Wheels
Some say he is holidaying in Australia this February, and that during his down under jaunt he’ll be performing his world-first driving stunt – all we know is, he’s called the Stig, and Bridgestone is offering its Australian devotees the chance to drive like the Top Gear tame racing driver.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has announced it will increase prices by between 5 and 10 per cent in Europe and North America, effective 1 March 2010. Product lines affected include the company’s industrial, solid and construction tyre lines. According to the company, the price rise is the result of “escalating raw material and transportation costs combined with currency fluctuations.” On 13 January Trelleborg announced it would increase the prices of its agricultural and forestry tyres and wheels by 5 per cent.
Every wondered what the most expensive passenger car tyres in the world are? According to a report published on the Autocar website on 14 January, Bugatti Veyron rubber must be a prime contender with a set of four new tyres costing £23,500 (26,926 euros; US$38,482) to replace. And if you were wondering which tyre manufacturer won the OE contract to supply these products, a quick look at tyrepress.com’s online archive reveals that the 406 km/h car, which is capable of 0 – 300 km/h in under 14 seconds fits Michelin Pilot Sport Pax System 245-690 R520 A (front) and 365-710 R 540 A (rear) tyres.
The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres and replacement alloy wheels from TSW, MAK and Advanti, Yokohama HPT Ltd, kicked off its new year this week at the annual Autosport International show at the NEC. The company is exhibiting its full range of Yokohama high performance road and motorsport tyres, its key ranges of alloy wheels while the centrepiece of its stand is the innovative Tesla Roadster Sport, the world’s first all-electric track day car.
Now the snow is beginning to recede and the freshly potholed roads are being revealed, TyreSafe is advising motorists to ensure their wheels are properly aligned. Driving over potholes can alter the vehicle’s steering and suspension geometries or damage critical components which can reduce vehicle safety or generate extra running costs. By ensuring wheels are correctly aligned, drivers can minimise the effects of any pothole damage and ensure they remain as safe as possible.
The latest wheel from Italy’s Finichi is the Milano, a 16-spoke design available in silver or black. The spokes on the Milano extend to the outer edge of the rim in order to enhance the wheel’s perceived size, and both the Hypersilver and Gloss Black finishes can be ordered with the Tyresure Tyre Pressure Monitoring System for improved safety and driver feedback.
As of February 1 the price of certain Trelleborg Wheel Systems product will rise. The company says an increase of five per cent will apply to its agricultural and forestry tyres and wheels in European and North American markets.
The important subject of the role tyres will play in meeting the demands of ever more environmentally oriented hi-tech vehicles was addressed by Michelin at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. During a press conference on January 12, Dr. Patrick Oliva, the Michelin Group’s global vice president for Sustainable Development, shared the tyre major’s view of the tyre’s place within the future of automotive transportation.
For over a decade, the Sivik Engineering and Production Group has been manufacturing professional automotive quality repair equipment. Today the company is one of the largest suppliers in Russia of products such as wheel balancers, lifts and tyre service equipment such as tyre changers, with ISO-9001 compliant factories.
Mercedes-Benz is endorsing the benefits of cold weather tyres in the UK through a programme to promote the product through its retailers and official workshops. As Mike Belk, managing director for customer service at Mercedes-Benz UK explains, “Mercedes-Benz is committed to safety, and the safety benefits of using the correct tyre in adverse conditions are obvious, with years of evidence available in mainland Europe.” Retailers and workshops are stocking winter tyres for all models in the current Mercedes-Benz and smart range as well as older models.
At the beginning of November, the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation, IFF, Magdeburg in Germany and the Ascona Company, Meckenbeuren, invited leading wheel industry representative to the launch of a new touchless alloy wheel measuring machine. What’s different about the new equipment it that the new 3D laser wheel measuring machine makes possible for the first time the contactless measuring of light metal wheels directly in the production sequence.
More than a dozen years after establishing Beissbarth UK, Philip Hodges has made public his decision to part ways with the company. “Building Beissbarth UK to its current market-leading position has been a total passion,” Hodges stated upon making his announcement. “And now is a good time to hand over the reigns and seek new challenges – I relish new routes!”
Coming up to the centenary of its entrance into motorcycle tyre production, Avon Motorcycle Tyres has reported a “successful year in 2009”, despite the UK suffering at the hands of a world-wide recession. The brand believes the breadth of its motorcycle tyre range, offering both performance and “value for money” oriented ranges, has helped it weather the storm. Speaking of storms, the brand closed the year by releasing a successor to its popular Storm ST family of sports-touring tyres at the International Motorcycle and Scooter show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, in November. The new Storm 2 Ultra builds on the performance of the Storm ST and, says Avon, improves upon it in a number of areas. Developed from the award-winning Storm ST tyre, the company says the new Storm 2 Ultra offers more mileage and improved grip in all weathers and road conditions. The company also signalled its intentions for the coming year with the announcement in December that it would Avon Tyres has announced that it will be utilising what it terms “eco-friendly” or “clean oil” in its tyres from 2010. According to the manufacturer, the new tyres will be “eco-friendly with no effect on grip and indeed, in the case of some high-performance range tyres, will actually have increased levels of grip.”
ATS Euromaster has taken delivery of 44 new 3.5 tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, after investing £1.7 million in increasing the size of its car fitting by roughly 25 per cent. According to the company, the new vehicles will be used to support “the increased demand for mobile fitments which has been driven primarily by the FN50 [top 50 UK contract hire and leasing companies]”, a sector in which ATS Euromaster has reportedly increased its share from 18 to 28 per cent over the last 18 months.
A mix of fleet additions and replacements, the new long wheelbase Sprinters see the dedicated ‘car’ fleet grow to 128 units, supported by a further 200 dual-purpose mobiles which are equipped to fit both car and commercial vehicle tyres.
Federal Tyres representatives are celebrating the achievements of the UK drifiting drivers it supported in 2009. “[Federal] has aligned with the right teams; secured the most talented drivers and developed the fastest tyres on the track with the best overall performance throughout the 2009 season to capitalize on the growing enthusiasm for drifting in the UK,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com.
Federal-backed drivers include: Phil Morrison, Ben-Broke Smith (better known as Bon-bon), Dan Chapman and Richard Clarke – all of whom are experienced professionals. In 2009 they competed across the country’s three premier drifting series – European Drift Championship, Prodrift Super Series as well as JDM Allstars.
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