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Quebec Tyre Law Creating Storage Headaches

The introduction of a law compelling motorists in Canada’s Quebec province to fit winter tyres has not been a smooth ride. First tyre retailers across the nation reported a shortage of the seasonal product as ‘Quebecers’ scrambled to tog their vehicles out in the right rubber for the weather, then regional media sources began reporting sporadic winter tyre thefts, some thought to be the work of ‘organised’ crime cartels. Now it appears that those who see the lighter side of Canada – the creators of the ‘South Park’ television series are two shining examples – have been handed additional ammunition to use against the North American nation: Many in Quebec have discovered they haven’t a convenient nook and nary a spare cranny in which to store their off-season set of tyres.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Outlines Cost of Italy Restructuring Plans

Michelin has disclosed that the cost attached to the restructuring plans for its Italian operations, which it announced on October 28, will amount to approximately 80 million euros. The company states this sum includes project severance and plant and equipment depreciation costs as well as those in connection with the ending of tyre production at its Stura facility at the end of 2009 and an employment revitalisation programme for the surrounding Turin region.

These non-recurring charges, adds Michelin, will be fully allocated to Michelin Group accounts for the 2008 fiscal year.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Butadiene Technology Ready for Commercial Development

A new technology for manufacturing butadiene from butenes has been developed and tested by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). Production in a pilot plant at the company’s Mizushima facility in Japan has already begun, and MCC states it is proceeding with plans to industrialise the new production technology within the coming year.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cabot Corporation ‘Repositioning’ in Light of Weaker Demand

Cabot Corporation reports it is expecting a significantly lower volume of sales in the first quarter of the 2009 financial year, and has decided to embark on a series of “aggressive actions” to address these ongoing market challenges.

“Global weakness in the tyre, automotive and construction industries, intensified by customer inventory reduction, is causing significant volume declines during the first quarter of fiscal 2009 in each of our major geographies,” said Cabot president and CEO Patrick Prevost. “First quarter volumes in our Rubber Blacks, Performance Products and Fumed Metal Oxides Businesses are expected to be 20-30 per cent lower than in the same period last year.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Strong Retreading Potential in Chinese Tyre Market

Enormous domestic tyre production capacity, a scarcity of domestic rubber supply and increased output prices could be pointing to strong opportunities in China’s tyre retreading business. Zhou Linyan, president of China Tyre Retreading, Repairing and Recycling Association (CTRA), recently told reporters that China produced 556 million tyres in 2007. And while many of these are destined for export markets, Chinese motorists are expected to discard 200 million end-of-life tyres in 2010.

Other CTRA statistics show that the number of end-of-life (ELT) tyres generated by the People’s Republic have sky-rocketed in recent years – from 32 million in 2000 to 150 million in 2007. Meanwhile, the raw weight of ELTs increased from 12 thousand tons to 3.1 million tons in the same period. While the association predicts China will generate 200 million waste tyres by 2010, the amount of retreading taking place has not yet caught up with the growth in new tyre production and the new tyre to retread rate lies somewhere between 4 and 7 per cent of recovered tyres.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Lover, Allegedly Driven by Desire, Steals Wheels

A North Platte, Nebraska man stands accused of committing an unusual, though perhaps understandable, crime of passion; stealing not the heart of a married woman, but the tyres and rims with which he supposedly “fell so much in love.”

Local news source the North Platte Bulletin describes the courtship of a set of four Hankook tyres mounted on Pacer rims (be still, thine heavy-beating heart, dear reader) by area man, Anthony L Bennett. Witnesses at the TO Haas Tires dealership told investigators looking into the theft that Bennett had been to the store several times to view the wheels. It was clear, they say, that he was something of an admirer.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Increases Centres of Excellence to 400

Maxxis has reported that the popularity of its “Centres of Excellence” programme continues to grow. According to the manufacturer, 400 retailers of car and motorcycle tyres are now promoting Maxxis “as the affordable alternative to the premium brands,” helping to increase the size of its UK PCR market share. Derek McMartin, the managing director of Maxxis International UK, states, “We know the extent to which buying decisions can be influenced by over the counter advice provided at the point of sale and have made a serious commitment to build trade relationships, especially within the independent sector.

“Through a variety of marketing communications activity, including top level sponsorship of Premiership football, the European Drift Championship, British Superbikes, the Isle of Man TT Races and motocross, we are getting across the message that Maxxis tyres represent reliability and good value. This is reinforced by our growing network of professionally branded Maxxis Centres of Excellence, which also boosts our profile among the tyre-buying public,” he continues.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Finichi Release New Monza Wheel

The latest wheel from the respected Finichi stable is the attractive and durable Monza. The latest wheel features a stainless steel lip to give the wheel the visual ‘kick’ of a polished lip, but without the maintenance problems that those styles can bring.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Haweka Opens Gloucestershire Educational Unit

Haweka (UK) Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent manufacturers of wheel alignment and balancing solutions, announced on 10 November the opening of a specialist Wheel Alignment Training Centre in Gloucestershire, UK. The brand new facilities contain a state-of-the-art commercial vehicle MOT bay, lecture room and communal area. Haweka believes that the educational facility will help garage workers to speed up significantly the process of alignment and balancing. It is designed to provide a platform for the company to train UK commercial workshop technicians on the next generation of Haweka’s wheel alignment systems, the TA-20.

Located at Richard Read Transport’s Longhope depot, the new training centre gives Haweka the resources to keep offering tailor-made courses to customers nationwide. The lecture room contains the modern facilities needed to communicate the theoretical side of wheel alignment and how to provide optimal logistical angles, reducing tyre wear and fuel consumption to customers. The communal area is spacious and comfortable allowing course attendees to discuss the theory between themselves and relax during breaks. It overlooks one of two workshops where the practical training sessions will take place.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

‘Take a Longer Holiday’, says Michelin Canada

Around 3,500 workers at Michelin Canada’s factories in Nova Scotia have been asked to take extra holiday time to hep the company reduce production output. According to spokeswoman Lynn Mann, Michelin has already prolonged its normal holiday shutdown period by four days and has reassigned workers on some shifts to perform maintenance tasks. She added, however, that the changes being implemented in Nova Scotia have nothing to do with the problems facing the ‘Big Three’ vehicle manufacturers in the US – according to Mann, sales to General Motors, Ford and Chrysler account for less than five per cent of sales.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hans-Rudolf Hein Leaving BMW to join Bridgestone

According to his own words, Hans-Rudolf Hein – in charge of tyre and wheel development at BMW – will after 32 years turn his back on the automobile industry to join Bridgestone Europe at the start of next year. While he cites private reasons for the change, he also states that he’s always wanted to know what it’s like to work for a tyre manufacturer. Among other things, Hein will in his new position be responsible for representing Bridgestone’s point of view in various committees and organisations.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Gould Wins Pirelli Star Driver Award

Following two days of hard-fought competition in Cumbria, 21-year old Bristol driver Adam Gould has become the recipient of the Pirelli Star Driver Award. This honour was gained through winning the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout competition, held on December 11 and 12. In order to win, Gould participated in a range of tests that extended beyond his driving prowess; the judging panel also examined the contenders’ fitness, interview presentation skills and knowledge of the sport. Gould finished the weekend ahead of seven other hopefuls, and in addition to the kudos attached to the distinction of winning, Gould’s prize covers a full funding in the 2009 British Rally Championship.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Gets Two M-B Fitments

Continental AG has earned two fitments on 2009 Mercedes-Benz models. The new 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan will carry Continental ContiProContact radials in the U.S. market. The tyres will be fitted in size 255/45R18 99H or 255/40R19 100V XL all around, or in staggered combinations 255/45R18 99H (front) and 275/45R18 103H (rear) or 255/40R19 100V XL (front) and 275/40R19 101V (rear). The Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will feature Continental CrossContact UHP in size 295/35R21 107Y XL. (Tire Review/Akron)

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Suzuki Withdraws WRC Team

Japanese manufacturer Suzuki has announced that it will not take part in next year’s World Rally Championship including its Junior counterpart, having competed in each of the last seven series. The company says that business concerns “caused by recent global economic turmoil” have caused it to review its financial commitment to the tournament.

A company statement said that “the organisation reviews every aspect of the operations and decided to focus on the core business functions such as the manufacturing system, environment technologies, and development of new-generation powertrains for cars. As a result, Suzuki concluded to suspend the WRC activities from 2009.” The team’s sponsors, which include Italian tyre giant Pirelli among their number, have agreed to end their current deals with the team.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Is Schaeffler Walking Out on Continental Investment Agreement?

Schaeffler Group has signalled that it is willing to consider abandoning the investment restrictions it agreed earlier this year to pacify its hostile takeover of Continental – much to the annoyance of Conti executives. Schaeffler sources told Financial Times that the investment agreement had become obsolete “as it was constructed at a time when the world was very different.” The agreement limits the ball-bearing maker to a 49.99 per cent stockholding in Continental and upholds the tyre and automotive supplier’s independence as a legally separate entity.

Schaeffler initially said it was only interested in holding a minority stake in Conti, however, as it stands the company holds the rights to more than 90 per cent of the shares. In addition, on 14 December Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’s Sunday edition printed an interview with Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and company chief executive officer Juergen Geissinger, in which the executives revealed they are seeking four seats on Continental’s supervisory board. According to Reuters, Schaeffler would like the four seats it is seeking to be occupied by company CEO Juergen Geissinger, CFO Thomas Hetmann, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and her son Georg.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors