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.
Plans to offer practical driving tests from branches of Halfords have been given the go ahead by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.
Driving tests will be available from the Halfords store in Wellingborough from Tuesday 5 February. Other branches of Halfords across the country are expected to start offering tests in coming months. All tests will be conducted by Driving Standards Agency (DSA) examiners.
According to US media reports, Bridgestone Americas intends to increase production of giant mining tyres. Bloomington, Illinois-based newspaper the Pantagraph writes that the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations factory in the jauntily-named town of Normal will benefit from two expansion projects; these will increase production by around 30 per cent and increase the factory’s workforce by more than 80 employees.
After four years as president of Kumho Tire North America, J.B. Kim is to return to Korea and head up the company’s original equipment sales division and Korean market replacement sales division. The position left vacant by Kim in the US will be filled by Hai Eok "Harry" Choi.
Catalan rally ace, Xavi Foj, and the Race2Recovery team are just days away from embarking on what is arguably motorsport’s most gruelling challenge – the Dakar Rally – on Cooper 4×4 tyres.
Following a three-year independent audit, ATS Euromaster has been granted ISO 9001: 2008 status. Obtaining the quality management systems accreditation involved an audit by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) on more than 100 ATS Euromaster outlets and across the company’s head office. The fast fit company says the audit “evaluated everything from senior management strategy planning to implementation of the plans in centres and head office departments.” It also assessed the subsequent impact on a cross-section of customers.
Toyo Tires has secured its first original equipment deal with Mitsubishi in the United States, and the manufacturer says this initial agreement involves the supply of tyres to the most popular Mitsubishi sold in that particular market. Models of the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport crossover sold with 18-inch aluminium wheels will be fitted with Toyo’s A24 in size 225/55R18.
After 38 years with the company, the executive director of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations’ motorsports activities will retire next year. At present no successor has been named.
A US man has aptly demonstrated why tyres, firearms and alcohol don’t make the most congenial bedfellows. Oregon-based publication the Statesman Journal reports the story of Brandon Butler, who late on the evening of 14 December inspected a set of tyres being sold by an acquaintance, Anthony Catullo. According to the Statesman Journal, rather than offering cash for the tyres, Butler suggested a barter arrangement.
On 14 December Bridgestone Americas gave word of its recent appointment of a new head of Human Resources. Darrin Rohr was appointed to the role of chief human resource officer, effective 26 November. He succeeds Patti James in this position; James now serves as Bridgestone America’s president of Shared Services, a post she accepted earlier this year.
This year’s Kumho Tire USA dealer meeting took place between 7 and 10 December, and Tire Review reports that while the tyre maker’s management acknowledged next year will likely be similar to 2012 – in other words, a challenging year for dealers and for the industry in general – the company focused on what its dealers can look forward to.
Titan International’s Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of US$.005 (one half cent) per common share for the fourth quarter of 2012. The cash dividend is payable 15 January 2013 to stockholders of record on 31 December 2012.
The Retread Tire Association reports a membership list approaching the 300 mark. The US-based retreading association has announced the addition of a number of new members, including Chilean retreading association Asociación De Renovadores Y Recauchadores De Neumáticos De Chile, Malaysian companies Eversafe Rubber Works, P Tread 1 Rubber Company and Sun Rubber Industry, plus – closer to home – Illinois-based firm Salem Tire Center. According to the RTA, the association has also gained several other new members, however they have opted to remain anonymous.
Barely a month has passed since the Hankook Masters Programme was launched in our part of the world, and Hankook Tyre UK reports having four outlets on board, the most recent sign-up being Corby Tyres. The tyre maker has big plans for Hankook Masters, and foresees a network exceeding 100 outlets in the UK within three years.
Falken Tyre Europe reports that its Sincera SN831A Ecorun, which is already supplied as original equipment for the Volkswagen Up!, has now been chosen by the Volkswagen Group for fitment on the Seat Mii. As is the case for the Up!, the small Seat will receive the Sincera SN831A in size 165/70R14 81T.
Directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have declared a quarterly dividend of 73.44 cents per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock. The dividend is payable 1 January 2013 to shareholders of record on 14 December 2012. The payout represents an annual rate of US$2.9375 per share.
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