Yokohama has a wide range of 4×4 tyres in the aftermarket, with recent original equipment deals testament to the brand’s on and off-road credentials. The Advan ST ‘MO’ is an OE fitment for Mercedes-Benz and the 2013 Toyota Rav4 sports the new Geolandar G91AV pattern as original equipment.
Mercedes-Benz is the latest vehicle manufacturer to grant global approval for the use of the new Hunter Road Force Touch wheel balancing system in its franchise dealer workshops. Although the balancer has only been on the market for a number of months and available in the UK since October, the Mercedes-Benz approval is the third of its kind that the Road Force Touch has received from a major vehicle manufacturer, following sign-offs from the Volkswagen Group and BMW. Exclusive national distributor Pro-Align also expects further OEM approvals for the Road Force Touch.
A 173 vehicle fleet thought to be amongst the most likely to sustain tyre damage has appointed ATS Euromaster to help maintain its tyres. Oxfordshire-based Chevron Traffic Management is the UK’s largest independent traffic management company and claims to operate in one of the most demanding environments for road-based vehicles in the UK. Chevron runs 4×4 pick-ups, vans and trucks completing daily tasks on debris-strewn motorway hard shoulders.
Michelin reports its Pilot Sport Cup 2 will premiere on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Black Series. All versions of this particular car will be fitted with the new tyre, which Michelin says was developed together with Mercedes-AMG.
The recently-launched Yokohama Advan Sport V105 will enjoy its public debut at this year’s International Auto Salon in Geneva, Switzerland. The new tyre will be displayed at the Yokohama Rubber stand fitted to a Mercedes-Benz SL, a car the tyre maker describes as “just the kind of premium vehicle the new Advan Sport V105 was designed for.” An emphasis will placed on the tyre’s stability, which Yokohama says matches that of predecessor tyre the V103 in the super high speed range, plus its improved wet and dry surface and braking performance. In addition to the SL, the Advan Sport V105 MO is fitted as original equipment on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, SLK-Class, and CLS-Class.
A return to Australia’s V8 Supercars Championship awaits Bridgestone in 2013, with the tyre maker teaming up with Nissan Motorsport in a sponsorship deal that will see Bridgestone branding on the Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altimas of Todd and Rick Kelly. The arrangement begins in round one of this year’s series, which gets underway in Adelaide on 28 February. The Clipsal 500 event in Adelaide marks the return of Nissan to Australia's premier motorsport category after a 20-year hiatus, with Mercedes-Benz also joining the expanded series.
Bilstein, the Ennepetal-based shock absorber, suspension and spring specialist, has added roughly 220 new part numbers to its B1, B3 and B4 universal spare parts product lines. The company added more than 70 applications to its Bilstein B1 range of accessories in the latter half of 2012; 90 parts numbers were added to the Bilstein B3; and an extra 50 new applications were also added to the Bilstein B4 range.
Figures submitted to consumer champion honestjohn.co.uk reveal a discrepancy between official fuel economy ratings and real performance is costing drivers £4.45billion per year.
Damning research by consumer motoring website HonestJohn.co.uk reveals that heavily overstated official fuel figures cost UK drivers up to £4.45 billion per year collectively.
ATS Euromaster has secured what it calls a “significant new tyre agreement” with Derbyshire-based Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS). The agreement covers the supply and service of tyres for 100 per cent of the company’s 2,300-strong fleet of light commercials and heavy trucks. The contract is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds annually and Peter Findlay, general manager for Fleet Operations at CVS, says it will continue for “as long as ATS Euromaster performs as well as they have shown us they can.”
With a technical background that includes a stint as a motorsport technician working in the UK 30 years ago, Yokohama’s president went on to share further details of exactly how the new tyre surpasses its predecessor. To improve steering stability, a new "Matrix Body Ply Structure" was developed employing technology fostered through participation in world motorsports. According to the company, weight was reduced while rigidity was maintained, producing more agile handling and more comfortable ride, although this upgrade is not available on all sizes in the range. Meanwhile the asymmetrical, non-directional tread pattern – inside for enhanced performance on wet surfaces, outside for dry – features a new compound created to provide “exceptional” grip.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced today that both sales and earnings increased in the first three quarters of 2012. Net income at Yokohama in the first three quarters surged to 17.4 billion yen, compared with 1.1 billion yen in the same period of the previous year, as operating income increased 182.8 per cent, to 26.3 billion yen, and a 1.5 per cent increase in net sales, to 393.1 billion yen. Yokohama also maintained full-year predictions made in August for net income of 30 billion yen, operating income of 49 billion yen, and net sales to 576 billion yen.
Continental Tyres has been named as “Partner in Excellence” of Mercedes-Benz World, the brand experience centre located at the Brooklands motor racing circuit in Weybridge. According to Mercedes, this means Continental will supply tyres for all Mercedes-Benz vehicles used in the driving experiences both on the circuits and challenging 4×4 off-road terrain. As the lead tyre development partner for Mercedes-AMG division, Continental is said to be well placed to serve the many and varied demands of the entire Mercedes-Benz driving experience range.
Leading international branding consultancy Interbrand has just published its 13th Annual Best Global Brands report, listing the world's 100 most valuable brands. However, it has to be pointed out that despite the size of some of the industry’s leading brands – and despite their ability to communicate their various brands online (see separate article) – there are no tyre brands in the top 100 this year.
We may be in the middle of a financial downturn, but it would appear that some people aren't that concerned, as the DVLA's latest Personalised Registrations auction raised more than £4 million for the Treasury over three days.
The route between Pirelli’s UK facilities in Burton-on-Trent and Carlisle is well trodden by Derby-based haulier ATL, and the company has just put three of its newest vehicle acquisitions to work on the company’s most arduous contract. The Mercedes-Benz Axor 2543 tractor units are consistently fully laden and rack up 8,600km a week carrying raw materials and finished tyres between Pirelli’s locations.
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