Across the Atlantic they are called tires, while over here we use a “Y” and say tyres. This tag provides the latest tyre business news emanating from the United States of America (USA), whichever way you spell it.
Local TV stations in the US (namely WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky), is reporting that the now closed Goodyear plant in Union City., Tennessee, may open up again soon. Tire Review reports that rumours are flowing through the community that a "major company" is looking at the plant with an eye toward potentially buying, modifying and reopening the facility.
The SEMA show has come to an end, and point S Development states the exhibition, where managing director Jürgen Benz and Independent Tire Dealer Group (ITDG) CEO Michael Cox signed a master franchise contract for the USA, more than met the company’s expectations. Commenting on the show, Fabien Bouquet, international operations director at point S Development, shared: “Our presence at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, an important US exhibition, was a complete success.
Halfords Autocentres proposed the relocation of its Head Office from Olton to the Halfords Group Head Office site in Redditch. The proposed move would see Halfords Autocentres Head Office staff join their Halfords Retail colleagues in Spring, 2012. It is anticipated that the majority of existing Autocentres Head Office staff will transfer to Redditch.
In the US the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of certain Shandong Yongtai tyres. The recall relates to size LT265/75R16 and LT235/85R16 Negotiator Commercial H/T tyres manufactured between April 2009 and May 2011. According to the NHTSA, some of these Shandong Yongtai tyres have experienced blistering or bubbles on the tyre’s sidewall, which under extended use could lead to a loss of tyre pressure.
Groundbreaking for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations' new 1.5 million-square-foot (140,000 square metre) large and ultra-large radial manufacturing facility has taken place at the greenfield site the company selected in Aiken County, South Carolina. The tyre maker also announced further information regarding the start-up team that will take the helm in overseeing construction and hiring efforts. The core team is as follows:
Bridgestone travels to Valencia for this MotoGP season’s final round, which the tyre supplier says will be run in tribute to Marco Simoncelli, whose death in Malaysia last week devastated those involved in the series. Hiroshi Yamada, manager at Bridgestone’s Motorsport Department said: “It is with heavy hearts that we travel to Valencia this week for the final round of the season, but that we continue racing is in itself a fitting tribute to Marco. He never gave up, so nor shall we.
Point S and Independent Tire Dealers Group, a US-based organisation that represents more than 350 independent tyre and automotive service locations across 27 states, have announced they will make a “special announcement of global proportions” at the SEMA show in Las Vegas tomorrow. No further details regarding the announcement’s content have been made public, yet tomorrow’s statement should finally shed light on comments made by Point S Development director Jürgen Benz in April; at the time, Benz reported plans for the France-based operation to hold concrete negotiations with potential network partners in the US, and he stated he was “firmly convinced that the first Point S flags will soon flutter in North America.”
Amongst the exhibits at the upcoming Agritechnica show in Hanover, Germany will be the largest agricultural radial ever produced. This behemoth of the farm is Firestone’s new DT23 in size IF850/75R42. Manufactured by Firestone in the USA, the giant DT23 is designed for the latest generation of 500 plus horsepower heavy tractors. With an overall diameter of 2.32 metres, the DT23 has an 850/75 section/aspect ratio and rim size of 42 inches (107 centimetres). It weighs 510 kilograms and has a load capacity of 9.5 tons at speeds of up to 50 km/h when inflated at 1.6 bar.
Kumho Tire USA has issued the 99th individual tyre price hike in the US and Canada this year, planning to raise prices by up to 8 per cent on its passenger, light truck/SUV and medium truck radials tyres, reports Tire Review.
Toyo Tire USA has announced its fourth vehicle to be displayed at its booth at the 2011 SEMA Show: Le Monstre, a one-of-a-kind 2012 CTS-V Coupe from renowned Cadillac tuner, The D3 Group. The car will roll on 275/30ZR20 and 345/25ZR20 Toyo Proxes T1R UHP summer tyres. It will compete in time attack events during the 2012 road racing season.
Tire Group International has announced its appointment of Osvaldo Marchante as vice-president of business development. Marchante has more than 25 years of extensive automotive and on/off highway industry experience with multinationals. He was most recently the president and CEO of Detroit Diesel-Allison (Florida), overseeing eight full service facilities and a network of multiple dealers, customers and OEM’s throughout Florida.
Bridgestone Americas has clarified that its capacity expansion plans in the USA will not include increased aircraft tyre manufacturing facilities, contrary to reports published on Bloomberg last week. The misunderstanding was a result of the inclusion of aircraft radials in the company’s portfolio of strategic products, published in the corporation’s mid-term management plan on 21 October.
Nationwide Accident Repair Services has opened a new Nationwide Fast Fit Plus centre in Redruth, Cornwall. It follows the company’s two Fast Fit Plus pilot centres in Kettering and Leicester. Fast Fit Plus centres offer tyres, MOTs, servicing and all other traditional fast fit options alongside the automotive body and glass repairs for which Nationwide says it is the UK’s market leader.
Hercules Tire & Rubber Co has introduced its Ironman tyre brand for OTR and agricultural applications, reports Tire Review. The new line conforms to European REACH standards, and is now available worldwide.
Klarius Group has appointed Heloisa Monzani as commercial Ddrector for Quinton Hazell España to help ensure the company’s ambitious plans are realised for the automotive aftermarket. With a wealth of commercial insight drawn from management roles working with major international companies and over 12 years management experience in the European automotive aftermarket, Ms Monzani is now a key member of the international management team and has been given the explicit task of driving a highly customer focussed growth strategy in the Iberian region.
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.
