The bigger the tyre brand, the more important marketing becomes in order to communicate its values and its worth. With this in mind, the “marketing” tag collates all the latest marketing-related news and analysis into a single place. This reverse-chronological list of thousands of articles is your go-to source of tyre industry, marketing-related news and information.
Hercules has confirmed that its Terra Trac R/S (rugged service), an all-terrain tyre built for rough conditions, is now available. Following its preview at SEMA 2012, the Terra Trac R/S is available in 10 LT/SUV fitments, with three-ply tread and/or three-ply sidewall construction in select sizes.
The Independent Tire Dealers Group (ITDG) has announced its exclusive distribution and marketing of the Diamondback passenger car and light truck tyre brand in the United States. The buying group said it is working in concert with Husky Tire of San Antonio, Texas, which provides logistical support expertise.
Groundbreaking on the new distribution centre to be erected by the US marketer of the Double Coin brand, China Manufacturers Alliance (CMA), will take place one week from today, the company reports. A ceremony to mark the occasion will be held at the site in Rancho Cucamonga, California on 25 April. The company also says it intends to build further warehouse facilities, both within the US and internationally.
When you think of Trelleborg you will probably think of industrial or agricultural tyres. You may think of rubber products in general. But would you associate the Swedish firm with the movies?
Trelleborg has launched a new 3D animated movie which is available on YouTube via its social media channel, TrelleborgAgri. The film, created using 3D animation techniques, tells the life story of a smart cartoon cricket that starts his own agricultural business and miniature farm. The story, which begins in 1955, follows the cricket ‘farmer’ through the ages, following his journey as he comes face-to-face with evolving tractor generations. From x-ply tires, through to upgraded tractors equipped with radial technology tires; the cricket must learn how to survive and work alongside these new technologies.
Bartrums Warehousing and Distribution has received 10 Wilcox 70 cubic yard plank sided tipping trailers fitted with the company’s specification GT Radial GT876 tyres. Bartrums has completed a two-year tyre test programme in which various GT Radial patterns were compared across different vehicle types and wheel positions. Following these performance results the brand was made main supplier to the entire fleet, GT Radial says.
According to a forecast published by IHS Global Insight in April, Russia’s premium car segment is expected to grow 5.2 per cent this year and 8.5 per cent in 2014. Pirelli focuses its strategy on this segment and therefore views Russia as a key market. Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Russian oil and gas company Rosneft, the Italian tyre maker will soon begin construction work on its first flagship ‘PZero Platinum’ tyre shop within the country.
Dutch wholesaler Heuver Tyrewholesale has appointed Dewy Mulder its new marketing manager. She succeeds Maureen Voortman in this role following Voortman’s promotion within the company. In her new role, Mulder takes on marketing responsibility for both Heuver’s wholesale business and the company’s Profile Tyrecenter retail outlets.
Market conditions in Europe for the aftermarket sale of car, 4×4 and light commercial vehicle wheels have continued to provide an inhospitable environment to those active in the area. The ability to sell luxury, desire-driven items in a down economy has been a question to which UK distributor Wheelwright has continued to seek an answer since 2008. The company has taken many positive steps, having revamped its website and e-commerce services to address growing internet buying habits; introduced the private Calibre and Calibre Couture brands; and increased marketing to a more diverse range of applications, such as winter and van wheels. Wheelwright managing director, Kevin Greer told Tyres & Accessories that the company has found positives in certain niches having “acknowledged the reduced demand” of the UK car wheel market.
The newest addition to the Mitas ERL earthmover tyre range has been unveiled at Bauma 2013. Like other products in the ERL range, the 20.5R25 ERL-50, which will be released globally in July, is intended for use on loaders, dozers and graders operating in rocky conditions. With the addition of the ERL-50, the ERL line-up now covers 12 sizes with tread depths ranging from 28 to 90mm.
In order to create an affinity with its well-armed target audience, General Tire has recruited a former Green Beret to star in a new US-market print advertising campaign. Grady Powell has signed on as the gun-toting protagonist in the new “Anywhere Is Possible” campaign, which will promote the Grabber tyre range in magazines such as Guns & Weapons, Combat Handguns, Tactical Weapons, and Recoil. The campaign begins in April 2013.
Maxxis has announced its plans to increase its presence on social networking platforms. New Maxxis marketing manager Amy Colbourne explains that the company’s increased activity on social networks will allow it to offer better customer support, as well as allowing customers to speak directly to the company more easily. The brand has recently launched a new Maxxis Babes website and currently has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google+ accounts.
During the course of 2012, Continental expanded its retail network in China by some two-thirds, and this year it looks to grow by a further 40 per cent. Beijing-based publication China Daily reports Jay Dhillon, general manager of Continental Tires China, as calling 2012 the company’s “most successful year” in terms of its retail operation. He shared that 1,000 new authorised franchised shops were added to Continental’s network, giving it a total of 2,500.
This year, Lassa Tyres will once again field the Team Lassa Tyres in the British Drift Championship. The team’s drivers for the 2013 season are Simon Perry and Jody Fletcher in Super Pro-Class and Richard ‘Juddster’ McCourt in Semi Pro-Class; once again, they will compete in all six rounds of the UK’s premier drift championship.
This year, Hankook takes over from Pirelli as sole supplier of the newly-renamed Junior WRC Championship. The Korean manufacturer will provide the series – which used to be known as the WRC Academy – with tyres from its Ventus range. The Ventus Z range will be used for tarmac rallies and the Venus R during gravel events. Both tyres have tread patterns specifically designed for use on front-wheel-drive cars such as the Ford Fiesta R2, the car all entrants in the 2013 FIA Junior WRC Championship will drive. Detailed tyre specifications and the number of tyres to be provided to competitors will be announced prior to each championship round.
Bridgestone’s fuel economy focused Ecopia truck tyre range has added a dedicated trailer product to its ranks for the first time: the new Ecopia H-Trailer 001. Bridgestone says the tyre has been designed to achieve increased fuel saving in highway operations, courtesy of improved rolling-resistance and wet grip performance. The manufacturer adds that the Ecopia H-Trailer 001 has strong mileage and durability characteristics.
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