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Dealers Object to 50-Cent Fee on Tyres

(Burlington (VT) Free Press) Rep. Jon Anderson, D-Montpelier, wants to put a 50-cent fee on each new tyre sold in Vermont to raise about $300,000 to help Green-Up Day volunteers and solid waste districts cover costs associated with illegally dumped tyres.

“I don’t want to overstate the tyre problem,” Anderson said. “It’s 1 per cent to 2 per cent of the tyres sold, but that is still 6,000 to 12,000 tyres.”

His plan isn’t popular with tyre and auto dealers, who lined up to testify before the House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee this week. They downplayed the problem Anderson is trying to solve and emphasised the detrimental impact on business of another government fee.

11th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Beru f1Systems’ New Truck TPMS

With all eyes on green issues at the moment, Beru f1Systems is pointing out that tyres are the second or third largest expense for most truck fleet operators. Tests by tyre manufacturers have shown that under-inflation by 15 per cent reduces fuel economy by 2.5 per cent. Incorrectly inflated tyres also wear faster and are more prone to premature failure. That’s where BERU f1systems’ new Truck Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

The new system has been engineered specifically for the challenges of tyre pressure monitoring on large, multi-wheeled vehicles operating in fast-moving logistics environments. It is capable of automatically detecting trailer changes, and re-calibrating itself to keep the driver informed.

7th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Investing $6.8 Million to Lower Rolling Resistance

Legislation, environmental concerns and the spiralling cost of fuel is placing an ever-increasing pressure on vehicle and components manufacturers to make their products less polluting and more fuel efficient. Tyre manufacturers are not exempt from this broad-based demand, and to keep ahead of the game Michelin is investing US$6.8 million into a research and development project focusing on further improving vehicle fuel economy by reducing tyre rolling resistance. The funds will support the company’s US based research efforts in South Carolina and include a $1.9 million research contract with Clemson University and its International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The work, says Michelin, will begin immediately and have a three-year duration.

5th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Right to Repair Act Re-Introduced in Oklahoma

State Representative Daniel Sullivan (R-71) of Oklahoma re-introduced the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (H.B. 2820) in the Oklahoma State Legislature on January 18. Similar to federal legislation, the Oklahoma bill would require car companies to make the same information and tools available to independent repair shops that they make available to their new car dealer franchises. Oklahoma now joins Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York as states with active Right to Repair efforts during 2008. (Tire Review/Akron)

30th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

From Tyres to Playgrounds With Charles Lawrence

Towards the end of last year Michelin signed a deal with Newark based recycling firm Charles Lawrence International, guaranteeing that, each year, a minimum of 6,000 tonnes of its truck tyres will be used to make children’s play and sports surfaces. Each week some 200 tonnes of material are to be shipped from Michelin in Dundee and Ballymena to the Nottinghamshire recycler.

The deal is a mutually beneficial one, as Charles Lawrence International managing director Roger Hicks explains: “The formal agreement to take 6,000 tonnes of Michelin tyres per year comes after extensive trialling and a lot of discussion. We needed to be sure we could take a consistent amount of tyres each week so that we had a secure supply of materials and so Michelin could find other uses for the old tyres we can’t use – which I know they have done. The figure is a minimum standard and we would realistically expect to be taking at least 10,000 tonnes per year.”

29th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

The Other Recycling…

In January the Tyre Recovery Association announced that Devon based retreading specialist Bandvulc had signed on as its latest member. The company’s entry into the TRA marks the first occasion in which a company specialising in retreading has held membership in the recycling and waste tyre organisation. And so, when looking at the latest TRA membership list and noting the retreader amongst a host of members engaged in producing tyre crumb for various end uses, one may be tempted to ask why a retreader has joined a recycling organisation – but perhaps a more pertinent question would be this: despite the presence of 29 precure and 15 mould cure retreaders in the UK market, why doesn’t tyre retreading more readily spring to mind when the issue of tyre recycling is mentioned?

29th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cementing a Commitment to Recycling

From time to time words are spoken about the role tyre manufacturers and wholesalers do – or should – play in the full life cycle of the products they sell. The accepted consensus is for a greater level of responsibility, a role most parties have readily accepted. Michelin, the world’s second largest tyre manufacturer, was one of the first companies off the mark in the UK in terms of meeting this obligation, and its joint venture facility for the processing of end of life tyres – Sapphire Energy Recovery – is now in its eighth year of operation.

28th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

A League of Their Own

When football teams run out onto Moscow’s Luzhniki BSA Olympic Stadium at the start of a match, it is a safe bet that few, if any, players realise that the “grass” under their feet was once black and round and fitted to a car. But despite this unawareness, the tyres we deal with every day have a strong connection with the beautiful game; the Luzhniki stadium was one of the sites at which the UEFA trialled the use of synthetic turf several years ago, and was subsequently granted the honour of hosting the first ever UEFA Cup qualifying round to be held on an artificial surface. The synthetic turf gracing the ground at Luzhniki is FieldTurf – a product produced by FieldTurf Tarkett, a Canadian company that, in addition to supplying numerous UEFA and FIFA approved turf installations, also happens to be Credential Automotive’s largest rubber crumb customer. FieldTurf’s requirements currently account for two-thirds of all Credential’s annual output of recycled tyre product.

“We’re quite proud to be playing our part in sporting excellence around the world,” comments Credential Automotive director Steve Patterson. But while Credential’s supply of tyre derived rubber product helps provide a natural feeling yet durable surface for our most popular sport, tyre recycling is much more than just a game for the County Durham based recycling and waste management specialist. Vast quantities of end of life tyres arrive at Credential’s Newton Aycliffe premises each year – Steve Patterson reports that Credential will process approximately 11 million tyres in 2008 – and the company collects tyres plus other automotive waste from fast fit centres, car dealerships, ELV dismantlers, farmers, councils and other tyre collectors in many regions throughout Great Britain, from Southwest England to Scotland.

Credential’s ability to process so many tyres was in 2007 aided by the installation of the “Tyrannosaurus”, reported to be the world’s largest shredder. This machine of Cretaceous proportions was installed in May 2007 after arriving from Finland, and it is “operating well,” reports Steve Patterson. “The machine completed commissioning in August 2007 and will have processed 2.5 million tyres by then end of January 2008.” With a line capacity of 20 tonnes per hour, the equivalent of 3,000 car tyres, the Tyrannosaurus can make short work of end of life tyres. “The processing capacity is very high and depends on the material produced, but at a 50mm tyre chip the machine could process over 80,000 tonnes per annum on a two-shift basis.” Credential’s hardware is able to effectively process 4×4 and van tyres without encountering any of the problems experienced by operators using smaller machines, and Patterson reports that the company is also able to process or find outlets for tyres containing a range of technologies, including run-flat or uncured tyres. He adds that tyres containing anti-puncture sealants may provide a less than satisfactory result should they arrive in sufficient quantities, but at present very few of these appear in the mix so they pose no problem.

The output from Credential Automotive’s facility, or at least the one-third not taken by FieldTurf, is supplied to numerous rubber manufacturers, whose end products include mats, flooring, insulating products and children’s playgrounds. According to Steve Patterson, Credential is easily able to sell everything it produces. “We currently have outlets for all of our outputs, he says. “Most are contracted and a proportion is placed on spot markets. We balance the risk/reward of contracted supply and spot markets constantly.”

The ETRMA reported last July that the UK was Europe’s leading tyre recycler, with 93 per cent of tyres previously destined for landfill now diverted to various forms of recycling. While Credential, as a past winner of the Motor Traders Association ‘Environmental Award’ and NTDA TAFF environment award nominee, is recognised for its environmentally sound policy and practices, Steve Patterson believes that legislation remains fundamental to our high recycling levels. “In general terms most people within the industry recognise the benefits of recycling a high quality product like tyres, but you need legislation and strong enforcement to push the minority into compliance because they wont do it for the sake of it.” He adds: “While a number of responsible producers take an active interest in what happens to scrap tyres, a number do not, and it is economics that drive the market. If the landfill ban was not enforced then the UK would still send a higher proportion of tyres to landfill, or at least until the landfill tax made it uneconomic.”

25th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Question of the Month: The Right Type

Recently there has been talk of how new EU laws favour low rolling resistance tyres. The concern is that the legislation would favour premium, energy saving tyres, but effectively outlaw budget products. While low rolling resistance tyres use less fuel, such a move would also limit consumer choice. So, is the concept of low rolling resistance type approval a good idea? Let your opinion count by voting online here.

24th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lotus Choose Hofmann Megaplan

Tyre and wheel equipment supplier Hofmann Megaplan has recently installed a new tyre & wheel assembly line for Lotus at the car manufacturer’s factory in Hethel, Norfolk. The new facility includes a megaspin 900 TFT wheel balancer, megamount ‘Boss’ tyre changer and various items from the ‘speedline’ system including inflation system and wheel lifters.

23rd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Question of the Month: The Right Type

Recently there has been talk of how new EU laws favour low rolling resistance tyres. The concern is that the legislation would favour premium, energy saving tyres, but effectively outlaw budget products. While low rolling resistance tyres use less fuel, such a move would also limit consumer choice. So, is the concept of low rolling resistance type approval a good idea? Let your opinion count by voting online here.

22nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nigeria Pledges to Continue Battle Against Sub-Standard Tyres

Nigeria’s Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) will destroy £667,000 worth of counterfeit and sub-standard tyres seized from importers smuggling them into the country from the neighbouring Benin Republic. This news was disclosed by SON director general Dr. John Akanya, who stated that the destruction of property with such a high street value was necessary due to the danger it posed to human life.

Commenting on the tyres and related goods seized by SON agents, Dr. Akanya said: “These are the handiwork of evil people who want to make money at all cost, not minding how it affects people’s life. What they do is that, for every good tyre, you have ten and that changes the balance.” The director general believes that inconsistent nature of security at Nigeria’s borders and weak legislation in neighbouring countries is the root cause of Nigeria’s growing problems with sub-standard products.

22nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Reports: EU Legislation Will Kill Budget Tyres

New EU regulations could lead to “type approval” of tyre specifications on CO2 emissions, effectively pushing out economy options that perform lower than the premium brands in this respect. According to an Auto Express, new EU rules aimed at cutting CO2 emissions could mean that drivers are forced to spend hundreds of pounds more to get the most fuel efficient tyres, increasing the so-called OE pull-through effect and therefore premium brand sales. Auto Express states that if the proposals go ahead, drivers who have purchased new or used cars that come with CO2 reducing low-energy rubber tyres would need to replace these with the same type or face failing their MOT.

21st January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Launches Cinturato ‘EcoImpact’ Tyre

Pirelli today re-launched its Cinturato brand as a range of high mileage, low rolling resistance tyres. The glitz associated with Pirelli launches aside, the main news is that the Pirelli claims to have married the odd-couple of lower rolling resistance/increased mileage with improved braking performance. Company executives described this as an “extension” of the Pirelli range, despite the fact that it represents quite different values to the high-speed, high performance image the Italian tyre manufacturer has cultivated for so long. 5 million units of the tyre will be produced initially, rising to 10 million after that. The tyres will be produced at Pirelli’s Bollate, Italy; Manresa, Spain; Izmit, Turkey; and Carlisle, UK factories.

The new Cinturato specifically offers a 20 per cent reduction in rolling resistance, compared with Pirelli benchmarks. As a result, the company claims the new tyre provides fuel consumption savings of 4 per cent while, by the same token, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As far as mileage is concerned, Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori, explained that the Cinturato’s completely redesigned geometry means that the new tyre has a 30 per cent longer lifespan on average. This means the average motorist will now replace his or her tyres every four years instead of every three, based on a European average driver mileage figure of 15,000 km (roughly 10,000 miles). What’s remarkable is that the company report that braking distances are still shorter than the company’s benchmark, despite the other improvements.

Pirelli group chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera explained that the new product’s green credentials are further enhanced by the fact that it is completely aromatic oil free: “We are two years ahead of Europe legislation,” which is set to come into force in 2010. But with a tyre lasting so much longer, and not being aimed at the high-profit UHP sector, does this mean margins will come down? Apparently not. Marco Tronchetti Provera explained that due to the fact that the tyre offers increased value, it can be sold at a higher entry price.

So, instead of reducing markets opportunities or cannibalising existing sales, the new Cinturato is designed to develop a part of the market that, up till now, has been neglected due to Pirelli’s focus on the UHP segments. In terms of positioning, this means the new Cinturato tyre will be placed “immediately following the top line” products, according to Tronchetti Provera. “Up till the 1980s it [the automotive business in general] was all about volumes. Today we are looking to expand in the increasingly sophisticated market,” he explained.

The product launch coincided with the inauguration of a new exhibition at Milan’s Triennale Musuem, which chronicles the development of the Pirelli brand and its pioneering advertising and communications strategies. The exhibition features dozens of posters, sketches and historic files together with original works by 15 contemporary artists on the imagery covering the Pirelli Cinturato – from its first incarnation in the 1950s to the eco-tyre it has become today.

But Pirelli’s decision to name its green tyre demonstrates that the company is by no means distancing itself from its high-performance profile. On the contrary, the first Cinturato was something of an iconic product (especially in Italy) when it was first launched in the 50s; and was known as being “sporty.” In fact one 1956 article quoted during the launch the launch the Pirelli brand as “a tool for having fun.”

17th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental South Africa Wins Green Award

South Africa’s Institute of Waste Management, in conjunction with the provincial economic development and environmental affairs department, has given Continental Tyre SA the inaugural Eastern Cape Clean Industry Award for the manufacturing sector. The award particularly recognised the company‘s “transparent and traceable environmental management system”. In reaction to the announcement, Continental SA managing director Claudio Boezio said: “It‘s great to be recognised for our efforts with this award, and it‘s even better to know our efforts are reducing the harm our planet endures on a daily basis.

17th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors