Wheels
Superior Industries International has announced a net loss of US$14.2 million for the third quarter of 2008, including a charge linked to the December closure of its factory in Pittsburg, Kansas. In the comparable quarter of 2007 Superior recorded a net loss of $739,000. Unit shipments decreased 29 per cent in the quarter, compared with the same period a year ago, and were at the lowest level since the third quarter of 1998.
Pirelli may gain global recognition through its artistic and iconic calendar, but Goodyear has the blimp – and a 58 metre long airship floating in the sky is a spectacular way for the tyre major to promote its brand. The company has operated blimps since 1925 and currently has three in service. One of these airships, the Spirit of Goodyear, recently became the first Goodyear blimp to meet another illustrious American icon – the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
In the US, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) have announced that they will offer TIA’s Basic Automotive Training Service (ATS) course via BFNT’s Bridgestone Consumer Tire Education Network. TIA’s ATS Program is designed to meet the need for properly-documented training amongst new employees. Comprised of eight modules, the course covers topics such as the basic principles of tyres and wheels (including sizing and sidewall information), diagnosing tyre and wheel problems and step-by-step procedures for installing one-piece and two-piece nail-hole repairs in passenger and light truck tyres.
TIA executive vice president, Roy Littlefield, stated that, “TIA is proud to offer Bridgestone-brand dealers the opportunity to take advantage of our superior Basic ATS course from the convenience of their computers. This is yet another example of TIA meeting the ever-changing needs of the tire industry.”
Motorists with cash in their pockets have given chrome wheels the nod for the last decade, but in America these look-at-me vehicle accessories are losing favour with drivers pummelled by rising fuel and other costs. In an article published by USA Today, König Wheels sales manager Jim Fisher commented that the fashion for chrome wheels “might come back, but it’s going to be a while…..we’re selling something that people don’t need.”
At the end of October Watts Tyre Group announced that it has entered a partnership with the world’s leading manufacturer of off-highway wheels, GKN Wheels FAD, part of the off highway division of GKN plc. The agreement will see Watts service the agricultural and construction equipment aftermarkets in the UK and Ireland. As a result of the deal Watts will distribute GKN Wheels FAD’s range of agricultural wheels for vehicles such as trailers and tractors as standalone units to the market in general and as fitted tyre and wheel assemblies to OEM’s in the agricultural and construction sectors.
A new alloy wheel design, derived from the rims worn by the Porsche RS Spyder racing car, is now available exclusively for the 911 Turbo model.
This is a style of wheel that has been seen in all the right places recently – the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype recently won all titles in the ALMS American Le Mans Series for the third time in a row. A further outstanding achievement of the Porsche RS Spyder is that it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its class this year at its very first attempt and also brought home the winner’s title in the European Le Mans Series.
Tire Group International (TGI) has taken on distribution of Mickey Thompson and Dick Cepek tyres and wheels in the South Florida market, as well as Central America, South America and the Caribbean. TGI said it would carry the full line of Mickey Thompson tyres and wheels in their Miami distribution center. Both brands are owned by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
“The addition of Mickey Thompson to our current product portfolio is another step in solidifying TGI’s position as the market leader in the distribution of quality tyres, both in South Florida and throughout the Americas and Caribbean,” said TGI president and CEO Tony Gonzalez. “Mickey Thompson is a perfect fit for TGI and with our marketing expertise and current customer base, we feel that we can make a significant impact in our markets rather quickly.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Titan has reported all time third-quarter sales, profit and income results upon releasing its latest financial results. Sales for third quarter 2008 were $255.5 million, an increase of $60 million, or 31 per cent, as compared to $195.5 million in the third quarter of last year. Gross profit, at $37.4 million for the quarter, showed an improvement of over $19 million, or 105 per cent, from the $18.3 million recorded in last year’s third quarter. Income from operations was $21.3 million for the third quarter of 2008, rising $18.5 million, or 688 per cent, compared to $2.7 million in the previous year’s third quarter. Net income was $10.3 million for the quarter, an improvement of $11 million, compared to last year’s third quarter loss of $900,000.
On September 18, dignitaries gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland for the opening of the latest section of the city’s Metro rail system. The 5.9 km long stretch of railway presented engineers with numerous obstacles to overcome – within the modest distance trains cover on the line, the track rises from 373 to 711 metres above sea level, with gradients of up to 12 per cent encountered along the way. What makes this particular railway line of particular interest to us, however, is that instead of the toothed metal wheels traditionally used by railways in mountainous areas, the new Lausanne m2 line runs on Michelin tyres.
When it comes to sourcing forged aluminium wheels, you can count the number of suppliers on one hand. Apart from one or two other suppliers like Motor Wheel Service Group (MWS), which launched a reportedly Indian-sourced 17.5 – 22.5-inch commercial vehicle wheel range in 2005, the market is dominated by multinational aluminium giant Alcoa. One company that has so far kept under the radar, however, is Chinese manufacturer Zhejiang Hongxin Technology Co., Ltd.
Located in Huangyan, Taizhou City in China’s Eastern Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Hongxin says that it is the only forged alloy wheel maker currently producing in mainland China (there are others close-by in places such as Taiwan). But this claim is in itself a relatively recent development.
If white is now the new black, then Revolution Motorstore says matt is most definitely the new gloss. Celebrating this new trend in some considerable style, Revolution presents its latest visual feast, the Mak XLR Ice Black. This lightweight multispoke design wheel marries ultra light weight with strength and design integrity. As with most Mak wheels, the XLR is available in a wide range of stud patterns to suit the vast majority of European, Japanese and Tuner cars. Initial sizes will be 17 and 18-inch, with 16-inch to follow soon.
German tuning specialist Brabus has launched a range of monoblock light-alloy wheels for the latest Mercedes S-Class and CL-Class models. Customers can choose from three Brabus designs – the six double spoke Brabus Monoblock; the sporty- looking Monoblock S wheel with its five polished double spokes; and a 22-inch version of the Monoblock E wheel family, which features nine strikingly styled spokes and a polished drop centre.
The new 22-inch Monoblock wheels can be mounted in size 10Jx22 front and back, and the German Technical Agency (TÜV) has approved them for use with 275/25 ZR 22 (front) and 295/25 ZR 22 (rear) tyres.
The November edition of Tyres & Accessories contains this year’s batteries feature, traditionally coverage of an important yet all too often overlooked automotive component. Yet in recent times the humble battery has stepped out of the shadows, gaining recognition as more than a means of powering up a car’s accessories. The clean, green battery is again being taken seriously as a provider of motive power, and major manufacturers are taking a keen interest in its potential. The latest to do so is the BMW Group, which in late November is revealing its new electrically powered Mini.
Shanghai Baolong has embarked on a new publicity campaign promoting its commercial vehicle tyre pressure monitoring system (CV TPMS). The system is designed to permanently monitor both the tyre pressure and temperature and warns the driver in the event of a dangerous pressure loss or overheating, making an important contribution to road safety and fuel economy. The system is already available for use as a stand alone system or integrated into all classes of commercial vehicles – including trailers and semi-trailers.
Each battery-powered wheel transmitter installed inside the tyre measures the pressure and temperature every four seconds, together with the individual ID code of the transmitter, these values are sent by RF to the receiver via transceiver at 30-seconds intervals. The receiver evaluates the data, identifies the transmitter and decides whether or not the driver needs to be informed.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has added a “Buy Now” feature to its Mickey Thompson website. The move will allow consumers “access to easy, one-click shopping, instant price and shipping cost comparisons, and a simple shopping-cart style check out that makes purchasing tyres and wheels quick, easy and fun,” Cooper said. According to Cooper, “when the “Buy Now” button is selected, a revolutionary search engine technology searches the top Internet sales locations for pricing, and links the user to the shopping cart for that unique part number.”
“The benefits to the consumer include eliminating the cumbersome and time-consuming process that is associated with shopping for a product online by utilising a system that identifies the product by its unique part number,” Cooper said. “The benefits to the internet retailer include premium positioning, measurable/trackable results, and premium level support, including advertising support through consumer print ads, web and banner ads, Google AdWords marketing, and cable television ads in select markets.” (Tire Review/Akron)
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