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Consultation shows opposition to MOT changes

More than nine out of ten people who responded to the Government’s own "red-tape challenge" and who raised the MOT issue opposed proposals to reduce testing frequency, according to DfT papers released today.

The Government consulted the public on vehicle safety and standards as part of its review of road transport regulations in May and June this year. More than three-quarters of respondents raised the issue of the MOT but less than five per cent of those (and less than three per cent of all respondents) supported changing frequency.

19th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone seeks tax break for US plant

Bridgestone Americas appears to be seeking a five-year tax break as an incentive for it to make a planned US$20 million capital investment at its OTR tyre plant in Bloomington, Illinois, reports Tire Review. A proposal before local authorities would see property tax on the plant locked into its current rate for five years, even when the tyre maker makes improvements to the facility – Bridgestone intends to add plant equipment that would enable the manufacture of 25-inch OTR radials in Bloomington.

14th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheel separation risk prompts major Ford recall

A wheel and tyre-related issue has prompted the Ford Motor Company to recall up to almost 130,000 vehicles in the US. The manufacturer has informed government safety body the NHTSA that it is recalling certain 2010 and 2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan models, specifically vehicles equipped with 17-inch steel wheels that were built between 1 and 30 April 2009 and from 1 December 2009 through to 13 November 2010.

12th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Euro-zone debt crisis hitting trailer market

International News, News, Product News

The uncertain economic outlook in Europe looks set to hit sales of heavy trailers in 2012. Demand for new trailers is now forecast to fall below the level of 2011, according to some market analysts. As a consequence the sales figure for 2012 will be 10,000 trailers less than was forecast in May this year.

8th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Union files charges over Cooper Findlay lockout

On 6 December the United Steelworkers International union and its Findlay, Ohio branch, Local 207L, filed charges against Cooper Tire & Rubber with US government agency the National Labor Relations Board. The charges allege Cooper Tire committed “unfair labour practices in bargaining and imposing a lockout” at its Findlay tyre plant, the USW reports.

7th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA posts newly-released truck tyre info

The Tire Industry Association has posted the newly released charts from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration on its website. Commercial truck tyre service providers in the US are required by 29 CFR 1910.177 to have a copy of these charts in every service area, which includes mobile service trucks. Previously a two-chart set, OSHA added a third chart so the procedures for demounting, mounting and inflating single and multi-piece assemblies could be addressed separately.

5th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

New debate on commercial wheel safety

Motor Wheel Service boss John Ellis is continuing to campaign for safety checks on second hand and take-off wheels entering the UK commercial vehicle market; the company estimates that over 10,000 such wheels enter the UK aftermarket every year, of which it says the large majority are sold by companies who do not possess the technical abilities or examination procedures to ascertain the history and fatigue of a wheel. His local MP Paul Goggins, with whom he has discussed the problem since 2010, will continue the debate with Mike Penning MP, parliamentary under-secretary of State at the Department for Transport, in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 29 November.

28th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

GKN names next chairman

As of the middle of next year, GKN plc will have a new chairman. The company announced the appointment of Michael J. Turner, CBE to replace Roy Brown, who intends to retire at the close of the GKN annual general meeting on 3 May 2012.

25th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Motorists back current MOT regime

A poll of motorists by the Institute of Advanced Motorists reveals that 60 per cent think that a car's first MOT should continue to be carried out after three years. Only 29 per cent think we should move to a European system.

23rd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Profumo resigns from Pirelli BoD

Pirelli & C. SpA has announced the resignation of Francesco Profumo from the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Profumo submitted his resignation following his appointment as Italy’s Minister of Education, Universities and Research in the government being set up under new Prime Minister Mario Monti. In a statement, Pirelli said it “wishes to thank Mr. Profumo, an independent Board member and member of the Strategies Committee, for his valuable contribution.”

23rd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Manager for outright sale of India’s TCIL sought

India’s government is seeking proposals for divesting the Tyre Corporation of India Limited (TCIL) through an outright sale. In a document released through the Department of Disinvestment, a part of the country’s Ministry of Finance, the Indian government stated it has “decided to disinvest 100 per cent equity shareholding held by it in TCIL through outright sale” and reported that it “proposes to engage the services of an advisor to advise and manage the outright sale process successfully.” To achieve this divestment of its Rs 296.3 million (£3.3 million) equity in TCIL, the Indian government has called for tender submissions from merchant and investment bankers, consulting firms and financial institutions with experience in this type of transaction. The deadline for submissions is 12 December 2011.

21st November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Fuel price rises 'crippling logistics industry' – FTA

The government must heed the advice of its own MPs and overhaul its fuel duty policy to avoid doing further damage to the industry and the economy, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warned. During a four-hour debate in the House of Commons, Chloe Smith, the Economic Under Secretary to the Treasury, heard how high fuel prices have damaged businesses and communities, restricted economic growth, hurt motorists and stoked inflation and unemployment across the country. MPs told how hauliers and businesses in their constituencies have suffered at the hands of the highest rates of fuel duty in the EU and struggled to remain competitive and solvent, citing evidence from the FTA and other organisations.

During a four-hour debate in the House of Commons, Chloe Smith, the Economic Under Secretary to the Treasury, heard how high fuel prices have damaged businesses and communities, restricted economic growth, hurt motorists and stoked inflation and unemployment across the country. MPs told how hauliers and businesses in their constituencies have suffered at the hands of the highest rates of fuel duty in the EU and struggled to remain competitive and solvent, citing evidence from the FTA and other organisations.

17th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Chancellor's doubts on 4.2.2. – four years ago

Reducing MOT frequency may compromise road safety and environmental concerns, according to the Chancellor, George Osborne, despite the decision of transport ministers to look at doing so. In a letter to the motor trade in 2007, published for the first time in November 2011 and raised in the House of Commons by Liberal Democrat John Leech MP, Mr Osborne said of the then Government’s review of MOT testing:

“I share your concern about the potential implications of moving to the European standard of roadworthiness testing. It seems to me that the road safety and environmental costs of moving from annual to biannual testing, and extending the initial period from three to four years, may far outweigh the predicted cost savings.”

11th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

New Rhodia CEO named

Following the company’s friendly acquisition by Belgium-based chemical companySolvay, the functions of chairman and CEO at Rhodia have been separated. Gilles Auffret has been appointed CEO of Rhodia and a member of Solvay’s executive committee. Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, deputy CEO of Solvay, remains chairman of Rhodia.

10th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

IAM calls for 80 mph speed limit

The IAM is calling for the government to pilot an 80 mph speed limit on a controlled and managed motorway to assess its practicality and safety, and road users’ reaction to it. In September the government announced that the motorway speed limit could be raised to 80 mph. According to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), on uncongested motorways more than half of car drivers exceed the 70 mph speed limit, around a fifth exceed 80 mph and it is rare for the police to prosecute drivers travelling between 70 and 80mph.

8th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors