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Conti Produces One-Off OE Tyres for Concept Cars

Concept vehicles are a main attraction at International Motor Shows, and Continental is working to ensure the tyres gracing a number of these attention grabbers at the Frankfurt show will inspire the imagination. According to Conti, the tyres on these concept cars are an integral part of the look and feel of a vehicle, therefore the company has a specialist team of designers working on eye-catching designs.

The Continental design team’s task is to give standard tyres a unique look to complement the manufacturers’ concept car. This varies depending on the vehicle’s style and audience. Sports car tyres require aggressive tread patterns that give an impression of speed. These also often feature colour to highlight the tread or the tyre sidewalls. For SUVs, the manufacturer expects prominent tread blocks for maximum off-road traction – the smaller the wheel arch and the broader the tyre, the more prominent the sidewall design. If more space is available for the tyre, focusing upon the tread design is a greater priority.

31st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

All-Season Protection

Vredestein believes there is a need and a good future for cold weather tyres in the UK, and is backing up its confidence in this often ignored market with the release of more winter weather products, including the new Quatrac 3 series, which will be launched at the end of September.

The Quatrac 3 can be visually distinguished by its non-directional asymmetric tread, and Vredestein adds that an examination of the tyre’s summer and winter tread profile sections will also reveal a clear distinction between the two. Upon its initial release the new tyre also offer a world first for all-season tyres – run-flat variants. Vredestein will offer two run-flat sizes when it launches the Quatrac 3.

For discerning motorists the new Quatrac 3 is a very attractive choice. As it is an all-season tyre, there is no necessity for the twice annual change between summer and winter tyres. “The Vredestein Quatrac 3 is a first-rate alternative for countries without extreme driving conditions like snow-covered, icy roads or steep hills,” Bert Stellinga, managing director Vredestein UK and Ireland, explained. “In plain or gently sloping areas and in temperate climates, the Quatrac 3 is the all-season tyre of choice. It offers optimum ride and grip characteristics under all circumstances.”

31st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Micheldever Releases First H-Rated 18-inch All Terrain 4×4 Tyres

In line with the company’s UK-focused product development, Micheldever/Southam Tyres have just released a number of new General Tire 4×4 sizes, including what the company describes as the first all-terrain 4×4 tyre in the world capable of H-rated performance with an 18-inch diameter. The new sizes are as follows:

255/60hr18 Grabber AT2 – According to Southam, this is the first all-terrain tyre available in this extremely important size for Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Isuzu Rodeo and Mitsubishi L200. Drivers and end users have “widely requested an upgrade product over the standard road pattern OE fitments,” according to company representatives. The only 18” ‘H’ rated All-Terrain tyre in the world, the 255/600r18 joins its hugely successful 255/55hr18 stablemate.

8th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

WTCC Goes Green in Sweden

In anticipation of the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s switch to the use of bio-ethanol control fuel for 2009, the upcoming round at Anderstorp in Sweden will see a one-off outing in the championship for Volvo, with the Polestar-run, ethanol-powered S60. The car will be driven by Robert Dahlgren, who has already won two rounds of the Swedish Touring Car Championship and will be the first time a car running to the FIA’s Super2000 regulations will use the fuel in the WTCC.

A development programme will take place throughout the 2008 season, the third using Yokohama Advan as control tyres, which have recently been confirmed as control tyres for 2008 and 2009. Every manufacturer, with the support of Yokohama and other sponsors and partners, will help evaluate different fuel options to determine the ideal solution to reduce the fossil-fuel component, before approval by the FIA.

26th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bosal Invests In Russian Plant

Global exhaust and towbar manufacturer, Bosal Group, has acquired a 244,000 square metre site at Kaluga, 180 kilometres southwest of Moscow. The largest Bosal site in the world, the Kaluga investment will feature state-of-the-art production facilities and a supplier logistics hub that will play a major role for the distribution of automotive parts in the Russian market. The Dutch-registered privately held business is one of the first OE suppliers to acquire a site at Kaluga, but OEMs including Volvo and Volkswagen have already committed to the area.

Bosal plans to construct a 153,000 square metre plant in stages, the first phase of which will see a 28,000 square metre facility completed by the end of 2008. The Kaluga site will serve as the central manufacturing and distribution hub for Bosal’s operations in Russia where it also anticipates establishing regional satellite facilities to serve OEM assembly plants.

12th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cevher Group Purchase Remaining Subsidiary Shares

Turkey’s Cevher Dokum Sanayii aluminium foundry was acquired in its entirety on June 19 by sister alloy wheel company Cevher Jant Sanayii, who purchased the 18 per cent minority shareholding in Cevher Dokum held by Teksid S.p.A. The Ozyauz family, owners of Cevher Jant, now has full control over the entire Cevher Group. The Cevher Group of companies, established in 1955, supply OE wheels to a number of carmakers, including Vauxhall, Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and Volvo.

6th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Extends Meteo Range

Marangoni has extended the range of its Meteo HP winter tyres, which already includes 22 different sizes, through the addition of four new tyres developed especially for 4x4s. The tread and internal structure of the new tyre, the Marangoni Meteo HP SUV, has been upgraded to meet the specific needs of 4×4 vehicles. The Meteo HP SUV is initially available in four different sizes, designed for some of the most common 4x4s on the European market.

The range starts with a 215/65 R16 H suitable for vehicles such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan Xtrail, continues with a 215/65 R16 H XL for the Nissan Xtrail, Suzuki Vitara, Land Rover Freelander and Honda CRV, a 235/65 R17 V XL for the BMW X5, Jeep Cherokee, Mercedes ML, VW Touareg and Volvo XC 90, and finally ends with a 255/55 R18 V XL for the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Range Rover. As well as the new SUV tyres, the Meteo HP range also includes a 195/55 R16 winter tyre for compact and medium-sized cars such as the BMW Series 1, Fiat Grande Punto, Ford Focus, Mercedes Class A and Mini One and Cooper.

2nd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ford Looks to Unload Euro Marques

(Akron/Tire Review) While the company is not commenting, Ford Motor Co. is actively seeking a buyer for its European luxury vehicle group, which includes Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar. Ford has reportedly retained two major financial firms to arrange the sale, and wants to move quickly to move the brands.

It is unclear if Ford wants to sell the three fabled marques as a group or is willing to part with them individually. Ford lost some $13 billion last year and is looking for ways to trim costs. Its Premier Automotive Group, which managed the brands worldwide, lost $2.32 billion last year.

13th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Scottish Haulier Opts for Michelin XDN2 Grip

Lanarkshire-based long distance haulier R Taylor & Sons (Transport) Ltd has fitted Michelin XDN2 Grip tyres onto the drive axle of a 6×2 Volvo FH tractor unit in its fleet. According to a company statement, the fitment has resulted in improved grip.

“The driver finds the Michelin XDN2 Grip tyres to be really beneficial,” says Stuart Coke, Director of R Taylor & Sons. “The entrance to our depot is on a slope, and in the wet weather, the drive axle tyres can spin when pulling away. With the XDN2 Grip tyres fitted, this problem seems to have been eradicated.

“Based on the performance of the tyres over the first 50,000 km, we’ve decided to specify our next two Volvo tractor units with the same Michelin tyres as original equipment,” adds Mr Coke.

7th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Steps Out With New Luxury Line

(Akron/Tire Review) Turning to the upscale luxury market, Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. has launched its new Versado line of luxury high performance tyres. The first in the new line – the Versado LX – was formally rolled out to select trade and consumer media during a special program last week in San Diego.

Toyo said the new Versado LX “provides a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride, while delivering the performance, quality and all-season capabilities expected from Toyo.” The Versado LX was developed as a direct OE replacement, said Toyo, and will initially be available in 43 sizes covering 15- to 18-inch sizes and 70- to 45-series aspect ratios.

4th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Volvo to Offer Goodyear Self-Repair Tyres

Volvo is set to become the first truck manufacturer in Europe to fit self-repairing tyres to its products after the company entered into a supply deal with Goodyear. The deal will see tyres using Goodyear’s Duraseal become an option on the Volvo range.

The innovative design feature behind Duraseal is an extra-soft layer of rubber – a sealing layer. This sealing layer is inserted between the tread and the belted layer, and in the event of a puncture, the elastic, jelly-like material immediately plugs and seals the hole and retains the tyre’s air pressure. The tyre can seal holes up to 6 mm in diameter. The repair is permanent and the truck does not need to be withdrawn from traffic. It can continue to be used until the next scheduled service, which is highly beneficial in terms of productivity. Furthermore, major repairs involving vulcanisation of the tread layer do not damage the sealing layer.

23rd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Primacy Hits the OE Teens

Michelin has disclosed that, in the year following its introduction, its Primacy high performance tyre has been approved as OE on no less than 13 new cars. These OE agreements cover everything from saloons to minivans to sports coupes, and every vehicle category in the 2007 car market features at least one model equipped with the tyre.

The Michelin Primacy HP is fitted as original equipment on the Audi A3, A4 and TT, the Citroën Picasso, the Ford Mondeo and Galaxy, the Kia Cee’d and Opirus, the Lexus GS, the Peugeot 607, the Renault Laguna, the Toyota Auris and the Volvo S80.

The tyre has received a fair amount of press due to the claim it provides at least 25 per cent longer tread life than any competitor in the same premium range, according to the findings of a test conducted in the third quarter of 2005 by German technical services firm TÜV SÜD Automotive.

16th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheel Loss Safety Campaign to be Launched at CV Show

Disc-Lock Europe, maker and European distributor of the award-winning Disc-Lock Safety Wheel Nut will launch its new campaign, Think Safe, Think Disc-Lock! at the CV Show 2007. The firm says this highlights the fact that truckers think wheel loss is the leading vehicle safety issue while truck makers continue to ignore their concerns. Demonstrations on the Disc-Lock stand will show how a standard two-piece Daf, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Scania or Volvo wheel nut can be shaken loose in less than one minute on a Junker vibration test machine, while the Disc-Lock Safety Wheel Nut remains secure. According to reports, the firm hopes this will draw attention to truck makers apparent lack of concern.

29th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Owner Driver Sees Benefit of Regrooving

An owner driver with a 610 hp Volvo 6×2 tractor unit says he has experienced the benefits of regrooving his Michelin tyres at first hand by recording the changes in fuel economy via his on-board fuel monitoring system. Tom Hobbs, who lives near Bath, saw his fuel consumption decrease from 6.5mpg to 6mpg overnight, having switched from regrooved Michelin tyres to a set of brand new tyres.

15th February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Quayside Frozen Foods Ltd Choose Michelin High Grip Fitment

Newcastle-based Quayside Frozen Foods Ltd has started fitting Michelin XFN2 Anti-Splash tyres onto the steer axles of its 26 tonne Volvo FM9s and reports that the company has noticed a significant increase in grip whilst driving in wet and slushy conditions.

Incorporating elements of Michelin’s Durable Technologies, the XFN2 Anti-Splash features patented three-dimensional double wave sipes which makes the tread block more rigid, thereby helping combine enhanced tread wear with excellent on-road grip. This tyre also features an anti-splash deflector which dramatically reduces the projection of water when the truck is driven on wet roads.

14th February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors