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Cambridge Solar Car Runs on Michelin Motorbike Tyres

A group of Cambridge University students has been praying for plenty of sunshine – but not because they are on holiday. The team of four students are responsible for the first ever solar-powered journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Backed by a team of around 40 other students from the Cambridge University Eco Racing team (CUER), the drivers aim to inspire the public about environmental issues and sustainable technologies.

The solar car, Affinity, which has been given a special order to drive as a prototype vehicle, is thought to have a top speed of around 50-60mph and scheduled displays schools and other venues along the 934-mile route. And for those of us in the tyre trade, it is interesting to note that team are achieving their impressively low rolling resistance results on a set of Michelin M45 motorcycle tyres!

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Former Pirelli NA CEO Calls for Change

Guy Mannino, former president and CEO of Pirelli Tire North America, is calling on all retired and current CEOs of corporate America to start driving “green.”

“Now is the time … to take action and proclaim our independence from oil and gas,” he said. “Now is the time for electric vehicles that lower fuel costs, as well as combat pollution and global warming.”

Mannino, who left Pirelli last autumn to found consulting and trading company Verdek, is marketing and selling a line of ZAP (“Zero Air Pollution”) vehicles with the goal of helping consumers to become more fuel-efficient.

ZAP, based in Santa Rosa, California, offers a full line of Xebra electric cars and trucks, Zapino scooters and off-road vehicles, as well as charging accessories. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dr. Neumann to Head Restructured Conti Powertrain Division

The Powertrain Division of Continental AG is to be restructured worldwide in an attempt to make the most of its production facilities within a two-year period and address production cost issues. According to Continental this restructuring programme is the result of a thorough analysis it conducted into the division’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We offer a broad range of products and we are convinced that they hold significant market potential that we will be able to fully exploit in the near future,” commented Continental Executive Board member Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “But to achieve this we have to ensure that we are properly structured. We will undertake a global restructuring programme with the aim of optimising production within a period of around two years and achieving a much better balance between high-cost and low-cost locations.

28th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Announces PCR & LCV Tyre Price Increases

Continental has announced Europe-wide price increases of between 3.5 and 5 per cent for its passenger car and van tyre product lines. The increases affect both summer and winter tyre ranges and will take affect as of June 1. The reason behind the planned price increases is a familiar one, with the need to counter rising raw materials, such as steel, oil and rubber cited by Continental.

11th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Announces PCR & LCV Tyre Price Increases

Continental has announced Europe-wide price increases of between 3.5 and 5 per cent for its passenger car and van tyre product lines. The increases affect both summer and winter tyre ranges and will take affect as of June 1. The reason behind the planned price increases is a familiar ones, with the need to counter rising raw materials, such as steel, oil and rubber cited by Continental.

10th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

EWI Signs MOU for Tyre Facility

Environmental Waste International Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with publicly traded Israeli company, TRD Instum Ltd. (TRD). The agreement sees the company move forward on plans to form jointly owned companies with the exclusive rights to EWI’s patented Reverse Polymerization technology in Israel and certain European countries. The MOU will remain in effect until the 30 May 2008 final agreement deadline.

The MOU requires TRD to place an order for a TR1500 reverse polymerisation machine. The TR1500 reduces tyres to carbon black, oil, steel and non-condensable gases. The agreement will include specific performance requirements for TRD to retain exclusive rights in Israel and the designated European countries. According to an official statement on the matter, the TR 1500 installation would be a showpiece for entering the European and Middle Eastern markets.

4th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Going Natural

All tyres on the market today include a fossil fuel component, and numerous attempts have been made to minimise the use of such non-renewable resources. In March Sumitomo Rubber releases its Enasave 97 tyre, in which the use of fossil fuels is limited to 3 per cent – a major advance on previous attempts. However for Sumitomo Rubber a 97 per cent renewable ingredient content is not enough. On February 14 company president Tetsuji Mino unveiled Sumitomo’s vision of and work towards a 100 per cent natural resources.

“Relying on 3 per cent fossil fuels is a major hurdle,” Mino said. “I don’t think we can make it in one or two years, but I’m determined to put the tyre on the market even if it takes five to ten years.” The residual 3 per cent in the Enasave 97 is required for the antioxidant and the rubber accelerator used in the vulcanisation process, and previous attempts to eliminate it have drawn a blank. According to senior executive officer Takaki Nakano, “With the current technology, they cannot be replaced by natural resources.”

15th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Gets TWNA Achievement Award

Michelin North America’s “Durable Technologies” was won the Technical Achievement Award presented by the Truck Writers of North America. The award was announced last week at the annual Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) meetings.

The award recognises a product or service that exhibits technical innovation, has a wide applicability to the trucking industry, offers significant benefits to users and is widely available. The selection committee included Paul Abelson (Road King & Land Line); Tom Berg (Heavy Duty Trucking); Eric Berard (Berard Communications); John Baxter (Randall-Reilly Publishing), Tom Gelinas (Fleet Equipment, sister publication of Tire Review); and James Menzies (Truck News and Truck West).

13th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Super Wide from BFNAT

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has launched a new super wide on/off highway radial. The Bridgestone L315, according to BFNAT, was “engineered for long mileage, superior traction and outstanding flotation.” The L315, with a 30/32nd tread depth, was designed for extra-heavy loads, such as front-discharge cement mixers with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, as well as dump trucks, specialty oil-field equipment and on/off-highway construction vehicles. The super wide Bridgestone L315 has an L load rating, good for up to 12,300 pounds at 120 psi. It is now available in size 445/65R22.5. (Tire Review/Akron)

28th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Welsh Scientists Produce Tyre-Derived Oil

Bangor University environmental chemist Dr Vera Thoss, in partnership with Welsh Company UTD Research Ltd, has produced tyre-derived oil. Carbon black, oil and gas have been seperated from used tyres beforem but Dr Thoss’s research is said to be the first of its kind to successfully produce litres of oil. According to reports, this can then be mixed 1:1 with diesel and has already been successfully used to fuel a car.

“The results are very encouraging. We tested the fuel at the Anglesey Circuit recently and found that the fuel significantly enhanced the performance of the trial car. The gas produced is estimated to be able to provide the energy for the entire process; this therefore really is true recycling,” Dr Thoss told the Western Mail.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Members of Marine Hose Cartel Plead Guilty

The two Dunlop Oil and Marine executives and the Lincolnshire based consultant charged in the US for their participation in a price fixing cartel have entered a guilty plea. The one-count felony charges were laid in a Houston court on December 5, and the three men subsequently filed court documents detailing their plea arrangements. The pleas will be entered on December 12.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Increase Prices in all European Markets

Bridgestone Europe has announced price increases for all tyre brands and categories in every European market. Passenger car, 4×4, and light commercial vehicle tyre prices will rise by between three and five per cent, while all other sectors will be subject to increases of between five and ten per cent. These price adjustments are scheduled to be implemented as of February 1, 2008.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

More Charges Laid Against Marine Hose Cartel Participants

According to the US Department of Justice, charges were laid against an independent consultant and two executives from Grimsby based Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd. on December 5. A one-count felony charge, resulting from the international marine hose price fixing cartel that operated until May 2007, was filed against: Peter Whittle, sole proprietor of PW Consulting (Oil & Marine) Ltd., Bryan Allison, managing director of Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd., and David Brammar, Dunlop’s Oil & Marine’s sales and marketing director.

10th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

National Switches to Castrol

National Tyres and Autocare has switched its oil supplier to Castrol. Customers purchasing an oil and filter change from National will now benefit from a greater choice of oils developed using the latest innovation from Castrol and designed with modern engines in mind. Tony Neill, Managing Director commented “We closely monitor market changes and with the need to use lighter viscosity oil in most modern engines, National opted to change its product offering to better meet our customers’ needs.”

12th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli ‘Green Circles’ Fitted to Fiat Concept Car

Green appears to be the unofficial colour of the Frankfurt Show, with a number of manufacturers choosing to display their concept of a low environmental impact vehicle. Fiat is doing this with its Panda Aria, a concept car with a range features designed to help the big blue ball, including a two-cylinder 900cc dual petrol/methane-hydrogen engine, optimised gearbox and Stop&Start device and a range of what Fiat calls ‘eco compatible’ materials both inside and out.

The ‘Stop&Start’ system turns the engine off temporarily when the engine is idling or the vehicle is stationary and starts it again when the brake pedal is released or a gear engaged. This feature allows for a 10 per cent fuel reduction (urban cycle).

The interior is upholstered with natural fibres (cotton and linen), woven coconut fibre and biodegradable elements, while the exterior panelling is made of semi-transparent eco-resin and the structure is treated with opaque ‘totouch’ paint.

7th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors