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Cooper Makes Sales & Marketing Appointments

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has made five key sales and marketing appointments that are as follows: Phil Kortokrax moves into the newly created position of vice president, dealer channel sales, and will be responsible for realigning the sales and marketing team with a channel and market-facing focus. Currently the general manager of Cooper’s Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Kortokrax started his career with Cooper in 1990 and has worked in computer programming, production management, as director of internal audit. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio, and a master’s in business administration from the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.

Adam Zickert has accepted the position of director, wholesale channel. Zickert joined Cooper in 2005 as Great Lakes regional sales manager and most recently worked as business development manager for the North Central region. He previously worked as sales and marketing director for Rockford Products Corporation. Zickert earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rockford College, Rockford, Illinois.

17th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to be OE in the ‘Final Frontier’

Goodyear, a major supplier of tyres on at least one planet in our solar system, is working with the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) to significantly evolve its run-flat technology in order to boldly go where no run-flat has gone before. The project is being funded by a seed fund established by NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program (IPP), and the goal is to develop non-pneumatic tyres initially for use on the Moon and eventually on Mars. Any new technologies perfected along the way may also be deployed closer to home.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Claims Top Spot in Tire Rack Tests

(Tire Review/Akron) Pirelli Tire North America said its P Zero topped a recent Tire Rack test of “max performance” tyres, besting two other unnamed UHP tyres. The testing was conducted at Tire Rack’s test track in South Bend, Indiana, using 2006 BMW325i E90 saloons with new 225/40ZR18 tyres mounted on 18×8-inch wheels.

The evaluations, said Pirelli, included cornering, lane change, acceleration, traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability “normally only encountered in abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.”

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

VAG Approval For Beissbarth Tyre Changer

Beissbarth has received approval from the VAG group – comprising Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda – for its MS67 tyre changer.

The MS67 was launched last year and has been an instant success says Beissbarth UK’s managing director Philip Hodges: “We are delighted with this latest accolade for the MS67. Customers have been quick to spot the huge benefits of this model, designed to meet the ever-present health and safety regulations, and provide a fast and efficient service for technicians and customers.”

11th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New VP of Accuride Wheels Appointed

Accuride Corporation has announced the appointment of Leigh Wright to the position of vice president of Accuride Wheels, effective December 4. Wright was formerly vice president of Steel Wheels, and in his new role will be responsible for the strategic global leadership and manufacturing oversight of the company’s steel and aluminium wheel manufacturing facilities.

10th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Opens New Hungary Production Line

On 8 November Alcoa officially opened its new Dura-Bright forged wheel production line at its Hungary factory. According to the company, the Alcoa Dura-Bright surface treatment process in Hungary is a very environmentally friendly operation, thanks to the “Green solution for wastewater treatment and recycling systems”, which generates zero liquid disposal, as it uses 100 per cent recycled rinse water. The first “European” Dura-Bright wheels are expected to roll off the line in January 2008. In the meantime, Dura-Bright wheels will continue to be shipped via Alcoa’s European central stock for short term delivery.

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kirkby Secures ‘Giant’ OE Deal

Kirkby Tyres & Wheels has secured a large scale OE contract to supply to OTR tyres to a particularly UK-based manufacturer. The deal will see the Liverpool-based wholesaler counter EM tyre shortage issues by supplying between 5000 and 7000 tyres a year, including certain ‘giant’ sizes. Speaking to Tyres & Accessories after giving a company statement on the Michelin/Double Coin dispute, Kirkby managing director, Dave Dorrity, said the agreement would be a “multi-million pound” contract.

3rd December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bosal Produces New Alloy Display Stand

Bosal has developed a new modular display unit as a way to store and display alloy wheels in parts departments and accessory shops. The system uses pre-cut lengths of high quality chromed tube to create different sizes of display to hold from three to 48 wheels. Alloy wheels up to 19 inches can be displayed and the unit is free-standing enabling it to be located on the shopfloor, in a reception area or as a window or shop front display.

Each unit comes in kit form with full and easy-to-follow assembly instructions. There’s no cutting required and self-assembly is simple and fast, requiring only the use of an Allan key. Feet are supplied for securing to the floor in accordance with the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Code.

29th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Presents Forged Supersingle Wheel

Alcoa has demonstrated its leadership in the forged aluminium wheel market by producing a new product designed for use on 455/40 R22.5 Goodyear and Dunlop, as well as Michelin 455/45 R22.5 trailer and semi-trailer tyre sizes. The wheel is also compatible with products in this size produced by other manufacturers.

The wheel has a 120 mm offset and load rate of 5150 kg. It weighs 32 kilograms versus 49 kilos for a steel wheel. This means a weight reduction of 17 kilos, or 35 per cent for each wheel. That’s a weight saving of up to 120 kilos per trailer.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin and Kirkby Settle Copyright Dispute

Kirkby Tyres & Wheels has agreed to end the distribution of a number of Double Coin brand tyres that Michelin claimed infringed the French manufacturer’s intellectual property rights. According to the agreement, Kirkby will cease distribution of the tyres and also remove all versions of “Michelin-copyrighted content” from its websites within an agreed period of time. In return Michelin is dropping its legal action for “infringement and other issues.”

In May Michelin informed the media that it was filing suits against tyre dealers selling the Double Coin brand because of tread patterns similar to those on Michelin truck tyres. The French tyremaker had previously (in December 2005) alerted more than 5,000 tyre dealers that while the treads may look the same on both tyres, the look-alikes may not deliver the same grip or longevity as an authentic Michelin tyre.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bringing the World to China

China at the start of the 21st century can claim to hold a position on the world stage enjoyed by Britain in the 19th – the People’s Republic is the undisputed ‘workshop of the world’, and its swelling output of manufactured products has seen the country grow to become the world’s fourth largest economy. Included in this swift expansion has been tyre industry production – recent figures indicate that China now produces some 330 million tyres annually. Of this amount 235 million are radial types, and two-thirds of these are destined for export. However, China has not merely grown as a production site for meeting the needs of global markets. The Chinese are quickly becoming a nation of consumers, and their appetite for vehicles is voracious. While only six Chinese out of every hundred own a car, research conducted by AC Nielsen indicates that China contains more people who aspire to own a car, but currently do not, than any other country. The outlook for tyre sales within China is thus good, and domestic demand is tipped to surpass export figures in about five years’ time. Whether buying or selling tyres, China is a country that provides many lucrative business opportunities.

21st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Lamborghini Selects Beru f1Systems for TPMS

Automotive engineering specialists BERU f1systems has announced that it is supplying its award-winning digital tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) DigiTyre to Lamborghini for the Gallardo and Murciélago platforms. The safety feature, developed using Beru f1systems’ motorsport experience, is based on the technology of BERU’s Tire Safety System (TSS), which is fitted on vehicles by Audi, BMW and Porsche. DigiTyre is standard fit on US Gallardo and Murciélago models to comply with the TREAD act. (The TREAD act makes it mandatory for passenger vehicles and light trucks sold in the USA to be fitted with a pressure monitoring system).

Specialist and niche vehicle manufacturers rightly demand robust and integrated solutions,” says BERU f1systems’ managing director John Bailey. “The higher speeds, higher cornering forces and demands experienced by performance cars rule out many solutions currently available. Our system is robust, light yet still retains all the integration features such as end of line testing and dealer diagnostics that OEMs require.”

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Agarwal Rubber: Driving Ambition

Agarwal Rubber Limited was incorporated in 1983 and is part of the Agarwal Group; one of the leading private business groups in India, with interests in a number of fields, including automobile rubber products, tyres, tubes, flaps, cement manufacturing and real estate. Agarwal Rubber was the first company in India to exclusively manufacture butyl rubber tubes and flaps – products which had traditionally been manufactured by tyre companies – and the initial capacity was 200 tubes per day. This has risen somewhat, as today’s daily production capacity stands at 30,000 tubes.

The company is already well known for its Maruti brand of products, which include tyres and tubes for everything from two wheelers through passenger cars and LCVs to trucks and even tubes for aircraft wheels. Agarwal Rubber has recently extended its range with the addition of a new brand, ARL.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup + OE Approval for BMW M3 Extended

The recently introduced Michelin Pilot Sport Cup + has been approved as original equipment on the latest version of the BMW M3, launched in the second half of 2007. Already OE for the coupe version of the M3, the Pilot Sport Cup + is the French tyremaker’s top-of-the-line sports tyre. Developed for high speed track racing, it also meets all the requirements of public highway driving, as evidenced by the “DOT” marking on the sidewall.

The technology ensconced within the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup + enables the tyre to handle extreme track conditions while delivering optimal grip for safe everyday driving. To achieve this dual objective, Michelin implemented a two-compound design. Because wet-road driving makes considerable demands on the inside shoulder, silica has been included in this section of the tread, thus guaranteeing superior traction on slippery surfaces. Inversely, carbon black is used on the outer shoulder for maximum grip on dry surfaces. These two different blends, each of which is adapted to a specific type of use, are rarely seen together on the same tyre. Michelin claims that its ability to combine technologies that are normally incompatible is what makes the Pilot Sport Cup + a truly innovative product.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maywood Releases New 2 Post Lift

The Maywood Equipment Group has announced the arrival of a brand new electro hydraulic 2 post lift, the KH32. This lift is produced exclusively for Maywood and its introduction comes subsequent to extensive market testing in France and more recently in The UK. The KH32 is available in either single or three phase and has a 3.2 tonne capacity. It features a baseframe, extending its suitability to almost any floor, subject to good concrete conditions. Maywood reports the KH32 is competitively priced and available from the company’s distributors, including Unipart Automotive.

Features of the KH32 lift include arms that swing inwards to fit in between wheels and has a double cable lifting mechanism. It is suitable for general workshop use but also for tyre bays or body repair shops. The lifting pad height is 110 mm, suitable for most cars, and the lifting height of 2074 mm is higher than many lifts. The KH32 comes equipped with many safety features including integrated emergency lowering feature.

2nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors