Winter Tyres
The autumn of 2011 was one of the warmest we’ve had in a while, but now the nip of winter has arrived and air temperatures are dropping. More importantly for motorists, the seven degrees Celsius threshold – the level at which the tread compound in summer tyres begins to harden – has been crossed. In light of this, TyreSafe has again shared it winter tyre message with Britain’s drivers.
The latest forecast for the UK’s replacement tyre market for 2011 suggests volumes total 1 million units, which will be marginally down on the comparable 2010 figure of just over 1,050,000 units. Speaking at the recent Continental UK market trends briefing in London, new commercial vehicle marketing manager Tracey Hyem explained that the recent UK trend was at odds with the European experience, which has seen most other countries experience positive growth in replacement tyre sales with an average increase of 3 per cent overall.
The Association of British Insurers has issued a statement reassuring motorists that fitting winter tyres shouldn’t result in an extra charge on their motor insurance. ABI member insurers, who represent 90 per cent of the UK motor insurance market, have confirmed they will not charge any additional premium if winter tyres are fitted, provided the tyres meet, and are fitted in accordance with, vehicle manufacturer specifications – and are in a roadworthy condition.
Work on Continental’s Kaluga passenger tyre factory in Russia is underway. On 29 November the tyre maker held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site and signed an investment contract with the Kaluga regional government. Continental says first stage work at the Kaluga plant will cost approximately 240 million euros and provide for a four million tyres a year capacity, with the first passenger car tyres scheduled to roll of the production line towards the end of 2013. Further expansion of the facility in the short-term is also planned, the company adds.
A survey by online retailer in the UK mytyres.co.uk, part of Delticom, found that staying mobile in winter was important to an overwhelming majority of motorists (82 per cent). Almost two thirds of respondents rated staying mobile as “very important” or “critically important”, the company says. However, the company contrasts this desire to stay on the roads in winter conditions with the results from another independent survey from vehicle auction company Manheim. According to the results from their survey, only five per cent of motorists are planning to purchase winter tyres this year.
A new online tyre retailer in the UK has reported that sales and enquiries about winter tyres have exceeded its expectations, with “sales that are comparable to Denmark”. Goodgrip.co.uk launched in the UK market in October and is a trading name of Bythjul Norden AB, which has a presence in the Nordic markets dating back to 2001 selling over half a million tyres, and recently launching in Germany.
In an interview with the Hindu Business Line, Apollo Tyres vice-chairman and managing director Neeraj Kanwar stated he expects to see more gains like those the company experienced in Europe during the second quarter of the financial year. “The trend will continue, Kanwar told the paper. “Already we are seeing good growth even in Q3. In fact, in Europe, Q3 will be much better than Q2, both on sales and profitability.”
It’s been reported that numerous councils across England are reducing spending on winter road services such as gritting – some by as much as 30 per cent. Commenting on these planned cutbacks, Michelin says there has never been a better time for motorists to fit cold weather tyres.
The ears of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association must have been rather warm as Ashley Croft, chairman of the Tyre Wholesalers Group of the NTDA, gave his speech at the group's annual lunch. Around 75 people – customers and suppliers – attended the event on 22 November at the National Motorcycle Museum and, as well as lunch, there was plenty of food for thought, particularly for manufacturers of premium brands.
At the Essen Motor Show in Germany, which gets underway on 25 November, Apollo Vredestein will present the Vredestein Wintrac Nextreme SUV, a tyre initially displayed at last year’s Reifen Essen show. Capacity restrictions prevented the tyre from being introduced in time for the winter of 2010/11; now the tyre maker is ready to bring its new 4×4 product to market. No mention has been made on a release date for the passenger car version of the Wintrac Nextreme, which was also shown at Reifen Essen.
A website celebrating the 75th birthday of the world’s longest-produced winter tyre range has gone live. This year Nokian Tyres is celebrating three quarters of a century of Hakkapeliitta production, and anyone wishing to learn more about the tyre’s history and heritage can visit the company’s www.hakkapeliitta75.com website; featured on the site is are images and videos of Hakkapeliitta tyres over the decades, as well as a timeline and thematically-presented information about the tyre and the Finnish manufacturer.
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This autumn has been relatively mild, yet despite this so-called “Indian summer” Cooper Tire Europe has reminded motorists that ice and snow covered roads may be just around the corner and therefore they should prepare their vehicles for the winter weather sooner rather than later.
According to Continental, the harsh UK and Northern Ireland winters of recent times have brought about an increase in demand for truck winter tyres. To meet this higher demand, the tyre maker has added five new sizes to its Scandinavia 2 range of winter tyres for truck, bus and coach.
Four recent independent tests in Europe have recommended Goodyear’s UltraGrip 8 winter tyre. Tests conducted by Auto Motor und Sport; Germany's largest automobile club, Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC); and its Austrian counterpart Österreichische Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club (ÖAMTC) support similar conclusions drawn by previous 2011 tests by Germany’s AutoZeitung and GTÜ magazines. The UltraGrip 8 was launched in early 2011, and is Goodyear’s first directional tyre to use patented 3D-BIS (Block Interlocking System) Technology throughout the entire tread pattern.
MINI is the latest UK car supplier to launch a dedicated winter tyre programme. While all MINIs are supplied with summer tyres as standard, the company is now offering winter tyre and wheel packages – supplied with steel or alloy rim designs. The company's sets of winter wheels and tyres are available from £560 (not including fitting costs).
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