Pirelli Recalls Pzero Corsa Tyres in US
In the US, Pirelli is recalling 1,680 Pirelli Pzero Corsa tyres, size 285/35 ZR19 (99Y) K1, manufactured between June 2007 and July 2009.
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.
In the US, Pirelli is recalling 1,680 Pirelli Pzero Corsa tyres, size 285/35 ZR19 (99Y) K1, manufactured between June 2007 and July 2009.
The fact that natural rubber prices have rebounded 25 per cent to US$2.1/kg for RSS3 in the last month means raw material prices that had been assisting tyre manufacturers are no longer a “tailwind.” The news is forcing analysts such as Deutsche Bank revise their earnings estimates as they had mostly factored in the possibility that that tyre companies would pass a portion of this raw material price benefit onto their vehicle making customers. However, with the current boost in rubber prices behind them the 33 – 50 per cent of the so-called rubber tailwind they may have pencilled to share with the OEMs is not likely to be erased.
ATS Euromaster are offering a series of discount vouchers redeemable at any ATS Euromaster centre in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland online. Consumers can access the deals by logging on to www.atseuromaster.co.uk and include discounts on a range of different car and van tyres, including Michelin and Pirelli, as well as great savings on an array of popular fast-fit parts and services such as wheel alignments, batteries and exhausts.
Asia’s first online retail tyre portal, Tyrepac, was launched in Singapore last February. Since that time the website has extended its presence into Hong Kong, China and South Korea. The company has now officially added Malaysia to the growing list of countries covered.
With the 2009 winter season fast approaching, Denmark-based Nordisk Dæk Import A-S (NDI) will be presenting an extensive selection of quality winter tyres to suit all European markets.
In its global automotive news brief, Deutsche bank has noted that while the three major European tyre companies experienced "very weak" volumes during the first half of the financial year, each of them reported strong resilient margins. Continental achieved an adjusted operating margin of 11.0 per cent, which was stable on the first half of 2008, Michelin 4.0 per cent (8.6 in the first half of 2008) and Pirelli Tire 7.6 per cent (8.8 per cent in the first half of 2008).
The changes that have occurred in global markets since last year have prompted Pirelli to mothball its planned US$100 million investment in China. In July 2008 the company announced it would invest this sum in China over a two-year period in order to double production capacity by 2011. Yet despite at 40 per cent year-on-year increase in sales within China during the first half of 2009, weak global demand has led to a rethink in Milan.
Superbrands has released its 2009 Superbrands and Business Superbrands survey results, and several familiar names appear in the respective top 500 lists this year. Tyre manufacturer Michelin appears in the 88th spot and Pirelli at number 154. The trio of tyre Superbrands is rounded off by Dunlop, occupying the 265th position this year.
Business Superbrands – which began in 1995 – lists the UK’s strongest business-to-business brands as voted for by independent experts on the Business Superbrands Council and more than 1,500 individual business professionals from across the country. Our three tyre Superbrands were also present in this category – Michelin in eighth spot, Pirelli at number 20 and Dunlop at 53. They are joined by Bridgestone in the 54th spot and Snap-on Tools at 193.
According to a recent Deutsche Bank investors note, Pirelli EBIT is estimated to reach 7.9 per cent in second quarter/first half results. In addition, the analysts commented: “Revenues should benefit from a lower volume decrease, -13 per cent vs. -16 per cent in the first quarter and the price mix is still very positive (+5.3 per cent versus +6.9 per cent), benefiting both from a better mix and the disciplined behaviour of manufacturers so far.
Pirelli is to continue as the Official Control Tyre Supplier to the MSA British Rally Championship for a further three years. Dominic Sandivasci, managing director of Pirelli Tyres Ltd said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to continue our long term relationship with the British Rally Championship. This is good news for Teams and Competitors alike, as it provides stability and a foundation which will allow the Championship to continue to flourish. Pirelli is committed to developing young talent with a view to driving the sport forward and our new agreement allows us to continue to do this within the BRC.”
Pirelli Tyre has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Romania’s Health Ministry, pledging to finance a training programme for staff at a hospital in Slatina, where the Italian company’s Romanian factory is located. Medical staff from the County Emergency Hospital’s Emergency Reception Unit will receive training at Milan’s Niguardia hospital, continuing a cooperation between the two units that began around a year and a half ago.
The document was signed in Slatina by Pirelli Tyre’s Romania director Enrico Malerba and Romanian health minister Ioan Bazac on July 23. Italy’s ambassador to Romania, Mario Cospito, also attended the signing ceremony.
Readers of Tyrepress.com will be aware that Tyres & Accessories was in Narbonne, France in April 2009 to visit the roads on which the DEKRA Test Centre was putting several premium brands through their paces. Engaged by Michelin with part of the manufacturer’s 600 million euro annual research and development budget, the independent test centre compared the Energy Saver (195/65R15 H), the Primacy Alpin PA3 (205/55R16 H) and the Primacy HP (225/55R16 W) with other premium brand tyres purchased at the same time on the replacement market in two key areas; longevity and fuel consumption. The Test Centre presented T&A with the “circuits” it had drawn up from the varied road-types present between Narbonne and Toulouse, on which a convoy of four Volkswagen Golf 1.9l TDIs (195 and 205) and four Audi A4 Avant 2.0l TDIs (225) would travel during testing. A third set of comparative tests on these tyres was carried out by TÜV SÜD on its asphalt testing track at ATP Papenburg in Germany, this time concerned with wet braking.
Full details of the test results, including all the tested tyres and the methodologies used by both the DEKRA Test Centre and TÜV SÜD, will be published in the August edition of Tyres & Accessories. Click “More” for the headlines in each category.
Pirelli has announced its range of winter tyres designed for the 4×4/SUV and van segments. The Scorpion Ice & Snow is designed to work particularly well at low temperatures and is produced in aspect ratios 35 to 75 Series, wheel diameter codes 15 to 21 and speed codes T, H and V. The Chrono Winter, meanwhile, is available for vans in aspect ratios 60 to 75 Series, wheel diameter codes 14 and 16 and speed codes R, S and T. Both tyres are emblazoned with the “Snowflake” symbol in the North American market, which is embossed on the sidewall of winter tyres that indicates their specialisation for snow.
The Energy Harvesting Journal has reported that Pirelli is close to releasing its latest innovative tyre technology – a microchip to supply tyre and road condition information to the car’s electronic control system. It is designed to increase safety. The new product is expected to become available in the company’s Cyber Tyre Lean and Cyber Tyre in early 2010.
The Cyber Lean will register tyre pressure and temperature data, noting too the average load of the vehicle. It is attached to the inner lining and can store information such as the tyre’s production date and site. It derives the energy necessary to work from vibrations, further enhancing its environmentally friendly credentials.
The Cyber Tyre, which will be released later, will have the electronic sensor inserted directly into the tyre structure. A triaxial accelerometer will, according to the Journal, “give data on the actual and potential friction coefficients, the force of the contact between tyre and road, and on the load, instantaneously.” It supersedes current tyre sensor technology by being able to “correct wrong behaviour in advance.”
Financial analysts are predicting that the Pirelli & C SpA will separate shares in its tyre business from the holding company. Writing in an investor’s note, Deutsche Bank analysts predicted “near-term action to reduce holding discount by giving shareholders two stocks: a pure tyre company and a pure holding company” and valued the tyre company at between 0.21 euros and 0.33 euros/share.
Good take up of Pirelli Real Estate SpA’s capital increase, which closed on Friday 3 July and was 99.4 per cent subscribed, has also resulted in a 14 per cent reduction in net debt, according to analysts. The company itself reported it raised 397 million euros throught the offer.
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