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Sinton Tyres Stocking the Latest Cooper 4×4 Range

In spite of the economic downturn, Sinton Tyres reports that its customers are happy to continue investing in their SUVs and off road vehicles – and the Cooper All Terrain (Discoverer ATR) and mud pattern (Discoverer STT) thus remain as popular as ever, with the Discoverer ST remaining a firm favourite with those enthusiasts who want a 40 per cent on-road/60 per cent off road tyre.

The latest products to find a stall in the Cooper stable are the Zeon XSTA, which replaces the Sports HP in the Discoverer range, and the Zeon LTZ, which comes in American truck sizes but is also suitable for some UK conversions. Both are suitable for the aftermarket.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich Launches g-Grip

The new g-Grip, designed for fitment on hatchbacks, saloons and MPVs, is the latest addition to the BFGoodrich passenger car range. The new tyre, says the manufacturer, offers excellent safety performance on wet and dry roads due to its specially developed directional tread pattern, along with superb levels of vehicle control and precise handling characteristics.

BFGoodrich explains that, on normal wet roads, the tyre’s ‘vortex’ tread pattern clears water quickly to let the tread rubber grip the road surface. In deeper standing water, the wide grooves running around the circumference of the tyre maximise water dispersal to reduce the risk of aquaplaning.

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Pumped About its Tyre Inflators

Michelin is all pumped up about the results two of its products recently gained in an Auto Express comparison test. The Michelin Single Barrel foot pump was awarded the ‘Best Buy’ 5-star rating for performance and accuracy whilst the Michelin Twin Barrel foot pump took the runner-up ‘Recommended’ award and a 4-star rating.

Both foot pumps from the Michelin motoring accessories range were compared with ten competitors’ products in tests carried out by Auto Express’ technical experts. The accuracy of the pressure gauges and their pumping power were at the heart of the tests, with points given for stability in use, build quality, hose length and ease of tyre-valve connection.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Skoda Launches Tyre Awareness Programme

Skoda retailers are offering free tyre checks at participating dealerships across the country. John Bower, head of aftersales at Skoda UK, commented: “Whilst anti-lock brakes, air bags, seatbelt pre-tensioning and ESP are common on most modern vehicles, the tyre is still perhaps the most important safety feature of all and we want our customers to be completely informed of this safety aspect.”

5th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Face Sonny Presenting a Full Range

Sonny Tyres, based in Zhaoqing, China, develops and manufactures passenger car (summer, winter and performance), 4×4 and light truck radials for both the domestic and export markets. Although a relative newcomer on the scene – the company was only established in 2007 – Sonny Tyre plans to achieve a production capacity of three million units by 2009. When work is finished on its 800,000 square metre RMB 2 billion (£205 million) facility in 2013, the company anticipates a capacity of eight million. At present work is underway on the development of a number of new tyre sizes and product lines, and the company’s domestic and overseas sales networks are being expanded.

4th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

In Tyres & Accessories, February 2009:
Tyrexpo Asia Preview
Tyre Collection, Recycling and Disposal

Preview: Tyrexpo Asia 2009

It’s not just an excuse for a spot of sightseeing and the opportunity for some authentic and delicious Asian food…with the Asian tyre industry and market developing at an astonishing rate, those wishing to participate in this region in a serious way really do need to be where the action is. In late March the Tyrexpo Asia exhibition returns to Singapore, this time round joined by the IRSG’s World Rubber Summit. And with the exhibitor list for the 7th Singapore show already topping 120 as of last December, Tyrexpo Asia is, as Paul Farrant, from exhibition organiser ECI, an opportunity to “deliver much-needed vitality and innovation into the global market”. Next month’s Tyres & Accessories presents a preview of the upcoming show.

Old Tyres Never Die…

Regardless of how asymmetric a tyre’s tread is, its green contribution or how many compounds are squeezed into the mix, sooner or later it is going to be removed from the rim and flipped onto the scrap pile. But what for the motorist is the end of the story is for the tyre itself the beginning of a new journey that will see it put to other uses. Follow your old tyres into the ‘afterlife’ in February when we feature the growing sector that deals with tyre collection, recycling and disposal.

3rd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Michelin XHA2 Designed to Deliver Durability and Traction

The new Michelin XHA2 loader tyre, introduced in early January at the Intermat trade show’s press days, has been designed to accomplish three goals: reduce hourly operating costs, ensure that work continues smoothly and safely, and improve operator working conditions. The tyre is intended for loaders in quarries and cement plants and on construction and infrastructure worksites. The XHA2 will be officially unveiled at the Intermat 2009 building and construction trade show in April 2009. The tyre will be available in replacement markets around the world beginning in May 2009.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

How Does This Grab You?

General Tire was introducing a new logo and marketing campaign for its Grabber light truck and SUV tyre, using the slogan “unbridled fury”, so said Kenny Sergeant, of Speedfreaks, on General Tire’s stand at the Sema show.

Sergeant reminded visitors of the success that Grabber has enjoyed in off-road motorsports and General is bringing the same proven off-road competition technology to the light truck market with the introduction of the new DOT legal General Grabber.

A tough, three-ply reinforced body construction and a race-proven Duragen tread compound stand up to the rigours of off-road, as well as, highway conditions. General Grabber’s optimised tread design and multiple tread edges work to deliver great side bite and lateral traction – especially in off-road conditions. Puncture resistant sidewalls and a specially-designed rim protection rib assure the tyre can stand up to any terrain.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dayton D320 Sport-Touring Added to Bridgestone Range

A new Bridgestone sport-touring tyre has been introduced into the economy passenger car tyre segment. Called the Dayton D320, the new tyre has been designed to provide drivers of family saloons and estates with high level all-round performance and good value for money.

The performance target of the new Dayton D320, says Bridgestone, was to deliver excellent dry handling without sacrificing comfort, while providing the safest possible wet braking and hydroplaning performance. The tyre’s tread features a centre rib intended to provide linear stability and a strong centre feel to road handling, while its tapered design with lens-shaped blocks are designed to help reduce water turbulence on the block edges, for faster drainage away from the contact patch.

27th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli’s New All-Rounder

Hugh Pace, chairman and CEO of Pirelli Tyre North America, introduced the latest tyre dedicated to the North American market; the Z-rated P Zero Nero All Season. The tyre incorporates a silica-based compound and the asymmetric tread features a solid centre rib for optimum braking and acceleration, while four longitudinal and numerous lateral grooves minimises the risk of aquaplaning. Low rolling resistance maximises fuel economy and the two zero degree nylon cap plies and steel belts minimise footprint deformation under extreme handling conditions.

The P Zero Nero All Season has a growing list of OE homologations and the tyre is available in almost 30 sizes, including a number of runflat dimensions. It is manufactured at Pirelli’s factory in Rome, Georgia, using the company’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) technology.

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Gives Visitors The Needle

Visitors to the Dunlop Stand could take away a permanent reminder of the Sema show, as the tyre manufacturer was offering what was surely one of the more bizarre attractions of any exhibition – a tattooing service.

On the tyre side, a great deal of interest was generated by Dunlop’s latest uhp summer tyre, the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Described as “the tyre for hard-core driving enthusiasts and car club members”, the new tyre features a special compound, Dunlop Jointless Band Technology and a high-response directional tread pattern with circumferential grooves. These elements help improve grip, create a consistent contact patch and maintain the tyre’s structural integrity at high speeds.

The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is available in 20 sizes for fitment to most of today’s most popular amateur motorsports vehicle choices. Rim sizes are from 15″ to 18″, aspect ratios from 55 series down to 35 and the tyre is V- and W-speed rated

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper’s Fuel Saver

Among the tyres on show on the Cooper stand was the Cooper GFE. The initials stand for Greater Fuel Efficiency and it is the company’s first low-rolling resistance touring tyre. Compared to the Cooper GSE, rolling resistance is improved by 21 per cent.

The GFE is designed to reduce rolling resistance without sacrificing tread life or traction. This “green” tyre combines state-of-the-art mixing technology together with an enhanced polymer system and silica tread compound, to provide exceptional wear, fuel economy, improved wet traction and a smooth, quiet ride.

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vee Introduce Taiga

Vee Rubber used the recent Sema show to introduce the company’s first light truck and SUV tyre developed specifically for the North American market – the Taiga H/T. The presentation was made by managing director Mr. Vitorn Sukanjanapong and included information about Vee Rubber, such as the fact that production during 2008 would total 24 million units.

The new Taiga has been extensively tested in a number of different climates and on many different surfaces, including off road and the result, says Vee Rubber, is a quiet, comfortable tyre with a long tread life; in the US, the tyre is offered with a 50,000 mile limited treadwear warranty. While the Taiga is not designed as a snow or all terrain tyre, it aims to allow drivers to face everyday driving with confidence, whatever the conditions.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Nitto NT05

Nitto Tire USA is introducing a summer uhp tyre (W rated) which the company describes as “our most aggressive non-competition street tyre.” Called the NT05, it takes its name from the fusion of two existing tyres; the NT01, Nitto’s DOT-approved R-compound and the NT555, Nitto’s popular uhp tyre. The name signifies that the new tyre is based on the NT01’s race technology, but designed specifically for maximum street performance.

The new tyre was developed through a mixture of extensive computer modelling and on-track testing to identify the optimal tread design and compound. Nitto’s top priority was to optimise dry performance; the large continuous centre rib and big outer shoulder blocks provide optimum tread contact with the road and the reinforced tread blocks give excellent rigidity and stability.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

OTR Tyres Orders ‘Pneu’ Data Capture System

OTR Tyres a leading international earthmover tyre specialist has integrated an RFID-based data capture system into their tyre management system – TotalTyreLogic. According to the company, this is the world’s first commercially available, fully electronic, inspection and tyre management system.

The data capture system has been developed in partnership with Derbyshire based Pneu-Logic and is reportedly the first part of a multi-phase technology programme planned between OTR and Pneu-Logic. It involves using a handheld device to electronically capture and transmit tyre pressure and tread depth and wirelessly input it into OTR’s TyreLogic tyre management system.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors