Winter Tyres
The first Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 winter tyres have been produced on schedule at Nokian Tyres’ plant in Vsevolozhsk, Russia. Actions to increase production have begun with the target to produce 200,000-500,000 tyres during 2005. The installation of a second production line will begin in the end of the current year. The official opening of the factory will be in the early autumn.
Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres Oyj reported profits of 9.4 million euros, compared with 7.1 million euros last year. At the same time net sales rose 129.4 million euros from 112.9 million. Nokian Tyres said its main target for 2005 remains to outperform the results of the previous year in terms of net sales and profit.
The last issue of Tyres & Accessories carried an in-depth article analysing the future of passenger tyre retreading in Europe. Contrary to the current prevailing opinion, the RMA believes that the passenger retreading sector is far from dead. Indeed, the association believes the overall pessimistic view of the prospects for passenger retreading is based on the failure of the retreading industry to effectively explain the role and position that passenger retreads are capable of having as well as a misunderstanding of the kind of sales levels required by the retreading industry in order to create a viable business proposition for the UK’s remaining retreaders. This viewpoint, I believe, is perpetuated by 10 key misconceptions, which I have characterised here as “The Ten Great Myths of Passenger Tyre Retreading”.
The last issue of Tyres & Accessories carried an in-depth article analysing the future of passenger tyre retreading in Europe. Contrary to the current prevailing opinion, the RMA believes that the passenger retreading sector is far from dead. Indeed, the association believes the overall pessimistic view of the prospects for passenger retreading is based on the failure of the retreading industry to effectively explain the role and position that passenger retreads are capable of having as well as a misunderstanding of the kind of sales levels required by the retreading industry in order to create a viable business proposition for the UK’s remaining retreaders. This viewpoint, I believe, is perpetuated by ten key misconceptions, which I have characterised here as “The Ten Great Myths of Passenger Tyre Retreading”.
“The atrocious road conditions of recent weeks has spawned some debate on the safety benefits of certain vehicles, centring on ultra strong safety shells, anti lock brakes and safety bags protecting every part of the drivers anatomy! However there does not seem to be any reference to the one component which largely dictates exactly where the vehicle is going – the tyres.” This was the recent comment of NTDA director, Richard Edy, in a statement concerning the UK’s current campaign for the introduction of ‘cold’ weather tyres.
Four years after launching the Meteo Esc, Marangoni Tyre has updated its winter tyre range by releasing the Meteo HP passenger car tyre. As the name suggests, the Italian company’s latest product is designed as a high performance winter offering. The new tyre will be available in time for next season (2005/2006) in 15 popular sizes with indices mainly between T and H, but with three going all the way up to V. The Meteo HP will be available in 15 to 18 inch diameters and in 65 to 40 series ratios. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Marangoni Tyre’s global sales and marketing director, Derek Carruthers, and asked how the company planned to market its new winter tyre in the UK.
German police investigating a fatal coach crash have criticised the “irresponsible” decision to send the British coach to Germany without winter tyres, according to British media reports. The accident resulted in the death of coach hostess Rosie Nolan, who died when she was hurled from the vehicle as it overturned in snowy conditions. The coach was en route to Austria for a ski trip when the accident occurred.
Watford-based Cantabrica Coaches said it was “flabbergasted” at police claims that the coach had the wrong tyres. The Highway Police in Wattenheim had said the coach was only equipped with balding summer tyres. “In the opinion of the police, it is irresponsible to send a bus with such tyres on a trip in the winter,” they said in a statement.
“We are flabbergasted that the police would say such a thing. The company has been operating for 26 years without a serious accident,” company spokesman Simon Posner said, defending his company’s safety record. “It is a modern coach, it has all the safety fittings and it was fully checked before it went,” he said. Another seven Britons were seriously injured in the crash near Grunstadt on the Mannheim-bound stretch of motorway.
While some newspapers reported analysts’ disappointment with Michelin’s weaker than expected fourth quarter sales, analysts from France, Morgan Stanley as well as Deutsche Bank do not see too much reason for concern. Although volumes were slightly negative, the positive effect of better product mix and prices has continued to be demonstrated from quarter to quarter. Obviously Michelin increased market share with winter tyres and truck tyres in the OE business. Analysts are also highlighting the fact that Michelin is to invest 500 million euros in its polish plant and is therefore ready for further expansion in Eastern Europe.
The Austrian Automotive Club, ÖAMTC, has tested five winter, two all-season and one conventional off road tyre for winter performance. All products were size 215/65 R16. According to the automobile club, snow braking performance really “separated the wheat from the chaff.” At a speed of 40 km/h the all-season tyres had a substantially longer braking distance than winter tyres.
Tyres played a significant part at this year’s Autosport Interntional/Aftermarket Show. Yes some of the biggest players (Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental) were noticeable by their absence, but the shows still managed to attract some 92,000 people of whom 25,000 were registered trade and international visitors. Importantly, a number of these visitors will have found themselves ‘crossing over’ to the other side, from consumer to trade or vice versa.
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In the last 12 months Tyres & Accessories has covered the ongoing winter tyre debate in some detail. Now, after the NTDA held a successful seminar alongside January’s Aftermarket Show, the topic is once again the subject of attention. The NTDA organised the seminar in response to demand from members who discussed the subject at the annual conference in Marbella. According to national chairman, Martin Rowlands, the subject of winter tyres was “by far the most popular topic,” along with the three millimetre replacement market and serving female customers.
Well-known motoring journalist, Robert Collin, has accused Continental of doing “anything to win magazine tyre tests.” In an article published by the Swedish Aftonbladet magazine, the journalist suggests that the company has won tests by supplying “special” tyres.
The apparent motivation for the alleged underhanded behaviour is simple. Winning a tyre test can mean an increase in sales and is therefore big business. The Aftonbladet reports that this effect is particularly marked in countries like Germany and France and so the temptation for manufacturers is great. From a magazine’s point of view, the problem is that when the latest tyres are reviewed, they are generally not available in the shops and so testers have to trust manufacturers when they provide tyres for testing.
The NTDA has confirmed that more than 100 delegates have registered to attend a seminar exploring the possibility of developing a market for winter tyres in the UK.
The suggestion follows a successful campaign in Holland, where involved parties saw the winter tyre market increase nine-fold in four years. The NTDA says that a similar exercise in the UK could establish a new market of over 2.5 million units. In Holland, the campaign has been based on the slogan: “If there’s an R in the month change to winter tyres.” Although the country has a similar climate to the UK, sales have risen from around 50,000 units in 1997 to the current high of almost 500,000.
“In a highly competitive and mature market like the UK the prospect of increasing the overall market size by over two million units is an opportunity that cannot be ignored. We are delighted with the response to the seminar which has exceeded expectations so we know the trade is interested in finding out how the concept can be turned into reality,” added Mr Edy.
Tyre & Accessories will be reporting from the seminar, which will take place on 13 January at The Aftermarket Show in Birmingham.
According to Vredestein, winter didn’t begin until it had launched its new winter tyres. Described as “extreme design and function combined in an ultra high performance winter tyre,” the Swiss launch of the Dutch company’s latest offering was always going to be an interesting event. So far the company has remained tight-lipped about its latest product. Tyres & Accessories will report from Switzerland where invited guests will be given the opportunity to test the new tyre under what the company calls “extreme conditions,” including mountain top snow.
Bandag has released a new wide-single trailer tyre range. The BTE2 is based on a polyvalent tread that the company claims surpasses the performance of its predecessor, the Bandag BZAW(E).
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