Michelin is reportedly attracting increasing levels of traffic to its website (Michelin.co.uk) after launching a brand new, more customer focused version. The new site recognises the changes that Michelin has been through in the last few years, but also the trends in design and presentation of content. The increased popularity of widescreen monitors for example has allowed Michelin a bigger canvas to offer more content throughout the site.
When Scorpion brought the first T304 stainless steel performance exhaust system to the market back in 1992, it caused a stir, to say the least. From this solid start the company has rapidly grown to become one of the world’s largest exhaust manufacturers, with distributors in every continent and products available in over 30 countries. Scorpion has achieved this by working closely with some of the most respected names in the industry, including Citroen and Peugeot Motorsport, Subaru, Toyota and Prodrive. The company also closely values its ties with smaller tuning concerns and independent retailers as an invaluable source of technical feedback and market information. Over 95 per cent of all production is still handled in the UK, much of it by precision hand fabrication.
Delticom has been busy of late. Not only has the company introduced all-inclusive services through its UK portal mytyres.com, the online tyre specialist has redesigned the website for its online presence in Ireland. The Irish site, eiretyres.com, has been totally refreshed with the aim of making it more customer-oriented and easier to navigate.
In addition to a clean, new design, much thought has gone into making the site’s function more user friendly and online purchasing a simpler task. An optimised, clear display of product searches helps customers find the desired product faster, and the various sorting functions help customers choose the right tyre. A leaner order process also shortens ordering times. Compact help functions support the online purchaser and provide answers to the most frequently asked questions as well as offering competent tyre advices.
Michelin North America has appeared in the US based non-governmental organisation AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) 2008 list of best employers for workers over 50. Ranked number 43, the tyre major – 35 per cent of whose workforce is aged 50 years or older – is praised for its treatment of older workers in a number of areas.
Two Michelin policies especially highlighted by the AARP are company pre-retirement seminars to prepare and educate employees and their spouses who are nearing retirement, and a phased-retirement programme that permits employees aged 55 or over with ten or more years of service the option of working a reduced schedule (up to 35 hours per week) while maintaining their benefits.
Sealey has got into the Christmas spirit early with its Christmas promotion, which offers over 400 exciting deals and more than 50 new products, promising something for everyone, whatever their area of interest and expertise. The promotion, which is valid until 31st December, offers up to 69 per cent discount and products include Sealey’s ever-popular Topchest Combo deals including free tools, trolley jacks, compressors, car starter/chargers and too many hand tools to mention.
To get your hands on the 56-page bumper catalogue, contact your local Sealey distributor, call the company direct or visit their website and make it a Happy Christmas for your workshop.
The launch of the latest Golf 6 generated a good amount of interest throughout the motor industry. Nevertheless, its elder sibling, the Golf 5, still has plenty of fight left in it. And Cobra Suspension says it can give the Golf 5 the cornering prowess to run rings round the new upstart.
The new Cobra kit drops the Golf Gti (3 door or 5 door) by 20mm, and even lower on the smaller engine variants. By lowering the car’s centre of gravity, both turn and traction mid corner are reported to be greatly improved, whilst driver feedback and enjoyment are considerably heightened.
A computerised tyre management system developed in the US by BAT RF is now being launched in the UK market. The system brings together a series of active RF (radio frequency) components to provide truck and bus fleets with real-time data for tyre inflation, fuel consumption and asset identification. All data can be viewed in real time through the BAT RF website or integrated into existing fleet management software.
A survey carried out in mid-July by BAT RF UK with a large UK fleet operator found that 44 per cent of all tyres were under inflated by more than five per cent, which has a significant detrimental effect on tyre life and fuel consumption. The survey also found that 64 per cent of dual tyres on tractor units were more than five per cent out of balance. This results in one tyre running hotter than the other on the same axle and eventually failing. Initial indications are that many UK truck and bus fleets are facing similar challenges in monitoring and managing tyre pressures cost effectively.
In response to market changes, a tighter regulatory environment and pressure on costs, exhaust and after-treatment system suppliers face both opportunities and challenges in the next five years. This growth will occur in part due to the overall increase in the world market for passenger cars, which is expected to grow in volume by 34 per cent from 66 million units in 2006 to around 85 million by 2014. This will create increased demand for more exhaust and after-treatment systems. But on top of this organic increase in sales, other factors will create additional growth, taking exhaust and after-treatment system supplier revenues to an even higher level.
It was an idea worthy of Tonto; what could enhance the American driving experience more than grooves cut into the tarmac that produce a vague approximation of the “Cavalry Charge” from Rossini’s William Tell Overture (otherwise known as the theme from The Lone Ranger) when tyres roll over them?
On a stretch of road near Lancaster, California advertisers made this scheme a reality – one that local residents have been living with ever since. The sound is produced using an analogous method to that of a vinyl record-player’s stylus, but the amplification has proved too much for people living in the area, who have successfully requested that the grooves be removed in a resurfacing operation.
The sound of “A fiery horse with the speed of light,” can be sampled on the BBC’s website before “a cloud of dust, and a hearty ‘Hi-yo, Silver, away!”” from road-workers sees the audio spectacle trot over the Western horizon into the setting sun one last time.
Fresh from the launch of its new website, Marshal is keen to ramp up its truck tyre operation, using a variety of customer-friendly measures.
To make selection easier for customers and end users, a clear naming system has been adopted for all new tyres in the range. This includes an indication of the application, for example L for long haul, R for regional, M for mixed service etc. The position is also given by a letter such as S for steer, T for trailer and A for all-position. Finally a two digit number (01, 02 and so on) shows the series.
In addition to the improvements to retail operations, Marshal is confident that its range can cater to the needs of a wide range of customers. To meet the demands of long-distance highway use at constant high speed, Marshal’s long haul range delivers good stability and handling and long original tread life, while offering a smooth ride and minimising uneven wear. The regional range combines excellent handling and ride comfort with the need for good traction and long tread life.
This year’s Tyre Safety Month will take place in October. This year’s focus will be on the importance of tyre pressure in vehicle safety. TyreSafe – the new name for the Tyre Industry Council – states on its website that it “welcomes garages, tyre fitters and tyre dealers to play their part in helping motorists to understand the dangers of under and over-inflated tyres, as well as raising awareness of how, where and when to check tyre pressure.”
TyreSafe has published a range of downloadable content on its website www.tyresafe.org. In addition, the organisation says that “a limited amount of printed material is also available by calling 0207 457 5040 (8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday).”
Winter suddenly seems a whole lot closer, and for many of us that means a change to cold weather tyres is just around the corner. Belgium based wholesaler Deldo reminds customers that it now stocks a complete range of winter tyres, including the recently added Rockstone range. Winter sizes for this exclusive brand are available for the coming winter, with summer fitments available in 2009. In total, more than 25 brands of winter tyre in car, van and 4×4 fitments are available from Deldo, including studdable tyres for the dedicated Scandinavian markets.
Viking International has confirmed its support of the annual Tyre Safety Campaign. Launched by TyreSafe last October, the month long consumer campaign will highlight the benefits of correctly inflated tyres to motorists and also raise awareness on how and when to check tyre pressure.
To support the campaign, Viking International is urging its customers involved in tyre services to offer consumers free tyre pressure checks throughout the month of October. Customers who would like to get involved can access a number of promotional materials available to download from the TyreSafe website, including free posters, leaflets and a press advert template to help support the campaign.
Although the Cobra brand needs little introduction to discerning suspension enthusiasts, the firm’s simply large range of ‘retro’ car springs is perhaps not so well known. Nestled amongst the plethora of modern fitments is a range of springs ranging from as far back as the ‘60s through to the ‘70s and ‘80s. Obvious retro icons like the Mk1 Golf are supremely well catered for, says Cobra, but a perusal through the company’s retro fitment list list reveals more obscure gems like the Opel Manta, Volvo 240, Saab 99, a huge quantity of retro Fords and Vauxhalls and a healthy dollop of early VAG group and Japanese cars. As well as a wide range of spring kits, some models also have sports damper kits available. Most kits lower the recipient car by between 30 and 40mm.
As its first season as title sponsor draws to a close (the last race is on 21 September), HiQ is promising to build on its exciting three-year sponsorship of the British Touring Car Championship. According to the company, the sports bosses have praise the way in which HiQ have handled the image and representatives of the tyre retail chain say they will be coming back with even more initiatives when the 2009 campaign begins in April.
HiQ has been keen to interact with as many fans as possible during the season, in order to maximize its sponsorship of the sporting extravaganza. More than 2,000 supporters have made the most of the company’s fans’ forum events, which have taken place in towns around the UK before each race, featuring some of the stars of the circuits.
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