You are here: / Product News

Tyre industry professionals need to know what the latest product developments are. Look no further than the Tyrepress.com product news tag,

Posts

Conti Canada Makes Org Changes

Continental Tire has named Jay Dhillon interim general market manager for Continental Tire Canada, replacing Guy Hardiman. Michael Raynes becomes interim controller, replacing Jayesing Heetoo. Continental said the changes are part of a continuing effort to improve the company’s processes and business practices.

Dhillon will be responsible for continuing the profitable growth, and improving the overall business operation of Continental Tire Canada. He will report directly to Andreas Gerstenberger, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Continental Tire US and Canada. Raynes will be responsible for evaluating and supporting the financial and credit processes and Canadian operations, while providing recommendations to management for both the PLT and CVT divisions. Raynes will report directly to Jay Dhillon.

“Continental Tire Canada has enjoyed phenomenal growth in recent years, and will continue to do the same in the future. These appointments will help align the necessary supporting business processes with continued growth of Continental Tire Canada,” said Gerstenberger. (Tire Review/Akron)

Read more

Related news:

  1. Amerityre Appoint Chief Financial Officer
  2. Treadways Announces Organisational Changes
  3. SmarTire Completes Major Financing
  4. Conti Appoints New US PR & Communications Manager
/by

Kwik-Fit Asks: Are You an MOT Virgin?

Four decades ago Jimi Hendrix asked us all, in song, the question ‘are you experienced?’ – and it seems the answer may well be a resounding ‘no’. According to Kwik-Fit, many of us are by no means experienced when it comes to the periodic inspections our vehicles require: Some two million UK motorists remain, in the fast fit specialist’s own words, MOT virgins.

To qualify for virginal status, at least in regards to MOT inspections, a person must have never kept hold of a car long enough to have put it through an Mot test. As previously mentioned, more that a few motorists have yet to have their first-time experience. And on top of these, a further one million drivers haven’t put a car through an MOT inspection for at least a decade.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Save £32 Million on MOTs at Kwik-Fit
  2. “One in Four German Motorists Speed” – Report
  3. 4 million over-70s driving in UK
  4. Fast Fit Hat Trick
/by

Continental AG in State Aid Negotiations

Continental AG and its controlling shareholder, Schaeffler Group, are reportedly seeking aid from two German state governments. According to a Bloomberg report, German federal government isn’t directly involved in the “advanced talks” with the Lower Saxony and Bavaria state authorities. On 27 January representatives of the IG Metall trade union told reports that any state aid should be used to help save jobs and “not the private wealth of company owners Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and her son Georg.” The union, which represents a total of 2.3 million employees, said workers should also get a say in running the company.

Meanwhile, credit rating agency, Standard & Poor’s, has lowered Continental AG’s creditworthiness two levels to ‘BB’ from ‘BBB-‘. According to an S&P statement the decision was made following an analysis of Continental’s revised business plan and the renegotiation of financial covenants. Continental AG is currently responsible for servicing an estimated 22 billion euros of debts.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Could Part Nationalisation Be an Option for Conti?
  2. Wennemer slams inflexible German labour market
  3. Car Makers Back Schaeffer’s Conti Bid
  4. Schaeffler Confirms Hetmann Has Resigned
/by

Pirelli Geared Up For 2009 WRC

The 2009 World Rally Championship kicks off in Ireland and again this year Pirelli, the championship’s exclusive tyre supplier, plays a pivotal role in proceedings. From the season’s opening race, which gets under way on 30th January, Pirelli believes the 2009 WRC will be a series full of technical challenges for both teams and drivers. Mud, snow and ice are just a few of the weather related obstacles the opening rally will hand drivers, making tyre choice a critical factor in the race. The other 11 rounds feature conditions that are no less exciting: from snow in Norway to the dirt roads of Australia and Argentina.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Rally Monte Carlo Gets Underway With Pirelli
  2. Pirelli’s “Big Weekend” of Motorsport
  3. Poor Conditions Fail to Hamper Pirelli WRC Tyres
  4. Loeb Claims 49th Career Win on Pirelli’s New Sottozero
/by

Masters of Formula Three Return to Zandvoort

Having spent the last two years just over the Belgian border at the Zolder racing circuit, the Masters of Formula Three will be returning to Circuit Park, Zandvoort this year. The prestigious event, in which the strongest racers from the British Formula Three Championship and the Formula Three Euro Series compete, was held for the first time at the Zandvoort circuit in 1991. Following a decision by the Dutch Supreme Court in 2007, the race had to be held at Zolder due to noise levels affecting local residences. However, with new measures in place, the 19th running of the Masters of Formula 3 will be back at its spiritual home on 13 and 14 June, 2009.

The international meeting is closely watched by teams from the GP2 series, the World Series by Renault, A1GP and Formula One. Among others, David Coulthard, Lewis Hamilton and Jos Verstappen all made it into Formula One, boosted by their victories in the Masters of Formula 3.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Button to Appear In Birmingham via Satellite
  2. Michelin Man Moves to Toyota
  3. Bridgestone Competition Finalist Reports on Spanish GP
  4. Bridgestone Motorsport Valencia Test Summary
/by

Foundation Stone Laid at New Ceat Plant

The foundation stone for Ceat Ltd’s planned new facility in Gujarat, India has officially been laid. The honour of laying the stone went to Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi, who was present at the site in Halol along with RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka, Ceat managing director Paras K Chowdhary and Ceat vice president (sales and marketing) Arnab Banerjee. The greenfield project, when it enters its first phase of operation, will employ more than 1,000 workers.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Ceat Launches New Truck Tyre
  2. Ceat Looking to Set up New Greenfield Site
  3. Ceat Still Confident of Attracting Partners
  4. MRF Initials Greenfield Memorandum
/by

Apollo Tyres Owned Zimbabwean Fast Fit, Retreader Restructures

Zimbabwe’s National Tyre Services (NTS) is in the process of finalising a strategic restructuring exercise to rationalise its operations. Dunlop Group (Dunlop Zimbabwe, owned by Apollo Tyres, is a major shareholder in NTS) managing director Kennedy Mandevani, recently appointed to oversee operations at the distributor and retreader, said the exercise would also increase the company’s operational efficiencies.

“Given the trading environment, the exercise brings NTS and Dunlop Zimbabwe closer to each other in order to deliver increased synergistic benefits to all stakeholders,” Mandevani said. “The right-sizing and restructuring will see a more flexible and customer focused entity poised to take advantage of current and future opportunities.” Mr. Mandevani added that NTS has maintained a strong presence in key geographical locations in order to maintain its market share.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Hwa Fong plans listing on Thai Stock Exchange
  2. An “Exciting Year”
  3. Bridgestone Released Mid-term Management Plan 2008
  4. Goodyear and Haweka Promote Benefits of Tractor Wheel Alignment
/by

Dunlop Ad Voted one of Ten Best Cinema Commercials Ever

,

A Dunlop Tyres advertisement from 1994 has been voted one of the UK’s ten best cinema commercials of all time. The online poll, conducted by Digital Cinema Media (DCM), ranked Dunlop’s ‘Tested for the Unexpected’ commercial number four on its list of the ten best, commenting that its “perfect soundtrack”, which featured the Velvet Underground song ‘Venus in Furs’, accompanied film made with an “apparently limitless budget”. The result, says DCM, was “deliciously surreal”. DCM comments that the commercial’s director, Tony Kaye, thought it so good he even attempted to have it exhibited at the Tate.

Membership Required

If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.

Subscribe now

Becoming a member has benefits such as:

  • Read our sector-leading articles in full
  • Full analysis of tyre business segments
  • Read Tyres & Accessories magazine online/in print

Already a member? Log in here

Related news:

  1. Goodyear Dunlop Presents BioTred2 at Cereals Show
  2. Michelin Man Gets More ‘Socially Responsible’ in New Ads
  3. Goodyear Seeks Exemption From US Recall
  4. Continental Reveals Top Ten Bumpiest UK Roads
/by

Sibur Holding Progressing with Amtel-Vredestein Deal

An article published by the Moscow Times appears to confirm speculation that Sibur Holding will acquire control of Amtel-Vredestein. The January 26 news piece prints comments from a company executive that Sibur will issue bonds as part of the deal, a possibility previously reported by Russian business daily Vedomosti.

The previous merger arrangement was cancelled last September due to an unavailability of credit to fulfil the necessary terms and conditions. However, Amtel-Vredestein’s press department in Moscow told Tyres & Accessories on September 30 that the deal was still “an ongoing work in process.”

Read more

Related news:

  1. Amtel-Vredestein EGM Approves Sibur Holdings Reverse Takeover
  2. Production Underway at Krasnoyarsk Tire Plant
  3. Amtel-Vredestein Doubles Profit in 2005
  4. Amtel-Vredestein Receives “Binding Offer” for Vredestein Banden
/by

CTNA Mt. Vernon Factory Not Affected By Cuts, Says Manager

The plant manager at Continental Tire North America’s Mount Vernon facilities has voiced his reassurances following recent news that the parent company plans to reduce its North American workforce. In mid January US media reported the company’s North America CEO Samir Salman as saying Continental AG was moving towards reducing its workforce in this region by 10 per cent during 2009.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Investment Group Buys Leading US Distributor
  2. Tyre Contract Talks Open, USW Already Unhappy
  3. CTNA to Close Former Mayfield Tyre Plant
  4. Michelin NA to Close Opelika, Alabama Factory
/by

Free Tyres Offered to Lure Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Competitors

Motorsport is admittedly not the cheapest of pastimes, but at least competitors taking part in this year’s Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship will not have so many worries about tyre costs. Pirelli, in conjunction with the Association of National Championship Rally Organisers (ANCRO) has announced that all registered competitors will be eligible to receive four brand new Pirelli tyres, completely free of charge. This decision has been taken, say the organisers, in a bid to tempt competitors to contest the eight-round national series.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Pirelli to Sponsor ANCRO and MSA Gravel Rally
  2. Pirelli Proposes to Supply Tyres for F1
  3. Dramatic Climax to Wales Rally GB
  4. Pirelli Sweeps Baja Truck Category
/by

Dunlop Gives Visitors The Needle

Visitors to the Dunlop Stand could take away a permanent reminder of the Sema show, as the tyre manufacturer was offering what was surely one of the more bizarre attractions of any exhibition – a tattooing service.

On the tyre side, a great deal of interest was generated by Dunlop’s latest uhp summer tyre, the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Described as “the tyre for hard-core driving enthusiasts and car club members”, the new tyre features a special compound, Dunlop Jointless Band Technology and a high-response directional tread pattern with circumferential grooves. These elements help improve grip, create a consistent contact patch and maintain the tyre’s structural integrity at high speeds.

The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is available in 20 sizes for fitment to most of today’s most popular amateur motorsports vehicle choices. Rim sizes are from 15″ to 18″, aspect ratios from 55 series down to 35 and the tyre is V- and W-speed rated

Read more

Related news:

  1. Street-legal drag tyre Dunlop SP Sport Inferno
  2. Cooper Adds Discoverer ATR to Line-Up
  3. Latest Matador Performance Tyre Ready for Summer 2009
  4. Federal Introduces Xtramile XR01
/by

‘Ledbetter’ Discrimination Bill Almost Ready for Obama’s Approval

A piece of legislation stemming from a pay dispute involving Goodyear was passed by the US Senate on January 22. It now only needs approval from the House of Representatives before it reaches Barack Obama’s desk for signing.

The Senate passed the bill after a 61-36 vote, and an article posted on the White House blog on Sunday indicates the president supports it. The bill could well become the first that President Obama signs into law. If so, it will overturn a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that said former Goodyear supervisor Lilly Ledbetter could not sue for wage discrimination after being paid less than male employees performing the same job as she had not filed her suit within 180 days after the company first acted in discriminatory manner. The legislation will instead allow aggrieved workers to sue after the most recent discriminatory payment received, not the first one.

Read more

Related news:

  1. North Carolina Governor Rejects Goodyear Incentive Bill
  2. USWA Ratifies Contract at Goodyear Mould Facility
  3. G. Craig Sullivan Elected to Goodyear Board
  4. Sales Rise, But Goodyear Posts Net Loss for Half
/by

Schaeffler Seizes Control of Conti Board

Schaeffler Group seized control of Continental AG’s supervisory board on 24 January. The Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held at the weekend concluded with chairman Hubertus von Gruenberg stepping down, reportedly to be replaced by Rolf Koerfer, a long-term Schaeffler Group legal aid and partner at Dusseldorf- based law firm Allen & Overy. At the same time, the ball bearing maker was able to negotiate the nomination of group owners Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and Georg Schaeffler, not to mention company CEO Dr. Jürgen M. Geißinger to the Conti board.

This shift in the balance of power led to the supervisory board “taking note” of Conti executives’ suggestion to “initiate a process to create an organizationally and legally independent Rubber Group.” In Schaeffler’s words, to “carve out” the rubber group into a separate entity. According to the company, this process will be overseen by the current (but apparently outgoing) chairman of the supervisory board, Hubertus von Grünberg. So while von Grünberg “wants to make his chairmanship available at short notice” he will continue to be a member of the supervisory board.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Conti Executive Board to Assess Viability of Schaeffler Merger
  2. SPD May Support Schaeffler State Aid
  3. Continental AG Reports 2008 Record Net Loss
  4. Winschiers Named Managing Director, Continental Tire Canada
/by

Dr. Hippe’s Departure from Continental Announced

Continental AG has officially confirmed media reports surrounding the future of Dr. Alan Hippe. According to a press release issued following the company’s January 24 Supervisory Board meeting, Hippe, who is currently chairman of the Executive Board, CFO and head of Conti’s Rubber Group, will leave Continental AG as of February 28. Continental says the decision on Dr. Hippe’s departure is a mutually agreed one, and his successor will be appointed in the coming weeks.

Read more

Related news:

  1. Continental Acquire half of Phoenix
  2. Continental Plans Repayment of a Bond Loan
  3. Hamburg Court Approves ContiTech/Phoenix Merger
  4. Conti Names New Interim CFO
/by

We see you are visiting us from China.

If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.