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Ferrari to Quit F1?

Formula One’s off-track happenings continued to rival its race-days in terms of drama as the sport’s longest running and most successful team issued a stunning ultimatum, threatening to end its involvement if proposed budget cap rules are implemented next season.

FIA chief Max Mosley has proposed a system that would allow teams remaining within a £40 million budget cap to operate with fewer technological restrictions than those that chose not to. Ferrari argues that this would create a two-tier championship stating, “The same rules for all teams, stability of regulations, the continuity of… endeavours to methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula 1 are priorities for the future. If these indispensable principles are not respected, and if the regulations decided for 2010 will not change, Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars.”

12th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

F1: Bridgestone Roll Out Super Softs for Shanghai Grand Prix

In Shanghai, Bridgestone’s super soft tyre was used by Jenson Button’s Brawn as he set Friday’s fastest lap time in the afternoon practice session held in sunny weather conditions. Lewis Hamilton had set the fastest time on the harder compound in the morning session. The practice session is the first time that Bridgestone’s super soft compound tyre has been used at Shanghai. Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development noted that the early Championship leaders Brawn and Toyota “appear to be using their tyres well, but some other teams are still finding the best set-ups. In the second session we saw both tyres used and the performance of the super soft in terms of degradation was not as bad as in Australia.”

He was also keen to stress the challenge posed by Bridgestone’s employment of the super soft tyre, in line with the supplier’s promise to make tyre usage an important tactical aspect of the season: “For 2009 we are making a bigger difference between the two compounds and this is in response to requests for this from the FIA and the teams… Here we have the medium tyre, which should be a strong race tyre, and the super soft, which will require good tyre management in terms of car set-up and driving style. Of course, we saw different approaches to using the super soft tyre in Australia, with some approaches working much better than others, so it will be interesting to see competitors rise to the challenge here in Shanghai.”

17th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin India Launches Primacy LC

With a view to increase its market share in the high-performance tyre segment, Michelin today launched its new product for the Indian market. “With the launch of ‘Primacy LC’ tyre, we are hopeful of increasing our market share in high-performance tyre segment significantly,” Michelin India CEO Jean Paul Caylar said in a statement. The new tyre is set to become the company’s next ‘best seller’ in Asia Pacific, he said, replacing its previous generation Energy MXV8 tyre.

The new product is aimed at cars such as Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb, Skoda Laura, Toyota Innova, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Maruti SX4 Zxi.

19th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyota Cuts Pay and Production by 10%

Toyota has announced that its two British factories in Burnaston, Derbyshire and Deeside, Flintshire will attempt to stave off the effects of recession in 2009 by reducing pay and production by 10 per cent. Affecting 4,500 workers across the two sites, the cutbacks will come in to bat on 1 April. The Japanese car giant stated that “the measures we have announced give us a greater opportunity to maintain employment through this difficult period,” while it was revealed in mid-February that managers will not receive any bonuses this year.

Reaction from unions has been noticeably free of ululating dissent, with Unite representative Peter Tsouvallaris telling The Guardian newspaper, “the agreement we have reached with Toyota will ensure none of our members’ benefits are eroded and that these skilled workers will remain in place and at work ready for when the upturn comes.” The news comes at a time when car makers are meeting with business minister Ian Pearson to discuss planned bailouts for the struggling industry.

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Builds on “Fastest SUV” Fitment

Toyo retained its title as tyre of the “fastest SUV in the world” with the Proxes S/T on Sportec’s modified Porsche Cayenne Turbo at high speed oval course, the ATP in Germany. Selected for its ability to deliver the handling and stability required of a 4×4 of the modified Cayenne’s magnitude, the Proxes range exemplifies the ultra-high performance range of Toyo’s 4×4 line, though the company also recognises that not all off road vehicles are driven by off-road enthusiasts; it carries a wide range of tyres to suit all sectors of the 4×4 market, whether it is a sporty tyre for those who rarely venture away from the tarmac, or a true off-roader who loves to tear around the muddy terrains.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

AutoRussia09 to Explore Russian Auto Outlook

The details of the AutoRussia09 conference for automotive industry executives have been announced. The event will take place on 16 and 17 June at the Astoria Hotel in St Petersburg, and is set to explore the latest developments and the effect of global economic downturn on the automotive industry in Russia.

The events organisers say that, “Despite the difficulties in the automotive industry globally, most OEM projects are continuing to build and grow their production in Russia. GM, Suzuki, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Ford as well as hundreds of T1 and T2 suppliers are moving to the city to set up production facilities and supply this growing market.” With many of the aforementioned OEMs in attendance, the conference promises to present networking opportunities, practical solutions and cutting edge strategies for surviving the economic downturn through a series of interactive seminars; roundtable discussions with key OEMs; a gala dinner; strategic presentations; and chamber of commerce, automotive market and OEM updates.

Interested parties are directed to the www.wbr.co.uk website, where booking details and early registration discounts are available.

18th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Energy Saver Sole OE on New Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i

Michelin Energy Saver tyres will be exclusively fitted to future models of the Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i. According to the manufacturer, the tyre contributes to the low environmental impact of the new Toyota, which is scheduled for launch in early 2009, by reducing fuel consumption by 0.2 litres per 100 km and consequently, CO2 emissions by 4 grams per km. According to Michelin, new forms of silica have been introduced into the tyre’s rubber compound and combine with structural improvements to generate the fuel saving results.

Michelin first demonstrated that integrating silica in rubber compounds would reduce the tyre’s energy requirement while optimising performance in other key areas such as grip and wear-resistance in 1992. Since the market launch of these first tyres, Michelin has helped to generate fuel savings of more than 10 billion litres, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by more than 25 million tonnes.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s Ecopia Launched in North American Aftermarket

Bridgestone has chosen the Chicago Auto Show as the venue for the North American replacement market release of its low rolling resistance Ecopia range. The first tyre in the line-up to arrive on American shores is the Ecopia EP100, a summer tyre fitment for vehicles such as the Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Versa and Toyota Corolla. Available in H- and V-speed ratings, the Ecopia EP100 has a UTQG of 400AB and will be offered in six different sizes ranging from 14 to 16 inches. The tyre will be available in March in the first phase of a two-phase rollout during 2009.

12th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Energy Saver Sole OE on New Yaris 1.0

Future models of the Toyota Yaris 1.0 litre will be shipped with only one type of tyre – Michelin’s Energy Saver. The French manufacturer says that the decision follows close research and development cooperation between it and Toyota in order to obtain the balanced performance the vehicle manufacturer was seeking. Michelin adds that innovative solutions were introduced for the rubber compound, a material that integrates new forms of silica, as well as for tyre design and production processes.

5th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

15 First Stop Branches Sport New Look

Bridgestone’s First Stop network has completed a refurbishment programme which sees 15 stores branded with new signage for 2009. The programme saw 15 of First Stop outlets fitted with new signage as part of the ongoing development to strengthen the brand and its network of quality tyre dealerships throughout the UK. The signage packages included complete First Stop branding for the exterior of the depots as well as the refurbishment of existing signage and exteriors.

As well as the installation of new signage, the past year has seen the opening of the UK’s first ‘model stores’, at Kingsway, Spalding and ETB, Stratford, and the refurbishment of a number of stores for the First Stop network.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Europe to Launch Ecopia Range in 2009

Starting in April, an extensive range of Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 Ecopia tyres will be gradually introduced into the European market. The tyres, which use the ‘Ecopia’ name to denote their fuel saving characteristics, were first used on electric-powered cars in 1991, and in 1998 the B381 Ecopia low rolling resistance tyre was fitted as OE to the ‘3-litre’ version of the Volkswagen Lupo – a car dubbed “the most environmentally friendly car in the world” by some due to its consumption of only three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Today, certain versions of the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia and Mercedes S-Class are being sold with Ecopia versions of existing patterns, and the Toyota IQ is fitted with an all-new Ecopia tyre.

14th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Schrader Introduces New TPMS Learn and Test Tool

Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc. has launched a new “AirAware Learn and Test Tool Kit” that includes an OBD adapter designed for Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). The new Learn and Test Tool Kit includes a Learn and Test Tool (21220) and OBD Connector Assembly (21225), which captures TPMS sensor ID’s, and programs them directly to the vehicle. The kit works as both a scan tool and a TPMS tool, and eliminates the need for separate OE or aftermarket scan tools for these vehicles.

The new kit is currently compatible with Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia models, with plans to add Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Honda, Subaru and Mitsubishi compatibility in the near future.

7th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Driver 1st Woman to Win 2 Off-Road Truck Championships

Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored Heidi Steele became the first woman driver to win a Best in the Desert (BITD) off-road racing truck championship when she placed third at the Fabtech Desert Classic in Henderson, Nevada on Saturday, December 6. Steele also became the first woman truck champion in SCORE (Class 7SX mid-size truck) after taking a second-place class finish in November’s Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Mexico.

18th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Ingersoll Rand Makes Its Mark At Dakar 2009

Ingersoll Rand, which has been involved in the Dakar rally race for the last three years, will team up with the Euromaster, Mitsubishi and Toyota teams in 2009. It will offer them portable tools, including the new IQv range of impact wrenches. These wrenches can release torques up to 500Nm and will last three times longer than similar products on the market. IQv tools are also lighter and more compact than rival products, says Ingersoll Rand, characteristics particularly appreciated by race competitors.

Ingersoll Rand’s main partner is the Euromaster Team and has provided official team support at Dakar since 2006.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Joe Greenwell To Be Next SMMT President

Joe Greenwell, vice president, governmental affairs at Ford of Europe, will be the next president of SMMT, from 1 January 2009. Greenwell will succeed Graham Smith OBE, senior vice-president, Toyota Motor Europe, who steps down at the end of his two year term.

3rd December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors