Winter Tyres
Vredestein Tyres has further expanded its varied range with a number of new sizes. Vredestein has an excellent reputation as winter tyre specialist. The most new sizes are in the Wintrac Xtreme UHP winter tyre and its SUV/4×4 cousin, the Wintrac 4 Xtreme. There are no less than 11 new sizes for the Xtreme Until now, the Wintrac 4 Xtreme was available in 16 different sizes, but Vredestein has now added an additional five sizes to the range.
The legislation regarding winter tyres is diverse across Europe, but the distinctive safety advantages of winter tyres are convincing drivers and national governments to consider making the use of winter tyres compulsory. In turn this provides retailers with a strong selling point for customers that plan to drive abroad to enjoy ski holidays for example. The reasons for increased legal recognition is not only the advantages of winter tyres on snow and ice. The tyres’ safety benefits on slushy, wet and dry but cold roads are getting more and more recognized.
With less than 1 per cent of the total UK market, no-one is saying the cold weather segment is huge, but speaking to influential market representatives reveals that the last couple of years have seen the industry make renewed efforts to raise awareness, emphasising both the safety benefits and profitability that cold weather tyres offer. Some manufacturers are even expecting the segment to total 3 million units “in the medium to long term.” Tyres & Accessories spoke to the leading cold weather players and asked what progress they have made and what’s happening next?
In short the answer is growth. Many of the manufacturers surveyed by T&A said 2005 was a good year for cold-weather sales, while all were positive about their performance this year. T&A estimates, based on Europool figures suggest that almost 54,000 non-truck winter tyres were sold in the UK last year, up almost 15 per cent on 2004.
Goodyear Dunlop UK is listing winter tyres in its trade catalogue this season. The best-known product in Goodyear range is the UltraGrip 7, which has won awards including the prestigious ADAC test, and is on sale for the first time in the UK ahead of this winter. “Our Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D was runner up in this test, so the company is very well prepared for winter,” corporate communications manager James Bailey told T&A, adding: “Our most recent new product is from Fulda, the Kristall. This tyre is designed for SUVs and 4x4s – ideal for the skiing holiday!”
Amtel-Vredestein N.V. is to introduce its latest products for the first time in Russia at the Moscow International Motor Show 2006 (30 August to 10 September.) Tyres to be spotlighted include the Vredestein Sportrac 3, Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta, the new Amtel NordMaster ST-310 and the Amtel NordMaster CL winter tyres.
The use of winter tyres for the cold season has become widespread among European users in the last few years. In the past winter, for instance, sales in Europe increased by almost eight per cent when compared to 2004. In keeping with this trend, Marangoni Tyre is further extending its Meteo HP range of winter tyres. Extremely safe, with high performance on all types of road surface and over an exceptionally wide range of operating temperatures, Meteo HP can be defined as the no-compromise winter tyre.
Matador has added a new, high performance product to its winter tyre range – the MP59 Nordicca – a tyre designed for middle- and luxury-class European vehicles. The MP59 Nordicca has been designed with the emphasis on safety in the most demanding of conditions, without sacrificing driving performance or comfort. It has an asymmetric tread pattern and what Matador describes as “a new generation of dimensional sipes” to give increased traction on snow and ice. The tread blocks are designed for optimum transmission of braking forces in all conditions.
Deldo Autobanden (Belgium) has already pre-sold over 1 million winter tyres. The vast majority of these are made up of sales of the company’s Eurowin, Sunny and Wanli products, but between 60,000 and 70,000 premium winter tyres have also been pre-ordered. Deldo made the announcement alongside the news that it is publishing a new winter catalogue for the 2006/2007 season.
As the winter tyre season approaches Europe once again it is important to note that some European countries encounter harsher wintry driving conditions than others. However Van den Ban’s extensive selection of winter tyres is capable of meeting the challenge from comparatively mild to severe road surfaces.
Last year Van den Ban group turned-over roughly 250 million euros through the sale of around 4.7 million tyres. Now the company is aiming to increase the range of products and improve its service through the construction of a new “24,000 square-metre logistic tyre centre and a 20,000 square metre container terminal.” Tyres & Accessories met with managing director Frans van Lenten during the recent Essen show and found out more.
Nokian Tyres has recorded pre-tax profits of 10.1 million euros in the first quarter, compared with 13.7 million a year ago. In the period January to March 2006, Nokian Tyres Group recorded net sales of 149.4 million euros, an increase of 15.4 per cent on the corresponding period a year earlier. Net sales in Nordic countries increased by 6.9 per cent, in Russia and other CIS countries by 35.2 per cent, in Eastern Europe by 8.7 per cent and in North America by 25.4 per cent from the previous year.
Marangoni is exhibiting at Transpotec, which is taking place in Milan from 27 – 30 April. The company will be showing examples of its latest commercial and industrial tyres, including special, heat-resistant compounds and winter tyres for trucks.
Vaughan Freeman, a motoring writer for leading national newspaper The Times, has published an article promoting the use of cold weather tyres. Under the title “Tests Show Winter Tyres Can Cut Braking Distances”, the article explained all the important features about the introduction of cold weather tyres in the UK.
Korean manufacturer Nexen Tire has strengthened its UK presence by launching its Roadstone brand on the market. This will be exclusively distributed across the UK by award winning wholesaler BITS. Roadstone has been available in the Republic of Ireland through Phillip White tyres since November. The news that Nexen’s Roadstone brand was coming to the UK follows that company’s decision to open a London office at the end of 2005. Tyres & Accessories interviewed Nexen managing director, David Sul, Frankfurt office manager, Anthony Han and new London office manager Bong Lee at BITS’ head office in Bristol.
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. reported that operating and net income increased 26.4 per cent and 12.9 per cent, respectively, for the first three quarters of its 2005 fiscal year. Sales in North America rose compared to previous years, according to Toyo, and OE and replacement sales in Japan also increased due to rising vehicle production and higher demand for winter tyres in the country.
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