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7 New Firestone Sizes Available from North Hants Tyres

Firestone has recently added seven new sizes for larger American and European Grand Tourers such as Packard and Hispano Souza. Available sizes include: 700×17, 700×18, 750×18, 700×19, 750×19, 700×20. According to influential vintage and classic tyre wholesaler and the Firestone classic tyre distributor, North Hants Tyre, the moulds are brand new and replicate the original Firestone Balloon Tread design. The tyres are available in both blackwall and whitewall.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

EWI Receives $4 million Order for Reverse Tyre Polymerisation Machine

Ellsin Environmental Ltd has ordered prototype reverse polymerisation technology from Environmental Waste International Inc’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary, EWI Rubber Inc. Under a signed Prototype Agreement EWIR will build a TR900 system for $4.175 million, about 80 per cent of the $5.25 million total project cost. Based on EWI’s patented reverse polymerisation process, the system is designed to break down at least 900 tyres a day and recover carbon black, oil and steel, while producing its own power from the off-gases. As part of the agreement, EWIR will grant Ellsin all available territorial rights for the TR technology in Canada and the United States, subject to future performance requirements.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Group International Opens Santiago, Chile Office

Tire Group International (TGI) has opened a new sales office in Santiago, Chile in a continuation of its marketing and distribution expansion strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The new office will be led by Gonzalo Miño Fourines who joins TGI with over 25 years experience in the tyre and automotive industries. Miño’s CV includes work with General Motors Chile SA, DIASA SA and Neumaticos de Chile SA.

“TGI has been very successful in implementing its marketing strategy in targeted countries throughout Latin American and the Caribbean. With Gonzalo’s broad tyre industry experiences, we fully expect to continue leveraging our successes in order to further expand our presence throughout the region. Gonzalo brings a unique skill-set within sales and marketing where we feel he’ll deliver immediate benefits as he promotes our brands and the wide array of solutions and services TGI offers”, said Orlando Delgado, Tire Group International’s Senior Vice President of Business Development.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Reports: Lenders Set to Oppose Continental/Schaeffler Combination

Banks responsible for as much as half of Continental AG’s 11 billion euros ($15.5 billion) of debt are reportedly going to oppose the company’s proposed combination with 90 per cent shareholder Schaeffler Group. Citing “people familiar with the situation,” Bloomberg reported that the banks are concerned about the levels of debt necessary for the two companies to re-merge. According to the report, the banks are trying to half the move by blocking changes to a loan agreement first reached in 2007. The two companies have combined debts of around 24 billion euros.

Neither Continental, Schaeffler nor the banks involved have yet commented. However, for all the banks fears and apparent threats to de-rail what is expected to become a reverse takeover, with less than 100 days before the German general election, government support for the move (and the thousands of jobs that depend on it) have the potential to make the re-merger work. Continental executives are expected to officially reveal their plans at the end of July.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

“There Will Be No Split”: Mosley Claims F1 Agreement Reached

Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, has claimed that the disagreement between Formula One’s administrative body and FOTA – an association of teams most notably including Ferrari – is over. Eight of the ten F1 teams had threatened to form a breakaway series in 2010 if rules restricting their budgets had been introduced.

It seems that Mosley has been forced to back down from his argument that F1 teams would have to reduce spending significantly next year; now, he told journalists at a press conference today (24 June, 2009), “There will be one F1 championship but the objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 90s within two years.”

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Snap-on Training Centre Gains Rubber Association Approval

In news out of Germany, Snap-on Equipment has become the first garage equipment manufacturer to have its training centre courses authorised by the country’s rubber industry association, the wdk (Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie). The company’s European Competence Centre of Snap-on Equipment, located near Frankfurt am Main, has been authorised to conduct training courses related to the mounting and demounting of UHP and run-flat tyres in line with wdk requirements.

A prerequisite for wdk authorisation, notes Snap-on, was professional training rooms and workshops equipped with at least two wdk-certified turntable and roller-type tyre changers. The European Competence Centre is equipped with several certified tyre changers of these types; tyre/wheel assemblies, tyres and training materials are also available.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA, Discount Tire Score TV Hit

The RMA closed out the USA’s National Tire Safety Week 2009 by landing a slot on the Fox network’s “Fox & Friends” morning show. NASCAR driver David Ragan, who is sponsored by Discount Tire, was interviewed on the program to discuss proper tyre care. RMA worked with Discount Tire to schedule the interview as part of RMA’s media outreach to support NTSW.

To see the interview, go to the “Fox & Friends” site – www.foxnews.com/foxfriends – and scroll down to the “News You Can Use” section. (Tire Review/Akron)

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Gearing Up for World Rubber Day

One hundred years ago, the chemist Fritz Hofmann invented the first ever synthetic rubber. After beavering away with his assistant Carl Coutelle and a research team in their employer’s laboratory in Elberfeld, western Germany, Hofmann produced the flexible substance methyl-isoprene, and in doing so laid the cornerstone for the development of a viable alternative to natural rubber. To honour this invention, Lanxess has established “World Rubber Day”, an occasion that will be celebrated for the first time on September 12, 2009.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Miles Driven Increases for the First Time in More Than a Year

According to the Federal Highway Administration, US miles driven increased for the first time in 16 months. Total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in April of this year was 249.5 billion, compared to 248.1 billion miles for April 2008, representing a 0.6 per cent increase. In addition, FHA has reported that all regions of the country saw either higher or the same VMT as last year. The report did find that cumulative VMT for the fist four months of 2009 is 1.1 per cent lower than it was for the same four months last year.

The June edition of the Traffic Volume Trends report can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/09aprtvt/09aprtvt.pdf. (Tire Review/Akron/Aftermarketnews.com)

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Safety Campaign Gets Underway in India

With an annual road toll hovering at around 100,000 deaths – one of the highest in the world – Bridgestone’s launch of its global ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign in India is perhaps timely. The campaign, first launched in 2005 and now operating with the backing of FIA member clubs in more than 60 countries, will hopefully help Indian motorists identify the main causes of serious or fatal crashes – and implement simple safety measures before heading off.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheel Finish on Accuride Products

Accuride Corp. has broadened the availability of its enhanced finish for aluminum wheels. The process results in a semi-polished appearance on unpolished wheels, and is now available across the company’s aluminum wheel product line, excluding small diameter trailer wheels. (Tire Review/Akron)

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gajah Tunggal’s Rating Downgraded

In mid-June analysts at Standard & Poor’s cut PT Gajah Tunggal’s long-term credit rating from “CCC+” to “CC” due to a negative outlook. An explanatory statement expressed doubts over the Indonesian manufacturer’s ability in the near future to meet its outstanding debts within the agreed upon timeframe.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Claims NASCAR Tyre Wear Problems Resolved

The 2008 NASCAR season was not a good one for Goodyear. The US stock car series was plagued by excessive tyre wear, leading to the ‘competition caution’ flag frequently seeing light of day. The manufacturer now believes it has ironed out all of last year’s problems.

“When we left Indianapolis last year, there was one thing we were very clear about and that was that we were going to get it right,” said Greg Stucker, director of Race Tire Sales at Goodyear. “I want everybody to be just as clear today that we’re very confident we have done exactly that.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Getting Loaded a Problem-Free Affair with Michelin XZM

Punctures and tyre related downtime are virtually a thing of the past for the forklift fleet operated by Red Funnel Distribution. The distribution arm of cross Solent ferry operator Red Funnel reports this absence of snafus has occurred since fitting its 2.5 tonne Komatsu and 3.5-tonne Toyota forklifts, which operate five days a week loading and unloading containers and trailers en route to and from the Isle of Wight, with Michelin XZM radials.

“The switch to Michelin was a radical new approach for us, as in the past we had relied upon a low cost brand,” says Red Funnel Distribution operations manager Nick Kirkby. “Since fitting Michelin XZMs, we are seeing a number of cost savings ranging from extended tyre life to reduced requests for a mobile fitter to attend.”

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Kettering Show ‘Slick’ Response Times

HiQ Kettering, based in Telford Way Industrial Estate, recently stepped into the fast lane by offering their services in response to a plea Honda Team Dynamics’ plea to fit 28 sets of tyres for a driving day with some of the nation’s biggest names in motorsport, at Rockingham race circuit. HiQ, which was recently purchased by Easy Tyre & Autocentres Ltd, was contacted by Team Dynamics, who were in need of a specialist team to fit the slick race tyres this week. HiQ immediately sent for mobile technician Russell Hickford, who drove the short distance to Rockingham and got in the pit lane for some fast fit action.

Team Dynamics marketing manager Richard Tate-Harris said: “We had organised a number of laps around Rockingham with racing slicks, which meant we had to find a team of fast fitters at extremely short notice to replace and fit them. I immediately went to HiQ, as they sponsor the British Touring Car Championship and have specialist motorsport experience. It is fair to say that they saved the day and, without them, we would have been looking at a postponement of activity.”

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors