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Pirelli’s New All-Rounder

Hugh Pace, chairman and CEO of Pirelli Tyre North America, introduced the latest tyre dedicated to the North American market; the Z-rated P Zero Nero All Season. The tyre incorporates a silica-based compound and the asymmetric tread features a solid centre rib for optimum braking and acceleration, while four longitudinal and numerous lateral grooves minimises the risk of aquaplaning. Low rolling resistance maximises fuel economy and the two zero degree nylon cap plies and steel belts minimise footprint deformation under extreme handling conditions.

The P Zero Nero All Season has a growing list of OE homologations and the tyre is available in almost 30 sizes, including a number of runflat dimensions. It is manufactured at Pirelli’s factory in Rome, Georgia, using the company’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) technology.

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vee Introduce Taiga

Vee Rubber used the recent Sema show to introduce the company’s first light truck and SUV tyre developed specifically for the North American market – the Taiga H/T. The presentation was made by managing director Mr. Vitorn Sukanjanapong and included information about Vee Rubber, such as the fact that production during 2008 would total 24 million units.

The new Taiga has been extensively tested in a number of different climates and on many different surfaces, including off road and the result, says Vee Rubber, is a quiet, comfortable tyre with a long tread life; in the US, the tyre is offered with a 50,000 mile limited treadwear warranty. While the Taiga is not designed as a snow or all terrain tyre, it aims to allow drivers to face everyday driving with confidence, whatever the conditions.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Introduces Three Tyres For US Market

At the Sema show, Continental Tire North America (CTNA) gave debuts to three new uhp tyres, aimed exclusively at the North American market.

Andreas Gerstenberger, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, spoke to T&A about the new tyres, the first of which is the ExtremeContact DW. This tyre, said Gerstenberger, is specially engineered to deliver serious performance on both dry and wet roads and features completely new technology exclusive to Continental Tire. It delivers excellent traction and responsive handling in both wet and dry conditions, improved ride comfort, better mileage and industry leading rolling resistance levels.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Redundancy Period Continues for Outsourced Michelin Workers

While the 240 Michelin North America employees temporarily laid off from the company’s Ardmore, Oklahoma factory have returned to their jobs, a further 110 workers, employed by a manufacturing outsourcing company, will not be returning to the Michelin factory any time soon.

19th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Sells Share in EnTire Solutions

Michelin North America has sold its share of a tyre chip development operation to TRW Automotive Electronics. The Michelin/TRW joint venture, formed in 2003 – EnTire Solutions – developed attire air pressure and temperature chip and reader system that Michelin attempted to market to the trucking industry.

TRW said it would continue development of the product. Ed Carpenter, vice president of TRW Automotive’s Electronics business, said: “This has been a successful partnership. TRW and Michelin have combined their respective expertise in electronics and tires to develop direct tire pressure monitoring systems that are recognized for their performance characteristics in the industry.” (Tire Review/Akron)

16th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

TRW Automotive Acquires Michelin Share in EnTire JV

On January 15 Michelin North America’s stake in the EnTire Solutions joint venture was acquired by TRW Automotive Holdings subsidiary, TRW Automotive US LLC, for an undisclosed sum. TRW Automotive says it has acquired the share as part of the company’s commitment to develop its portfolio of electronics systems.

16th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Debuts Energy Saver All-Season Tyre in US

Michelin’s Energy saver all-season tyre will go on sale in North America this summer following its unveiling at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January. Promising drivers in this market a synthesis of all Michelin’s skills and expertise in tyre engineering and design, the manufacturer states that the Energy Saver combines fuel savings with superior grip and safety, as well as long tread life and all-season performance. The tyre is being targeted at consumers with passenger car vehicles who drive less than 10,000 miles per year and appreciate the environmental benefit of the Energy Saver All-Season tyre, says Michelin.

12th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Expect “Very Bad” 4Q Figures from Michelin

Financial analysts have cut their 2008 operating income estimate for Michelin from 1.15 billion to 1.05 billion (-37 per cent compared with 2007). Deutsche Bank’s reduced estimate comes off the back of sharp falls in tyre demand in mature markets.

According to the analysts, mature markets (such as Europe and North America) represent 70 per cent of Michelin’s volumes. “We estimate tyre demand fell sharply in the fourth quarter (-15 per cent) both in OE and in replacement – in passenger as well as truck markets. We believe this weak demand, coupled with a destocking effect, led to a high 25 per cent production cut in the fourth quarter,” the analysts commented, explaining that the magnitude of this volume drop is not sustainable:

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dongah Tire & Rubber Acquires Avon Automotive Vibration Business

Automotive industry rubber products supplier Dongah Tire & Rubber has announced the December 31, 2008 acquisition of Avon Automotive’s Vibration Management Systems (VMS) business, which is headquartered in the Wiltshire town of Chippenham. The VMS business designs, manufactures and supplies engine and suspension mounts, mass dampers, tank track pads and other vibration management products to leading global automotive and defence customers in Europe and North America.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli NA Extends Trackside Motorcycle Distribution

Pirelli Motorcycle Tire of North America has announced that Innovative Motorcycle Research – the company’s official distributor for road racing tyres in the North East USA – will expand its road race distribution region to the 21 states on the US East Coast. The company will work in partnership with four sub-vendors in the 2009 racing season.

7th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New MD For Pelmar Engineering

Pelmar Engineering has appointed a new Managing Director for Pelmar LLC, USA; Mr. Armond Boyes. Mr. Boyes has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Akron and has worked for Goodyear for over 22 years where he eventually became the General Manager of Retreading, responsible for the complete operation in North America. Mr. Boyes intends to expand & strengthen Pelmar’s position in the Northern and Southern American markets, as well as use his extensive experience to promote retreading activities. “It is a great pleasure to be a part of the Pelmar team and I hope to be able to make a difference” he said.

7th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Canada Truck Tyre Prices to Rise

Prices for Michelin and BFGoodrich truck tyres are set to increase in the Canadian market, effective February 1. Michelin brand truck tyre prices will increase by up to five per cent and those for BFGoodrich brand replacement market commercial truck tyres by up to six per cent. Michelin North America (Canada) notes that this is the first such price increase in three years.

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Revises US Web Site

Continental Tire North America launched a redesigned consumer Web site at www.continentaltire.com. CTNA said the revised site is easier to navigate, “and echoes the graphic scheme of the company’s upcoming new ‘Confidence’ ad campaign.”

The site includes links to the company’s latest news, promotions and events, as well as a dealer locator and links for consumers to select and register their tyres. In addition, there is an FAQ page and “Tech Docs” section to answer consumer questions and provide technical advice. (Tire Review/Akron)

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

PAX System Class Action Suit Settled

Michelin North America Inc. and American Honda Motor Co. have settled a class action lawsuit with consumer claiming they were misled about Michelin-produced run-flat tyres. Terms of the agreement were not released, and final court certification is expected on 14 January.

The federal consumer class action suit claimed Michelin, which made the tyres, and Honda, which outfitted certain cars and minivans with Michelin’s PAX Tire and Wheel Assembly System, failed to disclose that the tyres last half as long as standard tyres, that the tyres were “prohibitively expensive to repair and replace” and that sufficient repair facilities and stock of the tyres and other parts of the PAX system do not exist in the U.S. (Tire Review/Akron)

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Promotes Corporate Officers

Several key promotions were made by both Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. and its subsidiary, Toyo Tire USA Corp. As of 1 January, Carlos Kibata became chairman of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas. He had been president and CEO of TTHA, and was the founding president of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc.

Concurrently, Masaharu Yoshimoto, president and CEO of Toyo Tire USA, was named president and CEO of TTHA. Yasushi Takagi was promoted to president and CEO of Toyo Tire USA, having served as COO and executive vice president of the company since September 2008. (Tire Review/Akron)

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors