Product News Archives - Page 47 of 260 - Tyrepress

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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

Plimsoll: Rich/Poor Divide Widening in UK Tyre Market

Industry analysts Plimsoll Publishing are suggesting that the brunt of the slowdown is being felt by a fifth of the companies in the UK tyre market. However surprisingly, almost half of those surveyed have been largely unaffected, maintaining their financial strength, margins and some managing to even increase sales.

Overall the market is said to be showing no growth, compared to growth of almost 7 per cent this time last year. However, 229 firms reported that they have seen their sales decline, some by as much as 13 per cent. 477 firms have seen their sales increase, some by as much as 15 per cent.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Beijing Auto signals interest in Opel stake

China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Corp (BAIC) has reportedly become the fourth company to express an interest in buying into Opel/General Motors’ European operations. According to the Financial Times, BAIC wrote to Commerzbank’s Dresdner Kleinwort a day after the bidding deadline. However, the report also characterised BAIC’s offer “more an expression of interest rather than a formal bid” quoting sources close to the deal. Italy’s Fiat, Canada’s Magna, and Brussels-listed RHJ International all entered bids for the strategic stake on Wednesday, for which GM is seeking about 650 million euros ($900 million).

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

China Increases Scrappage Subsidy

While flagging Western markets are offering handouts to carmakers in order to lubricate sales, in China – with a car market still widely regarded as booming by comparison – has announced that it is to increase its own scrappage budget from one billion yuan (£95.6 million, $146 million) to six billion yuan (£573.6 million, $876 million). According to a China4Auto.com report, the move follows the success of the incentive program in rural areas.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sunday Times Names Bandvulc One of Top 60 Green Companies

Bandvulc Tyres Ltd has been recognised as one of the Top 60 Best Green Companies in the UK by the Sunday Times. At the annual awards ceremony in London, Bandvulc’s managing director Patrick O’Connell received the award from Alistair McColl (Sunday Times Supplements Editor) for achieving a top 60 placement.

Patrick O’Connell commented: “This is fantastic recognition of the hard work and commitment everyone at Bandvulc makes to ensuring we all have a sustainable future. To be in the top 60 companies raises the profile of tyre recycling to a new level and shows that this can be done to a high quality ensuring safety and sustainability in one package, bringing a complete solution to our customers that is second to none.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to ‘Explore’ EMEA, Latin America Farm Unit Sales

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced plans that would end consumer tyre production at its Amiens, France plant and could result in the sales of its European and Latin American agricultural tyre businesses. Goodyear’s Asia Pacific farm tyre business is not included in the potential divestiture. The company sold its North American farm tyre operation in 2005.

According to an official statement, ending consumer tyre production at the Amiens plant would result in the reduction of approximately 6 million units of production, which is part of Goodyear’s strategy to remove 15 million to 25 million units of capacity over the next two years.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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

Toyo’s Proxes Chosen for 3rd Gen Prius

Toyota’s Prius, seen by some as the de rigueur environmental motoring statement, was released onto the Japanese market in its third generation incarnation on May 18. According to Toyo, its eco-friendly Proxes R30A tyre has been selected as an original equipment fitment for the new hybrid.

“Proxes　R30A is a tyre with improved lower rolling resistance and super silence,” a Toyo press statement comments. “This tyre was developed for the new Prius, which aims for both overwhelming performance in eco-friendliness and fun for driving.”

The new summer tyre is supplied to the Japanese market Prius in size 215/45R17 87W.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Industrial Tire Names Dealer of the Year

Continental Industrial Tire, a division of Continental Tire North America, named Equipment Depot, located in Irving, Texas, as the 2008 Dealer of the Year. Ed Fritz, Equipment Depot executive vice president, received the award at the Material Handling Equipment Dealer Association Convention, held at the JW Marriott Desert Spring Resort in Palm Desert, California, on 2-6 May.

In its first year as a Continental Industrial distributor, Equipment Depot became Continental’s largest aftermarket distributor in North America, according to the tyre-maker. Joe Pauli, Continental’s US BUIT market manager, presented the award. “Equipment Depot has embraced the concept that industrial tires are the fastest wearing part on today’s forklifts,” said Phil Lannon, Continental’s U.S. Business Unit Industrial Tire sales manager. “We are pleased to award them the 2008 Dealer of the Year and consider them one of our most valuable aftermarket distributors.” (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors