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ContiSportContact 3 Specially Modified for Panamera Fitment

Hot on the heels of OE reports from Michelin and Pirelli is news that Continental has especially adapted its ContiSportContact 3 for the Porsche Panamera. Conti states the new sports saloon will be launched with its tyres, tweaked to match the car’s chassis and particular specifications. This limited series of Porsche specific tyres will display the designation ‘N0’ after the product name as a point of difference from the standard ContiSportContact 3.

The Panamera’s front wheels will be fitted with size 255/45 ZR 19 (100Y) tyres while the rear will wear size 285/40 ZR 19 (103Y). The alternative sizes 245/50 ZR 18 (100Y) and 275/45 ZR 18 (103Y) have also been approved by Porsche for the Panamera and also carry the special designation ‘N0’.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster Pumps Up Tyre Pressure Message

ATS Euromaster is urging motorists to adjust their tyre pressures if they plan to travel with a heavy load this summer, in a season which is expected to see more Britons pack their cars for a holiday on home shores than in previous years. Chris Hufflett, group operations director for ATS Euromaster, which has 460 automotive fast-fit centres across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, said:

“If you are carrying a full load of passengers with luggage or will be towing a caravan or trailer, tyre pressures must be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. It’s a simple five minute job, but from our experience, the majority of drivers don’t bother. Few people realise that it is the air inside a tyre which carries the weight of the vehicle and its load, not the tyre itself, hence nearly every car has two recommended pressure settings – one for ‘normal’ use and a higher figure for full loads.”

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Terry Richardson – Spotted at Work on Pirelli’s 2010 Calendar?

According to Black Book, rumours circulating in recent months about Terry Richardson’s involvement with the 2010 Pirelli Calendar have been given some extra weight following sightings of the fashion photographer at work in Brazil. Word is that Terry is busy in Bahia with a list models that include Ana Beatriz Barros, Gracie Carvalho, Georgina Stojiljkovic and possibly also Catherine McNeil.

A picture of Richardson at work in Brazil, depicting a model resembling Catherine McNeil bareback on a white horse, has been leaked in the media. According to Black Book, for the 2010 edition of the Cal we should expect a wodge of nude models – nothing new for Richardson – provocatively posed in a pastoral setting.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Wayne Thomas New Garage Equipment Association President

Wayne Thomas was appointed President of the Garage Equipment Association, (GEA), at their recent AGM, which was held at the GEA offices in Daventry, on 21 April 2009. Thomas takes over from Gary Shepherd, managing director of Rotary Lift UK, who has served as president for the past year. Thomas, who is currently managing director of GEMCO Equipment Ltd, commented: “The GEA has become recognised as our industry’s body, for example, it’s currently assessing and accrediting vehicle lift installation and service engineers. This accreditation scheme will drive-up the standards within our industry and provides our customers with greater peace of mind. During my term as president I will constantly influence the GEA in improving the standards of the garage equipment industry.”

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Concludes Vredestein Banden Acquisition

The Apollo Tyres acquisition of Vredestein Banden BV, now officially concluded, has been described by Vredestein Banden CEO Rob Oudshoorn as a “win-win combination for both companies.” With all regulatory approvals and place and consent from the Judge of the Dutch Courts granted, Apollo now holds a 100 per cent share in the Netherlands based manufacturer. While official statements on the acquisition give no purchase price for Vredestein-Banden, the Wall Street Journal notes that a ‘person familiar with the situation’ disclosed a sum of 175 million euros.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Supports Aston Martin in the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race

Pirelli tyres are to support Aston Martin in their Nürburgring 24 hour race on the weekend of 23 and 24 May 2009. Pirelli have worked closely with Aston Martin for many years developing and supplying tyres for the DBS, V8 Vantage and in this case on the V12 Vantage. The P Zero Corsa System tyres used on the V12 Vantage road car are derived from the P Zero Corsa race tyres and ensure consistency and provide a tangible performance link between the two.

According to Pirelli, the P Zero Corsa is the ultimate sports version of the P Zero family. It is a highly technical tyre using directional and asymmetric tread patterns to enhance vehicle performance. The fitments on the V12 Vantage race car are 295/645 18 and 305/645 18.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyrepress.com Opens Twitter Account

Tyrepress.com is never one to resist the progress of the times, or indeed another forum through which to deliver important tyre industry news stories to its readers. Therefore, it is with great delight that the industry’s favourite news source announces its new presence on miniature update site, Twitter.com.

Readers of Tyres & Accessories, Tyrepress.com and the Tyrepress.com e-Newsletter are cordially invited to “follow” Tyrepress’ progress here. To do so, all you need is a Twitter profile, from which you can add Tyrepress to the list of fellow tweeters you are following. (The process is much simpler than it is easy to describe!)

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marshal Adopts New Brand Identity

Marshal has adopted a new brand identity. Marshal has been produced by Korean manufacturer Kumho Tire for 25 years ago and is sold in many countries around the world, including Australia, Germany, Italy and the UK – its largest single market.

According to a press release detailing the new brand ID, the smart grey and yellow logo will sometimes be used alone and sometimes in conjunction with the familiar red Marshal background. The new ‘signature’ was reportedly designed to better reflect the clean, high-tech image of the brand’s contemporary product range.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli P Zero Tyre of the Year 2009

Auto Express has named the Pirelli P Zero ‘Tyre of the Year, ahead of three other competing brands. According to the magazine, Pirelli won the award for design a tyre with the best balance of braking and handling in the wet and dry, aquaplaning, rolling resistance and price.

Auto Express commented: “Designing tyres is all about trading off performance in one area for a gain in another However, Pirelli has certainly hit on a winning compromise here, as the P ZeroTM starred not only in the wet, but also in the dry. It topped the times on both handling tracks, plus got the honours in curved aquaplaning. No wonder it inspires confidence when the heavens open. A great all-rounder that thoroughly deserves a place on your car.”

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

GITI to Replace Entire Product Range by 2010

GITI Tire (Europe) B.V. has announced that it will completely replace its passenger car and truck product offerings by the opening months of 2010. The brand overhaul also includes the renewal of GT Radial brand positioning this as the company’s flagship brand identity. During a detailed briefing, the company produced data apparently showing that GITI’s ambitious aims of competing on the same level as the premium tyre manufacturers, with the launch of the new range of products, are now within reach. According to the company, large-scale investment in research and development has enabled GITI to markedly improve its product’s performance compared with the previous generation and – crucially – to be prepared for forthcoming legislative requirements.

Speaking from the company’s European Technical Centre at MIRA in the UK, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the R&D department has been planning compliance to the forthcoming s-marking requirements since 2006 and is on-track to conform to the next round of legislation in 2012.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

John A. Bailey Jr. Receives ASTM Award of Merit

John A. Bailey Jr., quality systems manager at Continental Carbon Co. in Houston, Texas, has received the Award of Merit and accompanying title of fellow from ASTM International. The Award of Merit is ASTM’s highest organizational recognition for individual contributions to ASTM standards activities. ASTM Committee D24 on Carbon Black recognized Bailey for his exceptional leadership and his contributions in the area of sampling and statistical measurements and the development of new analytical standards.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Says Truck Tyre Sales Won’t Improve Before 4Q

Michelin managing partner, Michel Rollier has spoken has predicted that the currently stagnant truck tyre market won’t get any better until at least the closing stages of 2009. Qualifying the depressing news with the positive observation that the passenger car tyre market appears to be showing signs of picking up, Rollier told reporters: “There are some improvements in light-vehicle tyres, but in truck tyres there frankly isn’t much happening at all.”

According to Michelin’s predictions, the global truck-continues its downward spiral in the next two quarters, with the full-year drop likely to be steeper than in 2008, when demand for replacement tyres plunged 9.7 per cent in Europe and 8.2 per cent in North America, according to company data.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Centurion Names New Distributor

Aurora Parts & Accessories, with 400 dealers in its network, has been named a master dealer for Centurion Wheel Manufacturing. Centurion produces wheels for trucks and trailers at produced at factories in China. “We are excited by the prospects afforded by Aurora Parts’ long-established relationships with many leading trailer manufacturers and by its exceptional reputation as a supplier of premium-quality parts,” said Doug Ginder, vice president of Sales at Centurion. “Centurion’s footprint becomes broader as Aurora Parts joins forces with us, providing greater access to the Centurion product line anywhere in the country.”

Aurora Parts is the exclusive distributor of aftermarket semi-trailer parts for Wabash National, Transcraft, Fruehauf, Lufkin and is a supplier of Hyundai Translead parts.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Chrysler Seeks to Cut 789 Dealers

Yesterday in the US, Ailing Chrysler LLC announced plans to cut 789 of its brand dealerships, while struggling General Motors is expected to cut more than 1,100 of its dealers by the end of next week. In a motion filed in US Bankruptcy Court in New York, Chrysler listed the dealers it wants to eliminate, claiming their sales were too low. While many of the dealers also offer other non-Chrysler brands, it is expected that some may take the issue to court.

Dealers were informed via letter – delivered by UPS – that they would lose their Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep brands. A bankruptcy court hearing is scheduled for June 3 to decide Chrysler’s motion to eliminate the dealers. Under bankrutpcy, a company is allowed to vacate contracts, such as car dealer franchise contracts.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Congress Backs Scrappage Initiative

Consumers could get up to $4,500 in a “cash for clunkers” scrappage plan that has gained strong support from the White House and leaders of the US Congress. President Barack Obama has added his voice to the chorus. After House Democrats described the plan at a White House meeting last week, ”the president commended the members for moving forward a plan that will help the American auto industry and provide Americans with cleaner automobiles,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. The price for the market jump start is estimated at $3 billion to $4 billion. Backers want Obama to use money from the economic stimulus, and if extra money is needed, it could come from the emergency war-spending bill. (Akron/Tire Review)

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors