We all know that the number of fitments on the market is increasing, but what will tyres – and therefore the tyre market of the future – look like? In a recent media briefing Continental market analyst Eulogio Sanz and product manager Peter Robb predicted that the 28 million-unit strong UK passenger car tyre market will split between those wanting economic and environmental performance and those who just want to go faster.
Bike Tyrestore (BTS), a leading supplier of motorcycle and scooter tyres is looking to further expand its business and product range following the relocation of its call centre and headquarters. Tyres & Accessories caught up with joint managing director, Peter Smith, at the Stoneleigh Motorcycle tyre Expo and found out what’s different about BTS’ service and why he thinks the new Sava MC29 Sporty 3+ is the best scooter tyre there is.
Bridgestone Australia has reported a 72 per cent drop in annual net profit, and has warned of another tough year ahead of it. This bleak news comes only a month after parent company Bridgestone Corporation disclosed its intention to buy back the publicly listed Australian operation.
After weathering some tough times of late US tyremakers have seen a rise in their shares during the last six months as natural rubber and oil prices lower and the threat of industrial unrest in the sector begins to fade. Previous increases in raw material costs have also been, according to one analyst, absorbed by price rises that appear to have been accepted by consumers.
Hankook Tire Co., South Korea’s largest tyremaker, posted a 22 per cent drop in full-year profit, citing higher materials costs and a stronger South Korean won as the primary reasons.
Stapleton’s, one of the largest UK passenger car tyre wholesalers has launched a revised Nexen Key Dealer Programme. The scheme, aimed to reward valued customers, includes benefits available to those registered onto the programme. Members will benefit from a personalised reward scheme, can enjoy preferential purchasing prices, in store support in the form of leaflets and posters, branded merchandise and lifetime guarantees on products. Each member will also receive a dealer reference catalogue.
The number of motor traders failing during 2006 reached its highest point at 303 for more than a decade, an increase of 7.1 per cent compared to 2005. The industry had seen a poor start to the year with the number of business failures in the automotive industry increasing by 67.9 per cent, according to Experian. This was the second largest increase in insolvencies experienced across the 34 industries reviewed by the global information solutions company.
With the hostilities between Goodyear and the USW now officially over, Standard & Poor’s have affirmed the B+ rating on Goodyear’s corporate credit and removed the company’s debt from negative CreditWatch.
The company was placed on CreditWatch in mid October 2006 due to the threat of business disruption and uncertain earnings during the strike period. Goodyear has a total debt of approximately US$12 billion.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber share prices leapt to a 52 week high in the first week of January following the announcement of the company’s revised credit status.
American tyre purchasers have just become even more spoiled for choice following the announcement that a new online retailer – Discountwheeloutlet.com – has opened its virtual doors to the public. Discountwheeloutlet.com, who claim to sell to the public at wholesale prices, stock more than 10,000 custom wheels for cars, trucks and SUV vehicles.
Due to their large stock levels, the company is able to offer their customers same day shipping, and can even offer customers wheel, tyre and accessory packages including free mounting and balancing.
According to the company, Discountwheeloutlet.com is the largest single warehouse distributor in the Pacific Northwest area of the US.
Michelin’s Stop Thirsty Tyres campaign, aimed at helping hauliers reduce their fuel bills through better tyre management, has beat strong competition to win the ‘Best use of creative’ award at this year’s B2B Marketing Awards. The Stop Thirsty Tyres campaign was launched in May 2005 and has been promoted industry wide through a variety of mediums.
One of Europe’s leading international tyre wholesalers, Van den Ban Autobanden, have announced the launch of their all-new website www.vandenban.nl The new site features an e-commerce capability allowing for online ordering 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Stock levels and prices are constantly updated and the company state that the site has already gained positive feedback regarding its user friendliness.
According to Van den Ban, initial reactions from clients have been very positive. The company’s Managing Director, Frans P. van Lenten, commenting on the new site, stated that “Ongoing improvements to our client base has always been a very important issue to the company and I believe this latest e-Commerce service further emphasises VDB’s strong position in the market as an international ‘total tyre supplier’.”
In response to the ongoing rising cost of raw materials Yokohama Tire Corp. has announced it will increase the price of its OTR tyres by between 3 and 5 per cent as of January 1.
Continental AG has spoken of plans to increase passenger car, SUV and light truck tyre prices across Europe. A Continental spokesperson in Hanover declined to give further details of the price rise, but explained that the move had been forced upon the manufacturer by consistently high raw material prices. Continental’s raw material costs are expected to total 300 million euros this year.
Cheap imports of scrap zinc-based balancing weights are poor quality and contain dangerous levels of heavy metals such as cadmium. Premium weight manufacturers told Tyres & Accessories that preliminary research shows such imports may contain up to 50 times the level of cadmium currently allowed in the products.
See the January issue of Tyres & Accessories (published in the third week of the month) for the full story.
After more than half a century as a publicly listed company, Bridgestone Australia Ltd looks set to privatise its operations. Bridgestone Australia directors have announced an AUD$50 million (£20 million) buyback of the minority of shares not already owned by Bridgestone Corporation. If shareholders approve the transaction, Bridgestone Australia will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent company.
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