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New Air Spring Brochure From ContiTech

“Air Spring Competence for the Commercial Vehicle Replacement Market” is the title of a new, high-class image brochure just released by ContiTech Air Spring Systems. In it ContiTech draws attention to an expertise born of more than fifty years of experience in the development and production of air springs for commercial vehicles.

“The image brochure is geared to providing purchasers all they need to know.
With no false modesty, we provide an overview of our material competence, product quality and customer orientation,” says Meike Zettel-Sümnick, sales manager of the commercial vehicle replacement business at ContiTech Air Spring Systems.

16th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Tyres For Lotus In The USA

Toyo has introduced two new sizes of its Proxes R888 D.O.T.-approved tyre specifically for fitment on both the Lotus Exige and Elise automobiles. These are the first D.O.T. approved competition tyres that Toyo has offered in sizes suited for the Lotus, the sizes being 195/50R16 front and 225/45R17 rear.

Launched in mid-year 2007, the race-winning Proxes R888 features a semi-slick shoulder area and stiff sidewall. The result for the already capable Lotus cars is racecar-like handling which is ideal for road racing, track days, driving schools and performance street driving.

16th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

American Market WRX STI on Dunlop Performance Tyres

The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI sold in North America will sport Dunlop SP Sport 600 radials. The tyres, which were specially designed to match the car’s suspension, were produced in Japan, Goodyear said. The tyre will be supplied in size 245/40R18 93W, The Dunlop SP WinterSport 3D is the winter tyre option on the new car, as is the Dunlop SP Sport 01 UHP in size 235/45R17 94W. (Tire Review/Akron)

7th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sales Up But Hayes Lemmerz Reports Q3 Net Loss

Third quarter results for wheel manufacturer Hayes Lemmerz showed a 20 per cent increase in sales from the same period a year earlier. For the three months ending October 31, 2007 the company took in sales of US$554.9 million, up from $463.3 million in the third quarter of 2006. The company reports that this increase in sales resulted in strong international aluminium and steel wheel sales, material cost recovery and favourable foreign currency fluctuations.

For the third quarter, the Hayes Lemmerz reported adjusted EBITDA of $55.8 million, an improvement of $12.0 million or 27 per cent over the year earlier quarter, and earnings from operations before impairments of $22.2 million, an improvement of $11.3 million –more than double Q3 2006. Free cash flow for the third quarter, excluding the effects of the company’s accounts receivables securitisation program, was $26.5 million, an increase of $26.2 million over the year earlier quarter. Free cash flow for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $8.0 million, an increase of $14.2 million for the same period last year.

10th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Eibach Extends Partnership with BTCC champions VX Racing

Suspension specialist Eibach UK has extended its technical partnership with Vauxhall’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship works team VX Racing following its successful 2007 season. Eibach supplied the team with performance springs and is proud of the contribution the springs’ immediate response, reduced body roll, increased stability and enhanced cornering ability made towards clinching the Drivers and Manufacturers Championships.

The extended deal was brokered by Triple Eight Race Engineering (888), the Greatworth-based organisation responsible for Vauxhall’s motorsport operations, which was highly pleased with Eibach’s contribution to the race-winning Vauxhall Vectra. “Eibach is the perfect partner for VX Racing,” said 888’s Commercial and Marketing Director Franck Marie. “Without doubt, Eibach has been an integral part of our success in 2007.

22nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

MOT Approval For Beissbarth Test Lane

Beissbarth UK has won approval of its 600 series automatic test lane (ATL) for use in the MOT testing of vehicles. Philip Hodges, Beissbarth UK’s managing director, says he regards this new development as part of their ongoing process of providing the very latest technology to assist in the MOT, which is such a part of everyday motoring requirements and garage revenue.

He added: “The Beissbarth ATL 600 brake tester is capable of testing – as an option – vehicles with the Haldex Clutch as used by VAG and others and which is becoming a feature of many of the four wheel drive off-road vehicles.

2nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Keeping it Together

The organisers of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship maintain the provision of sustainable solutions to the environmental impact that results from UK rallying events as one of their top priorities. Following on from the introduction of a “greener” control fuel, a partnership set up by the BRC with Pirelli Tyre and the Forestry Commission will examine tyre technologies with a view to developing a product that will have positive economic and environmental benefits. Thus, on the back of its participation as partner and official tyre supplier to the BRC, Pirelli has joined forces with these two parties to carry out an evaluation and tyre development programme with the aim of reducing damage to forest roads.

19th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Announces latest Addition to Sportmax Range

Prominent motorcycle tyre manufacturer Dunlop has launched the Sportmax Roadsmart, designed for sport touring motorcycles. This is a tyre that Dunlop is confident delivers outstanding performance on wet roads and matchless all around sport touring performance, qualities that are the fruit of more than two years global research effort.

The new tyre, which is reported to out-perform its predecessor, the Sportmax D220ST, in all areas, shows strong performance improvement on wet surfaces. This result was obtained whilst improving the conflicting demand of mileage performance, which was already recognised as one of the major strengths of the Sportmax D220ST.

“These improvements result from the combination of our latest Dunlop Sportmax hypersport tyres’ attributes with new compounding and construction technologies for an optimised performance in all riding, road and weather conditions,” said Sanjay Khanna, managing director Dunlop Motorcycle.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pontiac GTO Tyre Defect Claim Rejected

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ended an investigation into allegations of a safety defect on the Pontiac GTO, built by Holden. The alleged fault involved the clearance between the front tyres and the suspension components. NHTSA said it could not find a safety defect and was closing its investigation. However, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the investigator said it appeared there was a problem with the suspension settings on many cars.

Despite the US government closing the issue, General Motors still faces a class-action suit filed in California on behalf of owners of 2004 and 2005 model year GTOs, which the suit contends are prone to tyre failure due to the alleged suspension problem. The company denies any defect.

17th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Norbar Keeps VX Racing On Track

In motor racing, accurate torque control of threaded fasteners is vital and the dangers of under- or over-tightening these are self evident. The driver needs the confidence to be able to push the car to the limit and the workshop has to have faith in the design integrity of each single component.

Norbar Torque wrenches have long been the tools of choice for the Triple 8 team, the company behind VX Racing – the most successful team in the history of the British Car Touring Championship. Says chief mechanic Martin Ellis: “We use a number of Norbar Torque wrenches here, ranging from the ¼” drives for the small suspension and gearbox sub-assemblies, right up to 1″ wrench that we use for the suspension bearings.

6th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

ArvinMeritor to Produce Air Link at Mexico Plant

(Akron/Tire Review) ArvinMeritor Inc.’s Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) unit will manufacture Meritor Air Link suspension at its Sistemas Automotirices de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. joint venture facility in Monterrey, Mexico.

The company added the Air Link suspension to its product line through a licensing agreement with Raydan Manufacturing Inc. of Alberta, Canada in 2004. The agreement covers suspension applications up to and including 52,000-pound GAWR for commercial truck, and specialty and military vehicles.

“Applying our industrialisation and supply chain management tools to the Meritor Air Link suspension will allow us the opportunity to respond to our customers’ unique needs, including modules and systems, while controlling all aspects of quality and cost,” said Larry Dowers, general manager of product strategy.

Air Link’s walking beam air suspension design offers the ride and handling advantages of an air suspension for heavy haul applications, said ArvinMeritor. Other design advantages include desirable roll stability characteristics and lower suspension maintenance as a result of fewer moving parts

30th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Rancho Launches New SUV Suspension

(Akron/Tire Review) Rancho has introduced a new suspension system for 2004-07 Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs, which the company said will “deliver exceptional on- and off-road performance and ride quality.”

“We’ve engineered a system that offers the SUV owners a no-compromises approach to performance suspension for their Armada or Infiniti,” said Joe Pase, Rancho’s general manager. “Plus, we’re utilizing an engineering design that is ideal for one of our shock packages like the new RS9000XL series rather than spacers.”

The new system for the Armada and Infiniti that includes a two-piece, high-clearance front cross-member and extended-length steering knuckles. Compatible with either the auto-leveling and non-auto-leveling editions of the Armada and Infiniti, Rancho utilizes a bolt-on rugged sub-assembly in the rear suspension.

Rancho said the new system is compatible with any of Rancho’s shock absorbers, and is delivered complete with detailed and illustrated installation instructions. No drivetrain or exhaust modifications are required. The system is fully compatible with stock tyre/wheel packages, Rancho said.

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hendrickson Launches New Automatic Tyre Inflation Unit

US supplier of truck suspension and related equipment, Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems, have introduced a new variation of its automatic tyre inflation system for trailer units. Named the Tiremaax CP (Constant Pressure), the new unit features a more simple design than the original Tiremaax, which has now become known as the Tiremaax EC (Electronic Control).

Both Tiremaax systems draw from the trailer’s air supply to help keep trailer tyres properly inflated. The mechanical Tiremaax CP unit continually checks tyre pressure without pressurising the axle or wheel ends and employs a pneumatic controller to direct air to tyres that fall below a preset pressure level. A signal light illuminates only when attention is required to alert the operator of tyre or system leaks.

The unit’s mechanical design, free from electronics, transducers and pressure switches, allows for easy maintenance of the Tiremaax CP. The CP requires no special tools to adjust tyre pressure settings and operates on either 12- or 24-volt electrical systems.

10th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Quarter Profits up at Superior Industries

OE alloy wheel supplier Superior Industries International announced their financial results for the second quarter of this year on August 9, figures that show a solid increase in unit wheel shipments, net sales, gross margin and pre-tax income from continuing operations compared to the second quarter of 2006.

“The benefits of our hard work during the past several years to improve productivity, reduce costs, and position Superior for success as a truly global company are becoming increasingly evident in our financial performance,” said chairman, president and CEO Steven Borick.

For the three months ended June 30, 2007, net sales increased 16.1 per cent to US$255,217,000 compared to $219,880,000 for the second quarter of 2006, driven by a 3.7 per cent increase in unit wheel shipments, a higher percentage of large-diameter wheels in the sales mix than in the prior year, and higher pass-through aluminium costs in selling prices.

10th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcaline: ‘Continental Ideal in the Long Run’

International haulier Alcaline (UK) Limited has reported that it finds Continental tyres ideally suited to the sort of long-distance operation that takes its trucks deep into Italy and increasingly into Eastern Europe. From the UK, the company runs 40 tractor units and 60 trailers out of its base at Ashford in Kent, which is conveniently located for the Channel tunnel and Dover ferry port. Coiled steel, paper and automotive parts are the main products carried and the company plays a key role in the supply chain for several prestige car makers.

Almost all the trucks are DAF’s top-of-the range XF95 and XF105 two axle tractors – the latter being the current ‘International Truck of the Year’ – operating at 40 tonnes gross. Trailers are high-quality, tri-axle curtainsiders by Schmitz Cargobull, including ‘mega cube’ units of up to 104 cubic metres capacity, and all are on air suspension.

9th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors