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Steel or Alloy – Take your Pick at Southam Micheldever

The UK’s leading 4×4 Distributor Southam Micheldever Tyres are complimenting their already extensive wheel programme with a new range of 4×4 wheels. Dave Dineen, Southam Micheldever’s 4×4 sales manager, is proud to introduce the all-new ‘Tuff Torque’ steel wheel, which is available in 15 and 16-inch fitments and boasts being one of the strongest steel wheels manufactured.

These wheels have been specifically designed and tested with utility/mod applications in mind. Southam Micheldever’s 4×4 technical department developed the wheel after listening to customer requests for a wheel that both provides the kind of strength needed for off-roading and expeditions while enhancing a vehicle’s appearance. Tuff Torque steel wheels are available in various colours in modular and 8 spoke design.

27th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Totrax – a “One Stop” Solution

With more than 25 years experience in the business, Totrax Ltd are well established as providers of wheel manufacturing technology based on quality single, 2 piece and multi-piece rims from some of the worlds leading manufacturers. From their facilities in the port town of Boston, Lincolnshire, Totrax offer their customers a custom wheel manufacturing service from concept through to manufacturing, from small development quantities through to high volume precision engineered batch production.

27th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Accuride Takes Weight Out

(Akron/Tire Review) Accuride Corp. rolled out its new Accu-Lite line of steel wheels at the Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.

According to the company, Accu-Lite wheels weigh in eight pounds less than standard steel wheels, and “are the lightest available version of the industry-standard two and five hand hole 22.5×8.25-inch steel wheels. Accuride’s standard five hand hole steel wheels weigh 68 pounds, the company said.

“As new emission standards are resulting in weight being added to vehicles, we knew our customers needed an easy solution for counterbalancing the added weight,” said Larry Taylor, Accuride senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We designed Accu-Lite wheels as a weight reduction solution for our customers so that they could maximise payload and fuel savings without reducing load ratings.

23rd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Vogue Tyre Launches Redesigned Site

(Akron/Tire Review) Vogue Tyre has redesigned its Website – www.voguetyre.com – to give consumers and retailers enhanced access to tyre, wheel and accessory product information and to locate a nearby Vogue dealer.

“This new Web site represents the culmination of months of work and discussions with our customers, our dealers and automotive enthusiasts around the country,” said Doug Dodson, Vogue’s vice chairman. “These days anybody can build a Website just like anyone can purchase a set of tyres. What sets this Web site apart from others is the same thing that sets our products apart from the competition: style and function.”

22nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Watts Tyres Establishes Joint Venture with Bulgarian Partner

International News, Product News

Gloucestershire based Watts Tyres has entered into a joint venture agreement with Bulgarian rim and wheel manufacturer Balkancar Zarya. The two firms have established the joint venture company “Watts Zarya Limited,” which will concentrate on providing industrial wheel and tyre products to the materials handling OEM market via a just-in-time delivery system.

According to Jean-Paul Mindermann, chief executive for Watts Tyres Plc, “the new joint venture is a cornerstone of our strategy to be the leading wheel and tyre provider to the materials handling industry.” He added “Balkancar Zarya is an excellent partner with high quality wheels to complement our tyres and existing wheel business. With Bulgaria recently joining the EU, the timing and location is perfect to offer OEM’s the high quality and competitive solution that they are searching for.“

22nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Topy to Close Aluminium Wheel Plant

Japanese wheel manufacturer Topy Corporation recently announced it would close its aluminium wheel production operations in the US state of Kentucky by the end of September. Approximately 250 jobs will be lost as a result of the closure, with some jobs going to other plants, both in the US and Mexico. The company’s steel wheel manufacturing division and the 350 workers it employs at the Frankfort, Kentucky facility will not be affected by this closure.

According to company director Tom Trzazkus, there is no chance for the 250 jobs to remain. He said the closure is an exit strategy for the unprofitable aluminium plant division, and that high manufacturing costs in comparison with competitors, especially those with production facilities in China, was the main cause for the decision to close the division.

20th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheel Fault Leads to Bentley Recall

In the US the NHTSA has issued a recall notice for several types of wheel fitted to vehicles produced by luxury carmaker Bentley. The wheels in question were fitted to Bentley’s Arnage R, Arnage RL and Arnage T in 2005 and 2006, and it has been reported that on certain vehicles the road wheel fixing bolts may be ‘dimensionally incorrect,’ with the potential existing for these bolts to become loose. The NHTSA warns that this problem has the potential to cause the road wheel to become detached from the hub, increasing the risk of a crash.

Bentley dealers will replace all wheel bolts free of charge on these models. The recall of affected Bentley vehicles began on March 1.

19th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ford to Recall US Police Cars

(Akron/Tire Review) The Ford Motor Co. plans to recall more than 109,000 Crown Victoria police cars due to cracks that can develop in the steel wheels that could cause rapid air loss in tyres during high-speed pursuits. The recall affects certain 2003-2005 models. According to the NHTSA, the cracks can form near the weld line that connects the rim to the wheel disk. The stress on wheels during pursuits is much greater than during normal driving because of police techniques, Ford stated.

Ford added that the cracks have been reported in a small percentage of the wheels, which had been covered by an extended warranty program. Dan Jarvis, a spokesman for Ford, said police departments have reported two crashes that they attributed to the wheel problem, but Ford is disputing the claims. No injuries were associated with the two crashes.

14th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Borbet acquires Remaining Share in South African Subsidiary

In December 2006 the South African engineering and construction group Murray & Roberts announced that it wished to dispose of its 50 per cent share in alloy wheel manufacturer Borbet South Africa, based in Port Elizabeth. Now the recently released business half-year financial report for Murray and Roberts, ending December 31, 2006 indicates that the German Borbet Group has since this time itself acquired Murray & Roberts’ share.

The 50 per cent parcel was the remaining portion of the former alloy wheel company Alloy Wheels International. The Borbet Group purchased a 50 per cent share in the South African company on July 1, 2003 and took over management of the company.

14th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 to Employ Revised Red Tyre Rule

Bridgestone has confirmed it will visually differentiate its two specifications of dry weather F1 tyres following last-minute changes to this year’s Formula One regulations. This ruling by the Formula One Commission and the FIA World Motor Sport Council means states that the two different tyre compounds – both of which must be used in each race – must be visibly different.

7th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alloy Wheel Repair System Proving Popular

Yorkshire based manufacturer of smart repair systems, Ayce Systems, states that the company’s new all-in-one alloy wheel repair kit has experienced dramatic sales growth since its introduction last year. Known as Wheelrite Pro, the system is a self-contained unit for repairing and polishing kerbed, scratched and corroded alloy wheels, and features pneumatic self-centring on a rotary turntable, an integral beadbreaker, tyre inflation and pressure gauge and independent drive for grinding and polishing wheels.

6th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Proposes to Supply Tyres for F1

During an interview with Italian media Pirelli Tyre S.p.A CEO Francesco Gori disclosed that the tyremaker has approached the FIA regarding supplying tyres for Formula One racing. This admission comes only days after the FIA selected Pirelli as sole supplier for the Word Rally Championship’s 2008-2010 seasons.

2nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Barum Extends range of On and Off-Road CV Tyres

Continental Tyre Group has increased its range of Barum tyres truck tyres for on and off road use. It now offers the BS72 traction tyre for medium-duty use on and off road. Its tread blocks are combined with wide, deep tread grooves to provide positive traction on difficult terrain and the closed central tread pattern was added for high mileage performance and good driving characteristics on the road. The special tread compound also improves the BS72 resistance to external damage. Sizes available are 315/80R22.5, 12R22.5 and 13R22.5.

2nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Fleet Attention to Tyres on the Rise

Kwik-Fit Fleet has reported a marked increase in tyre safety checks being requested by company operators, with the number undertaken increasing by 25 per cent during the past year. In 2006 the company carried out 200,000 tyre safety checks on company cars and vans, compared with 150,000 the year before. This year Kwik-Fit Fleet technicians expect to carry out a quarter of a million of these inspections.

1st March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Reaches Settlement over Alleged Defective Tyre

Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America Ltd. has reached a US$1.75 million settlement with the families of two teenagers killed in an accident seven years ago. The family of the teenagers allege that the collision than took place in Roanoke County, Virginia, was the responsibility of the tyremaker.

26th February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors