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WTCC Goes Green in Sweden

In anticipation of the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s switch to the use of bio-ethanol control fuel for 2009, the upcoming round at Anderstorp in Sweden will see a one-off outing in the championship for Volvo, with the Polestar-run, ethanol-powered S60. The car will be driven by Robert Dahlgren, who has already won two rounds of the Swedish Touring Car Championship and will be the first time a car running to the FIA’s Super2000 regulations will use the fuel in the WTCC.

A development programme will take place throughout the 2008 season, the third using Yokohama Advan as control tyres, which have recently been confirmed as control tyres for 2008 and 2009. Every manufacturer, with the support of Yokohama and other sponsors and partners, will help evaluate different fuel options to determine the ideal solution to reduce the fossil-fuel component, before approval by the FIA.

26th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Tyres Gain EPA Certification

(Akron/Tire Review) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified Goodyear’s medium truck tyres featuring its Fuel Max Technology for use on SmartWay-eligible trucks. Goodyear said its medium radials with Fuel Max Technology can improve truck fuel efficiency by 4 per cent, and when used with other SmartWay-qualified components, each truck can produce savings of up to 4,000 gallons per year, or more than $11,000 annually. Goodyear’s Fuel Max line includes steer, drive and trailer tyres and retreads.

“Obviously we’re pleased that these Goodyear tyres are recognised for their fuel-efficiency by the EPA,” said Steve McClellan, vice president, commercial tyre systems. “We’ve enhanced fuel economy in our platform of line- haul tyres, so this is a win-win for our customers and the environment.”

Goodyear tyres featuring Fuel Max Technology include the Unisteel G395 LHS steer tyre, Unisteel G305 LHD drive tyre and Unisteel G316 LHT trail tyre in standard (11R22.5) and low-profile (295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5) sizes. Goodyear also offers UniCircle and precure retreading with Fuel Max Technology.

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Changing Places

Working from a service van or trailer has been made easier by the introduction of Rema Tip Top’s Unimont truck tyre changer. Suitable for both fixed workshop or mobile service, the Unimont features a newly developed telescopic slide that enables mobile users to work outside their service vehicle and quickly and safely mount or demount tyres from 15 degree drop centre rims between 16.5 and 24.5 inches in size. And as a service van needs no special adaptation to accommodate the Unimont, the unit is truly is mobile and can be easily transferred from one vehicle to another.

Once familiar with the Unimont an operator can typically remove a truck tyre from its rim and replace it in under ten minutes, whether in the workshop or out on the road. In mobile operation it only takes a few seconds to position the unit outside the vehicle and a similar time to return the Unimont to its storage position. Following bead breaking via an electrically turned wheel the bead is dismounted through the bead-breaking cylinder in a one-step operation.

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Grosvenor Contract Features 2-Year Michelin Deal

Grosvenor Contracts Leasing Limited, Britain’s largest independent vehicle contract hire company, which is based in Kettering, has extended its contract with Michelin until 2009. Having recently achieved Environmental Standard ISO 14001, Grosvenor Contracts is keen to build partnerships with like-minded organisations that share their belief in taking measures to protect the environment. Earlier, Kwik-Fit announced that the significant environmental focus contributed to it winning preferred partner status until December 31, 2008. Kettering

Andy Reed, Grosvenor’s Commercial Director says: “We have chosen to continue to offer our drivers Michelin tyres as first choice because we know from experience that they are the most cost effective option due to their high mileage performance. Also, due to the low rolling resistance of Michelin tyres there can be savings of up to 2 per cent on fuel and the corresponding reduction in co2 emissions. We also feel they are the safest tyre on the road with shorter stopping distances and better handling characteristics than other tyres on offer, improving our drivers’ safety”, he adds.

19th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Truck Tyres Get EPA Nod

(Akron/Tire Review) Three Continental brand medium truck tyres have been recognised by the Environmental Protection Agency for meeting its SmartWay environmental specifications. The Conti HSL (steer), HDL Eco Plus (drive), and HTL (all position/trailer) were noted for meeting specific performance requirements including environmental design and fuel consumption performance.

“As one of only four tyre manufacturers being recognised by the EPA for meeting the requirements for the SmartWay Tractor-Trailer equipment specifications, Continental Tire North America is especially proud of this achievement,” said Clif Armstrong, CTNA’s director of commercial marketing. “This honour validates our work in developing quality products that continue to meet the needs of today’s fuel conscious fleets.”

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

MNA Testing Hydrogen-Fueled Lift Trucks

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America is testing hydrogen-powered lift trucks at one of its tyre plants in South Carolina. The summer-long test is being run at several South Carolina manufacturers by hydrogen fuel cell maker Hydrogenics, equipment distributor LiftOne and lift truck maker Linde.

“Michelin is committed to excellence in the area of environmental responsibility, especially in conjunction with promising, innovative technologies,” said Raul Fernandez, site manager at MNA’s Lexington, S.C., plant. “While the results of this trial won’t be known until the completion of the evaluation period, we are hopeful that this technology for forklift applications will prove to be both practical and environmentally sound.”

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Aftermarket SmarTire TPMS to be Sold through International Truck

SmarTire announced on July 10 that Dana Corporation, its marketing partner for the commercial vehicle market in North America, Australia and New Zealand, will be offering the company’s SmartWave TPMS retrofit kits to the International Truck and Engine Corporation. A version of the SmartWave TPMS system specifically designed for aftermarket installation on commercial vehicles will be available through the nearly 1,000 International Truck dealer outlets in North America.

Dave Warkentin, president and CEO of SmarTire, said, “This is an important milestone for SmarTire as it makes our Smartwave TPMS systems readily available to fleet buyers through the largest commercial vehicle dealer organisation in the United States. International’s dealer network stretches throughout North America and, along with the support provided by Dana, we believe it will provide an excellent sales and service channel for our products.”

13th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

All Steamed Up

Apollo Tyres has signed an agreement with Gail India Ltd., India’s largest natural gas company, to cooperate in a ‘steam conversion project’. The deal, signed on July 10, not only falls under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) criteria but will also lead to lower gas consumption and increased energy efficiency for Apollo.

The agreement was signed by Apollo chief – legal Shri Mahesh Sharma and Gail director of marketing Shri B C Tripathi at Gail’s office in New Delhi. Also present for the occasion were numerous senior officials including Gail chairman and managing director Dr. U D Choubey, Apollo chairman and managing director Shri Onkar S Kanwar, and Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The project will be implemented by Gail at its Vaghodia Compressor Station in the western state of Gujarat and will provide steam to Apollo within 24 months at a cost of around £4.3 million. The duration of the Agreement is 15 years and commercial supply will start from July 2009, with an annual contracted quantity of 436,800 tonnes.

11th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Launches New Victra Z4S UHP Tyre

(Akron/Tire Review) Maxxis International USA has introduced the Victra Z4S ultra-high performance tyre, which, Maxxis said, offers handling and traction on wet, dry or snowy surfaces.

The new tyre features a solid centre rib for high-speed stability; silica tread compound for fuel economy and wet and dry traction; reinforced steel belts for high-speed stability and long tread life; multiple snow-biting grooves and “optimal” siping for traction on snowy surfaces; four high-void, circumferential main grooves to expel water; five-pitch tread blocks and two-in-one groove designs for a quiet ride; V-shaped unidirectional grooves for handling on wet and dry roads; Hard bead-filler compound for cornering, acceleration and handling; and reinforced casing and body-ply structure for handling and stability.

10th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Energy Saver OE for New Peugeot

When the all-new Peugeot 308 begins to arrive at dealerships it will most likely be wearing tyres from Michelin’s new Energy Saver range. Energy Saver tyres will be fitted to versions of the Peugeot 308 1.6 HDi 66 & 80 kW (90 & 110 hp) sold in Europe and equipped with 15 or 16-inch wheels. The French tyremaker has for some time worked with Peugeot in developing innovations for the new model, a partnership Michelin believes has made a significant contribution to the car’s energy balance.

The Energy Saver, according to tests conducted this year by TÜV SÜD Automotive on 195/65R15 size tyres, has a rolling resistance of 20 per cent, reducing the amount of energy required for traction. As the test results bear out, the Michelin tyre thus delivers above market average fuel efficiency. Results showed savings of almost 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined cycle driving, providing for CO2 emission reductions of close to 4 grams per kilometre. Over the average life of a vehicle this represents about one tonne of CO2 not released into the atmosphere – Michelin claim this is the same amount absorbed by 40 trees in a year.

10th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Lockwoood Haulage Chooses Michelin X-One Tyres

Derby-based Lockwood Haulage has become the first operator in the UK to specify Michelin’s X-One XDA2 Energy tyres, which have been fitted as original equipment to its new MAN TGA 4×2 tractor unit. The wide single drive axle tyres (495/45 R22.5) were selected primarily for their ability to reduce the overall fuel consumption of the vehicle by a further two per cent, compared with a traditional twinned 315/70 R22.5 fitment. This is in addition to the existing six per cent reduction the company already enjoys by fitting Michelin A2 Energy tyres across its fleet of 45 tractor units and 90 trailers.

Robert Lockwood, Managing Director of Lockwood Haulage, explains: “We consulted Michelin’s technical team closely before specifying the X-One tyres, having heard about the additional savings enjoyed by many operators on the Continent already using wide single drive axle tyres.

“Ninety five per cent of our fleet operates at 40 tonnes, so the tyres didn’t pose any operational constraints, and I’m looking forward to monitoring the fuel savings closely over the coming months,” he adds.

6th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

WTCC: Yokohama Gets Street-Tough in Porto

The weekend of July 7-8 sees the second of this season’s three street circuit races for the FIA World Touring Car Championship, running on Yokohama Advan control tyres. However, unlike the first of the three, the Portuguese round, held in Porto, is likely to be more unpredictable as the city streets were not used as a racetrack for years prior to the course’s re-establishment in 2005. Forming part of the city’s road network, the circuit is made up of streets that in daily life are home to much more mundane traffic than it will see during the weekend.

Arguably, the Yokohama Advan racing tyres will play a crucial part this weekend, as the World Touring Cars will be on the streets just hours after HGVs. Ian explains: “If the race in Porto is anything like it was in Pau, the organisers probably won’t close the streets to form the circuit until a few hours before the day’s session gets underway. And in Pau, they opened the roads between days, closing them around three hours before the cars started running on each day.

3rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop International UHP Tyres Benefit from Silica

Apollo Tyres’ owned Dunlop Tyres International has introduced a new silica compound into its 16 to 18-inch UHP passenger car tyre range. The company is confident that the silica compound will offer drivers a range of benefits, including better wet grip, superior cornering ability and overall improved handling from the W and Z speed rated tyres.

On-road tests of tyres made using the silica compound demonstrate an improvement to wet skid performance by as much as 15 per cent, and Dunlop International report that similar improvements in grip and braking distances were also experienced. However, the company’s technical director, Danie Langner believes the most significant benefit of this new compound will be felt in motorists’ pockets. “With fuel prices soaring any innovation that helps reduce a vehicle’s fuel consumption is valuable,” he commented. “The good news is that by replacing some of the traditional carbon black compound with silica we have substantially reduced the rolling resistance of our tyres. In fact, tests indicate that, provided the tyres are maintained at the correct pressure our silica compound will reduce rolling resistance by 20 per cent or more. This means that less fuel is required to propel the vehicle forward, with a 20 per reduction in rolling resistance translating into a 5% reduction in fuel consumption. That’s a significant saving; basically your Dunlop tyres will now pay for themselves over their lifespan.”

3rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Small but Meaningful

R H Claydon marketing manager Dick Anderson has been in the business for a good many a year, and although semi-retried these days he has seen a lot of changes in the tyre industry, including the growth of the ATV market from next to nothing into the important and still growing sector it is today. Recently he spoke to Tyres & Accessories about the current UK ATV market in 2007 and R H Claydon’s role in it.

“I see the ATV market as being divided into three sectors,” he stated. The first of these, and by far the largest, is the utility/working market. This covers everything from farm and forestry applications right through to police. Near our head office in Suffolk some of the police are equipped with ATVs, complete with blue light on top!” The thin blue line reportedly find these vehicles invaluable for accessing remote places such as national parks and beaches.

3rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Fuel Parts Adds to ABS/Wheel Speed Sensor Range

Fuel Parts UK has reinforced its position as the UK aftermarket’s leading supplier of ABS/wheel speed sensors by adding a number of new part numbers to its range. By taking on new products for the Mercedes Sprinter van and various models in the Peugeot, Citroën and BMW vehicle ranges, Fuel Parts UK’s range now boasts more than 200 part numbers and in excess of 500 applications.

“It’s always been difficult to source this type of product in the aftermarket but that hasn’t and won’t stop us trying to get the very best selection of products for our customers,” said Fuel Parts UK managing director, Paul Tomlinson.

28th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors