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Recession Spoils BEN’s Appetite for Annual Lunch

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and for automotive industry charity BEN a dearth of funds in this period of recession has led to the cancellation of its 2009 lunch event. The BEN Annual Lunch, a thank you to supporters that have helped the charity over the previous year, is normally sponsored so as to not divert money from the main business of care and welfare. BEN reports, however, that the recession has affected its fundraising income, and that in these “difficult times” even its traditional supporters have needed to cut their costs.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Encourages Tyre Pressure Checks for Bikers

Avon Tyres is urging bikers across the UK to ensure their tyres are properly inflated, warning of the sever drops in performance that can be the result of having incorrect air volumes inflating the rubber. The announcement has been made to coincide with May Bank Holiday weekend, when the crack of leather on willow is matched by the roar of the motorcycle, heralding the start of the biking summer. Having racked up a century of motorcycle tyre experience, Avon wants to make sure bikers aren’t caught on a sticky wicket in this busy period.

Peter McNally, Avon Tyres’ technical product manager for motorcycle tyres, says, “Tyre pressures on a motorcycle are critical to the safety of the rider aboard it – there’s no other way of putting it. The tyre’s connection with the road has to be perfect and if the tyre is under inflated after a winter’s lay-off, the bike will not handle properly and it could be dangerous.”

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Respect Rating Reaffirms Goodyear’s Public Esteem

Respect is a much sought after commodity, as any fan of ‘The Godfather’ film trilogy can testify. Any company capable of earning and keeping the buying public’s respect holds a value tool no PR firm can replicate with slick campaigns. According to the Reputation Institute (RI) and Forbes magazine, Goodyear Tire and Rubber is one such firm – for the second year in a row it has been recognised as America’s most respected automotive company.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Cuts Ribbon on Thai Proving Ground

Less than two years’ after being granted approval by the Thailand Board of Investment, Yokohama Rubber has officially opened its ‘Tire Test Center of Asia’ proving ground in Rayong Province. Work began on the 2.5 billion yen centre in September 2007 and the site was ready for use last December. Although the opening ceremony was not held until April 30, tyre testing has been performed at the proving ground since January 2009.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheels of Middle East Tyre Market “Set to Keep Turning in 2009”

According to the organiser of Automechanika Middle East, the exhibition’s host country retains a strong tyre industry despite the global slowdown. Dubai’s direct trade in tyres, it says, was valued at more than AED 6.6 billion (US $1.8 billion) in 2008, an increase of 12 per cent from 2007. And organiser EPOC Messe Frankfurt GmbH believes that “even with the economic downturn catching up, wheels of the tyre market in the UAE are set to keep turning in 2009” – and thus it has high hopes for the exhibition, which opens on May 31 and runs until June 2 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Auto Industry Slump “Left Scars” on Conti’s Performance

Upon announcing its first quarter 2009 results, Continental AG stated that the slump in worldwide vehicle production has “left scars” on the company’s performance, with consolidated sales dropping “sharply.” The company reports its Automotive Group sales decreased in tandem with market developments, while the decline in Rubber Group sales was much less severe as to aftermarket sector sales account for a larger percentage of business. Despite the recent undertaking of the largest cost reduction programme in the company’s history, the highly negative sales trend helped push EBIT performance into the red.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyrexpo Africa to Add Industry Conference to 2010 Show

Plans for a tyre industry conference held as part of the next staging of Tyrexpo Africa in Johannesburg in March 2010, have been announced by event organisers ECI International. ECI wants to extend the scope and pulling power of the exhibition and has been encouraged to add a conference session by exhibitors and partners in South Africa. The one day conference will focus on key issues in tyre and rubber manufacturing, tyre retailing, developments in technology and the impact of new legislation. Keynote speakers will be drawn from the South African industry, together with major international players. The third staging of Tyrexpo Africa will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg on 4, 5 and 6 March 2010.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Scores Highly at European Rallycross in Kent

Avon Tyres, a brand owned and manufactured by Cooper Tire, dominated the opening round of the 2009 FIA European Rallycross Championship at Lydden circuit, in Kent. In a championship where tyre choice is completely open and where tyres have to provide traction on both asphalt and gravel on every lap, Avon reports that the popularity of its selection has increased over recent seasons. 37 of the 38 drivers who scored at Lydden use Avon Tyres.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Team Maxxis Bike Victorious over Time Attack Impreza

Modified Live, an event held on the weekend of 25 April, 2009 at Oulton Park witnessed saw the Team Maxxis Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike pitched against a modified Subaru Impreza to answer an eternal question: which is faster, four wheels or two. Following an early downpour and a last minute change to the programme, which saw the original car – a Norris Design SWB Mitsubishi Evo – replaced by a Subaru Impreza, driven by 2009 Time Attack Pro Class Champion, Olly Clark, from Roger Clark Motorsport.

Under official timed trials, provided by Timing Solutions Limited, Clark was the first to take to the track. He drove his 2009 RCM 850bhp Impreza around three laps of the shorter Island circuit, recording 1:27:588 on his second. Unperturbed by the Impreza’s time, Team Maxxis rider Dave Johnson took to the circuit, and by the start of lap two, felt comfortable enough to open the throttle of the 185 bhp Superbike, finishing his second lap in a time of 1:25:566, 2.022 seconds faster than the RCM Impreza.

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vredestein Launches Ultrac Cento

Dutch tyre manufacturer Vredestein has launched the new Ultrac Cento high performance tyre. At the launch, Vredestein UK managing director, Stuart Jackson explained that the company is aiming its latest tyre at the kind of high mileage, high performance motorists that drive Mercedes, Audis and other 16 to 17-inch 45 to 55 series fitments.

The Centro is 20 per cent lighter than its predecessor and has been developed with compliance to the new EU noise, wet grip and rolling resistance regulations that are scheduled for introduction in 2012. Therefore, as you would expect, it includes a –SW (noise and wet grip) mark on its sidewall signifying this. It is Y-rated, indicating that its can cope with speeds up to 300 km/h, and is already available in 13 sizes. This includes two run-flat fitments – 225/50 R17 94Y and 225/45 R17 91Y.

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Supports UK Flood Rescue Team

Goodyear UK is to sponsor the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Flood Rescue Team, funding a raft of specialist training and equipment, synergistically linking the manufacturer’s emphasis on safety with its charity work. The RNLI’s Flood Rescue Team is a uniquely trained arm of the RNLI, able to operate worldwide to assist in rescues in flood hit areas. Having raised money for the charity in the past through tyre sales, Goodyear states that it is pleased to be taking the relationship a step further by supporting this vital service.

Goodyear UK brand manager Michelle Fisher said, “Through our previous fundraising for the RNLI we learned about the inland work carried out by the Flood Response Team, and the amazing help that they have given so many people in areas that you wouldn’t necessarily think could be affected by such dangers. There is great synergy between our organisations due to our own commitment to safety – our wet weather specialist tyres are designed to save people’s lives in wet conditions, RNLI volunteer crew members save people at sea around the coasts of UK and ROI every day.”

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Sponsors Fast Show

Marangoni continued their 2009 brand support programme by taking title sponsorship of The Marangoni Fast Show at Santa Pod Raceway at the end of March.

This unique event is recognised in UK tuning and enthusiast circles as the first real opportunity of the year to show off and view some of the country’s most modified and tuned cars. It is a key event that is greatly supported by clubs and individuals from the length and breadth of Great Britain. The weekend weather was fantastically spring-like which added even more to the already huge crowd, estimated at well over 20,000 people.

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Belshina Boosting its Presence in Canada

Ukrainian tyre manufacturer Belshina is attempting to strengthen its position in the Canadian market. The Belarusian Telegraph Agency reports that Beltyre, Belshina’s export business, has opened an official representative office in Vancouver and from this base will work towards boosting sales through the promotion of tyres best suited to the market.

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Reforecast Sees Toyo Sales Downwardly Revised

Toyo Tire & Rubber has made several revisions to its consolidated and non-consolidated performance forecasts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. The company’s previous forecasts were announced on February 9, 2009. Consolidated forecast net sales for the year have dropped four billion yen to 328 billion (£2.3 billion), while operating income has been downwardly adjusted by a billion yen to minus three billion (-£21.2 million). Net income, now forecast to be minus 10.8 billion yen (-£76.4), is up from February’s estimate of minus 12.7 billion.

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dubai Group Voices Interest in Conti’s Clairoix Plant

A Dubai based company has been named as a potential purchaser of Continental’s soon to be closed Clairoix factory in France. Representatives from both the tyre manufacturer and the Moaffaq Al Gaddah (MAG) Group have confirmed talks are already underway between the two parties, although specific details are still under wraps.

28th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors