USA Archives - Page 94 of 268 - Tyrepress

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.

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Alba Diagnostics braking expertise delivered

Scottish braking firm Alba Diagnostics was established in 1991, designing and manufacturing professional garage equipment. Developing from a two-person operation, Alba became the manufacturer of what it says is the world's number one brake fluid tester. The company has recently been talking up the benefits of offering customers free brake fluid checks using the Alba Diagnostics brake fluid tester. This is a boiling point tester; the only approved way to test brake fluid.

1st August 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Fegan Transport switches to Conti after budget dissatisfaction

Irish delivery company Fegan Transport has fitted cheaper tyres to its 25 DAF tractor units and 50-plus trailers for years in a bid to save money, but less than satisfactory returns on the company’s investment led to a rethink. Having moved back to premium tyres from Continental, the company says performance and life expectancy have increased; arguably more beneficial in balancing the books than the experiment with lower-cost rubber. “We’d used Continental tyres before, and then found that some of the Chinese tyres coming onto the market were cheaper, but it took us two years to realise that this wasn’t actually the best way to go. In some cases we’d taken the tyres off the vehicles after just 40,000km, because we found that they weren’t delivering what we expected,” reveals Martin Fegan, owner of Fegan Transport Ltd.

25th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Sumitomo’s second Chinese plant enters service

On 16 July Sumitomo Rubber Industries officially opened its second tyre factory in China. The Sumitomo Rubber (Hunan) Co. Ltd plant, located in the city of Changsha, is set up for the manufacture of passenger car tyres. Production got underway in July and plant capacity will reach 15,000 units a day by the end of next year. Full stage one capacity of 30,000 units a day is expected to be attained by the end of 2015. A total of some US$297 million is being invested in the 550,000 square metre, 100 per cent Sumitomo-owned facility.

25th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

MotoGP to start 2012’s second half in USA

The second half of the 2012 MotoGP begins with the US Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend – the first of two consecutive US rounds. Tyre supplier Bridgestone is anticipating the section known as the Corkscrew, providing rubber to deal with the quick changes of direction and elevation required to complete the stretch successfully. Bridgestone will supply front tyres to provide increased front-end stability, high levels of edge grip for the more demanding sections, and good warm-up performance for a circuit that has one of the lowest average speeds in MotoGP. With seven left-hand turns and only four right-hand turns, the asymmetric rear slicks feature slightly harder rubber on the left shoulder for greater durability, though overall Bridgestone will supply rubber compounds for its rear tyres at the soft end of the spectrum.

24th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli a top Porsche supplier

At a ceremony held earlier this month, Porsche AG honoured its ten best suppliers from last year with a Porsche Supplier Award 2011. On this exclusive list of top suppliers was Pirelli, who was acknowledged in the production material category.

24th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Zafco, Pirelli sign Armstrong brand licensing agreement

Pirelli Tyre SpA and Zafco have signed an agreement that will allow Zafco to use the previously mothballed Armstrong brand under license for five years. The UAE-based company has an understanding with Pirelli that it can acquire the brand from Pirelli within the five years of the licensing agreement, which was signed on 23 April, 2012. Asif Yusufzai, member of Zafco’s board of directors, described the deal as marking a momentous occasion for both Zafco and the Armstrong brand. Zafco said that Armstrong tyres will be manufactured at reputable factories commensurate with its internationally recognised high quality.

23rd July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Navistar recalls Lonestar trucks due to wheel fatigue issue

The US National Highway Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a recall notice from North American truck manufacturer Navistar. According to the company, the problem is that “over time, due to corrosion and fatigue, the wheels may crack, resulting in possible wheel separation from the vehicle.”

23rd July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

No recovery in US tyre demand yet

The latest RMA produced US tyre market shipment figures do not suggest any kind of immediate recovery is on the horizon. According to financial analysts who trawled through the figures, despite the fact that the comparison period wasn’t particularly strong, the market was down 1.5 per cent year-on-year in June. Commercial vehicle tyre shipments saw an even sharper decline (-11 per cent) but this was also described as a tougher comparison.

20th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Certain Michelin truck tyres recalled in the US

Michelin is continuing to recall up to 73,645 truck tyres in North America. This is a continuation of a recall that was first announced 30 April 2012. Originally it was thought that 77,000 tyres were affected. While any of the tyres made on the affected production runs could potentially display the defect only 0.25 per cent has done so at this point.

20th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear blimp chosen for Olympics aerial coverage

The Goodyear blimp will be present over London during the Olympics later this month and in August thanks to Goodyear’s selection as provider of aerial images by the US-based NBC network. Goodyear will lend its aerial presence to NBC Olympics’ coverage of the Olympic Games for the tenth time; the company most recently worked for NBC Olympics during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

20th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Temporary closure for Goodyear plant under discussion

In response to economic conditions, Goodyear Tire & Rubber is considering closing down production at its Fayetteville, US plant for a week in August. Plant spokesman Richard Evans told media that discussions have been held about the possibility of “taking production days out” if the market doesn’t improve. According to Evans, closing down production on certain days would be done to “reduce the inventory level because of a soft market.” Goodyear has not made any official statement regarding a temporary closure at Fayetteville, and it is not known which week the plant may close.

16th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho becomes official partner of GB Taekwondo team

The GB Taekwondo team has begun its final preparations for London 2012, and as the squad limbers up to kick its rivals into next week GB Taekwondo has announced a new partnership with Kumho Tyre UK, a company every bit as Korean as the sport its members practice.

16th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone launches “overhauled” POS materials

Bridgestone has announced an overhaul of its consumer focused point of sale material. The action comes following an “extensive review of all collateral”, Bridgestone said. The manufacturer has also formed an independent focus group of drivers, who Bridgestone says have “helped shape the new look and feel as well as content”. The new product posters and leaflets are designed to “position the product with the relevant audience” instantly, with “a plain English explanation of what the main features of the product are, closing with bullet points summarising the main benefits,” Bridgestone states

13th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli granted approval to build Indonesian factory

According to the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board, or BKPM, Pirelli intends to invest US$126 million in a new tyre factory within the company. Reuters reports Chatib Basri, who was appointed chairman of the Board in June, as saying “we gave approval a few days ago for Pirelli to invest in Indonesia. They want to build a tyre factory."

12th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

New on-/off-road truck radial from Kumho USA

Kumho Tire USA Inc. has released the KMD41 medium truck and bus radial for on- and off-road applications, reports Tire Review. Designed for applications such as refuse, construction and mining and logging, the Kumho KMD41 shows improved traction against the previous offering, and “removes the 55 miles per hour speed restriction of the previous product, increasing the speed certification to 65-miles per hour for normal highway driving,” the tyre-maker said.

11th July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors