motorists Archives - Page 29 of 42 - Tyrepress

Posts

RAC Condemns “Hypermiling”

While fuel-saving measures such as keeping your tyres at the correct pressure and driving intelligently are both praiseworthy and sensible, there are fears that some drivers are going too far in their efforts to improve mileage.

Such motorists are known as “hypermilers” and will try almost anything in their efforts to improve economy. Tactics include tailgating and over-inflating tyres (sometimes by as much as 10 – 15 psi) and coasting in neutral with the engine off. The RAC urges motorists not to copy hypermilers, pointing out that many of the techniques and practices used are unsafe, if not actually illegal. The organisation makes the point that there is a huge difference between being a cost-conscious motorist and a hypermiler.

8th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Plant Explosion Leaks Methylethyl Benzene

The explosion of two reactor units at Goodyear’s Bayport Plant in La Porte, Houston, Texas on Saturday 2nd August has sprayed the air with the chemical Methylethyl Benzine, leading to health concerns for the local populus. The chemical can cause respiratory problems, and several motorists in the area were taken to hospital as a result of breathing the air into which it was dispersed.

Nobody at the plant has reported any illness resulting from the incident, while all of those admitted to hospital have been cleared of any immediately obvious injury. There are concerns about the long-term implications of breathing in the gas. The causes of the explosion are as yet unexplained.

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Eden Tyre Employs Michelin Man Airline to Inflate Business

Motorists passing the Eden Tyre Sales Farndon Road, Newark branch will have noticed the “life-size” Michelin man standing on the forecourt. According to the company, the iconic figure is a free airline service, dispensing air to any passing motorist eager to maintain correct tyre pressures to minimise fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions and to be certain that the car handles and stops as efficiently as possible.

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Calls for Winter Tyre Restrictions in New Zealand Renewed

Pressure is mounting in New Zealand for the government to legislate against the importation of used cold weather tyres. These tyres, known as snow tyres in New Zealand, are regularly entering the country fitted to used vehicles imported from Japan – the most common source of second hand cars in this country – or loose in containers. While the tread depth on these tyres exceeds the 1.5mm minimum required in New Zealand, they are often fitted to vehicles also fitted with summer tyres and used in conditions they were not intended for. The inappropriate use of these tyres has been linked to several fatal accidents.

28th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Court Rule Against Tiremakers in Data Reporting Suit

The U.S. Court of Appeals rejected an RMA argument concerning public access to early warning data tiremakers are required to supply the government under terms of the TREAD Act.

The court, in a case involving Public Citizen, said the “plain language” of the TREAD Act precluded attempts to keep private certain early warning data. Tiremakers are required to provide NHTSA with a wide range of information they collect on accidents resulting in deaths, injuries or property damage. However, they claimed, through the RMA, that such information should not be released publicly as it is often incomplete and could be misinterpreted. (Tire Review/Akron)

24th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Abu Dhabi Police Campaign to Reduce Tyre Related Accidents

The Abu Dhabi Police’s traffic and patrol department has recorded 1,056 offences relating to faulty tyres since the launch of a safe travel campaign on June 1. Citing burst tyres as one of the main reasons for fatal accidents, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Al Shehi, director of the Capital Traffic Department, told Dubai based newspaper Gulf News that three people were killed and 72 people were injured, eight seriously, in tyre-related accidents between January 1 to June 30 this year. In 2007, such accidents claimed the lives of 24 people, while 152 people were injured – 29 seriously.

22nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

More Than Launches ‘Green Driving Technology’

More Than Car Insurance has launched a pioneering new insurance scheme that uses Formula 1-style, in-car telemetry to help British motorists drive in a greener, more efficient and economical way. The innovative service, called Green Wheels, helps drivers understand how their driving style affects the environment by giving them access to information such as their rate of acceleration, braking and the number of short journeys they make. By doing this, More Than hopes to help change the way drivers behave behind the wheel and lower the carbon footprint of the 31 million cars on Britain’ roads.

Dowshan Humzah, Product Director at More Than, commented: “Green Wheels is great news for anyone interested in taking more responsibility for their own carbon ‘tyre-print.’ Furthermore, by helping motorists drive more efficiently the ‘Green Box’ can also help cut the cost of motoring which, with fuel prices rising, is top of many motorists’ agendas.”

22nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Gives Away 40-inch TV

Jules Crawford is looking forward to a clearer picture ahead after winning a brand new LCD TV courtesy of Hankook. Crawford who lives in Downton won the 40-inch TV as part of a summer promotion from the tyre giant which is also offering motorists a free tyre check.

“I’m thrilled winning the television,’’ said Jules who collected her prize from Downton Tyre and Autocare. “It was a real surprise to find I had been picked out after I had my tyres checked.’’

14th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TÜV Sud Shows Michelin Energy Saver as Lowest Cost

Independent testing organisation TÜV Sud has shown that Michelin’s Energy Saver tyres lend motorists considerable savings over competitors’ brands. The Energy Saver proved to have a considerable advantage over rivals in a direct comparison in terms of longevity and fuel consumption; on average, the tyre cost £8.12 less per 1,000 miles in the 205/55R16V size category, and £5.58 less in the 195/65R15H section.

The tests involved running the tyres on identical cars for more than 14,000kms. To ensure fairness, the tyres and drivers were rotated on the vehicles, discounting the role played by these different variables. Earlier results from TÜV Sud tests had shown the tyre to be among the best in terms of wet braking performance, in addition to their money-saving properties.

14th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Lifestyle Wins Brand Extension Award

The successful introduction of the Michelin range of motoring accessories has been recognised with the Award for Excellence in Brand Extension presented recently by the Marketing Society in association with Marketing magazine. The Award for Excellence 2008, described by Michelin as the Oscars of the marketing world, recognises the creative skills Michelin Lifestyle Ltd used “to expand consumers’ awareness and accessibility to the Michelin brand by introducing new products for motorists, in addition to the traditional tyre products.” By developing and establishing the Michelin range of premium quality motoring and leisure accessories, the company’s brand recognition is enhanced.

17th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Kicks Off Tyre Pressure Campaign at Eurotunnel

Following on from its 2007 campaign, Michelin’s latest “Fill up with Air” roadshow kicks off at the Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal on 1-2 July. Motorists travelling to France passing through the terminal will have the chance to get a free tyre pressure check and advice on their tyres from Michelin technicians before setting out on their journey.

This Folkestone event is the start of a UK-wide roadshow designed to educate motorists on the importance of correct tyre pressures. Over two days in 2007, a similar Michelin survey at Eurotunnel concluded that 83 per cent of vehicles checked by the technicians had under-inflated tyres and a staggering 63 per cent were dangerously under-inflated.

16th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Stingers Aim to Curtail Rising Petrol Theft

With fuel costs soaring, petrol stations across the UK in recent months have been experiencing a rise in incidents of drivers pulling off forecourts without paying. “Drive-aways” are said to have cost the industry in excess of £11 million in 2006 (according to The Petrol Retailers’ Association), though that figure is likely to have risen recently, as a result of the higher prices.

To combat this, petrol station owners have installed “stingers” – retractable spikes designed to shred the tyres of drive-aways. However, run-flat rubber, with its stiff sidewalls, can counteract the effectiveness of this preventative measure. With this in mind, Birmingham’s Drivestop has developed a system that implants a microchip into tyres running over the stinger, allowing police to track thieves whose tyres are shred resistant.

10th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Outlines Plan to ‘Make Cars Green’

June 5 was World Environment Day, and Bridgestone chose the occasion to announce its action plan for “Make Cars Green”, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness of the need for greener motoring around the world. During a parliamentary conference in Wellington, New Zealand, host city for World Environment Day this year, Mr. Shoshi Arakawa, chairman of the Board, CEO and president of Bridgestone Corporation, and Mr. David Ward, director general of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation, made the announcement that the Bridgestone Group will promote the initiative on a worldwide scale as a global partner of the FIA.

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Feddi Ready to “Woo Masses” with 2008 Promo Gift Range

Federal Tyres of Taiwan are proving that mascot Feddi is “much more than an advertising tool or corporate logo” with a range of promotional goods bearing the corporate icon’s grinning visage.

Feddi has come a long way since his “first kick in the womb” in 1893, reportedly helping Federal to interact “physically and psychologically with the public” – so much so that Feddi is now ready “to strike more playful postures to his fans.” Among the promotional items “to accommodate your style and discriminating taste”, Federal list a Feddi Sport Bottle, Ball Pen and Memo Sheet, though surely the highlight of the range is the “cute and cuddly collectible” Feddi Doll, complete with baseball bat.

3rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Right to Repair Group Calls for Sector Specific Regulations to Remain

The UK Right to Repair Campaign (UK R2RC) has welcomed a statement from the European Commission that its evaluation of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation’ of 2002 does not prejudge any decision on the future of that legislation. However, UK R2RC also said that parts of the Commission’s proposals would add uncertainty, and penalise the independent aftermarket by making it harder to remedy incidences of market abuse. The independent aftermarket, the organisation added, needs simple and sector-specific legislation.

Jim Mazza, Chairman of UK R2RC, said “though the tone of the report is softer than expected, it still understates the benefits to consumers and the independent aftermarket alike of having a single piece of legislation regulating the availability of service and repair information and the supply of replacement parts.

2nd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors