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Lorenzo wins hot Catalan grand prix, calls for more durable Bridgestones

Jorge Lorenzo took his Yamaha to a second successive MotoGP victory on Sunday, as tyre management came into play in sweltering conditions at the Circuit de Catalunya. Several riders crashed out as a result of reduced front-end grip, and Lorenzo spoke of the challenge provided by the conditions: “Today was the hottest race this year and physically it was very hard.” He later suggested to Autosport.com that the front tyre may have been “too soft”, while adding that the riders were requesting harder compounds from tyre supplier, Bridgestone. Shinji Aoki, manager of Bridgestone Motorsport’s Tyre Development Department, pointed out that all works riders had chosen to use the softer rear slick, which he said had performed well given the harsh conditions.

17th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Falken all season tyre introduced amidst wet Nürburgring

Falken celebrated 30 years since its birth with what could be described as an eventful 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. The Falken Motorsports team held first position for a time following an overnight break in racing as a result of heavy rain. British driver Peter Dumbreck climbed from tenth to first during the first stint, using Falken’s wet weather tyres to excellent effect. However, two incidents, including one off that required a rescue vehicle, put paid to dreams of glory, with the team ending the 24 hours in a very creditable 20th.

13th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Nankang pursues UK growth with West Bromwich distribution site

With a product range encompassing a good range of high and ultra high performance fitments at an economical price-point, Taiwanese manufacturer Nankang’s potential in the UK market has always been clear. However, the brand’s UK representatives believe that its profile and perceived brand positioning in the country could be raised in line with its European activities. Committing to achieve these goals, the brand’s dis-tributor in the UK, Westlands Ltd, has taken up the new name Nankang Tyre UK, and joint managing directors Steve Smith and Scott Graham will head up the project.

13th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli taking 500 tyres to Silverstone

During the second half of June, Silverstone is going to see a lot of Pirelli rubber laid down; while the Northamptonshire circuit will host Formula One’s British grand prix on 28-30 June, this coming weekend (15-16 June) will see the manufacturer take more than 500 tyres to the home of British motorsport. Pirelli Tyre UK motorsport operations manager Matthew Corby predicts that the triple-header of the Pirelli Ferrari Formula Classic, the Pirelli Ferrari Open and the Porsche Club Championship will make for a “flat out” weekend.

12th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin a technical partner for VŪHL supercar

It may sound like an epithet uttered by Mr. T’s European cousin, but VŪHL is in fact the name of a Mexican vehicle that will make its global debut at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is of particular interest to us as Michelin has entered into a technical support arrangement with VŪHL Automotive, the company behind the VŪHL 05. Needless to say, the all-new road-legal lightweight supercar will be shod with Michelin tyres.

12th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Tyres ‘sweeps’ Isle of Man TT sidecar races

The Isle of Man TT Sidecar events saw more than 40 competitors using Avon tyres, as Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle took victory in the first and Ben and Tom Birchall claimed an emotional maiden TT win in the second on the brand’s products. Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott finished second in race one and third in race two while pre-race favourite Dave Molyneux had a frustrating TT by his standards, unable to add to his 16 TT wins and finishing third and second respectively in the two races, with passenger Patrick Farrance.

11th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Brawn’s “conscience is clear” before tribunal

Before this weekend’s Canadian grand prix, the major F1 tyre story had been the FIA’s decision to make Mercedes and Pirelli appear before an international tribunal based on the suspicion that Mercedes’ use of its 2013 car in a 1,000km tyre test "may constitute a breach" of the series’ rules. Mercedes principal, Ross Brawn has told BBC Sport’s chief F1 analyst Eddie Jordan that "it was a Pirelli test. What we were seeking was privacy not secrecy.”

10th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli rules out new tyre for Silverstone as Vettel canters to Canada win

Sebastian Vettel used two stops to saunter to his 29th career victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada. Vettel started on the P Zero Red supersoft tyre to sprint ahead of a similarly shod top 10 before switching to the P Zero White medium and completing the race with a final stint on this tyre. Despite wet qualifying conditions, Pirelli also completed some testing of its tweaked rear tyres in Friday practice, and Motorsport director Paul Hembery said the manufacturer would analyse the data gathered “over the next few days” before summarising the differences in performance.

10th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop motorsport and more [UK] market shifts?

Editorial/Comment

While it sounds too dramatic to talk about seismic activity in the tyre market, the ongoing long-term effects of the various financial crises are continuing to be felt. At a continental level this has meant continued queries about how the largest tyre makers can better balance supply and demand in Europe. However it is also difficult to say how much of this conjecture is actually manifesting into any kind of practical reality. Indeed, at times like these people can get over-creative in their analyses, along with any legitimate market observations. That said, and without wanting to sound like a seventies pop song, it is as if we can feel the slow undulations of the terra firma under our feet.

10th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Tires launches new Proxes CF2

Toyo Tires has launched a new tyre promising the highest levels of safety, grip and wet-weather performance in an attractive case design that comes in many sizes and fitments. The new Proxes CF2 offers outstanding all-round ability and excellent value for money.

Ideal for medium and high-powered cars, the CF2 utilises the very latest materials and production methods, drawing heavily from Toyo’s UHP and Motorsport ranges to create a tyre that offers exceptionally high levels of safety, durability, and comfort.

7th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Motorsport infused car tyres from Cooper and Avon

With Cooper Tire Europe renewing attention on its Cooper brand, while also upping marketing efforts in general including on its Avon brand (see separate article in our June magazine's Company News section for more on this), here is a summary of the company’s current range including details of both brands’ line ups.

Motorsport plays a key part in how Cooper markets its performance tyres. Continuing support of the Cooper Tires British F3 series highlights the company’s ability to produce tyres that perform at the toughest limits and for 2013, Cooper is appearing in the FIA European Rallycross Championship, showing how the company’s tyres can perform in a range of conditions.

7th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone backs young Redditch motocross rider

Young Redditch motocross rider Rob Yates’ hopes for national stardom were given a boost today when tyre manufacturer Bridgestone agreed to become his official sponsor. Aged 15, Yates has gradually moved up in stages from 50cc to 125cc bikes and is currently preparing for the British schoolboy Finals later in the year. Bridgestone will supply him with his tyres for the year, as well as essential racing gear.

6th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

More high performance OE fitments for Yokohama

Yokohama has been selected as original equipment tyre provider by Audi and Mercedes-Benz for a number of the German brands’ latest high performance cars. The newest addition to Yokohama’s high performance range, the recently-unveiled Advan Sport V105, has been adopted by both on some of their most rewarding drivers’ cars. Additionally Yokohama tyres were used recently to break a Nürburgring Nordschleife record for the fastest road-legal Subaru Impreza around the Green Hell. Built by Yokohama partner Revolution Motorstore in the UK, the Impreza was driven to and from the Nordschleife having lapped the circuit in 7:53.08.

6th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

2014 F1 season too soon for Hankook

While Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli has sought an end to some of the teams’ gripes about its current P Zero tyre specifications, the question of whether it will remain in the series after the expiration of its current contract remains in doubt. A similar list of names to that previously generated in mid-2010 has been circulated, when Bridgestone announced its withdrawal from the series. However, for at least one major player it appears the lack of development time and uncertainty about rule changes in the short to medium term mean that 2014 is too soon to enter the world’s most high-profile motorsport series.

3rd June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop may end tyre manufacturing at Fort Dunlop in 2014

Despite an illustrious history dating back to 1917, 30 May could mark the end of an era for Dunlop as officials confirmed that its motorsports tyre manufacturing operation will have to find a new home away from the historic Fort Dunlop site from 2014 if their new landlord doesn't lease it back to them again. According to the landlord, Canmoor, the site has been sold to neighbouring Jaguar Land Rover. Therefore it looks likely that Dunlop Aircraft Tyres (a completely separate company from Goodyear Dunlop) will be the only tyre manufacturing operation remaining in Birmingham after the end of the current lease. Dunlop's annual motorsport tyre output is currently believed to be around 200,000 units. 180 manufacturing staff are employed there along with roughly 120 tyre testing, sales and marketing personnel.

31st May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors