Truck Tyres
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.
Cooper Tire & Rubber reports it can now offer SmartWay approved Roadmaster truck tyres for all wheel positions following the verification of a number of fitments, including the Roadmaster RM180 steer tyre, RM871 trailer tyre, and most recently, the RM851 drive tyre. The SmartWay programme, run by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, aims to promote low rolling resistance, and only tyres that meet set criteria can be SmartWay certified.
Across the EU, demand for new trucks (3.5 tonnes to 16 tonnes, excluding buses and coaches) was down 4.1 per cent in June, with 25,459 new registrations in the EU. However the UK bucked this general trend.
The China Rubber Industry Association reports that Hangzhou Zhongce began work on a new facility in China on June 15. The first phase of the project is expected to be complete by the end of next year, at which the plant will be capable of producing ten million high performance passenger car tyres and light truck tyres. An investment of RMB 2.4 billion (£240.8 million) is required for this initial phase; in total, the project will take six to eight years to complete and involve an investment of RMB 8 billion (£802.9 million). First phase annual sales are expected to reach RMB 4 billion (£401.5 million), growing to over RMB 20 billion when the project is complete.
In its recent second quarter results announcement, Titan International reported the termination of the truck tyre off-take agreement held with Goodyear since its purchase of Goodyear’s Latin America agricultural tyre business last year. Under the terms of the original deal, which was to run for three years, Titan would produce cross-ply light and medium truck tyres for Goodyear at its plant in São Paulo, Brazil and supply these at below market prices.
Continental Tire the Americas has begun recruiting employees for its new plant in Sumter, South Carolina. The tyre maker says the staffing process and manufacturing training for the first 150 employees will begin in the first quarter of 2013, and during the first phase of production in late 2013 and early 2014 the Sumter facility will employ around 300 production workers. Around 1,600 people will work at the plant when work is complete and production is in full swing.
In June, new commercial vehicle registrations dropped for the fifth consecutive month, falling by 5.8 per cent compared to June last year, as a total of 157,232 units were recorded in the EU. Italy (-29.8 per cent) and Spain (-28.7 per cent) faced a double-digit downturn, while France (-0.8 per cent) and the UK (+0.2 per cent) remained relatively stable. Germany was the only major market to post growth (+8.8 per cent).
Even though its sales only increased 5.95 per cent during the first half of the current financial year, Michelin has managed to boost its net income a healthy 37.2 per cent during the period. The French tyre maker’s net sales in the six months to June 30 amounted to 10.71 billion euros, up from 10.11 billion a year earlier. From this total, 5.5 billion euros was generated from the sale and distribution of passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres, 3.27 billion from truck tyres, and 1.9 billion from specialty businesses. Operating income (before non-reoccurring items) rose 35.9 per cent per cent to 1.32 billion euros and operating margin grew from 9.6 per cent to 12.3 per cent. Net income for the period increased from 971 million euros in the first half of 2011 to 1.42 billion euros during the reporting period.
Michelin has instigated a large-scale recall in the US; the tyre maker has announced it is voluntarily recalling approximately 841,000 BFGoodrich and Uniroyal-branded van and light truck tyres sold in the US, Canada and Mexico. The reason given for the recall is that 0.017 per cent of tyres sold have been returned by customers, who have experienced tread loss and/or rapid air loss, resulting from tread belt separation. Michelin says that no deaths or injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled tyres.
Following earlier reports suggesting Sailun Company Ltd had bought two other Chinese tyre firms, Sailun representatives have confirmed that the Chinese tyre manufacturer has entered into a “framework agreement” to acquire equity in both Shandong Jinyu Industrial Co. Ltd and Shenyang Peace Radial Tyre Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The framework was agreed on 10 July 2012.
Since their introduction, the NTDA Tyre & Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards have become something of a tyre industry institution and the competition is always keen. After all, who wouldn't want the bragging rights of saying that you have been chosen as number one in your sector by your customers?
For those who don't know, the awards are made in a number of categories, in which five finalists have been selected, following nominations from NTDA members. The tyre industry then gets the chance to vote for a winner in each category, with voting forms published in the June, July and August issues of Tyres & Accessories, or you can cast your vote via the NTDA website.
Michelin is continuing to recall up to 73,645 truck tyres in North America. This is a continuation of a recall that was first announced 30 April 2012. Originally it was thought that 77,000 tyres were affected. While any of the tyres made on the affected production runs could potentially display the defect only 0.25 per cent has done so at this point.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using a commercial truck tyre casing from Yokohama Tire Corporation to establish a SmartWay verification program for retreaded tyres fitted to Class 8 line-haul trucks. “We are excited that the EPA has designated the RY617 steer and all-position tyre for their verification program as the benchmark casing for retread technologies,” said Rick Phillips, Yokohama director of commercial sales. When a retread receives EPA certification, fleets using those tyres become compliant with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations for low rolling resistance tyres.
Zafco exhibited its Zeetex brand at Reifen 2012, unveiling the latest ZT1000 pattern. The company said that the focus of the tyre was to deliver eco-friendly attributes. The launch itself was embellished by the acrobatics of the entertainment group, LaMetta. Describing the objective behind the exhibit, Rashmi Bhola, senior vice president of Sales at Zafco for Europe, said that the stand provided an opportunity for customers to see ZT1000 and learn more about the very positive results of a recent test at IDIADA.
On 10 July Sailun Co Ltd. announced its entry into an agreement to acquire another Chinese tyre maker and also purchase a large share in a third company. In separate statements, Sailun said it will buy Shenyang Peace Radial Tyre Manufacturing Co. Ltd. for about RMB 120 million (£12.2 million) and acquire 49 per cent equity in Shandong Jinyu Industrial Co. Ltd. for around RMB 200 million (£20.3 million). Shenyang Peace has annual capacity of 1.2 million all-steel radial truck tyres, while Shandong Jinyu has capacity to produce three million all-steel radials and 10 million semi-steel radials per year.
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