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.
AME International, the Florida-based tyre and wheel service equipment/tool provider, has appointed Don Tinker, an industry veteran who will focus on growing the North American market.
Tinker’s past experience has been primarily in the automotive industry, ranging from retail, dealership and individual shops to the automotive aftermarket, where he focused on TPMS, undercar and shop equipment.
An official groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday for the new Continental tyre factory in the USA. The ceremony, attended by federal, state and local governmental officials, marked the beginning of the construction process, which is expected to be completed in 2019.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced its sponsorship of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The company has a long association with American Football, including the Goodyear Blimp’s aerial television coverage, which has run for more than 60 years. The Hall of Fame is located, like Goodyear’s headquarters, in Ohio, where the National Football League was founded. Hundreds of thousands of fans around the world visit the campus in Canton, where a $500 million Hall of Fame village is currently under development.
Local news sources report that Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (YTMV) will lay off 50 workers from its Salem facility over the next few weeks. According to WDBJ7, the Salem plant manager confirmed the layoffs last Friday, and the tyre maker wrote in a statement that that “the positions are being phased out to more effectively streamline YTMV’s current production schedule and inventory capacity.”
Titan International’s Low SideWall, or LSW tyres have been sold to the UK construction sector for the past year, however they are also gaining acceptance amongst agricultural users over in the USA and are prized by many for their reduced soil compaction characteristics, as well as the reduction in road lope and power hop they bring. The Titan LSW agricultural tyres are sold under the Goodyear brand name.
The Proxes R888R road and track tyre, which was launched in the UK at the start of last year, is now available on the other side of The Pond. Toyo Tire U.S.A. has released the Proxes R888R as an evolution of its Proxes R888 and states the tyre will deliver “even faster lap times and better dry handling.” With a tread wear rating of 100 AA A, the Proxes R888R is available in the US in a full range of sizes to fit 13- up to 20-inch diameter wheels, with additional sizes to be released through summer 2017.
Giti Tire is recalling around a quarter of a million tyres in the USA and, in a separate notification, Continental is recalling almost 15,000 tyres.
In addition to its acquisition of Hoosier Racing Tire, Continental AG reports it has taken an approximately 81 per cent shareholding in US fleet management solutions provider Zonar Systems Inc. Upon announcing the share purchase, Continental noted that its involvement in Zonar has the potential to “chart the course of the future of smart fleet management” around the world.
Germany’s Continental AG has acquired US-based tyre specialist Hoosier Racing Tire for an undisclosed sum. The deal to purchase the formerly privately-owned company was completed on 3 October. The acquisition of Hoosier Racing Tire follows seven years of collaboration with Continental, during which time the two companies worked together on various development and motorsport projects.
WAI, the manufacturing, sourcing, and distribution company of rotating electrical, ignition, window regulator, and engine management products, has opened a new corporate headquarters in Miramar, Florida.
Following the successful launch of Hamaton Limited in Europe, the TPMS and valve manufacturer has announced the opening of its new North American headquarters. Hamaton Incorporated will be located in Wixom, Michigan – not far from Detroit, and will open in November 2016.
Global retreading supplier Vipal Rubber was one of 500 exhibitors in the truck fleet sector taking part in the Great American Trucking Show between 25 and 27 August in Dallas, Texas, USA. Representing Vipal were Leonardo Oliveira, Vipal Rubber’s technical and sales representative, and Amaramh Velazquez, Vipal’s sales representative in the Western United States. Vipal introduced tyres retreaded by its customer Panhandle Tire & Rubber, from Amarillo TX with its VT170 ECO and VL130 ECO treads, which focus on wet grip and wear resistance respectively.
DriveRightData, the wheel and tyre data provider, has established a new testing facility based in Fullerton, Los Angeles, which opened in July. According to DriveRight, the majority of the world’s wheel production is shipped via LA, meaning the establishment of a testing facility close to the port is an “ideal location”.
Apollo Tyres is planning to re-enter the US market, following the failed takeover of Cooper a few years ago and group brand Vredestein’s bid to enter the US when it was owned by now-defunct Russia firm Amtel a few years earlier.
While the vast majority of the UK’s tyre production and retreading capacity refers to trucks and a relatively small amount of car tyre retreading still takes place as well as some specialist earthmover retreading, one of the nation’s largest retreaders makes aircraft tyres. Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd or DATL as it is known has demonstrated strong growth in recent years and is majority-owned by private equity. Put the two together and it begs the question – is Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd (DATL) up for sale?
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