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Michelin Lunar Wheel Shown Off During Obama Inauguration Parade

Barack Obama may have travelled on Goodyear truck tyres to his January 20 inauguration, but competitor Michelin was by no means left out in the cold during the day’s festivities. The manufacturer reports that NASA astronauts piloted their latest generation moon vehicle, the Small Pressurized Lunar Rover, in the Washington D.C. inaugural parade. The lunar rover rode from the US Capitol to the White House upon a specially engineered Michelin Tweel assembly.

“Michelin and NASA have a long history of successful collaboration. For more than 20 years, Michelin has supplied tyres for the space shuttle. Over the past three years, we have also worked with NASA to develop a revolutionary tire/wheel assembly for the next generation of lunar rovers,” said David Stafford, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Research Company. “We are pleased that NASA, one of the world’s most demanding customers, has selected Michelin to accompany them as millions see this amazing vehicle showcased for the first time.”

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New MD, GM at Apollo’s Zimbabwe Operation

Two new senior appointments have been made at the Apollo Tyres’ owned companies Dunlop Zimbabwe and National Tyre Services (NTS). In a statement, Dunlop Tyres Group chief executive officer, Dr. Luis Ceneviz, said Mr. Kennedy Mandevani, who is currently Dunlop Zimbabwe managing director, will assume the position of group managing director for National Tyre Services. Mandevani’s portfolio will cover both NTS and Dunlop, said Ceneviz.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Reports ‘No Urgent Need’ For Funding

The French government has offered to pump up to six billion euros into the nation’s battered automotive industry, but Michelin says it doesn’t require state assistance. Despite being hard hit by declining global vehicle sales, the tyre maker said on January 20 that its debt financing needs were for the time being covered.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

15 First Stop Branches Sport New Look

Bridgestone’s First Stop network has completed a refurbishment programme which sees 15 stores branded with new signage for 2009. The programme saw 15 of First Stop outlets fitted with new signage as part of the ongoing development to strengthen the brand and its network of quality tyre dealerships throughout the UK. The signage packages included complete First Stop branding for the exterior of the depots as well as the refurbishment of existing signage and exteriors.

As well as the installation of new signage, the past year has seen the opening of the UK’s first ‘model stores’, at Kingsway, Spalding and ETB, Stratford, and the refurbishment of a number of stores for the First Stop network.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Inaugurates China “Tire Campus”

On 16 January Pirelli inaugurated its new Pirelli Tire Campus in Yanzhou, Shandong. Pirelli China CEO, Giuseppe Cattaneo commented: “The inauguration of the Tire Campus has further marked the commitment of Pirelli to play a leading role in the tyre industry especially in the high end segment. Apart from the tyre industry, the auto industry including OE customers and Car Concessionaires will also benefit from Pirelli Tire Campus’s training program and better equipped with advanced tyre technology and professionalism.”

Together with its Tire Campus Training Centre at the Istituto Piero Pirelli in Milan, the new initiative is a reflection of the effort Pirelli Tires has put on the continuous training of its internal and external resources as a fundamental element for continuous product and technology innovation of Pirelli Tires.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Announces Further Redundancies, Layoffs

Nokian Car and Van has responded to reduced demand with a raft of job cuts and temporary layoffs. The company has eliminated a total of 232 jobs, of which 106 are to be covered by pension arrangements. In addition, a further 440 people will be temporarily furloughed in 110 batches over a nine-week cycle, plus 62 more are to be laid off until further notice.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear, Dunlop Tires Named ‘Best Buys’

In the US, the February 2009 issue of Consumers Digest showcases the best tyres on the market, as rated by the magazine’s editors, and a handful products from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. made the list. For the “All-Season Car Tires” category, Goodyear’s Assurance TripleTred is the premium selection. The Goodyear Fortera TripleTred is the premium choice in the “All-Season SUV/Truck Tires” category. On the Dunlop side, the SP Sport Signature was is the midrange selection in the “Performance Car Tires” category, while the Dunlop SP 60 is the economy choice in the “All-Season Car Tires” category.

The Consumers Digest comparison list shows top-rated tyres in premium, midrange and economy segments. According to the magazine, best buy is defined as a product that offers the most value for a given amount of money. “We are pleased that yet another independent source has recognized the tremendous value of our tyres,” said Joey Viselli, Goodyear brand director.

“Goodyear’s product development efforts have focused on an application of relevant technology – advancements that are technologically innovative, but which also offer discernible benefits to those who drive on our tyres.”

“This is another great recognition for Dunlop’s outstanding product line. We are pleased when independent sources and consumers recognize the performance of our tyres,” said Todd Hershberger, Dunlop brand director. “Dunlop’s prestige and passion are evident in the continued high level of our products, including the industry-leading original equipment fitments on some of the world’s best automobiles.” (Tire Review/Akron)

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

European New Car Market Continues Slump

JATO Dynamics, a provider of automotive data and intelligence, reported the European new car market fell by 7.8% (1,227,941 units) during 2008, recording a steady decline since May. Though the market maintained a strong growth at the start of 2008, in May the global economic crisis began to take its toll. The picture is yet more bleak when comparing figures over the second half (July to December) of 2008 to the same period in 2007, as the market recorded a 14.5% drop.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in December alone, the European new car market fell by 17.8 per cent (196,337 units), when compared to the same month in 2007. However, whilst this signals the market performing poorly, it is less of a reduction in sales than the previous month. Total new car sales throughout Europe during 2008 stand at 14,459,714. (Tire Review/Akron)

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Training For Life

Michelin Training Instructor Nigel Williams has returned from a visit to Zambia, during which he put his hand to reducing one of the country’s greatest causes of death. The 35-year old from Uttoxeter travelled to the African nation for a two-week assignment with the international development charity Transaid. Williams provided tyre related driver safety training for commercial vehicle driver instructors at the Industrial Training Centre Trust (ITCT) in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Moto Secures Dakar 1st and 2nd Overall with Scorpion Rally

Pirelli reports that its Dakar Rally debut as a supplier to the official KTM factory teams was nothing short of dominating, with the new Scorpion Rally tyre, fitted to bikes ridden by Marc Coma and Cyril Despres, capturing the 1st and 2nd positions on the podium. This Pirelli off-road rally tyre was developed together with KTM in preparation for this year’s Dakar. Out of a field of 235 riders, seven riders chose to receive support from Pirelli and out of these seven, three riders finished in the top seven positions overall. KTM Repsol rider Marc Coma, from Spain, and Red Bull KTM rider Cyril Despres, from France, were fiercely competitive in this 31st edition of the Dakar, which this year was staged in South America.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

European Release for New Firestone Touring Tyre

A new passenger car touring tyre has been added to the Firestone line-up. Targeted at what the manufacturer calls ‘family drivers’ – saloon and compact vehicle drivers who enjoy a peaceful and relaxing experience behind the wheel – the new TZ300α is designed to offer robust and reliable performance, along with safety, comfort and a quiet ride. The TZ300α range is initially available in 14 sizes for 14 to 16-inch rims and will progressively replace the TZ200, which was first introduced in 2002.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Forever Forest Tree Planting Carried Out in Thailand

Work on Yokohama Rubber’s “Yokohama Forever Forest” project, started in 2007, is ongoing, and last December the company staged a tree-planting ceremony at its Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. facility. This is the third location outside of Japan to receive the Forever Forest treatment, following the Philippines and China in August and November 2008 respectively.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Names Uwe Boltersdorf as Singapore Facility Manager

Specialty chemicals company Lanxess Butyl Pte. Ltd. has appointed Dr. Uwe Boltersdorf the site manager of its new butyl rubber plant in Singapore. Starting January 2009, Boltersdorf is responsible for project management of all third-party contracts, and supervision of all permits and internal guidelines. He will also oversee the hiring of new employees, implementation of business processes and setting up of the financial structure of the new site. Previously, Boltersdorf served as Board assistant to Dr. Axel Claus Heitmann, chairman of the Board of Management, Lanxess AG.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Heavy Tyres Negotiating Production Cutbacks

Nokian Heavy Tyres Ltd reports that on January 20 it commenced new statutory negotiations in order to adjust heavy tyre manufacturing and inventories in line with decreasing demand for the products. The negotiations include a plan to change the work pattern used in heavy tyre production and to reorganise operations. Such plans and production adjustments will lead to 50 staff being made permanently redundant, and another 230 being laid off until further notice, or for a certain period. A proportion of these lay-offs, permanent or otherwise, could be covered by pension arrangements or other voluntary solutions, Nokian adds.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

2008 Sees Reduced Profits for Hankook Tire

Hankook Tire’s figures for 2008 reveal global tyre sales of KRW 4.07 trillion (£2.04 billion) during the year. This is, in the Korean currency, an increase of 25.8 per cent over 2007 tyre sales. Certain regions displayed a significant growth rate in sales: Russia saw an increase of 98 per cent, followed by a 50 per cent increase in Central and South America. In terms of product sales, the company UHP sector sales for 2008 were 35 per cent up on the previous year, and up 48 per cent in Europe.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors