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New Address for Tyre Industry Publications

Thanks to a successful 2008 – in which the newsletter circulation grew by more than 40 per cent – Tyre Industry Publications, publishers of Tyres & Accessories magazine and the Tyrepress.com e-Newsletter, has moved to a new address. From the start of 2009, the company’s editorial office will be at 6A Salem Street, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5PR. Telephone numbers and email addresses will remain unchanged.

Editor Chris Anthony said, “we are very excited about 2009 as we look to build upon a great year for the newsletter, which has seen a massive jump in circulation following the move to html formatting. The new year will see the launch of a new website at www.tyrepress.com and our newly expanded office space reflects the exciting period of growth we hope to continue.”

22nd December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Announces Plant Closure Intention

Cooper announced today that it plans to close its manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia. The company states that the announcement “follows a network capacity study analysing the company’s optimal manufacturing footprint in the United States.”

Tire Review, based in Akron, Ohio said that the move was announced during a conference call with employees at all four of Cooper’s U.S. plants. Cooper will retain its plants in Findlay, Ohio; Texarkana, Arkansas, and Tupelo, Mississippi. As reported on Tyrepress.com, Cooper announced in October that it would review the viability of its U.S. capacity, with an eye towards closing at least one plant. An announcement on the result was not expected until January, but the decisions may have been hastened by the new union contracts and incentives the state of Mississippi is expected to extend to the tyre maker.

17th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear OptiGrip Wins Innovation Award

The Goodyear OptiGrip – SmartWear Technology has been recognised for its new and original features, having received the Luxembourg Business Federation’s Innovation Award for 2008. Chosen for the distinction from a total field of 21 applications, the FEDIL panel concluded that an innovative product such as the Goodyear OptiGrip tyre will strengthen the technical and innovative leadership role of Goodyear, providing a demonstration of the R&D capabilities of its Luxembourg Technical Centre.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop India Factory Deadlock Set to Continue

The situation at Dunlop India’s closed Sahagunj factory, reported this week on Tyrepress.com, looks to be at a standstill. India’s Financial Express is reporting that the two major trade unions at the factory – Citu and Intuc – have decided not to sign a bipartite agreement with the plant’s management. Both unions, it is reported, want the Indian government to be included in a three-party meeting.

The paper quotes Dipanker Roy, Dunlop Workers’ Union (Citu) general secretary, who said that he would be communicating with the country’s labour minister, adding that, “We have been to the [Dunlop factory] office to discuss the management’s proposal, but no one from the decision-making body was present.” Workers remain at home with the offer of a 2,000-rupee monthly grant from the company’s management, which followed the suspension of production.

21st November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Precision Point Launches Wheel Alignment Models

Precision Point, the Warwick, UK-based engineering company, will launch two new wheel alignment gauges at the fast-approaching Autosport International Aftermarket Show. The Trak-Rite PPL40+ is a remodel of the company’s successful PPL40 gauge, while the Trak-Rite 2 is an all new alignment tool; the latest in the range of competitively priced wheel alignment gauges. Precision Point is the established name behind innovative wheel alignment equipment widely used across the motorsport and automotive industries by both professional teams and amateurs alike.

Both models use a laser beam system to verify wheel alignment to an accuracy of five minutes within a measuring range of plus or minus two degrees and they are battery powered making them portable and user-friendly. The British-made products are precision engineered, robust and accurate and are suitable for a range of vehicles with 10” to 24” diameter wheels.

21st November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear GPS Models: Picture

Goodyear has released images of the NCC-produced, Goodyear-branded GPS units displayed at the SEMA show (as reported in late October on Tyrepress.com; ‘NCC Directs Goodyear to SEMA Show’). Readers don’t need a satellite navigation system to see that the picture is reproduced directly to the right of this text…

19th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Survey: Canadians Steer Clear of Snow Tyres

A survey conducted by insurance firm RBC and researcher Ipsos Reid shows that a little over half of Canadian motorists put snow tyres on their cars, despite the country’s snowy winter months. Feedback showed that more than half of those who do not use the specialist tyres do not due to the additional costs involved.

Francois Boulanger, president and CEO of RBC General Insurance Company, stated on the release of the information, “Installing winter tires should be a critical safety measure for all Canadian drivers. Canadians need to think of it as an investment in their family’s safety.”

19th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Plans Rs 30 Billion Investment in Five Years

With the battle cry of large investment plans, Apollo is continuing its march towards the company’s goals of becoming a “Top Six” international manufacturer and turning over $4 billion in the next five years. The major Indian player is already in the process of setting up new factories in Chennai and Eastern Europe, though the company has yet to confirm the location of the latter.

Apollo vice chairman and joint MD, Neeraj Kanwar told the Press Trust of India, “We will invest about Rs 3,000 crore [£4.07 billion; 1 GBP = 73.7 INR] over the next five years. Me and my whole team’s desire is to be amongst the top six players of the world.” Meanwhile, Business Standard reports that Apollo is considering Slovakia and Poland for the location of its first European plant, having hit difficulties in Hungary (as reported on Tyrepress.com earlier in the year).

17th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Signs Swedish Rally Supply Deal

Pirelli has added another set of supply dates to its famed calendar in a new three-year deal struck with Swedish motorsport, making the Italian giant the exclusive tyre supplier to the Swedish Rally Championship. In signing up for this exclusive supply deal, Pirelli restates its commitment to single tyre competitions, a subject currently debated in Tyrepress.com’s Question of the Month.

Pirelli states in its release that the agreement represents a vindication of the company’s decision to concentrate on the single-tyre philosophy in both racing and rally championships. This direction was set down by the FIA and has been fully supported by Pirelli, which has introduced a range of products designed to offer top performance whilst reducing overall costs: a move that makes sense in the current economic climate.

14th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Burgess: MotoGP Control Tyre Rule a “Big Mistake”

The deliberations surrounding MotoGP’s decision to switch to a Bridgestone control tyre in 2009 have continued to grow, with prominent voices speaking up for both sides of the argument. Valentino Rossi’s crew chief, Jerry Burgess, told the Italian magazine, Motosprint, that there was no need for the introduction of a new rule and that teams should be able to make up their own minds.

However Tony Carter, the MotoGP presenter on Eurosport, writes in his online article on 11 November, “As a race fan, all I want to see is rider against rider, machine against machine. I like the idea of a proper scrap where lesser factors like which type of a particular niche rubber compound by any of three or four manufacturers don’t come into it.” The issue is currently the subject of Tyrepress.com’s Question of the Month, provoking similar levels of debate among tyre industry readers.

12th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Question of the Month Update

Initial responses to the Tyrepress.com question of the month suggest that industry professionals believe that motorsport series should consider the benefits of having more than one tyre supplier. So far, almost half of readers supported manufacturer competition, with only around 25 per cent of responses standing up for the lone tyre supplier. Other readers trod a more balanced path; one suggests that “Tyres are capable of creating an uneven playing surface… in the premier divisions of motorsport there is a need to ensure that as much can be delivered in driver capability and vehicle innovation. In the lower levels of clubman championships a good mixture of tyres is healthy for the sport.”

To register your views, navigate to www.tyrepress.com now. All readers who respond will be entered into the prize draw to win one of ten tickets to The Aftermarket Show 2009. To be in with a chance of winning, please make sure you leave your contact details in the comments box following the answer options. Details will not be published and will only be shared with The Aftermarket Show.

6th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UPDATE: Goodyear Sees Q3 Profits Fall

Despite making a significant operating loss of $19 million in the North American market – as reported on Tyrepress.com on 3 November – Goodyear has carded record sales in 2008’s third quarter, up 2 per cent to $5.2 billion. In addition, the company states that its revenue per tyre is up 8 per cent over Q3 2007 excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, a gain that reflects worldwide gains in pricing and product mix generated by the company’s strategy to focus on high-value-added tyres.

Chairman and CEO Robert J. Keegan said that the company’s “solid third quarter concludes a strong nine months of performance, reflecting the successful execution of our business strategies and continued strength in our international businesses.”

4th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

T&A Competition: Ten Aftermarket Show Tickets

Tyres & Accessories Magazine is thrilled to offer ten readers the chance to visit The Aftermarket Show on 10-11 January at the NEC, Birmingham. Last year, The Aftermarket Show was attended by 4,100 dedicated aftermarket trade visitors, as well as more than 23,800 from Autosport International. Added to these figures were in excess of 56,700 end users, who made an estimated spend of £3.2 million on car and motorsport related products. 2009 looks set to continue the show’s upward trajectory, with CAT magazine supporting its promotional platform and the return of the Talkshop, a free-to-use communication tool with which exhibitors and visitors can interact further.

All you need to do to enter this exciting competition is visit Tyrepress.com and answer T&A’s Question of the Month here. Leave us your contact details, which will be passed on to Autosport Magazine, to be in with a chance of winning the tickets.

4th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Announces Week Break in Fayetteville

Goodyear is to halt its manufacturing operations at the company’s plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina from Saturday 25 October until 1 November, news sources have reported. Richard Evans, the plant’s spokesman, said that the week-long shutdown is designed as a measure against falling demand. Goodyear has previously halted operations in July for one week and August for two weeks, citing the same reason.

As has been previously reported on Tyrepress.com, Goodyear also plans not to manufacture at its facilities in Gadsden, Alabama and Union City, Tennessee during the same week. In addition, Modern Tire Dealer reported that the company’s plant in Lawton, Oklahoma will take off four consecutive Sundays. Employees are eligible for unemployment benefits during the layoff periods, say local unions.

21st October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sunrise, FL Police Tyre Theft Accused Resigns

It seems cunning tyre thefts are not limited to Derby – or even the UK (see ‘Derby Motorist Stung by Rubber Ripper’ on tyrepress.com). Following information no doubt received through a snitch, Mark Lewis – a police officer in the town of Sunrise, Florida – was accosted by an internal affairs unit, which accused him of stealing the tyres fitted on his own 2003 Ford Crown Victoria from a city-owned police vehicle.

Local reports state that Lewis at first denied the charge when questioned about the brand new rubber adorning his personal vehicle, saying that the treads were original equipment. He also denied that he had purloined the police headlight the unit found in his boot, claiming his ex-girlfriend had probably put it there. However, the jig was up when internal affairs told Lewis that the tyres were traceable. Their report said that when informed of this fact, Lewis “put his head down and after approximately one minute looked up and said, ‘Now what?’” Shortly afterwards, he admitted the charge. Had he failed to resign, the charge would have been pursued as a criminal case.

14th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors