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.
Eibach may be most commonly associated with springs, but the firm also offers a range of alignment components. Eibach’s alignment products cover a wide portfolio of vehicle types and the range encompasses almost every type of adjustment. From simple shims and camber bolts through to fully adjustable top mounts and suspension arms.
On 28 February Goodyear Tire & Rubber called for the redemption on 29 March 2012 of all its outstanding US$650 million 10.5 per cent senior unsecured notes due 2016. The redemption price will be 107.875 per cent of the principal amount being redeemed on the date of redemption, plus the interest payment amount scheduled for 15 May 2012 (less accrued and unpaid interest to 29 March 2012), computed using a discount rate equal to the yield of a comparable US Treasury security plus 0.50 per cent. In addition, holders will receive accrued and unpaid interest to 29 March 2012.
Florida, US-based wholesaler Tire Group International has appointed Brett Romberg its new territory manager for Canada. TGI says Romberg’s new role can be viewed as part of the company’s development goals for the North American market. According to the wholesaler, Romberg has worked in varying industries and brings a significant amount of Canada-based commercial experience with him to this new role. “Brett is a welcomed addition to our ‘TGI family’ and his experience and skill set will help solidify our position in this market,” commented Orlando Delgado, senior vice-president of Sales and Marketing.
Tyre manufacturer, Falken has unveiled its 2012 Porsche 997 RSR livery for the American Le Mans Series ahead of its second Sebring test on 28 and 29 February. Bryan Sellers will share the new for 2012 car with Wolf Henzler in the ALMS season opener at the Florida venue on 17 March.
A recall of more than 40,000 Goodyear tyres has been announced in the US. The tyre maker has issued a recall for products within its Wrangler Silent Armor range, claiming the tyres may “experience a partial tread separation under certain severe usage conditions.” The tyres in question were built between weeks 9 and 22 of 2009, or 31 March to 31 May. The affected sizes are LT235/80R17 LRE, LT325/60R18 LRE, LT275/70R18 LRE, LT265/70R17 LRE, LT245/75R17 LRE and LT285/70R17 LRD.
Michelin is running a web-based competition offering motorcyclists the chance to win a trip worth more than €20,000. The competition runs from 1 March to 30 April 2012. Michelin will also offer cashback to motorcyclists buying one or a pair of its Power Pure, Pilot Road 3, Anakee 2 or Commander II tyres in the next two months. The offer means that riders buying one tyre will be able to claim £10 and those buying a pair will be entitled to claim £25.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries subsidiary, Falken has launched a new all-terrain tyre onto European markets. Available from spring 2012, the Wildpeak WP/AT01 blends off-road operational performance with construction and design features typically reserved for high performance road tyres. The tyre marks a new venture into the European all-terrain tyre market for the Japanese manufacturer; the tyre was previously launched in the USA, where a derivative of the Wildpeak won the 2011 Pikes Peak mixed surface hillclimb.
Canadian Tire Corp has mad four new appointments as it alters its core retail operations, reports Tire Review. All of the appointments are effective on 5 March. Marco Marrone, who joined the company in 2009 as executive vice president and CFO, was promoted to COO of Canadian Tire Retail.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it has commenced a public offering of $700 million aggregate principal amount of 10-year senior notes, subject to market and other customary conditions. The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the company.
Bridgestone is to be the title sponsor of field hockey’s equivalent of cricket’s Indian Premier League, a competition designed to raise the profile of the sport in one of its key markets. The eight-franchise Bridgestone World Series Hockey competition starts on 29 February in Chandigarh, with the home Comets taking on the Bhopal Badshahs. The tournament will be broadcast in India on the Neo Sports network, with international coverage providers still to be announced. In addition to the 150 Indians, players will participate from around the world, including some from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
At this month’s Pneu Expo 2012, Yokohama’s flagship eco tyre the BluEarth-1 was awarded a Pneu Expo Innovations Trophy. Trophies were given for excellence in one of three categories: environmental actions, shop equipment innovations, and service innovations. The Japanese tyre maker was awarded the trophy for environmental actions, recognising the BluEarth-1’s contribution to bettering the environment through improved vehicle fuel economy.
Pirelli has appointed Paolo Ferrari as chairman and chief executive officer of Pirelli’s NAFTA region. He will be tasked with driving the group’s growth and further strengthening its commitment to its US, Canadian and Mexican operations, according to a Pirelli statement. Matteo Battaini will focus on the role of NAFTA region chief operations officer.
The lockout at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay plant in the US state of Ohio has been in effect for almost three months now. And while the tyre maker is keeping quiet about how or even if it plans to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with the United Steelworkers union, the situation is being kept in the public eye by the union. On 15 February the USW announced a joint project with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM). Called “From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for Justice”, the project involves locked out workers from Findlay and a BCTGM represented factory embarking on a road trip from Fargo, North Dakota (where the aforementioned factory is located) to Findlay. The USW says the road trip’s aim is to “focus attention on the most recent wave of greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers and their unions.”
Federal has announced that it will continue its motorsport activities through the supply of the 2012 RACEceiver US Legend Cars series, which runs from 19 February until 6 October. It has previously used its 595 ultra high performance tyre in the series in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. “Federal Tire has a lengthy and rich heritage in the leading motorsport categories across the world; we are proud and excited to enter the new chapter of such a promising partnership with US Legend Cars to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the fun and affordable racing series in which anyone can compete,” commented Taz Yeh, project manager of Federal Motorsports.
Indonesia's government plans to invest US$5.6 billion consolidating 15 state-owned businesses into a large single rubber and palm oil company. The Jakarta Globe reports that the 15 businesses, which last year generated combined sales of some $4.5 billion, will be consolidated under parent company PT Perkebunan Nusantara III. The planned Indonesian merger echoes the plantation merger that occurred in Malaysia in 2008, when the government there combined three state-owned planters to form Sime Darby.
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