Today Hercules Tire introduced two new products to the firm’s Terra Trac family of light truck tyres. The new Terra Trac M/T mud terrain and the Terra Trac T/G Max commercial traction tyres are purpose-built for distinctly different but equally rugged applications, and both feature unmatched on-road Road Hazard protection up to two years or 50 per cent treadwear, and Hercules’ exclusive 30-day “Trust Our Ride” test drive.
Roughly a year after Tyres & Accessories met Bridgestone North Europe region managing director Robin Shaw, just a few weeks after he took on the role, progress at the Warwick, UK-based part of the global company is said to have been “really good”. More than 12 months after our last interview, Shaw’s perspective on the tyre industry – previously he led Bosch’s UK operations UK – has deepened significantly as has his influence in the industry.
“The direction is good, but we always want to be further on than we are,” Shaw told Tyres & Accessories. Of course when you ask how business is at multi-segmented, multinational like Bridgestone, there is no simple answer to that question. Rather there are multiple variables, the importance of which differs from segment to segment. However, the general synopsis is that all segments are doing well, with some doing particularly well.
Netherlands-based Event Tyres BV has revealed plans to launch three new products at the Autopromotec exhibition in Bologna, Italy in May. The new products are called the Futurum, Semita and Potentum and are aimed at high performance, SUV and UHP orientated vehicles respectively. With Autopromotec less than two months away, Tyres & Accessories spoke with Eddy Oost, managing director of Event Tyre BV, in order to find out more about the products and the company’s broader expansion strategy.
RH Claydon will exhibit its key truck brands with an increased presence at April’s CV Show. In its 62nd year of trading, the wholesaler states that it has witnessed an expansion of its commercial vehicle tyre business in recent years. RHC holds an extensive range of brands, specialising in the commercial, agricultural and specialist segments. It says its portfolio is designed to meet the requirements of the light and heavy truck tyre distributor, service provider and end user.
Singapore’s Stamford Tyres introduced a new range of 4×4/SUV tyres, while its associated Stamford Sport Wheels company emphasised the availability of new colours in its wheel range. Stamford also announced the arrival of new truck tyre sizes in its 17.5” and 19.5” ranges towards the end of this year. Another key product for Stamford Tyres was the introduction of its Nu Ice winter range. Larry Lee, Stamford’s vice president – international distribution said plans are in progress to add new sizes for the 2015 winter season.
Falken Tire Corp., a unit of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., will phase out the Ohtsu brand name for commercial tyres in the US market, Tire Review reports. The company will re-introduce it to the market as an associate brand for its passenger and light truck tyre lines. US distribution of Ohtsu CV tyres, a fellow Sumitomo brand, was brought under the control of Falken Tire Corp. in 2009.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, Bridgestone achieved net sales of 863.6 billion yen (£5.0 billion), an 8.7 per cent year-on-year increase on the 1 January to 31 March 2013 quarter. Operating income was 116.3 billion yen (£677.1 million), up 56.3 per cent year-on-year, while operating margin rose from 9.4 per cent a year ago to 13.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2014. Net income increased 66.9 per cent year-on-year to 71.9 billion yen (£418.6 million).
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s (YAS) has reported that it has reduced its tyre spend by approximately 20 per cent eight months after ATS Euromaster was appointed to service the Trust’s fleet.
Shropshire, UK based international tyre wholesaler Treadsetters will be exhibiting at the Reifen Show 2014 as part of the TIA Group, where the company says its main objective will be to continue with the company’s ongoing growth strategy within a number of market sectors. Treadsetters will be hosting the stand (Hall 2 – 2B44) alongside […]
Following on from their European launch in February, the new series of Zeetex brand passenger car, 4×4 and light commercial tyres have been presented to 40 Africa, Middle East and ASEAN dealers. The six new models offer better road-handling and traction while delivering longer mileages, according to Zeetex distributor ZafcoTrading, and were unveiled on 20 […]
Giti Tire has announced the appointment of former Bridgestone employee Fabio Pecci-Boriani to the newly created position of senior product marketing manager across its European operation. Pecci-Boriani has a brief to develop the manufacturer’s Passenger Car and Light Truck tyre portfolios throughout Europe. Formerly pricing manager at Volvo, Pecci-Boriani will report directly to Richard Lyons, […]
Russian tyre maker Nizhnekamskshina says that if demand for the coloured tyres it presented at Reifen 2012 is sufficient, it will begin commercial manufacture of the products. The producer of the Kama brand presented its Viatti Strada Asimmetrico tyres in white, red, green and blue. At present the coloured tyres are strictly a limited edition item.
Prices for Yokohama’s consumer tyre products sold in the US will increase by as much as eight per cent as of November 1. Yokohama Tire Corporation director of sales, Shawn Denlein, says the new prices for its passenger, performance and light truck tyres are being introduced due to “the costs of raw materials, energy and transportation remaining at very high levels.”
Dealer base prices for Toyo passenger car and light truck tyres will increase by an average of eight per cent in the US on June 1. Announcing the price revision, Toyo Tire USA senior director of sales John Hagan stated “Toyo Tires is committed to providing excellent product quality while keeping prices to a minimum; however the continued increases in raw material costs make it necessary for us to raise our prices at this time.”
As of June, 1 prices for all Pirelli passenger car and light truck tyres sold in the US will increase by six to nine per cent. The manufacturer attributes the decision to further lift prices to increasing raw material costs.
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