Titan Boss Reacts to Negative Story
Reacting to news of performance problems with its 63-inch radial OTR tyres, Titan Tire said it will outfit equipment with expensive inflation and heat sensor equipment.
Wheels
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Alcoa Wheels Increase Tyre Life on Turkish Buses
NewsTurkish bus company, HAS Turizm is claiming increased tyre life after switching to Alcoa forged wheels. The groundwork for the changeover was laid a couple of years ago after a visit from Alcoa’s Turkish distributor Otomotiv Lastikleri Tevzi AS (Oltas), who reportedly explained the benefits of Alcoa forged aluminium wheels. As a result, HAS decided to test the products themselves. “After several months, we realized that the buses, equipped with Alcoa wheels, use around 1 per cent less fuel compared to buses on steel wheels. Another advantage we discovered is the longer life time of the tyres. Today almost all of our vehicles operating in Turkey are equipped with Alcoa wheels. All new vehicles are specified on Alcoa wheels as well.”
TIA, RMA Weigh in on NHTSA Fuel Efficiency Plan
International NewsTIA still feels it would be the best option to conduct consumer-level tyre fuel efficiency education, while RMA challenges that NHTSA’s proposed fuel efficiency rating system is inadequate.
Those were the themes behind both groups’ comment filings late last week, just before NHTSA’s August 21 deadline for comments on its mandated tyre fuel efficiency rating system.
EU Probes Chinese Wheel Dumping Complaint
International News, NewsOn 14 August, the European Commission began an investigation into the alleged ‘dumping’ of Chinese-made aluminium wheels into the European market. The investigation followed Association of European Wheel Manufacturers’ (EUWA) June complaint that the practice has been taking place. “Having determined that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission hereby initiates an investigation,” Reuters quoted the journal of the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union as saying. China's Ministry of Commerce denied the charges saying: “It raises the cost of repairs for customers, affects the recovery of the European auto sector from the global financial crisis, and hurts the interests of both China and Europe'” in a statement on the Ministry's website.
Bosch Launches New Tyre Service and Alignment Range
NewsThrough its recent acquisitions of Beissbarth and SICAM, Bosch has enhanced its product range and now reports it can offer workshops a complete range of tyre service and wheel alignment equipment. Its latest release is a new garage equipment line-up that it says focuses upon "around the wheel" products.
New 'Triad' Finish From Wolfrace
NewsWolfrace has introduced a Black/Polished finish for its popular Asia-Tec Triad alloy wheel. The split, five-spoke design of the Triad has made it one of the most successful wheels in the Asia-Tec range over the past three years. The latest addition gives the Triad a high-quality, gloss black finish with highly-polished spoke and rim surfaces […]
Nordisk Daek to Offer Winter Pattern Excellence at a Competitive Price
NewsWith the 2009 winter season fast approaching, Denmark-based Nordisk Dæk Import A-S (NDI) will be presenting an extensive selection of quality winter tyres to suit all European markets.
Accuride Posts $36.1M Net Loss in Q2
NewsThe prolonged weakness within the commercial vehicle segment continued to impact upon Accuride Corporation during the second quarter 2009. A statement released by the commercial vehicle component manufacturer and supplier reports net sales of US$135.2 million in the three months to June 30, as opposed to $244.9 million in the second quarter of 2008. Sales decreased in the company’s wheels and components segments by 48.4 per cent and 42.6 per cent respectively.
Kabat Company Increases Capacity 60%
NewsAt the beginning of 2009 Polish tyre tube and rubber product manufacturer Kabat Company reported that it increased its annual production capacity by 60 per cent after purchasing equipment from Goodyear-Debica.
Alcoa Supplying 20-Inch Wheel Blanks to Solomon Alsberg
Product NewsAlcoa has extended the range of lightweight wheel forgings supplied to Russia’s Solomon Alsberg for its high-performance alloy wheel range. The American based company states that the aerospace-derived metallurgy used in its blanks allows Solomon Alsberg to create a wide range of ultra-stylish wheels that improve vehicle performance and dynamics while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Alcoa Releases 17.5×6.75-inch Wheel for Low Deck Trailers
Product NewsAlcoa has launched a new 17.5 x 6.75 trailer wheel with 10 bolt holes on a 225 mm PCD. The wheel is comes in sizes 245/70 R 17.5 and 235/75 R 17.5 and will be available in Europe from mid-August. It is suitable for: low deck trailers for transport of heavy and oversized vehicles and loads; trailers and semi-trailers for volume transport; special trailers for transport of passenger cars.
Goodyear and Haweka Promote Benefits of Tractor Wheel Alignment
Product NewsThe importance of correct wheel alignment is already widely conveyed in the truck and passenger car segments. In these parts of the market customers have been hearing about how correct alignment improves road comfort, fuel consumption and prevents premature wear for years. But what about the off-road and agricultural segments? Is it worth aligning vehicles that are literally designed to face the axle jolting lumps and bumps other drivers try to avoid? Goodyear and Haweka certainly think so.
In June Goodyear and Haweka teamed up to promote an agricultural wheel alignment programme that will see the two-companies promote the benefits of wheel alignment to customers, dealers and vehicle sales offices. Goodyear is communicating the tyre alignment message because, according to the company, tough economic times mean improving fuel consumption and preventing the costs that come with premature tyre wear are more important than ever. A similar partnership between the German branches of the two companies has been in operation for some time.
Maxxis Rewards Top PCR Tyre Retailers
Product NewsMaxxis has completed its second Maxxis Rewards prize draw, giving 13 tyre retailers £500 worth of gift vouchers from either Marks & Spencer, Thomas Cook or High Street Gift Vouchers, which they can spend at more than 18,000 stores across the UK, including Boots, HMV, Debenhams, Waterstone’s, M&S, House of Fraser, Carphone Warehouse and Threshers. Under the terms of the Maxxis Rewards initiative, the more Maxxis car, van and 4×4 tyres that accredited retailers purchase during the promotional period, the greater their chances of winning a major prize.
The Maxxis Rewards dealer support programme has been organised in conjunction with Grouptyre, the exclusive Maxxis distributor in the UK. Dealers who sign up are automatically entered into the quarterly prize draws, which run until 11 December. Based on their purchase levels, retailers also have the opportunity to earn Argos vouchers and Maxxis-branded promotional clothing and accessories.
The winning tyre dealers and Grouptyre members who supply them are:
Auchinlea Tyres (dealer) – Cooper Bros. (Grouptyre member)
Baker Tyres – Broadway Tyres
Baldonrie Garage – Kenway Tyres
Carmarthenshire Tyre Services Ltd – King David Tyres
DIY Motorist Centre – WJ Wood & Son
Holderness Tyre Services Ltd – BAB Distribution
Hometyre Services – Car Tyrestore
Homend Tyres – ETB
K&M UK Ltd – EG Wholesale
Leeds Commercial Vehicles – NE Wholesale
Lurgan Tyre Company – MT Wholesale
Tyre Care Ltd T/A Havers Tyres – We Sell Tyres (Wholesale)
Wheels ‘n’ Tyres – Oak Tyres
DailyDepot to Promote New Designs; e-Commerce
Product NewsBooth 2105 in Hall 2 will belong to DailyDepot Inc., a wheel production division under China Southern Motor Group. Products cover alloy wheel for passenger cars, steel wheel for passenger cars and steel wheel for commercial vehicles. The company has an annual production capacity of 5 million piece alloy wheels and 9 million piece steel wheels. It has in-house test labs and tooling work-shop, with teams to provide service from scratch, R&D to production to logistical services. Moreover, the company says it can support EDI and JIT system too.
Its experience includes the joint-development of new product and supply chain management, with customers including China Chery, China BYD, Audi, Ford, India Tata, and many other prestige after-market brands in United States and EU. DailyDepot will be welcoming interested observers to its booth, promising presentations on new designs in a fully-curtained area. It will also promote its new e-Commerce enabled website during the show, with registered customers in with a chance of winning a set of alloy wheels.
Mondolfo Ferro at Autopromotec: 46 years in the service of wheels
Product NewsMondolfo Ferro says that it was keen to show its commitment to the research of new solutions at Autopromotec 2009. Therefore the show represented the chance to show off its newest wheel servicing products, including the Aquila Raptor and the TBE 160 Matic truck tyre changer.
The company says that the Aquila Raptor is a new tyre changer based on the combination of all types of performance that today’s tyre dealers request from a machine. The mounting and demounting procedures are executed through lever-less technology, consolidating work procedures. It makes it possible to eliminate risks and tiredness for the operator. Among the characteristics emphasised by Mondolfo Ferro are the centralised control console, the double-disc vertical bead breaker unit, which allows the bead breaking operation in the work position, and a safe and rapid wheel blocking pneumatic system.
