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Formula One Drivers Show Support for ‘Make Cars Green’ Campaign

Bridgestone Corporation says it will this year, as a global partner of the Fédération International de L’Automobile (FIA), continue its support and promotion of the global ‘Make Cars Green’ campaign. This announcement follows the first event of the 2009 Formula One season, the Australian Grand Prix, at which Bridgestone says the Formula One drivers showed their unanimous support for the campaign.

The Make Cars Green campaign aims to reduce the effect of cars on the environment by informing drivers of how to drive in a more environmentally friendly way. In partnership with automobile associations in countries worldwide, Bridgestone Corporation and the Bridgestone Group are calling on drivers to observe the “10 points for greener motoring”.

30th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Protyre Urges Caravanners to Be Tyre Aware

Much has been said about the British making the most of their newly enfeebled pound by taking their holidays at home, and this means….gulp….that many of the approximately two million caravan owners nationwide may consider hitting the road this Easter. Many of these owners will set off without having carried out basic safety checks to ensure a trouble free break, says Protyre, the UK’s leading independent tyre dealer network.

27th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Web Site Set by Toyo

Toyo Tire USA has launched an all-new Web site – www.toyotires.com. Calling the move the “biggest facelift to date for the company’s online presence,” the revamped website is more user friendly and more complete than the previous version, Toyo stated.

The site features new graphics, more detailed information on Toyo tire products, a tyre finder feature to allow consumers to select the right tyre for their needs (either OE sizing or plus sizing), inflation pressure data for thousands of vehicles, and a comprehensive dealer locator service.

To encourage sharing of information on the website, a brand new “share this” feature is located on every page. Using it, a person can easily post a link back to a page on sites such as Facebook, Digg, Redditt, MySpace and Twitter. They can also share the link in an email, Toyo said. (Tire Review/Akron)

26th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Releases Lighter, Brighter Wheel

Like your wheels bright? Then look no further…In March Alcoa announced that its Commercial Vehicle Wheels business has launched a new line of forged wheels that employ a new proprietary process. This process, says Alcoa, delivers not only the industry’s lightest forged aluminium wheel and even greater strength; it provides a finish on both sides that is six times brighter than any wheel in its class.

25th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Power One Delivers Road and Race Performance

Technology developed through Michelin’s participation in motorcycle racing has been integrated into its new Power One range, reports the French manufacturer, resulting in a line-up of hypersport tyres that are – depending on the variant chosen – fine-tuned for road, track day or dedicated racing use.

Every component of the Power One, from architecture to tread design, represents the state-of-the-art in high-performance motorcycle tyres, comments Michelin. The range, recently introduced at a worldwide press launch at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve racetrack near Portimão in Portugal’s Algarve region, is available in two key sub-categories in order to enable riders to select a tyre most suited to his riding style, motorcycle and intended use.

24th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

10% of UK Motorists Driving on Illegal Tyres – Conti Survey

According to a survey conducted by Continental, more than 3.5 million UK motorists are driving on illegal tyres. The survey of 4,000 drivers showed one in ten to have tyres below the legal 1.6mm minimum tread depth – and 70 per cent of drivers are unaware that 1.6mm is indeed the minimum depth permitted.

Two thirds of women, the Conti survey noted, rely upon their partner to check the safety of their vehicle’s tyres. This probably isn’t a sterling idea, given that four out of ten motorists never actually check their tyre pressure and a third can’t actually change a wheel.

24th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Shopper, Kwik-Fit Receive Top 10 Website Recognition

Leading tyre retail websites tyre-shopper.co.uk and kwik-fit.com have been rated as amongst the top 10 automotive shopping and classified websites in the UK. In the research kwik-fit.com came fifth, while tyre-shopper was ranked in ninth place. However it is also interesting to note that the success of first placed ebaymotors.co.uk and sixth-placed 247spares.co.uk, which both sell tyres, means 40 per cent of the UK’s leading websites in this category are also online tyre distribution channels.

The survey was carried out by Experian research company Hitwise, which monitored 8.43 million UK Internet users and how they interact with more than 1 million websites, across more than 165 different industries. The ranking didn’t include details of the relative performance of alternative leading tyre retail websites such as blackcircles.com, mytyres.co.uk or bestbuytyres.co.uk.

24th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental to Close Hanover and Clairoix Tyre Plants

Continental AG has opted to end production at its Hanover, Germany (truck tyre) and Clairoix (passenger car) production plants. Some 1900 employees at the two plants will be affected (780 in Hanover and 1120 in Clairoix). Truck tyre production at the company’s Puchov, Slovakia, (Continental Matador Rubber) will also be cut by 20 per cent.

Describing the current OE and replacement market trends as “steadfastly dire” a Continental statement explained that the company is basing the production cuts on the prediction that the market will not recover enough in the short or medium-term future to utilise existing production levels. Officials explained that the lack of demand has resulted in overcapacities of 15 million passenger and 1.7 million commercial vehicle tyres. The planned cuts focus on the Hanover and Clairoix plants, the statement added.

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Half of All Britons Unable to Change Tyres

The population of Britain is in danger of losing skills that have long been considered vital, including sewing, DIY and changing a tyre, according to a poll conducted by the website Ask.com.

The survey says that, while particularly under-30 year olds are acquiring essential abilities such as setting up a profile on Facebook more easily than previous generations, that age demographic is also the one least likely to be able to change its cars’ rubber. The problem is not merely confined to the younger generation; only just under half of all Britons would struggle to change the tyre on a pushbike, let alone a motorised vehicle. Though the survey revealed that illegally downloading films and music would represent a comparatively small challenge for many, it did not go into how many know the correct method for sitting on a toilet seat.

10th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Beta Tools Website

The latest Beta Tools web site (www.Beta-tools.co.uk) is designed to offer easy access to detailed product and tooling information, technical data and general assistance, according to company literature. Features include pdf downloads of all current promotional literature including the 2009 “Actions” catalogue, plus a state-of-the-art on line brochure.

10th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Blackcircles.com Opens Dutch Web Shop

British e-Tailer Blackcircles.com has thrown its hat into the ring in The Netherlands, seeking to do battle with competitors who, managing director Mike Welch says, “are growing on the back of offering customers an inferior deal.” Autobandenshop.com will offer Dutch motorists access to all the major tyre brands carried by the British website.

Welch continues, “One of the core guiding principles of Blackcircles.com is that there should be no barriers to tyre safety and we are delighted to be helping Dutch motorists to stay safe on the road. Our aim in Holland is to set a new standard for low cost tyres combined with high quality service.”

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Wants to Close French PCR Tyre Facility – News Report

According to media reports in France, Continental Tyre intends to close one of the two facilities it operates in that country. Quoting union sources, radio station Europe 1 said that some 1,100 jobs will be eliminated if the manufacturer goes ahead with plans to close the Clairoix passenger car tyre factory, located northeast of Paris. Last year the facility produced some seven million tyres, and according to a Deutsche Bank report the plant is considered to be an extremely productive facility – annual production is approximately 6,500 tyres per employee.

2nd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to End Tyre Production at Manresa, Spain Plant

Pirelli Tyre is reportedly ending tyre manufacturing at the company’s Manresa, Spain factory on 31 December 2009. According to a Reuter’s report, the company told union officials it hoped to branch into “other activities,” however further details are not expected until April. According to the report 550 workers employees in Manresa may lose their jobs. Headcount at the plant is said to have fallen from 750 after car demand fell in Spain. The concept of establishing a logistics centre for tyre distribution is reportedly being floated as a factory alternative.

According to the Pirelli website, the Manresa factory (located in the Catalonia region of Spain) opened in 1924 and covers 211,000 square metres. Production at the plant totals 41,900 tonnes of UHP passenger and SUV tyres a year. Total employees were numbered at 1009.

26th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

AutoRussia09 to Explore Russian Auto Outlook

The details of the AutoRussia09 conference for automotive industry executives have been announced. The event will take place on 16 and 17 June at the Astoria Hotel in St Petersburg, and is set to explore the latest developments and the effect of global economic downturn on the automotive industry in Russia.

The events organisers say that, “Despite the difficulties in the automotive industry globally, most OEM projects are continuing to build and grow their production in Russia. GM, Suzuki, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Ford as well as hundreds of T1 and T2 suppliers are moving to the city to set up production facilities and supply this growing market.” With many of the aforementioned OEMs in attendance, the conference promises to present networking opportunities, practical solutions and cutting edge strategies for surviving the economic downturn through a series of interactive seminars; roundtable discussions with key OEMs; a gala dinner; strategic presentations; and chamber of commerce, automotive market and OEM updates.

Interested parties are directed to the www.wbr.co.uk website, where booking details and early registration discounts are available.

18th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Johnson Controls Improves Varta Website

Johnson Controls has made a number of improvements to its Varta website, aimed at making navigation of the site easier for retailers and end users. Greater focus has been placed on the Varta product range, with an easy-to-follow menu and information tools for stockists and motorists. The current marketing campaign theme is also integrated in the website.

A download feature allows retailers to access sales folders, flyers, press information and photographs, while motorists can use the database to select the correct battery for their car, plus a list of local stockists. A bulletin board contains news on latest technologies and recycling systems. The website can be found at www.varta-automotive.com and, to mark the overhaul and new marketing campaign, a newly-designed battery stand is available to automotive battery retailers in the UK.

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors