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Yokohama Gives ZPS Run-Flat UK Debut

Yokohama has shown its latest run-flat technology and the specially designed A13C 245/50 R18 tyre it produces as OE for the Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX at this year’s Autosport Show. By exhibiting the Yokohama Advan ZPS tyre, the manufacturer was giving an indication of what’s to come. According to company representatives the ZPS will be available from dealers, from “later in the 2008” which means the tyre is expected to be stocked from the middle to the end of the year.

On the subject of OE, Yokohama’s A13C tyre will be factory fitted to the Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX in sizes 245/40 R18. Developed in conjunction with Mitsubishi engineers, the A13C has been created to provide “the perfect combination of grip, longevity, safety and comfort,” according to Yokohama.

10th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandvulc Joins the TRA

Bandvulc Tyres based in Ivybridge, South Devon has joined the TRA membership and committed to active participation in the Tyre Industry Federation’s Responsible Recycler Scheme. Commenting, TRA Secretary General, Peter Taylor said members “would look to Bandvulc to bring their considerable expertise and insight into a very important area of tyre recovery”.

9th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Appoints New National CV Sales Manager

Helen Tattersall has been appointed National Sales Manager – Truck at Michelin Tyre plc, with immediate effect. Helen Tattersall takes on this new role after eight years at Michelin, having joined as a Key Account Manager within Michelin Fleet Solutions, with her most recent position being Head of Truck and Earthmover Marketing. She replaces Peter Philpott who is retiring after more than 30 years service to the company. In her new role Helen will be responsible for heading up a 63-strong team of Sales Account Managers across the UK and Ireland. According to Michelin, this is the largest specialist truck tyre sales force of any manufacturer in the UK industry. Commenting on her appointment, she explains: “My new role will give me the opportunity to meet regularly with tyre dealers and fleet operators at the heart of the industry, which I am really looking forward to.”

9th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Feedback Sought for UK Tyre Recycling Protocol

A Quality Protocol, aimed at making the reprocessing of tyres into products such as flooring, road surfacing, aggregates and footwear a more straightforward and affordable process for industry, has been released for public consultation by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and the Environment Agency.

Since the EU Landfill Directive came into effect alternate waste management options have been sought for the more than 100,000 end of life tyres removed from UK vehicles every day – a quantity that over the course of the year accumulates to an amount that Martin Brocklehurst, head of external waste programmes at the Environment Agency, attempts to illustrate: “Placed end to end, the annual tyre waste of England and Wales would stretch from London to Cardiff more than 100 times,” he said. “With so many cars, vans and trucks discarding tyres, we have potential to access more than 40,000 tonnes of recycled rubber.”

8th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Aftersoft Gets New Financing Deal

Chester based Aftersoft Group Inc., which supplies business software to the automotive aftermarket, has successfully completed a revolving credit and term loan agreement with ComVest Capital LLC, raising US$6 million in funds for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Ian Warwick, Aftersoft’s chairman and CEO, said “we have successfully completed a complex financing agreement in a difficult market environment, which reflects the value, stability and growth potential of Aftersoft’s diverse businesses in the automotive aftermarket. Our management team can now turn its full attention to building those businesses, with the ultimate goal of duplicating in the US and other markets the growth and success we have achieved in the UK. In addition, we can now accelerate our efforts to complete the spin-off of Aftersoft from Auto Data Network.” (Tire Review/Akron)

7th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

£400,000 Contract Win For Bandvulc

Ivybridge-based Bandvulc Tyre Contracts (BTC), the management arm of the Bandvulc Group of Companies, has won a major new contract from Axis Intermodal, one of the leading European hirers of Trailers, Trucks, Rigids and Intermodal Swap Bodies. The new deal is worth an estimated £400,000 per annum.

BTC will manage Intermodal’s 5,000-strong fleet across the UK and Europe delivering real time cost savings through a comprehensive package of benefits. One such benefit is the ability to provide specific recharge reports, enabling Axis to monitor and control damaged tyres.

7th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Publishes Cold Weather Information

The incidence of car accidents on wet roads during winter months in the UK leaps by a staggering 267 per cent, according to DfT figures. In response, TyreSafe is providing information on cold weather tyres. TyreSafe recommends that UK drivers visit their local fast fit dealer or independent tyre retailer to discuss the option of fitting cold weather tyres for winter months. Cold weather tyres have been developed by most large tyre manufacturers and whilst the market for this type of tyre in the UK is currently small (less than one per cent of the total UK replacement market), cold weather tyres are becoming increasingly popular across the rest of Europe.

3rd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Ploughs its Way to the Championships

The Goodyear Farm team reports that it had “yet another successful year” in 2007. In addition to launching several new tyres in their Optitrac range, they helped some of the UK’s best ploughmen to perform and gain the opportunity to compete in the 2008 World Ploughing Championships in Austria. To win a position in the World Ploughing Championships the competitors first had to plough through the British championships which took place at Crockey Hill near York in October. The event was so well attended that the car park had to be extended on the second day. 16 of the 22 plough-off entrants used Goodyear tyres. These included the winners of the top three competitions who ploughed their way to success on Goodyear tyres.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Dealer Fights Against Human Trafficking

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company European dealer, Sinton Tyres, has joined forces with an expedition that delivered five 4×4 vehicles to Sierra Leone in the fight against modern-day slavery. The Hull Freedom Trail group drove the quintet of Mitsubishi L200s from Hull to the town’s twin town of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, and delivered them to four aid agencies working in the city with the child victims of human trafficking. The mission celebrated the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the UK, a movement spearheaded by Hull native, William Wilberforce.

UK Cooper dealer Sinton Tyres donated Cooper’s rugged Discoverer STTs, which were fitted to the L200s to help them cross the difficult terrain the expedition faced on its 5,180-mile journey. “The asphalt roads pretty much ran out in Guinea,” explained expedition leader, Jonathan Richards.

18th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

GP to Supply SKF Wheel Bearings to GAU

GP Automotive, the logistics supplier to SKF, has been appointed as the approved SKF wheel bearing supplier to Group Auto Union (GAU) buying group. According to the company, The SKF range of OE-quality wheel bearings totals 850 references and offers a minimum 96 per cent coverage of the UK vehicle parc. “We’re delighted to add this GAU supply approval to our list of responsibilities and commitments to the aftermarket because it’s another illustration of a respected industry group recognising the quality and performance that we can bring to its members through our logistics agreements,” GP’s business unit manager, Karyn Hunt, said.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Names 17 Excellence Centres

Bridgestone UK has unveiled 17 Centres of Excellence as part of a new reward scheme for its national First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships. The First Stop Quality Program replaces the Stars initiative. Instead of being rated as three, four or five star outlets, businesses can now qualify as Accredited Centres or Centres of Excellence. The Program covers areas such as depot appearance, staff training, telephone technique and public relations, with the top performing outlets eligible for new First Stop signage, certificates, a crystal trophy and shopping vouchers. The 2008 Quality Program is scheduled to get underway in March.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Members of Marine Hose Cartel Plead Guilty

The two Dunlop Oil and Marine executives and the Lincolnshire based consultant charged in the US for their participation in a price fixing cartel have entered a guilty plea. The one-count felony charges were laid in a Houston court on December 5, and the three men subsequently filed court documents detailing their plea arrangements. The pleas will be entered on December 12.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

VAG Approval For Beissbarth Tyre Changer

Beissbarth has received approval from the VAG group – comprising Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda – for its MS67 tyre changer.

The MS67 was launched last year and has been an instant success says Beissbarth UK’s managing director Philip Hodges: “We are delighted with this latest accolade for the MS67. Customers have been quick to spot the huge benefits of this model, designed to meet the ever-present health and safety regulations, and provide a fast and efficient service for technicians and customers.”

11th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NETE Appoints New Retail Director

North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts has announced the appointment of Roger Griggs to the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Griggs joins the board following the announcement of Ray Darcy’s retirement, and he will take on the role of Retail Director.

Roger Griggs brings considerable experience with him to NETE, having spent over thirty years within the tyre industry, twenty-seven of which have been with Continental. Between 1993 and 2000, Roger was Sales Director UK/Eire before he was asked to spearhead Continental’s successful development with Europe’s largest independent tyre retailer, ‘Kwik Fit’.

10th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Wins 2-Year Dawsongroup Contract

Dawsongroup plc has awarded Bridgestone UK a new two-year tyre contract that runs until January 2010. Under the arrangement Bridgestone UK will supply OE, new replacement and retreaded truck tyres. Greg Ward, Bridgestone UK Commercial Director, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this contract. Over the last 12 months we have worked very hard to understand every aspect of their business and fleet requirements. We can build on this foundation and further develop our relationship with the Dawsongroup plc.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors