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 jury in the US state of Georgia has ordered Michelin North America to pay $16.5 million in a tyre blowout case that killed a 50-year-old Bhutanese immigrant in 2011, reports Tire Review. The man was killed when the rear tyre allegedly suffered a sudden failure, causing the large van to lose control and flip over on I-75 near Macon, Georgia. Two people were killed and 12 more were injured in the single-vehicle accident.
In the USA Goodyear has been named a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer by GI Jobs magazine for the second consecutive year. The listing, drawn from a long list of more than 5,000 companies, recognises the company’s efforts to hire and support veteran employees, with companies selected based on the results of a data-driven survey on veteran-related programs and policies.
Yokohama’s 2013 motorsport season included the novelty of supplying the control tyre for the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 series, which boasted full grids and close competition as a popular stepping stone in single seat racing for aspiring Formula One drivers.
On 6 November, Titan International completed the previously announced redemption of the outstanding US$137,681,000 aggregate principal in its ‘7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2017’. The company redeemed the notes at a price of $1,059.06 for each $1,000 principal amount, or approximately $145.8 million in total, plus approximately $1.1 million of unpaid interest accrued to the redemption date. Titan says it did not incur any early termination penalties in connection with the redemption of the notes beyond the premium reflected in the redemption price, as described above.
US-headquartered OTR tyre specialist Eurotire reports that its OTR radial facility in Drobeta Turnu Severin, Romania has been granted several management systems certifications through IQNet and CISQ/RINA.
Cooper’s Avon brand celebrated 30 years of motorsport by adding a number of new championships to its portfolio, including the Time Attack Series, to which Avon became an official tyre supplier at the start of the year and the F1 Era Superbike Championship – a new series for 2013. Meanwhile, Cooper Tires became a principal partner to the burgeoning FIA European Rallycross Championship and sponsor to rising star Timmy Hansen in his maiden season. Both brands were once again the title sponsors of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Series.
Czech Republic-based firm CODA Development is seeking licensees within the tyre industry for its patented Self Inflating Tire (SIT). The company says it will “immediately offer licenses to interested parties wanting to integrate SIT into their production lines.”
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has selected Goodyear as ‘official tyre’ of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing. Gary Melliere, general manager of Sponsorships at Goodyear North America, describes the partnership between the teams and the tyre maker as “a natural fit for the Goodyear brand and its superior performing tyres”.
Lobbyists are par for the course in US politics, and Goodyear’s senior registered lobbyist Isabel Jasinowski will retire in February 2014. The company has named her successor as head of its Washington, D.C. office as Brian Riley.
At present, Heuver Tyrewholesale is forming a customer support ‘expert team’ for the German speaking markets, and Gert Timmer, who currently manages the company’s agricultural business unit, will take on responsibility for the Bavaria and Austria regions as part of this team. He joins four other experienced customer support professionals in the new German markets team, and will be present with his colleagues at November’s Agritechnica show.
Effective 1 January 2014, Patrick Olney will take on the role of chief operating officer at TRW Automotive Holdings. In his new position, the current president of Volvo Construction Equipment will report directly to TRW Automotive chairman and chief executive officer John Plant. Olney will be based in Michelin, USA, and replaces Steve Lunn, who previously announced his intention to retire effective 28 February 2014.
In the USA, the Hercules Tire & Rubber company has announced the addition of four new 17-inch sizes to its ultra high performance, W-speed rated Raptis WR1 range. The Raptis WR1 combines sleek, modern aesthetics and exceptional steering response with a silica compound and an asymmetric tread design to deliver high-performance character all year round. The new sizes are:
The NBA Global Games’ visit to Taiwan gave tyre manufacturer Kenda the ideal opportunity to meet up with the franchise it sponsors, Houston Rockets, and its star player Jeremy Lin. Kenda officials were invited to a private meet and greet with Lin, who entertained guests by sharing some childhood memories of Taiwan, at Taipei’s Okura Prestige Hotel.
Following BEN’s recent announcement of its plans to create a new residential and retirement ‘village’, the charity was honoured by a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO who laid the foundation stone of the state-of-the-art care centre currently under construction on the site of Lynwood, BEN’s long-standing centre in Sunninghill, Berkshire.
Bridgestone Americas has added a new radial tyre, the V-Steel Super Deep Rock (VSDR), to it portfolio of mining tyre products, Tire Review reports.
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