Motor Codes announces UK’s most trusted garages
Motor Codes, the government-approved garage scheme, has revealed the UK’s 11 most trusted garages, as voted by customers of its 8,000-strong garage network.
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Goodyear to pay Sumitomo US$271 million to end global joint venture
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is to pay Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) US$271 million to end its global joint venture with the Japanese firm. Goodyear expects to increase annual income as a result of the deal, while SRI will take on expanded use of the Dunlop name around the world. This largely means Russia, Africa and Asia, but not Europe.
The reasoning behind the dissolution? According to SRI, the North American and European joint ventures did not perform as initially expected. Furthermore there was decreasing technology exchange between the two companies – all of which led both parties to “dissolve the alliance in a constructive manner”. This led to the arbitration filing and subsequent dissolution talks in January and February 2014 respectively.
Falken secures first Nuerburgring 24H podium in front of largest group of European dealers
Falken Tyres achieved its aim of a first podium at the Nuerburgring 24 Hours. The team of Peter Dumbreck, Martin Ragginger, Alex Imperatori and Wolf Henzler guided Falken’s Porsche 997 GT3 R from 19th on the grid to a podium slot, improving on its fourth place finish in 2014. The team’s number 44 Porsche – the only car on the grid to use Falken tyres – rose gradually through the field overnight, dealing well with typically varied Eifel region weather. Tyres & Accessories, visiting the event, enquires how the Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand’s European operation benefits from its relationship with the Nuerburgring and its flagship endurance race.
2015 tyre manufacturer rankings: Stability at the top?
Today we at Tyres & Accessories published our annual ranking of global tyre manufacturers on our tyrepress.com website. As always, this yearly survey takes the turnover of the industry’s leading players into account and also provides information on operating profit/EBIT(DA) and annual net income.
Extra inches a first-class solution: Michelin Motorsport’s director talks race tyres and rim diameter
In October 2014, Michelin and Renault Sport announced they would jointly develop 17- and 18-inch diameter tyres for the single-seat Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 3.5 cars that compete in the WSR (World Series by Renault). After three quarters of a year, the partners’ conclusion is that replacing the 13-inch tyres now in use with the two larger sizes is “a first-class solution to make driving more enjoyable still for competitors.”
Hankook releases Kinergy 4S all-season tyre
Hankook has launched a new all-season tyre, the Kinergy 4S (4S stands for “Four Seasons”). The manufacturer says the new tyre is distinguished by harmonious performance features across all seasons, making it an attractive alternative when it comes to ensuring legally compliant year-round mobility. The tyre can be used all year round even in countries with seasonal winter tyre requirements, as it bears the M+S and snowflake symbols (which will be required for winter tyres in Europe, as elsewhere, starting in 2018). All-season tyres have generated plenty of interest from tyre manufacturers recently, with rising sales in the segment indicating great potential for these products in markets with less extreme temperatures.
Michelin launching new hypersport tyre range to coincide with MotoGP return
Michelin has unveiled a new range of hypersport and race tyres designed to coincide with its return to the MotoGP World Championship in 2016. Michelin says the tyres, which include the Power SuperMoto and SuperMoto Rain wet product, are designed to enhance lap times, riding pleasure and safety. Technical developments include “Adaptive Casing Technology” (ACT), which Michelin says will help to combat high-speed weave and ensures stability and grip at all lean angles.
Micheldever’s TyreClick to support independents’ online competitiveness
In the context of large chains and online specialists growing in influence, Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), Britain’s largest independent wholesaler, distributor and retailer of tyres, states that its proprietary TyreClick solution could provide an answer for independent garage businesses. The increasing popularity of online tyre sales in European markets, recently noted by Michelin after purchasing Blackcircles.com, is resulting in increased competition for online sales from national chains and specialist internet traders. Recent movement in the online landscape has ignited the debate among independents about how they can compete, and Micheldever says it is stepping into the breach with TyreClick.
Firestone brand relaunch continues with Reading Festival sponsorship, new tyres
Firestone’s relaunch through a series of summer music festival sponsorships – the Firestone Music Tour announced at the Geneva Motor Show – will include events in Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Italy and at the Reading Festival in the UK. Firestone has committed to a high-profile presence in Reading, led by a team of Firestone roadies incorporating a large Firestone stand, signage, special attractions, parking and campsite activities. A new Firestone website will also be launched shortly, supplemented by a concerted social networking campaign on a variety of online channels.
Auto Express names Dunlop, Continental Product Awards winners
The Dunlop Sport BluResponse, and the ContiWinterContact TS850 have been named winners in the latest Auto Express Product Awards. Detailed in the latest June Special of the UK’s best-selling motoring weekly, product experts Henry Willis and Kim Adams wrote that its summer tyre winner – the Sport BluResponse – “has clearly been designed with EU tyre labels in mind [with highly rated fuel efficiency and wet grip characteristics]… Yet Dunlop engineers haven’t ignored other performance attributes,” with the tyre achieving “six top-three places” in Auto Express’ nine testing categories. The winter tyre winner – the ContiWinterContact TS850 – was lauded for its all-round ability, having been bested by competitors in snow track testing. Conti’s tyre was rated highly for achieving highly in the “conflicting demands” of wet grip and braking, and low rolling resistance.
Yokohama to supply tyres to reconfigured Clarkson, Hammond & May Live tour
The Clarkson, Hammond & May Live tour will feature Yokohama as its Official Tyre Supplier. A renegotiated deal was struck to allow the motoring presenter trio to fulfil its live commitments despite Jeremy Clarkson’s infamous removal from the flagship BBC show. The result of the renegotiation was the removal of Top Gear branding and pre-existing material filmed alongside the presenters’ work on the TV show. The Japanese tyre manufacturer told Tyrepress that it has agreed to maintain its tyre supply deal for the three remaining weekends, with Yokohama branding and promotional materials to appear in and around the arenas in Belfast, Sheffield and London.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS to run on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Porsche AG has decided to equip its new 911 GT3 RS with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ultra-high performance tyres. Michelin said the new 911 would run 265/35 ZR20 (front) and 325/30 ZR21 (rear) tyres. The manufacturer says of the latest generation of road-legal track tyres that they “blur the line between motorsport and road tyres.” Porsche also fits the Pilot Sport Cup 2 as original equipment on its recent 918 Spyder, Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3 models.
Giti: Rim sizes getting larger, and the UK is more ‘high-performance’ than many think
Having heard both the consensus and a third party perspective on what the high performance tyre market is and what is happening in it, when Tyres & Accessories asked Neil Hendry, general manager – Passenger Car Tires, Europe for Giti Tire for his and Giti’s view, he offered another perspective again.
High performance tyre segment growing across Europe
As we have seen, the high performance tyre market is a complex and competitive environment. The fact that most manufacturers define and therefore calculate the market in a slightly different way adds to the complexity. With this in mind, Tyres & Accessories asked GfK automotive account director Kevin Glynn for some outside insights into what is going on in the world of high performance tyres.
Falken Tyres team secures podium on Nürburgring 24 Hours
Falken Tyres has achieved its aim of a first podium at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The team of Peter Dumbreck, Martin Ragginger, Alex Imperatori and Wolf Henzler guided Falken’s Porsche 997 GT3 R from 19th on the grid to a podium slot, improving on its fourth place finish in 2014. The team’s number 44 Porsche – the only car on the grid to use Falken tyres – rose gradually through the field overnight, dealing with typically varied Eifel region weather, including showers during the night.
