TYRE SAFETY
Stapletons recently embarked on a series of seminars outlining the important role of tyres in road safety. Representatives of the Letchworth-based wholesale business recently delivered a presentation at a regional meeting of the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Worcester, pointing out key facts on construction, tyre design, pressures, treads and legislation.
The Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) has strengthened its position as the leading authority for the tyre industry by voting to accept the Industrial Tyre Association, National Tyre Distributors Association, Retread Manufacturers Association and Tyre Recovery Association. The federation now includes all the significant associations within the tyre industry and is representative of the whole tyre supply and disposal chain in the UK.
In tyre safety terms the 3mm campaign has been the principal initiative for the tyre industry in 2005, according to the NTDA’s Richard Edy. And this is something that is demonstrated by the fact that Tyre Awareness Week in October, got a total of 75 minutes of local radio airtime. Due to this success it is more than likely that the organisers will use the same approach next year.
Last month Northern Ireland’s largest independent tyre retailers held a series of ladies tyre safety clinics at a selection of their depots. The nights coincided with National tyre safety week and were run in conjunction with the All Women Together breast cancer awareness campaign. For each of the 100 ladies that attended, Modern Tyre Service donated £10.
There has been much talk about the supposed benefits of nitrogen inflation during the course of this year. Some people call it a gimmick, others take the view that the technological benefits are based on science and that the economic benefits are not to be sniffed at. With this in mind Tyres & Accessories addresses the myths surrounding nitrogen inflation.
Nitrogen tyre inflation is more common than you might think. While comprehensive market data is difficult to come by at this relatively early stage in Nitrogen market’s development, the number of systems on the market is definitely in the hundreds. One equipment manufacturer told T&A (rather optimistically) that there are 500 of units currently on the market. If this is correct it is highly unlikely that these units are being used in tyre inflation applications.
The grounds of STS Watford were graced with a line-up of high performance Lexus cars when it recently hosted a free tyre health check event with the expertise of it’s resident doctor, Tony ‘Dr’ Bones. STS Stapletons Tyres and Exhaust Centre, based on Lower High Street, Watford hosted a unique Geometry and Wheel Alignment Health Check Day for the Lexus Owners Club, where top geometry wheel alignment expert, Dr Bones performed stringent tyre safety checks on over 30 Lexus cars.
Cheshire-based Tyreguard systems will soon be selling its tyre sealent products on the other side of the Atlantic after striking a deal with Harvey Westbury Corporation. The agreement will see Harvey Westbury exclusively distribute Tyreguard’s new tyre safety system to the Marine, RV and Industrial sectors in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Under terms of the agreement Harvey Westbury will also be able to market Tyreguard to the automotive industry.
Drivers, the Glasgow-based car enhancement company, is offering customers a free tyre check-up for the duration of the Scottish Tyre Safety Week, which runs from 7 – 11 November 2005.
Whilst most drivers are aware of the importance of looking after their tyres, fewer are aware that specially fitted performance tyres can enhance both the safety and performance of their cars.
Tyre safety could assume even greater importance soon when the Corporate Manslaughter Bill becomes law in the UK, warns Cheshire-based fleettyreline. The Bill is expected to become law within the next 18 months and will create a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter to cover all deaths at work and target corporate rather than individual liability. For example, a company could find itself liable in the instance of a death arising from an unroadworthy vehicle.
Said fleettyreline chairman John Church: “This Bill has far-reaching implications for any company operating a fleet, whether it is half a dozen vehicles or many hundreds. If a vehicle is defective in any area, most notably in a safety-critical area such as tyres, the liability issue is clear-cut. Our understanding is that, if an employee uses his or her vehicle on company business, the liability will also fall on the company.”
The TIC has organised a Super Clinic, to be held at Manchester’s Trafford Centre, in a bid to raise tyre safety awareness. The two-day event is set to take place at on the 16th and 17th September and it is estimated that the clinic will receive some 170,000 visitors located in an arena that has an average footfall of 500,000 people.
Tyre safety checks will take place in the centre’s overflow car park. Batteries, windscreens, lights and wiper blades will also be checked. There will be an average of 40 staff members from the supporting companies and service providers giving expert advice on preventative maintenance, road safety and product information
The event will be filmed for the production of a five minute DVD and will be accompanied by outside radio broadcasts, PR to all local and national automotive media will also take place.
Amongst those supporting the TIC’s tyre safety checks is National Tyres and Autocare, ATS Euromaster, Exide Batteries, RAC, Auto Windscreens, Continental, Michelin, Trafford Metropolitan Council, Manchester Police Force and Manchester Fire Brigade. cma
The TIC’s tyre safety awareness campaign is once again taking up the challenge of raising through a series of tyre checks on the roads of the North West of England next month.
The four principle police forces in the North West – Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside – will combine with the council to mount a hard hitting campaign detailing the increased risk of having an accident, particularly in the wet, if a vehicle has worn tyres. Recent research by the AA Motoring Trust indicates that worn tyres contribute to one in ten accidents in wet conditions.
Kwik-Fit has shocked UK tyre industry members by withdrawing its support from the Tyre Industry Council. An associate member for the past 12 years, the retail chain has announced that it will not renew its membership.
The company is keeping its reasons behind the decision within its four walls, but has issued the following statement: “We are supportive of the TIC’s aims and ambitions. After a number of years working with the TIC and with the many new challenges facing our industry, it is now time to change the way we provide our support, promote tyre safety awareness and raise the standards of service to the benefit of all motorists.”
The Tyre Industry Council has announced the implementation of a new training award set up in association with technical service provider Entyrety.
The award will form a part of the council’s tyre safety scheme established two years ago, and has been instigated to recognise and reward those companies operating within the UK industry that make a “positive commitment to improving the quality of their in-house training programmes.”
The Tyre Industry Council is to endorse tyre safety related products and services. The first such endorsement is an aftermarket product, allowing the motorist to monitor the pressure in his spare tyre and inflate it easily, if required.
As many as two million motorists in the UK are putting their lives at risk by never checking their tyre pressure or tread, according to a survey launched by the RAC foundation today. The warning comes at the start of “National Think Before You Drive Month”, which is launched by the RAC Foundation in association with the FIA Foundation, Bridgestone.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
