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Tropical Battery to Distribute for Goodyear Jamaica

Goodyear Jamaica, which currently faces mounting losses on its island operations, has appointed Tropical Battery – a distributor of batteries, Castrol motor oils and other car care lubricants, brake pads and other automotive products – as its distributor in an effort to gain better local market positioning. Meanwhile, Goodyear will continue to operate its Caribbean marketing and administration from its Kingston office.

“(Tropical Battery’s) strong distribution structure, sales and service capabilities will significantly improve our customers’ overall brand experience,” states Steven Miller, Goodyear Jamaica’s general manager. “Tropical’s leadership team has a proven track record of success and is committed to growing the Goodyear brand across Jamaica.”

1st September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Buy BT-016 and win a MotoGP Experience, says Bike Tyrestore

Bike Tyrestore reports that its dealers have the chance to be amongst seven lucky customers to win a special behind the scenes trip to the MotoGP Test in Jerez, in February 2009. Entry into the draw for this trip comes by means of simply purchasing a dozen or more BT-016 tyres from Bike Tyrestore before 30th November. The winning entrants will receive much coveted behind the scenes MotoGP access, three nights four-star B&B accommodation and return flights.

28th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Recalls Tyres in US

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) has announced the start of a recall campaign in the US involving approximately 2,100 SUV and 4,200 motorcycle tyres. These tyres, says the company, do not have any structural or performance safety issues, and the recall is related to incorrect or absent sidewall markings.

26th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Belle Honored for 50 Years With Goodyear

Michigan-based Belle Tire recently celebrated its 50th year of doing business with Goodyear. Goodyear chairman and CEO Bob Keegan and other company officials visited Belle Tire on Aug. 15 to present anniversary awards.

Belle Tire, which began business in 1922, started with Goodyear in 1958 when it took on the Kelly-Springfield line. Don Barnes, the Kelly salesman who put the deal together, later came on as a partner in Belle Tire, buying 100% ownership in 1984. Today, Belle Tire operates 80 retail locations across Michigan and northern Ohio, with seven offering commercial tires and service. (Tire Review/Akron)

26th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Paccar Opens Second Used Truck Facility

Paccar Financial Corp., the financing arm of Paccar International, opened a second used truck center, this one near Spartanburg, S.C.

The new facility offers used Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks to Paccar dealers, non-Paccar dealers, independent wholesalers, and retail fleet and owner-operator buyers. (Tire Review/Akron)

21st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Close 92 US Retail Outlets

Goodyear plans to close 92 – 12 per cent – of its 742 company owned retail outlets in the US, and eliminate 600 full and part-time jobs. This decision to close these ‘underperforming’ shops is said to be a company response to pressure stemming from the US economic downturn.

“Following a rigorous review of operating performance and local market dynamics, these company-owned outlets are not producing acceptable returns,” said Scott Vogel, vice president, retail operations, North American Tire. “Taking this action now will allow us to focus our attention on locations with the best long-term potential. It will help position Goodyear to be a stronger competitor.”

20th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CarbonBlack TyreXchange Surveys Consumer Behaviour

CarbonBlack TyreXchange, the Australian independent online marketplace for tyres and auto services, has revealed the results of its latest Independent Tyre Brand Scorecard, which focuses on consumer purchasing behaviour. The survey appears to reveal the rise of social marketing in tyre retailing, which allows word-of-mouth among consumers to impact in a more pronounced way the choices buyers make.

The e-tailer suggests that this trend is a result of greater sophistication and awareness among consumers and tyre retailers that traditional advertising no longer has the same impact on consumers. Socially disseminated information, meaning the presence of consumer reviews on websites especially, in addition to relevant point-of-sale marketing and consumer education are, CarbonBlack suggests, increasingly able to influence the purchase cycle and are having a greater impact on consumer choice. The company states that these findings reinforce the value of both the internet and tyre dealer network importance for consumer tyre purchases.

20th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Align Going the Extra Mile for Customers

Pro-Align says its passion for wheel alignment means the company is prepared to go far beyond simply supplying Hunter wheel alignment equipment. It has been instrumental in initiating the debate on the creation of a wheel alignment standard, which can be recognised by the industry and consumer alike.

From Pro-Align’s own experience and feedback from customers who have selected Hunter alignment systems, a demand exists for a ‘proper’ four-wheel alignment service. By ‘proper’, businesses mean they are looking to make sure the alignment service they offer is carried out as close to the car manufacturer’s procedures for wheel alignment as possible – thus leaving minimal room for criticism that ‘they don’t do it right’.

19th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MAM to Target Tyre Market With Appointment

MAM Software is aiming to target the tyre market following the company’s appointment of Graham Dunford as a new Senior Sales Manager for its Autopart ERP solution. Dunford will spearhead the company’s drive into the tyre market, with a focus on increasing its penetration of the retail, wholesale and fast-fit sectors.

MAM Software is reportedly the largest provider of distribution and retail ERP solutions into the automotive aftermarket and has already established a significant user base in the tyre, fast fit and repair sector. As well as supplying national chains such as Formula 1 Autocentres, Mr Clutch, Wilco Fastfit, LSUK and Just Car Clinics, MAM also supports several well-known regional tyre companies and exhaust distributors including CES, Goodtread and Cooper Brothers.

15th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Appoints First Female Plant Manager

Bridgestone Metalpha U.S.A., Inc. (BMU), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., announced on August 11 that Donna Bright has been promoted to plant manager of the BMU radial steel cord manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee. With the promotion, effective August 16, Bright becomes the first female plant manager at any Bridgestone Americas facility.

12th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Mastercraft Deal “Mutually Satisfactory”, Says Silverline International

Mastercraft Tires, an associate brand of Cooper Tire & Rubber, has appointed Warwick-based Silverline International as its official UK distributor. T&A spoke with Silverline’s Chris Dawson about the new range, and what attracted the company to the brand.

“We had been speaking with Cooper Avon over a period of two years, and they offered the Mastercraft brand to us in a mutually satisfactory deal,” explains Mr. Dawson. “For some time we had been looking long-term for a partner that could give continuity of supply. For us the ability to supply light truck sizes was important.

8th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Exclusive Brands Account for 11% UK Car Tyre Market

News, Product News, UK News

GfK data exclusively seen by Tyres & Accessories shows that sales of exclusive brands account for 10.4 per cent of the 2007 UK car tyre replacement market. Based on the results of GfK’s ongoing research, this means 2.62 million of these tyres were sold in the market last year. GfK defines exclusive brands from the retail perspective, meaning tyres that are only available from one clear retail network such as Kwik-Fit’s Arrowspeed brand or ATS’s Riken.

7th August 2008/by Andrew

Steely Determination

The UK’s number one wheel balancing weight maker, Trax JH, is in the process of expanding its production of clip-on balance weights to include steel. The steel products are expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2009, following the installation of new machinery at the expanded Trax factory in Wales. More details are expected to follow when production gets underway at the end of 2008.

5th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Eden Tyre Employs Michelin Man Airline to Inflate Business

Motorists passing the Eden Tyre Sales Farndon Road, Newark branch will have noticed the “life-size” Michelin man standing on the forecourt. According to the company, the iconic figure is a free airline service, dispensing air to any passing motorist eager to maintain correct tyre pressures to minimise fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions and to be certain that the car handles and stops as efficiently as possible.

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sales Up, Operating Profit Down in Hankook’s Q2

Hankook Tire has announced second quarter sales of 1117.2 billion won (£557.8 million), a year on year growth of 27.5 per cent, and 11.5 per cent quarter on quarter. Operating profit, at 79.0 billion won (£39.45 million), was 2.4 per cent down on the second quarter of 2007; likewise, recurring profit, at 89.8 billion won (£44.84 million) was also down 2.4 per cent. The quarter operating profit margin was 7.1 per cent.

Hankook reports sales revenue was boosted due in part to a weakened Korean won and an increase in tyre prices implemented in response to rising raw material costs – the company comments the tyre industry is facing increased pressure from a 24.3 per cent year on year increase in raw material costs, with natural rubber prices alone rising 40.5 per cent year on year. More than half of tyre production costs are now attributed to raw materials, adds the South Korean manufacturer.

1st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors