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Goodyear Puts Wings on New GPS System

Goodyear has licensed its name to appear on a series of NCC-produced GPS navigation systems. The eight-model Goodyear-branded systems will be unveiled at January’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Touted as a “rugged GPS system,” the company’s eight models will have features never before seen on mobile navigation systems, including a remote control to access hands-free communication, with a single quick-touch button to answer and hang up incoming calls. “Managing your cell phone by remote control is an entirely new concept in GPS,” said Barry Rosenstock, vice president of operations for NCC. “But it speaks to consumer demand for driver safety and convenience, which is what these devices aspire to provide.”

The Goodyear GPS will employ Bluetooth capabilities for easy access to incoming and outgoing phone calls. Some models will also feature MSN Direct service for live traffic updates, local fuel prices, weather reports, and even local movie times. (Tire Review/Akron)

7th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Welsh Scientists Produce Tyre-Derived Oil

Bangor University environmental chemist Dr Vera Thoss, in partnership with Welsh Company UTD Research Ltd, has produced tyre-derived oil. Carbon black, oil and gas have been seperated from used tyres beforem but Dr Thoss’s research is said to be the first of its kind to successfully produce litres of oil. According to reports, this can then be mixed 1:1 with diesel and has already been successfully used to fuel a car.

“The results are very encouraging. We tested the fuel at the Anglesey Circuit recently and found that the fuel significantly enhanced the performance of the trial car. The gas produced is estimated to be able to provide the energy for the entire process; this therefore really is true recycling,” Dr Thoss told the Western Mail.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Fuel Max Joins “Nifty Fifty”

Goodyear’s Fuel Max fuel-efficiency commercial tyre technology, has earned a “Nifty Fifty Award” for best new products in 2007. US Heavy Duty Trucking magazine selected Fuel Max Technology for its “Nifty Fifty Award”, one of 50 new products selected on its “usefulness to the truck operator in terms of innovation, serviceability and performance.” The technology utilizes innovative treads, along with advanced compounds and manufacturing technologies, to help optimize fuel economy while maintaining a low cost-per-mile for fleets and owner-operators.

21st December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Release for PCL Accura Mobile

PCL hopes to make further inroads into the US market with the unveiling of Accura Mobile – a brand new portable Nitrogen (N2) Tyre inflation cart. The company reports that customers at the 2007 SEMA show were eager to view this new product, which is scheduled for release on the American market at what the manufacturer calls a competitive price.

Featuring the same accuracy levels as the rest of PCL’s Accura range, Accura Mobile features an N2 “convert and purge” feature for air inflated tyres and a “top-up” for nitrogen inflated tyres. It can be used with either an N2 bottle or generator. With six hose outlets for multi tyre inflation it can provide high speed on site or off site inflation and is especially designed for US applications.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti’s Burkhard Wies on EU Enivronmental Labelling

(Tire Review/Akron) The European Union plans to reduce both CO2 emissions and noise pollution from road traffic with a range of planned regulations. As part of that EU program, an environmental labeling program is being considered, which would identify tyres with particularly low rolling resistance (greater fuel efficiency). And a new requirement for noise emission from tyres is also planned.

While this sounds good in principle, said officials of Continental AG, the resulting conflicts in tyre development would cause significant reductions in traffic security. Company experts criticise the rolling resistance label in particular, warning against tyres designed for low fuel consumption only would be significantly worse at braking on wet roads than today’s tyres.

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Applauds Fuel Efficiency Standards

Alcoa has applauded new vehicle fuel efficiency standards, recently passed in the US House of Representatives as part of a new energy bill. The bill would require 35 miles per gallon fuel average for new domestic vehicles, including SUVs, by 2020 – a 40 per cent increase from current corporate average fuel-economy (CAFE) standards. “Lightweight materials, such as aluminium, play a critical role in making vehicles safer, cleaner and more fuel efficient,” said Kevin Kramer, president, Alcoa Wheel Products. “Light weighting represents one of the most viable options available to carmakers worldwide as they seek to improve the fuel efficiency and environmental performance of their products.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

FEA Software Assisting in Apollo’s Growth

According to a press statement issued on December 5 by international 3D and Product Lifecycle Management solutions provider Dassault Systemes, Apollo Tyres is using the company’s Simulia brand Abaqus Unified Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software to evaluate and improve its product performance in order to assist in the tyremaker’s growth as a preferred partner for global automotive OEMs.

As Dassault Systemes points out, the development of a new tyre product requires the evaluation of a complex combination of rubber, steel, and other layered materials. For items such as large, off-road radial tyres, testing even a few physical prototypes is expensive and time-consuming. To circumvent this issue, Apollo Tyres is utilising Abaqus Unified FEA software in the initial stages of all new-product development to evaluate alternative concepts, guide design decisions, and refine product performance.

5th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Matalan Partners With Nationwide Autocentres

Matalan has partnered with Nationwide Autocentres in a new affinity scheme, negotiated through the “if” agency. The scheme offers Matalan cardholders 20 per cent off an MOT, 15 per cent of a service or 10 per cent off mechanical repairs to their vehicle. What is more, every Matalan cardholder who takes their vehicle to a Nationwide Autocentre will receive a free Powermaxx fuel cleaning package worth £20.

4th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Holt Lloyd to Show Tyreweld at Aftermarket Exhibition

Holt Lloyd has confirmed it will use The Aftermarket Show as a means of strongly promoting its Simoniz, Holts and Redex brands to trade and consumer visitors. The focus of the Holt Lloyd stand at the UK’s premier aftermarket trade show will be on its Simoniz Valeting range which includes popular products like ‘Back- to-Black’, ‘Alloy Wheel Cleaner’ and a range of ‘Car Care Wipes’. Also taking centre stage will be its Tyreweld and Redex products.

According to the company, Tyreweld is the UK’s number one emergency tyre repair solution, while Redex commands 35 per cent of the fuel additive market in the UK and has recorded consistent yearly growth in the aftermarket, thanks a dedicated advertising campaign.

28th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Wabash Picks Fuel Efficient Goodyear Tyres

(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear’s Unisteel G316 LHT with its Fuel Max Technology has been tapped as the standard radial on Wabash National’s DuraPlate dry van trailer. The supply deal is for one year, Goodyear said. Wabash’s DuraPlate dry van trailer recently received certification in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, and Goodyear’s line haul tyres with Fuel Max Technology have been approved for use on SmartWay tractors and trailers.

28th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Costly Carelessness

Efforts to educate on the benefits of correctly inflated tyres seem to be falling upon deaf ears – Michelin has found that almost 80 per cent of cars on British roads are running with incorrect tyre pressure and over half have levels considered dangerous. This mind-boggling news comes courtesy of a nationwide inspection survey conducted by the manufacturer, during which more than 2,300 cars were inspected at 13 venues in the UK. From this sample population, 36 per cent were found to have at least one tyre between 7 and 12 psi below the recommended pressure, and an additional 15 per cent had a tyre at least 14psi or more below the specified level – potentially only 50 per cent of the recommended safe level of inflation. Furthermore, 13 per cent of all vehicles had a tyre containing a puncture.

27th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

SKF Presents PSI Compatible Hubcaps

SKF recently added four new PSI compatible hubcaps to its premium wheel-end Scotseal product offering. The new hubcaps are compatible with the Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) by Pressure Systems Incorporated (PSI), an automatic tyre inflation system (ATIS). MTIS uses compressed air from a trailer’s air system to inflate any tyre that falls below a specified pre-set pressure. The system ultimately increases tyre life, fuel efficiency and safety, its maker says.

“The new PSI compatible SKF hubcaps provide fleets with a reliable and safe option to maintain wheel end systems during over-the-road operation,” says Leslie Kern, Senior Product Manager, Heavy Duty Market, SKF. “These new hubcaps complement our superior line of Scotseal products, including the Scotseal PlusXL wheel seal.”

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg TM800 Line Now “D-Rated”

Trelleborg Wheel system’s Research & Development department has announced that its TM800 line is now D rated, allowing the agricultural tyres to be driven at speeds of up to 65km/h. In addition the TM800 range is said to offers increased productivity compared with its main competitors, resulting in “consistent savings for agricultural professionals.”

According to the company, ploughing tests show that, under the same conditions and using the same size, Trelleborg tyres proved to reduce slippage and working time per hectare compared with unnamed “main competitors.” After a week of tests in medium-high severity conditions, the TM800 (in 650/65R38 – the most popular size in the segment) fitted to a 165 horsepower tractor with three ploughshare reported: up to 4.2 per cent more traction fuel consumption. According to the company this factor alone, at an average working cost per hour of 50 euros and a fuel cost of 0.85 euros per litre, saved between up to 120 euros compared with other leading brands.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Names Additional AxioBib OE at Agritechnica

Michelin is confident that its AxioBib tyre has become the benchmark for 250-hp to over 500-hp tractors – the largest, fastest and most powerful units on the market, and at Agritechnica 2007 in Hanover it has announced a number of manufacturer certifications that uphold this claim. The Michelin AxioBib has been granted approval for the new Challenger MT975 and the most recent model of Case’s Magnum 335, meaning that the tyre is now fitted as original equipment on the following models of tractor:

John Deere 8530 (360 hp).
Magnum 335 (368 hp) manufactured by Case.
New Holland T8050 (368 hp).
Challenger MT975 (570 hp).
Fendt 936 (360 hp).
Class Xerion (365 hp).
JCB 7230 (230 hp).

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Weller Truck Drives 400,000km on Michelin

A Mercedes-Benz Atego 1828 is operating on the same Michelin tyres fitted as original equipment when it rolled off the production line in November 2001, despite having covered over 440,000 km. The 18 tonner is owned by Staffordshire-based Weller Packaging and is fitted with Michelin 295/80 R22.5 XZE2 and XDE2 tyres. It is in operation five days a week transporting packaging materials from Shenstone (near Lichfield) to customers nationwide, with the vehicle starting each two-day distribution run with a maximum 9.2 tonne payload.

Nigel Hastilow, a driver and Transport Manager for Weller Packaging, explains: “Getting the best performance out of a set of tyres is all down to attention to detail. We carry out weekly tyre inspections, including pressure checks, which ensure our tyres are always in prime operating condition.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors