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.
After two years and an investment of US$17.3 million, Bridgestone Americas’ core information technology systems are now housed under the one roof. The tyre maker officially rededicated its Akron Data Center yesterday.
A new research and development centre that Continental opened in Silicon Valley yesterday will focus on future mobility solutions such as automated driving, electromobility, connectivity and mobility services. The 6,000-square metre facility in San José, California offers a working environment for up to 300 experts from all parts of the company.
A new research and development laboratory will facilitate Momentive Performance Materials’ testing and development of advanced compounds for the tyre industry. The 1,860-square metre (20,000-square foot) centre is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and has been set up with an investment of US$3.5 million. Momentive says it is “staffed by some of the industry’s foremost tyre researchers.” The silicones and advanced materials specialist intends for the facility to serve as a global hub for the discovery and development of new silane materials that can help tyre makers deliver products with lower rolling resistance, better wet traction and advanced performance.
A new indoor tyre test centre will be built at the Continental proving ground in Texas, USA. Around US$10 million will be invested to give the Uvalde site the capability of conducting indoor tests on all tyres manufactured in Continental’s North and South American plants.
For the sixth consecutive year, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company will sponsor professional baseball teams across the USA. The 2017 season will include sponsorship of ten teams – the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
Just three days after buying Trelleborg’s Czech compounding operation, on 3 April Hexpol announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the business of Valley Processing from Ted Ballou and his family. The acquisition price amounts to approximately US$44 million on a cash and debt free basis. There will also be an additional product transfer fee, which will be paid later.
Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels has named Perry Lease vice president of sales. Lease, who previously served as director of national retail sales, North America Tire Operations for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., will be responsible for driving profitable sales and growing global market share for Mickey Thompson across all segments, including street, strip, racing, off-road and others.
Sumitomo Rubber USA has bought 6.4 acres of brownfield land adjacent to its tyre manufacturing site in Tonawanda. According to the New York State-based Buffalo News, Sumitomo’s new land used to be home to a chemical plant that was destroyed by a fire nearly 30 years ago.
Inspired by the Nitro Circus television phenomenon created by Travis Pastrana, Nitro Circus Live is an action sports show featuring the world’s best athletes in FMX, BMX, skate, base jumping and more, and Yokohama has now become the exclusive tyre of Nitro Circus Live Tour in the United States. The 2017 US Nitro Circus Live Tour kick starts on June 3, and the tyre maker states it has taken on its exclusive tyre role in order to spotlight its Geolandar light truck range.
Although Continental has already announced its exit from football engagements in Europe, its sponsorship of the sport in North America continues. Continental Tire the Americas has extended its agreement with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), Major League Soccer’s (MLS) commercial arm, to continue as an official partner and the official tyre of MLS in the United States and Canada. The multi-year extension to the agreement also gives Continental official sponsor and partner designation and names Continental Tire as the official tyre partner of all 22 MLS clubs.
Delphi and The Parts Alliance have launched a promotion that will allow six garage customers enjoy the road trip of a lifetime along Route 66. The ‘Dream Drive’ promotion will run for two months (from 1 March to the end of April) across The Parts Alliance’s South West branches and through members Allparts, CES, GMF, SC Motor Factors, Dingbro, BBC Superfactors and BMS Superfactors. The promotion is being supported by a website, dreamdriveusa.com.
Following the US International Trade Commission (ITC)’s decision not to place import tariffs on China truck tyres, Chinese officials have welcomed the news. The ITC determination was made on 22 February 2017 on the basis that tyres from China “did not materially injure or threaten to damage the US industry”, and that no anti-dumping or countervailing duties would be imposed on those products.
In a 3-2 vote, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) yesterday determined that the US tyre industry hasn’t been materially injured by imports of truck and bus tyres from China, nor is it threatened by these imports. The US Department of Commerce previously determined that these imported tyres are subsidised and are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
The Carson airship base, which Goodyear opened in 1968 to house members of its blimp fleet, is to receive major upgrades in order to accommodate the arrival of a new-generation Goodyear blimp at the site later this year. At the centre of this upgrade programme is a new hangar, the first in Carson. The inflatable hangar will be built out of 73 miles of partially translucent polyester fabric and will be almost nine-stories tall and longer than a football field.
The list of tyre makers intending to implement price increases in the coming time continues to grow. Two further manufacturers have announced price rises in the North American market: On 1 April, Kumho Tire USA will raise the prices for its car, light commercial and truck tyres by up to eight per cent. Toyo Tires USA is looking to lift prices for its car, light commercial and truck tyres by seven per cent.
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