products, recently became the sole provider of tyre sealant to the Royal Mail Group's fleet in a three-year deal with includes the option to extend to 2015. The contract was signed in late August and will reportedly be implemented throughout their fleet with immediate effect.
According to Hankook Tire’s vice president, Pae Ho-youl, green tyres will be the tyre industry’s “keyword” for some time to come. For this reason the Korean company is making substantial investments in this area. Pae recently told the Korea Times newspaper than Hankook had spent 20 billion won per annum while working on its enfren environmental tyre, which was released in 2008 following two years’ of technical development. Now the tyre maker has previewed its latest version of the green tyre, the ‘enfren eco’, at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Hankook says the enfren eco is designed with fuel efficient vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid in mind.
Production of the wide-body Airbus A350 XWB began in August 2010 and the European aircraft manufacturer reports having already received more than 570 firm orders for the new jet from 35 customers. The first delivery is scheduled for 2013, and when the airliners are handed over to their proud new owners each and every one of them will be fitted with Michelin rubber; the French tyre maker states it has been selected to develop and supply tyres for the A350 XWB’s landing gear.
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