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Cooper Appoints New General Manager to Mexican JV Operation

In late March Cooper Tire & Rubber announced the appointment of Jeffrey J. Schumaker as general manager of the company’s manufacturing joint venture in Mexico, Corporacion de Occidente. Schumaker joined Cooper in 1988 and has served as tyre testing manager, and sport-utility vehicle and light truck tyre development manager in the US and as technical liaison manager in Melksham. Following his time in the UK he held the position of business unit manager in Albany, Georgia, and, most recently, as director of quality systems. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degrees in manufacturing management and operations management.

6th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Continues European Website Rollout With Greek Site

Toyo Tires’ rollout of European-language websites continues with the launch of its new Greek site, www.toyotire.gr, at the end of March. The decision to focus on this particular site was taken, says Toyo, as Greek visitors are amongst the most frequent users of the company’s European website despite the country’s relatively small population compared to other European nations and the fact this website is only available in English. The new Greek language site provides information on Toyo’s entire Greek market product, technology and company information plus the latest news.

6th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Brings forward P7 Cinturato Launch

Pirelli has launched a new version of its P7 tyre – the P7 Cinturato. In addition to offering the kind of high performance edge characteristic of the Pirelli brand, the new tyre features a 20 per cent reduction in rolling resistance which, according to company figures, results in a 4 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. Pirelli’s decision to offer a high performance eco-tyre is immaculately timed as it follows the first reading publication of new EU laws raising the bar in terms of rolling resistance, noise pollution and wet-braking performance – all areas that Pirelli’s R&D department have improved upon the standard product in the development of the P7 Cinturato.

The launch of the new tyre, which was originally scheduled for 2010, was brought forward a year in light of the new regulations and following unprecedented drops in tyre sales at the end of 2008 and through the first quarter of 2009. With this in mind the launch can also be seen as a kind or proactive market impetus – offering tyre customers and end-consumers a something of high quality and performance that also offers potential fuel savings and ecological benefits. Green tyres are not new, but till now they have largely been combined to smaller cars and have reportedly conceded performance for fuel economy. Pirelli officially presented the Cinturato P7 at the Nardò International Test Track on 3 April.

6th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni to Restructure “Tyre Retreading” Business Area

“Our company, like other companies that operate in the tyre sector, is not, and has not been, an island in itself.“ With these words, Brenno Benaglia explains the reach of the current economic recession and its consequences, which are shaping up to be structural rather than cyclical. Despite a clear cut in truck and passenger car retread production and sales figures, the sales & marketing director for Marangoni’s Tyre Retreading business area points out that the Italian company is sticking to the growth and expansion strategy it presented two years ago.

6th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Recalls Motorcycle Tyres

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation is recalling 957 Bridgestone Exedra G850 G motorcycle tyres, size 180/70R16 77H, sold as OE on 2008 and 2009 Triumph Rocket III Touring motorcycles. The very high torque Rocket III motorcycle can cause torque-induced degradation in a body ply, which may result in the tyre’s inner liner cracking, leading to a slow leak in the rear tyre only. Affected tyres can begin to vibrate at moderate speeds, producing the risk of a crash.

BATO and Triumph are working to notify owners, and will replace defective tyres – and the matching front tires – free of charge. Owners can contact BATO at 800-465-1904, or NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety hotline at 888-327-4236. (Tire Review/Akron)

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Automotive Industry Optimism Sees Shares Rising

Automotive sector stocks in Europe and Asia soared on April 2 following the release of positive data. Shares in BMW, Daimler and Renault jumped 14.5 per cent, 13.6 per cent, and 12.8 per cent, respectively, while shares in Michelin increased 14.4 per cent. Shares in Continental AG are said to have risen by a similar amount. Investors have been encouraged by US vehicle sales, which jumped by nearly 25 per cent last month from February.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ATD Building $4 Million Distribution Facility

American Tire Distributors announced it will expand its presence in Augusta, Georgia with the construction of a $4 million, 81,000 square foot distribution facility. The new facility, which has been in planning stages for four years, will result in 30 new jobs. ATD currently has a 15,600 square foot facility, which employs 10 people, in the city.

“Our new facility in Augusta will allow us to be much more efficient in distributing tyres to our customers in this area,” said Dick Johnson, CEO and president of ATD, explaining that the new distribution center will be in a prime location for ATD trucks, as well as those of pick-up customers. (Tire Review/Akron)

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Retailer ‘Big 10 Tires’ Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Southeast US based independent tyre retailer Big 10 Tire Stores has filed for ‘Chapter 11’ bankruptcy protection. In a statement released on April 2, the company said that it has “filed voluntary petitions for reorganisation under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the district of Delaware.”

The company reports it has “adequate cash” to continue paying for the day-to-day goods and services it needs to operate and to serve its customers following the securing of financing from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners. The petition was filed, Big 10 adds, to improve its capital structure and reduce debt, strengthen its financial and competitive position, and ultimately to get the business back on a growth track. The company says it will operate as usual at its retail locations during the reorganisation period, and will continue to honour all product and service warranties.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Tyres supports Formula Student teams

Avon Tyres Motorsport is supporting Formula Student competitions around the world by offering a preferential rate on its Formula Student-specific tyres to any colleges and universities who take part in the events. Run in the UK by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and known internationally as Formula SAE, the Formula Student concept pits educational institutions from around the world against each other in order to promote excellence in engineering.

Teams from as far afield as India, Russia and Canada will join establishments from across Europe at Silverstone in July, with over 100 universities hoping to take part in Formula Student 2009. All will have to design and build a small single-seater racing car to perform well in several areas including sprinting, acceleration, skid pan, endurance and economy tests, as well as being judged on the car’s design, cost and presentation.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein Receives “Binding Offer” for Vredestein Banden

A buyer for Vredestein Banden has been found. In a written statement released on April 1, holding company Amtel-Vredestein N.V. says it has received a “binding offer from an industry player” for the purchase of the total share capital of Vredestein Banden BV. According to company CEO Rob Oudshoorn, the agreement is “very binding”, and it is “highly unlikely” that an acquisition of Vredestein shares would fail.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Takes on British Formula 3 from Avon

This Easter the British Formula 3 season will begin with a new tyre supplier and title sponsor as the country’s premier single-seater racing championship becomes known as the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series. One of the world’s most successful championships for aspiring Formula 1 drivers, stars including Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton all raced in the series on their way to the top of the sport. And after 27 years of racing exclusively on Avon Tyres, this year’s supply will switch to Cooper Tire – a brand that has a well established reputation in US motorsport.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Fedima Offers ”Widest Product Line-Up“

The retreading market is – just like the new tyre market – highly diversified. A retreading market segment that usually doesn’t automatically spring to mind, even though it offers retreaders good sales opportunities and kudos aplenty, is motorsports. It is this specific market segment that the leading Portuguese retreader, R31, with focusing on with its “Fedima” retreading brand. Furthermore, as the company’s German distribution partner points out, Fedima – a Bridgestone Qualitread retreading partner – has in particular acquired a reputation for its 4×4 and light truck tyre retreads for road and off-road applications. R31, or rather Fedima, as the company is usually and simply called, continues to invest into these market segments.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Q1 2009 Sales Down following 2008 Sales Growth

At the Nokian Tyres’ Annual General Meeting, held on April 2, company president and CEO Kim Gran announced that first quarter 2009 net sales are clearly lower than in the first quarter of 2008 and a net loss is expected. On a more positive note, Gran estimates that the first quarter will be the weakest of the year, and Nokian Tyres’ sales will increase during the other quarters. Full year net sales in 2009 will, however, be weaker than in 2008.

Last year proved to be Nokian Tyres’ 17th consecutive year of profitable sales growth, the company president and CEO told AGM attendees. Net sales of 1.08 billion euros for the financial year ending December 31, 2008 represent a 5.5 per cent increase on 2007 results, and operating profit increased a similar amount

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MAK Presents New Wheel, Mistral

MAK has announced that it has released its first oriented design wheel, the Mistral 5. The shape and the inclination of the spokes show off the wheel’s oriented design. It has a square, straight structure with the spokes perpendicular to the external rim. The difference is then on the surface of the spoke, where there is a diamond insert. The basis of the spoke, anthracite colour, is wider, but it looks thinner thanks to the superficial diamond colour and slight design that lighten the spoke, says the manufacturer.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Japspeed Named New Maxxis Drift Partner

Maxxis has announced that it will be supporting Team Japspeed in the British Drift Championship (BDC), European Drift Championship (EDC) and Pro Drift Series this season. All of the team’s cars will carry Maxxis livery and will be using the MA-ZI Drift tyre, based on the road-going version but incorporating a specially developed high temperature silicone rubber compound for long life and the all-important smoke that increases the number of points scored.

“We’re aiming to capitalise on the growing enthusiasm for drifting in the UK to build awareness of the Maxxis brand and promote the quality, performance and value of our high performance range,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin. “This season our partners will be using the MA-Z1 Drift tyre, which has been developed specifically for the sport, but is also street legal, and we are looking forward to some good performances across the country’s premier drifting series.”

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors