Known for its style, speed and performance marketing values, Pirelli & C. S.p.A. is a multinational company based in Milan, Italy, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange since 1922, with a temporary privatization period by the consortium led by the Chinese state-owned enterprise ChemChina.
The heads of the various national point S organisations throughout Europe regularly meet together to further define their progress as a group within the region. This week the point S managers met at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan, Italy; amongst other items on the agenda was the annual point S Award – and this year the honours go the United Kingdom.
Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli is looking forward to a high-paced European Grand Prix at Valencia on its debuting PZero White medium compound tyre, but the forces acting on the tyre in the circuit’s corners and four near-300km/h straights can be some of the hardest on the tyres in the F1 calendar. A potential tyre problem at Valencia is so-called “blistering” – sections of tyre compound separating from the tread caused by overheating. While PZero tyres undergo a chemical treatment to minimise the risk of this happening, the manufacturer says that teams must concentrate on minimising sliding with tidy driving and enough downforce in order to cut the chances of tyre blisters forming.
Pirelli will introduce its new medium compound PZero White Formula One tyre in Valencia, Spain this weekend, following a testing period during free practice in Canada two weeks ago. The tyre is not quite as durable as the hard tyre seen during the first five Grands Prix of the season, but Pirelli believes it is quicker. Pirelli will also make the PZero Yellow soft tyre, which is the option tyre in Valencia.
Data collected by Encircle Marketing over the 12 months between May 2010 and April 2011 suggests that the market for passenger car tyres is stable, with prices marginally up over the duration of the period. Premium brand tyres averaged £93.92 in April against £90.50 in May 2010, while the upper budget (£54.54 in April), lower budget (£50.12) and mid-range (£68.51) all experienced similar average price increases in the period. Both the premium and upper budget segments’ average prices saw a slight dip in October 2010, interrupting an otherwise slowly upwards incline.
Grouptyre has announced that it will subcontract its wholesale distribution operation in the north-east of England to wholesaler-retailer Tyrespot, taking the place of North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts (NETE), which departed the network of independent wholesalers last year when it was sold to Stapleton’s. Tyrespot, based in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, operates its wholesale operation from four locations in the region, with a stockholding capacity of more than 60,000 tyres, covering premium, mid-range and budget brands. Grouptyre’s managing director Karl Naylor states that the partnership will reaffirm the wholesaler’s presence across the region.
Pirelli may now be the brand most associated with a definition of “high performance” most concerned with high speeds and quicker lap times thanks to its high profile role in the UK’s highest profile motorsport series, Formula One. Having said that, the high performance tyre segment has for a long time taken a much broader definition in commercial terms, forged by the long-term move to larger sizes and faster speed ratings on small medium and even supermini segment vehicles; Pirelli say it remains optimistic about the future of the segment, since “the word ‘performance’ is taking on a new and more relevant definition in today’s world”. The brand says its range of high performance products “has never been more relevant than it is now… there really is a high performance tyre for everyone”.
The first 25 sizes of Kumho’s replacement for the KU19 and proven KU31 have been launched on the UK market. The Ecsta Le Sport KU39, to give it its full title, is an asymmetric ultra high performance tyre designed with Europe’s top car marques in mind, and was developed using the twin methods of the latest KADAS prediction tools and on Europe’s most demanding test tracks. The Y-speed rated product’s key selling points are its enhanced performance, braking in wet conditions and controlled ride and refinement, according to the Korean manufacturer. Its high grip tread compound delivers improved traction and braking performance, while its specially designed casing provides impressive high speed stability.
This year's Isle of Man TT races saw a win and a second place for sidecar racer John Holden on Yokohama tyres; Holden took second place in the first of the season's two sidecar races and then went one better on the rescheduled second race to claim his long overdue maiden win. Commenting, Yokohama HPT’s head of Motorsport Mark Evans said: “I am delighted that John and [sidecar passenger] Andy [Winkle] have finally achieved their TT win. It's been a long time coming but all the more deserved for it.” Fellow Yokohama runner Tim Reeves narrowly missed out on the podium twice, finishing fourth in both races.
You’d be wrong to assume Pirelli has directed its entire focus towards Formula One; the Italian firm is currently allowing its presence to be felt at Pitti Immagine Uomo, an important event on the global fashion calendar. During the show, which runs between June 14 and 17, Pirelli is presenting its new Spring/Summer 2012 PZero clothing and footwear collections.
Police in North Yorkshire are investigating the theft of a truckload of tyres in a lay-by on the A1. According to Selby Police, up to 100 Pirelli tyres – with a total value of more than £16,000 – were removed from a Slovakian registered lorry early on the morning of Tuesday June 14. Police officers conducting routine patrols of truck stops in the area at around 1.45am on Tuesday June 14 discovered the theft from the lorry, which was parked in a lay-by on the A1 southbound carriageway in Kirk Smeaton at the junction with Middlefield Lane.
Ken Block has been given the role of Pirelli Formula One test car driver, making his first appearance on 5 August, the Italian brand announced at the Canadian Grand Prix. Block’s relationship with Pirelli began during its supply contract with the World Rally Championship and its Gymkhana programme, as Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery explains: “[Ken] impressed us with his dedicated approach, his technical feedback and his unique way of marketing the sport.
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery has labelled the much-delayed and exciting closing stages of a sodden Canadian Grand Prix “one of our highlights of the year so far” as Jenson Button applied just enough pressure to draw a mistake from Sebastian Vettel on the final lap to take victory for the McLaren team. The Grand Prix provided a showcase for Pirelli’s PZero Orange full wet and its Blue intermediate tyres. Button survived a collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton – who had previously made contact with Mark Webber in his attempts to be aggressive – a drive-through penalty, and five pit stops to win, and had at one point occupied 21st place. The early strategy calls in constantly changing conditions helped Button win one of the most action-packed races of the year.
Pirelli has appointed Mauro Pessi as president and CEO of its South America region with immediate effect. According to the company, the move is intended to facilitate the “consolidation…development of Pirelli leadership in the growing markets of South America.” Meanwhile, in order to maintain continuity of Pirelli’s business strategy in North America, the firm has announcement that Pessi will retain the chairmanship Pirelli NAFTA Region.
ATS Euromaster is urging motorists to pre-order sets of cold weather tyres after a meteorologist predicted this winter will "break all records" in terms of snowfall and freezing temperatures. Specialist long-range forecaster James Madden, of Exacta Weather, correctly predicted the harsh conditions experienced over the last two years and gave his forecast to ATS Euromaster as it prepares to fit cold weather tyres in the UK for the second year running.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has agreed to sell its global wire business to Hyosung Corporation, pending government and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Korean company will pay Goodyear and its affiliates approximately US$50 million for the business, subject to post-closing adjustments. Included in the deal are the tyre reinforcement wire manufacturing plants in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg and Asheboro, North Carolina, which together employ some 600 people. In addition, upon closing the deal Goodyear and Hyosung will sign a multi-year supply agreement. The sale is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011; Goodyear says it doesn’t expect the sale to result in a significant gain or loss.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
