Winter Tyres
Despite announcing the need to idle workers at its Finland factory to adjust production, the latest financial figures for Nokian Tyres shows a company doing well in 2008. Results for the quarter ending September 30 show net sales, operating profit and net profit have increased both during the three-month period and during 2008 as a whole.
Despite the country’s tendency towards cold weather, motorists in the Ukraine have been advised by a Russian politician that one way of averting financial catastrophe is to not replace worn winter tyres. Irina Khakamada, quoted by the Unian news agency, gave this advice when talking about measures citizens can take to the country’s current economic crisis, measures that also include not buying currency or transferring money into cash.
The Goodyear and Dunlop brands have achieved excellent notices in the latest round of independent tyre tests for winter tyres. Both labels are hoping to capitalise on these successes on the testing track with commercial success throughout Europe. Winter tyres account for about 30 percent of total European consumer replacement tyres, so it is understandable why the companies are keen to grab a greater piece of the market. The results of these tests are generally seen as important factors in European motorists’ winter tyre buying decisions, and with the use of winter tyres a lawful requirement in several European countries, including Austria, Sweden, Finland, and the Baltics, they could prove particularly interesting to the companies.
Independent tests by the ADAC, Germany’s leading automobile club, and the auto magazines AutoBild, Stitung Warentest and Auto Motor und Sport, singled out for praise the Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip 7+, the Dunlop SP Winter Response and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D. Meanwhile Test World, the leading testing organization based in Finland, and Swedish motoring magazine Motorforaren had words of praise for Goodyear’s Ultra Grip Extreme and the Ice Navi ZEA respectively.
One of Europe’s leading distributors of winter tyres, Belgian wholesaler Deldo is offering a catalogue of 25 brands, detailing its complete product range of premium and private labels. The company already delivers to around 10,000 clients throughout Europe, and will this winter hope to increase that number by offering what the company calls an “interesting mix” in its budget label line-up.
Thanks to experience gained over many years importing tyres from Asia, Deldo is able to offer several attractive product lines. Minerva is a long-established brand name, and was introduced in 1992 as a private label. From this year Minerva is being produced by two new manufacturers, offering approximately 15 new sizes. With Rockstone (Deldo’s new exclusive brand for Europe) the budget segment has been further extended. Thanks to the introduction of the new CP-661 Roadstone (Nexen) pattern, 15 new sizes have been added to Nexen’s (already) large size range.
Bridgestone Corporation has released details of its “Mid-term Management Plan 2008” (MTP2008), which covers the period 2009 through 2013. The outline of the plan is as follows.
1. Basic Approach to MTP2008 Formulation
Bridgestone has formulated MTP2008, which covers the period 2009 through 2013, which is one year further on from MTP2007 (2008 to 2012). In making the revisions, Bridgestone updated and added initiatives in response to recent changes in the business environment, including changes in demand trends and the cost environment, in order to achieve the goals set in MTP2007.
New legislation making winter tyres mandatory in the Canadian province of Quebec is expected to lead to a shortage in some regions. Many retailers in the Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island – receive their tyres from Quebec, and the new law is already having an affect in this area east of that province.
“It could potentially be very difficult to get certain tyre sizes,” Allan Harris, manager of Miller Tires in Charlottetown informed Canadian broadcaster CBC News. “People should get their tyres early and not leave them until the last minute, because if they do they could be left out in the cold.”
Russia’s leading tyre and rubber industry companies have met as part of a subcommittee organised by the Russian Federation’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting, conducted by subcommittee chairman, Sibur-Russian Tyres’ Igor Karavaev, was held to discuss varying issues including import duties, the regulatory use of winter tyres in the Russian Federation and the issue of end of life tyre recycling.
Yes, we already know – some of you don’t think cold weather tyres are necessary in the UK because “we don’t have a winter here”. But for those who have noticed that it does indeed get rather cold in the months before and after Christmas, Continental has some heart warming news: Rolling resistance for winter tyres, contrary to common misconceptions, is no greater than that of their summer counterparts, thanks to the materials used, their low weight and tread design, all of which reduce tyre deformation.
Consumer Reports tapped the General Grabber HTS and Pirelli Scorpion ATR as highest rated all-season and all-terrain light truck/SUV tires in its latest tyre tests. In addition, the Michelin Latitude X-Ice received the top rating among the four winter tyres CR tested. The new test results will be published in the magazine’s November issue.
CR tested 34 all-season and all-terrain light truck/SUV radials, all in size P265/70R17, considering all-season performance, tread life, fuel economy, braking, wet/dry traction, handling, and price, among other attributes. The General Grabber HTS earned the top spot among all-season tyres and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR rated highest among all-terrain tires. Tests were performed on a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, CR said.
“Most of the all-season tyres CR tested performed very well in braking, handling, and hydroplaning resistance,” the magazine said. “The tyres produced a wide range of tread life and rolling-resistance ratings. But the fact that a number of all-season models with very good tread-life ratings ranked near the bottom in overall performance, shows that it’s necessary to look at the big picture when choosing tyres.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continental reports that its tyres have faired very well in a number of winter tests. Specifically, experts from the Germany’s ADAC automotive association, from the Stiftung Warentest consumer reporting institute, from the ÖAMTC (the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club), from the TCS (the Swiss Touring Club) and from two of Germany’s leading motoring magazines, “AutoBild” and “auto motor und sport” compared the ContiWinter-Contact TS 800, TS 810 and TS 830 against over sixty competitive tyres. The result of this host of tests, reports Conti, was glowing: All Continental products received the highest ratings assigned – “highly recommended”, “exemplary” or “good”. Furthermore, each of the test committees emphasised Continental’s position with regard to safety-relevant criteria and performance on wet roads.
The high number of crashes occurring above the snow line in alpine regions of Australia has prompted one Australian state to propose a regulation making the fitting of 4×4 vehicles with winter tyres or snow chains compulsory. The regulation, proposed by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) in New South Wales, would be enforced between June and October and covers the nation’s heavily visited ski areas.
“A helpful and convenient source of information!” “The most important details in a nutshell.” Comments such as these are currently being received at Kraiburg Austria in response to the first Kraiburg newsletter.
The company sent out information in August for the first time in the form of newsletter both to the business management and to the technical managers of its partner companies. The first edition featured tips and recom¬mendations for winter tyres and running commercial vehicles in winter conditions.
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Winter suddenly seems a whole lot closer, and for many of us that means a change to cold weather tyres is just around the corner. Belgium based wholesaler Deldo reminds customers that it now stocks a complete range of winter tyres, including the recently added Rockstone range. Winter sizes for this exclusive brand are available for the coming winter, with summer fitments available in 2009. In total, more than 25 brands of winter tyre in car, van and 4×4 fitments are available from Deldo, including studdable tyres for the dedicated Scandinavian markets.
Enhanced safety and driving comfort with the Firestone Winterhawk 2The new and improved high performance winter tyre gives you the reassurance of superior control of your vehicle. Comfort and economy create the perfect package.
With the winter months just around the corner, Bridgestone has introduced its newest Firestone cold weather tyre. The Winterhawk 2 is designed to offer excellent grip on snow surfaces plus enhanced performance characteristics on dry and wet roads – all this comes with, says Bridgestone, driving comfort and economy.
Van Den Ban’s (VDB) wide assortment of private brands serves a wide range of tyre market segments. And now that the company stocks the Chinese-produced Beijing Capital Tire (BCT) brand, VDB claims to hold all sizes and varieties in stock from budget tyres to high performance to SUV/4×4 tyres. “Last year we added BCT to our assortment and since then we can say we can supply all segments of the market, not only with premium brands, but also with our private labels”, says Cyril Versteeg, Commercial Manager with Van den Ban.
BCT sits at the budget end of VDB’s product portfolio and comes in a range of passenger car, (ultra) high performance, high performance, asymmetric and some light truck sizes. The S600 PCR range comprises 34 sizes from 13 to 16 inches in diameter, while UHP S800 and HP asymmetric S900 contain a total of 26 sizes and ranging from 14 to 19 inches.
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