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Kumho Introduces Eco-Friendly Tyres at Essen

Amongst the 30 products Kumho displayed at the Reifen Essen show was the company’s new eco-friendly tyre, the Solus KH19. This flagship environmental product is based on proprietary technologies including KADAS (tyre structure simulation technology), ESCOT (tyre contour optimisation technology) and TTIA (tyre-terrain interaction analysis). The Solus KH19 boasts a 35 per cent improvement in rolling resistance and a six per cent decrease in CO2 emissions. Its construction is of eco-friendly materials, including low PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) oils and non-petroleum fillers, and a tread pattern that Kumho refers to as ‘nature based’. This pattern, says the South Korean manufacturer, is not only intended only to reinforce the tyre’s green image; it also provides a smoother ride. The Solus KH19 will be available from this autumn.

“This is a milestone year for Kumho as we strengthen our focus on making ‘greener’ products,” said Sae-chul Oh, CEO and president of Kumho Tires. “These new tyres improve fuel efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and run more quietly. We have also re-engineered our manufacturing process to make it more environmentally friendly. Kumho has taken this leading role in environmental issues because it allows us to provide tangible benefits to our customers, while simultaneously helping the planet.”

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bosch Reaches Sensor Milestone

Bosch invented and started production of automotive oxygen sensors in 1976. Ten years after its launch in the US, Bosch celebrated delivery of the 10 millionth oxygen sensor. By 1993, production hit 50 million, and reached 250 million in 2001, said Bosch. Currently, Borsch said it produces some 5,000 oxygen sensors per hour worldwide.

“The importance of oxygen sensors will further increase in the future. Continued intensification of emission limits, tight installation space conditions, ever-increasing fuel prices and stricter requirements for metering accuracy and durability continuously drive further developments at Bosch,” said Wolf-Henning Scheider, president of the gasoline systems division at Robert Bosch GmbH. (Tire Review/Akron)

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s Tyre Output Growth Falls Short of Forecasts

Growth in India’s tyre production is likely to fall short of forecast results, with output levels hampered by dumped Chinese tyres and high manufacturing costs. According to Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) director general Rajiv Budhraja, in an interview with Reuters, these factors mean domestic manufacturers will remain under pressure in the short term.

The ATMA previously forecasted growth in 2008 to increase by 2 to 3 percentage points to about 12 or 13 per cent. According to Budhraja, however, “a steady, subdued growth” is now expected in place of this. “Fuel price is going to be a major dampener,” he added, referring to a recent state-ordained 10 per cent increase in the cost of fuel, the greatest price rise in more than a decade. He added that a drop in mileage covered by private vehicles would lead to a fall in demand for tyres in both the OE and replacement markets.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin on Top in “Rolling Resistance” Tests

An independent testing organisation has found that the Michelin Energy Saver tyre “has a rolling resistance 20 per cent lower than its direct competitors.” Furthermore, the tyre was also found to have safety features comparable to more roll-resistant tyres; braking distances were found not to increase when using the Energy Saver.

The test centre TÜV SÜD Automotive researched the comparative performance of Michelin’s Energy Saver alongside tyres from six other major European manufacturers. Doubts about the grip and braking performance of the Energy Saver have been scotched by the tests, which add to the evidence gathered by the same organisation in September last year that the tyre has greater durability than its nearest rivals.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Stingers Aim to Curtail Rising Petrol Theft

With fuel costs soaring, petrol stations across the UK in recent months have been experiencing a rise in incidents of drivers pulling off forecourts without paying. “Drive-aways” are said to have cost the industry in excess of £11 million in 2006 (according to The Petrol Retailers’ Association), though that figure is likely to have risen recently, as a result of the higher prices.

To combat this, petrol station owners have installed “stingers” – retractable spikes designed to shred the tyres of drive-aways. However, run-flat rubber, with its stiff sidewalls, can counteract the effectiveness of this preventative measure. With this in mind, Birmingham’s Drivestop has developed a system that implants a microchip into tyres running over the stinger, allowing police to track thieves whose tyres are shred resistant.

10th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Former Pirelli NA CEO Calls for Change

Guy Mannino, former president and CEO of Pirelli Tire North America, is calling on all retired and current CEOs of corporate America to start driving “green.”

“Now is the time … to take action and proclaim our independence from oil and gas,” he said. “Now is the time for electric vehicles that lower fuel costs, as well as combat pollution and global warming.”

Mannino, who left Pirelli last autumn to found consulting and trading company Verdek, is marketing and selling a line of ZAP (“Zero Air Pollution”) vehicles with the goal of helping consumers to become more fuel-efficient.

ZAP, based in Santa Rosa, California, offers a full line of Xebra electric cars and trucks, Zapino scooters and off-road vehicles, as well as charging accessories. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Outlines Plan to ‘Make Cars Green’

June 5 was World Environment Day, and Bridgestone chose the occasion to announce its action plan for “Make Cars Green”, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness of the need for greener motoring around the world. During a parliamentary conference in Wellington, New Zealand, host city for World Environment Day this year, Mr. Shoshi Arakawa, chairman of the Board, CEO and president of Bridgestone Corporation, and Mr. David Ward, director general of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation, made the announcement that the Bridgestone Group will promote the initiative on a worldwide scale as a global partner of the FIA.

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Premiere X Energy SaverGreen Range at IAA Show

With the world premiere launch of the latest Renault Magnum comes the unveiling of Michelin’s new X Energy SaverGreen tyre range. This new and exclusive offering, says Michelin, has been incorporated into Renault’s Optifuel Solutions range of products and services, and has been specifically designed to support the long haul national and international use Magnum truck.

Michelin became involved in Renault Trucks’ programme at a very early stage, and thus the French tyre major believes it has been able to make a significant contribution to the Magnum’s overall energy efficiency. The reduced fuel consumption achieved through use of X Energy SaverGreen tyres can deliver vital savings in a market where fuel prices currently account for up to a third of a haulier’s costs, and as a bonus, adds Michelin, CO2 emissions are also reduced.

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

10 Million & Counting: Bridgestone Reaches Run-Flat Milestone

In August 2006 Bridgestone celebrated the delivery of five million run-flat tyres over the course of two decades; a mere twenty months later the company doubled this figure. On June 4 Bridgestone announced that it passed the ten million mark during April 2008.

Bridgestone says it recognises run-flat tyres as strategic products. The company also points to their environmental benefits, such as fuel economy through vehicle weight saving and reducing rubber consumption and scrap, and thus the company plans to further permeate and expand its run-flat market.

The first Bridgestone run-flat tyres were delivered in the early 1980s, the initial products being tyres fitted to specially manufactured vehicles for physically disabled persons. The first run-flats for a production vehicle model, the Porsche 959, were delivered in 1987. Bridgestone’s run-flat production has accelerated since 1999 as automakers have adopted run-flat specifications on a growing range of vehicle models, reflecting a changing environment surrounding motoring lifestyles. Currently the company produces run-flat tyres at six plants in four countries worldwide – Japan, the United States, Poland and South Africa.

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lower Rolling Resistance, TPMS by 2012, says EU

A host of new vehicle safety and environmental requirements, including several tyre related measures, will become obligatory as of 2012. On May 23 the European Commission unveiled its timetable for the introduction of these measures, of which European Commission vice-president Günter Verheugen said: “We are simplifying legislation. We are improving road safety. We are promoting fuel efficiency. We are presenting a modern integrated policy approach beneficiary for citizens, for the environment and the industry.”

Low rolling resistance tyres (LRRT) are to become obligatory from 2012, and the European Commission notes that, in order to avoid any negative impact on safety, explicit safety requirements are to be introduced alongside new standards on noise. Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems will also become obligatory from 2012. Deflated tyres, comments the Commission, can cause up to a 4 per cent increase in fuel consumption while reducing tyre lifespan by 45 per cent. Tyres can lose 3 to 6 per cent pressure per month, and this may not be noticed by the driver. According to research by TNO in the Netherlands, the fuel saving potential of LRRT and TPMS in passenger cars is 3 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively. For new cars with expected engine test cycle performance of 130 g CO2/km this would mean additional reductions of more than 7 g CO2/km (3.9 LRRT and 3.25 TPMS). The CO2 reduction potential of LRRT+TPMS on a current car (with a test cycle of, for instance, 160g) would be greater than 7kg/tonne.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Demo Rolling Resistance Performance at London Show

Michelin has announced that it will run a live, full size demonstration its new Energy Saver tyres at the British International Motor Show at ExCel, London Docklands from 23 July to 3 August. Michelin aims to illustrate its tyres’ rolling resistance performance with two identical driverless cars, one fitted with Michelin Energy Saver tyres and the other with a non rolling resistance optimised product. The two cars will be simultaneously released and allowed to roll down a ski-slope type ramp, with an up-ramp at the opposite end. Michelin representatives said it a statement that the car fitted with Energy Saver tyres will “roll for longer and thus cover a greater distance before coming to a standstill.”

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alliance to Present Recovered Carbon Black at Bridgestone TC

Alliance Recovery Corporation has announced that company representatives have been invited to attend the Bridgestone Firestone US Technical Center in Akron, Ohio to present merits of their carbon black products. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the use of Alliance carbon black in Bridgestone Firestone rubber formulations. The proposed meeting is scheduled to take place in late May 2008.

Alliance’s carbon black is produced as a by product of the thermal chemical process utilized to recover the fuel oil resource in scrap rubber that will be subsequently used to make electricity at Alliance installations. Alliance are presenting themselves as the green option in comparison to conventional carbon black production that uses large quantities of virgin fossil fuels. “We expect that each Alliance installation will be capable of producing approximately 15 Million pounds of carbon black annually as a byproduct. Commercial grades of carbon black that Alliance can produce are currently sold in the range of $.55/ pound to $.70/ pound. European market prices are significantly higher,” company representatives explained in a statement.

13th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Shod Fleets Get 22 per cent More Mileage

Coninental Tyres is claiming that correctly managed fleets running on the German manufacturer’s products gain 22 per cent more mileage in comparison with competing tyres. The claim comes as the main result of a comparative test of Continental tyres carried out in collaboration with an independent coach operator.

The test saw Continental tyres fitted all-round on one of six Scania luxury touring coaches in the 12-vehicle fleet of Worcester operator Commandery Coaches. These were then carefully monitored alongside another premium brand of tyres on an identical coach.

On the coach fitted with Continentals the tyres on the steer axle required changing at 133,000 kilometres and those on the drive axle at 205,000 kilometres, making a total for all six tyres of 1,086,000 kilometres. By comparison, the competitor brand of tyre needed changing at 116,000 kilometres on the front and 165,000 kilometres on the rear, making a total of 892,000 kilometres. Taking into account the lower price of the Continentals, the results showed a significant saving in overall tyre running costs. Other factors were also analysed, including the effect on fuel economy, noise and road-handling, all of which proved either positive or to have a neutral effect.

12th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear HydraGrip Wins Auto Express Product Honours

Auto Express Magazine’s annual Product Honours Awards report has recognised the Goodyear HydraGrip as the ‘Best Buy’ tyre in the family car tyre market. The Product Honours Award follows testing by Auto Express, Britain’s biggest selling motoring weekly magazine, of 16 tyre brands. The test compared stopping distances, handling, grip, fuel consumption, in car-noise levels and prices to determine the champion in the highly competitive family car tyre market.

The magazine found the Goodyear tyre excelled in the wet, particularly in the curved aquaplaning test, but was strong across the board. In terms of curved aquaplaning, the Goodyear HydraGrip had 15 per cent more grip than any other tyre tested, and 49 per cent more grip than one other brand.

9th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ContiPremiumContact 2 Named in Auto Express Product Honours

For the second consecutive year, the ContiPremiumContact 2 has received a commendation from leading consumer publication, Auto Express, as part of its Product Honours 2008 feature. Auto Express said: “The PremiumContact 2 is a great all rounder that delivers top performance across all types of driving and was an easy choice for our commendation.”

8th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors