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Federal Tire Well Rated in Japanese Performance Test

Praise for Federal Tire’s 595 RS-R has been handed out by Japan’s Rev Speed magazine. The popular performance and tuning magazine recently described the semi-slick tyre as a “a high-performance offering features a sporty personality, with a genuine bargain of attractively and affordable price.”

In testing the tyre, Rev Speed sent a team of evaluators to the Nikko Circuit in central Japan, where they spent a full track day behind the wheel. The Federal product was pitted against four competitors from the UHP tyre sector. Testing on the 235/40R18 size tyres was carried out using a Subaru Impreza GRB, which performed numerous time attack and drifting manoeuvres.

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Predicts Breakeven Net Income

Bridgestone, reports Bloomberg, has reduced its full year prediction to breakeven in line with continuing vehicle sales declines. The manufacturer had previously set its net income forecast at 3 billion yen (£19.1 billion), but in a statement delivered to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the company suggested that the global recession has driven down demand for new vehicles and with it the need for OE tyres. Therefore the company went through with its May promise to revise its targets, concluding that it will sell fewer units in Japan, Europe and America.

However, cost reduction programmes and declining raw materials prices mean that, for the first half of the year, Bridgestone now predicts a loss of 46 billion yen, 16 billion less than the original forecast of a 62 billion yen loss.

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

European Truck OE Tyre Demand Down 72.9% in May

European truck OE tyre demand fell at the fastest rate in the world in May (-72.9 per cent), according to recently released Michelin market data. Putting the company’s (and the industry as a whole’s) difficulties into perspective, Deutsche Bank analysts summed up the worst of the current volumes like this: “eight times worse than the worst year over the last 30 years (1991).” North America, Brazil and Japan suffered 53.5, 24.1 and 65.2 per cent falls in Truck tyre OE demand respectively in May, with China the only market to avoid the pain – growing 2.6 per cent. Truck tyre replacement sales faired better in most markets, albeit still falling between 12.8 and 23.3 per cent in four of the five covered zones. China remained flat.

Despite the depressing figures, Deutsche Bank analysts were optimistic that the worst is over: “Since sell-out demand is not as bad, dealers destocking can’t last forever. And therefore sell-in and sell-out market trends will converge soon. Lastly, May is a relatively small month for the industry when June is much more important. For example, June represents a high 25 per cent of Michelin’s first half volumes.”

18th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Production Starts at Bridgestone’s Kitakyushu Plant

The manufacture of large and ultra-large OTR radials (ORR tyres) commenced at Bridgestone’s new Kitakyushu plant during June, three months ahead of the planned September start date. The tyre major announced that the first shipment of construction and mining tyres took place on June 16.

This facility, located in Fukuoka Prefecture near Japan’s southern tip, is the first new tyre factory opened by Bridgestone in Japan since 1976, when began production at the Hofu plant. By the time Kitakyushu is operating at planned production capacity in the second half of 2012, it will turn out 80 tons of new rubber per day and employ 329 workers. Yoshikazu Seki has been appointed the plant’s first director.

17th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Awarded for Fuel Saving R&D

Research conducted by Toyo Tire & Rubber into technologies improving fuel economy has earned the company an award from the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. One Toyo employee, OE Tire Development project manager Tamotsu Mizutani, was granted the “Award for Technical Development” award for work carried out together with Honda R&D. Four Honda researchers were also honoured at the May 21 ceremony.

The technology developed by Toyo and Honda relates to reducing energy loss. Toyo explains that a tyre’s tread shrinks upon contact with the ground, and the constant repeated contraction and expansion experienced by the tread causes energy to be dissipated. Materials traditionally used to minimise this energy loss and improve fuel efficiency, adds Toyo, hinder braking power – and those that optimise braking increase energy loss.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s Poland TBR Facility Officially Opened

A traditional “kagami-biraki” sake barrel breaking ceremony attended by more than a hundred guests and a guided factory tour has marked the official opening of Bridgestone’s new 200 million truck and bus radial facility in Stargard, northwest Poland. Senior company management including Bridgestone Corporation CEO Shoshi Arakawa and Bridgestone Europe CEO Toru Tsuda presided over the May 18 events and played host to numerous local, regional and national officials such as Mrs Grazyna Henclewska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, Mr. Tanabe, Japan’s Ambassador to Poland and Mr. Husejko, Marshal of West Pomerania.

19th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sumi Rubber Indonesia’s 100 Millionth Tyre Rolls Out

P.T. Sumi Rubber Indonesia, Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ Indonesian subsidiary, produced its 100 millionth tyre on Monday 27 April 2009. Sumi Rubber Indonesia started operation in April 1997 as Sumitomo Rubber’s first tyre production base in Asia. The Indonesian company has since supplied tyres in Indonesia, Japan and globally. At the same time, the company worked actively on reduction of burden on the environment and obtained ISO14001 certification in August 2003. It attained the zero emission in December 2004 and the complete zero emission in August 2008 as one of the companies to obtain it fastest in Indonesia. The factory employees 3000 and produces 4200 tons a month, according to company literature.

12th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheels of Middle East Tyre Market “Set to Keep Turning in 2009”

According to the organiser of Automechanika Middle East, the exhibition’s host country retains a strong tyre industry despite the global slowdown. Dubai’s direct trade in tyres, it says, was valued at more than AED 6.6 billion (US $1.8 billion) in 2008, an increase of 12 per cent from 2007. And organiser EPOC Messe Frankfurt GmbH believes that “even with the economic downturn catching up, wheels of the tyre market in the UAE are set to keep turning in 2009” – and thus it has high hopes for the exhibition, which opens on May 31 and runs until June 2 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kei Racing Aiming New Tachi Wheel at Modified Market

Kei Racing has released a new wheel design aimed at the “modified market.” The Tachi (pronounced Tar-Chee), is said to be named after a deadly instrument favoured as the weapon of choice for many Samurai warriors in feudal Japan so, say company representatives, “it’s highly appropriate for Kei’s cutting-edge wheel technology and design.”

The new Japanese design features a matt-gunmetal finish and uses a strong and a simple 10 spoke design to offer good looks with wide calliper clearance for brake cooling. Size wise, there’s something for everyone, with 15 x 6.5, 17 x 7 and 18 x 7.5 all available in a huge array of 4 and 5 stud patterns, covering nearly all core Jap, Tuner and Euro cars. The 15-inch variant is set to retail at just £86.69 each. While the 17 and 18-inch wheels come with £122.50 and £150.34 price tags respectively.

14th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

TMD Friction Acquired in Equity-backed Management Buy Out

On 3 April TMD Friction was bought out in an all equity acquisition led by its senior management team and Pamplona Capital Management, a London-based investment fund. According to a company statement, the move will safeguard approximately 3,800 jobs worldwide. Completion of the acquisition is expected by the end of April.

TMD Friction manufactures disc brake pads and drum brake linings for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, together with brake pads for racing cars, and friction materials for industrial and rail applications. TMD Friction supplies global automotive and commercial OEMs across a wide range of vehicle platforms. The company is also one of the largest suppliers to the global aftermarket with its Textar, Pagid, Mintex, Don, Cobreq, and Cosid brands. The company operates from locations across Europe, the US, Brazil, Mexico, China and Japan.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Withdraws from Aircraft Tyre Business

Yokohama Rubber has been manufactured and sold aircraft tyres, both new and retreaded, to the Japanese military and to Japanese domestic airlines since 1940, however the company has now decided to withdraw from this business. According to Yokohama, this decision was taken as aircraft tyre sales constitute only a minor part of Yokohama Rubber’s entire business, and do not offer strong future growth potential.

30th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Opens Giant Florida Distribution Centre

Bridgestone Americas opened the doors to its new 1 million square foot distribution center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Calling it “state-of-the-art tyre,” the company said the new facility has a capacity of more than one million tyres and will supply tyres and automotive parts to customers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. It will also supply the entire U.S. with tyres produced in Latin America, and the eastern half of the U.S. with tyres from Japan and other Asian countries.

Bridgestone Americas operates seven distribution centres across North America. (Tire Review/Akron)

26th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Sponsors World Cup Ski Jump Final

Toyo tyres is sponsor of the World Final of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, which will take place in Planica, Slovenia between 19 and 22 March through Slovenian distributor, Span. According to the tyre company, the final is the biggest sports event in Slovenia attracting an audience of over 57,000 in 2008. In addition, two million viewers watch the final on TV around the World. Competitors come not just from the traditional Scandinavian countries but from all over Europe and beyond including Russia and Japan.

Sponsorship brings with it coverage from the giant signs (positioned to give the brand maximum publicity) and TV time on most of the major TV channels broadcasting in Europe including the BBC, CNN and Eurosport.

18th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New UHP From Bridgestone

Bridgestone Americas has introduced the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11, a V- and W-rated UHP line. The tyre, introduced in Japan last year, features Bridgestone’s “Stealth Technology,” an aid in water dispersion.

“The tyre’s unique new sidewall shape and radical new ‘stealth’ block, which was derived from Bridgestone’s Formula One race tires, promotes higher tread stiffness while enhancing water evacuation,” the company said in its description. “An asymmetric cavity shape offers improved handling and ride characteristics. Large outer tread blocks improve cornering performance, and grooves around the tyre’s circumference help channel water from the tyre’s footprint to decrease hydroplaning.”

Bridgestone said the tyre targets such cars as the Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z, the Mini Cooper S and the BMW 3 Series. It will be available in 31 sizes covering 15- to 19-inch wheel diameters, and carries a UTQG of 180 AA. (Tire Review/Akron)

13th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama to Launch New Eco-Tyre at Geneva Show

Yokohama Rubber plans to hold the European launch of its new ‘dB super E-spec’ at the Geneva Motor Show, which gets underway on March 3. The tyre is, according to Yokohama, the “ultimate eco-tyre designed to be environmentally friendly in all respects.” Other new releases will be the “ADVAN NEOVA AD08,” released in Japan in February and marketed here in the summer, and the W.drive cold weather tyre – the latest in the four-product “.drive” series – which will be released this coming winter.

2nd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors