At last year’s SEMA show, Pirelli made an impact with the introduction of a 25 inch diameter 315/40VR25 XL (120) M+S Scorpion Zero radial that the company dubbed, “Dub plus 5.” This year Pirelli believes it has gone “one better” with the announcement of the biggest Scorpion Zero ever, the 315/40R26 Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico.
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The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has announced that it is accepting nominations for the 2004 ‘Hall of Fame’. The nominations are due 1 September and are open to individuals in the tyre industry, including manufacturers, inventors, publishers, equipment suppliers, tyre dealers, and retreaders.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that Toyo Tire Corp, a US tyre marketing subsidiary of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd has been honoured with Manufacturer of the Year Award at the International Auto Salon in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Toyo Tire Corp is the first company in the tyre industry to receive the award. The Sport Compact Council of host organisation, SEMA, presented the award.
The Manufacturer of the Year Award is presented to one automotive parts maker each year and is awarded to the manufacturer that has made the most significant impact in the sport compact field.
The International Tire Expo–part of the SEMA Show in the USA–is changing its name to “Performance Wheels & Tires sponsored by TIA”. TIA is the Tire Industry Association and the event will still be held in conjunction with the SEMA Show. This year’s event runs from November 2 – 5 in Las Vegas.
The near 90 years old tyre manufacturer Cooper, has so far always been noticeable with two digit operational profits, has held its ground even after the rather difficult economic conditions in the United Stated after “September 11”. Whilst Cooper has been more or less in the doldrums during the first six months of the current year, the company again gathered way under the guidance of CEO Thomas A. Dattilo. Cooper could convince the market of the fact that this tyre and rubber company will find the way back to its old earning power. In the fourth quarter of 2002 there have been preferred sales because of announced price increases for 2003, so that the manufacturer was inevitably lagging behind its sales figures during the first months of this year. Since September however Cooper progresses again relatively steeply with light truck tyres. In particular, the last quarter showed strong upward tendencies. While the market grew by around four per cent, Cooper in turn created a growth of nine per cent by special arrangements with customers, so that up to the end of the year many arrears can be caught up. This at least is what Tom Dattilo explained to T&A in an interview at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.
US tyre maker Cooper is a phenomenon. During the last ten years it achieved the – relatively speaking – best profits with an operating profit of clearly more than ten percent. But today this is different. The difficult American market, as well as higher raw material prices, have had an effect on Cooper’s operating profit too. But, during this year, and in particular during the recent months, Cooper has made good progress. Cooper is rather successful in the retail business because the company is only engaged in the replacement market and does not have its own sales chain. Talking to TYRES & ACCESSORIES at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Cooper’s chairman Tom Dattilo explains the key to success: “We treat our clients well, the customer is king and we deliver the best products with a consistent product and brand strategy.” Dattilo confirms again that Cooper will sell up to 4.5 or 5 million tyres extra during next year. While competitors like Goodyear and Continental close plants in the US or reduce their production capacities, Cooper only has one problem: where can we produce the additional quantity of tyres?
Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position tyres are OE on the new Chrysler PT Coupe Concept, which was on show at the SEMA show. The vehicle is based on the PT Cruiser, with various additions such as custom large wheels. The tyre size for the new vehicle is 245/45 R19.
John Lampe, who is CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding and the first foreigner to become a member of the board of the Japanese parent company, certainly enjoys great respect among American tyre bosses. Even a forced tyre recall that cost the company more than 1 billion dollars couldn’t bring Bridgestone to its knees. After a billion dollar loss in 1999, last year Bridgestone/Firestone Americas could again report 90 million in profits. And this positive trend doesn’t seem to be coming to an end. “Obviously we are far away from what a business with an 8 billion dollar turnover has to achieve,” John Lampe tells TYRES & ACCESSORIES at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. Lampe doesn’t speak in terms of “yesterday and today”, but in categories “before and after the recall” and explains to T&A the measures taken for recovery and change. It is like this: all “core products” will be marketed exclusively through Bridgestone’s “Family-Channel”. As well as the Bridgestone sales chain, independent tyre dealers belong to the Family-Channel.
At the SEMA show, Dunlop has unveiled a competition drag tyre that is also street-legal, aimed at the sport-compact drag segment, allowing enthusiasts to drive to the track and test their vehicles without changing tyres. The tyre, called the “Inferno”, looks the part as well, with an image of flames on the sidewall, and a tread pattern of directional, sweeping grooves to optimise straight-line performance. The Inferno’s compound is based on the Dunlop drag racing slick and the tread pattern, carcass and mould shape were computer-designed. It will be available early next year in size 205/50 R15.
In Las Vegas, where the SEMA show is currently taking place, Goodyear’s chairman, CEO and president Robert J. Keegan found the time for an exclusive interview with TYRES & ACCESSORIES. It wasn’t his plan, says Keegan, to only bring in new executives from outside into the company, but to promote long-time colleagues as well, if they were capable of leading. But Keegan doubts that those who have led Goodyear into the current crisis are those who can bring the company out of this situation. The chairman of the tyre maker calls this “changes for victory.” Keegan is convinced that right now he has the appropriate personnel aboard in order to move ahead with the company. Keegan points out seven key elements of his strategy: leadership, cash is king, cost structures, tapping the full potential of all channels of distribution, product leadership, build-up and upgrading of Goodyear’s brands, and an optimal supply chain. In Northern America Goodyear expects a remarkable improvement now that Jonathan Rich, who is president of North American Tire, has been able to hire the right team. According to Keegan this is “the best team we have ever had in this area.”
At the SEMA show, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) unveiled a new project vehicle, the “Fuzion” Civic Si, as a showcase for a new brand of tyres aimed at the tuner market. The new brand is called Fuzion and the tyres on the Civic Si project vehicle are size 225/45 ZR17. The car also incorporates a tyre pressure monitoring system, from SmarTire USA.
Corky Coker, president of Coker Tire Co. Inc., will be installed as chairman of SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, at the association’s annual Installation Banquet, Friday, July 25, at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, in Huntington Beach, Calif. Coker has served as chairman-elect of the 5,000-member trade association for the past two years.
Pirelli P Zero tyres have been chosen as standard OE fitment on the Saleen Thunderbird Bonspeed Edition Concept Car. The car was originally planned as a one-off for the Sema show, but such was the reaction that it was decided to go into production with the vehicle. Saleen Inc. has a reputation for the design of high-performance speciality vehicles and, for the past five years, has exclusively chosen Pirelli tyres.
This third Michelin Bibendum Challenge,a world demonstration of new automotive technologies and OE will take place between 26 – 29th October, starting in Los Angeles and finishing in Las Vegas at the SEMA/ITE show. The tyre testing programme will include noise level testing, acceleration, handling, and economy to take place at the California Speedway at Fontana.
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