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Winter Tyres

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Flexibility key to success at Van den Ban

Following the crazy scramble for tyres in the winter of 2010/11, when availability was low and some sizes couldn’t be purchased at any price, in 2012 the European market now faces the reverse situation – tyres are there to purchase but unsold stocks are spoiling many people’s appetite to buy. To retain a competitive edge in such changeable conditions requires flexibility; and this is precisely the quality that Dutch wholesaler Van den Ban prides itself in possessing. Flexibility in its various forms was a key theme when Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with commercial manager Cyril Versteeg and Kees Nieuwland, who is responsible for the company’s UK and Ireland sales during a recent visit to the company’s headquarters in Hellevoetsluis, not far from the major port of Rotterdam.

20th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Growth continues at Euro-Tyre

A year ago the newly appointed managing director of Euro-Tyre BV, Frank van Leeuwen, reported that the Netherlands-based wholesaler enjoyed growth in excess of 25 per cent in 2010. Yet the company, like many in the business, needed to remain on the ball in order to avoid the widespread tyre availability issues brought on by an improving economy. Now, 12 months later, Euro-Tyre says that while the problem of availability and supply lies in the past, the pattern of strong growth has continued.

19th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

New products, developments aplenty at Geneva show

The Geneva-based Salon International de l'Auto, better known to us as the International Motor Show, wound up yesterday. This year the show and its more than 850 vehicles on display attracted some 702,000 visitors. In addition to presentations from major and specialist vehicle manufacturers, tuners and appearances by celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, a handful of tyre makers maintained a presence in Geneva and showed off their latest products alongside up and coming technologies.

19th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Lassa exhibits Phenoma, Competus H/P at Geneva

Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Tyre Manufacturing and Trading Inc tyre brand Lassa is presenting its products on a 75m2 stand at the Geneva International Motor Show. Halit Şensoy, director of Lassa International Sales and Marketing says the show “provides an excellent opportunity for us in order to share the technology, design and philosophy behind our brand.” Visitors to Lassa’s stand can see the brand’s range of summer and winter tyres, its new range of ultra high performance and 4×4 tyres and its light truck and van products. Lassa said the main focuses of the stand are the Phenoma, Lassa’s sports tyre, and the Competus H/P, for passenger cars of all sizes.

15th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to introduce winter EV tyre

Starting in autumn 2013, Continental will produce a winter tyre for electric cars. The company previewed this tyre, the Conti.eContact Winter, at the Geneva Motor Show and shared that it can cut rolling resistance considerably compared with its standard equivalent. “The 20-inch size was decided upon due to rolling resistance and wear criteria,” commented Alexander Bahlmann, head of media and public relations for Continental’s Tires division. “It was the best size in comparison to a standard winter tyre; rolling resistance has been reduced by 25 per cent compared with a 16-inch tyre.”

15th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Developing a benchmark winter product

As you can imagine safety is a key concern for tyre buying consumers all year round, but it is an even more critical influencing factor in the winter months. However, what is interesting to learn from the Michelin research behind the recent Pilot Alpin 4 launch, is that the very same consumers that actively sought out expensive cars that allow them to drive towards their performance limits and tyres that allow them to safely feel the thrill of this experience have a different view when the weather’s cold. In the summer months it seems that it is all systems go, with handling and performance (which Michelin sums up as “control”) the order of the day. In the colder months what Michelin terms “mobility” is amongst the most desired characteristics. The same consumer that was impatient to hit the limits in summer is impatient to hit the road while other drivers are stuck at home in winter.

13th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Eco and winter performance no contradiction in latest ContiWinterContact

Visitors to the Geneva Motor Show will be amongst the first to see Continental’s latest winter tyre, the ContiWinterContact TS 850. The new range is scheduled to debut in Europe during the coming autumn, and according to Alexander Bahlmann, head of media and public relations for Continental’s Tires division, although the main focus when designing the TS 850 was on traditional winter tyre qualities such as braking and performance on snow, wet and ice surfaces, the new tyre also utilises rolling resistance reduction technology originally developed for the ContiEcoContact 5. Therefore, Continental was able to improve rolling resistance by eight to ten per cent in comparison with the ContiWinterContact TS 800.

9th March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Sailun adds 15 sizes to winter tyre range

Sailun has expanded its winter tyre size range, adding 15 more fitments in total for the studdable Ice Blazer WST1 winter tyre and the studless Ice Blazer WSL2 winter tyre. According to the company, new sizes are available across both patterns and cover the 15, 16, 17 and 18-inch options and will be released from production in April and May 2012.

2nd March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Winter testing at new Bridgestone proving ground

With the increasing use of cold weather tyres across many European markets as a result of legislation, recent harsh winters, and increased product awareness, the development cycle for new models has reduced in length. The world’s biggest manufacturer, Bridgestone has responded to the increased interest in the segment – and the resultant quickening of technological improvements – by signing a long-term lease on its new Sweden Proving Ground (SPG), located in Vidsel in the north of the country under 100km from the polar circle, and an hour’s drive north of Lulea airport. Its representatives told tyrepress.com that the estimated new seasonal product cycle would now be “no more than two winters”, since the “life cycle of a winter tyre is getting shorter”.

2nd March 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin presents new Pilot Alpin 4 and Latitude Alpin winter tyres

Michelin has launched the latest version of its Pilot Alpin UHP and Latitude Alpin SUV winter tyres. According to the manufacturer, the new incarnations of its flagship winter products will set a new benchmark for the segment. With the tyres scheduled to arrive in the European replacement markets in spring 2012 (beginning around May), Michelin makes the claim that the tyres deliver “unparalleled results in terms of safety, mobility and longevity” by pointing to a raft of TUV SUD test results to back up its assertions.

29th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

British artists create exhibition from Cooper tyres

Four British artists chosen in partnership by Cooper Tire Europe and the UK’s leading art store, Castle Galleries, have created visual artworks starting with tyres as effective canvasses. Based on three themes relevant to Cooper Avon products and their motorsport heritage, the artists spent 257 man hours crafting the pieces, which will be displayed at Artica Galleries, South Molton Street, London until 17 February 2012.

14th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Coach operators stay legal with Continental

Coach operators who travel to Europe throughout the winter season need to ensure that their tyres and vehicles comply with local legislation. These vary greatly from country to country in Western Europe and drivers may suffer financial penalties or even be prevented from travelling through certain areas if they don’t adhere to the regulations.

9th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli supports Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy

With impeccable timing during the current cold snap, Pirelli and the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy have got together to help learner drivers become more aware of the risks of hazardous driving conditions.

Pirelli has supplied the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy’s fleet of A-Class cars with Pirelli Cold Weather tyres to help raise awareness of the importance of preparing your vehicle before the onset of wintery road conditions.

9th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti releases updated winter tyre guide

Were you aware that between 1 November and 15 April operators of trucks driving in or through Austria risk a driving ban and a fine of up to 5,000 euros for not having M+S tyres on at least one drive axle? Or that studded tyres are permitted – albeit sometimes at a cost – during winter in Norway? Or that in Finland motorists may drive year-round on summer tyres, provided their vehicle is preceded by a husky wearing a hi-vis collar?

9th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian profit up 82% in 2011

Despite the biting chill of the Finnish winter, the team at Nokian Tyres has surely been warmed by the company’s performance results for the 2011 financial year, which were released on 8 February. During the twelve month period group net sales rose 37.7 per cent to 1.46 billion euros and operating profit increased 71.1 per cent to 380.1 million euros. Better still, the all-important bottom line shot up 82.0 per cent, with profit for the year to 31 December 2011 amounting to 308.9 million euros.

8th February 2012/by Tyrepress Editors