Bridgestone has unveiled its first 4×4 run-flat for luxury sport activity vehicles (SAV). The company claims that their latest run-flat offering, the Dueler H/P Sport RFT, offers the same wet and dry handling, steering precision and comfort as the non-flat version launched at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The Yokohama Tire Corporation is releasing a new tyre into its Z.environment range at February’s annual Technology & Maintenance Council meeting in the US. The new tyre, the 703ZL, is a truck tyre promoted by Yokohama as more environmentally friendly through being longer lasting and providing greater fuel-efficiency.
IBM has submitted a patent application for a sensor that can warn drivers when tyre tread becomes worn down to 3mm or less, the level at which tests conducted for the British Rubber Manufacturers Association indicate that a tyre’s road holding ability begins to be significantly affected.
Michelin-owned tyremaker BFGoodrich will soon equip the US military’s Humvee vehicle with its Baja T/A tyre after being awarded a US$10.7 million contract. The Baja T/A to be fitted to the Humvee has been developed especially for military use and carries an E Load Rating with a load capacity of 4,540 pounds per tyre at 65 psi (4.4 bar). According to Michelin, the new tyre has a 22.5 per cent increase in projected tread life compared to the previous Humvee tyre, as well as superior manoeuverability and mud traction.
Introduced last year to meet growing demand from users of articulated dump trucks (ADTs), the OTR 750/65 R25 remould is reportedly returning excellent ‘hours per mm’ and ‘cost per hour’ figures.
An old adage says that idle hands do the devil’s work, but Pirelli have been far from idle with their Diablo – Spanish for devil – range. During the last twelve months the legendary tyremaker and official tyre supplier to the World Superbike Championship (SBK) has released two new street-legal offerings under the Diablo label.
Alcoa Wheel Products have introduced a new product providing fleet operators real time data on their vehicle’s tyre pressure and tread depth. Called the InTire™ Management System, Alcoa’s new offering is a web-based system the company reports can maximise tyre life, enhance fuel economy and increase productivity in maintenance procedures. The InTire software interfaces with the vehicle-based sensing equipment wirelessly.
Optional add on equipment allows users to monitor items requiring periodic maintenance, such as fluid levels and the condition of filters.
Continental Tire North America Inc. has released the first of an all-new winter tyre range under its General Tire brand. The range is known as Altimax and the initial tyre on offer, the Altimax Arctic, is being promoted as General Tire’s first true winter tyre.
Very few people have heard of EoPlex, but this startup company in Redwood city USA hopes to make their mark on the tyre world.
The company have come up with a way of ‘printing’ three-dimensional metal and ceramic objects. The process involves a special ink and ultraviolet light. The exact ingredients of the ink used remains a closely guarded secret, but the EoPlex technique enables the manufacture of items far too small to be made by conventional means.
Less than a week after ATS Euromaster launched a national run-flat repair service, Rema Tip-Top has introduced a tyre repair kit specifically designed for the permanent repair of tread injuries to run-flat tyres. According to the company, extensive tests carried out by the German certification body TÜV confirmed the durability of the Rema Tip-Top Minicombi repair system when repairing run-flat tyres. The Minicombi tyre repair procedure (certificate 02109811 002) is designed to repair run-flats with either reinforced sidewalls or support rings without compromising safety.
Michelin Tyre plc has launched the Pilot Road 2, unveiling its latest dual compound offering at the Motorcycle Trade Expo at Stoneleigh park. The French manufacturer claims that its latest product means riders no longer have to compromise between wet grip and tread life. Michelin hopes results of tests conducted by CERM will help convince retailers and the motorcycle riding public of this.
Cooper Tire and subsidiary Oliver Rubber Company have introduced their latest speciality application tread – the APWs.
The new APWs tread is designed for 70 per cent on-road and 30 per-cent off-road applications. It uses a compound known as Tri-Cor, and features a large and reportedly ‘aggressive’ tread pattern that features three circumferential self-cleaning grooves, which are designed to help make the product durable even when subject to high mileages.
Italy’s Marangoni has launched a campaign to enlighten UK drivers on the benefits of thinking Marangoni when selecting new tyres. Following on from its successful “Intelligent Professionals” series, the new campaign links Marangoni’s position as a premium brand with the company’s Lifetime Tyre Warranty, a strong selling point.
Derek Carruthers, Global Sales & Marketing Director for Marangoni’s car tyre division, said “Communicating the Marangoni message to potential customers before they have made a decision on replacement tyres is fundamental.” He added that the company was attempting not only to build brand awareness but to also demonstrate that buying Marangoni tyres is a win/win situation for the customer in that they will receive both European quality and the peace of mind afforded by their Lifetime Tyre Warranty.
Cooper Tire has been named the official tyre supplier for the upcoming Lone Wolf Transglobal Expedition, with Cooper products being fitted to the expedition’s Land Rover Wolf Defender.
Spanish driver Antonio Albacete has taken out the FIA European Truck Racing Championship for 2006 in his Goodyear fitted Cepasa team MAN. Albacete finished second place at Le Mans, the final race of the season, securing himself a championship winning 346 points from the season’s eight qualifying races.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
