Truck Tyres
Vacu-Lug has been appointed as the sole UK distributor for all West Lake truck and bus radial tyres. The move means nine product lines spanning a wide variety of operation types and with a choice of 17.5", 19.5" and 22.5" rim diameters have been added to the Vacu-Lug line up.
Continental is introducing a 385/65R22.5 version of its Generation 2+ steer axle tyre, making the HSL 2+ front axle tyre now available in 11 different sizes. The range includes four XL versions of the long distance tyre for front axle loads of up to eight tonnes. Conti says this is in recognition of the increasing load on the front axle for vehicles with heavier drive trains to meet the Euro 6 emissions standard.
You might have expected Kings Road Tyres’ 40th year to have been marked by transition following the Group’s management buyout by Adrian Bader (managing director), Mark Cooper (commercial director) and Simon Lister (financial director). However, with the directors’ vast experience within the company, and the strong emphasis within its wholesale businesses on long-standing partnerships with both tyre brand suppliers and customers, the company told Tyrepress.com that the achievement of the last 12 months has been that “to the outside world, the business hasn’t changed with the ownership”; though strategic and business developments have continued under the new ownership team, some of what has happened was detailed in pre-existing plans and the focus has been on “making it seamless”.
Axle Group Holdings company, Viking Wholesale Tyres and Equipment operates from eight strategically located warehouses, serving customers across Britain. In addition to supplying a range of premium brands, Viking launched its exclusive distribution deal for Westlake PCR to light truck tyres earlier in 2012, with an internal event to highlight the patterns and sizes available in the UK and to emphasise the substantial investment made at Westlake manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce.
Trading in over 30 countries around the world through a series of partnerships, Treadsetters has developed its international activities as part of the TIA Group of companies. Treadsetters believes that the ongoing growth within the global tyre market can be attributed to a combination of providing the company's international client base with ongoing extensive sourcing and marketing expertise, technical support and advice along with the responsive supply of tyres and wheels. The company has recently exhibited in South Africa, Tanzania and Panama as part of the company's ongoing dynamic sales and marketing campaign.
When Itochu completed its purchase of the UK’s largest tyre retail operation, Kwik Fit in June 2011, the corporation underlined the separation of the retailer and its wholesale operation, Stapleton’s. A year on, and the latter company has renewed its focus, in its words; the STS, Tyre Pros and Central branded shops are no longer within Stapleton’s remit, meaning that the UK’s largest tyre distributor now has a clear single focus on distribution. “By taking our own retail operations out of the Stapleton’s arena this year we’ve been able to concentrate all our investment, effort and expertise on delivering a doubly effective response to our retail customers’ requirements, building those needs into every strategic move we make to offer real, tangible benefits to our customers’ business,” says Stapleton’s managing director, Yutaka Kimbara.
Last week, Marangoni asked unions to approve a restructuring plan and proposed investment of 2.7 million euros into its retreading operations. According to Tyrepress.com’s Italian sister site PneusNews.it, the proposal includes a major revision of the Rovereto location’s truck tyre retreading operation. Marangoni Group ended 2011 with 7.9 million euros of losses, which are said to be mainly due to financial charges and the tax burden.
GiTi Tire (Europe) reports that it is aiming to increase market share in Portugal with a new distribution structure for the GT Radial brand. From this month Tiresur, which already controls the brand’s Spanish distribution, will be responsible for the passenger car, 4×4 and light truck tyres, while SEA will continue to control the commercial vehicle segment including medium and heavy truck and bus tyres.
Continental Tyre Group’s management is reportedly “delighted” after the company was named Tyre Manufacturer of the Year 2012 by the NTDA (National Tyre Distributors Association) at the association’s annual dinner and Tyre and Fast Fit (TAFF) awards ceremony.
Heuver Tyrewholesale has established itself as a major European player over the past 45 years, a position it says works to the benefit of customers and end users alike. The Netherlands-based company shared with Tyres & Accessories that the decision to specialise in the truck, earth-moving and agricultural markets has proved to be a strength for Heuver and offers many opportunities. The company deals in all well-known brands and possesses its own comprehensive range of imported brands.
Rupert Kohaupt, formerly Goodyear Dunlop’s director of commercial vehicle tyres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, has been appointed the tyre maker’s commercial vehicle tyre sales director for emerging markets. In his new Brussels-based role, the 30-year company veteran will continue the expansion of the growing emerging markets.
Sales of non-ETRMA member produced tyres are now at record levels. That’s what the latest data published by the ETRMA in its 2012 Statistic Booklet clear shows, based on full year 2011 figures.
Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has named Shaun Uys as general manager, sales. The move took effect on 1 October 2012 succeeding Eddie Jordaan who left the company in August.
Independent tyre wholesaler, RH Claydon may have built a name for itself as a distributor of larger agricultural and commercial vehicle tyres, with the longest authorised distributor deal for BKT in the UK, but the company also sees itself as a true “one-stop shop”, whether the customer needs consumer, off-highway or truck tyres. Business director, John Parker explains the company’s wide range of brands and fitments allows it to meet the requirements of the distributor/service provider and end user alike for the UK and Northern Ireland market place.
Michelin has launched a new range of long haul orientated truck tyres. As you would imagine, the French manufacturer's latest generation of commercial vehicle technology is said to lead the market and surpass the high standards of the previous range. The latest tyres even include a label beating grade A fuel efficiency trailer fitment. But what's arguably more interesting is that Michelin is promoting the whole life strengths of its new products and their “total performance” at a time when all eyes are on the three characteristics printed on a certain self adhesive sticker.
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