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Manufacturer Silence About Tread Depth Dangers Criticised

The continued lack of public recognition some UK based tyre manufacturers give to wet condition grip performance in tyres with a tread depth below 3mm has been criticised by the chairman of the NTDA’s Tyre Wholesalers Group. Ashley Croft told a gathering of senior managers from the UK tyre industry that: “At the time of the 3mm campaign launch, one of the reasons given for non-involvement from a particular manufacturer was the potential for flagging-up a Duty of Care issue in the USA on the basis that it should have been aware of the wet grip performance drop off prior to this, and should have alerted the public accordingly.

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Keep Safe Over Winter with Kwik-Fit

As more people are killed and injured on Britain’s roads in the final months of each year than at any other time it is imperative that vehicles are maintained in tip-top condition in the winter months. With the onset of freezing driving conditions, fog and wet roads, Kwik-Fit Fleet has once again launched its annual free five-point vehicle check.

The free winter safety checks are available at Kwik-Fit centres nationwide and they cover:
Tyre check – pressures, tread depth and general condition (including spare)
Battery check – using electronic test equipment
Exhaust check – condition and fitment including hangers and brackets
Tracking check – visual check to determine if the tyres show related wear
Glass/wipers check – condition of vehicle glass and wipers

Road casualty figures from the Department for Transport reveal that last year a total of 303 people were killed on the UK’s roads in October, 279 people in November and 310 people in December – the worst month for road deaths in 2006. Together with road deaths in January and February last year – 242 and 250 respectively – the five months accounted for 43 per cent of all fatalities. In addition, the last three months of the year traditionally account for more people being injured in road traffic accidents than in any other three-month period. In 2006, a total of 68,225 people were injured in the last three months of the year – 27 per cent of the total number of people injured on Britain’s roads last year.

23rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

A Leader in its Field

Goodyear has sold over 700,000 of the Optitrac tyre, making this one of the most popular farm tyre ranges on the market. Goodyear Optitrac first arrived on the European farm scene in 1999, with the introduction of the DT812, 70 series tyre, and was complemented by the DT818, 65 series variant, in 2001. The range was further extended by the introductions of the DT824 volume range, DT830 super volume range and DT800 in row crop sizes. The Optitrac family was further extended at the end of 2004, with the DT806, 85 series tyre, making a total of six products in the range.

In 2006 another family member was launched. Named the Goodyear Optitrac R+, this extended the performance capabilities of the range further, by providing even greater traction and carrying higher loads at speeds over 40 mph. This tyre was designed for the next generation of faster operating, compact, high-performance tractors over 150 hp.

13th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Issues Service Bulletin on Used Tyres

(Akron/Tire Review) The Rubber Manufacturers Association has issued a Tire Information Service Bulletin to address used tyres. The bulletin applies to used tyres with uncertain use, maintenance and storage histories, the RMA said.

According to the bulletin, these tyres pose a potential risk, as they may have been damaged by improper service, maintenance or storage conditions. RMA has developed a list of characteristics that dealers should refer to when considering selling used tyres. According to the association, used tyres should not be sold or installed if they exhibit:

1st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Power to the PCL

Energy supplier Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has teamed up with PCL to provide its staff with a vital gift to keep them safe on the roads. As the latest project in its on-going Health and Safety initiative, SSE decided to target tyre maintenance which, if neglected, can cause serious, even fatal, accidents.

PCL was asked to supply 17,500 pencil-style tyre pressure gauges along with tyre trade depth gauges, which SSE gave to employees in a company wallet enclosing a safety information/advice card. The response was so great that a further 2,000 of each gauge were supplied to cover the extra unexpected demand.

21st May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Oliver Adds New Premium Tread

(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper’s Oliver Rubber Co. subsidiary has introduced a new premium retread tread compound and pattern – the Vantage Drive. The new product features what Oliver called a “technologically advanced” tread compound called “Black Armor,” which it said “offers the benefits found in premium truck tires.” Oliver said the Vantage Drive delivers “remarkable treadwear with exceptionally low rolling resistance that optimizes fuel efficiency, while delivering long-lasting casing durability.” Furthermore, the new tread stock reportedly delivers up to 4 per cent better fuel economy than “best-in-class retreads on the market.” The Vantage Drive is available in 205mm (8), 210mm (8.5N), 220mm (9) and 230mm (9.5) sizes with a deep 26/32-inch tread depth.

30th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Offers Winter Checks

With the onset of freezing driving conditions, fog and wet roads, Kwik-Fit Fleet has once again launched its annual free five-point vehicle check. The free winter safety checks are available at Kwik-Fit centres nationwide and they cover: Batteries – cell strength and terminal connections; Exhausts – condition and fitment including hangers and brackets; Tyres – pressures, tread depth and general condition (including spare); Tracking – to see if tyres show tracking-related wear; Glass/wipers -condition of vehicle glass and wipers.

10th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Launches New Oliver Retreads

(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced that its subsidiary Oliver Rubber Co. has introduced five new treads for fleets – the XS-D, DPW, ULP-Drive, ULP-Rib and Winter Trac II. The new XS-D tread is designed for “excess demands” of off-road, heavy-load haulers, according to Cooper, and it features a new compound called Xxtra-Tuff. Designed for severe off-road service applications, the tread provides traction, strength and durability, Cooper said.

28th August 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

“Fifth Gear” Supports 3mm Campaign

The industry’s 3mm campaign has received support from top UK motoring TV programme Fifth Gear, which called on Government to change “dangerous” UK tyre tread laws. Fifth Gear presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson hosted a slot on the programme in July which showed the dramatic effect of worn tyres on stopping performance which travelling at 50mph.

24th July 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Auto Express Tests Show Benefits of 3mm Tread Depth

Thousands of road accidents in the UK could be prevented every year if the minimum tyre tread depth was increased to 3mm, according to the findings of an Auto Express investigation. In the first magazine test of its kind, Auto Express compared the stopping distances of a car travelling at 70 mph with both 3mm and 1.6mm of tread depth.

12th July 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandag Introduces New Spread Axle Trailer Tread

(Akron/Tire Review) Bandag Inc. has introduced a new Trailer Linehaul-Spread Axle (BTL-SA) tread to the North American market. Designed for spread axle and multi-axle trailer applications, the tread “offers tough shoulders for tyres that twist, scrape and scrub as lateral stress is created when trailers corner,” said Bandag. BTL-SA offers a 16/32” tread depth and is now available in 210-, 220- and 230-mm sizes.

22nd June 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Launches ‘Self-Generating’ Retread

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin Retread Technologies has introduced the Michelin XDA Hypersipe tread stock, which it claims is the “first self-regenerating retread.” As the tread wears, Michelin North America said, sipes molded into the bottom of the tread appear “giving improved worn traction over the life of the retread.”

7th June 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Lease 360 Evolution Signs with Kwik-Fit Fleet

Established contract hire, leasing and fleet management company lease 360 evolution plc has signed a new three-year solus tyre management and fast-fit services contract with Kwik-Fit Fleet.

Wakefield-based lease 360 evolution, which was launched almost four years ago, now has 3,500 vehicles on its books. Kwik-Fit Fleet, which already supplied a raft of fast-fit services to lease 360 evolution customers through both its nationwide centre network and mobile operation, will additionally now supply fixed monthly cost tyre management under the terms of the new contract, which went live in April.

10th May 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

New Kontur Tread from Ellerbrock

Retreading specialists Ellerbrock have introduced the latest addition to their Kontur range of precured treads. The DY-HM has a directional pattern, designed for good traction (on and off the road) and high mileage, with excellent self-cleaning properties. It has a J speed rating and a tread depth of 21.5mm.

27th April 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Delivers Savings for Anglian Water

Michelin is reporting that Anglian Water’s decision to switch its tyre procurement policy to Michelin from another mainstream manufacturer has resulted in measurable cost savings of nearly 16 per cent per year and halved the number of tyre related breakdowns.

The company operates a fleet of 49 waste tankers and tippers, comprising a mixture of Volvos and Scanias, which are responsible for moving solid product from sewage works directly to treatment plants across the East of England, stretching from the Humber to the Thames.

15th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors