Michelin Archives - Page 236 of 323 - Tyrepress

Tyre industry pioneers, Michelin has a long history. Having begun in 1889, Michelin is now the second-largest tyre manufacturer in the world after Bridgestone and larger than both Goodyear and Contineantal.

Tag Archive for: Michelin

Falken, Michelin, Pirelli and Nitto Rated Top UHP Performers in US

The US publication Consumer Reports has rated the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 and Pirelli P-Zero best overall in tests of 21 different ultra-high performance summer tyres for the November issue, with both models achieving “Excellent” scores. Consumer Reports also tested a group of 15 different all-season, UHP tyres for the same issue. In that group, the magazine rated the Falken Ziex ZE-912 and Nitto Neo Gen ZR best overall-again with “Excellent” scores.

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 achieved an overall score of 85 points in Consumer Reports testing, coming in slightly ahead of the Pirelli P-Zero. Both tyres were reported as providing superior dry and wet grip and handling. The Michelin displayed a slight edge for hydroplaning resistance while the Pirelli had an edge in dry and wet handling.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Vintage Tyre Supplies – Supplying Vintage Tyres

The name says it all – just like that well known brand of paint they do “just what it says on the tin” Vintage tyre Supplies distributes one of the largest ranges of original equipment classic and vintage car and motorcycle tyres in the world. Pneumatic tyres have been with us now for almost 120 years and with our insatiable appetite for collecting old things the need for good quality authentic tyres is as strong as ever. Many readers will find it incredible to discover that it’s still possible to get a tyre for a vehicle manufactured when Queen Victoria was on the Throne! Even harder to believe is that it’s a British company that manufacturers them.

When Vintage Tyres was originally set up to fulfil the needs of the motoring enthusiasts, the founders could not have imagined that after almost 50 years the company would become one of the largest specialist distributors in the world. VTS still works closely with Dunlop but now also offers Avon, Michelin, Firestone, Vredestein and more recently their own brand Waymaster, together with a whole host of other smaller specialist brands. VTS have also been active in the re-development of many discontinued tyre sizes, such as the Dunlop Aquajet, the Michelin X and more recently the Avon Traction mileage. Managing Director Chris Marchant is also mindful of the need to also offer more competitively priced products, a gap that is filled with the company’s own Waymaster brand.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFG Reups With SCORE as Official Tire

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America has signed an extension agreement to keep its BFGoodrich brand as the official tyre of the SCORE International and Desert Racing Series. The new agreement runs through the 2018 racing season, MNA said.

“BFGoodrich Tires has become synonymous with off-road desert racing through its support of SCORE International and we are excited that they are continuing their efforts and service to off-road racing professionals and amateur competitors,” said Sal Fish, SCORE president and CEO.

“SCORE International and its desert racing series has been the perfect platform for BFGoodrich to develop the world’s toughest off-road tyres while supporting the sport’s most distinguished competitors,” said Todd Steen, motorsports marketing manager for MNA’s BFGoodrich unit. “We’re thrilled to support SCORE International and its associated off-road events which showcase the heritage and accomplishments of our products at the highest levels.”

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Primacy Alpin Awarded Highest Distinction by ADAC

The new Michelin Primacy Alpin tyre has been awarded the highest distinction – a “highly recommendable” rating – in a test conducted by Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC), the German Automobile Association and Europe’s largest automobile club.

Carried out by ADAC and its Austrian and Swiss counterparts – Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club (ÖAMTC) and Touring Club Suisse (TCS) – the comparative test involved 16 brands of 205/55 R16 H winter tyres.

The tyres were tested for their grip on snow and ice covered roads as well as on low temperature wet and dry surfaces. Tyre life was also measured, and in this category the Michelin Primacy Alpin received the highest overall score, ahead of all its competitors.

The Michelin Primacy Alpin responds to the dual challenge of optimising safety and longevity. During the design phase, Michelin research and development teams focused on meeting three performance objectives.

28th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

More Details on Michelin’s Efficiency Improvement Plans

Following a roadshow in the US hosted by financial analysts at Deutsche Bank, further details of the previously reported Michelin corporate restructuring programme have been released. The company is said to be aiming for a 30 per cent productivity increase by 2010 (10 per cent from production increase/ 20 per cent from workforce consolidation).

In addition Michelin is said to be looking to produce a better equilibrium of production/sales by continent. This is likely to have a significant effect on the European business as Europe represents 70 per cent of the group’s production compared with only 50 per cent of sales. Plant size is also likely to be rationalised, with the ideal size being described as 8 to 10 m passenger tyres and 2 million truck tyres per annum – basically double the current size of some plants.

Deutsche Bank reports that Michelin’s management still believes in a potential shortage of truck tyres in 2008.

28th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Gajah Tunggal Considering Share Issue

PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk is considering raising some funds through a rights issue next year. According to a senior executive said, quoted by the Reuters news agency, Indonesia’s Gajah Tunggal wants to reduce its debt-to-equity ratio to 1.0, from 1.6. According to director Catharina Widjaja the rights issue is not expected to be too large. “We are reviewing an option for a rights issue, possibly next year. The funds would be used to lower our debt ratio. For any corporate actions and capital expenditure, we still have the money from our latest bond issue,” Widjaja told reporters.

27th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ross Thompson Trials Michelin XTE2

Newry-based Ross Thompson Ltd, a long established haulier in Northern Ireland, is currently monitoring the performance of the Michelin 385/65 R22.5 XTE2 tyres on the rear axle of one of its Crossland tanker trailers. Fitted as original equipment in early 2006, the tyres have already clocked up 175,000 km and still have 3-4mm of tread remaining. Over 90 per cent of the company’s fleet is fitted with Michelin tyres as original equipment.

27th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TUV Test: Michelin Tyres Have Longest Life

Michelin car tyres have the longest life according to Auto Express. Tests carried out by independent testing body TUV Sud, and witnessed by Auto Express, compared Michelin tyres with six of their main European competitors. The 15-inch Michelin Energy E3A tyres showed a 35 per cent longer tyre life than the worst performing tyre in the test and a significant 18 per cent advantage over the second best tyre.

26th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Single Tyre Proposed for MotoGP

MotoGP may go the way of Formula One and become a single tyre championship next year if the proposal adopted by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of series organiser Dorna Sports, is adopted. Such a move would serve the purpose of cutting costs and is aimed at eliminating what many have called the current “imbalance” between Bridgestone and Michelin.

24th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Continued OE Sales Growth in Europe

According to Michelin, the European OE car and light truck tyre market rose by 11 per cent in August compared with the same month of 2006. In contrast, the market in North America contracted by 3 per cent. Sales of replacement car and light truck tyres remained level in Europe during the month, but increased 1.7 per cent in North America.

Year to date, Europe’s OE car and light truck tyre market went up 4.3 per cent from the same period a year earlier, while OE sales in North America were punctuated by a 2.6 per cent decline. Replacement tyre sales were up 1.2 per cent in Europe and 2.1 per cent in North America during the same period.

In Europe OE truck tyre sales jumped 20 per cent in August, claimed Michelin, while across the Atlantic sales were a massive 37 per cent down. The replacement truck tyre market was far steadier, with a 2.4 per cent increase reported in Europe and a 0.2 per cent drop in North America.

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Steer Axle Tyre Provides 10% More Grip

Michelin has launched the replacement to its XFN+ steer axle truck tyre. Called the XFN2+, in its 315/80 R 22.5 guise the new arrival is said to offer up to 10 per cent more grip than its predecessor, prompting the French tyre major to comment that a ‘new level of safety’ has been reached by its new product.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Committed to MotoGP

Michelin’s participation in the 2008 MotoGP championship looks assured following reports of Yamaha’s decision to not change the brand of rubber used by Valentino Rossi. The move confirms what Michelin motorsport director, Frédéric Henry-Biabaud, told Tyres & Accessories during an exclusive interview at the weekend.

When asked whether Michelin was planning to walk away from MotoGP, Henry-Biabaud flatly denied reports of this nature. On the contrary, he explained, Michelin is committed to providing a top quality service to its teams in this series, and has actually gone as far as diverting resources from its former Formula One budget into making the very best two-wheel competition tyres.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Signs $1.8 Million Contract With Kit Loong

Advanced ID Corporation has signed an exclusive, three year commitment contract with Malaysia’s Kit Loong Tyre Management for Advanced ID’s RFID and Pneu-Logic’s Tire Inspection products.

Kit Loong Holdings, one of Southeast Asia’s largest retreaders and tyre distributors works with Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Bridgestone, BF Goodrich, Pirelli, Continental Sime and Cooper. With over 500 employees and revenues exceeding US $40 million, Kit Loong has retreading facilities in Malaysia and China and will install Advanced ID’s RFID tyre tags in their retread operation in Malaysia, with other countries to follow. Kit Loong will purchase Advanced ID RFID readers and Pneu-Logic kits as part of this agreement.

Kit Loong’s territory, covered by this agreement, includes Greater China, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myammar.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Top Online Brand – 2007

Online Brand Equity

Michelin and Bridgestone are the dominant online tyre brands, according to the latest research. The report, exclusively published in Tyres & Accessories for the last three years, was conducted by Cambridge-based online brand monitoring specialists, Envisional and found that Pirelli was the biggest faller in its unique online brand ranking exercise.

The analysis shows that the Michelin brand, as observed in previous years, continues to stand well clear of its rivals. Envisional found that this brand achieves the greatest degree of “online prominence” by a significant margin, though this lead has narrowed again since 2006. The top six most prominent brands are the same as those observed in 2005 and 2006 and there is still a sharp drop between the six leaders and the chasing pack.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Wins Frost & Sullivan Consumer Choice Award

Europe has overwhelmingly cast its vote in favour of the tyre brand it regards as the safest and most durable, Michelin, putting the company miles ahead of the competition. The French tyre supplier emerged as Europe’s preference during a recent survey of consumer perceptions of chassis technologies conducted by Frost & Sullivan. Its dominance in Europe’s tyre market saw Michelin roll away with the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Customer Choice Award for Brand Offering in the categories of “safe and durable tyres” and “best overall tyre brand” in Europe.

Michelin was selected as the recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s prestigious award based on a recent study entitled, “Customer Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Driving Dynamics” covering over 2,000 respondents across five regions (France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom) and all vehicle segments (A&B, C, D&E, SUV and MPV).

17th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors