Bridgestone Europe reports the company’s presence at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show will centre upon Bridgestone’s long-term safety and environmental protection strategy. The 210 square metre stand (no. 2143 in Hall 2, for those of you planning a visit) will throw the spotlight on the Ecopia range – a product that, incidentally, derives it name from a combination of the words ‘ecology’ and ‘utopia’ – and feature no less than four key Ecopia products.
Following pilot carried out at a small number of branches in conjunction with Revive!, National Tyres and Autocare has extended its offering customers a SMART repair trial to 35 more branches in the North West. Following the current trial, the companies plan to roll out the Revive! SMART repair service to the rest of National’s network during 2010.
“Revive! impressed us with their professional approach and their product offering compliments our core business,” said Mike Garwood, project manager of National Tyres and Autocare. “Their image is very professional, aligning well with our brand values, and their workmanship and commitment to customer service is outstanding.”
Kumho Tire has given word of arrangements to supply truck tyres to Daimler AG in its home market. As of late November the Mercedes Benz Actros will be sold in South Korea with Kumho tyres as OE. Due to a confidentiality clause, however, the company has not revealed how many tyres will be delivered to Daimler as part of the arrangement.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid Long is the first imported hybrid vehicle to hit Japan’s roads, so it’s no surprise that Bridgestone is proud to announce the supply of its Potenza RE050 Ecopia range as original equipment. The RE050 Ecopia will be fitted to the large German saloon in 255/45R18 99Y size.
Those of you fortunate to have an example of the classic 1950s Mercedes 180 or 190 in SL or saloon guise tucked away in your garage now have a new tyre at hand for your baby. Hampshire based Vintage Tyre Supplies now stocks the new 640/700SR13 Vredestein Classic Tyre, a radial featuring a raised curbing rib and suitable for speeds of up to 113 mph (180kmph).
Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development, Hirohide Hamashima declared himself “pleased” following Friday’s practice sessions for the Belgian Grand Prix at the undulating Spa Francorchamps circuit. He stated that the unexpected morning showers were “good for Bridgestone as we could evaluate the performance of our latest specification intermediate tyre relative to the wet tyre. We are pleased to say our initial performance feedback and data has been as anticipated.”
British and International Tyre Supplies (BITS), part of the County Tyres Group, recently bought a new static axle weighbridge from Axle Weight Technology Ltd (Axtec) in order to help it stay within strict axle load weight rules. According to the company, the increased weight of tyres has been making it more difficult to judge if the company’s delivery vehicles are within legal limits when they set off on their daily delivery runs. BITS wanted to achieve the maximum payload of around 1.2 tonnes on its 3.5 tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, while also staying on the right side of the law.
Taking 10 kgs as an average weight per tyre meant that 120 tyres can usually be safely loaded onto the Sprinters. But this way of doing things is a bit haphazard as the product mix can change the weight significantly, especially if heavier 4 x 4 or ‘run flat’ tyres are being carried, leading to the risk of an axle or gross weight overloading.
The Mercedes SL65 Black was described by opinionated blowhard, Jeremy Clarkson as “the most uncomfortable car in all of human history” during last Sunday’s Top Gear programme, though the public at large seemed to enjoy the car’s aesthetics as it was displayed in the Dunlop Drivers Club Stable Yard at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
At regular intervals between the celebrity interviews, Dunlop’s presenters had ‘pitched’ each of the cars Top Trumps-style to the crowd, asking them to choose a favourite. On two days out of the three, the public voted overwhelmingly for the Mercedes. Clarkson did concede that the car was “good looking” and referred to its stats as “mind boggling.”
Victory in the 19th Masters of Formula 3 race, fought out over the weekend of June 13 and 14, went to Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas. But the race, which returned to its ‘ancestral home’ of Zandvoort in the Netherlands after two years at Zolder, was also a victory of sorts for Kumho Tyres: The manufacturer supplied each and every tyre utilised in the meeting – about one thousand in total – continuing a support of the series that dates back to 2002.
German company Carlsson has produced what it claims is the world’s lightest 21″ alloy wheel, the 1/5 Evo Ultra Light. Weighing only 10.8kg, the wheel is 40 per cent lighter than any other cast 21″ wheel, says Carlsson.
This weight reduction was achieved by applying forged technology, whereby the material is so strongly densified that there are no traces of air pores in the aluminium. At the same weight load, this allows a thinner wall, compared to usual rims, resulting in improved handling and driving pleasure.
Carlsson, the company behind many wheel and accessories modifications for Mercedes Benz has formalised its already intensive co-operation with Rolf Schepp. On 1 March, the automobile manufacturer appointed the designer as their head designer.
Rolf Schepp has been working for Carlsson on a regular basis for many years. Amongst others, he developed the style for the current CLK- (W209), S- (W220), the future E-class (W212) and the Smart Fortwo. His work can be seen especially in the front spoiler, side skirts and rear diffuser, which bear his signature. A Carlsson press release states that “he has significantly advanced the Carlsson design line. Moreover, Schepp shaped the latest Evo- and Revo-wheel generations.”
Five new fitments have been added to Yokohama Tire’s North American OE portfolio. The company’s products have been selected for the 2009 model Mazda MX-5, Mazda 3, Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and, despite previous information to the contrary, Nissan’s 370Z. The Nissan, MX-5, Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz will be treated to the company’s flagship Advan range – Advan Sport for the AMG and 370Z and A11A and A10A for the Mazda and Lancer respectively – while the Mazda 3 will be shipped with Yokohama’s Avid S34D.
Continental’s Conti4x4Contact has been chosen as US market original equipment for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK. The tyre will be fitted to the new 4×4 in size 235/50R19 99H.
Continental AG has earned two fitments on 2009 Mercedes-Benz models. The new 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan will carry Continental ContiProContact radials in the U.S. market. The tyres will be fitted in size 255/45R18 99H or 255/40R19 100V XL all around, or in staggered combinations 255/45R18 99H (front) and 275/45R18 103H (rear) or 255/40R19 100V XL (front) and 275/40R19 101V (rear). The Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will feature Continental CrossContact UHP in size 295/35R21 107Y XL. (Tire Review/Akron)
German tuning specialist Brabus has launched a range of monoblock light-alloy wheels for the latest Mercedes S-Class and CL-Class models. Customers can choose from three Brabus designs – the six double spoke Brabus Monoblock; the sporty- looking Monoblock S wheel with its five polished double spokes; and a 22-inch version of the Monoblock E wheel family, which features nine strikingly styled spokes and a polished drop centre.
The new 22-inch Monoblock wheels can be mounted in size 10Jx22 front and back, and the German Technical Agency (TÜV) has approved them for use with 275/25 ZR 22 (front) and 295/25 ZR 22 (rear) tyres.
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