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Apollo Tyres to Supply 50% Nissan Truck South Africa OE Needs

Apollo Tyres South Africa recently won the contract to supply half of Nissan Diesel’s truck tyre requirements. Nissan Diesel SA (Pty) Ltd, based in Rosslyn Pretoria, have reportedly chosen Apollo Tyres South Africa (formerly known as Dunlop International) to supply the Dunlop brand steel radial truck tyres, in an “open-ended contract.”

The deal with Nissan Diesel is the single largest original equipment deal secured with a vehicle manufacturer since the reinstatement of Apollo Tyres South Africa’s Original Equipment department early last year. Dr Luis Ceneviz, Apollo Tyres South Africa’s CEO said: “We are proud to be collaborating with Nissan Diesel as both companies share a common goal of exceeding customer expectation and growing its share of business. We look forward to many more such partnerships into the future.”

23rd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Responds to Consumer Demand with New Sizes

Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced that, in response to consumer demand, it has added new sizes to a number of its tyre line-ups. These new sizes, the company states, form part of its effort to ensure replacement tyre buyers have the ability to make the right tyre purchase for their vehicle. The expanded Cooper tyre ranges include the following additions:

23rd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Romanian Hospital to Benefit from Pirelli Sponsored Training

Pirelli Tyre has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Romania’s Health Ministry, pledging to finance a training programme for staff at a hospital in Slatina, where the Italian company’s Romanian factory is located. Medical staff from the County Emergency Hospital’s Emergency Reception Unit will receive training at Milan’s Niguardia hospital, continuing a cooperation between the two units that began around a year and a half ago.

The document was signed in Slatina by Pirelli Tyre’s Romania director Enrico Malerba and Romanian health minister Ioan Bazac on July 23. Italy’s ambassador to Romania, Mario Cospito, also attended the signing ceremony.

23rd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Chairman Speaks on ‘Signs of Revival’

While addressing shareholders at the Apollo Tyres Annual General Meeting, company chairman Onkar S Kanwar expounded upon what Apollo has gained and learned in the past year. His topic, titled ‘Navigating a Slowdown’, centred upon the company’s business model, which according to Kanwar has enabled Apollo to remain afloat during the recent slowdown.

This business model, Kanwar explained, covers Apollo’s three main principles: domestic markets, cost and quality initiatives. Sticking to this tried and tested business model has paid dividends during the past twelve months, he added. “Last year’s crisis has allowed your company the opportunity to break structures and behaviours that sap productivity and effectiveness out of organisations. It has allowed your company to realign itself to a new reality.

23rd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CRI: Chinese Tyre Exports ‘Not Very Promising in 2009’

In April 2009 tyre yields in China increased 13.7 per cent, compared with the same period of last year, to 58.15 million units. According to new data released today by China Research and Intelligence (CRI), between January and April 2009 the tyre yields totalled 185.6 million units in China, up 0.2 per cent year-on-year. In light of the major difficulties facing automotive suppliers in general and tyre manufacturers the past year, flat growth is really quite positive. However according to CRI, “exports are not very promising” by comparison.

Between January and April 2009 China exported 81.31 million tyres, valued at US$2.01 billion (down 23.3 per cent and 21 per cent respectively compared with the same period in 2008). Exports in April amounted to 23.16 million tyres, down by 19.2 per cent and valued at $580 million (down 16.1 per cent).

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Brityrex 2010 Embarks on ‘Major International Marketing Drive’

A major marketing campaign is underway to promote the next staging of Brityrex International, which will take place at Manchester Central 5 -7 October 2010. Show organisers ECI International report that early July saw the distribution of 10,000 information packs for the UK’s only dedicated tyre, accessory and workshop equipment trade exhibition. This activity will be supplemented by extensive UK and international tyre trade advertising, marketing, information and online campaigns over the next 12 months.

In addition to covering all sectors of the tyre industry, Brityrex 2010 will also place increased emphasis on workshop equipment, tools and services. Research suggests that tyre retailers and distributors have delayed or postponed making capital purchases during the recession, which is expected to create increased demand for new equipment as market conditions improve later next year.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius Responds to DEFRA Report

The UK has the worst road pollution in Europe, according to a recent government report, with 95 per cent of cities exceeding the European Union limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This figure is almost double that of the next worst polluter, Germany, where 52 per cent of cities exceed the limit, followed by Italy with 42 per cent, France (21 per cent) and Spain (14 per cent). While the report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warns that the UK will face large fines for breaching the EU limit unless radical measures, such as national road pricing and subsidies for electric cars, are taken, exhaust system manufacturer Klarius firmly believes that the best solution would be to ensure the quality of exhausts and catalytic convertors fitted to the UK’s cars.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CITExpo 2009: Tiremart Hoping Visit will Bring “Good Luck”

Tiremart (Qingdao) set up in the year of 2000 in the CBD of Qingdao, China. Its specialises in exporting TBR, PCR, OTR, agricultural, motorcycle tyres, as well as tubes, flaps and rims to more than 50 countries in the world, with its main markets in the Middle East, India, South Asia, Africa and South America. It reports that its annual turnover reaches over $30 million.

The company sells factory brands in addition to its own brand, Maxim. Currently, the Maxim brand includes an OTR series, rims, and TBR 1000R20 with an Indian market pattern. Tiremart says that it plans to develop and promote the brand further in the near future. It also states that the OEM tyre business makes up 40 per cent in our sales volume.

As for its presence at CITExpo, the company states, “We would like to meet old and more new customers. We hope CITExpo this year will bring us good luck and will help us to make another big success in near future.”

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Autopromotec 2009: Cooper Chengshan a “Major” Chinese Brand

Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company Limited is a joint venture between Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, ranked – according to Cooper Chengshan information – eighth in the world tyre industry (Cooper comes tenth in Tyres & Accessories’ industry rankings – see pages 54-5) and Shandong Chengshan Group, ranked the thrid biggest tyre manufacturer in China.

As a major player in the Chinese tyre market Shandong Chengshan is an important component of Cooper’s strategy for South East Asia. The company holds a leading position in the region for technical research and development and has established a professionally comprehensive marketing approach which, has led to recognition as the producer of principal customer satisfied tyre brands in China. Among the brands produced are Fortune radial passenger and truck tyres; Austone radial passenger and truck tyres plus, a range of bias-ply tyres; Chengshan radial and bias-ply passenger, light truck and truck tyres plus, a range of bias-ply tyres; Starfire high performance passenger tyres; Dean radial truck and bus tyres.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Website Wins ‘Best in Class’ Award

Toyotires.com, the website representing Toyo Tire USA Corp., recently won “Best in Class” in the Consumer Goods category of the 2009 Interactive Media Awards. Designed and developed by Garrigan Lyman Group of Seattle, Washington, toyotires.com was created for the US market and provides a full insight into the Toyo Tires brand, according to the company. The Interactive Media Awards are judged and presented annually by the Interactive Media Council, Inc., a non-profit organization consisting of lead web designers, programmers, advertisers and web-related professionals.

Toyo said clean visuals, easy navigation and ready access to continually updated product data are some of the elements designed into the new toyotires.com. The site is designed to inform consumers better about the full line of Toyo Tires’ products, including tyre applications for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. The site also serves as a resource tool for authorized Toyo Tires dealers.

“We are proud that toyotires.com has been acknowledged by the interactive community,” said Julie Sediq, director of marketing communications. “Garrigan Lyman Group did a fantastic job of creating a website that conveys our position as a premium brand and delivers a positive user experience.” (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Autopromotec 2009: New Parker TyreSaver 3.0

“The air we breathe consists largely of nitrogen, oxygen and water. The oxygen and water contained in compressed air has a negative impact on tyres and will influence handling, fuel efficiency, tyre life and rim condition, the environment and your own safety. The solution is to inflate tyres with a high concentration of nitrogen. Tyres filled with nitrogen last longer, are safer and more eco-friendly. In the future, every driver will have nitrogen inflated tyres,” claimed product manager at Parker Filtration and Separation B.V., Robin Biemans.

A new design and engineering project has seen the company produce a new nitrogen tyre inflation tool. It can be used to inflate car, motorcycle, trailer and van tyres. The TyreSaver 3.0, describes Parker, is a robust, lightweight, mobile, nitrogen tyre inflator for the automotive industry, with low investment costs, making the company certain that it has a high sales and profit margin potential. “This workshop tool can be connected to a compressor and automatically generates nitrogen from compressed air; a simple concept that is, above all, inexpensive. This means that the investment will pay for itself in no time at all. The TyreSaver 3.0 is fitted with an exchangeable membrane cartridge that will operate for thousands of tyre inflations. The patent is currently pending,” continued Robin Biemans.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone North America Adds Two to Blizzak Line

This season, two new tyres are being added to the Bridgestone Blizzak line: the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 and LM-60, each suited for vehicles ranging from light trucks and SUVs to sports cars and sedans. The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 will be available in 46 R-speed-rated sizes ranging from 15 inches to 22 inches and 75-45 series. Replacing the DM-Z3, the DM-V1 is designed to disperse surface water and improve grip. A directional tread pattern and 3-D sipes enhance dry performance and continuous lug design and center tread grooves increase traction in the snow and ice, according to Bridgestone.

Designed in response to unique road conditions in the US and Canada, the Blizzak LM-60 incorporates continuous lugs and zigzag sipes to improve snow and ice traction. Circumferential grooves channel water out of the tyre’s footprint area to resist hydroplaning and a directional tread pattern and 3-D sipes enhance dry performance of the LM-60, Bridgestone said. Available in 34 H-speed rated sizes from 17 inches to 20 inches in the 60-35 series, the LM-60 consolidates existing Blizzak tyres into one H-rated tire line. This consolidation includes the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-18, LM-22, and the LM-25. (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Previews MotoGP’s UK Round 10

Donnington Park will host the tenth round of the MotoGP championship this weekend, with Bridgestone supplying riders with Soft and Medium slick compounds for front and rear. The manufacturer believes that last year’s predictably unpredictable weather will carry over to this year’s race, having a major impact on its outcome, even though the British round is held one month later this year as a result of a change-around in the MotoGP calendar.

Due to the cooler British climes and the smooth and flowing nature of the Donington Park circuit, Bridgestone has selected the softest tyre compound options for this weekend: the soft and the medium compound slicks. The soft compound wets will also be available, as used in Le Mans and Mugello. Donington is a medium-slow circuit with a low-grip surface that traditionally has been a tricky one for Bridgestone, despite the result of the wet but slowly drying 2007 race, when Casey Stoner and the Ducati Team brought Bridgestone’s first victory at Donington, and Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen finished third.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear and Haweka Promote Benefits of Tractor Wheel Alignment

The importance of correct wheel alignment is already widely conveyed in the truck and passenger car segments. In these parts of the market customers have been hearing about how correct alignment improves road comfort, fuel consumption and prevents premature wear for years. But what about the off-road and agricultural segments? Is it worth aligning vehicles that are literally designed to face the axle jolting lumps and bumps other drivers try to avoid? Goodyear and Haweka certainly think so.

In June Goodyear and Haweka teamed up to promote an agricultural wheel alignment programme that will see the two-companies promote the benefits of wheel alignment to customers, dealers and vehicle sales offices. Goodyear is communicating the tyre alignment message because, according to the company, tough economic times mean improving fuel consumption and preventing the costs that come with premature tyre wear are more important than ever. A similar partnership between the German branches of the two companies has been in operation for some time.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Carlisle Tire and Wheel Plant to Close

Carlisle Tire & Wheel (CTW) plant has announced that it will close its Carlisle, Pennsylvania plant during the next 12 to 15 months. The closure affects about 340 employees and will be phased in local newspapers quoted Fred Sutter, group president of CTW as saying. The announcement follows parent company Carlisle Companies Inc’s decision to consolidate its Carlisle plant with the former Bowdon, Georgia manufacturing plant and portions of its Chinese operations into a newly acquired 568,000 square-foot facility in Jackson, Tennessee. The new Jackson operation is described as “bringing 440 jobs to the area.” CTW will reportedly continue to operate its 260,000-square-foot distribution facility in the two, which employs about 67 people.

Carlisle Tire and Wheel has employed between 600 and 800 people in recent years, although layoffs are said to have reduced that number over the past year. About 20 per cent of plant workers are salaried while 80 per cent are hourly. Last year turnover totalled about $290 million, according to the company’s web site.

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors