Report Archives - Page 36 of 59 - Tyrepress

Posts

Michelin: European Tyre Volumes Strong in July

Passenger tyre demand increased by 7 per cent in Europe and by 9 per cent in North America, mostly driven by OE demand of +11 per cent and +21 per cent respectively. According to a Deutsche Bank report, July truck tyre demand remained strong in Europe, growing 9 per cent (a positive trend confirmed by truck OEMs who are trying to secure tyre deliveries for 2008) and in Brazil, where volumes rocketed 23 per cent. However, truck tyre demand remains extremely weak in North America (down 13 per cent). According to the analysts this was driven by the very weak OE – down 36 per cent – manufacturers had expected. However, overall July was reportedly a strong month especially for European companies.

5th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

39 per cent of Saudi Car Crashes Caused By Worn Tyres

The illegal Saudi Arabian worn tyre trade is reportedly thriving despite the implementation of deterrent fines. According to an Arab News report that quote official statistics, used tyres cause 39 per cent of car accidents in the country every year. The people involved in such accidents said to be generally families travelling at high speeds in their cars on tyres they believe are safe. The lack of awareness of the importance of tyre safety in the region is exemplified by the fact that several media reports have been needed to warn drivers of the risk of using second hand worn tyres, or factory-rejected new tyres.

“The summer is the most important season for us, since tyres get damaged as a result of high temperatures,” said Mohamed Thabet, a Yemeni worker at a local tyre shop. Stacked on the wall of his shop were used tyres for sale — some of them so worn that frayed strands of fibre can be seen in patches, Arab News reported.

4th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Burst Tyre Sparks Gun Battle

A burst tyre is an inconvenience no matter where it occurs, but at least motorists in the UK don’t have to worry about this…..

The education minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed territory between India and Pakistan, narrowly escaped with his life after army troops mistook the sound of a tyre rapidly deflating to be a militant attack and began indiscriminately firing their weapons throughout the convoy of vehicles in which he was travelling.

Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed was en route to the wedding of a colleague’s son when the heavily worn tyre fitted to a military vehicle escorting the entourage burst. Soldiers in the vicinity, accustomed to the regional tensions with neighbouring Pakistan and the odd tussle with Islamic separatists, wasted no time in responding to the tyre’s loud, gunshot-like report.

3rd September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

AASA Sees Aftermarket Growing

(Akron/Tire Review) A new report by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) says that the US light vehicle automotive aftermarket industry is expected to grow over the next several years, with the largest increase predicted for 2007.

A detailed analysis of the size of the aftermarket is included in the 2007-2008 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report.

According to AASA, the value of the light vehicle aftermarket (parts and labour) will break the $200 billon mark within the next few years. The light vehicle aftermarket reached $185.2 billion in 2006, a 2.9 per cent increase over 2005. AASA estimates the light vehicle aftermarket will finish 2007 at nearly $193 billion, an increase of 4.0 per cent.

29th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz Names Yost Executive Vice President

Hayes Lemmerz International has promoted vice president, finance and chief financial officer to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Along with gaining the world “executive” to his title Mr. Yost is responsible for the company’s global finance and information technology functions, and will continue to report to Curtis J. Clawson, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board.

The global wheel and automotive component manufacturer states that Mr. Yost has strengthened the company’s finance team and enhanced internal accounting controls across the Company. Furthermore, Hayes Lemmerz gives Mr. Yost much credit for the success of the recent equity rights offering and debt refinancing, which raised new equity, retired high cost debt, and strengthened the company’s balance sheet.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

AirBoss Passes the “Ultimate Test”

AirBoss, the UK based segmented tyre manufacturer, is putting its tyres through what may well be the ultimate test.…they have been fitted to machinery used and most likely sometimes abused by over-energetic children at the Diggerland theme park in Kent! The company has been collaborating with the JCB-inspired theme park to replace its pneumatic tyres with AirBoss segmented tyres. The trial began in June and AirBoss report that the results to date have been extremely positive and have led to significant cost savings for the park.

Segmented tyres have been fitted to the ‘JCB Robot’ ride, a skid steer vehicle controlled via joysticks. The control system places the tyres under extreme pressure and provides a thorough test of performance and durability. Reports produced by Diggerland indicate that punctures and ‘down-time’ have been virtually eliminated since the AirBoss segmented tyres were fitted, with a 100 per cent reduction reported in the first two months of the trial. During the same period, standard pneumatic tyres reportedly experienced have numerous punctures, leading to downtime, replacement tyre costs and lost revenue.

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ayce Systems Hits the Road

Yorkshire based manufacturer and supplier of Smart Repair Systems, Ayce Systems, has acquired and equipped a demonstration vehicle to highlight the full extent of the company’s services to existing and potential customers who find it difficult or inconvenient to visit their offices, demonstration and training facilities in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

The vehicle has been fully equipped with every Ayce Smart Repair system, including the Wheelrite Pro alloy wheel repair and refurbishment machine. Technical services manager Dave Allen commented, “Customers who visit us are invariably impressed with the facilities and the range of our products. However, we accept visiting Yorkshire is not always convenient and can be time consuming. Now, if we get an enquiry in the South of England, for example, we can go and visit them. As far as I am aware this is a unique service within the Smart Repair industry.”

15th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Thieves Target Lincolnshire Tyre Shops

Police are looking for information that will determine whether the burglaries at two neighbouring Lincolnshire tyre shops on August 12 or 13 are connected. The break-ins took place in Guash Way, Stamford, and police were initially alerted after an alarm at Kingsway Tyres was activated at about 2.15am on Monday August 13. After gaining access to the premises the thieves were defeated by the building’s internal door, and they are not believed to have stolen anything.

The start of the business week revealed that the Hi Q outlet in the same street was also broken into some time between the Saturday and Monday. The back door of the fast fit outlet had been forced open and cash was stolen from a drawer and from a safe.

Lincolnshire police are trying to establish if the burglaries were committed by the same people and at the same time, and have asked to hear from persons who witnessed any suspicious activity in Guash Way over the weekend, particularly between 1.30am and 2.30am on Monday. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 01780 752222, quoting Incident Number 97 of August 13. Those who wish to make an anonymous report can do so to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

15th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Iran Designs Nano Tyres

International News, Product News

Iran’s Polymer and Petrochemical Institute incorporated “highly friction-resistant” nanotechnology into the development of vehicle and aircraft tyres. According to a Meridian Institute report, Iranian researcher Mohammad Karrabi said: “In this method, the frictional resistance of tyres has been increased through calculating the mechanical characteristics of them. Lower rolling resistance and higher frictional resistance will lead to less fuel consumption.” He also said that the use of nanotechnology will help Iran’s automobile manufacturers compete in the market. The project, which was launched with support from the Presidential Office last year, will be completed by next year.

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Steve Cundy to Head Cooper Passenger Car Division

Steve Cundy, European Business Development Director, has been named the new head of Cooper Tire’s UK passenger car sales team. Cundy, a veteran of 36 years, first with Avon Tyres and then with Cooper Tire Europe, will have overall responsibility for Avon and Cooper brand replacement tyre sales for the sector. The new role will be in addition to Steve’s existing European Business Development, OE and Private Brand responsibilities.

Two other long-serving Cooper men will report directly to Steve Cundy in his new role. They are National Accounts Director, Ian Daniels, who has been with the company for 19 years, and Jason Clarke, UK Sales Manager for Regional Accounts, who has notched up nine years of service.

Cooper’s National Accounts team will also receive some new blood in the shape of James Steventon and Adrian Aynsley, who have joined as National Accounts Managers.

13th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ceat to Cut Costs Through Plant Relocation

Ceat Ltd. intends to move its factory located in the Mumbai suburb of Bhandup to Patalganga, near the city of Thane and around 30km northeast of Mumbai. According to a report published in India’s Economic Times on August 8, the main motivation behind the proposed shift is to reduce costs and bring down the amount spent on local ‘octroi’ taxes.

The almost half-century old factory will be dismantled and relocated in phases, and CEAT has already decided upon the sale of 6.5 acres of surplus land at the plant site. At current real estate prices the site’s entire 31 acres may well fetch up to Rs 5 billion (£61 million) when disposed of.

“It is the reality of life. The company has to shift out tomorrow if not today,” said Ceat managing director Paras Chowdhary. Ceat, a company achieving a net profit of Rs 390 million (£4.7 million) in the year to March 2007, reportedly hand over about Rs130 million (£1.6 million) in local taxes on materials entering Mumbai city limits for use, consumption or sale.

9th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

KRT Extends Uzmai OTR Tyre Range

Italian OTR tyre manufacturer Uzmai has announced that it will add a number of new sizes to its All Steel Radial OTR range later in the year. Currently, Uzmai offers its Maitech UM3 tyres in a range of five sizes covering 15.5R25, 17.5R25, 20.5R25 23.5R25, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25, according to the Tyre Trade Journal report, with L5 treaded versions available in 23.5R25, 26.5R25 & 29.5R25. Sole importer Kings Road Tyres has confirmed that the company will be announcing the introduction of L5, L5T, L5S and E4 versions plus a high speed crane tyre which will all follow the Maitech all-steel radial design philosophy later in the year.

9th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

£35,000 Bedfordshire Tyre & Wheel Haul

Thieves stole over £35,000 of tyres and wheels from a Bedfordshire warehouse last week. According to a report on the NTDA website, the haul includes over 150 top-of-the-range alloy wheels and a selection of high performance Yokohama tyres of all sizes including the Geolander light truck range plus over 40 Z-rated performance tyres. Anyone dealers who think they have been offered any of the stolen stock should contact the NTDA for a complete list of the stolen items.

8th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Cooperating with NHTSA

Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. (HZR) has issued a statement detail its “ongoing cooperation” with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), following the news that some of its pickup truck sizes are being recalled in the US. According to the statement, HZR has provided the agency with more details and data showing that its LTR tyres sold in the United States are safe. “HZR has a long record of producing high quality, safe and reliable products. Because of this commitment to our customers, HZR continues to collect and share information that it believes offers clarity regarding the quality of HZR tyres,” the statement continued.

The Chinese manufacturer, the second largest in the People’s Republic, also cast doubt on the thoroughness of the allegations made against it. “HZR takes the allegations made by Foreign Tire Sales Inc. (FTS) very seriously. FTS submitted a defect report to NHTSA even though FTS lacked the necessary data to make an informed conclusion about the safety of the tyres. We will continue to provide NHTSA with information needed to make a more accurate assessment about the quality and safety of the tyres,” the statement concluded.

According to HZR, “many” tyre distributors have stepped forward to extol the quality and durability of HZR tyres.

6th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti CFO Sees ‘Chance’ of CTNA Profit This Year

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG expects its North American unit – Continental Tire North America – to post a profit for 2007. According to an AFX report, Conti CFO and CTNA President Alan Hippe said “There is a chance of it,” when asked about CTNA’s expected improvement.

If CTNA does post a profit for the 2007 year, it would be the company’s first in this decade. The company did say that sales growth has been slowed by reduced orders for OE tyres from automakers, reflecting a general downturn in the North American car market.

3rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors