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Before Chipping: Crushing and Cutting

Tire Service Equipment and Saf-Tee Siping & Grooving, or TSISSG as it is known to its friends, is perhaps best known for its machinery dealing with the maintenance of tyres. However, Scottish retail business Overton Garage is heartily behind the company’s series of wheel crushing and tyre cutting equipment, having sold hundreds of examples over the years. The company reports great results for those who have made the investment; if it is time for a beloved set of rims and rubber to go to the great recycler in the sky, you may as well do them the service of making the job a quick and efficient one.

For over 25 years TSISSG has been a leading manufacturer and innovator of products and equipment for the tyre service and tyre recycling industries. Its products are designed and developed by experts in the respective industries with a passion for testing and quality, manufacturing almost all of its products in the USA.

6th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Encircle Now Offering Two-Wheel Market Data

Market research specialists, Encircle Marketing, are now offering motorbike tyre data. The company, which was founded a little over a year ago, has quickly built a reputation for providing fast, accurate and actionable data to some of Britain’s leading tyre businesses. Now, in addition to the already popular passenger car and online tyre sales reports, joint founders Jason Cunningham and David Myers have decided to create another market specific product, this time aimed at the two-wheel segment. Tyres & Accessories recently met the management at the company’s new offices in Doncaster and found out more about the data they offer.

The new motorbike tyre survey covers two key areas sell-out pricing, which measures the sell-out prices actually charged by consumers; and selling way – research on the argumentations used to sell different brands at the point of sale. Initially the company plans to make over 700 mystery calls a month across the various channels and regions that make up the market. In order to make the research as effective as possible, Encircle have hired mystery callers based upon their specific knowledge of the motorcycle sector (meaning they are bikers themselves) with a range of regional accents to minimise the risk of detection by centre staff.

5th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Work in Progress – Sibur/Amtel Debt Deal in the Offing

The path towards an arrangement between OJSC Sibur Holding and Amtel-Vredestein has been littered with complications, yet as of early 2009 it appears that the persistence of the parties involved has paid off. On January 28, Sibur Russian Tyres (SRT) announced the planned issue of 7.6 billion securities bonds, valued at 12.69 billion roubles (£246,47 million), each convertible into a single ordinary SRT share. This bond issue, commented SRT deputy general director Igor Karavayev, provides a tool for the possible redemption of Amtel-Vredestein’s Russian business debt with creditor banks; under this scheme, the creditor banks could acquire up to 45 per cent of SRT’s shares. According to SRT, arrangements with creditors should be finalised some time in February.

3rd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Protyre to Supply BFGoodrich Rally Tyres in UK

Protyre Motorsport has followed up news of its agreement to supply Michelin track tyres in the UK and Ireland with the announcement of a new deal to supply BFGoodrich rally tyres to competitors in the UK. The range of tyres to be provided by Protyre Motorsport includes dry weather asphalt tyres which deliver both consistency and versatility; gravel tyres for the three categories of loose surface rallies with tyres that offer soft, medium and hard compound; and snow tyres for all the winter fixtures. Protyre Motorsport will also provide service, support and advice for competitors at key rallies in the UK during 2009.

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New HiQ Director Appointed

Career Tracks, UK News

Goodyear Dunlop has announced the appointment of new HiQ director Juergen Titz, the man who masterminded the successful Goodyear Dunlop ‘4Fleet Group GmbH’ fleet business division in Germany. Titz has also been responsible for leading Goodyear Dunlop Europe´s consumer fleet activities as well as its European Retail approaches. In total, he has 11 years experience within the Goodyear Dunlop group, and has been a key advisor in the growth of the HiQ franchise programme as part of his pan-European role. He will now move to the UK on a full-time basis with his wife and two children.

Mark Brickhill, Group managing director, stated, “Juergen’s experience of fleet management and retail development across Europe will play a key role in Goodyear Dunlop’s drive to grow our own HiQ National Franchise Programme in the UK [covered extensively on Tyrepress.com throughout 2008]. The continued growth of HiQ is a core element of our vision to build strong retail and servicing partnerships across the country”

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Celebrates First National Franchise Conference

HiQ bosses recently held the retail network’s first National Franchise Conference. The leading fast fit retailer organised a franchise networking event at the impressive Crewe Hall venue in Cheshire, where the company’s recently named new managing director, Juergen Titz, outlined HiQ’s vision to grow in the fast-fit and vehicle servicing market. The event gave HiQ the opportunity to have an open dialogue with its franchisees and inform them of the types of services open to them, such as online ordering technology, marketing support and new corporate identity graphics.

Despite trading in an unprecedented economic downturn, the company remained extremely upbeat about its future, mainly because of its National Franchise Programme. HiQ’s franchise structure is the only one of its kind in the fast fit industry, with 130 sites now run by 41 franchisees. By the end of February, this figure will rise to 138 sites and by the end of 2009, it is hoped that 170 centres will be franchised.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Complete Auto Care Opens 1,500th US Outlet

On January 23 Bridgestone’s US retail operation, Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO), celebrates the opening of its 1,500th Firestone Complete Auto Care location. Outlet number 1500 is located in the Illinois town of McHenry, and upon opening the centre joins the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world.

“We are so proud to have achieved this great milestone,” said Larry Magee, chairman, CEO & president of BSRO. “When Harvey S. Firestone opened the first Firestone Service Center in the early 1900s, opening 1,500 stores was only a dream. We’re proud to have turned that dream into a reality

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

15 First Stop Branches Sport New Look

Bridgestone’s First Stop network has completed a refurbishment programme which sees 15 stores branded with new signage for 2009. The programme saw 15 of First Stop outlets fitted with new signage as part of the ongoing development to strengthen the brand and its network of quality tyre dealerships throughout the UK. The signage packages included complete First Stop branding for the exterior of the depots as well as the refurbishment of existing signage and exteriors.

As well as the installation of new signage, the past year has seen the opening of the UK’s first ‘model stores’, at Kingsway, Spalding and ETB, Stratford, and the refurbishment of a number of stores for the First Stop network.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Protyre Motorsport Becomes Sole UK Michelin Track Tyre Supplier

As of the start of January 2009 Protyre Motorsport has stepped into the role of sole UK supplier for Michelin track tyres. Protyre Motorsport will also act as the official trackside tyre supplier for a number of high profile championships, including the Porsche Carrera Cup, the Porsche Club & Open Championship, Ginetta G50 Cup, Ginetta Juniors and Ginetta G20 Seniors, Formula Renault & Renault Clio Cup.

The Michelin track tyre deal involves the provision of a fully equipped mobile Protyre Motorsport race/track day tyre fitting workshop facility at all major race meetings in 2009, with special rates offered to affiliated partners. The company is now also the official supplier of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup road legal track day tyres.

12th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Australia Finalises Purchase of Jobson’s Outlets

Following the signing of an agreement on January 5, Bridgestone Australia will be working more closely with Sydney based retail tyre network Jobson’s Discount Tyre and Mechanical. The agreement finalises Bridgestone’s purchase of JLK Holdings, which owns and operates seven Bridgestone Tyre Centre outlets across the metropolitan Sydney region.

Phil Jobson, co-owner and founder of Jobson’s Discount Tyre and Mechanical, said the agreement represented “an exciting new phase” for both businesses. “We have been planning a move such as this for a number of years, so I am delighted to be joining forces with Bridgestone as it allows me to stay very much at the helm of the business while also ensuring its long-term future,” he said.

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Zimbabwe Sales Rise Following Granting of Forex Permit

According to a company official, sales at Dunlop Zimbabwe Limited have significantly improved since the company received a license entitling it to sell its products in foreign currency. The license was granted to Dunlop Zimbabwe by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in late November 2008.

Without releasing specific figures, company managing director Kennedy Mandevani said that sales have been steadily increasing. “The FOLIWARS (Foreign Exchange Licensed Warehouses and Retail Shops) sales are gradually picking up and will make a positive difference to our sales mix,” he said. “Dunlop is intensifying its marketing campaign so that more of our customers are made aware of this facility.”

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Tyre Firms Announce Layoffs

The US tyre industry announced over 100 job losses today in both the manufacturing and retail segments. News reports suggest that Titan is to cut 80 jobs from its Freeport, Illinois plant in addition to taking on a six-weeks-on/two-weeks-off schedule, while Les Schwab Tire Centers’ distribution centre in Prineville, Oregon is set to shed 27 employees.

“There’s certainly a level of tentativeness about what the future holds in the short-term,” USW Local 745 President Steve Vanderheyden told Rockford’s WIFR-TV. “There’s been less construction companies willing to buy large mining rigs for example that would have our tires on them.”

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Delticom Growing in Europe Despite Weak Market Conditions

Delticom AG’s client base may grow by as much as a quarter in 2009. In an interview, company CFO Frank Schuhardt said that Delticom’s retail customer base could reach three million by the middle of the year, compared with 2.4 million at the end of September 2008. Sales at the German company for 2008 will be “in the middle” of a range of 240 million euros to 260 million euros, he added.

18th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Increases Centres of Excellence to 400

Maxxis has reported that the popularity of its “Centres of Excellence” programme continues to grow. According to the manufacturer, 400 retailers of car and motorcycle tyres are now promoting Maxxis “as the affordable alternative to the premium brands,” helping to increase the size of its UK PCR market share. Derek McMartin, the managing director of Maxxis International UK, states, “We know the extent to which buying decisions can be influenced by over the counter advice provided at the point of sale and have made a serious commitment to build trade relationships, especially within the independent sector.

“Through a variety of marketing communications activity, including top level sponsorship of Premiership football, the European Drift Championship, British Superbikes, the Isle of Man TT Races and motocross, we are getting across the message that Maxxis tyres represent reliability and good value. This is reinforced by our growing network of professionally branded Maxxis Centres of Excellence, which also boosts our profile among the tyre-buying public,” he continues.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Names BMTR as Top Dealership

Birmingham Motor Tyres (BMTR) has been named as the overall winner of Bridgestone’s First Stop Business Development Programme, which recognises outstanding achievement by First Stop dealerships across the UK.

The dealership, which has two retail outlets in the Midlands, was judged on a number of criteria including performance in tyre safety checks, the appearance of staff, workshop and reception areas, alongside staff expertise and training. The dealership scored particularly highly on customer service and was announced as the overall ‘Centre of Excellence’ title winner, receiving a complete refurbishment of the Coleshill site’s reception area and gift vouchers for the employees.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors