Tyres & Accessories January 2010
Now available to subscribers online, January 2010's magazine includes features on agricultural tyres and motorcycles tyres. For more details and to view the virtual magazine, click more.
Posts
MOT Failure Data Reflects Well On Japanese Car Makes
NewsNew figures show that, of vehicles first used in 2004, the Toyota Corolla has the lowest failure rate – just 11.2 per cent. The Ford Transit Connect had the highest failure rate at 30.5 per cent, followed by the Renault Megane at 28.1 per cent and the Ford Transit at 26.3 per cent. This data refers to 2007 MOT results. VOSA is expected to publish statistics for 2008 and 2009 later this year, and then each year in the future.
Canadian Study Finds Winter Tyre Users in Fewer Crashes
NewsA 2009 government study of winter traffic accidents in Prince Edward Island found that only six per cent of the involved vehicles was fitted with winter tyres. But that apparently isn’t enough for the province’s transportation minister, who called the study “inconclusive” and says there is no reason to mandate winter tyre use as Quebec did in 2008.
From Hi-Viz to High Fashion
NewsThe high visibility vest, once the preserve of rail workers and those engaged in emergency services, has become ubiquitous. In his book ‘Pies and Prejudice’, Stuart Maconie refers to the reflective tabard, along with Greggs' pasties, as a new emblem of the North. And he has a point – people from all walks of life can be found wearing the high visibility tabard for workplace duties, changing a tyre or simply walking their similarly attired dog. And this army of fluorescent vest wearers are united by one common bond – they all look equally unfashionable.
Interstate Launches New ECO Tour Plus Passenger Car Tyre
NewsInterstate has announced that it has released its new eco-conscious tyre, the ECO Tour Plus. The tyre, as its name suggests, is particularly concerned with addressing ecological issues, such as lowering CO2 emissions through decreased rolling resistance. The company states that the tyre includes the development of materials technology called I-ECO combined with a new non-directional tread design. I-ECO, Interstate continues, produces a lower rolling resistance coefficient by reducing energy loss in the top compound during rotation. The new non-directional tread design features a connected block and a thin rib with strategically placed noise reducing ovals, which aims to enhance contact pressure and wet braking performance. All tyres are produced with the Interstate Clean-Oil.
European Recycling, Recovery Rates Still Growing, Claims ETRMA
NewsFigures released by the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association show end of life tyre recycling and recovery rates last year to have exceeded 95 per cent. The 2008 statistics released by the ETRMA show a continuation in the pattern seen over the last 15 years or so, a period during which the disposal of end of life tyres in landfill has decreased from more than 60 per cent in 1994 to around five per cent today. The number of old tyres receiving ecological treatment, the ETRMA notes, has increased by an average of four per cent yearly.
RMA: Scrap Tyre Re-use Continues to Rise in USA
Product NewsA new study by the RMA shows that nearly 90 per cent of tyres that are replaced every year are put to a new productive use. In fact, the study shows, the reuse rate of scrap tyres tops most recovered waste materials including glass bottles, paper and aluminum cans. The RMA said the report “shows continued progress in scrap tyre management practices across the nation resulting in significant reduction of scrap tire stockpiles and continued progress in putting waste tyres to new uses.”
In 2007, 89.3 per cent of the scrap tyres generated in the US by weight were consumed in end-use markets. By comparison, in 2005, about 82 per cent of tyres were consumed by weight, and in 1990, only 11 per cent of tyres were consumed on a per tyre basis. The total volume of scrap tyres consumed in end-use markets in the US in 2007 reached approximately 4105.8 thousand tons of tyres – the largest amount ever since RMA began tabulating scrap tyre statistics.
RMA estimates that about 4,595.7 thousand tons of tyres were generated in the US in 2007. Scrap tyres were consumed by a variety of markets, including tyre-derived fuel, civil engineering and ground rubber applications. The RMA publication, “Scrap Tire Markets in the U.S.; 9th Biennial Report,” is available free for download at www.rma.org. (Tire Review/Akron)
May China Tyre Production Reaches 62.35m Units
Product NewsTyre production in China during May 2009 rose 21.21 per cent year on year and 7.2 per cent over the previous month to 62.35 million units, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics has announced. The Bureau’s figures total production in the period from January to May 2009 show a 6.6 per cent increase to 237.7 million units
Synthetic rubber production fell 8 per cent year on year to 199,000 tons in May, but for the January to May period increased 0.2 per cent year on year to 1.02 million tons.
USW Files Trade Case Against Chinese Imports
NewsAccording to statistics published by the United Steelworkers, between 2004 and 2008 the volume of tyres imported from China increased 215 per cent, and the value of these imports by 295 per cent. During this same period US tyre production declined by more than a quarter and the domestic industry’s share of the US tyre market dropped from 63 per cent to less than half. These figures represent conditions in a relatively robust period for the industry – since the second half of 2008 the market has shrivelled considerably, and US based tyre producers are feeling the pinch more than ever. For this reason the USW has filed a major trade case against, in its own words, “the flood of imported consumer tyres from China that have led to thousands of job losses and a growing number of plant closings throughout the US.”
Kwik-Fit Asks: Are You an MOT Virgin?
Product NewsFour decades ago Jimi Hendrix asked us all, in song, the question ‘are you experienced?’ – and it seems the answer may well be a resounding ‘no’. According to Kwik-Fit, many of us are by no means experienced when it comes to the periodic inspections our vehicles require: Some two million UK motorists remain, in the fast fit specialist’s own words, MOT virgins.
To qualify for virginal status, at least in regards to MOT inspections, a person must have never kept hold of a car long enough to have put it through an Mot test. As previously mentioned, more that a few motorists have yet to have their first-time experience. And on top of these, a further one million drivers haven’t put a car through an MOT inspection for at least a decade.
December Tyre Production More than 20% Down in China
Product NewsAccording to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, tyre production nationwide fell by 21.7 per cent year on year in December to 36.67 million units. This figure, disseminated by Dow Jones Newswire, present a strong contrast to the 14 per cent growth recorded in December 2007. Synthetic rubber production totalled 236,000 tons in December, up 26.7 per cent year on year.
China to Generate 200 million End-of-Life Tyres by 2010
Product NewsChina Tyre Retreading, Repairing and Recycling Association statistics show that the number of end-of-life (ELT) tyres discarded in the People’s Republic grew from 32 million in 2000 to 150 million in 2007, while the raw weight of ELTs increased from 12 thousand tons to 3.1 million tons. The association predicts China will generate 200 million waste tyres by 2010, however with the new tyre to retread rate in recent years staying between 4 and 7 per cent it is difficult to say how many of these will be retreaded.
Honest John Picks Up on Cold Weather
Product NewsPopular motoring columnist “Honest John” has reported on TyreSafe’s recent cold weather tyre advice. “People who do not want to spend their Christmas break sorting out a car insurance claim may benefit from switching to cold weather tyres,” HonestJohn.co.uk’s news section reported.
The reported was based on material originally published by TyreSafe, which highlighted Department for Transport statistics showing that slippery surfaces were a factor in 55 per cent of traffic accidents where the state of the road played a part in 2007.
Indian Vehicle Manufacturers Revise OE Tyre Offtake Projections
NewsIt appears that the current auto industry woes are by no means restricted to North America and Europe. In India, the Hindu Business Line reports that major manufacturers of medium and heavy commercial vehicles have reduced their OE tyre offtake projections by about 40 to 50 per cent during the current financial quarter.
Goodyear Promotes Safety in New Ad Campaign
Product NewsGoodyear is highlighting the safety aspects of its products through a new integrated advertising campaign. The advertisement, created by London based agency Leagas Delaney, utilises the iconic Goodyear blimp, portraying the airship as a flying laboratory housing a team that looks after drivers on their journey.
The safety message is bolstered by statistics highlighting the safety benefits of Goodyear’s innovations, and the campaign also introduces a new endline – ‘Safety Together’ – and a new corporate identity. The campaign will be shown across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, encompassing TV, print and point of sale.
