Wheels
TIA 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.
On 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.
Through 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.
Wolfrace 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 […]
With 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.
The 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.
At 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 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 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.
The 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 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
Booth 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 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.
Japanese brand Yokohama says that it is becoming more widely adopted as original equipment within the SUV and high performance 4×4 segments. The manufacturer’s flagship ADVAN Sport tyre is fitted to the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne models and has been added to the AMG-tuned version of the Mercedes ML63 AMG 4×4. The size 295/40×20 front and back has been fitted to that particular model; the ADVAN range is available in 19”, 20” and 21” options, sized 275/45×19, 275/40×20 and 295/35×21 respectively. The Touareg uses the 19” and 20” options, while the Cayenne adds the 21” alternative.
Another manufacturer to select the Yokohama ADVAN Sport for its large SUV/4×4 model is Audi. The German manufacturer has already adopted the Sport for its flagship A6 and A8 models and now, the Q7 SUV is fitted with ADVAN Sports from the factory. Sized either 265/50R19 or 275/45R20, the ADVAN Sports fitted to the Q7 are speed rated to 300kph to cope with one of the most powerful SUVs on the market today.
Revolution Motorstore recently went the extra mile in terms of customer service when a discerning Subaru 22B owner gave them the chance to show off. According to the company, “the highly desirable homologation special demands a different offset from all other classic Subaru models, and for those with a real eye for detail, also used a different shade of gold on its wheels to any other Subaru model.” With the client looking to upgrade to an 18-inch rim that properly filled the arches, without having to resort to spacers, Revolution called on the company’s special relationship with the Braid factory in Spain and ordered a set of unique wheels, complete with the perfect bowl and offset for the car.
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