Pirelli has launched the third generation of its Sottozero winter tyre. The Winter Sottozero 3 is designed for cars with medium to large capacity engines and places an emphasis on grip in all conditions and tyre longevity.
In developing its latest tyre for Nordic winter conditions, Bridgestone says it aimed to meet the challenge posed by increasingly strict environmental regulations on tyre studs. The all-new Blizzak SPIKE-01 replaces the Noranza 2 EVO and features studs that incorporate a “square-shouldered, round pin with revolutionary cross-edge to maximise edge and scratch effect while minimising road wear and associated dust pollution.” According to the tyre maker, preliminary internal tests already reveal the superiority of the Blizzak SPIKE-01 stud’s multi-directional biting effect on ice and snow and its retention rate over the lifecycle of the stud and tyre compared to on the predecessor tyre. Side-by-side tests of the new and previous generation tyres conducted in Sweden using size 205/55 R16 tyres fitted on a VW GOLF 2.0tdi also showed a 20 per cent better performance on ice and five per cent better performance on snow for the Blizzak SPIKE-01.
It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. Once again, Michelin’s guide inspectors have travelled through 20 countries looking for the best hotels and restaurants to suit every taste and budget. The result of their labours is the 32nd edition of the Michelin guide Main Cities of Europe. The 2013 issue of the gourmet’s bible offers a selection of 3,728 establishments, including 2,154 restaurants and 1,574 hotels.
After 14 years as a board member of Trelleborg AB, including 11 years as chairman, Anders Narvinger has confirmed that he will not be standing for re-election at the 2013 Annual General Meeting.
Many used tyres that are being sold in Estonia are actually tyres that Finns have thrown away, according to the Estonian daily newspaper Õhtuleht. The paper quoted a Finnish mechanic who works at a garage who said that he often sees Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, but also Poles going through the container of used tyres behind the garage because most of the tyres there can still be used for a season or two.
Want to achieve 84 miles per gallon or 2.8 litres per 100 kilometres? Then you need an economical vehicle, efficient driving style – and suitable tyres. Norwegians Knut Wilthil and Hanrik Borchegrevink recently set out to smash the economy record for a series production diesel vehicle on European roads and headed out on a road trip from Helsingfors, near the Finnish capital Helsinki. They chose the Ford Mondeo ECOnetic, fitted with Continental’s ContiEcoContact 5 summer tyres.
The position of managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, made vacant by George Rietbergen’s impending move to Brussels and new role as vice-president for the company’s EMEA region Commercial Product Business Unit, has been filled by Erich Fric, the tyre maker has announced. Fric, whose career with Goodyear Dunlop began in Austria in 1994, will take over from Rietbergen on 1 July.
World speed records for passenger cars may be approaching the 250mph or 400km/h range, but it is possible to be a record breaker at more modest speeds. Bridgestone reports a Volvo wheel loader fitted with its VHS tyres has broken 103 km/h, creating a new world speed record for this type of vehicle.
Following its US launch, the point S network has announced its entry into another new market – this time in Scandinavia. On 23 November, point S Development management signed a contract with the independent dealer network “Fagdekk”, which is made up of 43 service centres throughout Norway.
From the 2013 World Superbike Championship season Pirelli will replace the current 16.5" tyres with larger 17" Diablo Superbike tyres. Pirelli says the move will better allow the company to develop its road-going products in the motorsport arena. The Italian manufacturer says it “develops its reference product through technologies and advances learned from its highest-level production series, the World Superbike Championship, for which it is the sole supplier.
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced a new deal with Bergkvarabuss AB, one of the largest private tourist bus and coach companies in Sweden. The Italian retreader will supply tyres with its BUS-T tread pattern, manufactured using its Ringtread joint-free procured ring technology, to the transport firm, becoming the first retreader to supply Bergkvarabuss. Founded in 1975 as a small taxi and bus business, the fleet has since grown to become the biggest family business in the sector in Sweden.
In its interim report for the April to June 2011 quarter, Sweden’s Trelleborg AB reported net sales of SEK 7,583 million (£721.2 million) from continuing operation, up on the same period last year. Operating profit grew 9.8 per cent year-on-year to SEK 706 million (£67.2 million) and net profit increased 13 per cent to SEK 469 million (£44.6 million).
As of October 1, Patrik Romberg will take over as the Trelleborg Group’s senior vice-president of Corporate Communications. He succeeds Viktoria Bergman, who leaves the company on September 30.
Austrian Christian Lanz drove a New Holland tractor mounted with Continental AC85 tyres to victory at the 58th world competition in conventional ploughing held in Sweden on 13 to 14 May at Lindevad Manor near Skänninge in Swedish Östergötland. 58 competitors from 29 countries took part in a show of patience, skill and advanced technology to create the perfectly spaced furrow. Czech-based CGS Tyres has produced and developed Continental agricultural tyres under licence since 2004.
On 9 and 10 October the British National Ploughing Championships took place at Grange de Lings near Lincoln. The winners of both the Reversible Final and the Conventional Final were using Optitrac tyres, manufactured by Goodyear, the event’s title sponsor. The Reversible Final saw Colin Bowen from Clun, Craven Arms in Shropshire win the plough-off with 19 points, retaining his title. Former World Ploughing Champion, John Hill from Hoylandswaine in Sheffield took the top spot in the Conventional Final plough-off with 21 points. Both ploughmen will represent England in the 2011 World Ploughing Contest to be held in Sweden.
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