magazine Archives - Page 24 of 45

Double Win for Dunlop Direzza

The winner of the Street Touring Ultra class at this year’s Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competition, held in California, may have appeared familiar. The man taking the honours at the event was none other than last year’s winner, Richard Jung. At both the 2008 and 2009 competitions Jung attained victory on Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tyres.

“There has been a lot of hype about new street tyres from some of Dunlop’s competitors for this type of competition, so it was satisfying to get a repeat victory as evidence that the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is still the tyre to beat,” said Jung. “Enthusiasts are getting the message that this Dunlop tyre is proven to be the fastest in competition. You can feel the difference when you push the Star Specs, which is an advantage, because it allows a more consistent feel and reduced the need for suspension adjustments between runs.”

7th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Review, AskPatty.com Partner for Web-based Education

Premium, Product News

Tire Review today announced that it has partnered with AskPatty.com, the premier automotive advice website for women, to develop and offer an extensive educational and marketing program developed specifically for tyre dealers. The multi-dimensional programme will help tyre retailers and their staff to improve their marketing and sales skills and become “Certified Female Friendly” through a high-level, market-specific training program. In addition, the AskPatty.com for Tire Dealers Programme will assist dealers in reaching and building lasting relationships with women tyre and vehicle service customers through a unique marketing support programme.

With this new joint venture with Tire Review, AskPatty.com will expand its education and information services to tire retailers across the US and Canada. The multi-step training programme – both initial and ongoing – will be delivered via webinars and online interactive programs to allow tyre dealers to involve as many employees as they wish and at times most convenient to dealers and their staffs. The co-branded Web site, Certified Tire Dealer search engine, and other marketing activities will draw women customers to the dealer. (Tire Review/Akron)

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6th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Rösler: Tyre Competence is More Than the Product

Product News

The German Rösler Group becomes more and more a supplier of a fully integrated OTR tyre management which – together with its classical core competence of retreading – is particularly developing the marketing of consulting and maintenance services in its realm. The keyword ist “Rösler 360°”. Since the beginning of last year the company summarises all its different competencies, services and products under Rösler’s “360°” product which does not leave any cost factor or operational detail aside. Since very recently, the company from Dortmund in Western Germany has yet another tool under the tyre management. The “OTR Tyre Managmenent Software” will help to optimise costs and benefits of the OTR tyre management in general as it allows to collect (perhaps be PDA), transmit (even by satellite connection) and analyse and evaluate all the tyre data available.

30th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Rated Favourably in German Summer Tyre Tests

Product News

The Germans take their tyre testing seriously, and Bridgestone reports that its tyres have come out on top in the 2009 summer-tyre tests conducted by two of the country’s motoring publications. Two of Europe’s largest motoring publications, AutoBild and ADAC Motorwelt, have awarded the Turanza ER300 the top rating “very recommendable”, and a similar favourable result was also doled out by Auto Motor und Sport. Other Bridgestone products scoring the highest “very recommendable” rating include the Potenza RE050A (Gute Fahrt) and the Firestone TZ300α (ADAC Motorwelt).

27th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Reports: Schaeffler Has Restructuring Plan

Product News

In an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel, Schaeffler Group co-owner, Georg Schaeffler, indicated that the company has already submitted a restructuring plan to creditor banks. Pressure has been mounting for Schaeffler to release it plans to both the government and its creditors after the automotive supplier borrowed 16 billion euros to finance last year’s takeover of Continental AG. It is now struggling to make the high debt service payments it committed to, as a result of the credit crunch’s effect on vehicle manufacturers, and so has reportedly been considering a wide variety of refinancing and restructuring, including a debt-for-equity swap that could see the family owned business barter a significant stake with the banks.

However, despite suggestions that the plan had been circulated to the appropriate parties, and hopes that the government “will respond quickly…to avoid being drawn into the election campaigns,” some banking sources told Financial Times Deutschland that the plans are as yet incomplete: “There are several short papers with fragmentary statements, but as a basis for decision making these papers are not suitable.”

24th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Wins Russian Magazine Tyre Test

Product News

Kumho tyres have won a respected magazine tyre test for the second year in a row. Russian publication Za Rulem declared the Kumho Solus KH17 as outright winner of Za Rulem’s test of 15 major tyre brands. The extensive trial encompassed all key disciplines including: braking, steering response, safety, noise level, fuel consumption and wear resistance on both wet and dry roads.

“Kumho’s Solus KH17 is strongly recommended and boasts excellent performance in all weather conditions as well as remarkable fuel efficiency. Kumho’s second consecutive victory in our annual test proves last year’s result was well deserved,” Za Rulem commented. The Korean manufacturer also won considerable acclaim in a similarly comprehensive comparison of major tyre brands run by Germany’s ADAC motorwelt.

18th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Wins Place on Fortune’s “Most Admired” List

Product News

US-based Fortune Magazine has once again listed Goodyear as one of the most admired companies in the world in its annual list-based issue. Chairman and CEO Robert J. Keegan expressed his pleasure at the ranking in a release from the manufacturer: “This global recognition by our industry peers is something for which all Goodyear associates can be proud.”

Among companies in the Motor Vehicle Parts category, Goodyear was the highest-ranked tyre company, the top US-based company and placed at number 2 overall. The tyre maker was awarded top-two finishes in five of the nine key attributes measured, coming first in Use of Corporate Assets and Social Responsibility and second in Innovation, Quality of Products and Services and Global Competitiveness.

16th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Fast Car Hails ContiSportContact 3 Best Tyre For Safety

Product News

Fast Car magazine has awarded Continental’s ContiSportContact 3 a top prize in its Best for Safety category. The Fast Car Awards purport to celebrate “the best of the best in the tuning industry”. The magazine commented: “Safe is the name of the game with Continental Tyres and their wet weather performance is the absolute best. The ContiSportContact 3 tyre is focused on serving up awesome handling for powerful performance cars. We like Continental tyres a lot.”

Scott Benbow, product manager at Continental, added: “The ContiSportContact 3 is no stranger to winning awards and we are really pleased to add to this collection with the sought after Fast Car honour. Safety is always our main focus when designing a tyre so to be recognised specifically for this is great.”

The ContiSportContact 3 uses a supple third generation silica compound which the company says allows for supreme wet braking performance. A high proportion of rubber on the outer shoulder and a stiff asymmetrical tread pattern is designed to ensure optimum performance handling.

16th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

SEMA Membership Directory Expands Reach

Product News

Changes to the 2009 SEMA Membership Directory will bring increased circulation and added opportunities for more than 7,400 member companies listed in the annual book. Rather than being printed as a stand-alone publication, the directory was bound with the March issue of SEMA News, the association’s monthly print magazine. This change increased the directory’s circulation to 30,000 and is giving the companies listed in the publication greater visibility.

In addition, the directory is designed in an easy-to-use format. Companies can be searched in a variety of ways, including, by name, company type or product.

The SEMA Membership Directory also features useful information about the association and its benefits. A digital version, which mirrors the printed copy exactly, is available at no cost by visiting http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/7c2138a3#/7c2138a3/1. (Tire Review/Akron)

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Lands Three ‘Consumers Digest’ Best Buys

Product News

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) reports earning three “Best Buys” ratings from Consumers Digest in the magazine’s recent tyre evaluation. A Bridgestone-brand and a Fuzion-brand tyre were acknowledged in the Performance Car Tires category along with a Bridgestone-brand tyre in the Touring Car Tires classification. This is a significant occurrence for BATA, as according to Consumers Digest, “Research shows that 62.7 per cent of consumers actually bought a product based on Consumers Digest Best Buy Seal.”

“We are very honoured to earn this kind of recognition for our Bridgestone and Fuzion-brand tyres,” said John Baratta, president, Consumer Replacement Tire Sales, U.S. and Canada, BATO. “Consumers Digest is an important and influential resource for consumers when they go to make buying decisions.”

6th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Will Past Dealings Hinder Schaeffler’s Bailout Chances?

Product News

The German government is said to be in a difficult position….The Schaeffler Group, part-owner of Continental AG, has sought debt assistance, and the government seemed ready to help – until allegations of the company’s dealings in the Nazi era came to light.

At the end of February, the group issued the findings of independent research into its activities during the Third Reich, and this report shows Schaeffler to have widely used forced labourers in its Poland based armaments factories. The company released the findings in light of rumours circulating on the internet that its factories also utilised hair taken from inmates at Auschwitz, a charge Schaeffler vigorously denied.

3rd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Gets Top Reviews From German Mags

Product News

Kumho Tire received some favorable press in Europe recently, earning honors in tyre tests conducted by German automotive magazines. The company received an overall assessment of “very recommendable” by Autozeitung, and its Road Venture MT KL71 was selected as “Off Road Tyre 2009” by German 4×4 magazine “Off Road.”

“European automotive magazines from Germany, Great Britain and Sweden hold tests several times a year to compare and rank performance of recommendable tyres,” said N.W. Cho, senior researcher for Kumho. “The tyre test results influence the purchasing decisions of European consumers, as they are an official recognition of performance and quality.” (Tire Review/Akron)

2nd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Schaeffler Confirms Hetmann Has Resigned

Product News

Schaeffler Group has confirmed that the company’s chief financial officer, Thomas Hetmann, has left due to “differences of opinion regarding the future strategic concept of the Schaeffler Group.” According to an official statement released by the company, Hetmann has left by “mutual agreement” and will be replaced by Mary Jo Gresens, who will act as a consultant. Gresens was previously CFO at the automotive supplier between 1999 and 2006.

Meanwhile, Forbes has reported that Schaeffler is to present a revised restructuring plan to the German government in the next two week. A source “familiar with the matter” told the business magazine that the move, a requirement for receiving state aid, follows a 20 per cent drop in new orders at the company.

18th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

SPD May Support Schaeffler State Aid

Product News

Germany’s Social Democratic party (SPD) is reportedly “open in principle” Continental AG major shareholder Schaeffler Group with state aid, SPD chairman Franz Muentefering told reporters in Berlin. “Situations can arise in which you need to help many, many families in order to prevent a catastrophe…Then you need to do it,” Muentefering added. The politician didn’t give any details of how government discussions on how the government’s discussions with Schaeffler could work out.

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

STL Gets Global Award Nod

Product News

Standards Testing Laboratories was nominated for a Tire Technology International Award for Innovation and Excellence in the Tire Industry Supplier of the Year category. The awards are sponsored by Tire Technology International magazine, and will be presented on 18 February in Hamburg, Germany.

“We’re honoured to be considered for the Tire Industry Supplier of the Year award as we focus on company growth that allows us to serve tyre and wheel customers throughout the world,” said Cheryl Schnuth, STL vice president of marketing. “Our expert team of engineers, scientists and technicians devotes each day to conducting high-quality, unbiased testing that delivers accurate, reliable data.” (Tire Review/Akron)

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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