Pirelli Archives - Page 163 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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Federal on the Road to Establishing Sports Pedigree

When meeting Federal Tire’s Jamie Ma for the first time, the enthusiasm the chairman holds for his company and the tyres it makes feels thick enough to grasp with both hands. “I am different from the CEOs of most tyre companies,” he states. “They are just trustees of their firms, you could say, elected to serve a few years. My position at Federal is not like that.” As the third generation to serve in his family’s Taiwan based business, Mr. Ma claims to be, at age 34, the world’s youngest CEO of a tyre company. And that said, he adds his comparative youthfulness will be, he believes, a factor making all the difference for Federal. “When I execute a programme, I have years in which I can do it,” he explains. “Jamie Ma plans another thirty years in the business.”

Federal Tire’s main purpose for attending Reifen 2008 was to launch its latest tyre, the 595RPM. Designed for super cars and aimed, says Mr. Ma, at Pirelli’s R-Zero Rosso, the Michelin Pilot Sport 2, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A and Yokohama’s Advan Sport, the 595RPM is available in a large range of fitments for rims between 17 and 22-inches. The tyre carries a UTQG tread wear rating of 160, adds the chairman, and the asymmetric tread – the first such pattern to feature on a Federal UHP tyre, is designed with an outer shoulder that gives greater traction plus additional siping on the inner area for optimised ride qualities.

17th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Sponsors ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius

The Pirelli Group communicates has sealed a sponsorship deal with South African athlete Oscar Pistorius. Pirelli Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera described Pistorius as: “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.”

“Pirelli” – added Oscar Pistorius – “is a great company and an important brand. This agreement is another sign, after winning my case to have the chance to participate in the Olympics, that barriers are in the eyes of the beholder, of those who believe them to be barriers. It would be a dream come true for me to be a testimonial like Carl Lewis.”

12th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Strike Threat to Turkish Automotive Industry

The ongoing Tyre Workers Union strike is threatening Turkey’s automotive industry. Estimates are placing a figure in the region of YTL 10 million (over £4 million) on daily losses for tyre manufacturers since the strike began on 31 May, while the supply losses are starting to hinder Turkish automotive exports that account for 75 per cent of the industry’s total production.

Bridgestone’s Turkish-based arm, Brisa – one of the companies affected by the strike, alongside Pirelli and Goodyear – has released statements detailing the losses to the Turkish government in taxes, estimated at YTL 1 million a day.

10th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Wins Motoring Euro Press Plaudits in Summer Tests

Pirelli have obtained eight overall victories and two top-three placements in 11 tests conducted by European motoring authorities and the specialist press.

The Cinturato P4, designed for medium displacement and city cars (with its ecocompatibility and safety-conscious characteristics) and the P Zero, the high technology tyre developed for the most sporting cars, have been singled out for the highest praise in their categories.

In Germany, the P Zero won four overall victories in four tests conducted by Auto Zeitung, Sport Auto, Sport Auto Tuning Spezial and Power Car, which unanimously voted it the top tyre in the reference segment.

10th 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

Pirelli P6000 Victorious in Wheels Test

Pirelli’s P6000 has been awarded top marks in Tyre Test 2008 – a challenging series of tasks conducted by Australia’s Wheels Magazine. The P6000 was given a total score of 99.01 out of a possible 100, making it the top tyre tested in the 195/60R15 category.

Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric received similar high praise from the magazine, ranked first in the 235/45R17 category and picking up an almost equally impressive score of 98.95.

6th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli-equipped Citroën C4 Wins Acropolis Rally

In an Acropolis stage famed for its punishing surfaces, Sebastien Loeb claimed his fifth victory in seven events to regain the lead of the Drivers’ championship.

After the event, Loeb was full of praise for his C4 WRC, reserving particular commendation for the performance of his Pirelli Scorpion tyres: “We drove with the idea of preserving the car and the tyres on an incredibly rough surface. The Pirelli Scorpion tyres were able to resist stages that were truly a massacre, so the overall conclusion is very positive – particularly considering that these tyres do not have anti-deflation mousse and that they have to adapt themselves to a very wide range of different surfaces.”

5th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Rubber Workers Strike in Turkey

4,000 tyre manufacturing workers have responded to ICEM’s (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions) Turkish trade union call to strike, after last-minute proposals by the employers’ association failed to avoid the action taking place.

The four manufacturing works affected by the strike action, in the Turkish cities of Izmit and Adapazari, are operated by Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirelli. News sources state that the companies are resisting demands for three bi-yearly salary increases at the rate of Turkish inflation, following an initial wage increase of 12%.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Launches the Winter Sottozero Serie II

The latest evolution of Pirelli’s performance winter tyre has been unveiled at the Swiss ski resort town of Zermatt. The Winter Sottozero Serie II, a tyre the Italian manufacturer states will meet the needs of the most demanding drivers by adapting to conditions typically encountered during the autumn and winter months, has been released in two distinct performance versions: the W210/W240 for high performance cars, and the even more extreme W270 for super sports models. Pirelli reports that Porsche, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW, Bentley, Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo have already homologated the new Sottozero as original equipment.

“Despite global warming, winter is still here,” commented Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori at the Sottozero Serie II launch in Zermatt. Mr. Gori however emphasised that a change in thinking has taken place at Pirelli in response to recent climatic trends, along with changes in automotive technology and European regulations. The new tyre was thus designed not just for regions receiving significant winter snowfall; rather it is a tyre for low temperature conditions. Today’s more unpredictable weather conditions, says Pirelli, with dry spells when snow is traditionally expected, and sudden heavy rainfall in the late winter or at the beginning of autumn, means a need has arisen for the development of versatile tyres guaranteeing safety not only on snow and ice, but also on wet or slushy surfaces when temperatures fall below 7 degrees, a temperature that alters both the road surface and the behaviour of a tyre.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Report No Contact Over Truck Tyres

Continental has responded to claims from German news sources that Italian rival Pirelli are interested in buying the German manufacturer’s truck tyre business, stating that they have yet to be contacted. A spokeswoman for Continental said that “There are no sales talks whatsoever”.

The speculation follows reports in Germany’s leading commercial economy newspaper Handelsblatt that Pirelli’s Chairman, Marco Tronchetti Provera, has declared definitively the company’s interest in truck tyres. Coupled with the attention devoted to Continental’s truck tyre business by the German company’s management in April this year, conjecture continues to develop as to the fate of the department.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Start Russian Tyre Plant Negotiations

Pirelli & C. SpA and has signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations for the construction of a car, light truck and heavy truck tyre plant in Russia. The letter was sent to the Russian State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product (also known as Russian Technologies). The new facility will also produce steel cord tyre reinforcements and automotive filters.

Russian Technologies and Pirelli have agreed on an exclusivity period for the negotiation of the final agreements, until 30 September 2008. Upon its establishment, the two partners would jointly control the Joint Venture, while Pirelli would be responsible for the development of the business strategy and running operations of the Joint Venture, which would be carried out under the Pirelli brand name.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Exclusive for Pirelli-Alfa Collaboration

Alfa Romeo’s new special edition Brera S – the latest model of the Italian coupe – will be fitted exclusively with Pirelli P Zero Nero 235/40 R 19 96 Y tyres. Pirelli join Prodrive, a leading motorsport specialist who provide the car’s suspension system, in collaborating with Alfa.

The Brera S was placed on sale on 2nd June after its initial presentation on 19th May, and is limited to 500 numbered vehicles.

3rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Interested in Continental Truck Tyre Unit

Pirelli is said to be interested in buying the truck tyre division of Germany’s Continental AG, German news sources have reported. “We are looking at all attractive targets. Truck tyres are definitely interesting for us,” Pirelli Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera told the Handelsblatt newspaper.

Continental’s management recently scrutinised the truck tyre department’s first-quarter figures after its pre-tax earnings (EBIT) margin of 3.8 per cent came in below the company’ target of 10 per cent for all divisions by 2010. The announcement lends credence to suggestions that Pirelli is aiming to expand its tyre business through acquisitions.

3rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Luxury Wheels Improves Your ‘Lex Appeal’

While Bristol based Luxury wheels is carving a name for itself as a source of quality aftermarket wheels, many people don’t realise the company also offers an extensive range of styling lines in its product portfolio.

To give an example of the company’s work, the Lexus LS600h pictured here was specced by one of Luxury Wheels’ Norwegian dealers with the full Autocouture styling package. The ‘Progressive Line’ kit consists of front bumper, fog lamps, side skirts (in either short or long wheelbase), rear bumper, two replacement front wings with vents, and a rather saucy dual stacked exhaust. This ensemble is topped off with a rear spoiler and Autocouture boot emblem for that final finishing flourish.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli: German Tyre Manufacturing Base Still Strong

45 years since Pirelli took over the German Veith Group, the German branch of the Italian tyre manufacturer last year reported sales of 850 million euros. Now, in the words of Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera, the German operation is on course to break through the billion euro barrier by 2010. Thanks to investments in the order of 190 million euros over the last four years, income has increased 30 per cent.

During a press conference held at its factory in Breuberg, Germany, the Pirelli Group outlined its industrial activities and plans for tyre business expansion in this particular market, one the company sees as key for its growth strategies. The May 26 press conference was attended by numerous company representatives, including Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori and the CEO of Pirelli Deutschland, Guglielmo Fiocchi.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors