Motor Trader magazine, which focuses on dealer activities, has reported that last minute self-registration activity distorted the record breaking September plate change, with over a quarter of the month’s volumes being registered on the closing day of the month. But could the heady days of growing registration figures be over? Some analysts believe strengthening markets elsewhere could knock the UK market back.
Metzeler has enlisted some celebrity help to introduce its latest models at the Metzeler Legendary Knight, a free entrance and open bar event to be held on 5 November at Fonderia Napoleonica in the Motoquartiere of Milan. Aerosmith frontman and Dirico Motorcycles USA spokesman, Steven Tyler will unveil Metzeler’s custom touring ME 888 Marathon Ultra tyre in a Whitewall version and new 23” front size, while popular British rider Guy Martin will help the brand launch its new Sportec M7 RR supersport tyre.
Nokian’s WR D3 winter tyre has been “especially recommended”, scoring the top “good” rating, in German automobile club ADAC and consumer protection organisation Stiftung Warentest’s 2013 winter tyre test. The tyre was equally recommended by German car magazine Auto Motor Sport. The Finnish manufacturer and winter tyre specialist also received plaudits for its new WR SUV 3 tyre in two German SUV specialist titles.
The Dunlop Sport BluResponse is a finalist in the ‘Green Steering Wheel 2013’, an annual competition held by leading car publication AutoBild in Germany.
Tyrepress launched a new newsletter product in February 2013 aiming to improve the targeted job advertisement opportunities offered by Europe’s leading English language magazine and website for tyre and wheel professionals. The weekly newsletter, which also collates the most recent Career Tracks news every Wednesday, will continue to link to greatly improved listings on the relaunched Tyrepress website, putting advertisers’ job vacancies in front of the widest possible range of European tyre and wheel professionals.
The relaunch of Tyrepress will also mark the relaunch of the Business Directory service. This feature, which has been available in two incarnations before this vastly improved third generation, enables tyre and wheel related businesses to direct the website’s 240,000 monthly visitors towards their own websites with a range of listings options available for an annual fee; web URLs are also listed in the back of Tyres & Accessories magazine each month, increasing exposure to print readers too. The Tyrepress Business Directory 3.0 is better connected to the rest of the website, with entries searchable alongside articles.
A new feature coming to Tyrepress in the relaunched version of the site is a database of European tyre test results. The feature has been a part of German sister site Reifenpresse.de’s service for some time, and as a result the database offers more than 3,500 tyre test results. Tyrepress editor Chris Anthony says that the feature forms “a key part of our newly updated website.”
In just a few days’ time, a completely upgraded tyrepress.com will be unveiled. We’ve listened to feedback from within the industry and taken stock of the increasing demand for our online services, and the result is a totally redesigned site with improved mobile and tablet functionality along with more user friendly search and navigation.
For the second year running, Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co. Ltd, trading as Maxxis International, has been named one of Asia's Fab 50 companies by Forbes magazine.
In explaining Maxxis' inclusion on the list, Forbes cited the company's record revenue in 2012, boosted by demand in emerging markets including Indonesia, China and India. Forbes also noted that Maxxis' net profit grew by 86 per cent last year to $530 million.
Continental's ContiSportContact 5 has come out on top in the demanding tyre test carried out by leading car magazine Auto Express. The Auto Express test celebrates the best of the best in the tyre market, highlighting exceptional performance, quality, safety, desirability and value. It is seen within the motoring industry as a stamp of approval offering motoring enthusiasts confidence when looking for their next tyre purchase.
A car equipped with Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.’s global flagship "ADVAN" racing tyre won the overall championship at the 12-hour Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race 2013 (MMER 2013) held during 29-31 August. This marks the third straight year that the race has been won by a car equipped with Yokohama tyres.
Leading French magazine Motorsport has published a tyre test comparing the sporting performance of 10 top manufacturers’ tyres, naming Yokohama’s recently released flagship Advan Sport V105 its winner. Ranking the tyres in terms of braking, lap times, wear and subjective performance, Motorsport’s August/September issue found the V105 strong across the board, while Michelin’s Pilot Sport 3 and Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric rounded out a generally strong-performing top three.
The 11th edition of the China International Tyre Expo (CITExpo) looks set to be the largest prior to the show’s opening. The three halls of the Shanghai Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center are full ready for the show on 4-6 September. The organiser, Reliable International Exhibition Services, says that more than 350 quality exhibitors will occupy 24,000sqm exhibition space, including major tyre industry brands like Cooper, Double Coin, Stamford, Techking and Triangle. Tyres & Accessories/Tyrepress.com will also be in attendance in its role as one of the show’s partners, with a full report from the show due in the October edition of T&A magazine.
April's Tyres & Accessories is now available to online subscribers via our e-paper format. This issue contained features on wholesaling, wheels and previewed May's Autopromotec exhibition.
Winter and all-season tyres will be the fitment of choice in the coming winter for 3.1 and 1.2 per cent of visitors to Tyrepress.com, a poll conducted on the homepage has revealed. The July Question of the Month reflected results very close to the figures quoted in Tyres & Accessories’ Winter Tyre feature, available in the August magazine soon. Market analysts GfK said that its sell-out data showed winter tyres making up 3.5 per cent of the November 2012 – February 2013 PCR market, while all-season accounted for 2.0 per cent in the period. Other research in the feature suggests all-season tyres are something of a hidden strength in the UK – subscribers can read more by following the links in the full story below. Meanwhile, the August Question of the Month asks whether tyre age should be part of the MOT – go to the Tyrepress.com homepage now to have your say.
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