(Akron/Tire Review) Siemens VDO’s Service & Special Solutions group has developed a new aftermarket program for TPMS replacement and service parts. The program helps technicians service vehicles equipped with TPMSs made by Siemens VDO, the company said.
For Tyre World this year’s Tyrexpo Asia demonstrated just how important the “rendezvous” side of tyre exhibitions can be. Burkhard Fuhrmann, managing director of the German wholesaler, says that it was much, much easier to get into contact with potential Asian business partners at Tyrexpo compared with the Essen Reifen show.
The last six winners of the Dakar Rally have claimed victory on BFGoodrich tyres. The manufacturer now has a special BFGoodrich team competing in next year’s event and wanted to offer tyre dealers the opportunity to win a place in the driving seat. And so the Adventure Raid was born.
The tyre retail system in countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland presents a fairly unique brand of independent tyre retailing. Perhaps the best demonstration of this can be found in the example of Nordic retail group, Dekk Partner. Tyres & Accessories met the group’s managing director, Leif Kristiansen, and asked what other national markets can learn from the tyre trade in the north of Europe.
The success of the Dekk Partner retail group is quite possibly the European tyre industry’s best-kept secret. Think this is an exaggeration? Just look at the numbers. The group’s collective turnover is expected to reach up to 300 million euros in 2005. In recent years the Nordic tyre retail group has seen its geographical spread, number of branches and, consequently, its turnover grow dramatically.
When Tyres & Accessories last wrote about the pressures facing wholesalers, the issues pressing the business were not too dissimilar to what there are today. Then raw material price increases at the manufacturer level, not to mention high oil prices, were in danger of effecting wholesale pricing policies. Today oil prices (affecting both raw material and transportation costs) are almost 50 per cent higher, and almost all manufacturers have raised their product prices at least once if not twice this year. In order to get a feeling for how these issues are affecting international wholesalers, T&A spoke to representatives of US company Zisser Tire and Belgium-based Deldo.
Interstate Europe’s product portfolio will soon feature two new tyre brands. As commercial director Theo de Vries explains during an interview with Tyres & Accessories, the wholesaler is entering the truck tyre business with a new brand called “Navitrac.” Furthermore, Interstate Europe is hoping to make an impact on Europe’s exclusive brand market with the launch of the “Sceptor” passenger car tyre line. However, exactly when these two brands will be available in the UK and on the European market is not clear. The names of the exclusive distributors that will take on the new tyres in each of Europe’s national markets are similarly undefined.
It is now becoming increasingly vital that dealerships across the country understand the fitting implications that run-flat tyres bring with them, Bridgestone has reported. As a result Bridgestone is promoting its free Run-Flat Certificate Programme, which offers training for tyre dealers and fitters across the UK. To date, in excess of 600 UK fitters and store managers have attained certification, and more than 400 machines have already been inspected and accredited by Bridgestone.
Continental is celebrating the 2006 World Cup with the launch of a special tyre. In the run-up to world’s most prestigious footballing event (from 2006) the ContiChampionContact will be available from tyre dealers. Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Blatter and Brazil’s legendary Pele will all be using it when they come Germany for the FIFA World Cup 2006, as the tyre will also be fitted to all VIP vehicles and shuttles.
It is now becoming increasingly vital that dealerships across the country understand the fitting implications that run-flat tyres bring with them, Bridgestone has reported. As a result Bridgestone is promoting its free Run-Flat Certificate Programme, which offers training for tyre dealers and fitters across the UK. To date, in excess of 600 UK fitters and store managers have attained certification, and more than 400 machines have already been inspected and accredited by Bridgestone.
A recent report in US trade magazine, Tire Review, has suggested lead balancing weights could be phased out from the American market in 2009. The report follows the implementation of the European End of Life Vehicle Directive, which banned the use of lead weights on passenger vehicles from July 2005.
The article encouraged US dealers to “start planning now for the same thing to happen here.” It also highlighted the fact that one balancing weight manufacturer, Perfect Equipment Co already produces zinc clip-on and steel adhesive wheel weights for GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler vehicles being exported to Europe.
Bridgestone is urging tyre dealers across the UK to better understand the implications of fitting run-flat tyres. Despite continuing investment in the technology and an increasing number of run-flat tyres on UK roads, there have been reports of a lack of knowledge within the industry about how these tyres could and should be fitted.
Four members of Truck Point, the network of independent truck tyre dealers, won awards at the first-ever Truck Point conference. The awards were made by major customers that use the tyres and services on offer from Bridgestone and the Truck Point network.
Chris Deevey, head of purchasing for Ryder Europe, presented the Ryder award to Glyn Cainey, of Dexel Tyres, saying that the company had exhibited levels of service “second to none” and had been pro-active in reducing Ryder’s costs and downtime.
Continental has confirmed its plans to expand the ContiNetwork beyond mainland UK by appointing Modern Tyre Group as the ContiNetwork Partner responsible for the whole of Northern Ireland.
“This move facilitates ContiNetwork’s growth into Ireland and marks the first phase of complete coverage for Ireland,” said the company in response to the news. Modern Tyre Group will be joining a nationwide network of independent truck tyre dealers that provide local, regional and national fleets with tyre management services and rapid-response tyre breakdown assistance.
Bridgestone continued its programme of preparing First Stop dealers for a rise in run-flat replacement fitments by inviting them to test the technology at a specially designed event in Bedford.
Dealers were given the chance to drive BMW 3-Series cars fitted with original-equipment Bridgestone Potenza RE050 RFT run-flat tyres around a track designed to simulate a variety of different road conditions, in order to test the tyres for themselves.
Bridgestone UK has appointed Stuart Monk (34) as the third business development manager for the Truck Point network of independent truck tyre dealers. Mr Monk, who will cover the Midlands area, has a strong financial background in banking, joining Bridgestone UK in 2002 and working in senior positions in the central billing department. His new role is structured round initiatives being taken by Bridgestone to support the independents’ business activities with fleet customers and to ensure that there are clear lines of communication between Bridgestone UK, the fleets and the dealers.
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