Yokohama Make IAA Debut
Yokohama marked its IAA debut by featuring its new HiTES pressure monitoring system as the centrepiece of its stand.
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Michelin Unveil Airless Tyre
Product NewsMichelin is to exhibit its Airless tyres at the Paris Auto Show 2004. According to Michelin the “Airless Wheel” and “Tweel” tyres are still at the concept stage but would hopefully hit the mass market in the next 10 years.
Michelin Tops Customer Satisfaction Survey
Product NewsThe JD Power and Associates 2004 Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Survey has placed Michelin at the top of three of its four Categories.
SMMT’s Vehement Response to Industry Committee
Product NewsThe Trade and Industry Select Committee report on The UK Automotive Industry in 2004, has stated that the UK is “a good venue for automotive production.” It also went on to suggest that the industry calls for consistent implementation of EU regulations and strict monitoring of EU-wide schemes for emissions trading.
There was good news for the SMMT Industry Forum and Automotive Academy, which was praised for its work in improving competitiveness and addressing the skills shortage. However, it criticised falling new car prices and the action taken to open up the market for independent service and repair outlets.
The SMMT was disappointed with the criticism and has issued a contentious response following the release of the report. Chief executive Christopher Macgowan commented: “The fundamentals of this report are good news for the industry. While the sector is not without its problems, the Committee has recognised the steps taken to address issues of competitiveness and skills through organisations like SMMT Industry Forum and the new Automotive Academy.
“By continuing to work closely with the government we can ensure that threats identified in the report, such as the cost of regulation and low levels of investment in research and development, do not erode the UK’s significant automobile production and supply base.”
German Cars are Least Reliable Says Study
Product NewsGerman cars are among the least reliable and some luxury vehicles are particularly bad, says a survey conducted by The Consumers’ Association.
Pirelli’s Ultra High Performer
Product NewsIt was no coincidence that Pirelli selected the world’s southern most urban extremity, Ushuaia, Argentina, to launch its new Winter Sottozero tyre. The latest addition in its Planet Zero range, the company claims that the tyre is its “most extreme ultra high performer to hit the market.”
The tyre manufacturer considers itself to be a “global leader in ultra-low UHP tyres.” And so, the launch of its new tyre, to satisfy the increasing demand for high performance driving in winter conditions, was hardly unexpected. The tyre is being marketed as “the first real dual-season winter tyre.” Its significance comes from its ability to handle severe road conditions, the company boasts: “Sottozero does, in fact, represent a new concept: to ensure the maximum level of performance and safety in all the extreme situations that winter often imposes on the roads.”
Sottozero is designed to serve from the end of October, until the beginning of April, whatever the conditions, whatever the car. This is a big statement by the Italian company, and suggests its confidence in the tyre’s future success. It even goes as far as to compare it to the most technically advanced summer tyres. However, its description as a ‘fall and winter’ tyre is somewhat contradicted by its name; as Sottozero, ‘below zero,’ brings the reference back to snow and ice. While it may have been popular in Germany this will certainly limit its appeal in markets such as the UK.
The words on everybody’s lips this year are high performance winter tyres. Pirelli is no different, and claims to have experienced a 38 per cent increase each year, in the amount of HP tyres sold. It also maintains that, over the last five years, there has been a 12 per cent increase in demand for V rated tyres; whilst sales of H index tyres have levelled out, and only rose by 10 per cent in the same period. This shows an outstanding development in the market, when winter tyres were first launched they were only available in Q and S ratings.
In light of this research, rim dimensions are a major concern of the new tyre. The company believes that this is high amongst consumers’ priorities because it means they no longer have to change down to smaller wheels in order to achieve maximum safety on ice and snow. Drivers can now utilise the same rims for good and bad weather motoring. To satisfy this demand, the new tyre range offers a portfolio of sizes that ranges from 15-19 inches, and includes the 19 inch directional-asymmetric pairing that is used as original equipment for the Lamborghini Gallardo. All sizes are available with speed ratings up to V. As well as pleasing the HP driver, the possibility to fit winter tyres to wider rims will also be welcomed by style connoisseurs, whose modern sports cars necessitate wide rims and tyres with lower shoulders.
Pirelli claims 4.5 per cent of the $75 billion total world tyre market, and is predominantly based in Europe, where 45 per cent of its business is conducted. According to the company, the total European winter passenger car tyre market has risen 89 per cent in the last 10 years; from a 13.1 per cent share of the overall tyre market in 1993, to 24.7 per cent in 2003. This equates to sales levels of 18.5 million winter tyres in Europe in1993 to 45.7 million in 2003. The market segment (snow tyres) in which Pirelli’s new tyre will be launched, amounts to over 19 million tyres in Europe alone. With a market of this size there is little doubt that a demand for the product exists.
Goodyear Receives Grant from US Congress
Product NewsGoodyear is to receive a $2.25 million (£1.2 million) grant under the Defense Appropriations bill, passed last week by US Congress. The company’s Akron Technical Center will benefit from the majority of the financial injection, which will fund research and development of aircraft tyres to be used on America’s new Navy and Air Force joint strike fighter jets.
Michelin Set the Standard in Japan
Product NewsMichelin’s winter tyres have come out on top in a survey conducted into customer satisfaction in Japan.
Research company, J.D Power Asia Pacific, performed the study, which showed of the five tyre brands ranked by the customers, Michelin scored highest with 655 out of a maximum of 1,000 points. The overall industry average is 586.
Alcoa Foundation Invests in Education
Product NewsThe Alcoa Foundation has announced that it has awarded $117,000 (£63,000) in grants, to universities in Hungary. The foundation hopes the donations, made in light of the country’s recent accession into the European Union, will aid the country’s preparations to develop the next generation of business leaders.
Dunlop Shapes Things to Come
Product NewsDunlop has unveiled its new aerodynamic SP 30 tyre, which, according to tests creates the same effect as removing your side mirrors.
BERU increases revenues by more than 16%
Product NewsIn the 2003/04 financial year (ending March 31, 2004), BERU Aktiengesellschaft (Ludwigsburg) increased its sales revenues by 16.4% from €304.5 million to €354.5 million.
Michelin Hosts Seminar On Rubber Tree Parasites
Product NewsIn Brazil recently, Michelin hosted the world’s first research seminar on parasites that attack rubber trees (hevea) and which are threatening the rubber industry in Central and Latin America. Microcyclus Ulei is a parasite that attacks and eventually kills rubber trees and Michelin has set up a laboratory and research centre at its plantation in Bahia, Brazil, where 14 resistant varieties of hevea have been identified and are being tested.
Firestone Pulls Through
Product NewsAn article in the Detroit News holds up Firestone as a prime example of the “never say die” school. At the time of the tyre recall, the Firestone brand was considered by many to be dead in the water, but the company’s latest research shows that there’s life in the old dog yet. First quarter replacement market sales are up 15 per cent for passenger car and 28 per cent for light trucks against 1Q 2003 figures. Market share has stabilised at 7.2 per cent, which is lower than the 1999 figure of 10.2 per cent, and the company says it is gaining consumer sales. As an indication of this new sense of optimism, the advertising budget has been quadrupled to $18 million and the first brand campaign in four years – including TV slots – is running. The adverts feature Firestone’s memorable “where the rubber meets the road” slogan (last used in 1988) and include an appearance by the famous racer Mario Andretti.
Goodyear launches HydraGrip
Product NewsGoodyear has introduced HydraGrip, a new high performance summer tyre, specially developed for rainy and wet weather conditions. With its innovative DynamicDrain TRED technology HydraGrip provides unrivalled wet braking and aquaplaning safety without compromising its performance on dry roads.
Goodyear customer research has shown that in Europe safety is the primary concern of drivers of medium and large high performance and family vehicles, especially in rain and wet weather. No matter where you drive in Europe, you are facing a lot of rain: according to the yearly weather statistics it rains in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Warsaw and Stockholm three out of five days, even cities like Athens, Madrid and Rome have almost 100 rainy days per year. European drivers across the continent have to drive an average of 141 days per year on wet roads. “Accidents happen especially when it starts raining after a dry period – a situation that demands high performance both from tyres and drivers. Therefore it is no surprise that 70 per cent of European drivers want tyres that behave particularly well on wet roads,” explained Paul Joosten, marketing director Goodyear brands Europe, Middle East and Africa in Mireval, when launching the HydraGrip. “Our goal was to develop a tyre that provides optimal safety in the quickly changing European summer weather with its alternate heavy rainfall and dry periods. After millions of tested kilometres and three years of development at Goodyear‘s Research and Development Centres in Colmar Berg, Luxembourg, we now proudly introduce a tyre that sets new standards for high performance summer tyres,” added Joosten.
Thanks to its unique DynamicDrain TRED technology HydraGrip provides excellent side grip and lateral stability, coupled with an unrivalled performance in emergency braking and resistance to aquaplaning. “HydraGrip gives drivers the all around performance and safety that they demand in extreme wet conditions,” said Joosten.
The new DynamicDrain TRED technology is a combination of highly sophisticated technology features such as 3D-BIS technology, cascade blading and V-TRED design with a specially developed high performance tread compound. In Detail: Goodyear‘s patented Three Dimensional Block Interlocking System (3D-BIS), well-known from successful Goodyear winter tyres, significantly improves the tyre’s wet and dry handling performance because it allows an increased number of blades in the tyre compared with traditional bladed tyres. This technology equips the tyre with as many biting edges as possible to provide excellent behaviour in aquaplaning and on wet roads while at the same time preserving the precise and dynamic handling characteristics of a high performance tyre with its stiff solid tread blocks. HydraGrip‘s 3D-BIS technology also increases the blade length with worn tyres and therefore improves the tyre‘s wet performance during the whole tyre life.
Michelin XeoBib Wins Golden Ear at the Agribex Fair
Product NewsThe Agribex 2004 panel has awarded a Golden Ear to Michelin for XeoBib, a new tire concept that optimizes driving in fields and on the road, thanks to the ability to roll at constant pressure. The Golden Ear is awarded for innovations, with emphasis on practicability as well as engineering excellence.
