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Goodyear Announces 26th North American Highway Hero

Goodyear has announced the winner of its 26th Goodyear North American Highway Hero Award, honouring Colorado truck driver Jorge Orozco Sanchez. He saved the lives of two young girls after a horrific highway accident last October. The announcement was made at a special awards banquet during the Mid-America Trucking Show. Alongside the award, he also received a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque and a specially designed ring.

An independent owner-operator, Orozco Sanchez was hauling grain on Oct. 28, 2008 on Highway 392, north of Greeley, CO, when an SUV suddenly crossed the centre line and crashed head-on into his tractor-trailer rig. After impact, the truck pushed the SUV backward down the road for about 200 feet. As the vehicles stopped moving, a shaken Orozco Sanchez quickly jumped from his cab and went to the other vehicle. There, with flames already beginning to surround the vehicles, he saw two girls, strapped into their car seats and crying, and a woman up front who was not moving. Working with a passer-by who used a fire extinguisher to fight back the flames, Orozco Sanchez used his knowledge of child car seats – he has two young children – to rescue the two girls.

One of the youngsters was extracted quickly, but the fire was getting bigger and the smoke was so thick he had trouble seeing into the vehicle. He was finally able to remove the other girl, then the truck’s saddle fuel tanks ruptured and exploded, creating an inferno. The 27-year-old mother died in the crash. Orozco Sanchez sustained burns on his arms from the rescue and was taken to a nearby hospital. The fire reduced the cab and the SUV to rubble, also burning the side of a nearby building.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

TIF: UK Tyre Replacement Market Over 34-35 million Units

The Tyre Industry Federation has announced that its estimates put the UK replacement car tyre market at well over 30 million units. The new figures, which include 4×4 and light van tyres, represent the first time an official estimate has been as high as 30 million units annually. The TIF data is based on figures contributed by the tyre manufacturer associations and the Tyre Wholesalers Group of the National Tyre Distributors Association. These indicate that sales into the UK market totalled 29.7 million units in 2007, before imports, retreads and part-worn tyres.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Previews the Australian Grand Prix

The 2009 season of Formula One looks set to usher in a new era for the sport, with rule changes aplenty, a newly-formed and perhaps, dare we say, competitive team for perennial underachiever Jensen Button and – most interestingly in this writer’s opinion – the return of slick tyres from Bridgestone’s Potenza brand for the first time in over eleven years. It is the tyres that are at least partially responsible for the radically overhauled cars this year, which are sure to catch the eye. The latest aerodynamic regulations, designed to reduce downforce, mean that the cars look very different from their counterparts of twelve months ago. Round one of the 2009 World Championship gets under way with the ING Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on 29 March.

Since slick tyres require a new method of marking to designate between compounds, as the previous method of painting one of the grooves with a white line no longer applies, Bridgestone has used the opportunity of launching a new system to show its continued support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign by marking the softer of the two dry compounds available for each race with green sidewall markings. The now renamed “wet” tyre (formerly “extreme” tyre) will also feature a green line in a central groove. As before, two compounds of tyre will be available for every grand prix, with the requirement that both are used in the race. In a change from the previous allocation philosophy employed for the past two seasons, Bridgestone will now bring non-consecutive allocations to most events. For the Australian Grand Prix the medium and super soft tyres have been selected from the range of hard, medium, soft and super soft.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Carlsson Produces “World’s Lightest 21″ Wheel”

German company Carlsson has produced what it claims is the world’s lightest 21″ alloy wheel, the 1/5 Evo Ultra Light. Weighing only 10.8kg, the wheel is 40 per cent lighter than any other cast 21″ wheel, says Carlsson.

This weight reduction was achieved by applying forged technology, whereby the material is so strongly densified that there are no traces of air pores in the aluminium. At the same weight load, this allows a thinner wall, compared to usual rims, resulting in improved handling and driving pleasure.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Range Of Wheels From Wolfrace

Wolfrace has launched a new wheel range – called GB3 – with a new wheel called Racer. Available in three sizes (7.0×16″, 7.5×17″ and 8.0×18″), Racer is a black, 10-spoke design and five of these spokes, along with the rim, are machined and then finished with a durable lacquer.

The GB3 range will consist of five wheels and Wolfrace is offering a three-year warranty on four of these and the fifth, which is a chrome wheel, will be covered by a two-year warranty. This extended warranty has been made possible, says Wolfrace, by a combination of uncompromising quality control standards and up-to-the-minute manufacturing techniques, achieving German TÜV certification in the process.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Think Signs Up Dutch EV Deal

Electric vehicle manufacturer Think has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deliver up to 500 TH!NK city electric-powered vehicles this year to ElmoNet, a subsidiary of Mobility Service Netherlands.
With the Dutch Parliament calling for the rapid introduction of EVs (electric vehicles), the Minister of Transport, Mr. Camiel Eurlings, earlier this year announced a fund of 10 million Euros to be made available to support the large scale, early introduction of electric mobility.

“Ambitious visions and concrete measures are required to make the Netherlands the most important experimental garden for electric mobility” says Marjan Minnesma, Director of Urgenda. Urgenda is an active foundation that aims to transform the Netherlands into a model for sustainable development.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Plimsoll Reports Suggest Acquisition “Opportunity”

Plimsoll analysts have announced a new report suggesting that the UK tyres, exhausts and batteries industry is rife with opportunity, despite a record number of companies losing money, and overall business values plummeting to the extent that almost half are now worth less than half their value of 12 months ago. The new study suggests that the current economic downturn represents “one of the biggest opportunities in a generation, if you have the courage and the capital.”

The study rates each of the UK’s leading 1,000 tyres, exhausts and batteries companies on their acquisition attractiveness, finding 103 companies “ripe for the picking” based on a combined scoring system incorporating overall financial strength, ownership, valuation and future potential. These 103 companies are all privately owned, yet are showing a serious deterioration in the financial performance. Given the reluctance of the banks to lend more, their time, money and options are running out.

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

JK Announces New Indian Tubeless Range

JK Tyre today announced the launch of its new Ultima NXT tubeless tyre range. With sizes suitable for the Maruti 800, Maruti Wagon R, Maruti Zen, Zen Estio, Alto and Hyundai Santro, the new range represents an attempt by the Indian manufacturer to grab a larger slice of the domestic small car pie.

“With the launch of Ultima NXT, we demonstrate our leadership in advance technology in tyres. The unique features of the Ultima NXT range of tyres include high control, smooth and silent drive. This captures all the benefits of the product and the experience we would like to give to the customer,” states company marketing director A S Mehta.

The tyres boast hydroplaning channels for increased wet handling and anti-aquaplaning. They are also equipped with the company’s new “Unique Split Wing” design which aims to provide better dry and wet traction.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Presents Millionth Energy Saver to PSA Peugeot Citroën

The Auto Channel reports that on Monday 9 March, 2009, Michelin presented PSA Peugeot Citroën with the millionth Michelin Energy Saver tyre, reaffirming the strategic partnership between the two groups. The Energy Saver made its debut exclusively on the Peugeot 308 in 2007.

Michelin states that its ‘green’ technological solution “generates fuel savings of nearly 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined cycle driving, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions of nearly 4 grams per kilometre.” In recognition, it states of its “performance and the exceptional teamwork demonstrated by the partners,” PSA Peugeot Citroën presented Michelin with an Innovation award in May 2006. Today, this tyre technology is widely deployed on a large number of Peugeot and Citroën vehicles.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin India Launches Primacy LC

With a view to increase its market share in the high-performance tyre segment, Michelin today launched its new product for the Indian market. “With the launch of ‘Primacy LC’ tyre, we are hopeful of increasing our market share in high-performance tyre segment significantly,” Michelin India CEO Jean Paul Caylar said in a statement. The new tyre is set to become the company’s next ‘best seller’ in Asia Pacific, he said, replacing its previous generation Energy MXV8 tyre.

The new product is aimed at cars such as Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb, Skoda Laura, Toyota Innova, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Maruti SX4 Zxi.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Black Ice Alloys Introduces New “Marauder”

Black Ice Alloys has announced the presence of a new wheel in its range. The aggressively-named “B4 – Marauder” features a black and chrome finish with six chrome spokes raised up against six black spokes. The Marauder has fitments for most Truck/SUV and passenger vehicles, and is available in 22×8.5 and 20×8.5 sizes.

Black Ice states that “consumer demand for custom finishes on aftermarket wheels [is] at an all-time high,” and the B4 is clearly an attempt to create a visually impressive fitment. The contrasting black and chrome appearance, says the company, is “sure to draw in customers from all demographics.” The company also stresses the durability of its black paint and chrome finish, saying that “it will not separate from the wheel.”

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mayfield Back at Del-Nat…as President

Well-traveled tyre executive Jim Mayfield has been named president of Del-Nat Tire Corp., returning to the company he once served as marketing vice president. Mayfield took over for Ed Fabrizio, who left the private brander last December without explanation. Mayfield was marketing vice president for Del-Nat from 2004 to 2006, and subsequently held posts with Stamford Tyres and most recently with Yokohama Tire Corp.

Prior to joining Del-Nat in 2004, Mayfield held marketing and sales management posts with Continental Tire North America and Michelin North America. Dick Erickson, Del-Nat chairman, said, “Jim’s level of knowledge in our industry combined with an intimate understanding of our company makes him the right choice to lead Del-Nat to future growth and success.” (Tire Review/Akron)

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

State Officials Clash on Goodyear Topeka Request

Kansas officials have reportedly disagreed over a decision whether to respond affirmatively to a request from Goodyear to provide nearly $38 million in state aid, in order to continue operating from the company’s plant in Topeka. The tyre manufacturer says that it will commit to $250 million-worth of spending on equipment upgrades at the plant if Kansas is willing to offer its suggested incentives. Goodyear says that without the upgrades, up to 700 jobs may have to be cut.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Test Twice More before NASCAR Indianapolis

Following the tyre problems witnessed at last year’s Indianapolis NASCAR round, at which teams were forced to pit after every ten laps for fresh rubber, Goodyear will test its tyres at the Motor Speedway twice more this year. The additional tests join the two already performed, and are scheduled for April and June. The Allstate 400 will be run on 26 July.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess to Continue “Green Tyre” Development

Plastics & Rubber Weekly has reported that Lanxess is to press on with its development of reduced rolling resistance tyres including the rubber additive nanoprene, which is said to reduce wear without a similar reduction in grip. The plastics news source reports from Dusseldorf that Lanxess chairman Axel Heitmann told journalists at the company’s annual press conference on Tuesday 18 March that the company was well placed to deal with financial problems such as the 32 per cent decline in volume experienced by Lanxess’ performance polymers business.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors