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Gates Tyres Joins First Stop

Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships has signed up Gates Tyres in Cumbria, bringing the total number in the First Stop network to 155. The First Stop network has added an additional 23 dealerships since the start of the year.

Gates Tyres retails car, commercial and agricultural tyres and has more than 50 employees across its two sites in Workington and Carlisle. The dealership is celebrating joining the First Stop network by taking part in two shows this summer including hosting a F1 show, featuring Bridgestone’s F1 car and simulator, at the Cumberland Show on 19th July and a tyre safety event for local shoppers on 20 July.

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Applauds NHTSA’s Tyre Ageing Advice

RFID developer Advanced ID Corporation has published a statement supporting the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recent Consumer Advisory on the dangers of aged tyres. On 2 June NHTSA kicked off the summer driving season with a warning to motorists to check their tyres – including the spare – for signs of wear, under-inflation and age. The season’s heat, especially in hot climates, can take its toll on worn, old or improperly inflated tyres leading to tread separations, crashes and rollovers, the advisory said.

“We believe that NHTSA’s consumer advisory on tire safety is going to have a significant effect on the rubber manufacturers – this is the first time the US government has taken a public position on the issue,” said Dan Finch, President and CEO of Advanced ID. “Our global partners around the world are poised to begin implementation of tire tags for its many benefits, including the means to identify tyres in case of failure. All the tyre tag tests being conducted in numerous markets around the world – from Asia to Europe to Latin America – have been concluded or are near conclusion and, hopefully, the US will follow suit quickly before failures result in loss of life.”

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

News Show Reveals Sale of Old ‘New’ Tyres in US

An undercover investigation conducted by media in the US has shown that some of the country’s largest tyre retailers are selling tyres that are well beyond the age limit recommended by safety advocates and some car manufacturers. The hidden camera investigation was carried out by the news show “20/20” and ABC News network affiliates throughout the US in an attempt to see if tyres more than six years old – the maximum tyre age recommended by Ford and other carmakers – were being sold as ‘new’ tyres.

In California reporters found a tyre made in 1999 and two from 2002 being sold as new by Goodyear, the seventh largest US tyre retailer. At Walmart, the third largest tyre seller, tyres dating back to 1999 were also found at more than one location. Sears, the fifth largest US tyre seller, sold tyres ranging from seven to twelve years old.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear HydraGrip Wins Auto Express Product Honours

Auto Express Magazine’s annual Product Honours Awards report has recognised the Goodyear HydraGrip as the ‘Best Buy’ tyre in the family car tyre market. The Product Honours Award follows testing by Auto Express, Britain’s biggest selling motoring weekly magazine, of 16 tyre brands. The test compared stopping distances, handling, grip, fuel consumption, in car-noise levels and prices to determine the champion in the highly competitive family car tyre market.

The magazine found the Goodyear tyre excelled in the wet, particularly in the curved aquaplaning test, but was strong across the board. In terms of curved aquaplaning, the Goodyear HydraGrip had 15 per cent more grip than any other tyre tested, and 49 per cent more grip than one other brand.

9th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Fleet Encourages Participation in Road Risk Survey

Britain’s largest independent fast-fit operator, Kwik-Fit Fleet, is participating in a major occupational road risk management survey in conjunction with RoadSafe, the organisation responsible for managing the Government’s ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme. The survey was officially launched at the Fleet Business Show at the Business Design Centre, London on April 29. The survey’s aim is to gain information on what actions senior managers with responsibility for fleet operations and the use of privately-owned cars on business have taken to reduce their organisations’ risk exposure in the light of the implementation of the month’s Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act in early April.

Mike Wise, head of Kwik-Fit Fleet, said: “The importance of companies managing occupational road risk has continued to increase in recent years. As a business we undertake hundreds of thousands of safety checks on vehicles and often find that cars and vans are not in tip-top condition. A failure by companies and their employees to ensure a vehicle’s safety-related equipment is in a first-class condition could be the difference between life and death.

30th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Fleet Reports 20% More Tyre Safety Checks

Last year, Kwik-Fit Fleet carried out more than 220,000 vehicle inspections – up from 188,000 in 2006 – and this year the company expects its mobile technicians to undertake more than 250,000 tyre safety checks in company car parks or at a driver’s location of choice.

Initial tyre checks result in about 25 per cent of vehicles inspected requiring attention, usually tyres being replaced because they are illegal. Extrapolated across the UK’s three million-strong company car and approximately one million van parc it means that up to 800,000 vehicles could be running on at least one unsafe tyre.

30th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Gori: EC Standards may Agitate Problem of Low Quality Imports

Pirelli chief executive Francesco Gori, in his capacity as president of the ETRMA, has voiced concern that planned European Commission standards will hinder European tyre manufacturers in their competition with Asian rivals. In an April 23 interview reported by Reuters, Gori commented that Asian manufacturers who produce low-cost tyres can easily circumvent the standards, and the costs involved in conforming to them, as the volumes in which such tyres are arriving in European ports makes it difficult to effectively monitor product quality.

“There are not enough resources to control this invasion of products that do not conform to European standards,” said Gori. “It’s very complicated to find a solution.” While Gori does not object to the standards’ aims of improving tyre safety and environmental footprint, his objection lies in the fact that only products made in Europe must conform. “You can use cheaper materials if you make tyres that do not meet the standards. We would want that even the tyres that are imported in Europe met the same standards.”

According to Gori, Asian manufacturers hold between 10 and 20 per cent of Europe’s tyre market, and this figure is increasing by a double-digit figure annually. He added that 20 per cent of replacement tyre sales in Europe were in the budget segment where Asian made products are the strongest.

Should the proposed standards fail to deliver safeguards against tyres that do not conform, Gori said that approaching authorities in major European national markets to discuss potential means of deterring the sale of these tyres was a possible option. He spoke of strong penalties being dished out on offenders as an example to others, and raising consumer awareness of tyre safety and quality.

25th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

NTA Receives TyreSafe Outstanding Achievement Award

TyreSafe’s Outstanding Achievement award for 2008 has been presented to National Tyres and Autocare. The tyre safety organisation reports that the award was given in acknowledgement of the company’s “outstanding contribution to the work of TyreSafe since its formation at the start of 2007,” and was presented to National Tyres’ chief executive officer, Tony Neill, by TyreSafe chairman Rob Beddis at the NTDA Dinner in Birmingham on April 16.

National Tyres became a foundation member of TyreSafe when it emerged out of the old Tyre Industry Council, and since day one has helped to develop a new structure, tyre safety strategy and re-branding, which TyreSafe reports has already had a profound effect in raising tyre safety awareness and wider road safety. TyreSafe adds that, since its formation, National Tyres has actively engaged with, and supported, the recruitment of new members. Membership now stands at 26 companies, representing all the key tyre industry organisations.

23rd April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

We Are Not Alone….

It appears it is not only UK motorists who don’t fully appreciate the importance of tyre safety. A nationwide US survey commissioned by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has revealed 85 per cent of American motorists do not properly check tyre inflation pressure.

The RMA survey coincides with National Tire Safety Week, sponsored by the organisation and held between April 20 and 26. The RMA hopes that through the nationwide campaign it can share the basic message that spending five minutes every month checking tyre pressure can save both time and money.

“Record high gas prices should be an incentive for motorists to take every step possible to help make their cars and their money go further,” said RMA senior vice president, public affairs Dan Zielinski. “While our survey found that 61 per cent of motorists agreed that checking tyre pressure is very important to maximising fuel economy, only one in seven drivers properly perform this easy task.” And money will not only be saved at the petrol pump, Zielinski notes – premature tyre wear can be avoided by maintaining correct pressure. “Consumers can help their wallets and the environment by paying attention to their tyres so they last as long as possible, reducing disposal needs,” he commented.

22nd April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Issues Motorhome Tyre Safety Leaflet

TyreSafe has published a new leaflet providing essential information for owners of motorhomes. Topics covered include: fitting the right tyres; advice to prevent overloading; and tyre sidewall marking explanations. The leaflet also advises care should be taken when replacing tyres and recommends “changes in tyre size or type should not be undertaken without seeking advice from either the tyre supplier or the vehicle manufacturer. The consequences could have an effect on handling, safety and wheel arch clearances.”

The leaflet also goes on to warn that in certain European countries it is illegal to use replacement tyres which differ in certain respects from those fitted originally by the vehicle manufacturer. The leaflet also reinforces the importance of correct tyre pressures to ensure maximum tyre life, optimum fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions.

17th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Farmer Autocare Opens Kirkcaldy Centre

Farmer Autocare partnered up with Bridgestone to celebrate the launch of its latest Centre on Forth Avenue, Kirkcaldy on 5 April. Shoppers at Sainsbury’s Kirkcaldy were treated to a Ferrari Formula One Show as well as being offered free tyre safety checks at Fife Central Retail Park. The offer of free tyre safety checks extends to anyone wishing to call in at any Farmer Autocare Centre.

Farmer Autocare used the day to highlight road safety, and the importance of checking your tyres, in conjunction with the Bridgestone worldwide ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign.

16th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Align Becomes Newest TyreSafe Supporter

Wheel alignment equipment specialist Pro-Align has become the latest organisation to add its name to the growing list of TyreSafe supporters. Industry research conducted in recent years shows that an increasing number of vehicles on UK roads have misaligned wheels, and are exposed to the dangers posed by the premature and uneven tyre wear that results. To counter this trend, Pro-Align and TyreSafe will work together to promote awareness about the problems associated with misalignment and provide motorists with help and advice. Pro-Align has already established a website to do this, which can be found at www.AlignMyCar.co.uk.

1st April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Police Checks Reveal Defective Motorcycle Tyres Commonplace

Nottinghamshire Police has revealed worrying findings after carrying out spot checks on motorcycles on the county’s roads, reports TyreSafe. As part of Operation Retina, which aims to combat the number of motorcyclists killed on the county’s roads, more than half of all bikes randomly stopped over a one-week period during the road checks were found to have defects, including worn tyres.

This statistic mirrors data released by Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA), which indicated bike MOT failures had increased significantly – from 1,700 to 5,000 – between 2006 and 2007, and TyreSafe says this highlights the fact that riders are simply not looking after their machinery.

31st March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TW Tyres Host Rugby Tyre Safety Event

First Stop dealership, TW Tyres recently hosted an afternoon for female drivers with practical advice on maintaining their vehicles and a specific focus on all-important tyre checks. Recent research has shown that up to 90 per cent of drivers do not know their correct tyre pressures and TW Tyres aimed to address this issue and offer practical help to local drivers. Carl Williams and Sally Smith from Bridgestone were on hand giving presentations and offering their expertise along with technical adviser Chris Scott and the TW Tyres team.

Following the event TW Tyres will undergo a major refurbishment in order to create a more appealing environment for customers. This reportedly comes as part of Bridgestone’s continued investment in the First Stop network.

Rugby FM also joined up with TW Tyres on the day by holding a phone-in clinic on car maintenance issues for all those who couldn’t make it.

13th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Says Motorcycle Safety Leaflet Proving Popular

Since the start of the first ever Bike Tyre Safety Month, which extends throughout the month of March, TyreSafe has witnessed a surge in the popularity of its “Motorcycle Tyres and Your Safety” leaflet, one of several information guides on tyre safety downloadable from the TyreSafe website. In February alone, there were nearly 2,000 downloads, highlighting the fact that the TyreSafe online portal, launched in January 2007, has now become an importance resource for the motoring and motorcycling public.

The motorcycle tyre safety leaflet provides essential information to bikers on the different types of motorcycle tyres which are fitted by manufacturers, how to interpret the information on the sidewall of a tyre, and the importance of running with the correct tread depth and pressures. After all, only two very small contact patches connect the rider with the road, therefore maintaining tyres in good condition and using the correct levels of tyre pressure is critical to safety. Furthermore, TyreSafe also warns motorcyclists that in certain European countries it is illegal to use replacement tyres which differ in certain respects from those fitted originally by the vehicle manufacturer.

12th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors