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Pirelli: Scorpion Range Represents ‘Freedom of Choice’

As the 4×4 market in the UK continues to grow, Pirelli is responding to the particular growth of the luxury SUV segment by offering a range of high performance tyres to meet the needs of drivers of a new generation of luxury SUVs, such as Porsche Cayenne and BMW X3. According to the Italian manufacturer, the Scorpion by Pirelli 4×4 tyre range comes as a direct result of “high-level technological experience in design, materials, research, production, control and testing, providing ‘drive anywhere’ performance.”

The Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico sits top of the pile in Pirelli’s ultra-high performance offering. A low profile tyre with V, W and Y speed symbols (for speeds up to 186mph), the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico was created for extreme conversions aimed at boosting the performance of the most powerful 4×4 SUVs. These tyres are manufactured exclusively using Pirelli’s MIRS process in rim diameters ranging from 17 to 28 inches. The Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico is an approved fitment for the New Range Rover Sport.

3rd March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Promotes New Grandtrek Touring A/S Tyre

Dunlop has announced the introduction of the all-season SUV tyre Grandtrek Touring A/S. The new tyre for modern Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) has been developed to include Dunlop’s Touch Technology for balanced, all-season, all-condition performance and strong road feedback. According to the manufacturer, the launch of Grandtrek Touring supports the continued growth in popularity of SUVs.

With its all-season technology, Grandtrek Touring encompasses a range of properties that are designed to ensure top performance. The tyre features a unique polymer blend tread compound for driving in all weather conditions. The Grandtrek Touring’s tapered shoulder grooves, are said to provide “innovative stiffness distribution,” while the asymmetric tread design reportedly combines with the shoulder grooves to optimize the tyre’s all-weather capabilities. The reinforced, stiffer sidewall controls the important displacement of energy that is usual from large vehicles when cornering.

3rd March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

European Tyre Manufacturer to Trial Pneu-Logic Technology

Advanced ID subsidiary Pneu-Logic is reported to have sold a number of tyre maintenance systems to a European tyre manufacturer for evaluation purposes. The identity of the purchaser has not been disclosed, but the company apparently intends to hold a three-month long commercial vehicle tyre trial in Germany, Italy and the UK.

Pneu-Logic anticipates a major order from the manufacturer following the trial’s successful conclusion. “This is of vital importance to tyre owners and fleet managers as theft of bus, truck and off-the-road/earth mover tyres is common in many markets around the world,” commented Pneu-Logic managing director Laren Yeomans. “Tracking of tyres also enables us to document the entire life of the tyre – from point of origin through service repairs.

3rd March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lassa Launches New Impetus Revo

Lassa has announced the introduction of the new High Performance Impetus Revo tyre. In a like-for-like competitor comparison, the new Lassa Impetus Revo “performed well in all areas and exceptionally when compared for aquaplaning and riding comfort,” Lassa representatives told Tyres & Accessories. 27 Revo sizes will be phased in during 2008, with a furher 15 further sizes following in 2009.

29th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Signs Civil Aviation Agreement with US

Kumho’s long awaited breakthrough in the area of civil aviation arrived on February 19. That day Kumho Tires CEO Dr Sae Chul Oh visited the US Embassy in Singapore and, on behalf of the South Korean manufacturer, signed a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between South Korea and the US. With the signing of this document, the door has been opened for Kumho to supply tyres to civil aircraft that operate in the United States.

27th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Drivers Amongst the Least Attentive to Tyre Pressure – Michelin

Michelin’s year long study into tyre pressure has revealed that the proportion of cars on British roads with tyres at an incorrect pressure could be as high as 80 per cent, and the pressure in the tyres of half of all cars is incorrect to an extent that renders the vehicle dangerous to operate and an accident risk.

The French manufacturer checked the tyre pressure of thousands of vehicles across 27 European Union countries during its ‘Fill up with Air’ campaign, and results indicate that the UK, ranked 25th out of 27, was near the bottom of the pile in terms of ensuring correct tyre pressure – only Greece and Latvia faired worse. And not only is road safety being jeopardised by our sloppy indifference – major cost implications follow incorrect tyre pressure through increased fuel consumption, a factor that also impacts on our environment.

25th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Signs Research Agreement

On February 22 the Pirelli Group signed an agreement to collaborate with Italy’s Piedmont Region, Turin Province, the Municipality of Settimo Torinese and the Politecnico di Torino University in the development of programmes for research and innovation; specifically, the agreement covered the building of a new Pirelli industrial complex in the territory of Settimo Torinese.

The agreement includes the introduction of cutting edge technologies in Pirelli’s industrial facilities in Settimo Torinese, where the company’s tyre sector research is focused. These technologies include: next generation MIRS, which Pirelli refers to as “a significant evolution” in the automated process of tyre manufacturing and guarantees product quality and uniformity; the Cyber Tyre, an “intelligent” tyre containing sensors that will be able to transmit information pertinent to driving and control of the vehicle; and TSM, a new process for mixing materials that offers high levels of quality and reliability.

25th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

2007 Another Record Year for Conti

Continental AG is boasting its sixth consecutive year of record sales and earnings figures in 2007, and the company’s Executive Board chairman has expressed confidence this favourable pattern will continue. “We intend to consistently continue our record streak this year,” said Manfred Wennemer at a press conference on February 21. “Despite the clouds hanging over the economic environment, we are setting clear targets: strengthened by our Siemens VDO acquisition, in 2008 we intend to improve the total calculated sales generated in 2007 of around 26.4 billion euros….With Continental in its traditional setup, we have kept the promises we made. In the new company era, this will not change.”

21st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Emphasising the “Good” in Goodyear

The most recent list of the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” to appear in the US magazine ‘Corporate Responsibility Officer’ (CRO) features at least one very familiar name. Goodyear Tire & Rubber made its debut appearance in this who’s who of good business, being counted as number 72 of the 100 best US headquartered public companies.

This is the ninth year in which the Best Corporate Citizens list has been published, and in compiling its “100 Best,” CRO, in partnership with research and consulting firm IW Financial, ranked the corporate responsibility efforts of companies in eight categories: climate change, employee relations, environment, financial, governance, human rights, lobbying and philanthropy. CRO determined the final ranking as a weighted average of the eight categories. Goodyear was the only tyre company honoured with a berth in the top 100.

21st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

2007 Another Record Year for Conti

Continental AG is boasting its sixth consecutive year of record sales and earnings figures in 2007, and the company’s Executive Board chairman has expressed confidence this favourable pattern will continue. “We intend to consistently continue our record streak this year,” said Manfred Wennemer at a press conference on February 21. “Despite the clouds hanging over the economic environment, we are setting clear targets: strengthened by our Siemens VDO acquisition, in 2008 we intend to improve the total calculated sales generated in 2007 of around 26.4 billion euros….With Continental in its traditional setup, we have kept the promises we made. In the new company era, this will not change.”

21st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Announces Senior Management Changes

On February 19 Bridgestone Corporation announced that its board has approved a number of changes in members of the Board of Directors, Corporate Auditors and Corporate Officers. As of March 1 Kazuo Kakehi, currently Vice President & Senior Officer Responsible for Diversified Products, Industrial Products, Civil Engineering and Building Materials and Equipments will become Vice President & Senior Officer Responsible for Diversified Products, Industrial Products and Construction Materials Division. A number of other changes will take affect on March 27. These are as follows:

20th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

European Winter Tyre Slump May Continue in 2008

According to Deutsche Bank’s Equity Research Automotive Group, the dismal year for winter tyres experienced by our German neighbours may well be repeated in 2008. The winter tyre market represents 55 million units, 20 per cent of Europe’s replacement market. Half of these high margin products are sold in Germany, and in 2007 the winter tyre market decreased by 15 per cent, and by a substantial 30 per cent in the fourth quarter alone. As a result, winter tyre pricing is reported to be negative, and both manufacturers and dealers retain substantial stock levels in inventory. This situation is perhaps of particular concern to Germany’s Continental tyre, for which winter tyres represent approximately 17 per cent of passenger car tyre sales.

18th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nexen to Build US R&D Facility

South Korea’s Nexen Tire plans to open an engineering research and development facility in northeast Ohio, most likely somewhere in the Akron area. The company has hired veteran engineers George Kamvouris and Gary Zolton to start the facility. Kamvouris was most recently with Continental Tire North America, while Zolton comes to Nexen from Denman Tire Corp.

In 2007, Nexen Tire America opened distribution centres in Atlanta, Chicago and Little Ferry, New Jersey, in addition to its existing facility in southern California. The tyremaker also began production at a second plant in Qingdao, China, with planned capacity of 6 million tyres by 2010. The company is considering sites in Ohio, but has not finalised a location. (Tire Review/Akron)

18th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

US City Prepping Incentives to Keep BFNAT Tech Centre

Reacting to Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s stated desire to upgrade its research and development facilities in the US, city, county and state officials in Ohio are working to develop an incentive package designed to keep those operations in Akron. In January BFNAT announced that it wanted a new technical centre and were considering a few options: invest millions in rehabbing its nearly century old current facility at the old Firestone world headquarters in south Akron, or build new facilities in either Akron or Nashville.

15th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin’s Multibib Debuts in North America

Farmers in North America are now able to benefit from a tyre that has seen action across the pond since late 2006. Michelin’s replacement for the popular low profile XM108, the Multibib, debuts across this market in February 2008.

Marketed in North America as a replacement tyre for four-wheel-drive and mechanical-front-wheel-assist tractors and as a dual option for combines, the Multibib offers a tread width 10 per cent greater than that of the XM108. Michelin North America Agricultural Tires segment manager Stan Chandgie comments that a key benefit derived from the Multibib is the ability to deliver a larger footprint without the additional expense of larger wheel rims. With a bigger footprint equalling enhanced flotation and traction and reduced wheel slip, the Multibib enables operators to capitalise on lower inflation pressures – leading to reduced soil compaction.

14th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors