Product News Archives - Page 129 of 260 - Tyrepress

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Trials Show Michelin X One Maxitrailer Kinder on Rural Roads

Trials held over the last year are working towards developing a tyre system that can lesson the impact of timber trailers on rural and forest roads, thus reducing the need for road maintenance. To help reach this objective, timber haulier James Jones & Sons Ltd has been working with Michelin in Scotland, operating specially adapted Dennison and SDC trailers equipped with Tireboss central tyre inflation systems and Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres. The use of this combination equipment, reports Michelin, increases the tyres’ footprint, and in doing so reduces soil erosion and damage to roads and forestry land.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Tire USA Unveils First DOT Approved Drag Radial

Toyo Tire USA has introduced its first Department of Transport approved drag radial. Known as the Proxes TQ, the new tyre is specifically designed for high-horsepower muscle cars and street machines. The tyre was unveiled before a crowd of racing enthusiasts at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire Announces Tentative Agreement for Texarkana Factory

Cooper Tire’s four factories are still awaiting the company’s decision regarding its review of US operations, and each is naturally eager to place itself in the best position in terms of its long-term viability. Hot on the heels of the ratification of an agreement between Cooper and the USW regarding the Findlay, Ohio facility comes one for the factory in Texarkana, Arkansas. Cooper Tire announced on December 11 that it had reached a new tentative agreement with the USW Local 752L, which represents workers at the facility. Union members will cast their votes on the agreement on December 13. The USW chapter is currently working under an agreement that would not have expired until 2010.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Turkey Halting Production for 10 Days, Says Union Leader

Production at two factories operated by Goodyear in Turkey will be halted for ten days in December and January, says the president of the country’s petroleum, chemical and tyre union. The factories in Adapazari and Kocaeli will be closed between December 12 and 17 and then from January 2 – 7 due to reduced demand. Union president Abdullah Karacan added that production at the factories had decreased between 30 per cent and 60 per cent.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nexen Unveils 15 Series Tyre

Nexen Tire has released details of its new 15 series UHP N3000 tyre following the company’s development of Nano technology and 20 series tyres in previous years. The company believes that its new technology will provide an ideal tyre option for current sports cars. The tyre equals the record for the lowest profile tyre on the market, a feat set by Kumho with its Ecsta SPT.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Motorcycle registrations decline 16% in November

A recurring theme towards the end of 2008 has been that of difficult times. Barely a day passes in the automotive industry where news of a factory pausing production or ceasing operations altogether is not reported, and sales of new cars in the UK took a hammering in November. For this month the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders recorded 100,333 sales, a staggering drop of 36.8 per cent compared with November 2007. And while comparing favourably to this sobering statistic, November registration figures for two wheeled vehicles show this sector of the market is also not immune to the economic downturn.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Formula One Releases Cost-Cutting Details

Today’s meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council in Monaco has resulted in the agreement of several new measures, though Max Mosley’s controversial standardised engine policy did not make the final cut. 2009 will see lower cost engines, lasting twice as long, while in 2010 there will be a ban on refuelling and Grand Prix could be made shorter, “subject to market research”. Overall, the FIA believes that the new measures should save teams around 30 per cent of their 2008 budgets.

In terms of tyres, race weekends will now see the teams sharing information, “eliminating the need for ‘spotters’,” says the FIA press release. There will also be the ban on tyre warmers – a measure that was already in place before the meeting – and the mechanical purging of tyres. From 2010, there will also be a ban on “tyre force rigs (other than vertical force rigs).”

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Pausing Production at Fayetteville Plant

Goodyear will stop production at its Fayetteville, US factory between December 24 and January 2, reports the Fayetteville Observer. According to the newspaper, the week and a half pause was officially announced on 5th December, although it hardly came as a surprise. We’ve known it was coming,” the paper quotes Daryl Jackson, president of United Steelworkers Local 959, as saying.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

GAU Endorses Dickies Workwear

Group Auto Union (GAU), has adopted Dickies as its principal workwear and corporate wear supplier. The GAU membership can now stock a wide range of workwear and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for the workshop including coveralls and safety footwear, along with a selection of high visibility garments designed specifically for the vehicle rescue and recovery industry. Workwear manufacturers since 1922, Dickies products combine traditional materials and manufacturing techniques with the latest developments in fabric technology has resulted in a workwear range that will meet the demands of the automotive industry.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

GEA Assesses Lift Engineers

The Garage Equipment Association (GEA) is aiming to raise standards in its industry by assessing vehicle lift installation and service engineers. The computer-based knowledge assessment is conducted at the GEA offices in Daventry and comprises of questions relating to the UK’s Lifting Standards and Regulations. Engineers achieve accreditation when they answer 70 per cent or more of the ‘closed book’ test questions correctly.

Gary Shepherd, president of the GEA, commented: “Knowledge of Health and Safety, British Standards and the Lifting Equipment Regulations together with product training from the lift manufacturer leads to the competence required to work as a professional vehicle lift engineer”. It’s our intention to raise the standards within our industry. Vehicle lifts must be installed and maintained correctly by a competent person and this assessment is the first step in measuring an engineer’s competence”.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Expands Environmental Efforts

Continental Tire North America launched a new environmental program tied to reduction in tyre rolling resistance and reduced production emissions. The program – Continental Tire Responsibility – extends the company’s efforts at improving tyre-related fuel efficiency and cuts its use of resources while cutting CO2 emissions. According to Andreas Gerstenberger, CTNA executive vice president of sales and marketing, by 2012, the company is committed to reducing energy consumption by 18 per cent from 2007 levels; water usage by 17 per cent; waste by 16.3 per cent and CO2 emissions by 15.5 per cent.

“We are continually aligning the production, quality and performance of our products with environmental soundness, and we strive to conduct all of our activities in an environmentally conscious manner,” he said. “Going forward, each and every employee is obligated to protect the environment, and we will continue to avoid harmful emissions and waste. Continental is not just focused on a green message but a responsibility message which encompasses community, environment and fuel efficiency.” (Tire Review/Akron)

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan International Announces Q4 Cash Dividend

The Board of Directors of Titan International has approved a quarterly cash dividend of US$.005 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2008. The cash dividend is payable January 15, 2009, to stockholders of record on December 31, 2008

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Government Regulates Retreading

In 2008 the Chinese government launched a series of new industrial tyre retreading standards in a bid ot improve the sector’s reputation. The government hopes that the new regulations will open the floodgates for enterprises to make the most of the retreading opportunities available to them. China introduced two national mandatory standards Truck Retread (GB9037 – 2007) and Passenger Car Retread (GB14646 – 2007) on 1 April 2008. Two more state standards of Reclaimed Rubber (GB/T13460 – 2008) and Sulfurated Rubber Powder (GB/T19208 – 2008) were implemented on 1 October 2008.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin OE for Honda City in India

Michelin India has announced an agreement to supply its silica based compound tyre Energy XM1 tyre as OE to the new Honda City in the Indian market.

“This initiative is part of our long term strategy for India and has also strengthened our relationship with Honda and we hope to continue with this relationship” said Mr. Jean Paul Caylar, the CEO of Michelin in India.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Trains Tyre Techs For Work at Roadside

More than 100 roadside tyre technicians have been trained in safety best practice associated with working on busy roads, thanks to courses run by Bridgestone Tyres.

The course, set to the National Highways Sector Scheme 17, was introduced as part of the National Roadside Recovery Scheme (NRRS) to help regulate and improve the qualifications of roadside technicians, in response to growing concern over the qualifications of those contracted to carry out work on the roadside. Bridgestone responded to the introduction of the scheme, by working alongside the Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR), improving its training programme to ensure it covers all the areas outlined in the NRRS. This includes VR1 health and safety, VR2 customer service and VR3 assessing the roadside situation.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors