The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and General Electric – specifically, GE Advanced Materials, Silicones – teamed up for breakthrough technology in new auto tyres. A unique tyre, Goodyear’s Assurance featuring TripleTred Technology, is the result of this technology.
More than 110 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in the 2005 Tire Technology Expo. The exhibition, running from 22 – 24 February in Cologne, will feature session from leading industry experts. According to show organisers UKIP, the show is largest event of its kind in Europe and will bring together over 100 experts from internationally recognised research institutes and centres of excellence to present on a range of “hot topics.”
Subject matter will include materials, the intelligent tyre, modelling and simulation techniques and the latest developments in polymer technology. Speakers include Frank Feher of Goodyear Chemicals, Bridgestone’s Shoji Oida and John Bullas from the University of Southampton.
“This years show is the biggest in the event’s history, with more high quality exhibitors and visitors registered than ever before,” says Tony Robinson CEO of UKIP Media & Events. “Professional visitors from around the world will be able to see the newest technologies on display and exchange the latest information and opinions on the significant changes within tire technology at the intensive three-day conference. We’re looking forward to a really stimulating and fantastic show.”
Recent research carried by car care company, motoreasy has found that one in eight vehicles has at least one illegal and potentially dangerous tyre. Based on more than 1,000 tyre inspections taken at a number of the company’s approved independent garages across the UK. According to the research a further 24 per cent of tyres had tread so close to the legal requirement, a replacement would be needed “imminently.”
Regionally, Londoners were found to be the worst offenders, with a fifth of the cars tested running on tyres below the legal limit. In contrast, motorists in Scotland had the highest pass rate with only 6 per cent of cars in need of a replacement tyre.
The current legislation requires tread depth to be at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the width of the tyre. This rule also applies to the spare tyre. Even so 17 per cent of those inspected were illegal, or would be following what the company describes as “a short usage.”
Quite apart from the obvious safety benefits of having correctly fitted tyres (shorter stopping distances, reduced likelihood of aquaplaning), according to this research, drivers are foregoing the main financial benefit of using safe tyres, i.e. improved fuel economy. Not to mention the legal costs: three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre.
“Added to this, insurance companies are within their rights not to pay out on claims if the vehicle insured is not in a roadworthy condition. It’s shocking that so many motorists seem to ignore the conditions of their tyres – something that should ideally be checked every fortnight,” commented Motoreasy managing director David Gerrans adding: “A simple method of checking the tread is to use a 5 pence coin. Slot an upside down coin into the tread of the tyre and the depth should come up to the top of the Queen’s crown. If you don’t reach the crown, it’s likely your treads are nearing the end of their life and should be replaced.”
If Motoreasy’s research is correct, millions of drivers are failing to meet the minimum legal standard. In light of this, it makes the manufacturers and UK trade associations attempts to introduce a three-millimetre minimum tread depth look a fair way off.
Bridgestone Corporation today announced that it has entered into an agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to purchase 95 per cent of the American company’s stake in Goodyear Sumatra Plantations (GSP). Terms of the pending purchase have not been disclosed.
GSP, which began operations in 1917, is one of the largest natural rubber estates in North Sumatra Indonesia. Its activities include the planting, growing, tapping and processing of natural rubber. GSP has approximately 18,000 total hectares (47,000 total acres) with approximately 5,000 employees.
Bridgestone said its acquisition of GSP is part of its aim to secure a stable supply of natural rubber and to increase its research and development in this area. The group supplies some of its own demand for steel cord, synthetic rubber and natural rubber, as well as carbon black.
Pirelli Tyres has been awarded “Best Innovator 2004″ prize, during Italy’s first national innovation day. The aweard, organised by A T Kearney in partnership with Confindustria, is awarded to companies that demonstrate the ability to create value through innovation.
According to the company, Pirelli won the award due to its “excellence in integrating different dimensions of innovation.” Pirelli sees the prize as another way of recognising the company’s technologies – particularly tis Modular Integrated Robotized System or MIRS and its Continuous Compound Mixing system.
“Innovation is a core element of Pirelli culture; the group aims at excellence both in processes and products, not being satisfied by current standards,” Mr Francesco Gori, managing director of Pirelli Tyres Sector commented. “Innovation allows us to create value for customers and companies, which must foster and stimulate creativity and speed not only in research and development activities.”
Pirelli says that its innovation, as a company, has led to products such as the Eufori@, the first Pirelli run-flat tyre which can run at zero-pressure and today equips the Mini and new 1 and 3 BMW Series.
Following the news that it will double the size of its Thailand production plant, Yokohama has also announced that in December it will establish Yokohama Hose & Coupling (Hangzhou) a subsidiary for assembling and selling high-pressure hoses and their metal fittings in China. The subsidiary’s plant will be located in the Economy and Technology Development Zone, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province and commence operation in April 2005. The new company will be capitalized at $350,000.
In China, the demand for construction machinery has been rapidly increasing because of consecutive large-scale projects associated with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the Shanghai Expo in 2010. High-pressure hoses are a indispensable components for hydraulic devices used in construction machinery. At least for the time being, the new company will concentrate on the OEM business with Japanese construction machinery makers. At the same time, however, the company says it will “proactively conduct market research” in connection with the demand for replacement high-pressure hoses. It also plans to begin local production of metal fittings as soon as possible.
Woman magazine, is to raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign by running a competition in association with National Tyres and Autocare. The competition will five readers the opportunity to win a limited edition pink Smart car, worth £8000, and raise money for charity at the same time.
Through the collective voice of the US Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) the American tyre industry has registered its “strong opposition” to the proposed federal TPMS regulation, saying: “It may create a false sense of security among consumers.”
According to the association, the rule, proposed by the NHTSA, does not meet the government’s objective of improving consumer safety. Instead the association warns that the rule in its current format may increase the risk of tyre failures.
The proposed rule would mandate that every car, SUV, pickup truck and minivan be equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system that warns drivers when tyre pressure is 25 per cent below the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure. The RMA warns that a 25 per cent drop in a tyre’s recommended pressure would still leave the tyre in an unsafe condition. In a statement released by the association the RMA suggested that under the proposed standard, “motorists could be driving for thousands of miles on tyres that are appreciably under-inflated but still not receive a warning.”
“A tyre pressure monitor that doesn’t provide a timely low-pressure warning to motorists will not enhance safety,” Mr Shea commented adding: “A tyre pressure monitoring system is meant to supplement, not replace, regular tyre maintenance by consumers.”
The RMA supported its argument with the results of research it conducted in 2003. It found that nearly two-thirds of US motorists would be less likely to check their tyre pressure regularly with a TPMS-equipped vehicle. Other criticisms put forward by the RMA include: The fact that the TPMS would not be required to be tested at speeds of above 63 mph; at temperatures below freezing or above 40 degrees Celsius; during turning and braking manoeuvres; or on secondary roads. The RMA also criticised the suggestion that the TPMS system would not be required to work with replacement or full-size spare tyres.
“In short, it is contrary to NHTSA’s mission to promote highway safety to promulgate a TPMS standard that may create a false sense of security among consumers about an issue as important as tyre inflation pressure,” the RMA said stating, “our intent is to work with NHTSA to get this regulation right and to get it done soon,” said RMA president and CEO, Donald B Shea, said.
The former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Wim Kok, has presented an interim report to the European Union, pursuing the goal of making the EU the strongest economic power in the world, by 2010. The report found that Luxembourg fares well, already in an “above average” position. The research summarised a countries potential to grow based on the number of scientists per thousand. With a European average of 5.7 per thousand, Luxembourg was found to have the second largest proportion in Europe, with 8.78 researchers per thousand. Only Finland has a higher number of research scientists. Luxembourg was less successful in other categories.
The reason for Luxembourg’s impressive standing is because of the number of private research centres based within its borders. Luxembourg is the home of a number of significant research centres including, Goodyear, DuPont and Delphi.
Currently the Lisbon Strategy is a long way away from its goal of making Europe the strongest developed economy in the world.
A record number of radio stations are taking part in this year’s Scottish tyre safety campaign. 18 local and national Scottish radio stations are supporting this year’s tyre safety initiative by echoing the TIC’s tyre safety messages as part of a “down the line” radio promotion.
Matador has completed a majority share purchase agreement with joint-stock company Pal-Inalfa from Vrable, Slovakia. The acquisition will now provide the group with access to the suppliers and producers segment of the car industry.
Goodyear has received an award at the American Point-of-Purchase Show for the “creative merchandising and selling tools” that it used to support its line of Assurance tyres.
The show focuses on the best in-store marketing ideas used and three of Goodyear’s Assurance items were honoured with awards.
Dunlop’s new performance tyre, the Sport Maxx, has been put to the test through the ‘Performance Car of the Year’ programme. Hailed as “the toughest media evaluation programme of its kind,” the annual test, conducted by Car & Driving, the UKs motoring media agency, puts top performance vehicles and their tyres through a series of road and track tests all over Europe.
Volkswagen has selected Matador’s so-called “green tyre” for original equipment on its Polo model.
Continental has said that it is delighted with research results released by NHTSA which indicates that Electronic Stability Controls (ESC) reduced single vehicle crashes in passenger cars by 35 per cent and SUVs by 67 per cent.
The company says that it has been affirming this message for the past several years based on research from other countries. Continental says it finds it “gratifying” that NHTSA’s research confirms the previous independent results and, therefore, can help save lives.
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