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.
Goodyear’s plant at Danville in the USA recently produced its one millionth Unisteel G395 LHS medium-truck steer tyre. Now in its third year, the G395 LHS reached this milestone four years faster than its predecessor, the G397. The G395 LHS has turned out to be Goodyear’s most successful steer tyre ever.
The company that brought us the Solio solar power iPod Charger has now turner its hands to tyres. Tread is a new line of digital accessories cases that are handcrafted handcrafted from discarded Columbian truck tyres and redesigned into fashionable rubber iPod and Solio cases. There is also a sleeve available for a Powerbook G4 or MacBook Pro. No-one knows why the company chose to source their tyres from Colombia, but the technology is citing the case’s water-stopping capabilities and overall durability as a strong selling points.
Goodyear Dunlop Europe has named Mark Brickhill as general manager of its UK operation, based in TyreFort, Birmingham. Brickhill will report to Arthur de Bok, President of Goodyear Dunlop Europe with the appointment taking effect on 1 June. Brickhill replaces Dick Johnson who is retiring after 41 years’ service, the past two as UK general manager.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG’s ContiProContact has been selected as OE on daimlerChryslers new Dodge brand police-pursuit vehicles, the 2006 Dodge Charger and Magnum. The all-season performance tyre will appear on the vehicles in size P225/60R18 (99V), said Conti.
Viking International is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Walsby as Business Development Director for division three covering the South. Jim has been with Viking for 10 years in various sales and operations roles before securing his current position where he will be focussing on building and maintaining customer relationships in the Desborough area.
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has selected its team of drifters for the Need for Speed Formula Drift (Formula D) drifting series. Casper ”Da Ghost” Canul and Matt Vassallo and Rob Fleming from Team Enjuku will lead the drifting team. Cooper will supply the drivers with Cooper Zeon 2XS, Zeon ZPT and Zeon Sport A/S tires.
Trelleborg has completed the sale of US subsidiary, Goodall Rubber Co. Goodall, which sells and distributes industrial supplies, primarily hoses and hose connectors, in the US and Canada, has slightly more than 400 employees and generated sales of approximately SEK 650 M in 2005.
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire USA Corp. will provide the official tyre “The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.” The blockbuster movie, “The Fast and The Furious,” and its sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” created a new awareness of the automotive aftermarket, according to Toyo.
Bridgestone Corp. reported first quarter 2006 sales of 704.7 billion yen, up 16.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2005, resulting in a 4 per cent bump in quarterly net profits to $239 million.
The company said that strong global sales helped offset heavy increases in raw material costs. Bridgestone said its tyre sales in Japan rose 10 per cent for the quarter, while sales in the US increased 25 per cent, and sales in Europe increased 13 per cent. Sales elsewhere jumped 37 per cent, Bridgestone said.
US company Titan’s first quarter financial results show that the company achieved a 34 per cent increase in net sales. First quarter 2006 net sales were $182.6 million, compared to $136.1 million in first quarter 2005. Gross profit increased by 29 percent, or $7.0 million. First quarter 2006 gross profit was $31.1 million ($24.1 million Q1 2005).
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) has announced a tire price increase, effective July 1. CTNA will boost prices on all of its replacement passenger and light truck/SUV lines by up to five per cent, with the precise increase varying by line and size. The increase covers all Continental, General and private brand tyres and CTNA said the increase will impact all replacement channels.
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Discoverer tyres played a prominent role in a recent airing of The Learning Channel’s “Overhaulin’” car makeover show. The tyres were installed on a 1968 Ford Bronco remodeled by automotive designer Chip Foose on the “Photo Shoot Fiasco” episode of the show.
Seven years on – and what a lucky seven it has been for the businesses that became Powerflow Exhausts agents during that time. According to the company behind the exhausts, the custom build exhaust system has proved a real winner in terms of profitability and is “consistently praised by agents as the product that always makes the balance sheet look great!”
“There is no secret to this success,” say powerflow representatives: “it is the same old recipe – expertise gained from long experience; superb product quality; untiring after sales service.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Paul Gaines has been named CEO of Solideal Tire Inc. USA, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based industrial and specialty tyremaker. Gaines had been managing director of Trelleborg Wheel Systems. Gaines succeeds Baldwin Hickey and Thom Harris, who have served as co-CEOs. They were assigned to other executive positions within the company, Solideal said.
At High Tide the only way you can get to Burgh Island off the South Devon Coast is by boarding its unique Sea Tractor. The owners of the Island recently decided to refurbish this special vehicle and commissioned Double S Exhausts to design a salt-spray friendly stainless steel exhaust system out of Grade 316 marine quality material.
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