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Bridgestone Europe to Launch Ecopia Range in 2009

Starting in April, an extensive range of Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 Ecopia tyres will be gradually introduced into the European market. The tyres, which use the ‘Ecopia’ name to denote their fuel saving characteristics, were first used on electric-powered cars in 1991, and in 1998 the B381 Ecopia low rolling resistance tyre was fitted as OE to the ‘3-litre’ version of the Volkswagen Lupo – a car dubbed “the most environmentally friendly car in the world” by some due to its consumption of only three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Today, certain versions of the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia and Mercedes S-Class are being sold with Ecopia versions of existing patterns, and the Toyota IQ is fitted with an all-new Ecopia tyre.

14th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Expect More Alcoa Forged Passenger Wheel OE Deals in 2009

Aluminium giant Alcoa has been producing premium forged commercial vehicle wheels for a decade now. And despite some new manufacturers recently joining the forged wheel scene in the Far East, the company remains an undisputed market leader in its field. Now, following the news that Alcoa is to close its last remaining cast aluminium wheel factory (in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA), it is not surprising to learn that this part of the business is now focusing on transferring its forged wheel technology to the passenger car OE market.

In an interview conducted at the tail end of 2008 David Yates (marketing manager, Europe, Alcoa Wheel Products – Forged Speciality Wheels) and Brian Thomas (marketing communications, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products) explained that after a 24-month long passenger car OE “testing cycle” the first production car to fit its forged wheels was a Shelby tuned version of the Ford Mustang model in the states.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Reportedly Planning a 4th Factory in Brazil

An unsourced report published in Brazil’s O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper indicates that Michelin has plans to build a fourth factory in Rio de Janeiro State. The US$200 million plant, says the newspaper, will be built in Itataia, in the south of the state, where another Michelin facility is already in operation. The company also operates factories in Resende and Campo Grande.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis On the Look Out For Industrial Tyre Distributors

Following the launch of its new skid steer tyres last year, Maxxis International UK is reportedly keen to appoint additional distributors to help develop business opportunities in a number of heavy industry sectors. Both the M9000 MT Loader, which is designed for use on heavyweight forklift trucks, and the M8000 Tuff-Guard – developed for use in extra heavy duty applications such as excavation – are designed to deliver superior traction and long life thanks to “extra strong casings, stronger sidewalls and specially formulated rubber compounds.”

The Maxxis M9000 MT Loader features extra-thick sidewalls, which offer improved puncture resistance while the tread compound is designed to enhance durability, helping to prevent down time and increase productivity. There is also a special rim guard for better tyre and wheel protection. It is available in a range of sizes from 10-16.5 8 PR to 15-19.5 12 PR.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Launches New Barum Branded Industrial Range

Continental has announced that it is in the process of launching a new budget brand into the industrial tyre market, the Barum Industry. According to the manufacturer, the new solid tyre range promises end users great performance and resilience unrivalled by competitors in its class. The Industry line is described by company officials as “the perfect choice for companies running forklift trucks in less demanding applications combining a good quality tyre at an attractive price. The Barum Industry offers low rolling resistance, robust construction and long tyre life.”

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Truckers Back on the Road as Tyre Tax Cut

The eight-day truck driver’s strike in India has come to an end following the announcement of major governmental concessions. Following successful negotiations between the Indian government and representatives of the All-India Motors Transport Congress (AIMTC), it was agreed that the tax on tyres would be lifted along with a reduction in the price of diesel and the removal of a service tax.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

18 Times Around the World with Michelin XDE2

The circumference of the earth at the equator is a jot under 25,000 miles (or a tad over 40,000 kilometres, for those of you playing in metric), and even if it was possible to drive a vehicle around the world at its broadest point, the tyres would probably be a little less than pristine at the end. Not so for a Suffolk based Volvo FH12 Globetrotter XL 6×2 tractor unit fitted with a set of Michelin XDE2 drive axle tyres – while the vehicle admittedly hasn’t plied the roads of Africa, South America and Southeast Asia and driven through the world’s major oceans, the Michelin shod tractor unit has indeed travelled the equivalent of 18 times round the equator.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kordsa Global Introduces New Operating Model

The world’s largest nylon and polyester yarn and tyre cord fabric manufacturer, Kordsa Global, reports that on January 1 it implemented a new operating model in order to improve speed and flexibility in realising solutions for its global customers. This new model mainly focuses upon delivering superior operational responsiveness to changing market conditions and customer needs, via integrated processes such as global account management and supply chain.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Announces New ADVAN Launch in 2009

Yokohama has announced the launch of a new addition to its premium high performance ADVAN range for the UK in mid-2009. The ADVAN Neova AD08 will hit the UK shores mid-way through the year, bridging the gap the Japanese manufacturer sees in the range between the flagship ADVAN Sport road tyre and the track-day inspired ADVAN A048.

ADVAN is Yokohama’s flagship range and the Sport is presented as the brand’s everyday road car tyre. It is an OE fitment for models from Porsche, Bentley and Mercedes tuner, AMG. The A048 on the other hand, is a road-legal track day tyre, aimed squarely at those drivers wishing to take high performance cars on the track as well as the road. The A048 is OE on a number of cars built for this purpose, including the Lotus Exige, Aston Martin Vantage V8 N24 and the Ariel Atom.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indonesian Tyre Production to be Flat in 2009, Says Industry Expert

Indonesia’s passenger car tyre production may prove to be weaker than initially expected in 2009, warns a senior representative from the country’s tyre industry. According to Aziz Pane, chairman of the Indonesian Tyre Producers Association, production may remain unchanged from 2008’s output of 41 million units.

“Initially, we expected car tyre production to hit 45 million units, but after the financial crisis demand is slowing,” he said. Pane added, however, that a recovery is anticipated before the end of 2009. Approximately 80 per cent of Indonesia’s passenger car tyre production is exported, therefore global automotive industry fluctuations are strongly felt by manufacturers.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

2009 Bridgestone e-reporter Open for Entries

Now entering its sixth year, the Bridgestone e-reporter competition provides a seldom-encountered opportunity for aspiring young journalists to showcase their talent and launch a career in their chosen profession. The competition is, as in previous years, open to European students aged between 18 and 30 who are in full-time education. The overall winner of the 2009 competition, chosen for his or her journalistic skills and ability to represent the Bridgestone brand, will be awarded with a laptop, plus further work experience.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Appoints Tire Division R&D Application Management Provider

On January 13 it was announced that Continental AG has entered into an agreement with T-Systems (the enterprise customer division of Deutsche Telekom) and business process outsourcing provider Cognizant. The two companies will jointly provide application management services to the research and development operations of Continental’s tyre divisions in Hanover, Germany, beginning in 2009.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop to Partner SEAT for Revamped UK Challenge

SEAT has announced the relaunch for 2009 of the company’s SEAT Leon Supercopa Challenge. The contest will race at Britain’s top circuits and the new championship organizers, Racempower, have chosen Dunlop as the exclusive tyre partner for the one-make series.

This partnership continues the technical collaboration that began in 2007 between the SEAT UK supported championship and Dunlop.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

JMS Releases 2009 Rim Catalogue

In time for the new season, JMS has released its new 2009 alloy rim catalogue. Featuring 80 pages and more than 300 rim designs, the new JMS catalogue is one of the largest on the market, and includes the following brands: ASA, Barracuda, break, Carmani, Corniche, DBV, DZ, Etabgeta, Frankenräder, FSW, Keskin, Kerscher, MAM, Oxigin, OZ, pro LINE, RC, Schmidt, Smoor, Tomason and US-Alloy. All wheels are either available as vehicle type or TÜV approved. Stud patterns are also listed along with each rim design, making matching a rim with a particular vehicle a fast process. More information can be found from the JMS website racelook.de or by e-mail at info@racelook.de

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Topy Lays Off 45 at US Steel Wheel Factory

Kentucky, US based newspaper The State Journal reports that Topy America has laid of 45 hourly employees from its Franklin County steel wheel production facility. These redundancies represent approximately 16 per cent of the subsidiary’s Kentucky factory workforce. The company’s other US operations have not been affected.

According to plant director Tom Trzazkus, the layoffs were necessary “due to the current economic conditions and the slowing of sales within the automotive industry.” In addition to the redundancies, a raft of other changes were made “to ensure the continuation of this business in the short term,” a press release sent to the newspaper by Trzazkus said.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors