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Bridgestone US Retail Division Phasing Out Lead Weights

At the start of 2008 Bridgestone’s retail arm in the US, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) will begin offering its customers steel wheel balance weights, replacing millions of lead wheel weights each year with more a ecologically sensitive counterpart.

Customers who visit Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, ExpertTire or Wheel Works service centres will have the new steel wheel weights installed when they buy new tyres or have their existing tyres balanced. “We implemented this innovative plan because we believe that using steel wheel weights will have a positive environmental impact,” said BFRC environmental manager John Sheerin. “We are hopeful that others in the automotive repair industry will follow suit and join BFRC in promoting the use of steel wheel weights.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Mythos Wins Australian Tyre Test

The Marangoni Mythos UHP has come top in a tyre test conducted by Australia’s Motor Magazine. The success in the magazine comparison test comes just a year after the Marangoni new tyre brand was launched in the Australian market. Competing tyres tested included: Bridgestone Potenza RE050; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3; Falken FK 452; Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and Maxxis MA-Z1. Motor’s test driver commented: “These [Mythos tyres] had a tonne of grip. They were sharp, balanced; really nice. In fact, they were so confidence-inspiring that you really didn’t mind having a hot go with them, because you knew they’d hang in there. They were also great on change of direction and super stable under brakes. I like them a lot.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Set to Sponsor BTCC

HiQ has announced that it will replace the Dunlop brand as title sponsor of the MSA British Touring Car Championship. According an Auto Express report, Goodyear Dunlop’s recently overhauled retail equity and franchise network has signed up for the next three years, beginning in 2008. Executives see the BTCC sponsorship chance as a good opportunity to raise awareness of the HiQ brand amongst consumers. Dunlop will reportedly remain in its position as official BTCC tyre supplier.

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Remain in Akron

The decision that many in Goodyear’s hometown of Akron, Ohio have awaited for months was finally made public on December 5 – the US tyre major will continue its long-standing relationship with the city. At a press conference held at Goodyear’s World Technical Center, adjacent to the proposed future site of its new headquarters building, Goodyear chairman and CEO Bob Keegan made the announcement in the presence of state, city and county representatives, along with representatives from Industrial Realty Group (IRG), the developer selected to build the company’s new world headquarters.

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

German Winter Tyre Sales Down, Reports Association

Germany has long been presented to UK motorists as the ‘poster boy’ for winter tyre sales in Europe, but it appears that this year the market boasting a winter segment accounting for around half the total passenger car tyre sector is shaping up to be somewhat lacklustre. Hans-Jürgen Drechsler, head of Germany’s tyre dealer and retreader association, the Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkaniseur-Handwerk e.V. (BRV), has commented on this year’s lower sales in an interview with the Handelsblatt business newspaper.

27th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

“Smuggled” Tyres Trouble Pakistan Retail Market

International News

Tyre retailers in Lahore, Pakistan have noticed a sharp increase in the number of “smuggled” tyres from India, China, and Dubai, causing putting locally produced brands at a disadvantage, according to The Post. One report suggested that the illegal business continues unchecked in the city, “perhaps in connivance with the law-enforcing agencies”. When asked, Bismillah Tyres at Ravioli Cinema told The Post that in earlier days, the profit margin was not as good but now, “we are doing a roaring business. It is because every other family has their own car,” he said.

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Aim to Encircle Tyre Market

A new market research company is offering custom made insights to the automotive aftermarket and particularly the tyre sector. Birmingham-based Encircle Marketing produces 100 per cent independently researched data that encircles (if you will excuse the pun) the market’s key research areas: mystery shopping, “sell-out” tyre (brand) pricing and selling way (sales augmentation).

The research is produced monthly and captured by both mystery telephone calls (over 5,000 per month) and mystery visits. Local Independent Garages, Regional Garages/ Dealers, Car Dealerships, Autocentres and Fast Fits are all covered. The company reports that it already captures over 3,500 retail “sell-out” tyre prices each month across all the major tyre brands and speed ratings in car, 4×4, and van sizes. This way, they say, 80 per cent of the market is covered.

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New First Stop Member Unveils Customer Friendly Facilities

In a move to better meet the needs of its customers a new addition to the Bridgestone First Stop dealer network has unveiled its recently overhauled facilities. The reception area of Dexel Tyres in Bentley, Doncaster was given the substantial overhaul shortly after signing up, and apparently the changes are already proving to be a hit with customers and staff alike.

The work involved installing a comfortable new seating area for customers, along with television and drinks facilities plus a children’s play area, while the walls were decorated in the First Stop colours of red and grey. Staff at the dealership also benefited, with a new computerised counter area and a brand new office for branch manager Nick Housley. “We’re getting a lot of positive feedback about the refurbishment,” said Stuart Hopkinson, area manager for Dexel Tyres, which operates 12 branches across the region. “The staff enjoy it because of the new equipment that we had installed for them, while the whole experience is a lot more comfortable for our customers.

22nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Supplier for Australian GT Championship

Management of the exotic sports car series the Australian GT Championship made public on November 14 news that it has selected Michelin as official tyre supplier for this race and the Porsche Drivers Challenge for the next five seasons. “The Australian GT Championship is delighted to have reached agreement to extend its already long term relationship with Michelin to the end of the 2012 season with this new five year deal,” Australian GT Sportscar Group director Rachael Wagg said.

“The plan is for a partnership with Michelin not only as a tyre supplier but also to develop marketing and promotional opportunities for both parties,” she added. “The Australian GT Championship together with the Porsche Drivers Challenge has shown outstanding growth over the past two seasons and our highly competitive, prestigious category fits perfectly with a legendary company like Michelin.”

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Chief Executive for National Tyres and Autocare

Tony Neill, formerly Managing Director of National Tyres and Autocare, has been promoted to the post of Chief Executive Officer. Neil has worked with National for the past 24 years in a variety of operational and senior management positions including, Operations Director, Purchasing Director and most recently as Managing Director for National’s 200+ retail operation.

Neil’s appointment follows the recent strategic business review headed by Price Waterhouse Coopers, which led to speculation of a takeover. Big names such as Kwik-Fit and Bridgestone had been linked to a possible deal. However, talk of this subject has now gone quiet and officially the company is now saying the review and the appointment “signals the start of a new strategic plan for the business going forward.”

19th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Watts “To Review Prices Quarterly” As Rubber Prices Rise

“The rising price of natural rubber will present one of the major challenges that all industrial tyre manufacturers face in 2008” stated Jean-Paul Mindermann, Chief Executive Officer of Watts Tyre Group, at his Q3 Business Review Conference. The facts are startling; after 2006’s wild fluctuations the price of RSS3 has risen sharply and steadily in 2007. In January this year the price per kilo was 197 US cents, ten months later it sits at 255, with market analysts predicting that the price will soon hit 300 cents per kg. Over the last 12 months the price has risen by more than 60 per cent.

15th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NETE Takes the Exhaustion out of Custom Exhausts

North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts recently announced its intention to make further inroads into the retail market, and steps towards this goal have been made through a number of investments, including upgrading of its outlets and the construction of a ninth premises in Harrogate/Knaresborough, which is nearing completion. Now the Middlesbrough based business has invested into the exhaust side of its operations in North Yorkshire with the addition of a piece of equipment that is proving a drawcard for the region’s car enthusiasts.

The company’s Brotton outlet has become the recipient of a specialist exhaust-bending machine that allows NETE to produce any style of exhaust for any type of car. The machine, which cost in excess of £20,000, utilises the latest in exhaust customising technology to come from the US and, reports the manager of NETE’s Brotton outlet, Tony Darcy, it is attracting a wide variety of drivers from right across the region.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Pay Millions in Discrimination Lawsuit

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has been ordered to pay a woman in the US nearly $4.4 million after a jury in Seattle found the company demoted her subsequent to her complaint of being the victim of discrimination due to her sexual orientation. The lawsuit was filed by Melissa Sheffield, 47, who had been employed in a Goodyear owned retail store in Seattle for a decade before the alleged problems began in 2003.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Sets US National Tire Safety Week Dates

(Akron/Tire Review) In the US the seventh annual National Tire Safety Week will be held between April 20 and 26, 2008, the RMA has announced. The event is part of RMA’s “Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART” program. RMA said that National Tire Safety Week participation grew from 15,000 retail outlets in 2006 to 18,500 in 2007. Partners in RMA’s Be Tire Smart program include a wide range of independent tyre dealers, such as American Car Care Centers, Big 10 Tires, Belle Tire, Big O Tires, Discount Tire Co., Expert Tire, Just Tires, Kaufman Tire, Les Schwab, Merchant’s Tire, National Tire and Battery (NTB), Northwest Tire, Peerless Tires, STS Tire and Auto Centers, Sullivan Tires, Tire Factory, Tire Kingdom, Tire One, Tires Plus, Tire Warehouse, Town Fair Tires, VIP Parts, Tires and Service, and many others.

Also supporting the RMA program are non-independents and trade groups such as the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Pep Boys, Sears Automotive Centers, Firestone Complete Auto Care, GCR Tire Centers, Goodyear Auto Centers, Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express, Costco, Automotive Service Excellence, Tire Industry Association (TIA) and AAA.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Micheldever CEO Runner-up for Director of the Year

Micheldever Group Ltd CEO, Paul Fox, was pipped to the post for the Institute of Director’s (IoD) Director of the Year Award in the £25 million+ turnover category. Jonathan Neame of Shepherd Neame brewery won the award, with Steve Barber of technology company Xyratex also nominated. The results were announced at a Dinner and Awards ceremony held on 8 November in the Nash Room of the Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London.

Paul Fox joined Micheldever in February 2006 (as result of the Graphite Capital-backed management buyout) along with finance director Richard Sawney. In December 2006 Graphite Capital backed the first acquisition by Micheldever Tyre Services since the company was bought in February 2006. In this move Micheldever acquired two large retail sites, Cambridge and Stortford Performance Tyres, from the Company’s private owners, who retired upon completion. According to an official statement, this purchase demonstrated Micheldever’s intention to pursue similar transactions in the future.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors