Michelin Archives - Page 265 of 321 - 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.

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Michelin Euro Assist Makes 2 Hour Response Pledge

The Michelin Euro Assist service has enhanced its offer to commercial vehicle operators with a pledge to either get to the scene of the tyre-related breakdown in Europe in less than two hours, or reimburse the 70 euro service charge. This applies even if the repair technician arrives just one minute late.

Michelin Euro Assist handles nearly 20,000 tyre-related commercial vehicle breakdowns a year across Europe. The support of its 3,200 tyre-repair specialists means the average vehicle off-road time was just two hours and six minutes in 2005. A satisfaction survey conducted last year also revealed that 90 per cent of Michelin Euro Assist customers would recommend the service to other haulage companies.

8th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Nizhnekamskshina Slows Production in January and February

During January and February of 2006 JSC “Nizhnekamskshina” says it produced 100,000 less tyres than planned. According to the company, the basic reason for the disruption was the high rubber price. The beginning of March has not proved to be much better for Russia’s largest domestic tyre producer. In Nizhnekamskshina’s words the situation “remains complex” due to short supplies of natural rubber.

8th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

MNA Plants Earn Spots in EPA Programme

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America’s (MNA) Ardmore, Oklahoma, passenger and light truck/SUV tyre plant and its American Synthetic Rubber Company (ASRC) in Louisville, Kentucky, qualified for participation in the EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track programme.

6th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Shares Go Against Trend

Last week Continental shares reached a new high of 86.51 euros while the competitors Toyo (-7%), Yokohama (-6%) and Nokian (-5%) lost ground. Michelin, by comparison, has remained stable at around 50 euros. Goodyear started a downswing at the end of February from more than 15 euros to 11 euros and is in danger of falling below 10 euros in the near future.

6th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Aging

Now at a first glance you might think my headline suggests this editorial will be something to do with the fact that Michelin North America (MNA) and Continental Tire North America (CTNA) have thrown their weight behind the tyre-life concept. Car manufacturers Ford and DaimlerChrysler were the first to advise drivers to replace their tyres after six year regardless of tread depth. Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire (BFNAT) followed suit last November. However, that’s all I am going to say on this late-breaking subject here.

Instead I want to talk about another type of maturing. Tyres & Accessories recently came across a report conducted by Plimsoll Publishing that looks at the effect the aging population might have on UK tyre manufacturers and distributors. Apparently 42 per cent of the leaders of the UK’s top 242 tyre companies will be over sixty in the next 5 years and 23 per cent will breach 65 in the same period.

So what’s in store for the so-called baby boomers? Plimsoll’s study looks at the impact these retirement age directors might have on the financial performance and future direction of the companies they run. Collectively the UK top 242 tyre manufacturing and distribution companies are led by only 487 directors, varying in age from 21 to 84 years. Only 13 directors are under 30, while 114 are aged 61 and over.

So is the market as appealing as it was 10 years ago? Now I would like to make it clear that I am not saying there is any kind of negative relationship between the age of directors and performance, but Plimsoll’s analysis reports that 41 per cent of the 242 companies analysed are in clear financial difficulties and 21 per cent of companies failed to make any profit at all last year.

2nd March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Rejoins NTDA

ATS Euromaster, the Michelin equity network of over 500 depots, has rejoined the NTDA after a period of six years. Commenting on the move ATS Euromaster Group managing director Nick Gregg said: “We look forward to rejoining NTDA after more than six years and we will endeavour to play an active role in the important work that the Association is engaged in on behalf of the trade in the UK”.

2nd March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Accuses Aeolus Tyre of Infringement

Michelin, the world’s leading tyre manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit to the Beijing Chaoyang Court accusing Aeolus Tyre Co., Ltd and its agent Best Choice International Trade Co, Ltd of infringement, new sources have reported.

24th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

MNA, CTNA Recommend Tyre Age Limit

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) and Continental Tire North America (CTNA) are the latest tyremakers to issue technical bulletins to dealers calling for the replacement of tyres 10 years or older.

24th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Group Tyre Reorganises After Growth in Dealership Representation

Following a growing representation within franchised dealer networks, Group Tyre (UK) Ltd has announced plans to restructure its Car Dealership Department to further strengthen its operation. The appointments of James Marriott and John Welsh are seen as key elements of the restructure, which provide dedicated regional Training and Sales Development roles across the UK, including Northern Ireland.

23rd February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Our Tyres Last up to 54 per cent Longer – Michelin

Michelin is claiming its products last longer than tyres made by any other manufacturer. Following a rigorous testing regime by Germany’s TUV, the French manufacturer is claiming that its Primacy HP tyre gives at least 25 per cent longer tread life than any other competitor, while its “Green” tyre runs for 54 per cent longer than the worst competitor. In addition Michelin claims the Primacy HP brakes as well in the wet after 10,000 kilometres as when brand new.

23rd February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Tops South African Tyre Survey

Pirelli has come top in JD Power’s South African tyre satisfaction survey. But it wasn’t all good news for the tyre business. The research also found that many of the tyre brands fitted to new vehicles are below the industry average in terms of local customer satisfaction.

Pirelli retained the top spot for a second consecutive year with an overall CSI (Customer Satisfaction Index) score of 841 based on a 1000-point scale. Five index points separate Pirelli from second-place Michelin (836). Bridgestone (815) and Yokohama (798) also achieved above industry average scores. However, Firestone (769), Goodyear (780), Dunlop (781) and Continental (789) tyres were all ranked below the average of 790. The two lowest-ranked tyre brands were Korea’s Kumho (766) and Hankook (752). BFGoodrich, General, India, Kelly, Kleber, Toyo and Uniroyal were all included in the study, but not ranked due to insufficient sample size.

21st February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Heffernan’s – First on the MAP in Ireland

It was back in January 2005 that Michelin launched its Michelin Accreditation Programme (MAP), aimed at recognising excellence in independent tyre dealers and raising standards of professionalism and customer services to the highest possible level. Then in February, MAP crossed the Irish Sea when Heffernan’s Tyres of Kildare became the first Michelin Accredited Centre (MAC) in the Irish Republic. Heffernan’s is a family-run business, founded in 1952 by Joe Heffernan and now run by Thomas Heffernan and his wife Linda.

The road to MAP accreditation is not an easy one – initially the Michelin Account Manager conducts a Gap Analysis, which essentially outlines the gap between the way the centre operates now and the standards required to become a MAC. When the centre believes that it has reached the required standards, a mystery shopper puts it to the test and, if this proves satisfactory, a full audit is carried out. Success in this leads to accreditation, but the story does not end there, as further mystery shops are carried out and, a year after accreditation, another full audit is conducted.

21st February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Greenville Michelin Plant Gets $26 Million Investment

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) plans to spend some $26 million on improvements to its Greenville, South Carolina, passenger and light truck/SUV tyre plant. The capital program will boost capacity there by 20 per cent, said MNA.

17th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandag Dealer Opens in Andalusia

Owner Leocadio Alcaide (38) founded his company in 2000 in Alcalá de Guadaíra, on the outskirts of Seville, as a retailer of premium new tyres such as Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone and Dunlop. He also sold Bandag retreads manufactured by a Bandag Dealer in Andalusia and soon realised that opening his own Bandag shop would be an important contribution to the transport sector in the area.

17th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Shortage Set to Continue

We hear so much about overcapacity in the tyre industry, with too many tyres chasing too few wheels, but this is not the case in all sectors and certainly not in the OTR/Earthmover tyre market, where words and phrases such as “crisis” and “global shortage” are freely bandied about.

Reports suggest that there is little prospect of improvement in the short to medium-term, with the entire global OTR tyre production for at least the next couple of years having already been sold. One prediction, from the UK’s OTR Tyres, forecasts that demand will exceed supply through to 2010.

17th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors