Roadside service provider Mondial Assistance shares that cost is a major factor putting UK motorists off purchasing winter tyres. In a recent 200-person survey it conducted, just under two thirds of respondents said they do not intend to fit winter tyres to their vehicles; from this group, 46 per cent said they won’t fit winter tyres as they cost too much money.
HiQ Openshaw has announced the recruitment of a new mechanic; while this may not be the day’s biggest news story, its relevance becomes clearer when we consider that the east-Manchester branch is the first of the network’s 150 centres to recruit a woman in that position. The centre took on Dominyka Kasponyte after she approached the garage looking to further her early career working as an apprentice mechanic. Kasponyte, from Gorton, joins a team of nine men at the centre bringing with her various training qualifications including an NVQ and a national diploma. HiQ says she joins “a growing group of women who have taken on roles from centre management to directorship across the network.”
According to a UK-based vehicle hire website, 14.6 per cent of British motorists admit retaining the tyres on their cars until they fail the MoT or are flagged as illegal during vehicle servicing. The website, VanRental.co.uk, did not specify the size or makeup of the survey group, however founder Roland Head states the results “highlight the casual attitude taken by many motorists towards tyre safety.”
According to Johnson Controls, an estimated 70 per cent of all new vehicles manufactured by 2015 will feature Start-Stop technology. Yet Joacim Adlerborn, the company’s training and technical services manager, opines that the majority of independent workshops still feel ill-equipped to service these vehicles.
Following the announcement of the government’s Autumn budget statement, which included the news that the planned 3p rise in fuel duty in January is to be cancelled, Bridgestone has been the first to publically respond to what this means for motorists. In addition to the fuel duty increase cancellation, there will a 1 per cent cap on public sector pay rises for two years after the end of current freeze next year. Borrowing is £112 billion more over the next four years than previous forecasts, but debt interest payments are £22 billion less than expected.
Lanxess-owned company Rhein Chemie reports that Norman Cameron of Rhein Chemie Argentina will transfer to Hong Kong to head up the company’s newly set up APAC Tire Task Force from January 2012. The purpose of this Asia Pacific Tire Task Force is, says Rhein Chemie, to “actively survey the requirements of all tyre plants, developing tailor-made products for all customers.” The chemical company says Cameron brings particular experience in release agents and bladders to his new position.
Goodyear is hosting a web tv show at 15:00 (BST) today. In the webcast Quentin Willson will share his safe winter driving knowledge with Goodyear Dunlop PR support manager Kate Rock. The show is based on a OnePoll survey of 4,000 motorists, which revealed motorists’ phobia of driving in winter conditions. It also showed that less than one in five drivers have ever purchased winter tyres. To view the webcast, go to http://77.237.250.82/~tyrepress/live.html. You can also submit a question to Willson and Rock now.
The tyre trade has suggested that, while there is still plenty of scepticism over the commercial draw of fuel efficient tyres, consumers will pay more for a tyre that increases fuel efficiency. Visitors to tyrepress.com expressed their opinions on the issue during last month’s Question of the Month, with 59.43 per cent of voters suggesting that consumers would shell out for tyres that make their fuel go further. To vote in the new Question of the Month – Is the market ready for tyre labelling? – go to the tyrepress.com homepage.
According to a recent study commissioned by Kwik-Fit, as many as 1.9 million part-worn tyres may have been purchased by UK motorists in this past year – and many more drivers would contemplate buying them. The study of 2,024 UK adults, carried out by ICM Research in September 2011, not only showed that the aforementioned six per cent of car owners fitted part-worn tyres to their vehicles; it also revealed that as many as 19.3 million motorists, or 62 per cent of car owners, would consider buying part-worns.
Peugeot UK has announced its own winter tyre scheme, following in the footsteps of other manufacturers, such as BMW, Suzuki and Volvo. The company’s new “swap and store” service being provided by dealers enables customers to equip their cars with four cold weather tyres and have their Summer ones placed in storage.
Quoting figures from a survey conducted by online research firm One Poll, Manheim Auctions notes than less than five per cent of British motorists plan on purchasing winter tyres this year. Out of the 3,000 respondents to the August 2011 survey, 95.5 per cent said they are not planning to buy winter tyres despite last year’s hard winter.
The number court convictions related to d driving on defective tyres in England and Wales is at a four year high, according to the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office. TyreSafe has released details of the figures which show that in 2010, 10,475 motorists were successfully convicted – almost 1,000 more than the previous year. The figures highlight the scale of the problem of illegal tyres in the UK, especially as they do not take into account tyre related matters dealt with by the police at the roadside.
Suzuki has joined the growing ranks of tyre dealers and more recently car dealerships offering a winter tyre programme. Michael-Le Flay, Suzuki’s aftersales marketing manager, explained: "Many people are unaware of the fact that when temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius, the rubber in standard tyres becomes harder and less flexible, which affects braking and cornering performance.
Insurance price comparison site Confused.com commissioned a survey of 2,000 drivers on tyre-related matters to coincide with tyre safety month. The site points out that drivers could see their motor insurance claims denied, get 12 penalty points on their licence and face fines of up to £10,000, simply by failing to take proper care of their tyres.
ATS Euromaster marked the end of the summer holiday period by opening its network of tyre hotels. The retailer is marketing the idea by suggesting that motorists can check-in their summer tyres for a winter break, while they enjoy the benefits cold weather tyres offer when temperatures drop below seven degrees Celsius. ATS-E states that it expects rooms at the hotels to be popular, given current weather predictions, and the desire not to be caught out for the third winter season running.
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