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Three Jailed Over Marine Hose Industry Cartel

Three men have been imprisoned for rigging bids, fixing prices, restricting supplies and allocating customers within the global marine hose industry following prosecution by the Office of Fair Trading in Britain. This is the first case of its kind since the implementation of a law in 2002, which gave the consumer watchdog the ability to crack down on cartel activities.

The UK-based trio, Peter Whittle, David Brammar and Bryan Allison were sentenced to jail time of up to three years after pleading guilty. The men had already been successfully prosecuted in Texas, but the British stretch will serve towards the 20 to 30 months they were handed by the US court. After sentencing, the OFT named Dunlop Oil and Marine Ltd, Bridgestone Corp, Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd, Parker ITR S.r.l., Manuli Rubber Industries SPA and Trelleborg Industrie SA as the businesses involved in the cartel. An investigation into these companies’ activities, conducted by the European Commission, is ongoing.

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Crowe Victory Gives Yokohama 15 Consecutive Isle of Man Wins

Two wins for Yokohama-shod Nick Crowe in the sidecar class of this year’s Isle of Man TT races brings the Japanese tyre manufacturer’s string of success on the island to 15 consecutive years. Yokohama comments that not only did the winner of both races feature its tyres, so did the full podium for each race, as well as 2/3 of the runners in the class.

Crowe, who holds the sidecar lap record, faced a battle with Dave Molyneux, who himself has 13 race wins on the island. Molyneux led the field away on the first of this year’s two races but, within yards of the pit lane, was forced to retire with mechanical problems. This opened the way for another Yokohama rider, John Holden to take the early lead, followed by Crowe and new passenger Mark Cox. Crowe soon cut the six-second deficit to Holden and by the end of the first lap, had managed to get past and began to open his lead out, by setting the fastest lap of the race on lap two. Holden worked hard to try to stay in touch with the lap record-holder but Crowe proved unassailable and reached the chequered flag with a 20-second margin over second-placed Holden.

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama to Put Up Consumer Tyre Prices

Yokohama Tire Corporation have announced that increases in U.S. consumer prices will come into effect on 1st July 2008 due to the rising costs of energy and raw materials.

In addition, consumers can expect to see in-line adjustments announced at a later date, while commercial Light Truck, Medium Truck and OTR (off-the-road) tyre prices will not be affected.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Ranked No.1 in J.D. Power Winter Tyre Survey

For the fifth year in a row J.D. Power Asia Pacific has ranked Michelin the top brand for Japanese motorists in terms of winter tyre product satisfaction. The J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2008 Japan Winter Tire Customer Satisfaction Index Study is also itself now in its fifth year and measures customer satisfaction in five key areas: performance on snow covered roads, icy roads and regular roads, as well as tyre appearance and quality/durability. The overall index score is calculated based on customer evaluations and scored on a 1,000-point scale.

Average customer satisfaction for all brands is 592 points, up ten points since 2006. Industry-wide, the survey has shown tyre performance in icy and regular road conditions to have improved during the past three years. However, performance on icy road conditions has consistently received low ratings during the past three years, and according to the survey results continues to be an area for improvement for the industry.

2nd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Geared Up for Success at Isle of Man TT

After a week of practice racing in the Isle of Man TT gets underway on May 31, and Yokohama is proud that its tyres will see plenty of three-wheel action in the coming days. It reports that, once again, it is by far the dominant tyre brand in the sidecar class, with no less than 41 of the 58 entrants running on Yokohama products, serviced by Yokohama HPT dealer Express Tyres.

The favourite for the two race wins has to be Dave Molyneux, the third most successful rider ever in the history of the Isle of Man TT in terms of race wins, behind John Surtees and Joey Dunlop. He holds the position as the most successful sidecar racer, with 13 wins to his credit and giving Yokohama an outstanding record of 14 consecutive years with a win on the island. Other top runners in the class have also chosen to ride on Yokohama, with last year’s early leader Nick Crowe looking to heap the pressure on Molyneux once again. Crowe also has the island lap record under his belt, an accolade he took from Molyneux at last year’s event, with a stunning lap averaging 116.667mph over the 37-mile course. On top of this, Yokohama regular John Holden is tipped to put up a strong showing, as he, Crowe and Molyneux were the main protagonists in last year’s event.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Reaches Settlement in Patent Suit

Yokohama Tire Corp. and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. have reached a final settlement agreement with Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. pertaining to design patent infringement, with Hangzhou agreeing to destroy the manufacturing moulds and remaining inventory of its Westlake H280 tyres. In September 2006, Yokohama Tire Corp. and its parent company initiated legal proceedings against China’s Hangzhou alleging, among other claims, a violation of Yokohama’s tyre tread design patent which protects some of its best-selling lines, including the Geolandar A/T+II.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Donates to China Earthquake Victims

Yokohama Rubber Co., has made a monetary donation of 10 million yen to the Chinese Red Cross Society in order to help sufferers of the recent Situan Province earthquake and contribute to the reconstruction of the affected area. In addition, the company’s Chinese subsidiaries have given 500,000 Yuan (approx. 7.5 million yen) plus 140,110 Yuan (approx. 2.1 million yen), a voluntary donation from employees of the subsidiaries, through Chinese Red Cross Society. In China, the Yokohama Rubber Group operates a total of 7 companies including a business management company and tyre manufacturing and sales companies.

28th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

AAA Baseball Gets Yokohama Nod

Yokohama Tire Corp. will continue its relationship with US sports teams as sponsors of two AAA baseball teams – Scranton Yankees and Memphis Redbirds. According to Yokohama, each team will provide signage, hospitality events and product displays, as well as special promotions and in-store ticket giveaways and in-stadium contests.

The baseball sponsorships follow partnerships with three NBA teams, three NFL teams and two college football programs. (Tire Review/Akron)

28th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Next-Gen WTCC Tyres Already in Preparation – Yokohama

According to Yokohama, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) drivers have universally praised the performance of its Advan tyres in the hard-fought competition, but success has not stopped the Japanese manufacturer from engaging in preparation work on the WTCC’s next generation tyre. Yokohama is confirmed as the WTCC’s official tyre supplier until the end of 2009 but the company says is not resting on the success of its current racing tyre. In the background, development work is already underway on the next series of performance rubber. When the current tender ends in 2009, the ADVAN design used in today’s WTCC will be three years old. Should the FIA and WTCC teams decide to use a different specification tyre, Yokohama says it will already have developed options in line with touring car changes, and be ready to manufacture its latest product.

28th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Personnel Changes

Yokohama Tire Corp. announced that Takao Oishi will be promoted to corporate officer of The Yokohama Rubber Co., effective June 27. This is the second promotion this year for Oishi, who assumed the role of president & CEO of YTC on April 1, 2008. Oishi succeeded Norio Karashima, who was promoted to managing corporate officer earlier this year, and effective June 27, to director and senior managing corporate officer of YRC, headquartered in Tokyo. Oishi will continue to be based in Fullerton, California, where he will retain oversight of YTC.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Reports Positive Annual Results

An increase in net sales of 10.9 per cent has been reported by Yokohama Rubber for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. This figure is slightly higher than the recently revised projection of 10.6 per cent and equates to 551.4 billion yen (£2.74 billion). Operating income, at 33.1 billion yen (£164.77 million), was up 57.2 per cent, again slightly higher than the projected figure (56.6 per cent). Net income, at 21,06 billion yen (£104.84 million), was up by 28.7 per cent on last year’s results but 1.8 per cent below those of 2006.

Leading the sales growth were gains in tyre markets outside Japan, says Yokohama. Total tyre sales for the year were 419.83 billion yen (£2.09 billion), an increase of 12.6 per cent. The double-digit sales growth reportedly more than offset the still-rising prices for raw materials and the upward trend in logistics costs. Operating profitability also benefited from the weakening of the yen during the fiscal year. Operating income climbed 77.6 per cent in Yokohama’s Tire Group, to 26.0 billion yen (£129.67 million). Progress in expanding production capacity at Yokohama’s tyre plants in Asia supported the company’s unit sales growth in markets outside Japan. Also contributing to the increased operating income in the Tire Group was improved profitability at subsidiaries in the United States and in Asian nations besides Japan.

12th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Preparing for Stage 4 Expansion of Onomichi OTR Factory

The fourth stage in the planned expansion of Yokohama Rubber’s Onomichi OTR tyre plant has been announced. The factory, in Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture, has undergone expansion work since the 2007 financial year, and this latest 6 billion yen (£29.9 million) work will see monthly production capacity grow by 600 tons to a total of 2,500 tons in the financial year ending March 31, 2011, four times that of the 2007 financial year. The company reports it will reach this level earlier than the previously stated date of the 2012 financial year as strong demand for OTR tyres continues – Yokohama states a belief that demand will increase for at least another ten years.

12th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Latest TSW Alloy Wheels Now in UK

Three new TSW wheels products have hit the shelves in the UK, reports nationwide distributor Yokohama HPT Ltd – and more are on their way. The new wheels, called the Croft, Indy 500 and Jarama, all build on the company’s reputation for design and quality and, adds Yokohama HPT, pay more than a passing homage to some of the iconic motorsport venues from around the world.

The Croft, named after England’s northern race circuit, is a full-mesh design and brings an aggressive circuit look and feel to the roads. The spokes run from the edge of the mounting flange to the very outside of the wheel rim, offering a true motorsport feel. The wheel comes in gun metal with a mirror cut lip or chrome and is available in a range of sizes, from 8×17 to 10×20-inch, and is well-suited for staggered fitments.

1st May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Race to Touring Car Victory from Home with Yokohama

Racing fans that spend more time in front of the computer screen than behind a windscreen can now participate in their own global race series. Yokohama has announced its partnership in the new Virtual World Touring Car Championship (V-WTCC), an online championship for motorsport enthusiasts.

V-WTCC, explains Yokohama, is an online version of ‘RACE 07 – The Official WTCC Game’. Participants from around the globe can demonstrate their skills, competing for the title of V-WTCC Champion. After successfully competing in the earlier knockout rounds, six lucky qualifiers will receive invitations to the Grande Finale, held at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy. The V-WTCC winner will make his or her way into the simulated racing history books and receive a yet-to-be revealed grand prize.

30th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

First Student Team in History of Le Mans to fit Yokohama Tyres

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that it will support the first student team in history to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Yokohama will supply Advan race tyres to Tokai University’s “Le Mans Challenge Project” in the 76th 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will be held over the weekend of 14-15 June at the Sarthe Circuit in France. Yokohama has a long track record at Le Mans, stretching back more than 20 years.

Yokohama is also involved in supporting another student motorsport project: the OSU Dakar Rally Challenge Project, led by Osaka Sangyo University. This project aims to tackle environmental problems through motorsport and features Ukyo Katayama as a driver.

28th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors