Bridgestone’s premium high-performance and touring tyres have received praise from Which?, the UK’s leading consumer watchdog magazine. Which? magazine tested 30 tyres in varying sizes from mainstream manufacturers, with Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 rated the top tyre in the 14-inch class, and its high-performance Potenza RE050A tyre named as ‘Best buy’ in the 17-inch category.
(Akron/Tire Review) Babcox Publications announces it has sold a majority position of the company to Alta Communications, a Boston-based private equity firm. Bill Babcox, current president of the company, retains a substantial ownership position and remains president and CEO, in addition to serving as chairman of the board.
It was back in January 2005 that Michelin launched its Michelin Accreditation Programme (MAP), aimed at recognising excellence in independent tyre dealers and raising standards of professionalism and customer services to the highest possible level. Then in February, MAP crossed the Irish Sea when Heffernan’s Tyres of Kildare became the first Michelin Accredited Centre (MAC) in the Irish Republic. Heffernan’s is a family-run business, founded in 1952 by Joe Heffernan and now run by Thomas Heffernan and his wife Linda.
The road to MAP accreditation is not an easy one – initially the Michelin Account Manager conducts a Gap Analysis, which essentially outlines the gap between the way the centre operates now and the standards required to become a MAC. When the centre believes that it has reached the required standards, a mystery shopper puts it to the test and, if this proves satisfactory, a full audit is carried out. Success in this leads to accreditation, but the story does not end there, as further mystery shops are carried out and, a year after accreditation, another full audit is conducted.
What Car? has continued its criticism of the UK garage business by publishing an investigation into car servicing costs at 200 UK dealers. The research shows it can be cheaper to employ a barrister or a doctor than a mechanic.
According to the magazine, consumers frequently pay more than £100 per hour for labour at franchised dealers. Hourly rates vary across the country, from £49 for Vauxhall in Scotland to £140 for BMW in London. A locum doctor charging between £350 and £500 per day is cheaper. Even a criminal law junior barrister will charge as little as £30 per hour.
British quad racing champion, Paul Winrow, will drive on BKT X-Driv quad tyres supplied by RH Claydon throughout the 2006 season. Winrow has been British No1 in Quad Racing for the past two years and has decided to ride BKT X-Driv in all his competitive races in Europe and the US.
(Akron/Tire Review) Four Bridgestone-brand tyres were named to Consumers Digest magazine’s list of tire “best buys,” which appears in the publication’s February issue. Earning the designation were the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H in the touring tire category; Bridgestone Potenza G009 in the performance tire category; Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza in the light truck/SUV all-purpose tire category; and the Bridgestone Dueler H/P in the sport tyre category.
Online tyre business, blackcircles.com, has launched a ‘virtual auction’ website. Designed as a way of bringing cut-price quality products to the masses, the company is aiming to use its reputable image to shine a light on the sometimes questionable world of Internet tyre auctioning. Whether or not the site is aiming to or, can realistically compete with, global giants like eBay is another question.
Bridgestone’s R249 steer-axle radial has been voted commercial vehicle ‘Tyre of the Year 2006’ in Spain. The award, promoted by ‘Neumáticos y Mecánica rápida’ magazine, is now in its seventh year. Winners are selected by a group of more than 50 independent professionals, ranging from tyre workshop technicians to distributors, representatives of the media and members of several associations.
Bridgestone reports that it conducted extensive testing in nine countries, including Spain in the course of producing the R249. The manufacturer designed the product based on user requirements identified in a long-term study covering almost 1000 European fleets.
Five months after the introduction of Automotive Kitemark system, there are only three accredited workshops for consumers to choose from. So far the British Standards Institute says it has received fewer than 100 applications from the UK’s 25,000 garages.
According to What Car, numerous mystery shop reports have all shown motorists are routinely overcharged, told they need unnecessary work or left with cars in a dangerous, un-roadworthy condition.
The February 2006 issue of US magazine Consumers Digest showcases the best tyres on the market, as rated by the magazine’s editors, and products from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company take top billing in three of the five rated segments. For the “Passenger Car Tyres, All-Season” category, Goodyear’s Assurance was the Premium selection. The Consumers Digest comparison list shows top-rated tyres in Premium, Midrange and Economy segments.
Alcoa Wheel Products announced today that its 17-inch Alcoa cast aluminium wheels are used on the new 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, recently selected by Motor Trend magazine as the 2006 truck of the year. The Alcoa wheels are featured on Ridgeline’s upgraded EX-L and EX-L Navi trim packages.
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
The latest industry poll of the ‘hot 100’ automotive groups reveals that 60 per cent of the top firms are supplied by Beissbarth UK .
(Akron/Tire Review) Groupe Michelin’s Tweel, the non-pneumatic tyre and wheel assembly that debuted at the North American International Auto Show earlier this year, has been named one of the “100 Most Innovative Products of the Year” by Popular Science magazine.
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
Whether your business is a small independent outlet or a national chain, you won’t get far unless you have the machinery and tools that can safely and efficiently assist your business. Next month’s magazine asks how recent regulations have affected the business and looks at the various different products available to the market.
December’s magazine will feature a review of 2005. But rather than just looking back, T&A will question some of the business’ major players about whether they have achieve all they intended to in the preceding 12 months. At the same time we want to look forward to the future developments that are due to take place in 2006.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
