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New Steer Radial from Hankook

Hankook Tire America has released the Hankook AL07+, a long-haul steer radial. “Hankook’s AL07+ is truly a great innovation for truckers everywhere,” said Brian Sheehey, Hankook’s commercial tires director. “We’ve been able to utilize a number of new technologies that Hankook has developed during the past couple of years to create the best commercial tire on the market. Fleet owners will see a significant increase in durability, performance and fuel efficiency by using this tire.”

The AL07+ features Hankook’s new Innovative Mixing System (IMS), which the company said “reinforces a stronger bond of the materials and generates lower heat – characteristics improve tire life.” The four-rib tire also features a decoupling groove to fight irregular wear, and a contour controlled profile for even wear, Hankook said. (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Provides Online Tyre Safety Lessons

TyreSafe – the newly rebranded Tyre Industry Council – has provided an online animated guide to tyre safety for motorists, comprising ten digitally-animated steps. The guide can be accessed at the not-for-profit organisation’s website.

Recent independent research conducted by a leading tyre manufacturer and TyreSafe members revealed that almost 80 per cent of cars on British roads are running with incorrect tyre pressures and 90 per cent of UK drivers do not know the correct pressure of their tyres. With this in mind, TyreSafe has added the visual guide to its website in order to help motorists avoid the problems associated with poorly maintained or neglected tyres, which can include premature wear, increased stopping distances and additional fuel costs.

21st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Superior Industries to Close Factory, Cut 29% of US Workforce

Aluminium wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International has announced the closure of its factory in Pittsburg, Kansas. This decision was taken during its recent review of strategic initiatives to reduce costs and balance its manufacturing capacity in light of reduced demand for SUVs and light trucks.

The closure will take place on December 19 and 600 jobs will be lost as a result. Superior Industries expects to incur severance and related costs of approximately US$1.8 million in the next six months from August 2008. Asset impairment charges related to closing the facility have yet to be determined, but will be recorded in the financial quarter ending September 30. As of July 27, 2008, the net book value of manufacturing equipment at the Pittsburg location was approximately $13.2 million.

20th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Car Scrappage Scheme ‘Simplistic’

Recommendations from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee for a government–funded car scrappage scheme have been criticised by the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF). “There is a blinkered attitude towards environmental issues which propels people towards simplistic ‘headline’ solutions, rather than small simple steps which, in combination, can have a significant impact,” says ADF chief executive Brian Spratt.

Spratt contends that tighter environmental inspections in MoT tests, which in turn would lead to better servicing of vehicles, along with programmes of driver behaviour training aimed at reducing pollution and improving fuel economy would be preferable. “Even a simple thing such as the correct tyre pressures,” he says, “will add to the positive impact and, cumulatively, outweigh the environmental costs of producing new vehicles. These straightforward measures will be a greater benefit to motorists who, despite any scrappage incentive, will still find it impossible to fund the purchase of a newer car.”

15th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Projects 2008 US Tyre Shipments to Decrease 4%

Tyre shipments in the US are projected to decline by nearly 4 per cent this year compared to 2007, says the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Combined OE and replacement tyre shipment for the passenger/light commercial vehicle and truck segments are anticipated to decreased by more than 12 million units to approximately 298 million, reports the RMA. Such a decline, it believes, reflects anticipated worsening domestic economic pressures for both the consumer and commercial sectors.

13th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Conti Steer Radial Out

Continental Tire North America has introduced the Continental HSL2 long haul steer axle radial. CTNA said the new tyre is “is the first in a series of the next generation fuel efficient tyres” the company plans. The tyre, said CTNA, was developed as an all-position/steer tyre for long haul applications. The new radial features Continental’s patented FlexLock technology, vertical siping, a long wear tread compound, and Visual Alignment Indicators on the shoulder ribs. The tyre is available in sizes 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 275/80R22.5 and 285/75R24.5. (Tire Review)

13th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Posts Net Loss in Q1 2008

Toyo Tire & Rubber has announced its consolidated business results for the first quarter of the 2008 financial year, the period between April 1 and June 30, 2008. Compared with the same period in 2007, net sales increased to 86.639 billion yen (£410.9 million), a rise of 4.6 per cent, while operating income decreased a significant 70.1 per cent, to 1.259 billion yen (£5.97 million). Ordinary income decreased to 1.205 billion yen (£5.71 million), down 71.6 per cent. The company reports a net loss of 1.438 billion yen (£6.82 million); in the first quarter of the 2007 financial year net income was 3.632 billion yen (£17.23 million).

12th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Claims Energy Tyres Saved Billions of Gallons

Michelin claims that more than 2.6 billion gallons of fuel have been saved and more than 27 million tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided because of its “green energy-saving tyres.” “The 600 million Michelin green tyres sold worldwide over the past 16 years have saved almost 12 gallons of fuel each second, corresponding to more than 240 pounds of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere,” the tyremaker said.

“With its green tyres, Michelin is actively helping to reduce the cost and environmental impact of road transportation, as tires can use up to one tank out of five for automobiles and up to one tank out of three in commercial trucks,” Michelin said. (Tire Review/Akron)

11th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Monityre TPMS – Specifically Designed for Commercial Vehicles

With an estimated one third of all commercial vehicle tyres claimed to be incorrectly inflated, the failure to spot problems in truck and trailer tyre pressures can have catastrophic financial effects and damaging consequences for any operator. However, a practical cost effective solution to this problem is now at hand with the launch of Monityre from Safe Europe plc.

Monityre is a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that, says Safe Europe, eliminates the issues associated with other monitoring systems, allowing operators to accurately and easily monitor tyre pressures within a fleet.

8th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

RAC Condemns “Hypermiling”

While fuel-saving measures such as keeping your tyres at the correct pressure and driving intelligently are both praiseworthy and sensible, there are fears that some drivers are going too far in their efforts to improve mileage.

Such motorists are known as “hypermilers” and will try almost anything in their efforts to improve economy. Tactics include tailgating and over-inflating tyres (sometimes by as much as 10 – 15 psi) and coasting in neutral with the engine off. The RAC urges motorists not to copy hypermilers, pointing out that many of the techniques and practices used are unsafe, if not actually illegal. The organisation makes the point that there is a huge difference between being a cost-conscious motorist and a hypermiler.

8th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Saving Fuel & The Environment with Michelin Green Tyres

According to Michelin, more than 9.8 billion litres of fuel have been saved and more than 24 million tonnes of CO2 emissions have been avoided thanks to its green energy-saving tyres, marketed since 1992. The 600 million Michelin green tyres sold worldwide over the past 16 years are reported to have saved more than 45 litres of fuel each second, corresponding to more than 108 kilograms of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere.

Skyrocketing oil prices are impacting the entire global economy and reducing consumer purchasing power, observes the tyre major. With its green tyres, Michelin says it is actively helping to reduce the cost and environmental impact of road transportation, as tyres can use up to one tank out of five for passenger cars and up to one tank out of three in trucks. Michelin states its goal is to design tyres that help reduce fuel consumption while maintaining the same high performance in safety and tread life

6th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

McCain Mocks Obama’s Tyre Plea

Following US-presidential candidate Barack Obama’s fuel-saving tip of keeping tyres inflated (as reported on Tyrepress.com last week), the Democrat’s Republican rival, John McCain and his campaign staff have issued a fundraising email mocking the suggestion.

The email reads: “John McCain says we need offshore oil drilling and we need it now. Senator Barack Obama has consistently opposed offshore drilling — calling it a “gimmick.” Senator Obama’s solution to high gas prices is telling Americans to make sure their tyres are inflated.

5th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Eden Tyre Employs Michelin Man Airline to Inflate Business

Motorists passing the Eden Tyre Sales Farndon Road, Newark branch will have noticed the “life-size” Michelin man standing on the forecourt. According to the company, the iconic figure is a free airline service, dispensing air to any passing motorist eager to maintain correct tyre pressures to minimise fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions and to be certain that the car handles and stops as efficiently as possible.

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone North America Prices to Rise up to 10%

Bridgestone Corporation is planning tyre price increases of up to 10 per cent in the US and Canadian markets. Prices for motorcycle, passenger car, truck and agricultural tyres will go up as of September 1, the company announced.

According to Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, President of BFNT and its parent company, Bridgestone Americas Holding, increased synthetic and natural supply difficulties and the resultant high prices are a key factor behind the price increases, along with increased fuel costs at every stage of production and distribution.

1st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Inflation Campaign Gains ‘Presidential’ Support

Manufacturers such as Michelin and tyre industry organisations including the NTDA have long disseminated the message that maintaining the correct tyre pressure is an important measure. In the US an influential voice has been added to this effort.

Contender for the US Presidency Barack Obama, visiting the state of Missouri on July 30, gave voters an important fuel saving tip: “There are things that you can do individually though to save energy,” said Obama. “Making sure your tyres are properly inflated, simple thing, but we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tyres and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.”

1st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors