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.
A settlement has been reached between Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and Houston-based TreadWright and TreadWright Tires regarding the alleged infringement of Bridgestone’s licensed design patent rights.
Continental Tire the Americas has recalled close to 6,000 ProContact GX SSR MOE tyres, size 225/45R18 95H XL that were manufactured between 22 June and 28 July 2014. The tyres, which were supplied to Daimler as an original equipment fitment on 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles in North America, may have been deformed during the curing process, and this could cause the tyre tread to appear distorted when inflated. Continental notes that tyres that were deformed during the curing process may suddenly fail during use, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kiswire, Inc. is continuing the expansion of its South Carolina, USA tyre cored factory with the investment of $30 million, a figure which is to expected to create 45 new jobs. Once the expansion is completed, Kiswire, Inc. will employ approximately 200 at its two Newberry, South Carolina facilities. The latest move represents the second […]
It is believed that up to 175,000 Toyo and Nitto brand tyres are subject to a recall notice issued in the USA. The recalls, respectively announced by Nitto Tire USA and Toyo Tire USA on 25 and 26 November, cover particular tyre models produced at Toyo’s Sendai and Kuwana factories in Japan. The tyre are being recalled as “production variances in the belt package” have been detected in a small number of tyres, and this has the potential to lead to a separation of the tread and belt and/or a loss of inflation pressure.
Pirelli has appointed Pierluigi Dinelli as chairman and CEO of Pirelli’s NAFTA region as of January 2015. Dinelli joins the NAFTA team from Pirelli’s headquarters in Italy, where he has held the role of CEO for Pirelli Italia. He brings international experience to the position having held senior positions at Brembo as chief marketing officer and former marketing director at Pirelli’s NAFTA headquarters in Rome, Georgia.
When you add the standard preliminary countervailing charge of 15.69 per cent to the predicted anti-dumping tariff of between 25 and 35 per cent, it means we are looking a total potential tariff load in the region o 40 to 50 per cent. Writing in an investor’s note published immediately after the Department of Commerce announcement, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst Robert Higginbotham certainly suggested as much: “We believe in the middle to upper end of expectations. Countervailing typically the smaller of the two pieces (the other being antidumping); today’s decision [24 November] implies a total tariff in the range of 45-50 per cent.
Following the news that the US Department of Commerce (DoC) had set the preliminary countervailing duty for Chinese consumer tyres, market analysts have begun estimating what they think the outcome of final determinations will be when they are announced on 6 April 2015. Preliminary details of anti-dumping duties are expected in January 2015. Writing in […]
The US Commerce Department (USDOC) has moved to impose import tariffs on tyres manufactured in China and imported into the US. The USDOC has also agreed to initiate work on an additional nine subsidy programs identified by the USW. The preliminary finding suggested that Chinese-made tyres in this category are unfairly subsidized and should be subject to countervailing duties of 17.7 per cent and 81.3 per cent. The precise percentage depends on the manufacturer in question, but the standard rate is reportedly 15.69 per cent. This is the second round of passenger vehicle and light truck duties since the millennium. The first round ran from 2009 to 2011 and ranged from 35 to 25 per cent.
As reported yesterday, Michelin has officially opened its new Tweel factory in the US. The plant produces the airless tyre and wheel combination for off-road commercial applications, and at the inauguration the chairman and president of Michelin North America addressed recent speculation regarding the extension of Tweel technology to passenger cars.
Michelin’s Tweel factory has opened in Piedmont, South Carolina, USA, manufacturing airless tyres for commercial applications. From Piedmont, Michelin will boost output of its X Tweel SSL skid-steer tyres and begin production of the new X Tweel Turf as original equipment for John Deere’s Ztrak 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers. The 135,000sqft facility is Michelin’s 10th in the state, and 16th in the US. The company said it would invest about $50 million in the new plant.
US-based vintage tyre manufacturer Coker Tire shares that company founder Harold Coker died on 16 November, aged 84.
We’ve heard surprisingly little about Michelin’s Tweel in the decade since the airless tyre and wheel combination debuted at the Paris Motor Show 2004. After eight further years of development, the Tweel made its commercial debut in 2012, and Michelin recently announced the first original equipment Tweel deal, with John Deere. But while the Tweel has maintained a low profile, Michelin clearly has confidence in the product’s future, and on 20 November is opening a plant in the US that will be dedicated to Tweel production. The tyre maker hasn’t yet disclosed how much it has invested in the new Tweel facility in Piedmont, South Carolina, or the plant’s production capacity.
North America’s largest manufacturer of aluminium car and truck rims, Superior Industries International, slid into the red in the third quarter of the 2014 financial year. The company reports a net loss of US$2.4 million due to quarter expenses of $6.9 million, which were largely associated with the upcoming closure of Superior’s factory in Rogers, Arkansas. Net sales for the third quarter decreased eight per cent to $176.4 million. Third quarter unit shipments fell 11 per cent from the corresponding prior year period to 2.6 million units versus 2.9 million units in 2013.
US agency the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will convene a symposium next month to highlight the important role tyres play in overall vehicle safety. The event will take place in Washington D.C. on 9 and 10 December and be chaired by NTSB board member Earl Weener. Invited subject matter experts will present on such safety issues as vehicle handling and dynamics after tyre disablement, the identification and analysis of tyre disablement-related crashes, tyre registration and recall, tyre aging and service life, recent advances in tyre technology, tyre maintenance, and consumer awareness. Presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer period to allow NTSB staff to follow up on points made during the presentations and take other tyre safety topics into consideration.
Reports published yesterday on Bridgestone Americas’ upcoming move to a new headquarters have been confirmed by the tyre maker. In a statement, the Bridgestone subsidiary said it will move its headquarters to downtown Nashville following the completion of its new facility in mid-to-late 2017. The new headquarters will house more than 1,700 employees – 1,100 currently based in Nashville and 600 more jobs from three out-of state business units that are being relocated to the city.
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