Wheel Archives - Page 78 of 80 - Tyrepress

Posts

Get The Lead Out

The motor industry is under attack from all sides by the green lobby and the car is subject to environmental constraints at all stages of its life cycle. It looks as though yet more restrictions will be imposed on the industry with the likely adoption of the End Of Life Vehicle Directive (ELV); this lays down minimum requirements for the recyclability of cars and also seeks to reduce or eliminate toxic or environmentally-unfriendly materials used in construction. Lead is one such material and it is not only used in car building, but also in wheel balancing weights. If lead is outlawed, what are the alternatives for the automotive industries, and the tyre trade? What alternative materials are available, and what are the likely costs? Coated lead weights do not solve the problem, which leaves steel and tin as the most likely solutions. Tin is easier to work than steel, but it is many times more expensive than lead, and could lead to significant increases in costs for tyre shops, who will have to decide whether or not to pass this on to the customer. The ELV places the responsibility for disposing of vehicles squarely on the shoulders of the manufacturers, and they will put pressure on their suppliers to ensure that levels of toxic materials are kept to a minimum.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

New President For Trelleborg Wheel Systems

Maurizio Vischi (45) will become President of agricultural tyre manufacturer Trelleborg Wheel Systems on June 1st. Mr. Vischi is currently head of the TWS Agricultural Radial Tyres business unit, located at Tivoli in Italy, where he will continue to be based. The current President, Anders Pettersson, is leaving to take up a new position as a divisional president for the security group Gunnebo AB. TWS was formed at the end of 1998 as a joint venture between Trelleborg (which owns 60% of the jv) and Pirelli, as a specialist manufacturer of agricultural and forest tyres.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Lexus Chooses Bridgestone Run-Flat As OE

Lexus has chosen the Bridgestone Potenza RE040 run-flat tyre (RFT) as original equipment for its new flagship SC430 cabriolet, allowing the car to travel safely even when the tyre has a puncture. The RE040 RFT also eliminates the need to carry a spare wheel, thus gaining valuable storage space in the boot of the compact car and saving weight.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Four Wheel Steering From Delphi

Delphi Automotive Systems launched a pre-production four wheel steer development named Quadrasteer today. The system will improve turning capability at all speeds and stability at high speed. The electronic system is claimed to reduce turning circles by up to 20%.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Faulty Wheel Bolts Cause Recall

The possibility of faulty wheel bolts being fitted to Honda vehicles has prompted the company to recall all vehicles manufactured between 9 January and 20 April. Defects have been found in 37 cases. Honda is investigating whether cars produced in North America or Europe are affected.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Final Of The Third Dunlop Drivers Cup in South-Africa

In the middle of February the time has finally come: altogether 30 winners of the national qualification heats that were held in Groß Dölln near Berlin in September 2000 could participate in the final of the third edition of the “Dunlop Drivers Cup”. The event was organised by the German daughter of the tyre producer in co-operation with Toyota, Meier’s Weltreisen, South African Airways and Maier Sports. After Patagonia (1999) and the Southwest of the United States the authorities had chosen South-Africa as the final place for this sporting event that aims to combine driving training and adventure/fun. The 26 males and four females had to face different driving tests of skill with passenger cars, 4×4 vehicles and quads, a kind of a four wheel motorcycle. With this event, Dunlop wants to focus attention on the topic of driving safety and to interest people in motorsports. The rally began in Durban. The 2,280 km long tour passed through the provinces of Kwazulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape. The finish of the rally was in Cape Town. In the middle of the tour the Landcruiser offroaders had to be changed in Port Elizabeth. The competitors had to carry on with a Toyota Lexus IS 2000 Sport, shod with the Dunlop SP 9000 high performance tyre . The result of the race was in doubt up until the end, a sign of the high standard of driving skills of the qualifying teams. The next Dunlop Drivers Cup will be held in February 2002 in Australia. The scope of the 2002 qualifying sessions will be widened, including a European dimension.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Cradle To Grave Tracking Standards Announced

The Automotive Industry Action Group – Radio Frequency Identification – Tire and Wheel Work Group, has developed a two stage standard for labelling of OE tyres, allowing tracking from cradle to grave. The first stage is a simple label and RFID tag. The second stage will be the approval of an RFID read write chip inserted in the tyre at the point of manufacture. The AIAG will be carrying out evaluation and testing of suitable systems later in the year. (For further information on smart tyre technology see the July 2001 issue of TYRES & ACCESSORIES.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Alloy Wheel Report, Part One: Aftermarket Under Pressure

Following an old tradition, we take a close look at the alloy wheel business in the March and April issues of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG. The only thing that has changed is the order in which we intend to do this. Usually the first part of the analysis is concerned with the original equipment sector, which is followed by the replacement sector. This year we will look at it the other way round and begin with the aftermarket business in Germany. While the German aftermarket for alloy wheels has been flat for some years – although at a high level – the OE-suppliers have registered a significant growth in their figures. Competitors of the aftermarket sector observe negative trends, pessimistic voices are dominating the discussion. The growth of some happens at the expense of other companies who are not able to face the intensified competition. In the end there will be tremendous competition, fought with price as the weapon; a process which already started some time ago. In the first part of the alloy wheel report, these topics will be discussed, as will be the chances that still exist in this market. In addition, actual trends and developments of the sector will be described.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Steel Wheel Contract For Hayes Lemmerz

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. has entered into a long-term contract with Skoda to supply steel wheels for the all-new Skoda Felicia. The wheels are currently being produced at the Company’s European manufacturing facilities, in Manresa, Spain and Ostrava, Czech Republic.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheel Market UK

The alloy wheel market in the UK is nothing like the size of , say, that in Germany, and reliable estimates of its size are hard to come by, although one educated guess is £500 m at wholesale prices. Reasons for the comparatively small market are manifold, varying from the way cars are sold in the UK to the effect of the large company car/fleet sector, which accounts for over half of new car sales. Fleet buyers do not welcome anything which increases costs, and alloy wheels fall into this category. Despite this drawback, the UK alloy wheel market is growing, due largely to increasing fitment in the OE sector. In the aftermarket, it is those who have disposable income to spend and who are fashion conscious that buy alloys and, as with most other fashion accessories, this means the young. As with other fashions, there are labels which are “in” and others which lack street cred and, again as with other fashions, the successful designs spawn many imitations. So, in order to stay ahead of the pack, the leading design labels have to introduce new designs – to reinvent the wheel.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Run-flat Tyres Will Replace Conventional Tyres

For so-called run-flat tyres (meaning tyres that can be driven even at zero air pressure) in Europe and North America huge sales increases are on the horizon. Run-flats will replace conventional tyres now in use. This can happen only step by step because there is a lack of production facilities for a number of years. Another effect: if the new tyres become standard original equipment, the market for tyres will reduce by twenty percent, because a car fitted with run-flat tyres does not need a spare wheel. Is the development of such products an example of the tyre business shooting itself in the foot? Of course not because it is never possible to stop technical developments like these. And it should be noted that run-flat tyres are more sophisticated than conventional tyres, which compensates for the lack of every fifth tyre in oe. Because tyre pressure warning systems will, in the future, become mandatory on new cars, they need suitable tyres. Run-flat tyres without tyre pressure systems are not practical; the driver might not realise that he is driving at zero pressure at high speed. The reverse situation is possible – indeed already a reality in some models – as the car is fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system but on conventional tyres. Nowadays, run-flat tyres have moved from the arena of the laboratory and testing and are on the way to becoming a growing part of the market. As with other new technologies, if a new standard replaces an old one, the race is on among new systems (for example which tyre pressure monitoring system is the best), materials (for example which reinforcements should be used for the carcasses) and other developments for the transition period (tyre repair sets).

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Sales Dropped

Sales of tyre and wheel manufacturer Titan (Quincy/Illinois, USA) have dropped last year to US$ 588 million (1998: US$ 660,8 million). Striking and a bad condition of the American agriculture are assumed to be responsible for the figures showing an EBIT of US$ -11.4 million compared to US$ 8.4 million in 1998.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

New Sales And Marketing Director At TWS Rotatec GmbH

As Sales And Marketing Director at Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) Rotatec GmbH & Co. KG, Oliver Gehlker has been responsible for the German market since 3rd July. According to TWS, Gehlker, who is 33 years old, is very experienced in the tyre business. Before he signed up to his new job, he held different positions in the tyre industry and retail sector.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

“Smart Tyre System”: TRW Joins Michelin

Michelin and TRW Automotive Electronics have agreed to develop advanced tyre pressure monitoring technology, hand in hand with Michelin’s PA System Technology. The companies displayed their linked technology . The technology is being displayed at the Convergence 2000 International Congress on Transportation Electronics, being held in Detroit. The TRW system will give drivers advance knowledge of underinflation and allow them to remedy the fault before pressure falls to a dangerous level. In the event of a fast puncture the PAX system ensures the tyre stays on the wheel. The TRW system uses a sensor mounted in a high tec valve that sends details by radio signal to the on board control unit. The agreement will see both companies working towards the most effective method of alerting the driver to possible problems.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Meritor Automotive Expands Wheel Plant in Mexico

Meritor Automotive, a subsidiary of the Rockwell group, has announced the expansion of production at its wheel plant in San Luis Potosi (Mexico) to two million units annually. The expansion is necessary because of increased demand in the North American OE market for light truck and pick-up wheels and includes the completion of assembly facilities. A major consumer is Daimler Chrysler (Dodge Ram).

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors