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Faulty Tyre Stem Valve Warning Issued in US

International News, Product News

A US importer warned consumers on December 9 that they should check the stem valves on their vehicle’s tyres, after it became apparent that 1.8 million Chinese made tyre stem valves sold in the country may prematurely weather and crack, resulting in a loss of tyre pressure. According to North Carolina based Dill Air Controls Products, the problem is with two batches of valves totalling about 198,000 units, but because the valve stems are not traceable by lot number after installation, the recall involves all valves sold between November 2006 and July 2007.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sebastien Loeb wins a dramatic rally Great Britain

The very first World Rally Championship of the Pirelli era drew to a close in Wales on December 7, with the recently-crowned five-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb breaking his own record by claiming his 11th win in one season. Citroen-Pirelli has now taken the 2008 World Championship for Manufacturers, thanks also to a strong third place for Loeb’s teammate Dani Sordo.

Ice and frost was once again the order of the day for the final day of the Wales Rally Great Britain, which marked the end of the first World Championship held under the single tyre rule with Pirelli as the exclusive supplier. Despite the wintry conditions, Pirelli reports that its soft-compound Scorpion tyres worked well in the tricky weather, contributing to a dramatic finish. The factory Ford Focus-Pirelli of Jari-Matti Latvala led from the opening day, but Loeb overcame the deficit on the final stage to win the rally by only 12.7 seconds and give Citroen its third manufacturers’ title.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Offers US Splash-Reducing XZA3

The newest Michelin XZA3 features the Michelin’s Antisplash deflectors on both sidewalls. First offered in 2006, Michelin’s Antisplash feature lowers the trajectory of water spray off of the tyres, reducing the amount of water hitting the windshields of nearby cars or other trucks.

“Customers have come to love the XZA3 tire for its performance on the highway,” said Marc Laferriere, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “Now, with Antisplash technology, we have significantly increased visibility for both truckers and those motorists driving by trucks in wet conditions, especially during a rainstorm.” The new XZA3 Antisplash, available in size 275/80R22.5 LRH, carries Michelin’s seven year, 70,000-mile, three-retread warranty. (Tire Review/Akron)

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Raises Prices in Mexico

Continental Tire North America said it will raise truck tyre prices in Mexico at the start of the new year.Its unit there, Continental Tire de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., will raise medium truck tyre prices by up to 8 per cent beginning 1 January, 2009. (Tire Review/Akron)

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Using Russian Capacity in Difficult Market Conditions

Nokian’s decision to reduce its Finland-based tyre production output from 6 million to 4.5 million tyres will be coupled with increased Russian capacity, financial analysts have reported. According to a recent Deutsche Bank report, “[Although] current demand is smaller than Nokian’s capacity…Nokian is reacting quickly by reducing capacity in order to maintain a high proportion of high priced products.”

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Names BMTR as Top Dealership

Birmingham Motor Tyres (BMTR) has been named as the overall winner of Bridgestone’s First Stop Business Development Programme, which recognises outstanding achievement by First Stop dealerships across the UK.

The dealership, which has two retail outlets in the Midlands, was judged on a number of criteria including performance in tyre safety checks, the appearance of staff, workshop and reception areas, alongside staff expertise and training. The dealership scored particularly highly on customer service and was announced as the overall ‘Centre of Excellence’ title winner, receiving a complete refurbishment of the Coleshill site’s reception area and gift vouchers for the employees.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Les Schwab Moves to New Head Office, Announces Appointments

The US based tyre chain Les Schwab Tire Centers announced on December 8 that its new company headquarters office located in Bend, Oregon, opened for business on Monday, November 17, 2008. Over 100 employees relocated to a 123,000 square-foot office building in the north end of Bend. The remaining 220 corporate employees move to the building on December 15, 2008.

“The new headquarters office is part of a transition beginning in 2007 to ensure the people, facilities and programs are in place to support our tyre centres and their ability to continue providing world-class customer service,” said Dick Borgman, CEO of Les Schwab Tire Centers. “With our new headquarters we will continue to attract and retain the talented employees needed to support our retail network of 420 stores and to accommodate future growth.”

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Beat the Crunch with MAM

Dynamic companies that exploit I.T. can survive the downturn and emerge stronger according to aftermarket software specialist MAM Software. Managing Director Mike Jamieson says that by using ERP systems to their full potential, companies can improve efficiency, lower costs and even increase sales.

“The latest business management systems offer a wealth of functionality that can help your business survive the current economic downturn and actually emerge stronger” said Mr Jamieson. “They provide a comprehensive set of integrated business functions that can help you improve day-to-day productivity, improve customer service levels, and make informed business-related decisions that will help fuel growth.”

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

JK and Ceat Join Apollo in Indian Price Cuts

Following news that Apollo has cut prices across the board in line with the four per cent reduction in India’s Central VAT rate, Ceat and JK Tyre have announced similar cuts of 3.6 and 3 per cent respectively on the average price of their products.

Apollo’s chairman, Onkar Kanwar wrote in a statement, following yesterday’s announcement on India’s cenvat, “We will be passing on this reduction to our customers, strengthening the measures that are being taken at a federal level.

“We do hope this, and other measures together, will boost production and consumer spending,” he concluded. JK’s director, AS Mehta voiced similar hopes: “Once the end user is benefited, it should benefit the entire industry.”

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Begins Job Cut Talks

Nokian Tyres has today begun new statutory negotiations in order to adjust operations and to cut personnel by approximately 450 people at its Nokia factory in Finland, due to the decreased demand for tyres. The agenda of the negotiations includes a plan to change the working model of the car tyre production from the current continuous three-shift/seven days work to the discontinued three-shift/five days operations and to re-organise operations. This would result in the annual production capacity at the Nokia factory to fall from the current 6 million or so tyres to around 4.5 million tyres in 2009.

The discontinued three-shift work and the re-organisation measures would create a need to cut personnel by some 450 people, of which approximately 100 would be white-collar personnel. The aim is to carry out part of the personnel cuts by pension arrangements and other voluntary solutions.
The new factory working model and re-organisations would reduce Nokian Tyres’ costs in Nokia by around 30 million euros.

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Advan Sport Chosen as OE for Nissan 370Z

Yokohama Rubber has announced its flagship Advan tyre has been selected as OE for the Nissan 370Z in various world markets. The Advan Sport in size 225/50R18 95W for the front and 245/45R18 96W for the rear will be fitted; vehicles equipped with the tyres were released in Japan on December 1, 2008, and will be gradually introduced into the global market. For the North American market, however, the car will be supplied with Bridgestone Potenza RE50A tyres, Bridgestone announced in November.

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vintage Appoints New Member of Export Department

Vintage Tyres has added a new member of staff to its expanding export department. Muriel Colange has a long history on the European classic car scene, having worked for various specialist parts distributors across France, as well as spending time working for a Lotus car distributor, where she participated as an active member of its racing team.

As befits the staff of the company, which supplies specialist tyres to classic cars, Colange possesses a great interest in and passion for cars. She has two early-model Minis and is president of the French Mini Owners Club. With a diploma in automotive commerce and marketing, she will specialise in the European development of the Vintage name. Vintage is based at The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire.

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

No Going Back

In 2008 the Ultra High Performance tyre market experienced changes unlike any year before it; and as a result will, never be the same again, Sentaida USA general manager Don Mathis recently told Tyres & Accessories

“UHP aftermarket sales have been the main and nearly only, shining star in the tyre business for the last eight to 10 years. The margins and growth have surpassed nearly every other segment of the market,” he explained. However, this year has also been unlike any other in Mathis’s 36 years of experience. His thinking is that the unique combination of surplus capacity in UHP factories, the early year surge in the raw material costs, a mid-year surge in fuel cost, and the credit crunch halting new car sales and taking aftermarket wheel sales with them means the market has hit a watershed.

His advice? “Reduce your UHP stock to bare minimum. I think it is really ugly now, and is going to get worse. Clear out old, high priced stock, so money can re-circulate. Take whatever loss there is now. Get it over with, as it will only get worse in 2009. Buy smart for the future with an emphasis on value in the popular passenger car sizes.” For more overview on US market sales see January’s issue of Tyres & Accessories.

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

6 HSE Tyre Handling Workshops Planned for 2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) and the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA), is running a series of workshops designed to draw attention to the dangers of handling tyres. The nationwide series of workshops are being held at venues across the country from January and March 2009.

NTDA director Richard Edy said: “NTDA research shows that back injuries caused by lifting tyres incorrectly are responsible for a huge number of lost man-hours in our sector and we are delighted to be working with the HSE to highlight the dangers to the trade.”

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Names Three More Franchisees

HiQ has attracted three new partners in its national franchise programme. HiQ now boasts more than 140 centres across Britain, having secured Alister McGill, who will take over the company’s Alnwick, Berwick and Sunderland outlets, adding to his existing Blyth and Gateshead centres. Gary Thomson will take on the Exeter, Bath, Honiton and Weston Super Mare stores with four experienced partners. Meanwhile, Phil Godfrey has added HiQ’s Banbury store to his Abingdon and Carterton businesses.

According to the company the latest announcement means HiQ’s national franchise plan is now more than half full, with all remaining partners to be announced in the coming months.

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors