The ‘REDI-Sensor’ tyre pressure monitoring system marketed under Continental’s VDO brand has been sold in North America for the last three years, and the automotive supplier claims the product has enjoyed great success there. Now, with EU Regulation 523/2012 coming into effect in little over one year from now, the company is rolling out REDI-Sensor here in Europe. The multi-application TPMS sensor will be introduced into the European market in summer 2014.
The e-bulletin of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation quotes a story in the Oxford Mail, where Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron has been told of the need for regulation in the independent motoring trade by a businessman from his constituency.
Michelin’s confirmed interest in the Formula One tyre supply deal may have caused a stir, but it appears the French brand’s approach remains limited to detailing its desire for regulation changes to governing body, the FIA. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the sport’s teams currently have a deal with Pirelli, and Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has suggested that fewer changes at this stage would be welcome, considering the regulation changes already due to take place this winter.
Driving across Europe requires drivers to conform to a number of different local laws and regulations – the legal requirement to fit winter tyres in northern European countries including Germany in cold season conditions will be a familiar one to readers of Tyrepress.com. However a new survey by the ColinAppleyard.com car dealership chain suggests that nearly every British driver would break at least one national motoring regulation. The chain said that many British drivers are not only unaware of speed limits on foreign roads, but also of other vital regulations such as mandatory safety equipment.
Ghana’s National Road Safety Commission wishes to clarify comments it recently made, comments that were widely interpreted as heralding a ban on part-worn tyres within the country.
Bosch Car Service has become one of the first associations supporting a new UK-wide scheme to strengthen industry self-regulation. The Bosch Car Service national network of independent garages, comprising of over 500 members in the UK and Ireland, intends to provide motorists with an alternative to main dealer car servicing and repair, for all vehicle makes and models.
Pirelli has announced that it will revert to its 2012 construction P Zero Formula One tyres in time for the Hungarian grand prix. For this weekend’s German grand prix only it will provide teams with rear tyres constructed with Kevlar belts at the Nürburgring. Pirelli says the aim of this is to reduce the tyres’ susceptibility to cuts, while Kevlar has the advantage of reducing the working temperature of tyres by around 10 degrees Centigrade. The concern remains that this may alter the competitiveness of some teams’ cars. The reduced damage resistance and hotter running of the steel belt construction tyres are thought to have been two of the factors leading to the high profile tyre failures witnessed at Silverstone.
In accordance with the new regulations in the FIA European Rally Championship (FIA ERC), Michelin launched its latest range of asphalt rally tyres at the GEKO Ypres Rally between 27 and 29 June. The French tyre maker describes the new Michelin Pilot Sport R range as “streamlined” and “cost-effective” – music to the ears of ERC organisers, whose proposal to restrict tyre usage as of the Ypres Rally was agreed upon by the FIA on 24 May. Organiser Eurosport Events says these measures have been implemented to “reduce the cost of competing in the flagship competition.” This decision followed new tyre regulations introduced by the FIA on 1 May.
Mercedes and Pirelli have been reprimanded for their roles in the controversial tyre test in Barcelona, which followed the pit stop-heavy action of the Spanish grand prix. BBC chief F1 writer Andrew Benson reports that the FIA found Mercedes to be in breach of Formula One rules and subsequently banned the team from taking part in this year’s young driver test at Silverstone on 17-19 July. The BBC reports that the FIA, Mercedes and Pirelli will share equally the costs of the investigation.
Mercedes and Pirelli are waiting for the FIA’s decision on whether any rules were broken during the controversial tyre test that took place in Barcelona in the week after the Spanish grand prix. Pirelli counsel Dominique Dumas contends that it cannot be subject to the FIA’s jurisdiction as it is a supplier, though the FIA has responded that Pirelli’s contract binds the tyre supplier by Formula One regulations.
Established as a leading Chinese tyre brand, GT Radial continues to develop higher performance products through an increasing emphasis on R&D investment, and, in the UK specifically, with its brand experience days for dealers hosted by the company’s European Testing Centre at Mira. Tyres & Accessories’ visit, where the performance of TBR and off-road 4×4 products were demonstrated by the company’s test drivers alongside the highest performing PCR models that are the focus of this article. When T&A spoke with ETC head Eddie Young, who is involved with GT Radial manufacturer Giti Tire’s R&D operations around the world, he played up the growing strength of the brand in this area, which now has close to 300 full-time R&D personnel. The strategy of hiring ex-pats from premium brands has led to an experienced, multinational knowledge base, which is allowing GT Radial to pursue cross-segment original equipment goals in Europe, where it “is already competing for PCR” deals, according to Young.
Bridgestone’s voluntary efforts to reduce carbon emissions have been praised by the Freight Transport Association. The tyre maker shares that FTA climate change policy manager Rachael Dillon has “welcomed” the work Bridgestone is carrying out, following the Department for Transport’s overall commendation of self-regulation across the sector.
Hankook and European touring car racing series DTM have signed an extension to their official tyre supplier deal, extending the partnership until at least 2016. DTM’s organisers have been sufficiently satisfied by the development of Hankook’s Ventus line of motorsport tyres to sign the deal ahead of schedule, while the Korean tyre manufacturer is keen to sustain the brand value and premium brand status it derives in part from this deal. Hankook added an all new option tyre specification this season, which it president & chief marketing officer/chief corporate management officer at believes allows the company to demonstrate the brand’s performance on premium brand vehicles.
Starting from 2016, antilock braking systems (ABS) will be introduced as standard equipment for an increasing number of motorcycles in the EU. At the beginning of March, the European Union passed legislation to this effect, with the objective of further reducing traffic accident figures. In 2011 alone, around 5,000 motorcyclists were killed on Europe's roads. "A standard-fit ABS can prevent more than one-quarter of all motorcycle accidents with personal injuries," is how Gerhard Steiger, president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division, sums up the findings of a Bosch accident study.
On 1 March, Titan International announced its intention to offer through a private placement, subject to market and other conditions, US$275 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.875 per cent Senior Secured Notes due 2017. The tyre maker says it intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the existing indebtedness of certain of its indirect subsidiaries under the European credit facilities assumed as part of its acquisition of Titan Europe Plc in the fourth quarter of 2012. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include financing potential future acquisitions and the repayment of other existing obligations.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
