Truck Tyres
Unlike the passenger car tyre side of the business, which had been established and built up over several years before GiTi opened up its UK operation, the truck tyre segment had to be established from virtually nothing. Now the company claims a unit market share that puts it close to third in the UK.
Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters – to give our new label legislation its full and proper name – comes into force in just a few months. The EU has agreed upon a system of rating tyres using three performance parameters, and almost every new passenger car, light commercial vehicle and truck tyre (C1, C2 and C3 tyres) sold in Europe will come with this rating. But even before its mandatory implementation, murmurs of label scepticism can be heard. Generally, these comments hinge on the label’s limitations, and whether these will hinder consumers from purchasing the tyre best suited to their needs.
Up till now, SD International has primarily concentrated on providing a PCR and UHP-based product portfolio, but now the company is looking to further enhance its position in the global industry as a growing provider of truck brands. A Shanghai-based Contract tyre manufacturer, SD International specialises in offering Zeta and Pace branded products in the truck tyre market.
The Firenza truck tyre range has been specifically produced to provide a high quality alternatively in the mid-market sector, according to company representatives. And the brands position in the UK has been developed through the “strong partnership [that] has been forged in the UK between Firenza and International Tyres & Trading based in the West Midlands.” International Tyres are the exclusive distributor of the brand and the company reportedly provides “swift and efficient delivery throughout the UK.”
Aeolus added two new patterns to its growing truck tyre range. The ASR69 and ADR69 truck tyres are now available in popular sizes 295/80R22.5 and 315/80R22.5. According to the company, ASR69 replaces the HN257 and ADR69 replaces the HN355 for regional haul use. The new additions have been designed with a wider casing structure to make them suitable for retreading, a significant feature for Chinese manufactured truck tyres and one company representatives say will offer end users greater flexibility and life cycle value. All Aeolus truck tyres are also regroovable. (See separate article in September’s Retreading Special supplement for further details on Aeolus’ plans relating to the development of its retread offer)
Kings Road Tyres (KRT) is one of the largest specialist wholesale distributors of truck tyres in the UK. With a track record stretching back 40 years, the company provides a complete commercial tyre service covering premium brands such as Bridgestone, Continental and Goodyear, through mid-range products from Firestone and its exclusive distributorship of the Continental Group brand, Matador. It is also the exclusive distributor of the fast-growing Chinese manufactured Aeolus and Antyre ranges, with retreads from Bulldog completing the portfolio.
With GiTi Tire having launched 12 new tyres in 2012, and with 10 more due before end of the year, the company has announced that it is taking six of its latest truck and bus tyre products to the IAA commercial vehicle show in Hanover. Two of the new GT Radial products – the GAR820 steer axle and GDL617 drive axle patterns – will form the foundation of six product debuts in hall 16, stand A43.
In 2012 Guizhou Tyre Company Ltd returns as a Brityrex exhibitor. This year at its stand – stand 71 – the Chinese tyre maker will display its Advance range of radial and cross-ply OTR tyres, radial truck tyres, agricultural tyres and industrial/forklift tyres.
With high durability in mind and with shoulders designed using Virtual Intelligent Prototyping technology to reduce wear, the Maxxis heavy truck range reportedly incorporates 22.5 inch steer, drive and trailer tyres as well as a super single.
Continental says it plans to premiere its next generation of truck tyres at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show 2012, which takes place in Hannover, Germany from 20 to 27 September. According to the German tyre maker’s account, there should be plenty to see – Continental says it will launch the “most comprehensive range of truck and bus tyres in the history of the company” during 2013. Nikolai Setzer, head of Continental’s Tyres division, Dr. Andreas Esser, head of the Commercial Vehicle Tyres business unit and Herbert Mensching, head of Marketing and Sales Truck Tyres EMEA, will discuss this and other current plans and developments at a press conference on 18 September.
Treadsetters approached Reifen 2012 with the specific objective of introducing the passenger car range of its established Torque brand in Europe. UK based Treadsetters (part of the TIA Group) said that it had been overwhelmed by the positive response from visitors to the stand, on which the company displayed both its latest PCR and TBR ranges.
Half year 2012 financial results for Nokian Tyres have been released, and these show the Finnish tyre maker’s sales to be 27.1 per cent up on a year ago. Nokian achieved group net sales of 798.0 million in the six months to 30 June, while operating profit increased 31.5 per cent to 217.7 million euros. Net profit went up 33.9 per cent to 182.9 million euros and earnings per share rose from 1.06 euros to 1.40 euros. Net sales, operating and net profits for the second quarter of 2012 were 413.8 million euros, 112.7 million euros and 95.4 million euros respectively.
Operating income and net income at Bridgestone Corporation increased 43 per cent and 39 per cent respectively in the first half of the 2012 fiscal year, the Japanese tyre maker reports. An operating income of 133.7 billion yen (£1.1 billion) and net income of 75.2 billion yen (£614.8 million) were achieved even though net sales only rose two per cent year-on-year to 1,488.9 billion yen (£12.2 billion) during the first half.
Recently Tyres & Accessories reported Michelin’s statement that it’d achieved an ‘A’ wet grip rating with several of its passenger car tyres as far back as 2010. The French company is not the only manufacturer making such a claim; Goodyear reports that it also reached the coveted A level back in 2010, this time for fuel efficiency. The tyre maker says its LHT II trailer tyre, which has been on the market for two years now, carries an ‘A’ label rating for fuel efficiency in sizes 385/55R22.5 and 435/50R19.5.
With the launch of the Omnitrac MST II, Goodyear reported that the new trailer tyre for mixed service applications offers up to 15 per cent better mileage than its predecessor but also up to 25 per cent better mileage than a main premium competitor. According to the company, the MST II features Omnitrac Max Technology and complements the Goodyear MSS II and MSD II mixed service steer and drive tyres.
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