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Unipart Pledges Support For Motor Industry Code Of Practice

In recognition of the need to maintain high standards within the independent garage sector, Unipart Automotive has confirmed its support for the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.

Unipart will be encouraging all existing Unipart Car Care Centres (UCCCs) to sign up to the Code of Practice and it will become compulsory for any new UCCCs joining the network to participate. To help the network benefit from the industry standard, Unipart will contribute towards the cost of signing up to the Code for its Car Care Centres.

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Australian Commission Instigates Marine Cartel Court Action

It has been more than a year since UK-based trio Peter Whittle, David Brammar and Bryan Allison were sentenced for their role in a well-publicised global marine hose cartel, yet investigations into the affair continue. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has commenced court action in response to allegations that the cartel took advantage of some of the nation’s largest oil production projects.

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Soon You Will Only Be Able to Fit Type-Approved CATs

The Department for Transport has confirmed that the draft regulations limiting the fitting of replacement CATs to type approved products only are expected to be presented for ministerial consideration this month (June). There is scope for amendments to be made by the minister, but in essence these draft Regulations implement mandatory European requirements, and are expected to become law about four weeks after signature by the minister. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) will then be responsible for policing and enforcement of a law requiring replacement catalytic converters intended for cars and light vans registered from 2001 to be fully type approved.

Paul Hannah, business development director at Klarius Group commented: “In relation to vehicles to which the requirements apply, the Department for Transport have confirmed that the result of supplying or fitting a non-type approved CAT will be to make the company or business responsible and ‘potentially certain officers or equivalent of the company or business’ liable to prosecution with a maximum fine of £5,000. Professional Motor Mechanics need to learn quickly about what to do to adhere to the law and protect themselves; their customers, their employers and suppliers.”

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Publicises Agri, Forest, Industrial Unit Capabilities

Swedish manufacturer Trelleborg has released information on its Wheel Systems division, specifically publicising its dedicated larger rims Sävsjö facility in southern Sweden. As a supplier of complete agricultural, forestry and industrial wheels, the company deals with the specialised demands of these typically cumbersome tyres.

It is particularly important in this field that the wheels’ components work harmoniously with each other, as Per Valdmaa, managing director of the Sävsjö manufacturing plant states: “The rim plays a crucial role in the operation of the vehicle or equipment it is fitted on, securing and protecting the tyre. It carries the machine’s load and transfers its performance to the ground. The tyre and the rim are interdependent; the two cannot function without each other. If the rim breaks, the rubber of the tyre is destroyed and the machine they are fitted on will stop working.”

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli P Zero OE on New Lotus Evora

Lotus Cars Limited has selected Pirelli as the principal supplier of tyres for the new Lotus Evora, with the company’s P Zero tyre the product of choice. The homologated size on the Evora is the 225/40ZR18 Y XL on the front and 255/35ZR19 Y XL on the rear. The Evora is the first all new Lotus to be released since the iconic Elise roadster in 1995.

Mathew Becker, executive engineer of vehicle dynamics for Lotus believes that the Pirelli P Zero enhances the dynamic performance of the Evora: “The Lotus Evora has been developed to deliver class-leading steering and handling performance whilst maintaining excellent ride quality. The exceptional abilities of Pirelli’s P Zeros enhances these vital elements and we have been impressed with the excellent steering linearity and consistent grip levels that this particular tyre provides in all conditions.”

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

First Stop Network Hosts Charity F1 Event

A week before the Formula One roadshow hit Silverstone, Carson Tyre & Autocare – part of the
First Stop network of tyre dealerships, hosted the event at department store Leekes, in Melksham, where they showcased a stunning replica F1 car and simulator to help raise money for charity. Visitors to the Saturday, 13 June event had the chance to have their picture taken by the F1 car and test their driving skills on the simulator – both for a small charity donation. Bridgestone has declared the event “a huge success”, raising £200 for the British Heart Foundation.

All visitors were presented with Bridgestone merchandise and given the chance to enter a prize draw to win an exclusive F1 factory tour of the Williams facility in Grove, Oxfordshire. First Stop representatives and Carson Tyre & Autocare staff, who were on hand during the day, also used the event to give out safety and product advice.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Win MotoGP Tickets and Prizes with National

Motorcycle Grand Prix fans take note – National Tyres and Autocare is giving visitors to its national.co.uk website the opportunity to win. Up for grabs are tickets to the paddock at Donnington on July 25 and 26 plus limited edition autographed prints of some of the biggest names in MotoGP.

National is running the free prize draw in conjunction with Bridgestone who donated the motorcycle prizes. For a chance to win tickets, visit the website before July 6, 2009. The autographed print draw will be separately held on August 28. No purchase is necessary in order to enter, assures National.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Delays Pay to Meet Loan Terms

Continental AG has reportedly opted to put payroll payments on hold for “a few days” in June to so it can honour its loan commitments. According to a report published by Bloomberg, all of Continental’s 45,000 workers in Germany as well as some in France and the US will be affected. Bloomberg quoted Continental’s headquarters as saying that Employees will receive their wages by July 3 at the latest. However, Continental Tyre Group representatives confirmed the news won’t affect UK employees.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Production Figures Show Benefit of Scrappage Schemes

Car production in the UK dropped 43.0 per cent to 67,754 units during May, the smallest year on year decline during 2009 so far. And while the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders comments that the outlook remains difficult, the trade association believes positive signs are evident as manufacturers restart production following the implementation of scrappage schemes. Commercial vehicle production, on the other hand, plummeted 73.5 per cent to 4,692 units – the largest monthly drop this year.

“Prompt action by manufacturers to realign supply with demand has been painful, but was necessary,” stated SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. “There is now a direct link between demand in the marketplace and production volumes,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “The scrappage schemes in place across Europe are now beginning to have a positive impact, although the full benefits will take a little longer to flow down to companies at all levels in the supply chain.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Art Contest Receives Record Entries

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Using this yardstick, Bridgestone has no less than fifty five and a half million safety and environment related words on its hands: the company reports that at least 55,676 European primary school children participated in its “dreams at heArt” children’s drawing contest during 2009, more than 35 per cent more than last year. Children from twenty-five countries – including for the first time the Baltic States, Slovakia and Romania – sent in drawings of their thoughts and aspirations on the theme “Safe Travel in a Greener World”.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyres & Accessories’ Julie Wilshaw Completes Charity Midnight Walk

Circulations and Admin manager at Tyres & Accessories’ Stoke-on-Trent base Julie Wilshaw completed the annual Midnight to Sunrise Walk in the city on Friday 19 June to raise funds for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice in North Staffordshire. The hospice provides palliative care – care of patients whose disease no longer responds to curative treatment, and for whom the aim must be the best quality of life for them and their families according to the World Health Organisation – to those with cancer and other life-limiting diseases. She says that she wanted to complete the walk in memory of her mother and father and that the effects of cancer on friends had inspired her interest in the evening’s charity. Many others agreed, with the walk being completed by 1,500 area women.

At present, Wilshaw says she has raised £144, and while this represents a good initial figure, she has targeted £500 as a final amount. Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/juliewilshaw. Tyres & Accessories congratulates Julie for her achievements and wishes her the best of luck for her future charitable endeavours.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Appoints New Creative Partner

Capital Advertising is to replace M&C Saatchi as Apollo Tyres’ passenger vehicle business creative partner, a role that will see it handle media related duties for the Indian manufacturer’s entire passenger car tyre range. Speaking to televisionpoint.com, Capital Advertising director Sunil Sachdeva director said Apollo Tyres has recently become a global player and has “very ambitious plans for the road ahead, it is the right time for us to partner them in this preposition.”

The advertising agency previously represented Apollo Tyres through its involvement in the launch of the manufacturer’s two wheeler tyre range almost a decade ago.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ATC Claims Name Change

American Tire Corporation is no more. In a statement placed on its now defunct website, the importer said it was changing its name to Colorado Tire Corp. In March, ATC lost its federal appeal of a trademark infringement case brought by American Tire Distributors. The mega-distributor claimed ATC’s name and logo “constitutes use in commerce that is likely to cause confusion and mistake and to deceive consumers as to the source or origin of defendants’ products or defendants’ business.”

The lower court’s order to ATC to vacate its name and logo was issued in August 2008. In its statement, the former ATC said: “In order to consolidate our corporate identity behind our company’s most recognizable and valuable asset, i.e., the Colorado brand OTR tires, which have been extensively approved and recognized by various users in different countries, the Board of Directors of American Tire Corporation has determined to change our corporate name to Colorado Tire Corporation.

“Any existing and ongoing contracts/agreements/authorizations between any company and American Tire Corporation shall be reentered with Colorado Tire Corporation by the end of June 30, 2009, or otherwise will be deemed invalid.” Other than posting the statement, the company disabled its website at www.americantire.us, and said a new site “will be announced separately.” (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Reducing Production at Tennessee Consumer Tyre Plant

As of July 6, production at Goodyear’s consumer tyre facility in Union City, Tennessee will move from a continuous operating schedule to a five-day, three-shift operation. The manufacturer describes this cutback as “another important step” in its efforts to align production in North America with current weaker industry demand.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Next Generation Goodyear RunOnFlat Launched as Merc E-Class OE

Goodyear has launched the new generation of its RunOnFlat tyre with an original equipment fitting on the new Mercedes E-Class, which left factories recently. Goodyear states that the latest generation tyre offers numerous benefits to car makers, consumers and the environment, including improved comfort, reduced mass and rolling resistance, improved fuel consumption and consequently reduced CO2 emission levels. The tyre-maker suggests that the tyre is comparable to regular tyres in terms of comfort. Car manufacturers do not need to modify the suspension or chassis of their cars to use them, Goodyear claims.

Mercedes-Benz recently awarded the ultra high performance summer Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric RunOnFlat tyre with its ‘Mercedes Original Extended’ (MOExtended) seal of quality, with the term Extended signifying the tyre’s safety capabilities.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors