Bridgestone Potenza tyres are OE on the new 2008 Pontiac G8. Potenza RE050A (size 245/45R18 96V) tyres are optional on the base model 2008 Pontiac G8 saloon and standard on the sportier G8 GT. Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is also supplying an optional 245/40R19 94W Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyre for the G8 GT.
Matador recently launched the MP85 Hectorra. Company representatives described the product an ultra-high performance SUV 4×4 tyre with a new high-speed summer asymmetric tread design. According to the company, the modern asymmetric tread brings optimum handling and safety on wet and dry surfaces. Asymmetric configuration of the tread blocks brings increased stability of the vehicle in curves during more aggressive driving styles, Matador representatives added. The new tyre is designated: 90 per cent road – 10 per cent terrain.
Pro-Align has launched Hunter’s new third generation digital imaging alignment system – HawkEye. The new technology combines the features of the popular DSP600 imaging system with the new High-Definition (HD) digital imaging sensors. According to Pro-Align, Hawkeye will provide precise, high-speed alignment service and greater productivity, while taking up a minimum amount of shop space.
The HawkEye system comes in two versions – the Hunter 100 aligner with Hawkeye digital imaging sensors; and the Hunter WA aligner with Hawkeye HD digital imaging Sensors. The Hunter 100 aligner is a kind of ‘mini’ version that operates on the new low cost Hunter100 console, with standard hexagonal targets, to provide the benefits of rapid imaging alignment at a price that, in the past, has been associated with aligners with conventional sensors. This news is said to close the ‘affordability’ gap, offering more tyre shops the opportunity to make that move away from hang-on tracking gauges.
Toyo Tires reports that it has taken “the prime spot” at this year’s British International Motor Show. It is also said to have been the first tyre manufacturer to do so. In a statement Toyo Tires said that it hopes to capitalise on its highly visible presence and prime time location at this year’s event. Toyo Tires has previously maintained a presence at Goodwood Festival of Speed and other motorsport and motoring enthusiast events. So what prompted the move to this more mainstream audience?
Yokohama has announced it has concluded a product placement agreement for the latest Hollywood film by Matrix directors the Wachowski brothers. The film, written and directed by the brothers, is titled Speed Racer and is scheduled for release in major international markets in May 2008.
Under the agreement, Yokohama will supply tyres for the technological star of the film, a car named “Mach 5,” and upon the film’s release the tyremaker also carry out extensive promotional activities in some 40 countries where it operates overseas subsidiaries and affiliates. Yokohama reports that it looks forward to the opportunity to further enhance global recognition of the ‘Yokohama’ brand name through association with this film.
One in ten people who drive for work have admitted falling asleep at the wheel in the past year, according to new research by road safety charity Brake and Green Flag. The shocking figure is more than twice as high as the number of drivers who don’t drive for work but who say they have fallen asleep in the past year, which is still an alarmingly high one in 25 drivers. Nodding off for just a second or two at the wheel can kill: travelling at 60mph on a motorway (one of the main types of road where fatigue commonly occurs), a driver covers 27 metres (88 feet) per second.
One of the main causes of nodding off at the wheel is insufficient sleep the night before. The research has found that people who drive for work are more likely to drive after insufficient sleep. Half of the people who drive for work who were surveyed say they sometimes drive after less than five hours’ sleep, compared to just over a third (35 per cent) of people who drive only outside work. Research shows that if you drive after less than five hours’ sleep, you have just a one in ten chance of staying fully awake on a lengthy journey.
Yokohama tyres are standard equipment on the new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Evo), introduced during the recent Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. According to press information from the show, the Japanese performance car will be fitted with Yokohama A13C size 245/40R18 tyres with 93Y load and speed ratings. The tyres will be mounted on 18 x 8.5 inch Enkei cast alloy or BBS forged aluminium wheels, depending on the model level. The EVO comes with a 291-hp 2-litre turbocharged and intercooled engine and an all-wheel-control dynamic handling system to regulate drive torque at each wheel.
Welsh rally star Elfyn Evans exceeded all expectations at the Wales Rally GB, taking his Hankook Fiesta to class victory. The 18-year-old son of former British Rally Champion Gwyndaf Evans produced one of the most impressive drives of the three-day rally – the Cardiff-based finale to the World Rally Championship.
Evans’ Fiesta ended the event in 42nd place overall, a massive climb from his start number of 118 and an indication of the young driver’s future potential. Together with co-driver Richard Edwards the pair faced 17 high-speed tests in the Welsh forests – tackling some of the worst conditions ever seen on Wales Rally GB. They had to contend with torrential rain, blanket fog and extremely muddy conditions, but nothing nature threw at them fazed the pair. And while many cars suffered punctures from the rocky tracks and body damage in the tough conditions, Elfyn and Richard successfully navigated everything in their path.
In what Continental is calling a “high-tech triumph”, the “Boss”, a self-driving Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with Continental technology, won the DARPA Urban Challenge 2007. With the help of a dozen sensors and the Conti know-how in the domain of sensor data fusion, the vehicle’s computer was fed optimally prepared data on its surroundings. As a reward for its efforts the “Boss” development team came away with the top prize – two million dollars.
An analysis of India’s manufacturing sectors, reported in Indian daily The Financial Express, has revealed that the tyre sector, after electronics, was the best performer during the July to September 2007 period. The total net profit figure of the eight tyre companies under the spotlight grew by 139.9 per cent to Rs 1.175 billion (£14.56 million) during the three month period, as opposed to Rs 489.90 million (£6.07 million) during July to September 2006. Of these eight firms, CEAT showed a particularly significant growth in net profit, increasing by 565.8 per cent to RS 255 million (£3.16 million) from Rs 38.3 million (£474,600) a year earlier. The total sales of this group of tyremakers increase by 4.52 per cent during the same three-month period.
The recently introduced Michelin Pilot Sport Cup + has been approved as original equipment on the latest version of the BMW M3, launched in the second half of 2007. Already OE for the coupe version of the M3, the Pilot Sport Cup + is the French tyremaker’s top-of-the-line sports tyre. Developed for high speed track racing, it also meets all the requirements of public highway driving, as evidenced by the “DOT” marking on the sidewall.
The technology ensconced within the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup + enables the tyre to handle extreme track conditions while delivering optimal grip for safe everyday driving. To achieve this dual objective, Michelin implemented a two-compound design. Because wet-road driving makes considerable demands on the inside shoulder, silica has been included in this section of the tread, thus guaranteeing superior traction on slippery surfaces. Inversely, carbon black is used on the outer shoulder for maximum grip on dry surfaces. These two different blends, each of which is adapted to a specific type of use, are rarely seen together on the same tyre. Michelin claims that its ability to combine technologies that are normally incompatible is what makes the Pilot Sport Cup + a truly innovative product.
The Wales Rally GB is set to be a family affair in 2007, with 18-year old driver Elfyn Evans competing against father Gwyndaf. Evans the younger has proven to be one of the country’s rising rally stars this year, finishing third overall in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy, and he is now relishing the chance to tackle the home round of the World Rally Championship alongside his former British Rally Champion father, who has spent the season driving for the Mitsubishi rally team in the BRC.
Organisers believe it is more than a decade since a father and son competed head on against each other in the event – the most recent being Roger and Matthew Clark in 1995 and Jimmy McRae against both Colin and Alister in 1993. Elfyn and co-driver Richard Edwards will continue to use their trusty Fiesta and have secured backing for the rally from Hankook Tire – the main sponsor of Gwyndaf’s BRC efforts in 2006.
Israel’s Alliance Tire has released two new products. The first of these is the new 85 series R1 radial. This drive wheel tractor tyre comes in a 390/85R 24 size and features the 385 Agri-Star R1-W tread pattern. Alliance reports that the ’85 Series combines the durability required to handle today’s high-powered tractors with the levels of comfort required to improve handling and reduce operator fatigue. The self-cleaning R1-W tread pattern contains deep, wide angled lugs specifically designed for wet, sticky soil conditions. The tyre’s large volume and broad soil contact area enables the ’85 Series to handle high loading capacities, reducing soil compaction at standard inflation pressures. Its ‘D’ speed category permits vehicles fitted with the ’85 Series to travel at up to 65km/h.
(Akron/Tire Review) US importer and wholesaler ZT Wholesale has added a new brand to its portfolio – Diamond Back – a line of performance radials. The Diamond Back line, according to ZT Wholesale, features three M+S rated tyres, covering 14 through 24-inch wheel sizes and T through W speed ratings.
“The addition of the Diamond Back brand gives our dealers a valuable option for both OE replacement and plus size applications,” explains Don Mathis, ZT Wholesale sales director. “The expansion into 14, 15 and 16-inch sizes completes our high performance product range. In addition to expanding the range of performance sizes, we plan on introducing light truck and snow tyres in 2008.”
Falken recently invited 40 of its top performing dealers from around the country to spend the day at Palmer Sport at the Bedford Autodrome. The unique track day involved driving and racing cars ranging from Caterhams to single seater Formula cars and off-roading.
The day began with Renault Clio Cup Racers and Porsche 911. The pocket rocket Clio’s minimal weight and maximum power made for a hair raising way to start the day while the growling power of the 911 certainly woke some people up!
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