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ContiRV20 Combines Strength, Speed and Comfort

The latest addition to Continental’s industrial tyre portfolio is the radial ContiRV20, a product designed for what the company calls the toughest of environments – airport ground support. Three key qualities serve as important selling points for the new tyre; Conti reports the ContiRV20 delivers longer lifespan, low rolling resistance and comfortable handling at higher speeds. The manufacturer adds that this is the first time these three benefits have been combined within a single radial pneumatic industrial tyre.

28th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Awarded for Fuel Saving R&D

Research conducted by Toyo Tire & Rubber into technologies improving fuel economy has earned the company an award from the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. One Toyo employee, OE Tire Development project manager Tamotsu Mizutani, was granted the “Award for Technical Development” award for work carried out together with Honda R&D. Four Honda researchers were also honoured at the May 21 ceremony.

The technology developed by Toyo and Honda relates to reducing energy loss. Toyo explains that a tyre’s tread shrinks upon contact with the ground, and the constant repeated contraction and expansion experienced by the tread causes energy to be dissipated. Materials traditionally used to minimise this energy loss and improve fuel efficiency, adds Toyo, hinder braking power – and those that optimise braking increase energy loss.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sunday Times Names Bandvulc One of Top 60 Green Companies

Bandvulc Tyres Ltd has been recognised as one of the Top 60 Best Green Companies in the UK by the Sunday Times. At the annual awards ceremony in London, Bandvulc’s managing director Patrick O’Connell received the award from Alistair McColl (Sunday Times Supplements Editor) for achieving a top 60 placement.

Patrick O’Connell commented: “This is fantastic recognition of the hard work and commitment everyone at Bandvulc makes to ensuring we all have a sustainable future. To be in the top 60 companies raises the profile of tyre recycling to a new level and shows that this can be done to a high quality ensuring safety and sustainability in one package, bringing a complete solution to our customers that is second to none.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Fleet Wins Fleet Award for ‘Green’ Focus

Amongst those recognised at the 2009 Van Fleet World Honours, announced in London on May 20, was Kwik-Fit Fleet, who walked away with the Environment Award. This accolade, which the company states is the first fleet recognition of its environmental strategy, follows activities in this area that include the opening of its Northamptonshire based National Distribution Centre in summer 2008.

The £10 million, 245,000 square foot complex stocks up to 300,000 tyres across up to 650 different sizes with the guarantee of next day delivery to Kwik-Fit’s 670 centres and more than 200 mobile fitting units. According to Kwik-Fit Fleet, the benefits delivered by the new centre are varied and include a number of environmental pluses. One example is the ‘reverse logistics’ process that has been introduced: Kwik-Fit’s 69-vehicle truck fleet – after delivering tyres to its centres or its five distribution hubs across the UK –returns with removed tyre casings and scrap catalytic converters.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Calculate Costs with Conti

Continental has claimed a world first with the release of its truck tyre division’s “ContiCostCalculator”. This software employs a DEKRA-certified database and enables customers to directly compare the purchase and operating costs of commercial vehicle tyres amongst all main tyre brands. The key aim of the ContiCostCalculator, the company notes, is to help calculate a commercial vehicle’s running costs and show ways to reduce them.

The ContiCostCalculator works out the ideal choice of tyre using the customer’s individual usage figures. The cost-saving potential compared with similar tyre products is calculated and the improvement in economy is shown. The application not only takes the kilometre costs and the fuel consumption into account for the overall calculation, it also covers additional income from the increased payload that a lower tyre weight makes possible.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Introduces Snowcontrol Series II

Pirelli has launched the Winter Snowcontrol Series II, which the tyre manufacturer describes as an “environmentally-friendly high performance winter tyre developed for small to mid-sized vehicles.” According to the company the new Snowcontrol Series II, like Pirelli’s UHP-orientated Sottozero Series II, aims to broaden the company’s winter tyre range in order to meet every market’s requirements.

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

Conti Expresses Concerns Over EU Tyre Labelling Plans

Discussions on the EU Commission’s plans to introduce a tyre label continue, and Conti claims that experts are still sceptical about the problems involved. The manufacturer has also voiced its own concerns, highlighting some potential issues that could make it difficult for consumers to understand the label.

The manufacturer notes it already has tyres in its portfolio that easily meet the proposed high threshold values, however Conti says it still recognises a distinct need to clarify what will be implemented in terms of threshold values and certification, and points to a particular need to ensure the label signage contains clear graphics. All suggested designs to date, the company adds, have been hard for the consumer to understand, especially those indicating braking distance on wet roads. Continental comments that this particular graphic is “hardly recognisable as such”. A further Conti concern is that so far no agreement has been reached on a precise and meaningful measuring process for braking characteristics.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Equipment Enhances Marangoni’s Approach to Tyre Testing

Testing new products, verifying their conformity to international approval standards and the development of new solutions, notes Marangoni, are essential elements in the research performed by leading tyre manufacturers. To help it carry out these activities in the most scientific and detailed manner possible, the Marangoni Research & Development Centre in Rovereto, Italy has implemented a new tyre tester it calls “Ruota Strada”. This new unit is set up for the indoor testing of all types of tyre, including passenger car, industrial, earthmover and high performance products.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Pays $375,000 to Settle Advertising Complaint

In the US Tennessee state Attorney General, Bob Cooper, yesterday announced a multi-state settlement with Michelin North America “regarding alleged misrepresentations Michelin made in its advertising of Michelin fuel efficient tyres.” The manufacturer agreed to make minor changes in the copy of print advertisements it has run concerning the purported fuel efficiency of its tyres, and is paying $375,000 to cover the alleged cost of the investigation, Tire Review reports. The attorney general, though, “acknowledges that Michelin fully cooperated with the multi-state investigation and the investigation did not question the safety or quality of Michelin’s tyres.” Michelin, which said it followed prevailing Federal Trade Commission advertising guidelines, denied any wrongdoing.

The Tennessee attorney general reacted to a complaint filed by Bridgestone Americas, which Michelin claimed was the only complaint filed. However, attorney general spokesperson Sharon Curtis-Flair told Boston media that “the investigation started based on a consumer complaint, not a complaint by Bridgestone.” Other states joining the agreement include Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. Each will receive a share of Michelin’s settlement payment.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Dura-Flange Wheels an Option on Scania Trucks

Alcoa Dura-Flange wheels are available as option choice for Scania Trucks from May. According to the company, they will be offered in sizes 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00 and 22.5 x 11.75 (135 mm offset). Dura-Flange wheels have a patented treatment that provides a protective shield to prevent rim wear. Alcoa Dura-Flange wheels, says the manufacturer are the only wheels on the market that are protected from this type of wear, giving them at least double the life time of other aluminium wheels and four times the life time of steel wheels under the same conditions. Dura-Flange wheels are said to be most suitable for Scania trucks in applications such as liquid food transport, local fuel distribution, heavy hauling such as logging and operations under extreme conditions like mining where shifting loads cause the tyre to rub against the wheel.

13th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental OE on Freightliner M2 Trucks

Continental Tire North America, Inc. is to supply Freightliner with original equipment tyres for all its Freightliner Business Class M2 medium-duty trucks. In addition, Continental’s range of commercial vehicle tyres will be optional on other Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) brands including Western Star trucks, Thomas Built buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation chassis and all other Freightliner vehicles.

Melissa Clausen, Freightliner Trucks’ director of product marketing commented: “Continental’s heavy steer tyres complement our proven engineering for the Business Class M2 trucks. The M2 is designed for maximum reliability and fuel efficiency, and this is what we found in Continental’s product offering.”

12th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CEAT Tyres Inaugurates First Wheel Management Centre

In India CEAT Tyres has opened its first wheel management centre at Sankagiri in Tamil Nadu. The Economic Times reports that the centre is set to be a hub for the service and maintenance of truck radials.

The company’s vice president, sales and marketing, Arnab Banerjee told the paper, “Service and maintenance of a tyre means proper alignment, greasing and retreading in periodic intervals, nitrogen filling in tyres, and various other measures to improve tyre life and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.” He also suggested that the centre would be used for driver-based training.

It is reported that the company is tapping into the local industrialised market of 10,000 trucks, 25 per cent of which run on radials compared to the Indian average of 10 per cent.

12th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Semperit Offers Speed-Life Affordability

Semperit’s tyre, the Speed-Life represents the Continental second-brand’s affordable entry into the high performance market place. It benefits from an advanced generation silica compound, which gives the tyre better handling characteristics in the wet as well as reduced fuel consumption.

The use of offset tread blocks of varying sizes enables the contact between the tyre and the road to be staggered, this minimises the noise output to give a quiet and comfortable drive.

11th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Stapleton’s Boast Own Brand HP Tyre and Nexen Exclusivity

Stapleton’s offers a substantial range of high performance tyres including its own brand Prestivo and tyres from the manufacturer Nexen, from whom it holds distribution exclusivity. Prestivo, Stapleton’s own brand range of tyres, is positioned as a quality mid-range tyre. The brand will be available in new sizes and tread patterns later in the year. The range is available exclusively to members of Stapleton’s Prestivo Partners scheme and ensures all retailers receive the backing and support they need to maximise sales of Prestivo tyres. Stapleton’s other exclusive high performance brand is Nexen. The range is available in more than 140 patterns and sizes, ranging from family to high performance cars.

Describing the Prestivo 2000, Stapleton’s trading director, Steve Parker, said, ”The Prestivo 2000 gives a sense of assurance. This performance tyre provides a smooth and comfortable ride. It offers confidence across all road conditions with longevity.” On the Sport iteration of the series, he commented: “The Prestivo Sport offers true driving pleasure. You can feel reliable acceleration, braking and cornering in everyday driving. Aggregated and advanced technology gives this tyre sport and comfort performance.”

11th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors