Tyres & Accessories August 2009
August's issue features Winter Tyres and a full preview of this year's TAFF Awards.
Winter Tyres
Posts
Marangoni Gears up for Winter
NewsThe Marangoni Group research centre is located in Rovereto, Italy, at the foot of the Alps, where snow covered and icy roads plus below-zero temperatures are normal for many weeks of the year. According to Marangoni, everyday driving experience in these conditions acts an additional tool available to the engineers who design its winter tyres. As a result, the company reports its expertise and skills in producing tyres that work well in the conditions they were designed for are greatly enhanced. Exploiting their experience, engineers at the Marangoni Car Tyre research centre have designed and developed a range of tyres that covers all car segments. This line-up is divided into series suited for continental European climates and the harsher winters of northern Europe.
Nokian Tyres Offer Slush-Planing Protection
NewsNokian has introduced new sizes of two "green" high performance winter tyres, which the company says are its safest yet – the WR G2 and, for SUVs, the W RG2 SUV. The WR G2, says Nokian, is particularly effective against "slush-planing" and aquaplaning and offers a shorter braking distance in the wet as well as improved snow grip. Its eco credentials include reduced fuel consumption, thanks to the tyre's reduced rolling resistance, plus it has a longer tread life. Three new 15" and 16" sizes have been added to the WR G2 range, which now comprises 67 sizes for rims from 14" to 20" and speed ratings from T to W.
ITA Reveals Cost Saving Tips for Winter
NewsTyres are often the most overlooked part of a vehicle, and in many cases more action is required when it comes to preparing trucks for poor weather conditions. To aid with this, the Industrial Tyre Association (ITA) has shared expert cost saving and safety tips to prepare the industrial sector for winter. ITA vice chair Clive Green has provided these tips as part of the association’s tyre selection standards to help minimise accidents and reduce unnecessary breakdowns:
Federal Sports New Booth in Moscow
International NewsFederal Tyres will show off its new trade show booth at the upcoming 2009 Moscow International Motor Show (MIMS). The 13ths edition of the MIMS will be held at the Crocus Exhibition Centre on outskirts of Moscow from Aug 26-30. During the show, Federal will be featuring competition tyres FZ101 and FZ202, its gravel rally […]
Nordisk Daek to Offer Winter Pattern Excellence at a Competitive Price
NewsWith the 2009 winter season fast approaching, Denmark-based Nordisk Dæk Import A-S (NDI) will be presenting an extensive selection of quality winter tyres to suit all European markets.
Federal and Grouptyre Launch Red Letter Day Promotion
News, PremiumGrouptyre has teamed up with Federal – the value brand for which the independent wholesaler has exclusive distribution rights in the UK – to launch a national promotion, which promises a Red Letter Day for six lucky retailers.
Membership Required
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
- Read our sector-leading articles in full
- Full analysis of tyre business segments
- Read Tyres & Accessories magazine online/in print
Already a member? Log in here
Kinforest Tyre: Putting On A Show
International News, Product NewsKinforest Tyre is one of China’s ever-growing legion of tyre manufacturers. Although the company Kinforest Tyre Co. Ltd was set up only at the end of 2007, the organisation’s history goes back to 2000, when it bought tyre-making technology from Firestone. In 2006/2007, there was co-operation with Continental until the establishment of Kinforest Tyre at the end of the year.
The Kinforest factory employs around 2,500 workers, producing passenger, UHP, light truck and winter tyres under the brand names Kinforest, Mayrun and Starlake. The tyres comply with a number of test requirements, including DOT, ECE, NOM, INMTRO, SABSAND and GCC. Kinforest also says that it was the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to achieve the ECE rolling sound certification.
Pirelli Announces 2009-10 SUV, Van Winter Tyre Roster
Product NewsPirelli has announced its range of winter tyres designed for the 4×4/SUV and van segments. The Scorpion Ice & Snow is designed to work particularly well at low temperatures and is produced in aspect ratios 35 to 75 Series, wheel diameter codes 15 to 21 and speed codes T, H and V. The Chrono Winter, meanwhile, is available for vans in aspect ratios 60 to 75 Series, wheel diameter codes 14 and 16 and speed codes R, S and T. Both tyres are emblazoned with the “Snowflake” symbol in the North American market, which is embossed on the sidewall of winter tyres that indicates their specialisation for snow.
In Tyres & Accessories, August 2009:
Winter Tyres
TAFF Awards
Brakes
Product News Safeguard Yourself From the Chill
We don’t want to ruin your summer, but we have it on good authority that these balmy months aren’t going to last. Despite a proposed Met Office climatic rescue package, analysts forecast that thermometers will soon begin dipping, and this climatic downturn will most likely show no sign of abating until early next year. But while there seems no way of halting or reversing this slide into single and minus figures, British motorists are again being offered the opportunity to protect themselves from the worst climatic recession experienced since late 2008. Turn to our August winter tyres feature to find out more.
TAFF Awards
Brityrex has been postponed until 2010 but our industry’s annual award ceremony is still going ahead as planned – as National Tyre Distributors Association director Richard Edy comments, “the dinner and awards evening are a major industry attraction in their own right and will continue to work well for our members.” Arrangements for the 2009 TAFF Awards are in hand and nominations for the September 23 event have been finalised. In August we will review the contenders for TAFF honours in readiness for the annual ceremony. Don’t miss next month’s coverage.
Vee Rubber Introduces Three New Tyres
Product News“At Autopromotec we are introducing three new tyres, the Taiga H/T; Winter Season II and Winter Season III,” said Vee Rubber’s CEO and managing director, Mr Vitorn Sukanjanapong. “The Taiga is a vast area of pine forests just to the south of the tundra in the Arctic where conditions range from near desert in summer to more than 30 degrees below centigrade in winter. In designing a brand new H/T light truck tyre we wanted to create a tyre that would capture the essence of the Taiga. It is our strong belief that the Taiga H/T does just that.
Vredestein Quatrac 3 Range Extended to Cover SUV Sizes
Product NewsIn the two years since Vredestein released its Quatrac 3, the company reports that the all-season tyre has proven to be “phenomenally successful.” The tyre range has now been extended to include SUV fitments, and these new additions are based upon many of features found in the passenger car range.
The tyre’s extra wide tread, comments Vredestein, ensures an even better road-holding and offers exceptional stability without compromising on comfort.
GfK Releases First Italian Tyre Market Figures
Product NewsPassenger car and light truck tyre sales worth 271 million euros were wrung through the tills of Italian tyre market specialists in the first two months of 2009, according to new tyre data released by market research specialists GfK. The survey’s also reveals that 2.9 million units were sold in Italy in January/February 2009. Of these, passenger car summer tyres accounted for 69.5 per cent of total sales, followed by passenger car winter tyres (17 per cent), light truck tyres (7.7 per cent) and 4×4 tyres (7.1 per cent).
The findings come as part of the first GfK Car Tires panel report, which only became available in Italy in January 2009. According to the company, the new panel audit covers the “tyre specialists” channel, with a represented ‘universe’ of 6,550 points of sale. For the purposes of this research GfK defined tyre specialists as those retailers for who tyres and related services accounted for more than 50 per cent of total turnover. The GfK panel only represents retailers with a minimum annual turnover of 150,000 euros.
Yokohama Cuts Ribbon on Thai Proving Ground
Product NewsLess than two years’ after being granted approval by the Thailand Board of Investment, Yokohama Rubber has officially opened its ‘Tire Test Center of Asia’ proving ground in Rayong Province. Work began on the 2.5 billion yen centre in September 2007 and the site was ready for use last December. Although the opening ceremony was not held until April 30, tyre testing has been performed at the proving ground since January 2009.
Porsche Panamera to Ride on Michelin
Product NewsPorsche owners who have gazed at their pride and joy and thought ‘gee, I wish it had an extra pair of doors’ have had their unspoken prayers answered – the release of Porsche’s new Panamera four-door (or five if you count the hatch – Porsche doesn’t) saloon represents the German manufacturer’s entry into a market segment where it will compete head to head with the likes of Jaguar’s new XFR and the Aston Martin Rapide. And Michelin proudly reports its selection as OE tyre supplier for the new sports saloon.
