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Pirelli “Home” WRC Leg a Formidable Challenge for Tyres

Pirelli has reported a “difficult” yet problem-less three days at the all-gravel Rally d’Italia-Sardegna, the tyre-manufacturer’s home event. Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala put the brakes on Sebastien Loeb’s domination of the 2009 World Rally Championship season to claim his first win of the year, while the five Pirelli Star Drivers took part in their second round of the six they will face in total, continuing their development in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Group N cars. On an event that gave all six youngsters some extremely valuable experience of rough gravel, up-and-coming Finn Jarkko Nikara emerged best-placed of the Pirelli Star Drivers. Pirelli’s Rally Manager Mario Isola said, “These very rough conditions also taught our five Star Drivers how to blend consistency with their obvious speed, which will serve them well in the future.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental 2 Series Commercial Tyre: More Details

As previously published on Tyrepress.com, Continental has launched a new range of commercial vehicle tyres, representing four new design features. The tyres feature entirely new inner liner technology, dubbed “AirKeep” for its ability to stay inflated for longer, in addition to modifications to the belt, bead and contour design. The tyre will be manufactured primarily at the company’s plant in Puchov, Slovakia. It comes onto the market at a tricky time, with EU and UK new truck tyre sales down 34 and 20 per cent respectively, according to figures quoted at the launch.

Conti is backing up its new range with a “Technology Truck” tour throughout Europe and the ContiCostCalculator, a new electronic tool based on research conducted by Continental and certified by DEKRA, which calculates the economic and ecological benefits of fitting the new range to customers’ fleets. These initiatives form part of the company’s response to the belief that, in these trying economic times, “you have to understand the pressures on customers and…be a business consultant,” as Conti’s general sales manager – truck replacement Barry Guildford said at the tyre launch in London. He also told Tyres & Accessories that the company was “heavily investing in training [its] salespeople”, in order to impress upon customers the long-term cost benefits of fitting the new Continentals. “It’s about educating the fleet,” he concluded.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Corruption Trial Against Former Double Coin Chairman Begins

The corruption trial against former Double Coin chairman Fan Xian began in China on May 25. According to the Shanghai Daily, the 55-year old is charged with corruption involving 17.25 million yuan (£1.59 million), accepting 8.35 million yuan in bribes and embezzling 57 million yuan.

At the first day of proceeding at the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court, Fan denied most of the charges raised by the prosecution. The Shanghai Daily reports that he “tried to avoid key questions.” When the chief judge told him to answer questions directly, he allegedly answered by saying “I can’t remember clearly” or “I don’t know.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Schaeffler Signs Employment Security Agreement With Union

The Schaeffler Group and Germany’s IG Metall trade union have reached an agreement regarding employment security. The agreement, signed by IG Metall first chairman Berthold Huber and Schaeffler chief executive Jürgen Geißinger, represents the first practical result of the future agreement between the two parties outlined on February 23, 2009.

According to the terms of the agreement, the threat of redundancies occurring before June 30, 2010 has been eliminated on the proviso that a jointly agreed upon package of staff cost reduction measures are reached. Due to the impact of the economic crisis and its resultant diminished orders and sales, the Schaeffler Group says it must lower staff costs by approximately 250 million euros.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Qatar: Q-Tire, Raha Offer 15% Discount

In Qatar Q-Tire and roadside recovery service Raha Auto Assistance have partnered to offer a 15 per cent discount on new tyres purchased at Q-Tire’s five Doha service centres. Q-Tire is the authorised representative and distributor in Qatar for Goodyear, Falken, Solideal, MRF, TVS Roadux, Double Coin & Primewell.

Ikram Hamdad, general manager of Raha, commented: “Q-Tire and Raha have a clear focus to improve the motoring experience for the motorists of Qatar. We agree there is a real need to educate drivers about tyre maintenance in order to increase vehicle safety and tyre performance, as well as to extend the life of the tyres.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama’s Team Geolandar Fielding Electric Vehicle at Pikes Peak

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is arguably the world’s best-known hill climb event, and in 2009 Yokohama Rubber is fielding an electric vehicle in the event. The company’s Team Geolandar off-road racing team will race to the 4,301-metre summit on July 19 in a self-created vehicle equipped with Geolandar H/T-S tyres.

The Japanese manufacturer refers to the Colorado, USA based event as the “Yokohama Team Geolandar EV Off-Road Challenge,” and states its aim in participating is to contribute towards meeting its environmental responsibilities. In this instance Yokohama wishes to promote awareness of the current and future potential of electric vehicles and gain real world experience to help it develop electric vehicle tyres suitable for use in severe off-road conditions.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Reports: Goodyear India to Expand Annual Capacity to 4 million Tyres

Goodyear India is aiming to boost annual capacity by 15 per cent to 4 million tyres a year, according to various online news sources. The news follows the launch of the Goodyear DuraPlus in the country, a tyre aimed at small family hatchbacks that account for the largest segment in the Indian car market. Goodyear India reportedly wants to target the replacement market with the new tyre and is said to be negotiating car makers on the subject of OE for the new tyre.

In an interesting twist, the reports also states that Indian branch of the manufacturer will soon be offering run-flats imported from Goodyear’s manufacturing facilities in the US or Europe. According to the reports, these tyres retail at more than 10,000 rupees (£132) each in India.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Malaysia a Growth Market for Michelin

Michelin’s Malaysian operation states its local business is growing despite economic turmoil in Malaysia and abroad. The Kuala Lumpur based Business Times newspaper quotes Michelin Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Yves Pouliquen as saying the company’s business growth will be driven by continuous marketing activities involving its dealers and customers as well as new product launches.

“We expect 2009 to be difficult for the industry but it will be better than the 2007 level,” he told reporters at a recent media briefing in Kuala Lumpur. “Overall, 2007 was a good year while last year was fantastic for the industry.” Pouliquen also expressed his confidence that the Malaysian tyre market will continue to grow in line with positive signs of an economic recovery.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Two New Wheels From Wolfrace

Wolfrace has introduced the first two wheels in the new Wolfrace GB range of alloys; the Lugano and Ravenna. Lugano is a striking directional ‘turbine’ design with 10 sculpted blades and finished in gloss black with a polished surface. The Lugano is available in 5 stud fitments in sizes 7.5×16″ 7.5×17″ and 8.0×18″.

The new Ravenna is a multi-spoke wheel; each concave spoke is treated to the gloss black finish with a durable polished face. The Ravenna is available in four and five-stud fitments and suits a wide range of vehicle thanks to its various size options – 7.5×16″ 8.0×17″ 8.0×18″ and 8.5×19″. Like all Wolfrace GB wheels, the Lugano and Ravenna are made in Germany and have TÜV certification.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Awarded for Fuel Saving R&D

Research conducted by Toyo Tire & Rubber into technologies improving fuel economy has earned the company an award from the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. One Toyo employee, OE Tire Development project manager Tamotsu Mizutani, was granted the “Award for Technical Development” award for work carried out together with Honda R&D. Four Honda researchers were also honoured at the May 21 ceremony.

The technology developed by Toyo and Honda relates to reducing energy loss. Toyo explains that a tyre’s tread shrinks upon contact with the ground, and the constant repeated contraction and expansion experienced by the tread causes energy to be dissipated. Materials traditionally used to minimise this energy loss and improve fuel efficiency, adds Toyo, hinder braking power – and those that optimise braking increase energy loss.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bullied Snorer Slashes Neighbour’s Tyres

A Reading man is to face the possibility of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order from the courts after he admitted slashing the tyres of his neighbour. In mitigation David Chandler, the defendant in the case, explained that he was inspired to carry out his crime against rubber when he heard derogatory remarks about noises he made in his sleep through the same permeable wall that allowed his heavy breathing to disturb his next-door neighbour. Enraged by this slight, he took his anger out on Jacques Cilliers’ vehicle, leaving the latter needing to visit his local dealer post-haste. Chandler is yet to receive sentencing.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Breaks the Million Tyre Mark in UK

Kumho broke the one million tyre barrier in 2008. According to sole distributor Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), it was the first time that annual sales of Kumho-branded car, van and 4×4 tyres have reached this height. Wholesale director, Alan Baldwin, said he was delighted with the news and added that MTS’s sales grew 30 per cent over its full year 2007 result:

“Throughout 2008 MTS and Kumho worked tirelessly to improve supply, and by a combination of better forecasting and supply chain management, product availability improved dramatically over 2007.” According to Baldwin things got even better for MTS and Kumho in the early stages of this year: “2009 has presented further challenges particularly, when as in March, the huge increases dealers were seeing in consumer demand resulted in a near 40 per cent increase over March 2008 sales.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Crypton Offers New Four Post MoT Lane

Crypton has added a four post lift option to its scissor lift Crypton Test Lane. The new four post lifts are electro hydraulic and are available for use in Class IV and Class VII stations. All of the Crypton four post lifts are supplied with turntables, hydraulically operated play detectors, brake pedal depressor and low profile platforms that are covered with aluminium checker plate finish. All the four post lifts are ‘ATL’ approved. Crypton also offer a complete drawing service for the installation of Crypton Test Lane and they also have an ‘in house’ team of installers.

John Watkins chairman of Crypton said: “We are pleased to add the four post lift options to the Crypton Test Lane knowing that we are bringing the quality of product that has always been associated with Crypton to the market place. We are very proud of the complete service we offer in conjunction with our experienced and dedicated distributor network. When a customer takes the decision to install a Crypton Test Lane, we realise the significance that this level of investment means to a garage and we have the systems and experience in place to ensure the smooth running of the whole project.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Extends Engage360 Programme to CV Dealers

Continental Tire North America has released a new online training programme it says responds to the training and technical information needs of commercial vehicle tyre dealers. Called “Engage360 Untamed Innovation”, the programme is available in the commercial vehicle section of the company’s interactive training website for tyre dealers. According to Engage360 training manager Amy Spears, Engage360 Untamed Innovation allows dealership personnel to learn the basics about the construction of Continental premium commercial tyres, review product technical information and become certified as a Continental Commercial Tire Specialist.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Wolfrace Website Re-Launched

Wolfrace, one of the UK’s best known alloy wheel brands, with a 38-year history, announces the all-new and improved Wolfrace website. The new website www.wolfrace.co.uk showcases the Wolfrace alloy wheel portfolio, providing details on all the wheel ranges including the new premium collection Wolfrace GB as well as Wolfrace Eurosport, Asia-Tec and Classic. Also shown are associated brands Wolf Design (for SUVs) Excite (entry level 4×4 wheels) ATS – for which Wolfrace is a UK distributor and the BMW specialist brand Breyton – for which Wolfrace is the sole UK distributor.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors