Pirelli Archives - Page 159 of 210 - Tyrepress

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.

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Pirelli’s Gori Re-Elected as ETRMA President

Pirelli Tyre chief executive, Dr Francesco Gori, was today re-elected as European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) president. The ETRMA board’s decision to re-elect Dr Gori means he will server a further three-year term from 2009 to 2011. Patrick Lepercq (Michelin) was elected as vice-president for the same period.

Dr Francesco Gori became CEO and managing director of Pirelli Tyre in 2006. He joined the group in 1978 and became general manager of the Tyre Sector in 2001. Patrick Lepercq joined Michelin in 1980. Since 2002, he has been corporate vice-president Public Affairs.

7th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

General, Pirelli, Michelin Top LT/SUV Tests

Consumer Reports tapped the General Grabber HTS and Pirelli Scorpion ATR as highest rated all-season and all-terrain light truck/SUV tires in its latest tyre tests. In addition, the Michelin Latitude X-Ice received the top rating among the four winter tyres CR tested. The new test results will be published in the magazine’s November issue.

CR tested 34 all-season and all-terrain light truck/SUV radials, all in size P265/70R17, considering all-season performance, tread life, fuel economy, braking, wet/dry traction, handling, and price, among other attributes. The General Grabber HTS earned the top spot among all-season tyres and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR rated highest among all-terrain tires. Tests were performed on a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, CR said.

“Most of the all-season tyres CR tested performed very well in braking, handling, and hydroplaning resistance,” the magazine said. “The tyres produced a wide range of tread life and rolling-resistance ratings. But the fact that a number of all-season models with very good tread-life ratings ranked near the bottom in overall performance, shows that it’s necessary to look at the big picture when choosing tyres.” (Tire Review/Akron)

7th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Star Driver Entrants Announced

The FIA has published a list of 18 young drivers from Europe and Central and South America who will take part in the Pirelli Star Driver competition in Freistadt, Austria. The two winners will each receive a drive on six rounds of the 2009 WRC.

The competitors have all been chosen locally by their respective national sporting authorities (ASNs), who have put them forward for the competition in Freistadt that will take place from October 23-25. This contest will select two people to receive a fully-paid drive on six rounds of the World Rally Championship next year.

6th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli-Shod Citroens Achieve One-Two in WRC Spanish Round

The Citroen C4 of Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo have finished first and second respectively in the 44th Catalunya Rally in Spain. The Citroens took command from the start, beating Hirvonen-Lehtinen and Duval-Pivato’s factory Ford Focus in third. In the Junior WRC (JWRC), the Citroen C2 of Martin Prokop claimed the spoils, from the Renault Clio R3 of Alessandro Bettega.

Just as was the case at the Rallye Deutschland in mid-August and on these same roads in Spain one year ago, Citroen claimed the top positions thanks to their C4 WRC crews of Loeb-Elena and Sordo-Marti. The result reinforces Loeb’s lead of the drivers’ World Championship and Citroen’s advantage in the constructors’ standings.

6th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MIRS Upgrade to Expand Pirelli NA Capacity by 20%

Pirelli has announced a US$15 million investment that will increase manufacturing capacity by 20 per cent at its Pirelli Tire North America MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) factory in Rome, Georgia. The announcement was made at Pirelli’s world headquarters in Milan during Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s economic development mission to Europe.

3rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Atlas Tyre Breaks the Million Pound Barrier

Atlas Tyre Service Cardiff has recently upgraded its central Cardiff premises after its year-to-date turnover exceeded £1 million for the first time. The intention is to present a modern image for existing customers and attract new business with the upgrade. Based in the heart of Cardiff, the company stocks a full range of car tyres from leading manufacturers including Toyo, Pirelli, Continental, Dunlop, Michelin, Kumho and Falken. In addition Atlas Tyre Service offers a wholesale delivery service to the greater Cardiff area, with van deliveries throughout the day.

3rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Announces Further Investment in Romania

Pirelli’s sees its new industrial centre in Romania’s automotive sector as strategic for the company’s future growth in the emerging East European markets. The company’s position in Romania is now set to grow further in coming years following the announcement of new investments to the value of 250 million euros. The chairman of Pirelli & C. SpA, Marco Tronchetti Provera, made the announcement to Romanian Prime Minister, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, during a meeting held in Bucharest on September 29, at which the Group’s activities in the country were discussed.

30th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

eTyres Seeking New Franchisees

At the time of going to press, the US government failed to back President Bush’s $700 billion bailout plan and banks seemed to be dropping like flies. With the UK economy inevitably affected by the knock-on effect of the credit crunch starting your own virtual business may seem like scary thing to do. However, if you did want to start up an online mobile tyre franchise, etyres reports that it has the consumer hook of charging up to 40 per cent less than the leading tyre depots.

However, some areas of the country are not yet covered so etyres is looking to expand its franchise. “Everyone wants to save money on essential purchases like car tyres,” says Tony Bowman, managing director of etyres, adding: ” Even though we have over 70 franchisees across the country we still have some key areas available and are looking to fill these. Priority locations include Manchester, South East London, Southampton and Liverpool.”

30th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Tyres “a real step up” for Endurance Series

Saturday 20 September saw the conclusion of this year’s Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at the Miller Motorsports Park in Utah; a finale that also witnessed the curtain drop on Pirelli’s first-year performance as tyre supplier for the series. The performance – according to participants – has been ovation-worthy.

The winning team – the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley driven by Raphael Matos, John Pew and Ian James – was particularly won over by the P Zero. James commented, “This year when we got the Pirelli it was a real step up in the competition. The consistency has been great and I think you have seen that in the racing. The racing has been great; the Pirellis always give the driver a good stint. The tyres have really added to the series.”

23rd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Williams Named Pirelli Star Driver

Jon Williams has been plucked by Pirelli to fill the first of the Italian manufacturer’s five Star Drivers to compete in the World Rally Championship. Pirelli introduced the scheme to promote new talent in the 2009 FIA-accredited series.

25-year old Williams has competed in the African Rally Championship in a Volkswagen Polo S2000 this year: “This is the fulfilment of a dream and a magnificent opportunity for me to show what I can achieve at World Rally Championship level.” He will drive in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Finland, Spain and Great Britain.

16th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Stock Plunges

Shares in the world’s most profitable publicly traded tyre manufacturer (according to Bloomberg), Nokian Renkaat Oyj, have experienced a sharp decline alongside most Russian stocks following the descent of the ruble in recent days. The company currently enjoys a 30 per cent share of Russia’s premium replacement market, though overtures from Bridgestone and Pirelli – who have earmarked 250 million euros for a joint venture in the country with Russian Technologies – sound out a threat to the stability of that figure.

Mika Leskinen, a fund manager at Pohjola Asset Management of Helsinki stated that “competition is set to intensify” and that reasons for the stock’s fall included a massive 37 per cent rise throughout May and the recent Russian military intervention in Georgia. He suggests that analysts recommending the stock and raising earnings estimates had been a little “too optimistic”. Bloomberg’s straw pole of 15 banks however suggests that analysts are still happy to get behind the stock, with only London-based Merrill Lynch analysts suggesting their sale.

12th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pistorius to Pitch for Pirelli

Pirelli has signed an agreement with the South African athlete Oscar Pistorius – the double amputee sprinter, who uses carbon fibre blades – to become a “global spokesman” for the company; a position that will eventually lead to a starring role in the manufacturer’s advertising. Pistorius, who is already sponsored by Pirelli, holds the world records for the 100m, 200m and 400m and will – the Italian giant hopes – take on a similar iconic significance in its promotional materials to Carl Lewis, who appeared in adverts for the company in his prime.

Mario Tronchetti Provera said of the Blade Runner, “Pistorious is an extraordinary person. We are happy to be able to give him our support. For Pirelli, he could represent our new Carl Lewis; his story witnesses to the fact that will, passion and technology can vanquish any obstacles, improving the lives of many.”

11th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Truck Sales Slump Hitting Tyre-Makers

With manufacturers of trucks in Western Europe finding market conditions tough, tyre-makers with a large interest in the Truck segment have to contend with the decreased demand for OE-supply alongside the well-documented problems of increased raw material costs and the struggle to sell to the replacement market.

The replacement sector too, is hurt by fleets continually looking to make savings, for which cutting the cost of tyres is too often high on the agenda. Rather than allowing fleet-based customers to diminish their overheads through decreasing the rate at which they replace tyres, or buying cheaper alternatives, major European manufacturers – such as Michelin and Pirelli – are ramping up their efforts to attract business to their all-encompassing fleet servicing products, in addition to focusing in earnest on their operations in emerging truck markets, such as Brazil, where the replacement and, to a lesser extent, the OE markets are remaining strong.

5th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Develops New Premium “Gommoncino”

Pirelli continues to aspire to innovation in the area of truck tyres, while also acknowledging its desire to tap into new and emerging markets. Now it has developed the Gommoncino, a new 385/55R22.5 size, premium-tread FH85 Amaranto, which the manufacturer claims is able to sustain superior loads and return greater mileage. Simultaneously, the company announces that it continues to strengthen its position in emerging markets, especially in China and South America, through OE alliances with some of the world’s largest industrial vehicle manufacturers.

4th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Central Tyre Gives Away Sensor Valve Caps

Central Tyre depots in the UK are offering tyre valve caps that instantly tell drivers whether tyres are the correct pressure as part of a new road safety campaign. Throughout September and October Central Tyre is giving a set of four K-Pressure Optic Sensors to all customers purchasing any two Pirelli tyres. They normally retail at £37.60. The K-Pressure Optic Sensor valve caps are designed by Pirelli.

They are the only warning caps on the market that automatically close the valve immediately when a pressure drop is detected. Individual sets are ready calibrated to pre-set pressures, printed on the caps, and they are designed to compensate for increases in tyre pressure over the course of a journey.

3rd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors