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Goodyear Releases first Kevlar Reinforced 4×4 tyre

In the US Goodyear has released its first off-road tyre containing DuPont’s Kevlar. The para-aramid fibre is used in the sidewall area of its new Wrangler MT/R range for enhanced puncture resistance. The utilisation of Kevlar, a material that is, pound-for-pound, five times stronger than steel, brings improved sidewall cut- and puncture-resistance to an area of the tyre that demands extra toughness when driving off-road – it also helps reinforce the sidewall in case of any kerbside incidents on the drive home.

“The new Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar updates the legendary off-road performing namesake, which has had a great reputation among serious off-roaders,” said Melissa Montisano, Goodyear’s general manager for light-truck tyres. “This new tyre will certainly get the attention of anyone who takes off-road traction seriously.”

20th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Takata From Wolfrace

Wolfrace has added a new wheel to its Asia-Tec Black range; a range of wheels with a Japanese bias. The wheel is called Takata and features a dark grey Graphite matt finish, offset by a durable red anodised rim. The target market for the Takata is large, powerful, Japanese vehicles and hot hatches and it comes in two sizes (7.0×17″ and 8.0×18″) with both four and five stud fitments, to fit a variety of different models.

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Launches 120mm Offset Lightweight Truck Wheel

One year on from introducing its new series of lightweight wheels, forged aluminium wheel market leader, Alco launched the new FrontRunner 22.5 x 11.75, 120 mm offset wheel. According to the company, Alcoa has succeeded in lowering the weight of this FrontRunner wheel from 25 to 23.6 kilos, shaving off a further 1.4 kilograms.

The new wheel is interchangeable with the current one and also features a repositioned hand-hole design and rim flanges with a patented “Unified Rim Horn Design” to accommodate both stick- and clip-on balancing weights. The new FrontRunner will be available from February 2009 on. The 22.5 x 11.75 wheel joins existing products in 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00, 19.5 x 7.50 and 19.5 x 8.25 sizes.

13th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli WRC Sottozero Debuts Rally Norway

Rally Norway, the second round of the 2009 World Rally Championship, begins in Hamar, 60 kilometres north of Oslo. While the mainstay of the action runs on the frozen roads around the rally’s hometown, this year on a surface that spectators can barely stand on. Heavy snowfalls in the lead up to the event have been compacted to make a near-perfect ice base for the stages. And while such conditions are a true test of man and machine, Pirelli argues that it is probably its Sottozero tyres that face the biggest test; the Italian manufacturer’s rubber is the sole link between vehicle and slippery surface.

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Targets 10% Domestic Alloys Market

Leading Indian manufacturer Apollo Tyres has launched a range of alloy wheels under the brand name Acelere Wheelz to be sold through its passenger car tyre dealers in Dehli, Bangalore, Chennai and other major cities. At the launch, the company stated that it was “confident of capturing between 7 per cent to 10 per cent of the alloy wheels market in India,” and that it plans to release a new collection of rims every six months.

You don’t have to be an osteopath to realise that the company is adding muscle to the existing bones of its tyre business, but to underline the point Apollo plans to make Acelere Wheelz available in “combo” offers with the company’s Acelere, Acelere Sports, Aspire and Hawkz passenger car tyres. At present, the Indian alloy wheels market stands at an estimated figure of around 90,000 per month, of which 40 per cent is aftermarket, says Apollo. As yet, only 15 per cent of these come from the organised sector, with the rest imported.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Launches New Alloy Wheel Range

Apollo Tyres has launched its new alloy wheel brand, Acelere Wheelz. The first products in the range, the ‘Fall-Winter’ collection, are already available through tyre dealerships across India. Apollo Tyres says that a new collection will be introduced onto the Indian market every six months, in line with its concept of the wheels as fashion accessories. The company comments that the Acelere Wheelz range is a ‘natural extension’ to its tyre range.

9th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire Appoints Silverline International to UK Distributorship

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Warwick-based Silverline International as one of its official UK distributors. Silverline International has been in business since 1988 and is, says Cooper, one of the UK’s leading centres for UHP and SUV wheels and tyres.

“We are delighted that Silverline International will be representing Cooper Tire,” said Cooper Tire divisional manager, Andy Harris. “They are one of the UK’s leading and most respected independent suppliers of tyres in the country.”

9th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Before Chipping: Crushing and Cutting

Tire Service Equipment and Saf-Tee Siping & Grooving, or TSISSG as it is known to its friends, is perhaps best known for its machinery dealing with the maintenance of tyres. However, Scottish retail business Overton Garage is heartily behind the company’s series of wheel crushing and tyre cutting equipment, having sold hundreds of examples over the years. The company reports great results for those who have made the investment; if it is time for a beloved set of rims and rubber to go to the great recycler in the sky, you may as well do them the service of making the job a quick and efficient one.

For over 25 years TSISSG has been a leading manufacturer and innovator of products and equipment for the tyre service and tyre recycling industries. Its products are designed and developed by experts in the respective industries with a passion for testing and quality, manufacturing almost all of its products in the USA.

6th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

YHI Offers a Comprehensive Range of Automotive Products

For the YHI Group, Tyrexpo Asia is a hometown show. Although the distributor and manufacturer boasts subsidiaries and associated companies in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and Italy, the Group’s activities are directed from Singapore. From humble beginnings as a sole proprietorship in 1948, YHI has grown to become a mainboard-listed company on the Singapore stock exchange and a recognised distributor of high quality automotive and industrial products and a quality manufacturer of after-market alloy wheels. The tyre brands YHI distribute include Yokohama, JK Tyre, Achilles and its own brand, Neuton.

3rd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Continues in Forged Wheel Business

Alcoa Inc’s recently announced restructuring plan is designed to help the company weather adverse global economic conditions and as such includes “decisive action,” according to the company. However, despite what some media sources erroneously reported, Alcoa is not exiting the forged aluminium wheel business. In a statement sent to Tyres & Accessories on 2 February company said: “Alcoa will continue to produce forged aluminium wheels for both auto and commercial vehicle applications.” The confusion appears to have been caused by the fact that Alcoa is exiting the cast passenger car wheel business and will consolidate and close its Beloit, Wisconsin, plant by 1 June 2009.

2nd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Norway’s Fundo Wheels Declared Bankrupt

Norwegian manufacturer Fundo Wheels, original equipment tyre rim supplier to European vehicle producers, has been declared bankrupt. It is thought that the company’s 350 employees will lose their jobs.

The company’s poor performance is said to be strongly linked to the global automotive industry slump. The company’s owners are still seeking fresh capital, and a bank has secured operations for a further month to enable the company to complete orders for Volvo and Audi.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Take Advertising Centre Stage at Super Bowl

Often dubbed “advertising’s biggest stage,” Super Bowl XLIII viewers on 1 February will see two new adverts by Bridgestone, broadcast alongside the NBC network’s coverage of the biggest event in American Football. The famous Halftime Show will also be sponsored by the manufacturer; an honour indeed since Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be trading in their wings on some – presumably Bridgestone-shod – wheels for the event.

Two 30-second commercials named “Taters” and “Hot Item” will be aired at the end of the first and during the third quarter. The ads’ production team have aimed at creating fun, memorable commercials that emphasise the performance of Bridgestone tyres. The first features Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head – two of toy giant Hasbro’s most beloved characters – making their Super Bowl debut when their excursion on a picturesque mountain road takes an unexpected turn. The second spot takes viewers to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, on which two music-loving space travellers cruise around in a space vehicle equipped with high-performance Bridgestone tyres.

27th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Lunar Wheel Shown Off During Obama Inauguration Parade

Barack Obama may have travelled on Goodyear truck tyres to his January 20 inauguration, but competitor Michelin was by no means left out in the cold during the day’s festivities. The manufacturer reports that NASA astronauts piloted their latest generation moon vehicle, the Small Pressurized Lunar Rover, in the Washington D.C. inaugural parade. The lunar rover rode from the US Capitol to the White House upon a specially engineered Michelin Tweel assembly.

“Michelin and NASA have a long history of successful collaboration. For more than 20 years, Michelin has supplied tyres for the space shuttle. Over the past three years, we have also worked with NASA to develop a revolutionary tire/wheel assembly for the next generation of lunar rovers,” said David Stafford, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Research Company. “We are pleased that NASA, one of the world’s most demanding customers, has selected Michelin to accompany them as millions see this amazing vehicle showcased for the first time.”

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Announces New Nissan OE Fitment

Yokohama has announced that the latest model to use its tyres as original equipment will be the new Nissan 370Z, the successor to the popular 350Z. The model will be fitted with the ADVAN Sport tyre and, having already gone on sale in the Japanese domestic market, will be rolled out globally during 2009.

Another car to use ADVAN tyres will be the Tesla Roadster, the world’s first electric sports car, to provide a combination of performance and safety on what Yokohama says is “one of the most innovative new vehicles for a long time.”

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Winter Driving Advice from Micheldever

You’ve probably already noticed that our mornings have been a bit nippy of late. The start to the winter was in fact, reports Micheldever Tyre Services, the coldest for three decades. A number of counties have been hit with snow, with the balance experiencing very low temperatures – the sort ideal for the build up of ice upon roads. Driving in these conditions places more emphasis on a vehicle’s tyres, and Micheldever offers the following advice to help keep control in difficult driving conditions:

19th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors