truck tyres Archives - Page 175 of 208

Impact of Rolling Resistance on Fleet Operator’s Bottom Line

As fuel prices continue to increase, resourceful fleet operators are seeking ways to offset their rising costs. One answer is to make more efficient use of fuel to lower the cost per kilometre driven, which is where tyre design has a significant influence. Although on paper tyres only appear to constitute a nominal proportion (3 per cent) of the operating costs of a 40-tonne truck in Europe, the choice of tyre directly influences both fuel costs (17 per cent) and maintenance/repair costs (9 per cent) – so ‘tyre-dependent’ operating costs in fact total 29 per cent.

For a truck tyre to contribute to the operating economy of a fleet, it must of course be maintained at the correct pressure to achieve optimum fuel consumption and ensure low casing wear for long service life. More significantly, it must possess low rolling resistance. An it is this area that has received renewed attention Continental Truck Tyres product development teams.

27th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Fleet Success Keeps Bridgestone Growth Consistent

Product News, UK News

In contrast with some other premium manufacturers Bridgestone’s 2006 and first half 2007 sales both grew 1 – 2 per cent. According to Bridgestone UK’s commercial sales director, Greg Ward, the key to the company’s continued growth in the mature market is consistency and continuity. From his perspective, the recent news that the company has retained the Ryder contract for another three years is case in point. (In this instance Bridgestone beat off early competition from another competitor to retain the 10-year long working relationship it has with the Ryder fleet). “If the second half is as good as the first half, I will be delighted,” added Ward.

Most sources agree that the influence and volume of Chinese products grew during 2006, but at the same time premium manufacturers like Bridgestone appear unfazed by their rapid growth. In response to the question of increased competition from the Far East Greg Ward commented: “Chinese & Budget brands may be trialling their products on fleets, but the biggest, most professional fleets need professional service providers in addition to tyres. The Truck Point Network is a real winner in this respect.” In addition, the recent US recall situation should be take as a warning, Ward added.

27th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Giti Tire Launches Truck Service Programme

UK News

Much has changed since Tyres & Accessories first met the then fledging Giti Tire Europe team at the 2006 Essen Show. Now, more than a year later, the staff count has doubled with the addition of some high profile executives; and sales are up 30 per cent year-on-year. When Tyres & Accessories met up with Giti Tire Europe’s UK, North & East Europe, and Russia sales director, Richard Lyons; and marketing manager Europe, Peter Foulkes, news of the Giti Assist truck service programme and the company’s new Heifei factory were top of the agenda. But these expansion plans are only the beginning, and the word is that an extensive new marketing programme is underway, with a rack full of new product releases scheduled for next year.

26th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ryder Awards Bridgestone UK & Truck Point network 3 year Contract

Product News

Ryder has awarded Bridgestone UK and its Truck Point network partners a new three-year contract. Under the arrangement, Bridgestone UK will supply new replacement and original equipment tyres, Qualitread retread truck tyres and tyre services though its national Truck Point service network.

Greg Ward, Bridgestone UK Commercial Director, said: “We are delighted that Ryder have awarded Bridgestone and Truck Point a new three year contract. We have been in partnership for over ten years and the new contract extends this even further. We share the same beliefs and hold the same values, the new contract is a great vote of confidence in our products and services.”

24th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Tests Reveal Sub-Standard Inner Tubes

Product News

China’s official quality control body has disclosed the disturbing statistic that 14.3 per cent of Chinese made truck tyre inner tubes it recently tested for safety failed to meet the predetermined criteria. According to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, 51 truck tyres and tyre tubes produced by 30 companies were tested, and while all 37 of the tested tyres passed muster, one-seventh of tubes were found to be sub-standard.

“The tensile strength of some tyre tubes did not meet standard and were inclined to burst when the trucks ran on roads,” reported a General Administration spokesperson, who added that the tyre tubes tested were exclusively domestic market products and none were destined for export.

23rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Tyres Gain EPA Certification

Product News

(Akron/Tire Review) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified Goodyear’s medium truck tyres featuring its Fuel Max Technology for use on SmartWay-eligible trucks. Goodyear said its medium radials with Fuel Max Technology can improve truck fuel efficiency by 4 per cent, and when used with other SmartWay-qualified components, each truck can produce savings of up to 4,000 gallons per year, or more than $11,000 annually. Goodyear’s Fuel Max line includes steer, drive and trailer tyres and retreads.

“Obviously we’re pleased that these Goodyear tyres are recognised for their fuel-efficiency by the EPA,” said Steve McClellan, vice president, commercial tyre systems. “We’ve enhanced fuel economy in our platform of line- haul tyres, so this is a win-win for our customers and the environment.”

Goodyear tyres featuring Fuel Max Technology include the Unisteel G395 LHS steer tyre, Unisteel G305 LHD drive tyre and Unisteel G316 LHT trail tyre in standard (11R22.5) and low-profile (295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5) sizes. Goodyear also offers UniCircle and precure retreading with Fuel Max Technology.

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Pioneer Still Going Strong

Product News

Double Coin tyres are produced by Shanghai Tyre & Rubber Co. Ltd., the oldest tyre manufacturer in China – the company was established in Shanghai in the early 1930s as a manufacturer of rubber products and tyres. In its current form the company was established in 1992 when two tyre factories based in Shanghai were merged (Shanghai Ta Chung Hua Rubber Factory and Shanghai Tsen Tai Rubber Factory). This 75 per cent state-owned company, located on the outskirts of Shanghai, mainly manufactures all-steel radial truck tyres, bias-ply truck tyres, radial as well as diagonal light truck tyres and agricultural tyres.

According to the manufacturer approximately 350 different tyre specifications are available. Products are marketed in 80 different countries and are DOT- and E-marked for export markets; they also carry a CCC mark (China Compulsory Certification) for the local market. The two brands the tyre manufacturer is primarily known for are Double Coin and Warrior. These brands are well received on both European and Chinese tyre markets.

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Truck Tyres Get EPA Nod

Product News

(Akron/Tire Review) Three Continental brand medium truck tyres have been recognised by the Environmental Protection Agency for meeting its SmartWay environmental specifications. The Conti HSL (steer), HDL Eco Plus (drive), and HTL (all position/trailer) were noted for meeting specific performance requirements including environmental design and fuel consumption performance.

“As one of only four tyre manufacturers being recognised by the EPA for meeting the requirements for the SmartWay Tractor-Trailer equipment specifications, Continental Tire North America is especially proud of this achievement,” said Clif Armstrong, CTNA’s director of commercial marketing. “This honour validates our work in developing quality products that continue to meet the needs of today’s fuel conscious fleets.”

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Appoints New International Press Officer

Product News

Continental has made a new addition to their Passenger & Light Truck Tire division’s press team. Starting July 1 was new international press officer Ansgar Wilkendorf (48). Wilkendorf’s main duties are coordinating activities between headquarters and the international market organisations for passenger and light truck tyres and providing assistance in the day-to-day business.

“I am very much looking forward to this new challenge with a leading German tyre manufacturer,” said Wilkendorf. In the past fourteen years he worked as a motoring journalist, since 2002 as editor-in-chief of a major European magazine reporting on the automotive world. Trained as a motor mechanic, Wilkendorf’s life has revolved around motor vehicles, and he is thus well acquainted with the needs of the groups he will be working with. As international press officer, Wilkendorf reports to the head of Public Relations – Passenger and Light Truck Tire, Alexander Lührs.

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Build ‘Next Mirs’ Plant in Italy

Product News

Pirelli Tyre is planning to build a state-of-the-art industrial centre in the Settimo Torinese area of Italy, having signed an agreement with the Piedmont Regional, Turin Provincial, and Settimo Torinese Authorities. The new plant, will produce car and truck tyres, using “ecologically sustainable Next Mirs technology,” according to the company, making it the most modern Pirelli production facility worldwide. As part of the agreement with local authorities Pirelli Tyre and Turin Politecnico have agreed to cooperate on future research and technological projects.

Pirelli currently has two production facilities in the Settimo Torinese area. The industrial regeneration plan will entail transferring the production operations currently carried out in the car-tyre plant to the truck-tyre plant. Amalgamating the two facilities in this way will pave the way for inaugurating a modern centre.

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Higher Anti-Dumping Duties Recommended in India

Product News

An Indian government panel has recommended increasing the anti-dumping duty imposed on truck tyres from US$99 to $135. Originally implemented last October, the duty is intended to curb the large numbers of low-priced Chinese imports flooding into India. At present tyre imports from China are running at 68,000 units a month, a five-fold increase in the levels recorded three years ago.

The difference in price between Indian tyres and their Chinese equivalents is approximately 25 to 35 per cent despite the Chinese government’s removal of its 5 per cent tyre export subsidy and increased freight charges for exports to India. Such a gulf in prices means, according to MRF executive director of marketing Philip Eapen, that the increase in duty will make little difference apart from making Chinese imports a “little more unattractive.”

5th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

August 2007 – Delivering the Goods

Product News

The importance of the commercial vehicle sector is reflected by the level of activity in the truck tyre market. While vehicle manufacturers report that the demand for truck tyres currently outstrips supply, the move towards greater radialisation by Asian manufacturers is opening up a whole new range of options for the consumer. Don’t miss next month’s feature for the latest truck tyre news and products information.

5th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Companies Asked to Provide Details of Recalled Tyres

Premium, Product News

As a follow up measure to the US recall of tyres made by the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., the NHTSA has asked 14 manufacturers and importers, including the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., for information about imports received from the Chinese tyremaker. This action has been made necessary by the disclosure that companies other than Foreign Tire Sales may potentially have sold tyres manufactured to the same standard as those currently subject to recall.

In a letter sent to the NHTSA on July 2 Foreign Tire Sales stated: “Though FTS is not in possession of the information as to how many tyres others may have imported or sold in the United States, FTS understands that numerous tyres may have been imported by these other dealers using the same date codes and model numbers as FTS.”

Cooper Tire held an offtake agreement for the supply of truck tyres with Hangzhou Zhongce, and is thus likely to inform the NHTSA that it did not import light commercial vehicle tyres from the Chinese manufacturer. Goodyear, who reportedly entered into an agreement with the manufacturer in 2006, has not commented regarding their communication with the NHTSA.

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4th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Allegedly Defective Chinese Tyres Still Sold in Canada

Product News

(Akron/Tire Review – CTV News) CTV News has found imported tyres from China prone to tread separation for sale in Canada, despite an ordered recall in the U.S. The light truck tyres are blamed for two deaths in a U.S. lawsuit, after the treads peeled away and a van lost control on a turnpike last year.

“The belts can come apart, the tyre will overheat and it will basically just disintegrate,” Kirk Robinson, an independent mechanic and host of a call-in cable TV show in Toronto called “Auto Talk,” told CTV News. Transport Canada has asked any Canadians who have experienced safety issues with the tyres to phone its toll-free complaint number at 800-333-0510.

The Chinese plant that manufactures the tyres has been accused of neglecting gum strips – material that helps hold the belts together. According to U.S. officials, some of the gum strips only had a width of about 0.3 millimetres, half of what they expected. American officials have responded by ordering the American importer to recall half a million of the Chinese tyres.

2nd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Foreign Tire Sales Ordered to Recall Chinese Tyres

Product News

(Akron/Tire Review) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has sent Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) Inc. in Union, N.J., a letter stating that it is legally responsible for the recall of nearly 450,000 tyres imported from China and threatened penalties of up to $6,000 per violation, with a maximum of nearly $16.4 million. The affected tyres were sold under the Westlake, Compass, Telluride and YKS brand names in the following sizes: LT235/75R-15; LT225/75R-16; LT235/85R-16; LT245/75R-16; LT265/75R-16; and LT3X10.5-15.

NHTSA has given the company until Monday to respond. An attorney for FTS claimed the company could only afford about 10% of the approximately $80 million in costs associated with a recall. FTS said it does not have the financial resources for a full recall and would be forced to file for bankruptcy if required to conduct one. The company sent NHTSA a letter earlier this month that said up to 450,000 light truck tyres imported from China-based Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. could suffer tread separation because they were missing a safety feature.

2nd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

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