SKF has launched an innovative new integrated monotube seal, designed for use with motorcycles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs), including quad bikes and snowmobiles, where it can replace multi-component seal assemblies on rear wheel shock absorbers.
It starts on Thursday. The Goodwood Festival of Speed, that is, and Michelin will be easy to find there. The tyre maker, who has signed on the dotted line to sponsor the Goodwood Festival of Speed Supercar Paddock, is running three exhibition spaces at the show. In addition to Michelin’s stand in the abovementioned ‘paddock’, the company says it will bring its motorsport heritage to life for visitors in the main area and within the FoS Tech Pavilion.
The Ferrari FF was officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and is now on sale for £227,077, plus optional extras. The Italian manufacturer’s latest offering is available in various rim and tyre sizes, and Bridgestone reports its Potenza S001 has been chosen as one of the original equipment fitments for the four-seat, four wheel drive Ferrari.
Cornwall’s first workshop to be equipped with a Hunter HawkEye Elite TD wheel alignment system is the latest site to be recognised as Pro-Align’s Alignment Centre of the Month. Xpress Tyres in Falmouth was given the May award, having installed the new equipment two months ago. The company says the Elite TD is being used up to 10 times a day. Pro-Align says this can be attributed to speculative alignment checks, which are being carried out on almost every car that passes through the workshop for any purpose.
Tyre service products from Bosch, collectively labelled the “Around the Wheel” range, have been updated with the addition of its new FWA 4630. Bosch’s latest generation of wheel alignment equipment acknowledges the importance of time and accuracy to tyre service providers. It says the development of the latest machine was also influenced by the continuing evolution of chassis and suspension technology.
Alcoa Wheel & Transportation Products (AWTP) has announced that its line of wheel products are now Silver Cradle to Cradle Certified CM. The award is a result of the company’s material choices and production processes, which the global sustainability consulting firm behind the certificate – McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry – deems environmentally safe and healthy. The recyclable nature of aluminium was also cited as a reason for Alcoa’s accreditation. The company’s wheels are the first products in the transportation industry to receive certification from the Cradle to Cradle Certified CM programme, a fact that Alcoa says can be attributed to the sustainable characteristics of its aluminium.
The latest new motorcycle and scooter figures show last month sales overall were down 3.5 per cent against April 2011. Under 50cc scooter sales were down 9.6 per cent in April, while over 50cc motorcycle sales have decreased by 2.5 per cent.
Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association which represents motorcycle and franchised car retailers across the UK commented "It is disappointing to see motorcycle sales down in April after signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2012.
"The poorest performing sectors were the custom, super sport, touring and trail bikes. With people’s disposable income shrinking, the demand for these larger motorcycles has noticeably dropped, as they are often considered a non-essential purchase.
Dunlop has unveiled its new scooter tyre on the UK market at the Ace Café, London. The Dunlop ScootSmart applies the brand’s global experience with the RoadSmart motorcycle tyre, bringing what the company says are unprecedented levels of technology to the small wheel class. Mark Sears, Dunlop’s motorcycle product support manager commented that the ScootSmart has benefitted from “advanced Dunlop technology, much of it adapted from high-performance motorcycle tyres”, allowing “scooter enthusiasts to ride with total confidence and manage their running costs.”
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has added two new sizes to its TM100 tyre range designed for row-crop applications – the 380/90R50 151A8 (151B) and 380/90R54 158A8 (158B). As a result the Trelleborg TM100 range is now available in 11 sizes from 32 to 54 inches.
The latest motorcycle and scooter registration figures show sales overall were down 3.5 per cent last month compared with April 2011. Under 50cc scooter sales were down the most (9.6%) in April, while over 50cc motorcycle decreased by 2.5 per cent. There was however growth in two segments. Sales of Adventure Sport and 51-125cc Scooter bikes shot up 47.5 per cent and 8.9 per cent respectively.
SEMA Show organisers have announced that around 150 wheel manufacturers have already signed on to exhibit at the upcoming 2012 SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo, Tire Review reports. “We’re pleased to see so many wheel companies joining us at the 2012 SEMA Show,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of events and communications. "Wheels are such an integral product in our industry, and the fact that so many exhibitors have confirmed their participation this early in the year is exciting.” The show will be held between 30 October and 2 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Fastlane Ltd in Malta has been awarded Pro-Align’s Alignment Centre of the Month for April – the first time the accolade has been awarded outside of the UK. Paul Beaurain, managing director, Pro-Align, said: “Fastlane is resolute about being the alignment specialist in Malta and continues to work hard to expand its business. They are incredibly enthusiastic in everything they do and are a worthy winner of our April award.”
Alcoa Wheel Products will be present at the Tip-Ex show 25 – 27 May. The company will be exhibiting examples from its range of wheels aimed at heavy and medium duty trucks, trailers and buses.
Southampton-based wheel alignment specialist Supertracker launched its new computerised truck aligner – the STR 410T – at the recent CV Show in Birmingham.
Although primarily known in the market as car alignment specialists, Supertracker has been involved in truck alignment for a long time and the introduction of the STR 410T signals the next development in what continues to be an expanding market for the company.
Dunlop Motorsport general manager Jean-Felix Bazelin says that the tyre manufacturer faces “one of the biggest challenges in motorsport”, as it travels to the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps presents numerous challenges, with Dunlop highlighting “one of the greatest compressions seen by race tyres on any circuit as cars streak through the downhill to uphill transition from Eau Rouge to Le Raidillion, and the fickle Ardennes weather, which can mean a track with both wet and dry sectors. The six hours of racing take place on 5 May, and Dunlop tyres have been chosen by all of the bumper LMP2 class of 13 cars, with sole representatives in the LMP1 and GTE Am classes.
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