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.
During June, Sheffield-based tyre distributor Hawleys Tyres is celebrating its centenary. Seven months after Pirelli, in association with Tyres & Accessories, recognised the firm as the nation’s longest established tyre dealership, Hawleys reports that it is celebrating “selling and repairing tyres longer than any other family-owned company in Britain.”
Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera believes confirmation of next year’s Formula One tyre supplier may not be just around the corner. Despite previous remarks from those familiar with the negotiations regarding a likely announcement before the end of May, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone reportedly left the Turkish GP in Istanbul “frustrated” about recent delays.
Hankook Tyres is reportedly planning to supply its tyres to Formula One racing teams “within a few years.” The Australian Brisbane Times quotes Hankook executive vice president, Hyun Bum Cho, as saying: “In the future we want to have some hefty market share in that [racing] segment. It’s quite profitable…but in order to really leverage from motorsports in terms of brands, you need to participate in either World Rally Championship or a very high segment in Le Mans, or Formula One…So in the future that’s the target that we have, to participate in those segments.”
Shares in tyre manufacturers outperformed most of the various European OEMs’ stock between 26 April and the end of May, in the wake of the Greek debt crisis. That’s the verdict of Deutsche Bank analysts, who wrote that tyre manufacturer’s resilience has on the whole been supported by their aftermarket sales.
In an investor’s note published on 28 May, the analysts pointed out that share prices in general dropped by an average of 12 per cent, in line with the market, with “a significant discrepancy” in the automotive sector: “On one side, the share price of tyre companies (namely Michelin, Continental and Pirelli) and of German OEMs (BMW, Daimler, VW) has been very resilient. On the other side, mass market OEMs (Fiat, PSA and Renault) have underperformed massively,” the report read.
The Nottinghamshire Authorities Vehicle Consortium has confirmed a four-year fleet tyre management contract with Vacu-lug tyres. From 1 April 2010 Vacu-lug Tyres is responsible for inspecting and replacing tyres on over 1,000 vehicles ranging from car-derived vans to refuse collection vehicles.
David Parton, head of direct services at Gedling Borough Council and chair of the Nottinghamshire Vehicle Procurement Group said: “Vacu-lug Tyres offered a great financial package backed up by proven reliability to undertake this contract. This agreement also takes the pressure off the transport managers as Vacu-lug will be responsible for managing every type of tyre within the fleet range and they have to produce performance management reports on a regular basis. We are all looking forward to working with them over the next four years”.
Pirelli Group’s board of directors has agreed to change the name of Pirelli Real Estate (the wing it recently decided to spin off) to Prelios. The change will take effect when the separation of Pirelli RE from Pirelli & C, is finalised. During the same announcement Pirelli also revealed that Enrico Parazzini has been appointed as the firm’s new managing director finance. This appointment follows the resignation of Claudio De Conto, who held the same position.
The fact that this weekend the FIA and F1 Administration failed to reach a decision on who will supply the series’ tyres yet again, suggests press reports that Pirelli had already won the deal must have been wide of the mark.
Over the weekend of the Turkish Grand Prix, Nick Shorrock, Michelin's competition director, met with team principals to outline his company's possible return to F1, according to Autosport. However, he reportedly said the ball is in the teams’ court and Michelin would not try and win the contract at all costs.
The website Motorsport.com claims Italian media sources are reporting Pirelli’s selection as sole Formula One tyre supplier in 2011 and beyond. It states that Autosprint and Italiaracing say the Italian tyre maker has been selected by the teams and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone as Bridgestone’s replacement.
Bridgestone will take its hard and soft compound Potenzas to Istanbul this weekend for the Turkish Grand Prix in the knowledge that they face one of the toughest corners for tyres on the current calendar. The toughness off the circuit makes for yet another interesting race in 2010, with only 22 points covering the top eight drivers, a recent surge from the winner of the last two Grands Prix Mark Webber having made him the joint Championship leader with team-mate Sebastian Vettel. Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of Motorsport Tyre Development, says: “Istanbul Park has caused us problems in the past so it is a circuit where we pay particular attention to every aspect of our preparation. We have reviewed the tyre strength and durability of our tyres so far this season and we have seen no problems, even though the latest cars are both heavier and faster than previously.
The Steve Saleen signature line of 2011 SMS Mustang 302’s will be exclusively shod with Pirelli P Zero rubber. After the successful launch of his 2010 SMS 570 Challenger in the Spring of 2009, the 2011 SMS 302 Mustang represents the second in the trio of SMS American Supercars, the third of which will be the SMS 620 Camaro, slated for introduction later this year. To start with, two SMS 302 versions will be offered: the SMS 302 4V with a normally aspirated 5.0L engine, followed by the SMS 302 SC using the patented SMS 296 Supercharger. Both models utilize Pirelli P Zero ultra-high-performance 275/35ZR 20 tyres on 20 x 9-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels at the front and 275/40ZR 20 tyres on 20” x 10” 5-spoke alloy wheels at the rear.
Despite an anticipated decision the question of next year’s Formula One tyre supply still remains unanswered, yet various news sources report that Pirelli has moved up to ‘pole position’. While the latest meeting of the Technical Working Group ended without a tyre supplier being named, Germany pubilication Auto Motor und Sport reports Pirelli may now be the front runner.
Information released by Michelin on July 19 paints a very similar picture of the current global tyre market as the Pirelli information published two days earlier. The French manufacturer reports a 13.4 per cent year-on-year growth in the European (including Turkey, excluding Russia) passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre replacement market during April 2010, and a 21.2 per cent growth in the original equipment sector. This represents a year-to-date growth of 10.4 per cent for the replacement market and 33.6 per cent for original equipment. The replacement truck tyre market is reported to have grown 22.7 per cent, while the original equipment sector showed a year-on-year growth of 58.8 per cent during the month. Year-to-date, Michelin’s figures show the replacement truck tyre market to have grown 34.7 per cent, while growth in the original equipment sector is reported to be 10.7 per cent.
As one of the largest distributors of passenger car tyres in the UK, Stapleton’s offers customers a comprehensive selection of high performance tyres. The company stocks ultra high performance ranges from all premium brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin, as well as offering customers a wide choice of good value own-brand high performance tyres. Stapleton’s exclusive and private brand ranges include Prestivo, Matador, Nexen and Primewell.
According to data released by Pirelli & C. SpA, Europe’s passenger car and light commercial vehicle replacement tyre market grew 14 per cent year-on-year during April 2010, below the 20 per cent improvement observed in March yet a three point improvement on the market’s 10.5 per cent year-to-date improvement. Original equipment sales of all tyre brands in Europe improved one per cent year-on-year during April, considerably lower than the 19.25 per cent improvement seen in the year-to-date. Replacement market truck tyre sales showed a 20 per cent year-on-year improvement during the month, down on the year-to-date increase of 32.75 per cent. The original equipment truck tyre market in Europe shot up 60 per cent in April, by far the largest monthly year-to-date growth so far this year. Year-to-date, growth in this sector have improved by 16 per cent over last year.
The Malcolm Group has switched to a Pirelli and Vaculug tyre policy effective from 1 May 2010. According to the company, the decision was made after an intense product test and tender process which saw the leading truck tyre manufacturers’ pitching their best products for performance comparison. Pirelli fitment for new tyres and Vaculug for retreads were chosen, working with ATS Euromaster as service provider.
Graham Hutchison, Pirelli director of truck UK was obviously pleased with the result: “Tenders can be difficult situations and The Malcolm Group management team and engineers provided a tough and demanding audience, but Pirelli’s range of new ‘01’ products and Vaculug’s retreads proved to be the best.”
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