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Goodyear bringing a piece of NASCAR history to Goodwood

NASCAR is Goodyear’s single largest motorsport customer in North America, and the US tyre major holds the position of official tyre supplier until 2012. Every year the championship requires 150,000 Goodyear race tyres. The company’s relationship with NASCAR began in 1954, with the tyre alliance becoming official in 1997. In this time the sport has seen some iconic race drivers and cars, none more so than the legendary Bobby Allison, with 85 career wins placing him with the top drivers of all time.

4th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Encourages American Truckers to ‘Go Wide, Save Green’

Go Wide. Save Green, says Michelin. The company spreading this message through a North America campaign in which it intends to share what thousands of fleets have already learned – that environmentally friendly transportation makes good business sense. Michelin’s North American tour, says the tyremaker, will feature real world examples of commercial trucking fleets and owner/operators who have benefited from the improved fuel efficiency, weight savings, and time savings that Michelin X One wide single tyres deliver.

3rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Unite & USW Sign ‘Super Union’ Document

On July 2 Unite, the UK’s biggest union and the USW, the largest private sector union in the USA and Canada, signed an agreement creating the first global union. The document was signed at the USW’s Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 2nd 2008.

The union, to be called Workers Uniting, will represent three million people from every industrial sector in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. The agreement to form a global union, said Unite in a press statement, was initiated by the leaders of the two unions in response to the challenges of globalisation, particularly the casualisation of employment and reductions in pay experienced by many in North America and Europe.

3rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Price Increases For Michelin NA Products Announced

These days it comes as no surprise to learn of another price increase linked to rising raw material, energy and transportation costs. The latest to be announced comes from Michelin North America, who is increasing prices on a number of product lines.

US market prices for Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal passenger and light truck replacement tyres, plus those for private and associate brands, will rise by up to 12 per cent as of September 1. Michelin and BFGoodrich brand commercial truck tyres sold in the US replacement market will increase in price by as much as 8 per cent, also effective September 1. This price increase will also apply to Michelin Retread Technologies retreads, the company adds. On the same date motorcycle, scooter and bicycle tyre and tube prices will increase by up to 15 per cent on Michelin brand products sold in Canada, Mexico and the US. All two-wheel products delivered after August 31 will be invoiced at the new price.

2nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Appoints New Treasurer and Sectretary

At its annual conference between 11 and 13 June, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) elected Tom Formanek as the new Board treasurer, and Michael Berra, Jr. as the new secretary. Both Formanek and Berra will assume their new roles effective 3 November, 2008.

Formanek is the manager of Tire Service Products with Stellar Industries, based in Garner, IA. He has served as a TIA Board member since 2002 and was a Tire Association of North America (TANA) and National Tire Dealer & Retreader Association (NTDRA) Board Member since 1992.

2nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MNA Adds New Laredo AWT II

Michelin North America has introduced the Uniroyal Laredo AWT II, designed for on- and off-road applications. The all-terrain radial offers improved tread life and wet and dry handling compared to its predecessor, the Laredo AWT, with its advanced polymer tread compound, stress-optimised contact patch and DuraShield construction, MNA said.

The Laredo AWT II will be available after July 1 in 21 sizes, including 13 S-rated P-metric and eight Q-rated LT-metric models. Three sizes of the original AWT – 31X10.50R15 109, LT285/75R16 LRD 122/119 and P235/75R15XL 108 – will remain in the line until April 2009, MNA said.

1st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to End Argentina Licensing Partnership

International News

At the end of July Continental’s existing tyre production arrangement in Argentina comes to an end, and the company has plans to replace this current licensing deal with a direct subsidiary. Tyres sold in this market will henceforth be sourced from elsewhere.

1st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Serves up Two New Offerings

Last week, Michelin North America invited select media to Laurens Proving Grounds, its testing facility, in Laurens County, South Carolina, for the launch of its two new tyres, the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus and the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP. The tyres were put to the test in exercises in wet braking, wet handling, dry handling and comfort against competitors’ tyres.

The Pilot Sport A/S Plus, though not visibly different from the original Pilot Sport, contains technology that allows for improvements in all-weather performance, wet grip and tread-life, according to Michelin.

The tyre features three specialized rubber compaounds across the tread, helping to elevate a car’s performance in virtually every type of weather, from wet to dry to winter conditions. Directional tread pattern and wet-weather silica compound combine for extreme wet-weather control. The tapered grooves of symmetrical tread design channel water away from the tyre’s contact patch to provide excellent wet grip in wet conditions, the company said.

30th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vipal Opens New Warehouse in Hamburg

Less than three weeks before the Essen show, Brazilian retreading material supplier, Borrachas Vipal demonstrated just how much the company developed its export business. The news was that the company that had long been market leader in Brazil had chosen Mexico as the site for its first non-domestic production plant. At the time Vipal’s International Business Director, Maria Locatelli, explained that Mexico was chosen because it is an “entrance door” to the US. However, during an interview with Tyres & Accessories at the recent Reifen exhibition, Maria Locatelli explained that increased production in Mexico would also benefit European customers, both economically and due to shorter delivery times.

The main strategy behind the investment is to make use of Mexico’s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ties. However, the company also intends to capitalise on the production cost benefits available in the petrochemical producing country, with a view to passing a saving onto consumers in export markets like Europe. “This is not the main target, but there will be possibilities to supply [Europe],” said Maria Locatelli.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Shares Slump

Following Goodyear’s announcements yesterday concerning the company’s closure of its Melbourne plant and its plans to invest further in Brazil and China and to refurbish four of its American facilities, NYSE shares in the organisation fell by a steep 11.2 per cent. The drop sees the company’s stocks fall to their lowest value since December 2006.

Reports suggest that the dip has been caused by a variety of factors compounded by the manufacturer’s strategic announcements. The decline in the market for replacement tyres, especially within the heavy vehicle sector, and perpetually rising fuel and raw material costs have led both to Goodyear’s aggressive – and developing-market regarding – approach and the company’s slump in the stock market.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Avex: Number One In Storage

Based in Otrokovice in the Czech Republic, Avex claims to be the world’s number one tyre storage rack manufacturer, as well as manufacturing racks and containers for the chemical, automotive and nuclear industries.

The company was founded in 1994 and currently employs some 245 staff. The production facility covers around 10,000 square metres and 75 – 90 tons of raw materials are used daily, giving a monthly output of between 10,000 and 20,000 racks, depending on the size and complexity of the products.

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin NA Introduces All-New Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Michelin North America reports that company engineers faced a taunting task when it came to enhancing the capabilities of the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus tyre, however by combining new technologies and the company’s ‘relentless obsession for innovation and excellence’, they believe they have achieved their aims. The end result, the all-new Pilot Sport A/S Plus, offers what Michelin states is the perfect combination of all-weather performance and extended tread life for high-end performance vehicles.

“The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre provides everything a driving enthusiast needs in a tyre,” said Nicolas Goubert, brand category manager, Michelin North America. “The improvements made on the new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre allows for greater performance in dry and wet conditions, while still maintaining its capabilities in snow.”

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Travelling the Road to Off-Road Success

In the last decade or so the off-road tyre market has seen a name appear, seemingly out of nowhere, and grow to become a significant player in many markets, particularly in Europe. That name is BKT, or Balkrishna Tyres. The Indian company, flagship business of the large Siyaram Poddar Group, has only been producing tyres for two decades and exporting them for little more than one decade. Yet in a short span of time – between the 2000/01 and 2007/08 financial years, BKT’s annual sales have rocketed from US$8 million to more than $250 million. These are results many competitors can only dream of, but the company still holds even greater ambitions.

“Our vision is to obtain global leadership in off highway tyre solutions,” stated Arvind Poddar – vice chairman and managing director, Siyaram Poddar Group, at the Reifen Essen Exhibition. “I’m sure we will make it possible in the shortest possible time.” To achieve this, explains Mr. Poddar, the company has set itself the goal of maintaining its current growth rate of 30 to 35 per cent. This means sales of $325 million in financial year 2008/09.

25th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin North America to Invest $90M in Lexington Facility

A US$90 million investment is planned for Michelin North America’s facility in Lexington, South Carolina. The additional capital will be used to upgrade plant equipment and expand capacity at the site’s passenger car and OTR tyre factories. The news was announced by the company during a ceremony held in the region on June 19, at which it thanked local public officials and development agencies for their support of Michelin’s continued growth in Lexington.

“Lexington has been a great place for Michelin to produce some of the best tyres in the world,” said Jim Micali, chairman and president, Michelin North America, Inc. “And, we hope that Michelin has been equally good for Lexington County. We especially thank the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the chairman and members of the Lexington County Council, without whose support this investment would not be possible. Their efforts directly impact Michelin’s ability to expand manufacturing at this site and to continue to provide quality jobs in Lexington.”

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Falken Staff Changes

Falken Tire Corp. has promoted of Bruce Ware to the position of vice president of sales. Ware had been serving as Falken’s dxecutive director of corporate accounts, where he directed all sales activities pertaining to FTC’s regional and national retailers. In his new position, Bruce will now be responsible for all FTC sales activities in North America.

FTC also announced the retirement of John McAndrew, who has served as FTC’s director of wholesale channel sales for the past two years. With over 30 years experience in the tire industry, John brought to FTC a much needed maturity and professionalism that can only come through dealing with customers at the very highest levels, according to the company. (Tire Review/Akron)

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors