Tyres & Accessories February 2013

OFC Feb 2013_4mm 07/02/2013 08:49 Page 1

February 2013

The magazine for the tyre and wheel industries

Tyres & Accessories February 2013 www.tyrepress.com

The most memorable wet performance since “Singing in the Rain”.

The new EfficientGrip Performance with A-rated wet grip* and a braking distance that’s two metres shorter on wet roads.**

www.goodyear.co.uk

@goodyear_uk

Goodyear.uk

TESTED BY

M A D E T O F E E L G O O D. A-rated wet grip – the highest grade a tyre can achieve in wet grip in line with EU labelling regulations.*

The innovative 3-dimensional block design within the tyre tread increases the contact of the tyre with the road when braking.

Two compounds give the optimum balance of wet grip and rolling resistance over the lifetime of the tyre.

WET GRIP **

* The majority of sizes achieve a grade A rating for wet grip under Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009, but grading may vary for certain sizes. For more information please visit www.goodyear.co.uk/egp ** Compared to the average braking distance of four leading competitors (braking on high μ very wet surface at 80–20 km/h). Tested by TÜV SÜD Automotive in September 2012 by order of Goodyear Dunlop.

Tyre size: 205/55 R16 91V; test car: VW Golf; test locations: Mireval (FR), Papenburg (D) and Garching (D); report no. 76249743

042076_Goodyear_EfficientGrip_PRINT_A4_V1.indd 1

18/01/2013 10:47

EDITORIAL

Levelling off or still falling?

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A MONTH for the forecasters. Not the weather forecasters mind you – although the winter weather that has sprinkled the UK and parts of Europe with a fresh dusting of snow will no doubt have kept them busy too – but rather the market forecasters. With ETRMA reporting that tyre unit sales fell off a cliff last year, Conti saying the market is likely to bottom out in 2013 and with other analysts predicting 2013 will be a good year for tyre retailers, what is on the horizon for the next 12 months?

Basically, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturer’s Association reported that after two consecutive years of modest growth in total tyre unit sales, European tyre makers experienced double digit drops in sell-in demand virtually across the board in 2012. While previous market growth can be qualified by the fact that the increases came despite a decrease of ETRMA member market share, it is clear that the economic crisis is far from being over (see Company News for more on this). This meant that all major tyre segments were negatively affected, with the biggest fall affecting replacement truck tyres (-19 per cent), followed by consumer replacement tyres (-13 per cent). Furthermore demand for winter tyres was described as “saturated” resulting in a drop of 20 per cent in 2012.

This somewhat depressing news is supported by Michelin’s most recent market trend figures which suggest tyre sell-in unit volumes were weak both in December 2012 and the year as a whole. European light vehicle replacement sales, specifically, continued to slip (-7 per cent), despite falling 19 per cent yearon-year in December 2011. Overall this is being interpreted as a response to a poor winter tyre season.

However, it may not all be doom and gloom. In parallel with previewing its 2012 full-year financial results Continental AG executives suggested that this the could all be the tail end of the decline. Some may see it as somewhat optimistic, but their view suggests that the decline in European market demand will “bottom out” soon. But that is not to say that it is all over.

Instead Conti’s view is that the European markets will only be down by around two per cent more than current levels by the time we reach full-year 2013.

This view would seem to be in line with the analysis espoused by third-party market analysts GfK. Their UK market data for the first nine months of the year highlighted a similar trend.

Comparing the latest two moving annual totals GfK sees a market that is 3.7 per cent down. However, comparing the latest two year-to-date figures up to September 2012, the situation looks brighter and the market is a better 2.6 per cent down. Or in other words the pace of decline is slowing.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

What about the sharp end?

However, while all these different views on what has been taking place in the market are all valuable, they are of course limited. Naturally they are all retrospective so, with the best will in the world, cannot claim to represent what will happen next, but rather give an indirection of the direction things are heading.

By definition, these figures tell us more about the relationship between tyre manufacturers and the market than sales of tyres to end-users. Therefore there is a paucity of prognostications when it comes to retail/sell-out outlook.

For its part Plimsoll Publishing’s latest report goes some way to filling this gap and is even more positive than the variety of sell-in projections observed. The company’s Tyre Dealers Analysis states that 190 UK tyre retail businesses are showing growth as high as 15 per cent compared to the average growth of just over five per cent. Apparently these “elite” companies are driving up their productivity. In general, they are said to be 25 per cent more efficient than the industry average, averaging over £266,000 sales per employee. Something else the report points out is that the largest companies are increasing sales fastest. Typically larger companies are seeing sales increases of almost 11 per cent.

However, it must be said that the Plimsoll analysis is based on past financial performance of companies and not necessarily trends affecting the market factors that precipitate improvement or otherwise. Therefore predictions about the performance of the companies are based on their relative fiscal strength rather than their ability to increase sales or gain market share. Nevertheless the suggestion that certain companies are growing quicker and are investing in growth strategies in order to achieve this stands as a point in and of itself and – balanced with other market perspectives – is an interesting take on what may take place this year.

So where does that leave us? Any further forward? A little.

While the question: “is the market levelling off or still falling?” remains to be answered, there are signs that the decline is slowing and that optimism is gradually increasing. Whether these turn out to be so-called green-shots of recovery only time will tell.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

3

February 2013

Contents

30 Features

News • COMPANY NEWS

• EDITORIAL Levelling off or still falling?

• NEWS IN BRIEF • NTDA NEWS

3 6 12

14 16 20

30 37 40

• PRODUCT INFORMATION 48 54

• MOTORSPORT

26

• INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET • CAREER TRACKS

24

Michelin, Conti boost in America Yulex, Versalis to produce guayule

14

Tyresure: Awareness growing 42 Conti weighs in with expanded TPMS 44 Bosch acquires SPX Service Solutions 46

• VAN TYRES

Dunlop’s BluResponse Closing the gap

• UK TYRE MARKET Autosport 2013 GT Assist launched MWSD’s Ellis presents CV wheel

• TPMS

Performance taken to extremes Closely connected Goodyear Dunlop leaving agri tyres

Stapleton’s refocuses on van tyres Grouptyre promotes exclusive offer GT Radial range aimed at covering Mileage, safety priorities for Agilis+ SD-International: A quality choice Vantra LT developed

60 62 64 65 67 68

70 72

56

72

80 Web Directory – 83 Classifieds – 84 Advertisers’ Index – 85 Preview – 85 Impressum

4

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Race inspired

Grip and Braking on wet roads.

The new with an A rating for wet grip.* Weather is unpredictable, which is why we test new technologies under extreme conditions – to develop tyres that you can rely on.

www.dunloptyres.co.uk * The majority of sizes achieve grade A rating for wet grip under Regulation (EC) N° 1222/2009, but grading may vary for certain sizes. For more information please visit www.dunloptyres.co.uk

A-rated wet grip* is the highest grade a tyre can achieve in wet grip under the EU label Regulation

New compound for enhanced grip on wet roads

Optimised shape for better rolling resistance

Short braking blocks for reduced braking distance

NEWS IN BRIEF

Continental tyres help logistics company save money Irish independent long-haul logistics company Virginia International Logistics says it is making significant fuel savings with Continental as it celebrates 30 years in business.

The firm has saved 1,800 euros in the past six months by running Continental tyres across half of its fleet, and is now in the process of moving all remaining vehicles onto Continentals.

Says director James Cole: “We have been thoroughly impressed by the wear rates across all the Continental tyres in our fleet, particularly on the steer tyres. “Given our specialisation in long haul logistics, running highly reliable tyres is a must. The impressive fuel savings offered by the Continentals together with their impressive durability simply makes good business sense. We look forward to testing the latest Continental HD Hybrid tyres on our brand new Volvo and Scania vehicles.“ Virginia International Logistics will welcome a new Volvo FH 16-750, a Scania R560 and its restored Scania 143-450, all equipped with Continental tyres, to its fleet during a 30th anniversary celebration at Virginia’s Lakeside Manor Hotel. The firm is gradually moving its entire fleet of 65 trucks and 300 trailers to Continental tyres, using a majority of new tyres (HSR2 and HTR2) as well as a number of ContiRe retreaded tyres on its trailers. Initial trialling of the HD Hybrid drive tyre is progressing well. pg

6

Hankook to build new global R&D centre Tyre manufacturer Hankook has unveiled plans for the construction of the company’s new central R&D facility in Korea.

The centre, covering the total area of around 100,000 m², will be located at Daedeok Innopolis, South Korea’s premier research complex located in Daejeon, about 150 km south of Seoul. The construction of the new facility is projected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Hyun Bum Cho, president and chief marketing and corporate management officer at Hankook Tire said: “Upon completion of the new R&D facility, Hankook will be able to further strengthen research capabilities to develop cutting-edge tyre technology.

The new R&D center will enable us to accelerate the introduction of new tyres with even more advanced features, fulfilling our customers demand for premium quality products.”

Hankook has partnered architects Foster+Partners, who will work on the architecture and interior design of the building. On 7 January, Hankook Tire and Foster+Partners held a signing ceremony in Daejeon, Korea, in commemoration of the new partnership for this project. The firm, founded by the distinguished British star architect Sir Norman Foster, is famous for its high-tech, future-oriented architectural designs and has undertaken various important international large-scale projects, such as the Millennium Bridge and new Wembley Stadium in London, the Reichstag dome in Berlin, the Hong-Kong and Beijing airports as well as the New York Hearst Tower. cja

Treadsetters 76th in Fast Track 100

T

Treadsetters (part of the TIA Group) was listed in The Sunday Times 2012 Fast Track 100 Companies, which is jointly sponsored by The Sunday Times and Sir Richard Branson. Treadsetters is placed in 76th position having achieved a 60.51 per cent sales growth since the beginning of the recession in 2008 and are the only tyre company to be named in the report.

Treadsetters’ chairman, Peter Smith commented that the company’s inclusion within the Fast Track 100 Listing is a fitting tribute for its highly successful global growth strategy: “This growth can be directly attributed to three things, Treadsetter’s strong partnerships with its

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

international suppliers including our Chinese manufacturer Shangdong Hengfeng who produce our successful own Torque brand. The quality and value offered by the torque brand plus the loyalty shown by our customers Treadsetters and to our products, without whom this award would not have been achieved.”

Treadsetters has previously been named as the regional winner of HSBC’s Business Thinking competition in 2010, as well as being shortlisted in the 2011. cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Be one with your tyres, and the road will be one with you.

The premium UHP tyre for dramatic performance Ensure the optimum balance on both wet and dry surfaces through triple layered block design and cooling system Hankook Tyre U.K. Ltd. Fawsley Drive, Heartlands Business Park, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 8UG, U.K. +Tel : 44-1327-304-100 Fax : 44-1327-304-110

[UK] TyresAccessories_k117 210x297mm.indd 1

2012.11.23 10:9:35 AM

NEWS IN BRIEF

ATS Euromaster extends Royal Warrant

THIS?

REMEMBER

Stories from the past 20 years of T&A

February 1993 Bandag was named as the most successful company in the tyre industry by two US magazines.

Portuguese manufacturer Camac reached agreement with creditors for the restructuring of its debts.

February 1998 No change after 15 years – a survey of part worn tyres showed 97 per cent were illegal and nearly half had ‘serious structural defects’ Michelin ruled itself out as a supplier of tyres to Formula 1 racing following Goodyear’s decision to quit the sport.

February 2003 The Retread Manufacturers Association said that it would resign from the Tyre Industry Council.

Continental was named as Official Partner for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Germany.

February 2008 Apollo planned to invest 200 million euros in a joint venture to build a factory in Hungary.

Michelin said that capacity at its Victoria Floresti factory in Hungary would double to eight million tyres over the next two years.

8

ATS EUROMASTER will continue to service The Queen’s tyres, having been granted an extension to 2018 of its current Royal Warrant. The agreement was recently reviewed by the Royal Household Warrants Committee and the approval was granted again as a result of the quality of ATS-E’s servicing standards and expertise, as well as the company’s social responsibility.

Evidencing this, the Birmingham based company says it provided details of the work it has undertaken to reduce its impact on the environment, and its corporate social responsibility efforts.

As a result of the Royal Warrant extension, the company and its 2,600 staff can now look forward to another five years of serving The Queen as well as the country.

Additionally the Royal Arms will continue to appear as part of the livery on all of ATS Euromaster’s mobile service vehicles –

which number nearly 1,000 – and on all corporate stationery and on its website.

Ian Stuart, Group managing director of ATS Euromaster, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have retained our Royal Warrant. It is a major coup in a competitive market and it is a reflection of the hard work our dedicated and experienced team puts into supporting all our customers, from The Queen and major national fleets, to small businesses and private motorists.

“It was a huge honour when we first learned we were receiving the Royal Warrant and to have retained it for another five years is a fantastic achievement. This is a great way to start 2013.”

ATS Euromaster joins the premium car manufacturers Land Rover and Aston Martin in holding a Royal Warrant. akb

GiTi Tire joins TyreSafe TYRESAFE has announced that GiTi Tire further educate motorists on the importanhas become its first new member in 2013.

The company’s managing director – Europe Richard Lyons said that GiTi was demonstrating its commitment to customers’ safety and its products’ quality by joining the organisation. TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson pronounced himself “delighted to welcome GiTi Tire on board as a key member”.TyreSafe will continue to run a number of campaigns targeting wider awareness of tyre safety, including October’s Tyre Safety Month. The organisation’s major focus this year is on promoting tyre safety to young drivers, following its high-profile demonstrations of the hidden dangers of part-worn tyres.

Giti Tire commenced operations in the UK in 1993 and manufactures the brands GT Radial, Primewell, Runway and Dextero. Lyons said the company is “proud to be joining TyreSafe; it is an important move which will jointly help both parties

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

ce of regular tyre care and maintenance.

“We have a long standing commitment to the safety of our customers and the quality of our products, and our membership of TyreSafe is further demonstration of this.”

Jackson said: “The support of our members is invaluable in helping us reach and educate an ever-increasing number of road users. GiTi’s enthusiasm will undoubtedly aid our campaigns which I hope will once again reach record levels in 2013.”

TyreSafe and its members have planned a number of key projects and campaigns already for 2013. In addition to promoting the importance of tyre safety to young drivers, April will once again see TyreSafe target motorcyclists as many start take to the road for the first in the year, and the industry’s main annual safety awareness campaign, Tyre Safety Month, will return in October. akb

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMMAND PERFORMANCE

www.kumhotyre.co.uk To find out more about selling KUMHO tyres through the ECSTA Performance Centre programme, contact: Neil Schmid at Micheldever Tyre Services on 07775 676929 or Bonnie Adams on 01926 816826 For Kumho sales in Northern Ireland, contact Modern Tyre Service on (028) 6632 2299/3025 9300

10393 Command performance UK.indd 1

10/08/2011 15:11

NEWS IN BRIEF

VW to introduce budget brand?

There are reports from the North American International Auto Show, (Detroit, Jan 14 – 27) that Volks-wagen will decide this year whether to introduce a new budget brand aimed at developing markets.

IF THE COMPANY DECIDES to go ahead, it would almost certainly start in China, where VW recorded a near-25 per cent increase in sales to a total of 2.15 million in 2012. But India and other new markets such as Mexico could also be targets for a low-cost VW brand.

The aim would be to bring a car in about £1,200 below VW's current cheapest offering, the up!, says Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, who heads the company's product planning and engineering divisions.

"It will be tough but, with our experience, not impossible," says Hackenberg. "Such a car can only be built in a country with low production costs.

"The suppliers and the materials would have to be localised - deeply localised. By sourcing the second and even third-tier parts in those countries we could save a lot of money."

One of the issues, he adds, is the different requirements of

the various new markets. China would want a fairly large car while India would want something small, so the fundamentals would have to be "flexible and capable of derivatives".

Hackenberg added: "We would be thinking to sell it under a new brand name because you cannot enlarge the offer of any brand (VW) too far."

It would also have to be more than just a basic budget car, Hackenberg says. "It has to fulfil not only mobility - the customer wants to love his car. It needs to have good styling and the offers of additional equipment which the customer can maybe buy later."

Hackenberg says any such car from VW would meet more than basic safety requirements. "We would make our decision based on the competition in that market," he went on. "If the competitors had a three-star car then maybe we would aim to go for four stars." pg

Goodyear and Swinton join forces to lower the cost of motoring In a bid to lower the cost of motoring for UK drivers, Goodyear is offering cashback on car insurance when purchasing Goodyear tyres in conjunction with Swinton. From the start of 2013, every motorist that purchases Goodyear tyres will be entitled to £75 cash back when purchasing car insurance online through Swinton. Goodyear and Swinton are explained that they are working together to “enable motorists to continue buying premium products in a financially challenging environment.”

This offer from leading broker Swinton comes as a reward to customers buying Goodyear tyres for their vehicle and is in addition to gaining a £20 fuel voucher per two Goodyear tyres purchased from a participating dealer.

Michelle Fisher, Goodyear brand manager said: “We are constantly trying to ensure that people stay safe on the roads

whilst saving money at the same time. Fitting premium tyres to your vehicle is important, and so is insuring your vehicle using an approved insurance firm. Our partnership with Swinton has grown over the last 12 months and has now led to this impressive cash-back offer to our customers.”

Alexandra Cooke from Swinton added: “Over the past 12 months of working with Goodyear we have begun to see the importance of tyre choice and also what a difference having the right tyres can make in many emergency situations. With this in mind, we felt that it was important to reward those motorists who choose to fit Goodyear tyres. These motorists are ensuring that their vehicle is equipped with the right tools for a safe journey and these savvy drivers should be rewarded.” cja

Trelleborg gets “A” grade from AGCO Fendt Trelleborg recently received the highest rating – an ‘A’ – in AGCO Fendt’s supplier evaluation for 2012. The assessment scored Trelleborg’s overall performance on quality, service, logistics and environmental commitment.

“We are extremely proud to receive this important feedback from one of our key partners,” says Stefano Bettinelli, OE director worldwide, Trelleborg Wheel Systems Agricultural & Forestry Tyres. “The result proves that

10

Trelleborg is addressing the right priorities in its strategic plan to outperform as a premium product and service provider within the agricultural industry. We will keep reinforcing the collaboration with the AGCO Group on a worldwide basis with the common target of meeting the increasing needs for higher efficiency and productivity from farming professionals.”

Earlier in September 2012, Trelleborg received the prestigious AGCO EAME 2012 Supplier of the Year Award in the “Collaboration” category during a ceremony held at the AGCO Fendt facility in Marktoberdorf, Germany. cja

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Nexen Tire Europe GmbH - U.K Office

17 Douglas Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT1 3PX, U.K. Tel_ +44-7919-222-837 Fax_ +44-208-546-9948 E-mail_ london@nexentire.co.kr

Distributor

Stapleton’s (Tyre Services) Ltd. Fourth Avenue Letchworth, Herts SG6 2TT U.K. Tel_ +44-870-60-54321 Web_ www.stapletons-tyres.co.uk

NEWS Action on the Scourge of Dangerous Part Worn Tyres In these days of financial austerity, sales of part worn tyres have rocketed.

An estimate from the Used Tyre Working Group puts the annual sales at 4.4 million, while Stuart Jackson, speaking at a TyreSafe communications seminar, suggested a figure of 5.5 million.

Whatever the figure, it is a lot and it is an undeniable fact that the vast majority of part worns are sold illegally. Most fall foul of the legal requirements to mark with a part worn label, but there is a significant percentage (typically around one third) that are damaged or in a dangerous condition and which pose a real danger to road users. Whether these tyres have simply not been examined properly, as laid down in the regulations covering the sale of part worns, or whether dealers are knowingly selling potentially lifethreatening tyres is a moot point, but the result is that many thousands of cars are running on unsafe tyres.

All sectors in the tyre industry are rightly concerned about the risk of part worn tyres and the NTDA is taking action. This month, Vice Chairman Roger Griggs is hosting a meeting with key tyre retailers from across the country to discuss the NTDA’s strategy towards part worn sales.

There is talk, in some quarters, of a scheme whereby sellers of part worn tyres are inspected and regulated and have to perform to a laid-down set of standards. The NTDA is implacably opposed to any such scheme, pointing out that part worn sellers are already supposed to meet numerous legal requirements, covering inspection, marking etc and the majority are failing to comply with the law.

Said Richard Edy: “The Association could not and will not give its backing to any scheme that adds credibility to the trade in part worns and which legitimises those dealers who are selling dangerous tyres to unsuspecting and trusting motorists.

The enforcing authority already admits to being stretched way beyond their means and it would be most unlikely that policing of such a scheme would be effective.”

2013 Directory Out Now By the time you read this, the 2013 NTDA Directory of the UK Tyre Industry will either be with you, or on its way.

As well as the always useful list of members, suppliers and other trade associations, there is a full editorial section, including information on new products launched in 2012, plus a review of the NTDA’s activities during the year, the Association’s involvement with Brityrex and the winners of the TAFF Awards.

Other editorial subjects covered include a look at car and CV tyre trends and the 2012 hot topics of tyre labelling and developments in the trade of part worns.

There are also articles covering the growing trend towards new cars being supplied with no spare wheel and the effect of this on the tyre trade and vehicle breakdown services, plus an article on the revenue opportunities offered by TPMS.

NTDA NT N TDA DA 220 2011 0111 11 RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE

Annual Dinner Date Announced This is very advanced notice to members that the 84th NTDA Annual Dinner will be held on Wednesday 16th October 2013, at the Hilton Metropole Hotel at the NEC. As usual, the evening will include the presentation of the NTDA Tyre & Fast Fit Awards and we are pleased to announce that last year’s sponsors Lanxess have renewed their sponsorship of the TAFF Awards for 2013.

Further details, including the name of the after dinner speaker, will be given later in the year but, as the 2012 event quickly sold out, we suggest you mark the date in your diary.

www.ntda.co.uk

NEWS

Council meets at Town Thorns The next meeting of the NTDA Executive Council will be held towards the end of this month at BEN’s Town Thorn residential facility.

Town Thorns was opened in 1991 and supports people of all ages. BEN says that it costs around £11 million each year for the organisation to continue its vital work within the automotive and associated industries, and, at the NTDA meeting, the meeting will be briefed on the work of this worthwhile charity.

Westlake NTDA Golf Day The 2013 Golf Day, sponsored by Westlake Tyres, will take place on Wednesday 24th July.

Last year’s event, held at The Belfry, proved to be a great success and this year’s venue is equally prestigious, as golfers will be playing on the picturesque Palmerston Course; one of the two superb championship courses at Brocket Hall, in Hertfordshire.

Brocket Hall is a stately home, standing in 540 acres of grounds and mature woodland and is rated as one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the UK.

Save Money with the NTDA! As well as representing its members’ interests in matters such as upcoming legislation and acting as the voice of the tyre retailer in discussions with other sectors of the tyre industry and with Government, the NTDA has used the combined buying power of its membership to negotiate a number of affinity deals that can save members hard cash.

For example, the NTDA has recently re-negotiated a deal with Renault, which entitles members to discounts of up to 28.5% across the company’s range of vans. This discount is in addition to support offered through Renault’s dealer network.

By taking advantage of the Association’s deal with the BEN Telecom Alliance, members can save money on their telecoms spend and help a worthwhile cause at the same time.

The day’s golf will be followed by a sit down dinner and the prize giving, including the Westlake trophy and black jacket for the overall winner. Whether you are a golfer or not, it should prove a day to remember.

Full details of how to take part will be given nearer the day. The NTDA is grateful to Westlake Tyres for their generous support of the Association’s Golf Day.

The BEN Telecom Alliance can offer average savings of 20% on telephone system maintenance, a 35% saving over BT on call charges, plus 10% savings on line rental charges and on mobile services. In addition to these savings, the BEN Telecom Alliance donates 2.5% of the cost of every call to the BEN Charity.

NTDA members can also save money on a variety of insurance deals offered through our insurance partner RA Insurance.

Details of how to take advantage of these attractive discounts contact Aylesbury.

UK TYRE MARKET

New series, new race name and new sponsorship Autosport 2013 kicks off the year with a clutch of tyre-related motorsport news The 23rd Autosport International ran between 10-13 January 2013 at the NEC in Birmingham. Purportedly Europe’s largest motorsport trade show, Autosport International continues to attract some of the industry’s biggest companies. And from a tyre point of view this means tyre firms including Pirelli, Dunlop, Yokohama, Maxxis and Marangoni were present this year.

IN ADDITION TO the usual attractions, this year's event features a renewed emphasis on networking. Show organisers report that the next generation of Adrian Neweys and Ross Brawns had the opportunity to kick start their motorsport careers as Europe’s largest dedicated motorsport trade show offers future engineers unique opportunities to network with exhibiting companies and learn about the latest developments in the sport.

With the UK motorsport sector employing approximately 40,000 full and part-time staff, including 25,000 engineers, the event will also feature its own dedicated ‘Careers in Motorsport’ area, hosting leading universities, colleges and specialist training firms, along with recruitment consultants. In a positive sign for the next crop, 56 per

14

cent of companies participating in the Motorsport Industry Association’s 2011/ 2012 Motorsport Business Survey reported increasing headcounts during the financial year.

As well as the serious side of business, the appearance of a number of driving talents presented a further attraction.

For example, one of Britain’s present F1 talents, Paul Di Resta made his Autosport debut during the course of the 2012 event. This year he was one of a number of motorsport driving stars to visit the event. In addition to Paul Di Resta, the newly-crowned FIA World Touring Car Championship and British Touring Car Championship titlists Rob Huff and Gordon Shedden, three-time WTCC Champion Andy Priaulx and former DTM Champion Gary Paffett agreed to appear.

With a total of 12 wins in the 24 Hours of

Le Mans between them, Derek Bell, Emanuele Pirro and Allan McNish also agreed to share their stories with sports car fans, while presenter Jake Humphrey offered insights from his time with BBC F1.

Summing up his view of the show, Autosport International Show director Ian France commented: “Autosport International has established itself as one of the highlights of the motorsport industry calendar, and continues to attract the biggest names and the latest products, making it Europe’s leading motorsport event.”

Yokohama supplying Formula 4

Moving to the specifically tyre related announcements that were made during the show, Yokohama shared the news that it is supplying the new The unveiling of the new Formula 4 series. Building on a Formula 4 car, which will be supplied by Yokohama pre-existing relationship with tyres, was one of the tyre series organiser Motorsport Vision highlights of the 2013 Racing (MSVR), the tyre manuAutosport show facturer was present to at the launch of both the car and its associated tyres, which were unveiled in parallel with the official announcement of the news at this year's Autosport Show.

The Formula 4 series represents a new concept in racing. Seen as the first step in motorsport, Formula 4 seeks to bridge the gap between karting and racing with a cost effective entry level series. It also offers a route into motorsport for those that have caught the racing bug through involvement with low-level events such as track days.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

UK TYRE MARKET

Over the years, finding a route into motorsport has been infamously difficult with the cost alone often making it prohibitively expensive. Now, however, Formula 4 is pitching itself as the aspiration series with what it takes to open up racing to newcomers tap the latent talent pool in the UK. All this, organiser MSVR says, is paired with such modern technology that privateers can compete on a level playing field with professional teams. To this end the series is based on a brand new car that has been specifically designed for the series so it is inexpensive to run, fix and maintain. It has also been specified carefully for reliability purposes. And it is here, say MSVR representatives, that tyres play a particularly key role ensuring a high level of performance that maintains this with low levels of drop off throughout the life of the product.

“Yokohama are good, cost effective tyres. The high performance they offer is critical along with stability,” said MSVR's Giles Butterworth, explaining this all comes with backup and service support that helped secure the deal.

So far the series is said to have received an excellent response with the initial production run of 20 cars already sold.

This popularity led to the expansion of the manufacturing run to 24 cars. The four further vehicles have also now been sold.

Pirelli supports Richard Burns Foundation For its part, Pirelli announced that the Pirelli International Rally has been renamed as the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally in support of the former world rally champion, with the event remaining the second round of this year's MSA British Rally Championship.

The Richard Burns Foundation is a charity that was set up to remember the life of Richard Burns who died in 2005 after developing a virulent form of brain tumour aged just 34. The Richard Burns foundation was set up by some of his closest friend and colleagues as a lasting tribute to his memory.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Pirelli has exclusively supplied the British Rally Championship with tyres since 2007. The newly-renamed Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally started out as a local club event before becoming a round of the British Rally Championship.

Pirelli Motorsport director, Paul Hembery, commented: “The Richard Burns Foundation is currently focusing on raising funds to provide a 'Brain Bus' which will open up to a wider audience the issues and treatment needs for brain and spinal disorder. We are delighted to lend our support to this fantastic cause and hope that our support of the Richard Burns Foundation will enable Richard's name to continue to be visible in the world of rallying. We feel it is a fitting tribute to England's only world rally champion.”

This year's Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally takes place on 4-5 May.

Marangoni sponsors BMW Compact Cup Italian tyre company Marangoni announced that it signed a three-year joint title sponsorship agreement with the hugely popular BMW Compact Cup Championship. Now in its third year, it has become one of the UK’s fastest growing championships, with over 50 cars expected in 2013. The race cars, all based on BMW E36 318Ti Compact, will feature significant Marangoni branding and will race on 195/50 R15 82V Marangoni Zeta Linea Sport tyres as well as the Zeta Linea road spec tyre. The new agreement brings with it a new name for the championship which from now on will be known as The Marangoni Tyres/GAZ Shocks BMW Compact Cup. Commenting on the new agreement, Greg Graham, UK brand manager of the Marangoni Car Tyre division said: “Although Marangoni’s racing tyres have been used with great success in European motorsport, we are fairly new to UK race scene. When looking at which race series we’d want to become involved with, the BMW Compact Cup really

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

stood out from the crowd. With a rapidly expanding number of cars and drivers, and a very professional team of organisers, it was clear they were a perfect match for our plans. They had an immediate understanding of our wish to further promote our brand through motorsport, and they have been happy to hear our ideas and input. We are certain that the Zeta Linea Sport and the Zeta Linea road spec tyres will be popular with the drivers for their all-round performance, durability and value for money”.

Maxxis raises funds for Macmillan at Autosport Maxxis used its Autosport stand to – amongst other things - raise funds for the fight against cancer. The combination of motorsport stars, the company’s own ‘Maxxis Babes’, and a host of racing cars and bikes proved something of a draw for NEC show-goers, with Maxxis turning its pulling power to the Macmillan Cancer Support’s advantage by selling calendars to boost the charity’s coffers.

Maxxis raised over £500 from calendar sales on the Saturday of the show.

Supporting UK charities as well as motorists, dealers and sports teams is clearly important to the tyre manufacturer, as UK MD Derek McMartin confirmed: “Macmillan works tirelessly to change people’s lives for the better, and we want to support that. As a top ten tyre brand Maxxis has a rich history of sponsoring things like motorsport series, race teams and even a premier league football team, so giving to an organisation that does so much to improve healthcare is a little bit different for us – but I must say it’s very satisfying.”

According to the company, Maxxis’ fundraising efforts were “certainly helped” by the presence of eight of the Maxxis Babes and the drivers from the Japspeed Drift Team – which includes singer-turned-racer Shane Lynch. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

15

UK TYRE MARKET

GT Assist launched Company aims to offer fleets, partners ‘right products and right service at the right price’ DURING DECEMBER GITI TIRE (UK) LTD. launched its commercial vehicle roadside service assistance programme throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. The so-called soft launch of the programme began on 1 December with pre-launch information released during November. Afterwards the company’s four key regional salespeople visited 98 per cent of the company’s dealer partners in the month that followed. The soft launch is now being backed up with complete nationwide implementation and a “big push” across the UK and Ireland. Tyres & Accessories met with GiTi Tire (UK) sales and marketing director Truck and Bus,Tony McHugh and marketing director Europe Commercial Tires, Peter Foulkes to find out more.

The new GT Assist logo features the red white and blue of the company’s GT Radial flag brand

The new GT Assist is described as solely focusing on helping the company and its GT Radial partners better engage with fleets. Anecdotal reports suggest they like the product, but before now the question has report-edly been – what about service integration? GT Assist is operating solely with the company’s GT Radial brand.

GT Assist’s UK operation is actually the second deployed by GiTi in Europe. The first was rolled out in Italy during 2012. Further national programmes are currently in progress in France, the Benelux countries and Germany and are expected to be up and running during the first half of 2013.

How it works…

The new GT Assist programme is built on a back office structure provided by Infleet and connecting with RACA (RAC commercial assistance) for the servicing side of things. In practice Trevor Trucker will either phone his normal tyre dealer or the GT Assist 0845 number in the hypothetical event of a tyre going. The voice at the end of the phone will answer GT Assist in either case. Let’s take an example of the haulier calling the 0845 number.

After receiving the call, RACA’s system kicks in and allocates the work to the nearest of the 180 dealer points in the GT Radial partner network. The system prompts them to call the depot and check

16

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

stock. In the event that that branch doesn’t have the correct tyre in stock they will re-allocate the job to the next nearest dealer. At every stage of this process, Tony McHugh emphasises, the focus is on customer service and so the allocation of work to the next nearest dealer will only take place in the event that the depot a) has the tyre in stock and b) can attend in the quickest time and within a maximum of 90 minutes. The 90 minute cut off point has reportedly been selected in order to put GT Assist on a par with the best in class. However a 90 minute maximum is simply that – a maximum.

Tony McHugh explains that in one recent case the system selected a partner that could attend within 40 minutes.

All this can now be monitored on an iPad thanks to a special app designed to enable GiTi’s management and sales team to monitor progress and help partners receive business effectively. One feature of this is the ability to let dealers know why they refused business within 24 hours of this taking place. This system is in place now, but the next goal is to increase the speed and efficiency of this service, reducing feedback time to just two hours by the end of January 2013.

You may remember that GiTi first shared plans for an Assist network back in 2007. Back then the programme sported a largely orange logo, which has now been re-designed to – amongst other

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

UK TYRE MARKET

things – reflect GT Radial’s corporate red, white and blue. However, apart from the scale of GiTi’s influence in the UK being significantly higher now than it was five years ago, the company has not changed its GT Assist approach too much. What’s different is that, as far as the company is concerned, the time is now right to fill its service gap and take another step towards “fair size” fleets with the company’s new tyre, retread and now GT Assist in hand. There is even talk of GiTi UK approaching fleets directly with a view to winning more business for GT Radial partners.

In addition to winning more business for partners, adopting this approach also offers strategic advantages for GiTi. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, rolling out the Assist programme will really

help GiTi with sales retention in the commercial vehicle sector.

The strategy is to help offer like-for-like replacement of its products and there are signs that this is already working with something like 99 per cent of tyres fitted through the programme during December said (L-R): Richard Lyons, managing director – Europe, GiTi Tire; Tony McHugh, to be GT Radial pro- Truck and Bus sales and marketing director, GiTi Tire; Chris Comport, commercial director, Infleet ducts. Without Assist this replacement figure could have been and particularly the company’s GTR 990 somewhere in the region of 50 per cent. REE Tread, potentially increasing sales.

The second benefit is sales growth, McHugh however insists that Assist is which has reportedly come as something not about directly increasing sales, but of a surprise to managers. The word is rather about improving service. that some are now asking for GT Radial chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

Cappoquin selects Bridgestone Bridgestone Ireland has gained a new fleet to be supported by the company’s Truck Point network. Cappoquin Transport Ltd, based in Cappoquin, Co Waterford, offers nationwide delivery service.

Cappoquin Transport will be serviced by Dungarvan Tyres, the local Truck Point service agent fitting a range of Bridgestone premium tyres including the ever popular R297 and M729 steer and drive patterns.

Conor Curran, National Fleet Executive Ireland, Bridgestone Northern Region, said: “The decision by Cappoquin Transport to fit Bridgestone premium tyres reflects our commitment to establishing relationships with quality local companies and to ensure t h a t they benefit from a full range of services relevant to their operations.” cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

17

UK TYRE MARKET

Halfords Autocentres planning fleet growth Six months after appointing Andrew Huntly as business development director, Halfords Autocentres is continuing to drive its fleet and affiliate business with the addition of two further BDMs. The new appointments bring Halfords Autocentres’ fleet account handling complement to six, demonstrating the business’ willingness to invest in the sector as part of ambitious growth targets.

Commenting on Halfords Autocentres’ fleet focus, Andrew Huntly said: “I hope that the fact we have doubled the size of our fleet team this year is seen as a clear statement of intent by existing and potential customers. Our enhanced team means that we now have the right resources in place to deliver the high quality service that fleet customers expect as our volumes increase, as well as sufficient capacity to develop some attractive propositions that will help fuel that growth.

“We are also making significant investments across our network which will see our 270 existing centres rise to over 290 by the end of March – with new centres receiving 5 tonne ramps wherever possible opening to cater for the LCV market.”

The business development managers now helping to drive Halfords Autocentres fleet business are: Marie Howes – whose 25 years in the automotive industry spans corporate and government account management for Hertz, as well as several years with National Car Rental, the AA and the RAC where she was a regional account manager in their warranty division managing relationships with brands including Jaguar.

In addition Phil Bancroft – joins from Avis Budget UK, where he was responsible for managing large fleet clients, but his 25 years’ experience within the automotive industry also includes fleet work for Lex Autolease, the RAC’s rescue and windscreen business as well as time with Accident Exchange.

“We have a great brand”, said Bancroft, “but need to be more visible and better known for the expertise of our highly trained and ATA accredited technicians. My priority will therefore be to pro-

18

mote better understanding of our offer at grassroots level within customers’ businesses.”

Jason Gill – has been with Halfords Autocentres for over five years, following over a decade in the fleet industry with companies such as Lex Autolease and Arval. During this time he has helped to build and develop Halfords fleet proposition, which has seen fleet turnover more than double.

A challenger brand?

Andrew Huntly added: “In a mature market which represents about a quarter of our overall revenue, some people regard us a ‘challenger brand’ rather than the established player that we undoubtedly are. If by ‘challenger brand’ they mean an

aggressive, innovative player that can be fleet of foot when it matters and is unconstrained by long-established ways of working or bureaucracy - then I’d agree.

“I believe that flexibility and value will play an increasingly important role in the decision making process of fleet managers, so being the only national network able to provide fleet operators with bespoke solutions and quality at a lower price than franchised dealers means we are ideally positioned.”

Halfords Autocentres reports that it is the preferred independent Servicing, Maintenance and Repairs provider for the majority of the FN50, the vehicle rental industry and the used car warranty providers with clients including Lex Autolease, LeasePlan, Arval, Carillion, and Inchcape. cja

Hankook liveries rolled out by Drummond Distribution

Drummond Distribution, a logistic provider for Hankook, has rolled out new liveries featuring the manufacturer’s corporate identity. The family run business, Drummond Distribution has worked with Hankook for over 12 years providing a next day delivery service to customers across Scotland.

To recognise this well-established partnership, Drummond Distribution chose to develop several Hankook branded trailers. Two 45ft curtain sided/38 tonne lorries have received a Hankook makeover, with plans for an additional trailer to be produced later this year.

Tony Lee, managing director at Hankook Tyres U.K. Ltd said: “Hankook has worked with Drummond Distribution for many years now who has always provided an excellent service to us across the Scottish region. The new branded trailers they have produced look fantastic and we are delighted to see them form a part of the Drummond Distribution fleet as they enable us to raise brand awareness.” cja

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Quality tried and tested.

Profit margins built in.

DT012628 Goodride T&A Advert February 2013.indd 1

25/01/2013 12:51

UK TYRE MARKET

MWSD’s Ellis presents CV wheel safety issue to Euro Parliament

Northwest Automotive Alliance director and Motor Wheel Service Distribution MD, John Ellis

Managing director of Motor Wheel Service Distribution, John Ellis has presented expert testimony to the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) during last week’s (22 January) public hearing into the Roadworth-iness Package. Acting in his capacity as director of the Northwest Automotive Alliance (NAA), Ellis presented an introduction and background to the issue, then called for five measures, most prominently the light

regulation of the supply chain to enforce existing standards and improved inspection procedures across all EU member states. Ellis, who has pursued the issues confronting the safety of commercial vehicle wheels in the UK over the last few years, said his proposed changes would make for a “far safer” commercial vehicle sector without burdening CV operators with additional costs.

ELLIS ASKED the European Parliament to identify wheels as a under 50,000km and will stay in the supply chain. safety critical item; to require testing on all wheels and axles to meet European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) standards; and that all wheels periodically undertake an industry leading 10-point check plan.

Ellis backed up his speech with a booklet on wheel fatigue, which included evidence from xlite wheels manufacturer Wheels India that found that non-circumferential hubs, which give only partial contact between axle and wheel, are causing untested load stresses that can cause cracks and half life expectancy.

Following the presentation, Ellis stated: “There is a lack of knowledge in the CV sector which means wheels are not being replaced when they are fatigued, or worse still are being replaced with inferior products that have not been properly tested, and this includes both the wheel and the hub.

“This is compounded when original equipment manufacturers (OEM) find and address major issues, such as hub shape, but then fail to disseminate the information to the aftermarket.

Specific wheels exist for non-circumferential hubs, but when this wheel is replaced or interchanged if an identical wheel is not used we have an item that will start to crack and fatigue at

20

“The changes I have presented are not designed to place extra financial burden on the commercial vehicle sector, but they will create a far cleaner, far safer sector that will recognise wheels as the safety critical item they truly are.”

Representation on the TRAN committee consisted of Brian Simpson in his capacity as chairman, with rapporteurs Werner Kuhn (periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles), Olga Sehnalová (technical roadside inspection) and Vilja SavisaarToomast (registration documents for vehicles).

Experts presented from groups including the European Transport Safety Council (NGO), The International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA), The International Road Transport Union (IRU) and The Fédération Onternationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The hearing was open to the public, webstreamed and translated into a number of the official languages of the EU, with simultaneous interpretation provided by the European Parliament.

A further meeting of the TRAN Committee is due to take place on 18 February to discuss the matter further, with the Roadworthiness Package Report due on 17 March. akb

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

The Event you’ve been waiting for.

EVENT TYRES offer quality tyres at an affordable price.

If you are looking for a high performance, 4x4, van or comfort tyre, we’ve got an affordable choice for you.

For more information on the Event range call 0870 60 54321.

Available exclusively from

Stapletons Tyre Services

www.eventtyres.com

www.stsprofitlink.co.uk

www.stapletons-tyres.co.uk

UK TYRE MARKET

MAM’s new product manager MAM SOFTWARE has appointed Lee Cunningham to the position of senior product manager. In this newly created role, he will provide technical support to MAM’s sales department and will be responsible for shaping MAM’s product development strategy.

Cunningham joined the company in 1994, working in the Implementation department installing MAM’s business management solutions and providing initial support. He was later promoted to the head of Implementation North, based in Sheffield, where he took charge of the department implementing systems across the north of the UK. As senior product manager, Cunningham will work closely with MAM’s support, development and implementation departments. In addition, he will provide extensive input into MAM’s product strategy, by identifying development opportunities that reflect the demands and needs of the tyre industry.

“We are pleased to welcome Lee into the position of senior product manager“ said Nigel Clemett, director of sales at MAM Software. “This role has been created as a direct response to our continuing success in the tyre sector. As our workload grew it became increasingly apparent that we required someone to work on an interdepartmental level, tying different aspects of our operation together in a structured way.

“With 18 years of experience at MAM, Lee has the company-wide knowledge that makes him perfect for such a role. He will ensure that our tyre software meets and exceeds market requirements, and will play an invaluable role in helping our customers get the most out of their systems.“ pg

22

Kit-Kat trailers roll on Michelin X One Maxitrailer Tyres

F

Four years after trialling its first Montracon trailer with Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres, Nestlé Customer Logistics reports that 25 per cent of its 200-strong tri-axle ‘Cooliner’ fleet is operating on the uniquely sized 445/45 R22.5 tyres. Nestlé Customer Logistics’ fleet operates on trunking routes between its production facility in York – which makes 6 million Kit-Kats a day – and distribution hubs throughout the UK. Moving forward, engineering manager Ralph Defty specifies the Michelin tyre on all new standard length trailers joining the fleet.

Defty explains: “Previously we were getting an average of 130,000 km from new trailer tyres, but with the X One MaxiTrailer we’re projecting more than 200,000 km; the equivalent of four years in service. The worn casings can then be returned to Michelin for remoulding, with the Remix tyres expected to deliver the same performance again. An X One MaxiTrailer tyre costs us £100 more than a regular trailer tyre, but it delivers nearly double the life. It’s been an absolute game-changer for our fleet,” he says.

Nearly five years after launch, Michelin reports that it is still the only manufacturer in the world to offer a 445/45 R 22.5 trailer tyre. Key to the performance of the X One MaxiTrailer is its Infinicoil architecture, one of the key innovations of Michelin Durable Technologies, consisting of a 400-metre steel cord

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

wrapped continuously around the crown.

Compared to a regular 385/65 R 22.5 XTE2 trailer tyre, the tread band is also 120mm wider and has 35 per cent more usable tread rubber, which contributes to the significantly increased tyre life.

Nestlé Customer Logistics claims to operate one of the best independently managed tyre policies in the country. This is achieved having an in-house tyre expert, Graham Skelton. According to the company, Skelton boasts 30 years experience and a passion for tyre maintenance, and personally ensures all Nestlé’s vehicle technicians are briefed to follow the complete Michelin Four Lives policy with every tyre. Additionally, many worn Remix tyres go on to be remanufactured into Encore tyres to deliver a fifth life in service.

Key to maximising tyre efficiency is a commitment to delivering a 100 per cent regrooving rate for all Michelin new and Remix tyres; measured against an industry average of just 50 per cent.

Nestlé Customer Logistics operates a fleet of around 200 trailers, including 13 chocolate tankers, plus 17 tractor units – with the remainder of its work undertaken by third party contractors. It has a 100 per cent Michelin policy across its fleet, managed in-house by Defty and his team, and with tyres supplied by ATS Euromaster. cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Outsta

nding we perform t handling ance

der n u e h rid nditions t o o m o nd s riving c a t Quie speed d high g tin e c e rot amag p , tor rb d c e t cu pro rom Rim eel f wh

En

han

ced

dri vi all ng st spe ab eds ility u

nd

er

KEY DEALER PROGRAMME Great Tyres - Great Programme The Benefits of which include: • Imprest stock • Personalised reward scheme • Instore point of sale • Preferred purchase prices • Branded workwear for staff

www.primewell.co.uk

For more information on the Primewell range call 0870 60 54321. www.stapletons-tyres.co.uk

Kwik Fit director of Communications new NTDA VC THE NATIONAL TYRE DISTRIBUTERS ASSOCIATION (NTDA) has elected Roger Griggs, director of communications at Kwik Fit, to the role of vice chairman, working with Stephen Callow, who succeeded Kwik Fit’s David White as NTDA chairman in March 2012. Griggs has spent 34 years in the tyre industry, starting in a Jersey tyre centre in the late 1970s. Richard Edy, director of the NTDA, says: “We are delighted that Roger has joined the board. His experience in all areas of the industry means he has a great deal to offer and we look forward to supporting him in developing future campaigns.” riggs spent 27 years with Continental, beginning as an area sales representative and moving through a variety of positions in the north of England and Scotland before becoming sales director for the UK and Ireland. His final role within Conti was as European sales director – new distribution, covering all major European markets and reporting directly to Conti’s global headquarters in Hannover. He left Continental to take up a position on the board of North Eastern Tyres and Exhausts based in the North East of England.

North Eastern was acquired by Stapleton’s in 2011 and when then their parent company Itochu bought Kwik Fit later that year the companies were brought together under the

G New NTDA vice chairman Roger Griggs

umbrella of European Tyre Enterprises Limited (ETEL). Griggs took on the role of director of communications for ETEL with specific focus on the group’s retail operations.

The new NTDA VC says: “I’m very proud to have been elected to the board of the NTDA. The association does some great work on behalf of the industry and I want to help continue and strengthen that. One particular area where I think we have a key responsibility is on the issue of part worn tyres I believe that more can be done to eliminate the danger they represent to UK’s motorists. I look forward to working with the NTDA chairman Stephen Callow and the rest of the team to campaign on this issue.” akb

Bridgestone Americas announces new human resources boss On 14 December Bridgestone Americas gave word of its recent appointment of a new head of Human Resources. Darrin Rohr was appointed to the role of chief human resource officer, effective 26 November. He succeeds Patti James in this position; James now serves as Bridgestone America’s president of Shared Services, a post she accepted earlier this year.

A

Announcing Rohr’s appointment, Bridgestone Americas says he has “extensive background in working with companies to develop top workplace cultures, including two that were recognizsd by the Great Places to Work Institute during his tenure: global pharmaceutical services company Quintiles, ranked as a top 25 Global Best Place to Work and Charles Schwab, ranked as a top 10 US Best Place to Work.” Rohr also has held highlevel human resources positions at other large companies including

24

Lenovo, Yamana Gold and PennzoilQuaker State Company; Bridgestone comments that he “he played key roles in building workplace culture,” within these companies.

“At Bridgestone Americas¸ we’re committed to ensuring that our company attracts and retains smart, engaged teammates who are passionate about their work,” said Gary Garfield, CEO and President, Bridgestone Americas.

“We are looking forward to using Darrin’s talent and expertise to build on our strengths and implement cultural

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

change that will take our workplace to the next level. I know Darrin will be a valuable part of helping to make Bridgestone Americas an even better to place to work and a higher performing company.”

Rohr holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washburn University, where he earned the designation of Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Arts degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Business from the University of Tulsa, where he graduated Suma Cum Laude. sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Pirelli offers students placements in Annual Report communications project PIRELLI

HAS LAUNCHED a communication project for undergraduate, postgraduate and recently graduated students, offering the chance of a two-month paid work placement in Milan, in addition to publication in the manufacturer’s 2012 Annual Report alongside artwork by New Yorker cartoonist, Liza Donnelly. The brief presented by Pirelli is simple: find the most significant word that sums up the values students would like to matter most in their future. Pirelli will send the submissions, accompanied by the students’ explanations of their choices, to a jury in order to select the 10 most representative words. These 10 words, and the accompanying reflections, will then be interpreted by Donnelly, and printed in the 2012 Report.

The 10 students supplying the most apposite words will receive two months’ paid work experience at Pirelli’s Milan headquarters, which include the group’s main R&D centre, the Pirelli Foundation, which gathers and distributes the company’s historic and cultural legacy, and the Hangar Bicocca, a space dedicated to the production, exhibition and promotion of contemporary art.

The jury of luminaries that will select the winning words is composed of: Bina Agarwal, professor of Economics at the University of Manchester and

president of the International Society for Ecological Economics; Thomas Goetz, writer of scientific tracts and longtime director of the magazine Wired; Steve McCurry, photojournalist and author of the 2013 edition of the Pirelli Calendar; Carlo Ratti, director of the MIT Senseable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Giuseppe Tornatore, film director, producer and screenplay writer; and Sebastian Vettel, Formula One driver and three times world champion.

Pirelli has previously used the occasion of its Annual Report to provide a narrative alongside the financial and industrial information. In 2011 the young Dutch designer Stefan Glerum collaborated on the 2011 edition alongside texts by H. M. Enzensberger, Guillermo Martinez, W. L. Heat-Moon and Javier Cercas. Pirelli says it provides a “space of reflection based on the stimuli that are already arriving from young entrants. “Empathy”, “Loyalty”, “Creativity”, “Diversity”, “Humility”, “Courage”, “Imagination” are a few of the hundreds of proposals so far sent in, and which offer an original glimpse, in an unexpected place like an annual report, of how youth looks to the future.

The “Imagining the Future with…

You” project is supported by the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh in the UK, as well as many more around the world, detailed on Pirelli’s website.

The microsite holding the competition details, including the first four selections, can be found at http://www.pirelli.com/ corporate/en/careers/imagining-the-future/default.html, while Pirelli is also running the project through its Facebook page. The microsite includes an application into which students can insert the word that represents their vision of the future and a text of up to 140 words explaining the choice. Four submissions have already been selected for review by the jury, and they are available now to read on Pirelli’s website. akb

Al Dobowi expanding European team AL DOBOWI REPRESENTATIVES recently shared global plans, despite the recently reported details of the company’s plans to expand its European commercial team. During the opening months of 2013, Al Dobowi plans to strengthen customer-facing areas at its European head office in London through the appointment of new personnel with particular focus on sales, marketing and customer service.

The move is said to reflect Al Dobowi executive director Harjeev Kandhari’s emphasis on the strategic importance of Europe to the group's

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

downturn in the 2012 tyre market volumes.

Kandhari also reiterated the group’s long term vision: "Over the last few years, Al Dobowi has been able to consistently outpace the general tyre sales trend and it's time for us to reflect on these successes and plan for the future so that our ambitious growth, together with our expanding partner network, can also be realised in the medium to long term". cja

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

Al Dobowi executive director Harjeev Kandhari

25

MOTORSPORT UPDATE

Michelin dominates Dakar following three-year partner commitment Toyo finishes with 6 stage wins, 13 podiums; Race2Recovery completes historic achievement MICHELIN HAS BEGUN ITS THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT to the Dakar Rally as it means to go on, with its tyres fitted to victors in the Bike,Truck and – on the tyre manufacturer’s comeback to the category for the first time since its 2001 victory – Cars.The French tyre giant brought its Latitude C tyres for the Car class, the Bib Mousse-equipped Desert Race for Motorbikes, and the XZL for Trucks, showing the strength and versatility required for competitors to tackle the frequently punishing conditions encountered.

Pascal Couasnon, director of the Michelin Group’s Competition Division, explains that the company’s three-year commitment to the Dakar as a technical partner is motivated by research and development in addition to competition: “Michelin is particularly attracted to competitions that are relevant to future development. As a technical partner of the Dakar, Michelin hopes to bring benefit to the highest possible number of motorists, motorcyclists and transport companies through the experience it gains in this notoriously difficult event.”

Couasnon also expressed his satisfaction with the results achieved on this year’s event: “I would like to thank all of our partners in the three categories we entered. Their success is equally the success of Michelin tyres, while all the drivers and riders contribute to their development as well as serving as ambassadors for the Michelin brand. I must pay tribute finally to the efforts of our onevent support team which worked extremely hard,

helping professional and amateur competitors alike with the expertise they have gained from Michelin’s decades of participation in the world’s most exacting cross-country rally.”

Stéphane Peterhansel (X-Raid-run ALL4 Racing MINI) claimed his fifth success in the Car category and his 11th overall, taking into account his six prior triumphs on two wheels. He drove on Michelin tyres – making their return to the category after 12 years – and with no modifications or tread re-cutting permitted, the Latitude C proved sufficiently robust and adaptable for the thousands of kilometres of varied terrain, ranging from rocky trails to flour-like “fesh-fesh” sand, while also taking the mechanical constraints exerted by the vehicles’ weight, power and torque into account.

The tyre also functioned in very cold and very hot temperatures on soft sand dunes and high-speed, hard-packed ground.

Michelin explains that ordinary South America motorists need these qualities for everyday driving given that only 20 per cent of their road network is asphalted. Therefore, Michelin’s Dakar participation contributed to the development of safer, longer-lasting production tyres suited to use in South America and Asia.

Despres wins fifth Dakar with KTM/Michelin In the Dakar 2013 Motorbike category, favourite Cyril Despres claimed his fifth victory with the KTM/Michelin team, finishing ahead of Ruben Faria, Chaleco Lopez, Ivan Jakes and Joan Pedredo in an all-KTM/Michelin top five. The bike class was very competitive this year, with Yamaha 450 YZF riders Olivier Pain, who led for four days, and David Casteu who topped the order at the San Miguel de

26

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

MOTORSPORT UPDATE

Tucuman rest day, dominating the early stages.

“The day that winning the Dakar gets easy, it will no longer be the Dakar. And this one took some winning,” said Despres, who took a 15 minute penalty after changing his transmission to resolve a gearbox problem during the first week. In the technically demanding Argentine stages later in the Rally, Despres more than made up the difference to overcome the competition, taking him within one victory of Stéphane Peterhansel’s two-wheel Dakar victories record.

Despres also congratulated his teammate in second place: “I am delighted for Ruben Faria who didn’t have a drive three years ago.” Faria recovered runner-up spot when KTM decided to change Lopez’s engine on Friday evening. “It’s great to finish on the podium in my home city, Santiago,” said the Chilean, who managed five stage victories, including the last one in front of a home crowd.

Michelin-shod motorbike competitors won every stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally. The Bib Mousse-equipped Desert Race proved dependable and agile, ensuring optimum traction and durability. Bib Mousse – designed to be used in tandem with the company’s off-road tyre – works to replace air inside the tyre, reducing the risk of puncture whilst optimising performance.

Michelin XZL continues to be preferred fitment for Trucks Michelin’s XZL has been the preferred choice for more than 70 per cent of Dakar Truck competitors for two decades. The production truck tyre was designed for use over a broad spectrum of terrains, ranging from sand to mud, delivering

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Road safety and sustainability at the Dakar Michelin also took the opportunity of the 2013 Dakar to illustrate its road safety and environmental positions, drawing up “ten golden rules of good driving” in association with the FIA for South American motorists. This is characterised as a major aspect of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.

Furthermore, all of the tyres used by competitors during the Dakar will be recovered; Michelin says 58 per cent will help in the production of energy, whilst the remaining 42 per cent are incorporated into the production of asphalt and other surface materials.

Toyo finishes 2013 Dakar with 6 stage wins, 13 podiums

increased traction, even in the case of high-torque engines, and withstanding big loads. The casing is both flexible and robust, allowing the tyre to run at very low pressures over particularly rough or demanding terrains.

The tread compound of the tyre was designed to resist damage and punctures and, alongside the overall qualities of the XZL 14.00R20, Michelin says this contributed significantly to the podium sweep achieved by Russian team Kamaz, a longstanding partner of the French tyre manufacturer on some of the world’s most extreme cross-country rallies.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

Toyo Tires racers won six stages and 13 podiums during the 2013 Dakar. Team Toyo’s Robby Gordon finished the Rally strongly, winning Stages 11 and 13 while two past Dakar champions, Carlos Sainz and Nasser AlAttiyah, used the Toyo Open Country M/T-R to win Stage One and Stages Three, Four and Six respectively.

Sainz drove the American-built #303 Team Qatar Red Bull buggy, Al-Attiyah the #300 Team Qatar Red Bull buggy, while Gordon competed in the Toyo-supported #315 Speed Energy/Toyo Tires/Mapei Hummer.

“To win nearly half of the stages in this year’s Dakar is a wonderful achievement for Toyo Tires,” said Amy Coleman, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire USA Corp. “We are proud to be associated with the top teams that compete in the Dakar, and are especially proud they

27

MOTORSPORT UPDATE

have chosen to rely on our Open Country M/T-R for conquering the world’s toughest race.”

Gordon rebounded from challenges early in the rally to capture a total of eight podiums along the way. He ultimately finished 14th overall. “I've made mistakes this year, and I'm extremely proud of my team. We have had zero mechanical issues and zero flats thanks to a great partner in Toyo Tires,” said Gordon. “We

hope to learn as much as we can from this year’s rally. We will be back next year!”

Another driver that impressed the fans this year and relied on Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires was Eric Vigouroux driving his #319 Herock/Toyo Tires Chevrolet Silverado trophy truck.

Vigouroux is a veteran of endurance rallies, and finished this year in 22nd overall.

Running from Lima, Peru to Santiago,

Chile, the roughly 5,000-mile 14-stage rally wound its way south along the Pacific Coast, while sweeping inland through parts of Argentina. Competitors were challenged with extreme offhighway conditions which included huge sand dunes, rock strewn desert roads, deep river crossings and treks through high mountains. akb

Race2Recovery team completes Dakar The 2013 Dakar Rally saw history created as Race2Recovery, the group of predominantly injured soldiers who formed a rally team to raise funds for Forces charities, became the first ever disability team to complete the world’s toughest race. The team’s Land Rover Defender-based Wildcat race vehicle, running on Cooper Tire’s Discoverer STT, and its crew of driver Major Matt O’Hare and co-driver Corporal Phillip Gillespie, crossed the finish line of the final stage in Santiago, Chile on Saturday evening, ending two weeks of racing that saw the team’s other three Wildcat vehicles fall out of the race.

The Race2Recovery team has rapidly risen to become a fully functioning rally raid team in only 18 months.

Originally beginning their campaign with one Land Rover Freelander and a handful of members, the team now totals 28 people with four Wildcat race vehicles and fleet of support vehicles.

The team is backed by a number of high-profile sponsors including Land Rover, Google, Bosch, Orange Plant and MIS Motorsport, as well as Royal backing, becoming the first ever recipient of a grant from the Endeavour Fund, set up by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The team was also joined in South America by Gaucho Productions, who were capturing all the drama and adventure for a

28

Warrant Officer Andrew Taylor, 40, who suffered a serious back injury after being caught in a suicide bomb attack during active service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, said: “One of our biggest aims has been to raise money for Tedworth House Personnel Recovery Centre. Many of our team members, their families and people we know have benefitted from the recovery process that supports our country’s injured servicemen and women. I would urge anyone that has followed our team, and is celebrating its success, to visit our website and make a donation to this fantastic cause.”

Captain Tony Harris, 31, one of Race2Recovery’s rally drivers who is a below the knee amputee as a result of injuries suffered while serving in Afghanistan, : “We’re also very mindful that three of our members weren’t able to follow the whole journey with us after being injured in a road traffic accident earlier on the event. We’re very grateful that they have all made a good recovery but our thoughts have always been with those others involved in the accident who were less fortunate and our sympathy remains with Race2Recovery’s ‘Joy’, driven by Major Matt O’Hare and cotheir families.” akb driver Corporal Phillip Gillespie completed the Dakar

forthcoming documentary series - to be screened on TV soon.

Major O’Hare, 32 said: “Our mechanics and support team have kept us in the race and their work and dedication was second to none… To complete the Dakar Rally is an incredible achievement in itself, but to become the first ever disability team to cross that finish line lifts the achievement to a whole other level.”

Corporal Phillip Gillespie, 24, who is a leg amputee as a result of injuries sustained in Afghanistan, said: “We have found out first-hand why they call the Dakar Rally the hardest race in the world. It has pushed every single one us to our limits and beyond… The support we’ve received from everyone – our sponsors, supporters, families, friends, the military and complete strangers – has been amazing and is testament to the ability and dedication of this team.”

Race2Recovery team manager,

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

MOTORSPORT UPDATE

Pirelli reveals softer F1 tyres with new spectator-friendly sidewalls Pirelli has unveiled its third generation of current-era Formula One tyres.

The Italian supplier says it will begin the 2013 season with “a completely revolutionised P Zero range for dry weather and Cinturato range for wet weather” . The new tyres have been developed taking into account the wishes of the teams and the latest rules from world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA. Pirelli highlights the softer compounds, the more flexible structures and the reinforced shoulders as the major changes, but an overhauled sidewall design will increase visibility for spectators, including a new colour – orange – which Pirelli’s new P Zero Orange hard tyre replaces silver as the signifier of the hardest compound.

Pirelli says the objective of all the new developments was to improve performance and increase thermal degradation. The latter effect is designed to require teams to make at least two pit stops per race, opening up more strategic options for all the teams. Towards the end of the 2012 season there were signs that Pirelli’s tyres – once maligned by some and celebrated by others for their degradation, and the tactical challenges that created – had increased longevity to the point where drivers were only required to make one pit stop.

The softer compounds will allow tyres to reach peak operating temperature faster and deliver lap times that are around 0.5 seconds faster than last year, Pirelli estimates. The new P Zero Orange will be roughly equivalent to last year’s medium compound, Pirelli says. The softer sidewalls combined with stronger shoulders will lead to faster thermal degradation, but an increased window for the tyres’ peak performance. These features will also improve traction, leading to more speed exiting of corners and in combined traction areas, from braking to acceleration and vice versa. This should yield faster lap times.

Pirelli says the separate compounds should also have a performance gap in excess of 0.5 seconds per lap, contrasting with 2012’s second half, where the difference was often smaller, reducing the tactical possibilities of compound usage.

Combined with the faster thermal degradation, Pirelli hopes the new tyres will therefore encourage overtaking throughout each race.

Pirelli Motorsport unveils its Formula One 2013 tyre line up

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

“The 2013 season continues the philosophy adopted

by Pirelli last year in evolving the original 2011 range of Formula One tyres,” commented Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery. “The goal is to continuously set new challenges for the drivers… Through accumulating more information with each grand prix last year, the teams eventually fully understood the tyres, after a spectacular start...

“The result at the end of the year was races with less competition and sometimes only one pit stop. This phenomenon was also observed in 2011, disappointing many fans and prompting some of the teams to ask us to continue developing our tyres further this year, in order to provide a fresh challenge with something different. Our 2013 range of tyres mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race.”

Pirelli’s Formula One tyres are designed at the Pirelli laboratories in Milan and produced at a dedicated facility in Izmit, Turkey. Having passed quality control and other checks, the tyres are then sent to Pirelli’s logistics hub in Didcot, United Kingdom from which they are shipped out to all the different circuits. Once more, each Formula One car will have 11 sets of tyres available for the weekend, made up of six sets of the harder and five sets of the softer compound. In total Pirelli takes about 1,800 tyres to each race.

Tyres are allocated to each team at random, as per FIA regulations, through the use of barcodes. FIA officials allocate the tyres to the teams, with no involvement from Pirelli in this process. Each tyre has a barcode embedded into its sidewall even before the vulcanization process, which effectively acts as the tyre’s ‘passport’. akb

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

29

COMPANY NEWS

Performance taken to extremes The Fulda Challenge puts athletes – and tyres – to the test UPON

ARRIVING IN CANADA’S YUKON TERRITORY for the 2013 Fulda Challenge, veterans of last year’s event scoffed at the mild weather awaiting them. For goodness sake, the thermometer gave a reading of only minus 20°C – a walk in the park in comparison to 2012, when the mercury sank to a numbing minus 46°C.Yet over the coming days these thoughts were banished as heavy snowfalls delivered driving conditions more challenging than any seen during the Challenge’s 14-year history. In the end, the 2013 Fulda Challenge proved to be not just a test of athletic mettle, rather also a showcase of the conditions in which Fulda winter tyres come into their own.

Many outside of the ‘DACH’ region – the German, Austrian and Swiss markets – may not be familiar with the Fulda Challenge.

The event has its origins in the Yukon Quest, the renowned 1,000 mile sled dog race. Fulda supported the Yukon Quest from 1996 to 1999 and from this sponsorship developed the concept of holding an Arctic decathlon within the region.

Following a ‘test’ event in 2000 the Fulda Challenge officially began in 2001 under the management of German former F1 driver and double 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Hans-Joachim Stuck. Fulda promotes the annual sporting event, held in extreme conditions, as the “ideal communication for the tyre brand to demonstrate the qualities of its winter tyres and further generate its positive image.”

Speaking with Tyres & Accessories during the Yukon-based event, Susanne Knickel, Goodyear Dunlop’s marketing manager DACH for Fulda and Associated Brands, commented that the Fulda Challenge was introduced as the tyre maker wished to create an event that was nearer to the product than the Yukon Quest. “Here in Canada we can show the toughness and quality of our products in an unusual and spectacular environment, and in temperatures and conditions harsher than those in Europe.” Knickel’s colleague, Goodyear Dunlop regional brand manager Elena Sperotto, further pointed out that in addition to attempting to provide a parallel between athletic

30

performance and various aspects of tyre performance in the ten events, the Fulda Challenge also involves a lot of driving, which “shows the tyres’ excellent performance. Tyre performance is more evident here.”

For this year’s Fulda Challenge, seven teams – fourteen athletes in total – signed up to take part in the gruelling tenpart event. Participants came from four countries and included regional celebrities such as Playboy Germany Playmate of the Month Franzy Balfanz, who coincidentally proved a popular figure amongst male Challenge attendees, along with hosts from German television channels RTL and SAT1. The 2013 athletes ranged in age from 26 to 48 and boasted a variety of backgrounds.

Supporting the athletes were medical personnel, event organisers and official photographers. More than twenty journalists also braved the cold to cover the goings-on. A goodsized fleet of 4x4s were needed to transport everyone more than 1,250 miles to the various sites where Challenges took place; each of the vehicles were fitted with Fulda tyres, and as the Fulda brand is not sold outside of Europe – Susanne Knickel told Tyres & Accessories that marketing Fulda in North America is “not our distribution strategy” as “Fulda is definitely a European brand” – the tyres were imported specifically for use during the Challenge.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMPANY NEWS

Sled dogs and sour toes The event got underway in the Yukon capital of Whitehorse on 10 January and the first two challenges saw competitors up in the treetops traversing an agility course and then trading climbing harnesses for four wheels in a slalom event held on a frozen lake – using a car shod with Fulda tyres, of course. The next day (at minus 35°C the coldest experienced during the 2013 Fulda Challenge) featured a light aircraft pulling contest plus what was for many a Challenge highlight, the sled dog race.

Following detailed instructions from experienced musher and Yukon Quest old hand Frank Turner, the athletes got acquainted with their dog teams. Each pair of athletes took on responsibility for a squad of six dogs and was required to act as both musher and sled passenger on the seven kilometre course, the two roles being switched at the half-way

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

A challenge for athletes – and for Fulda’s Kristall 4x4 tyres

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

31

COMPANY NEWS

A sled dog receives a pep talk from Team Switzerland’s Adrian Bachmann before getting underway point.

On the Fulda Challenge’s third day, athletes, organisers and media representatives left Whitehorse and began the 600 mile or so journey to Eagle Plains, a small settlement at the Arctic Circle. The trip along the Alaska Highway (a 1,387 mile road built by the US army within an 8 month period back in 1942) and the unsealed Dempster Highway gave all Challenge protagonists the first real opportunity to test the limits of their winter driving abilities and the merits of the tyres fitted. Fulda Kristall 4x4 tyres were selected for the task; the Chevrolet Equinox SUVs driven by most participants were fitted with the Kristall in size 235/65R17 108. According to Fulda, the Kristall 4x4 is designed to deliver three key benefits: Short braking distances on wet and slushy winter roads, safe handling and low noise levels. Scant attention was paid to noise as the vehicle convoy joined the Alaska Highway, but the presence of ice and snow on the road surface meant the other two qualities remained at the front of drivers’ minds.

Stopping distances for the 1.7 tonne SUV proved to be even better than expected, and the Kristall 4x4’s continuous centre ribs and solid shoulder blocks provided enough traction and control to keep the Equinox’s electronic stability control warning light from illuminating.

In extreme conditions the 600 mile journey to Eagle Plains is best tackled in

32

(l to r): Fulda Challenge organiser Holger Bergold, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Fulda Challenge project manager Jochen Semler

two stages, and following ‘blind’ driving and ice drilling challenges the Fulda Challenge participants stopped for the night in Dawson City, a gold rush town 330 miles north of Whitehorse. This former Territory capital boasted a population of 40,000 during the height of the Yukon gold rush but is now home to just over 1,300 people. In addition to oozing history, one of the town’s claims to fame is the Sourtoe cocktail, a drink that can only be described as a glass of whatever beverage you like – served together with a severed, salt preserved human toe. To join the ‘Sourtoe Cocktail Club’ – and to date around 46,000 people have, including several Fulda Challenge participants – all you have to do is make sure the toe touches your lips as you drink. Fulda is not considering making the Sourtoe Cocktail an eleventh Challenge event.

That doesn’t mean the tyre maker is adverse to change, however. “After each Challenge we review the positives and the negatives,” explained Knickel. “We have no plans to revolutionise the Fulda Challenge but it will evolve in small steps.

We learn from each Challenge. It’s now thirteen years old. If you don’t change anything it’ll get boring.”

After recovering from the effects of the Sourtoe and other refreshments and upon stocking up on beef jerky and root beer (a North American institution that tastes a little like mouthwash mixed with cola flavoured gummy sweets), the athle-

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

tes and other participants set off in worsening weather towards Eagle Plains, where a cross country run to the Arctic Circle was scheduled for early in the afternoon. After a short, weather related delay, the road to the Arctic Circle was opened and the part-marathon began.

Before too long, athletes crossed the finish line with faces and clothes encrusted with ice. Although he finished somewhat behind the first-placed athletes, the event had particular significance for participant Wolfram Kons, who serves as coordinator for a children’s charity set up by the RTL television network; at the Polar Circle Susanne Knickel, on behalf of Fulda, presented the charity with a cheque for 50,000 euros.

With three Challenge events still to come, athletes, organisers and journalists alike prepared for the return drive to Dawson and Whitehorse. Further snowfalls overnight covered the Dempster Highway with a layer of loose snow and blurred the boundary between road and hard shoulder, not a welcome occurrence on a highway featuring steep embankments. Putting more faith in vehicle and tyre than usual, the group set off at a speed suited to the conditions and made it safely to the next challenge venue; later that day Hans-Joachim Stuck described the driving conditions encountered as the worst seen since the Fulda Challenge began and praised those behind the wheel (and the Fulda tyres) for

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMPANY NEWS

don’t do it by hal- lent occurs in areas where Fulda may not ves,” commen- normally reach; Christian Hieff, who until ted Leiter at the recently served as Fulda press represenprize giving cere- tative, shared that “the Fulda Challenge is mony.

Team worthwhile for us as we get new audiGermany finis- ences through it, such as daily newshed the event in papers and travel and lifestyle magazisecond place, nes.”

Traditionally, the Fulda Challenge has with Team Switzbeen largely a ‘DACH’ event, with involveerland third.

Reflecting on ment from other European markets minithe 2012 Fulda mal. This may change in the future. In Challenge short- 2013 the teams from Germany, Austria ly before the end and Switzerland were joined by a French of the week, team for the first time. “I’m proud to Competitors in the 2013 Fulda Challenge. Winners Andreas Leiter and Susanne Knickel have taken part,” said French athlete Taig Renate Reingruber are front row, second and third from left said Fulda was Khris on behalf of Team France. “For pleased with the many years the Fulda Challenge has been an excellent job done: “In the years I have amount of television coverage it received just for the German language countries been coming here, I have never seen this year. “It’ll be a challenge to improve and I think it’s very important that the conditions like these,” said Stuck. “You on this in 2014,” she added. “But our goal other European countries start step-byhave passed your car and tyre snow test. is not only to be given coverage in step to participate; the event, as I see it, You all delivered a masterful perform- January and February, rather throughout is so strong that it deserves to be famous ance. I am pleased to say that during all the whole year. We are working towards in all of Europe.” Khris may get his wish – the years we’ve held the Fulda Challenge this through mediums such as YouTube Elena Sperotto told Tyres & Accessories almost a million kilometres have been and also dealer videos, for example.” The that Fulda would indeed like to gradually covered in extreme conditions on Fulda company’s presence in the Yukon is also focus on other national audiences. “At reinforced by the fact that all its winter present we have some other countries, tyres – all without incident.”

Challenge events eight, nine and ten and summer tyre launches take place such as Italy and Poland, that are intereswere respectively a snowshoe mountain there, and Fulda retains a close relation- ted.” Currently there is no talk of a British team competing in 2014, however should run in the Tombstone Mountains, a ship with event partner Yukon Tourism. one sign up they’d be assured a warm downhill canoe race and a tyre slingshot welcome in the chilly Yukon Arctic. that involved the strenuous task of pulling Reaching new audiences of a tyre connected to an elastic rope as stephen.goodchild@tyrepress.com far as possible. The twang of the Fulda Within the DACH tyre shooting out of the last competitor’s region the Fulda grip at the end of the event marked the Challenge is the tyre close of the decathlon. maker’s single largest public relations investment, noted Victory for Team Austria Knickel, and it is tarBack in Whitehorse, the winners of the geted at both busi2013 Fulda Challenge were announced. ness to business and First place in the team rankings was Team business to consuAustria; the two team members, Renate mer audiences with Reingruber and Andreas Leiter, also top- the aim of increasing awareness ped the individual women and men’s brand rankings and each won CA$1,500 and a and brand equity.

Klondike gold nugget for their efforts. The Challenge is said Team Austria showed itself to be a strong to provide Fulda with contender throughout the entire the advertising equiChallenge, leading the board on the very valent of more than Spot the car: The white vehicles driven by many Fulda million. This first day. “Renate and I are competitive £4 Challenge participants were often well camouflaged animals, and when we do something, we advertising equiva-

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

33

COMPANY NEWS

Apollo opens global R&D and global branding centres APOLLO TYRES LTD has opened a global R&D centre in Enschede, the Netherlands as well as a global branding centre in London, UK. Opened just days apart, the two moves follow earlier commitments to put European activities in the driving seat for passenger car tyre development and, in company chairman Onkar S Kanwar’s words, to fuse the company’s three cultures into one team. Hints towards increased OE activity and the potential of a more international investor base are also evident.

T

The global marketing office has been situated right at the heart of London in Westminster, giving it very close access to both the financial and political centres of the UK. So does this mean the company is planning any specific financial market activity? “Not really”, Apollo vice-chairman Neeraj Kanwar told Tyres & Accessories, adding that these steps have been taken with a view to building the company’s identity around the world and across its three key brands. However there is a financial dimension to the deci-

sion, currently around 22 per cent of Apollo shares are held by non-Indian or “foreign institutions”. However, the target is for the company to increase this to around 40 per cent, with German and Dutch investors mentioned and with the proximity to the British financial markets - which themselves offer a doorway to the rest of the world – suggesting that this is by no means an exclusive list.

With reference to recent speculation relating to Apollo’s apparent potential interest in purchasing Cooper Tire, Neeraj Kanwar reiterated the company’s official stance of not commenting on

Apollo chairman Onkar S Kanwar and Mayor of Enschede, Honourable Peter den Oudsten prepare to open the new research facility

34

speculation. What he did say was that the company is aiming to achieve its goal of attaining annual sales of US$6 billion via “both organic and inorganic growth”. That said, the company is “not in the race to buy something” and in any hypothetical case any decision will be based on three

Computer modelling of new products is becoming increasingly important

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMPANY NEWS

key considerations – as it was in the case of the Vredestein purchase in 2009 and the Dunlop South Africa acquisition before it. According to Kanwa,r it all comes down to brand – will any product or brand gaps be filled?; geography – are blank or strategically valuable positions covered?; and talent – do the right people come along with any transaction?

Price positioning and strategising will also be led from the new global branding office, along with media planning and product communications. Apart from providing an overview for other departments and regions, this global centre is intended to act as something of a hub for Apollo’s increasingly international business. The relative proximity to the company’s Eschede manufacturing site and the new global research and development facility were also said to have been key considerations.

New global R&D centre Just around the corner from the Vredestein plant in Enschede and a stone’s throw away from FC Twente stadium that dominates the local skyline, the Apollo Vredestein’s new Tyre Information Centre (as employees call it) is situated in a modern building in the local science and technology park. And it represents a milestone towards both the company’s continued OE aspirations and its commitment to raise R&D spending to three per cent of turnover.

The new facility will serve as a hub for the development and testing of car and van tyres for all three of the company’s brands — Apollo, Vredestein and Dunlop (one of the office walls is emblazoned with this logo although it is only distributed through 32 countries in Africa). Apollo Tyres Global R&D BV opens with 104 R&D specialists from various parts of the world, including 20 car tyre specialists from India and South Africa, and will later be scaled-up to nearly 150 people.

“This world-class centre will play a key role in bringing cutting-edge technology and innovation in the development of car and van tyres of the future,” said Onkar S Kanwar during the inauguration of the R&D centre, pointing to the key OE flavour of the endeavour.

The decision to open the new R&D centre follows an earlier decision to restructure the company’s global research and development team, across its 3 key geographies. The new structure is designed to connect the entire organisation via two major R&D centres – the facility in Holland will take the lead in terms of passenger car tyres, while the company’s Indian centre in Chennai will take the helm for agricultural, off-the-road and commercial products. Geography was key to their placement - The Middle East and Asia forms nearly 59 per cent of the global market for commercial vehicle tyres, while Europe and North America represent 51 per cent of the car tyre mar-

Onkar S Kanwar officially opened the new facility ket. Both R&D departments will be in close contact with OEMs and replacement clients, test centres, raw material suppliers and research institutes.

According to Peter Snel, group head, PV R&D, Apollo Tyres Ltd: “Apollo has taken a bold strategic decision to centralise its R&D activities for car tyres in Europe. Given that Europe is one of the most advanced automotive markets in the world, the facility will help Apollo to further step up efforts to build tyres for the future. It will also strengthen our relationship with the global OEMs.” As well as Apollo’s chairman and vicechairman, deputy chief of mission from the Indian Embassy to the Netherlands, R K Singh and Mayor of Enschede, Honourable Peter den Oudsten were present to inaugurate the R&D facility. cja

New compounds, new machinery T&A gets an Enschede factory update WITH APOLLO VREDESTEIN’S Enschede factory contin- Walk through the back door of the factory and it soon becomes uing to expand, and with the Indian parent company having invested around 100 million euros in the European company since the 2009 acquisition, Tyres & Accessories took advantage of its recent visit to Enschede for the opening of Apollo’s new global R&D centre and also have a look at the latest developments at the Dutch tyre factory.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

apparent that you have entered under the shadow of the large carbon black silos and are continuing under the large Banbury mixers in parallel with the production process of the proto-tyres themselves. And here we find our first update. With Enschede producing up to 46 compounds at any given time and with 10 of these required for passenger car tyres alone, there is clearly a call for modern mixing equipment in addition to more conven-

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

35

COMPANY NEWS

some point in the last year or so, Apollo Vredestein’s newest steel belt/cutting machinery is said to be an example of next-generation technology in action. This VMI-produced, fully automated machinery not only completely replaces scissoring with more accurate and consistent cutting, but actually forms belts two at a time. This means the approach offers large accuracy, speed and therefore efficiency benefits. According to those T&A spoke with, this machinery is actually still in development, emphasising just how new it is.

Around the corner from here another VMI-development can been seen. Not only are the bespoke fully automatic tyre builders Vredestein made its name with in the 1980s still going (albeit with some electronics updates, owing to the scarcity of original spare parts in the world), but there are also a fleet of new tyre builders produced by the machinery from the fellow Dutch engineers at VMI. This new generation of semi-automatic builders – dubbed VMI JK40s – not only operate as fast as anything else like it out there.

Cutting edge technology According to the company, the JK40s curThe next noteworthy feature really is new rently operating in Enschede are only the technology. Brought into the factory at second installation of this machinery tional equipment, mixing machinery capable of automatic weighing and complex processes already in place. That’s why from 2014 another mixer will be running exclusively mixing the company’s “very complex” ultra-high performance compounds. According to company representatives, it will be one of the best machines available in the world and will be operating at “a very high degree of accuracy”.

Continue past this stage into some of the next phases of production and you see a unique quadruplex extruder, which was brought over from a Russia factory, harking back to the company’s old AmtelVredestein days. The word is that the Russian factory simply was not able to produce tyres of a sufficient standard to utilise such technology, meaning it was much better employed in the more modern Eschede facility. There are also various kinds of triplex extruder in operation, as there has been for some years now.

anywhere in the world. And there are said to be room for three more of these, should managers decide to install them.

A quick word about Vredestein’s much lauded bespoke fully automatic machines.

While the original technology was able to produce a green tyre every 32 seconds, following the electronics upgrade described above, technicians have now shaved this down to 28 seconds per tyre.

Skipping to the end of the factory tour, it is also worth noting that in addition to the Vredestein branded tyres visible in the warehouse, Apollo tyres – including some of the latest models – can now been seen on the stillages. What we can glean from this is that a few Apollo products are now being made in the Enschede factory alongside their Vredestein-branded counterparts. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

In addition to next generation beltmakers, upgraded automatic builders and brand new semi-automatic builders, T&A saw a quadruplex extruder (left) and of course plenty of curing presses in action (right)

36

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMPANY NEWS

Closely connected Peter J. Snel, head of Apollo’s new R&D centre, speaks with T&A THE OFFICIAL OPENING of Apollo’s Tyre Information Centre on 11 January gave Tyres & Accessories the perfect opportunity to sit down with Peter Snel, group head of passenger vehicle R&D at Apollo Tyres Ltd and discuss the role the new global R&D centre in Enschede, The Netherlands will play in Apollo’s global plans.

Snel confirms that the new R&D centre in Enschede will be Apollo’s main location for the development of passenger can and van tyres, complementing its commercial vehicle tyre research and development facility in Chennai, India. The Enschede centre’s passenger car tyre work will involve both original equipment and replacement market products. “In the replacement tyre segment we are strongly focusing on high performance tyres,” the group head of passenger vehicle R&D comments. “When it comes to original passenger car equipment tyres we have the same goal, however we know that we must first prove ourselves in other segments in order to be entrusted with the most demanding and prestigious projects.”

The European market is an obvious beneficiary of the Enschede facility’s work. Snel adds that product developers at the new R&D centre will also work closely with teams in India and South Africa and receive necessary input from them for the development of products for those regions.

Product testing, as is already the case, will take place in numerous global locations, including New Zealand, the USA, India and South Africa plus a number of European sites such as Finland, Spain (Idiada), Germany and The Netherlands.

Original equipment products will be an important focus for the Enschede R&D centre and Peter Snel shares a little on the tyre maker’s OE brand strategy: “Apollo is set to be our global original equipment brand. In addition to this, however, we will also undergo homologation for Vredestein brand winter tyres, as we have a significant tradition in this area.”

According to Snel, the initial investment in the R&D centre cost Apollo 3.5 million euros. “The company is willing to significantly increase its expenditure in development, thus it can be seen

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

that further investments will also follow.” As mentioned in a related text, as of mid-January the centre employed 104 qualified developers; Peter Snel says Apollo has already conducted interviews with additional engineers and the head count at the Enschede R&D centre will increase to 120 in the near future. Eventually the site will employ 150.

The group head of passenger vehicle R&D explains that Apollo’s Baroda and Chennai factories in India currently supply the tyre maker’s original equipment products. “Our goal how- Peter Snel, group head of passenever is that original equipment tyres ger vehicle R&D at Apollo Tyres, can theoretically be produced in every oversees operations at the new factory within our group. Apollo Tyres centre is investing heavily in production, and is also doing so here in Enschede; in the near future a new mixer will be installed at the Vredestein plant. Prototypes of tyres developed at the R&D centre will be manufactured in the plants were series production will later take place. Snel says doing this is more efficient than producing prototypes at the neighbouring Vredestein plant and then switching production somewhere else.

What effect will the new R&D centre have on Apollo’s three other facilities, which are directly located within the company’s factories in Enschede, India and South Africa? Snel says a small team of around 15 people will be maintained at the Enschede plant. “We also have adequate teams at our other tyre factories within the group, we have an intensive exchange and are perfectly connected with each other.”

Many readers are well aware that Vredestein has also been a successful agricultural sector brand for a number of years. While most agricultural tyre development takes place in Chennai and the Enschede centre is mainly focused on passenger car and transporter tyres, Snel shares that “we have also made space for several colleagues from the agricultural sector in our building.

Vredestein agricultural tyre development (that takes place in Enschede) is also very closely connected with our colleagues in India.“ detlef.vogt@reifenpresse.de/sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

37

COMPANY NEWS

ETRMA: European tyre segments crashed in 2012 AFTER

TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS of modest growth in total tyre unit sales, European tyre makers are reporting double digits drops across the board in 2012. While previous market growth can be qualified by the fact that the increases came despite a decrease of ETRMA member market share, it is clear that the economic crisis is far from being over.

The suggestion is that lower miles driven and increased part worn sales are affecting everyone.

In this context, ETRMA supports a rapid implementation of the CARS 2020 Action Plan announced by the European Commission in November 2012.

“We hope” said Ms Cinaralp “that the action plan will bring a gleam of light in this very grim scenario by promoting investments in innovation, skills and training, promoting better regulation, and sanctioning unfair market players through more effective market ETRMA’s secretary general Fazilet Cinaralp commen- surveillance”. ted on the “worrying” data and pointed to part worn sales as a possible explanation: “This is the lowest So what is CARS 2020? market volume since more than seven years. This may be caused by lower mileage per car, the decisi- The 12 million sector-related jobs mean the automotion by the consumers to delay the purchase of new ve industry as a whole (automotive producers, supply tyres or to choose second hand tyres instead of new chain and aftermarket, including thousands of SMEs) ones. The latter emerging trend could have severe is of strategic importance to the European economy. consequences on the safety of the vehicles on However, between 2007 and the end of 2012 new car European roads, as second hand tyres could become registrations in Europe are expected to have dropped over-used – and illegal – very quickly. To avoid these by over 3 million. This translates into a fall from 15.5 safety concerns, checks on tyre tread depth during million to about 12 million units - making 2012 the periodic and roadside roadworthiness inspections are worst year since 1995. increasingly important.”

The EU’s answer came in the form of an action plan tabled the European Commission in November 2012. Known as CARS 2020, the plan is aimed at reAll segments affected, winter tyre sales down inforcing this industry’s competitiveness and sustain20% ability heading towards 2020.

What this means is that the commission has proAccording to the ETRMA data, all tyre segments were negatively affected with the biggest fall posed a massive push by streamlining “research and affecting replacement truck tyres (-19%), followed by innovation” under the European Green Vehicle consumer replacement tyres (-13%). Furthermore Initiative. Co-operation with the European Investment demand for winter tyres was described as “satura- Bank will be reinforced to finance this and facilitate ted” resulting in a drop of 20 per cent in 2012. SME access to credit. Furthermore, what is known as However the ETRMA does no believe that this an “EU standard recharging interface” is intended to scenario is something its members alone are expe- provide the regulatory certainty needed to facilitate a riencing, stating that data for imports from non- breakthrough for large scale electric car production.

Innovation in the automotive industry will also be European manufacturers are showing a similar trend. stimulated through a comprehensive package of measures to reduce CO2, pollutant and noise emissions, to drive improvements in road safety and devel2011 2012 Change op technologically-advanced intelligent transport sys223.597 194.618 -13% tems (ITS). All of these factors have direct relevance 10.172 8.231 -19% to tyre manufacturers, but so far there hasn’t been 1.866 1.652 -11% much in the way of concrete examples of the applica8.568 7.611 -11% tion of this process in our sector. cja/pg

E

European tyre replacement market in '000s of tyres Consumer Truck Agri Two-wheel

Source: ETRMA Europool

38

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMPANY NEWS

Goodyear Dunlop leaving agri business in EMEA region Production in France, Poland and Turkey affected ON THE LAST DAY OF JANUARY, the management of Goodyear EMEA and Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V. announced the company’s plan to exit the agricultural tyre business within the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. At the same time, the sword of Damocles that has hung over the tyre maker’s Amiens Nord factory in France finally fell, with Goodyear Dunlop confirming that the plant, which produces almost 60 per cent of all agricultural tyres manufactured within the EMEA region (and also produces passenger car tyres), will close.

ness is consistent with our strategy to strengthen Goodyear’s focus on its core businesses.”

According to Goodyear Dunlop, agricultural tyre capacity at the Amiens Nord plant is 650 tyres a day. Within the EMEA region its output is supplemented by production in Poland and Turkey; in total, Goodyear Dunlop produces around 1,000 agricultural tyres per day at EMEA facilities. The tyre maker made no secret of the fact it considered production in France not a cost effective option – reporting the Amiens Nord plant’s closure in a statement, Henri Dumortier, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tires France, said that the Amiens Nord plant (both passenger car and agricultural production) generated a 61 million euro loss in 2011.

“We are deeply disappointed that the In a written statement, Arthur de Bok, five past years of negotiations haven’t president Goodyear EMEA and chairman allowed us to reach a compromise with Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe, explained: the employees’ representatives,” the “The company’s intention to exit the EMEA farm tyre busi-

statement read. “Today’s announcement is the only remaining option that we have.”

Goodyear Dunlop Tires France has presented its Amiens Nord Factory closure plan to the Central Works Council. The plan remains subject to the finalisation of the consultation of employee representatives. Details of any scheduled cutbacks in Poland and Turkey have not been announced. A Goodyear Dunlop spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that “since [the Goodyear Dunlop operations in] Poland and Turkey are listed companies, local management will make an impact assessment for their company.

Should the Amiens Nord closure gain approval, 1,173 jobs (or 1,250, according to some figures) will be lost. The CGT (Confédération générale du travail or General Confederation of Labour) union, however, does not intend to take the decision lying down. According to the Le Parisien newspaper, CGT workers’ representative Frank Jurek declared that the union would “fight the battle to the end.” And in a statement published by the union,

European farmers will soon work the land on Goodyear tyres manufactured outside of the EMEA region

40

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

COMPANY NEWS

another CGT workers’ representative, Mickaël Mallet, said “the battle began five years ago and will continue, whatever the decision.”

Agri exit already achieved in the Americas Goodyear has already retreated from the agricultural tyre business in some regions. In 2005 it sold its North American agri business to Titan International, along with two factories, and in 2011 Goodyear’s Latin America business was acquired by Titan International, along with a factory in Brazil. Titan’s original plan also involved Goodyear’s European agricultural business; in September 2009 Titan International signed a letter of intent with Goodyear Tire & Rubber to acquire “certain farm tyre assets”, including the Amiens North factory. At the time Titan noted, as a formality, that the European agreement was subject to Goodyear Dunlop Tires France’s “satisfactory completion of a social plan related to consumer tyre activity.”

And so began the dramas. Although on 13 December 2010 Titan International

announced its acquisition of the Amiens Nord plant and the license to produce Goodyear brand agricultural tyres in Europe, the completion of a social plan related to the discontinuation of consumer tyre production couldn’t be reached. Enraged Amiens Nord workers took to the streets and burned tyres in protest, while the CGT vigorously opposed the move. Titan blamed the unions representing Amiens Nord workers for sabotaging the deal.

Burning with rage – when Titan attempted to acquire “It shows how screwed up the agri business in Amiens Nord, workers responded things are in France when a com- to plans for ending passenger car tyre production with pany tries to save jobs,” fumed angry protests Titan International chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor at the end of 2011. they do when they work, but as I told the “Titan has other acquisitions that have union personnel, you cannot get paid been on hold while the put option was still seven hours for three hours of work.” The active. Now Titan will pursue those opti- put option Goodyear had for its Amiens ons instead of waiting for the French Nord plant expired on 30 November 2011, union to start thinking about their mem- and Titan wasted no time withdrawing bers…Titan spent a lot of time and money from the acquisition agreement.

Goodyear says its Asia Pacific agricultrying to get Goodyear’s social plan approved but only a non business person would tural tyre business is not impacted by the understand the French labour rules. The company’s latest action. sg French workers are very good at what

Trelleborg buys Maine Industrial Tire TRELLEBORG WHEEL SYSTEMS says it aims to strengthen its Chinese subsidiary of Maine Industrial Tire. Therefore, it is not position in attractive and profitable market segments, and as part of this it recently made two ‘bolt-on’ acquisitions.

The first of these was the purchase of Maine Industrial Tire, a US-based manufacturer of solid tyres. Maine Industrial Tire’s headquarters is in Massachusetts, US, while its production facilities are located in Pennsylvania, US, and Xingtai, China.

Annual sales amount to approximately £59.7 million and the company employs approximately 650 people.

A second deal, consolidated as of 1 February 2013, saw Trelleborg Wheel Systems acquire the industrial tyre business previously belonging to Dutch company Industriebanden Beheer BV. The business specialises in the distribution and service of industrial tyres, such as those fitted on forklift trucks, and generated estimated 2012 annual sales of approximately £5 million.

With Trelleborg already running a manufacturing operation in Xingtai, which focuses on agricultural products, it seems likely that there is a strategic dimension to the Maine Industrial Tire purchase. The new facility in China is adjacent to the operation that Trelleborg acquired in the first quarter of 2011 from the

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

surprising that the company say “synergies are expected to be generated on integration of the acquired company into Trelleborg’s structure.”

“The acquisition strengthens our position as a global leader and a strong local business partner, not least in the world’s two largest industrial tyre markets China and North America. The product range produced complements our existing offering within the industrial tyres segment, focused on solid tyres used in warehousing, logistic operations and airports. The acquired company has a highly attractive portfolio of advanced products and favourable profitability performance,” said Maurizio Vischi, business area president, Trelleborg Wheel Systems.

Referring to the Industriebanden Beheer industrial business purchase, Vischi commented: “The acquisition gives us the opportunity to expand our successful industrial tyre service concept while also allowing us to grow in the areas of service and distribution in Europe. It strengthens our entire supply chain, from manufacturing to service of industrial tyres. The acquired business commands a strong position in the market and has a favourable profitability record.” cja/sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

41

TPMS

Tyresure: Awareness growing following legislation As the market grows, tyrebays should prepare to service the widest range of sensors, and to educate customers about the importance of well-maintained TPMS ONE

OF THE LEADING

EUROPEAN

SUPPLIERS OF

OEM tyre pressure monitoring

system sensors, service parts and aftermarket TPMS solutions, Tyresure believes that awareness of the products is growing throughout the supply chain, with national tyre operations preparing for theTPMS market on a daily basis. The OE installation of TPMS became law in Europe for new type M1 vehicles in November 2012 and part of the MOT (advisory) in January 2012.

All M1 vehicles will have to have TPMS fitted by November 2014 and a vehicle will fail the MOT as of January 2015 if the TPMS warning light is on.

I Tyresure supplies the ATEQ VT55, which will soon be joined by the company’s new VT56 model

42

Ian Smith of Tyresure told Tyres & Accessories that TPMS and national tyre operations are preparing for the TPMS market now, with TPMS awareness presentations taking place through the supply chain. The NTDA is naturally playing a lead role in the information process: there were busy TPMS information seminars run at last year’s Brityrex exhibition, the production of a TPMS awareness poster, A5 leaflet and best practice TPMS procedures. More activities from the NTDA will be announced as the year progresses.

Smith says these efforts, from many involved in the industry has got to be a good thing, bringing new revenue opportunities to tyre service providers.

In terms of the products currently available in the UK, Smith says most of the focus is on replacement sensors, and which diagnostic tool the tyrebay should choose.

Making the point that diagnostic

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

tools are expensive, Smith urges that future-proofing measures should be taken now, taking into account looking at the future capability of the tool is important, in order to maximise value on the investment in a field likely to see a surge in technological development.

Replacement sensors from Schrader, VDO and Huf Beru have been readily available for some years and these OE replacement sensors continue to be the most sold product in the repair market.

Launched in 2012 TECH Europe launched a full aftermarket sensor programme to offer the tyrebay a choice OE or Aftermarket replacement parts.

Other aftermarket sensors will be introduced as the market matures from a number of manufacturers, aping the development of the far more mature US market. This year will see the launch of programmable sensors from Schrader, and Alligator, and multi-protocol sensors being introduced by TECH Europe, and next year will see the launch of the VDO Multisensor, which is seen as the market leader in the USA. And these are merely the bigger names in the field. Another sensor programming product range coming to the market from another aftermarket supplier, Autogem will be the i-sensor, announced as this feature was going to press, and other manufacturers will undoubtedly seek to compete for the replacement sensor market.

A programmable sensor can be programmed by either a programming pad or by a diagnostic tool, Smith explains. The advantage of the programmable sensor is that less stock keeping units are required. Another type of product, known as

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

TPMS

multi-sensors, on the other hand send multiple protocols at once, so many sensors can be covered by one. In general all current European sensors can be covered by three multisensors.

Manufacturers like ATEQ have been working closely with sensor manufacturers to ensure that their tools work with and can programme all these replacement sensors, and Smith says other diagnostic tool manufacturers will follow suit too. This will make the choice of sensor or diagnostic tool less problematic to the discerning tyrebay in the future, making market price, vehicle coverage and programmability the key motivators for success in the programmable sensor market.

ATEQ’s diagnostic tool development Smith notes that with a wide range of TPMS diagnostic tools in the market now, the tyrebay is spoilt for choice, but must think carefully about future TPMS developments. Many tools on the market will not programme the new breed of programmable sensors, and considering the penetration of these products on the US market, Smith believes this functionality will quickly become very important in Europe.

Cataloguing the future of TPMS tool development is much like the past three years of tablet computer development – something of which most European markets are very much aware. They will need to be easy to use and intuitive to ensure that the training on the tool is minimal, and they need to be quick.

TPMS diagnostic tools should be able to programme programmable sensors, and work with Multisensors too.

Smith says ATEQ, a leading seller of TPMS tools in the US market, exemplifies this, working closely with sensor manufacturers to ensure compliance with new sensors and all major programmable and Multisensor manufacturers work with ATEQ: “As the ATEQ distributor here in the UK Tyresure has been working closely with ATEQ on European vehicle tool functionality and are delighted at the significant improvements being made for 2013. The next generation ATEQ VT56 tools will have

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

VIN bar code scanning, to capture vehicle parameters giving much faster testing of the sensors and better parts and fitment data for the user. New ATEQ tools will have big 4” Colour Screens, lots of information available for the user, programmable parts files specific to the user, they will have WiFi, Bluetooth and Infra-red to enhance connectivity with peripherals such as work load management systems and printers. Current ATEQ VT55 tools already in the market can be upgraded to give exactly the same programmability, parts and relearn data as for the VT56 at no additional cost.”

Servicing Sensors and tyrebay revenues A decent rule of thumb for sensors is that they will last around five years or 100,000 miles. For every sensor replacement maybe three sets of tyres will be used, as well as potential puncture repairs. The TPMS sensor should be serviced every time a tyre is removed, and this represents an opportunity for the tyrebay to generate a steady revenue, though Smith says many tyrebays do not service sensors, and do not generally look for opportunities to service TPMS sensors.

Service parts are currently highly available in the market, with OE parts from Schrader, VDO and Beru and aftermarket service parts from a wide range of supplier. Tyrebays can charge from around £7.50-15.00 to service the customer’s sensor; service parts cost around £1.00, making the margin gain attractive. Smith says the key to this is the customer’s knowledge and the service provider’s ability to transmit this information to them. Customers should be educated about why it is important to service the sensor, how important his tyre pressures are and to feel that he is part of the process of keeping his vehicle and other road users safe – many of the same features of other tyre-based services such as alignment and balancing.

Smith says this kind of engagement is both the key to success and the challenge for the tyre industry in the future.

Autogem launches i-sensor TPMS system

Autogem’s i-sensor Blank and Tool

UK diagnostics and TPMS equipment supplier Autogem has launched its new programmable tyre pressure monitoring system, which will allow workshops to configure blank sensors, and to diagnose sensors through a contact-less scan using the i-sensor Tool. The i-sensor Blank meanwhile is a universal sensor that can be programmed effectively to become any one of more than 90 per cent of current original equipment sensors by the tool. Autogem says the multi-angle, clamp-in design allows fitment to many different wheels. The i-sensor Blank can also be re-programmed endlessly; Autogem makes the point that since “over 90 per cent of sensor replacements in the USA and UK markets are due to mechanical failure”, the old electronicallysound sensor can be “automatically duplicated with the i-sensor tool and the relevant blank sensor”.

Included with the tool will be a sensor installation tool, a TPMS sensor ID locator sheet, a user guide, Windows software for updating, a charger and USB cable, and a year’s worth of tool software updates. Though the company says the system is intuitive enough to require minimal training, the company has an online learning zone and TPMS helpline during office hours. Autogem also offers a newly updated kit for fitting and servicing TPMS, including a Torque Driver, 11 and 12mm sockets, a quarter-inch adapter, valve core key and a grommet removal and fitting tool. akb

akb

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

43

TPMS

Conti weighs in with expanded TPMS functionality CONTINENTAL’S LATEST TPMS sensors, named Intelligent Tire Sensors, expand the functionality of the system to detect the weight of vehicles, continuing ongoing development activities. Conti said the ability to use the technology to test for this information could lead to more efficient checks in the transport industry particularly. Where in the past only special vehicles were capable of checking permitted axle loads, future vehicles will be able to calculate this information automatically on the basis of data from their tyre pressure sensors. In terms of private passenger car users, the system could help when the issue of maximum car payloads arises – for example before long holiday drives.

“In the past, it was more or less up to drivers to ‘guess-timate’ to the best of their abilities whether or not the maximum permitted payload of a car had already been reached,“ explains Andreas Wolf, head of the Body & Security Business Unit at Continental. “In the future, the vehicle will be able to tell the driver after just a few hundred meters whether the payload has already exceeded the maximum permitted limit, or whether the tire pressure would simply need to be adjusted accordingly. In this way, our tire pressure sensors will not only help to save fuel, but also offer active assistance in terms of vehicle safety.“ Explaining how the automatic load detection system works, Conti says its engineers take advantage of the physical properties of vehicle tyres. The contact patch of the tyre increases as a result of the weight bearing down on the tyre. With the future generation of sensors, which will be fitted directly underneath the tread of the tyre, the TPMS can accurately detect the size of this contact area. With every revolution of the tyre, the sensor registers its rolling characteristics on the road. Based on the existing tyre pressure and precise data about the tyres fitted, the system is

44

able to inform the driver after just a few hundred metres if a change in tyre pressure would be appropriate for the current payload.

Conti also predicts that this sort of load detection technology could be the basis for some more vehicle improvements. Current assistance systems relating to vehicle dynamics are designed to provide occupants with the highest level of comfort and safety benefits independently from the load conditions. Assistance systems today are always working with the assumption of a maximum payload. As soon as systems like ESC, Emergency Steer Assist or

Autonomous Emergency Braking Assistant can incorporate information about the actual vehicle weight in their responses, this will enable them to provide even more efficient comfort and support for drivers.

Alongside the major advantage of direct TPMS, providing drivers with accurate, tyre-specific information about the actual tyre pressure, additional functions are now also being implemented step-bystep in series production vehicles. For example, one Asian manufacturer now offers customers a subfunction of the Filling Assistant presented by Continental: a first vehicle model now automatically generates a short acoustic signal during filling once the required tyre pressure has been reached. This ensures that the tires always run on the correct pressure, even if they are filled using noncalibrated filling equipment. Rolling resistance is reduced as a result, and the tyres perform to their maximum capability in terms of safety and comfort. akb

Tech offers TPMS solution As tyre pressure monitoring systems become obligatory at the OE level throughout Europe, Tech Europe reports that it is offering what it says is “the most comprehensive range of TPMS products in Europe today, and a TPMS programme recently nominated for the ‘Product Innovation’ award at the annual NTDA TAFF Awards.”

While all new have been required by EU law to have a tyre pressure monitoring system installed since 1 November 2012 and by November 2014 all new passenger vehicles will have to have TPMS installed by the manufacturer, Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen have fitted TPMS to some models since 2003/4. TPMS is now also part of the annual vehicle test, and applies to all newly registered cars from 1 January 2012.

According to Tech, in the UK by 2015, there will be around 10 million cars on the roads with TPMS fitted. That means there will be around 40 million sensors in circulation. So now is as good a time as any to asses the part your business needs to play in this.

To this end Tech Europe is offering a complete range of OE and after-market sensors, Tech-branded sensors and service kits, ATEQ diagnostic tools, a comprehensive new TPMS website and unique online ordering system, full training and on-going technical support. Furthermore Tech Europe points out that this is backed by “in-depth TPMS knowledge, product expertise, and experience” which is garnered by the company’s decision to partner with Tyresure – a leading player in this segment. cja

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

TPMS

TyrePal CV vehicle TPMS system launched TYREPAL IS LAUNCHING its TyrePal TC215 commercial vehicle TPMS this year, including an appearance on stand 4F78 at the Commercial Vehicle Show, hosted by the NEC between 9-11 April. Suitable for individual vehicles or for fleets including articulated vehicles with multiple trailers. For trailer fleets, a smart transceiver is fitted to each trailer to provide a simple hook-up as trailers are swapped.

The innovative new system from TyrePal continuously measures both temperature and pressure of tyres while the vehicle is moving, and continues checking while it is parked. The system can detect a slow leak that could easily go unnoticed for thousands of miles, damaging the tyre and racking up excess fuel costs. Temperature sensing means that any unusual stress on a tyre is also detected, and a warning given before it results in a blowout or tyre fire.

Advanced warning means that issues can generally be dealt with on site instead of at a roadside breakdown. Tyres are systematically checked before every journey, and continuous monitoring means that problems picked up en route can be dealt with before they cause an accident or a breakdown. A monitor in the cab gives distinct alerts for: air loss (in case of puncture and so on), low pressure, high pressure and high temperature.

If preferred, an intelligent communications link can be provided between the tyre pressure monitoring system and external systems. This can be used to connect to a telematics link, custom instrumentation or for communication with a gateway base station. The system uses sensors on each tyre that transmit pressure and temperature data to the monitor or data node at 433MHz. External sensors simply screw on to the

tyre valve in place of the standard dust cap and an integral security shroud prevents them being removed without using a special tool.

Internal sensors are also available, fitting inside the tyre behind the valve, meaning the tyre must be removed to fit them. The TyrePal system is available now, with prices starting at £225 (exclusive of VAT) for a six-wheel system and an in-cab monitor. akb

Snap-on’s Verus Pro hand-held diagnostic tool range topper

S

Snap-on Diagnostics has announced the introduction of the Snap-on Verus Pro, its new top-of-the-range handheld diagnostic tool for the modern workshop technician. The tool is designed to “offer a complete diagnostic solution to any UK garage or bodyshop,” according to the manufacturer. The Verus Pro has been specifically designed to allow the technician to manage the complete job from start to finish, using a Microsoft Windows operating system.

Verus Pro allows for Bluetooth as well as wireless internet browsing, meaning the mechanic now does not have to leave the service bay in order to access technical forums, OEM websites, online parts suppliers, or favourite web resources. The exclusive Fast-Track Troubleshooter, guided component tests and four-channel lab/ignition scope puts more solutions at the technician’s fingertips.

Snap-on also says durability was a key characteristic for the Verus Pro, making it “built for life in the service bay”. It allows customisation for technicians to develop their own suite of information using exclusive “ShopStream Integrated Diagnostic Suite” software. This means that

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

once a vehicle is identified on the system, all relevant information – diagnostic as well as information from online forums and vehicle records – will be remembered and all data stored for future use. The scanner contains a built-in camera and has a single keyless adaptor for EOBD applications which connects wirelessly to the display tablet for remote operation. There is OEM specific coverage – from 1992 – for over 29 manufacturers.

As with other Snap-on products, Verus Pro software updates are delivered to the tool directly from the Snap-on franchisee van via ScanBay, the company’s five-year old delivery method. This should allow the tool to keep up to date with fastmoving diagnostics market without the need for cartridges or other physical updates.

“Diagnostics is the fastest-moving and most complex area of the automotive Aftermarket,” says Aldo Rodi, UK managing director of Snap-on Tools, “so through our Snapon ‘family’ we want to ensure that all of our customers have access to the world’s most sophisticated hand-held diagnostic equipment. We are very confident of an extremely positive response when UK technicians have the opportunity to examine our new top-of-the-range Verus Pro.”

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

akb

45

TPMS

Bosch acquires SPX Service Solutions FOLLOWING APPROVAL by the antitrust authorities, Bosch completed its acquisition of SPX Service Solutions, a US automotive diagnostics specialist at the beginning of December 2012. The agreement to purchase the company was signed the preceding January. SPX Service Solutions develops, manufactures, and sells service equipment, repair-shop accessories, and software for the global automotive market.

Based in Canton, MI (USA), SPX Service Solutions generated sales of some US$920 million (some 660 million euros) in 2011. The diagnostics specialist employs 2,800 associates in 17 countries, and has manufacturing sites in the US, Germany, France, and China. The purchase price was $1.15 billion (885 million euros).

“In acquiring SPX Service Solutions, we will become a comprehensive supplier of solutions in the diagnostics and repair business. In expanding our portfolio and extending our global presence, especially in the US, we are strengthening our position,“ said Robert Hanser, president of the

Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division.

“We will quickly merge our know-how and wealth of experience in this growing market. Our aim is to become the world’s leading supplier of diagnostics solutions for all makes of vehicles.“

Network of core competencies for a growing market With automotive electronics becoming increasingly complex, the market for diagnostics solutions has a great deal of potential for growth. Up to now, Bosch has served this market with products and services for diagnosing, servicing, and repairing passenger cars and commercial vehicles, with brand-independent workshops as its main customers. The portfolio of SPX Service Solutions comprises engineering services for automakers, as well as accessories and services for workshops.

Combining these areas is intended to provide Bosch with a wider range of customers and a broader portfolio. At the same

time the move is designed to open up new market opportunities, especially in Asia Pacific and Europe.

The business activities of SPX Service Solutions will be integrated into the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division, a leading supplier of aftermarket-specific products and services which generated sales of some 4.3 billion euros in 2011. As part of an integration project, the new “Automotive Service Solutions“ business unit will be set up. The former Diagnostics business unit will also become part of this. All in all, these two business units generated sales of roughly one billion euros in 2011. Tanvir Arfi, who was president of SPX Service Solutions for many years, will be in charge of Automotive Service Solutions and its 4,200 associates. The unit’s world headquarters will be in Canton, MI (USA). The European operations of Automotive Service Solutions will be managed from the Plochingen location in Germany. cja

EZ-tire sensors the latest tyre mounted TPMS tech from Schrader SCHRADER’S EZ-TIRE SENSOR is the manufacturer’s latest fitment potion for the world’s most mature tyre pressure monitoring system market, North America. The leading global manufacturer of TPMS systems released the sensors, which use the same patented and programmable sensing technology as the valvemounted EZ-sensor, in the final quarter of 2012. The EZ-tire is enclosed within a small, circular, rubber fitment package that adheres to the inner liner of the tyre. Given its location, the EZ-tire solution expands the benefits of TPMS (including enhanced tyre performance data) to a wide range of new applications in addition to traditional passenger cars and light trucks that are federally mandated to include TPMS. These new applications could include vehicles with specialty or custom wheels, heavy-duty trucks and buses, fleet vehicles, motorcycles, off-road vehicles and many more.

“We have always focused on providing a broad range of innovative, high-performing TPMS solutions to meet the needs of our customers,” said Trevor Potter, vice president, North American Aftermarket at Schrader. “With the introduction of Schrader EZtire, we are pleased to offer the most sophisticated TPMS sensor technology on the market to a diverse range of new vehicle types, as well as a new fitment option for existing TPMS service.”

“The introduction of our tyre-mounted sensor demonstrates

46

Schrader’s ongoing commitment to innovation and providing the best technology to our customers,” said Hugh Charvat, President and CEO of Schrader. “EZ-tire provides a truly unique solution for our diverse customers, including those who face daily challenges of maintaining an active TPMS system while fitting plus wheel sizes.”

The company’s tyre mounted sensor technology can also be packaged with additional telematics software to provide enhanced tyre performance and tracking data, which is especially important to fleet managers and heavy-duty equipment operators. For example, a fleet vehicle with a Schrader tyre-mounted sensor can potentially predict worn tyres and advise the driver to either change their tyres or modify their maximum speed. Other realtime data important to managers includes tyre pressure, tyre temperature, air inside tyre temperature, miles travelled, vehicle loads, tyre dimensions and tyre characteristics, tyre performance and longevity. Schrader says that this additional data provides critical insight needed to optimize vehicle road performance.

As with the company’s EZ-sensor, EZ-tire is programmable across diverse TPMS protocols and vehicle platforms, thus saving installation time, cost and inventory requirements. Diverse vehicle types can be quickly programmed with EZ-tire with more than eight handheld scan/programming tools. akb

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

TPMS

Comatra launches TPMS for ag, forestry tyres

T

Tyre pressure is a subject with which users of agricultural machinery will be very familiar, it is fair to say – different pressures are used for different applications, and using incorrect pressures can adversely affect yields and productivity through increasing fuel consumption, soil compaction, rutting, tyre wear and many other issues. Belgian heavy equipment supplier Comatra has introduced a new product to tackle tyre pressure monitoring in agricultural applications: the wireless Comatra TPMS. The system, which Comatra describes as unique to the market, is a TPMS specially designed for agricultural and forestry tubeless tyres, uses sensors to fit inside the rim, helping to prevent the damage and malfunctioning of external sensors used by other existing systems on the market. It also means that the sensors are well protected against corrosion.

The 100g sensor is fitted to the valve stem in the ETRTO V5.01.1 15.7mm rim hole and uses a 433.92MHz fre- The Comatra TPMS internal sensor quency and a 3.6VDC battery that should last for five years.

The sensor then communicates with a monitor system located within the cabin of the machinery, warning the driver in case of high or low pressures within the range 0.4-6.0 bar (5.8101 PSI). The system includes either four or six sensors according to the chosen composition; one 12V-24V monitor display with a cigar plug socket; a 12V-24V power cable with a cigar plug adapter; and one dashboard mount bracket. akb

TIA Submits Comments on TPMS Regulation THE USA’S TIRE INDUSTRY Association has announced that it has submitted comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the economic impact of its regulations on small entities as required by Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Specifically, TIA commented on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 49 CFR 571.138 that regulates tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) on passenger cars and light trucks.

TIA’s comments focused on the section that related to the written instructions that must be included in the owner’s manual.

The Association feels that the requirements are inadequate and do not properly explain the different TPMS tell-tales or educate the consumer on the need for regular maintenance. As a result, these tasks are left to the tyre retailers who must bear the burden of providing this information.

Additionally, the lack of information regarding the need for relearn procedures creates confusion in the minds of consumers which often leads to small businesses giving away services in the interest of customer satisfaction.

“As an industry, we embraced the role of TPMS and readily accepted the challen-

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

ges that it created for tyre service providers,“ remarked Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president. “Our members have invested thousands of dollars in tools and training to service all makes and models, so we feel the vehicle manufacturers must do their part by playing a greater role in educating the motoring public. By requiring the addition of TPMS tell-tale identification and maintenance costs in the owner’s manual, NHTSA can ease the burden on small businesses.“ The Association also commented on language that relates to vehicles with a TPMS tell-tale that temporarily remains illuminated following service. TIA has learned of several occasions where customers assumed the tyre retailer damaged the system so the vehicle was immediately taken to the new car dealer. Some car dealers have taken advantage of the situation by needlessly replacing all of the sensors at the expense of the retailer. If the manufacturers were required to identify vehicles in the owner’s manual that must be driven to extinguish the TPMS tell-tale after tyre service, these instances could be avoided.

“The lack of information and consumer awareness regarding TPMS often leads to

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

motorists getting different explanations from retailers and new car dealers,“ said Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training. “The owner’s manual should be the sole authority on the operation and maintenance of the TPMS for each specific make and model. This would provide retailers with an undeniable reference that they could use to explain why certain procedures are necessary and justify the additional cost.“ TIA also prompted NHTSA to release a Final Rule on the consumer information and education program that was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The Association stated that in order for TPMS to meet the long-term goals of improving safety and fuel efficiency, consumers will need a lot more than a few nondescript paragraphs in the Owner’s Manual and low rolling resistance ratings that do not influence tyre buyers. TIA believes the only way to achieve that goal is to develop a comprehensive education campaign that targets consumers and retailers with a consistent message, and as the leader for training and education in the tyre industry, they urged NHTSA to issue a Final Rule that names TIA as the coordinator of this effort. akb

47

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Dunlop’s BluResponse How the 125 year old manufacturer uses its motorsport technologies to develop 15-16” tyres that lead the segment’s labelling grades Dunlop began the new year with the launch of its new Sport BluResponse high performance tyre in the United Arab Emirates. Described as “a new breed of tyres” by the brand in its summary of the touring segment product – i.e. with the majority of its launch sizes between 15 and 16” – it is fair to say that Dunlop has the first full year of European tyre labelling firmly in its sights; company executives stressed that the large majority of sizes would be graded A for wet grip and either B or C for rolling resistance, with vice president, Consumer, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Michel Rzonzef stating that the company believes

48

“labelling will be a game-changer” and quoting an Ipsos survey that suggests awareness of labelling legislation is higher than other surveys have suggested. Though at the same time, the company continued to stress that the overall performance of the tyre across 50-plus characteristics was more important than gaining the highest label grades. Rzonzef viewed 2013, including the launch of the Sport BluResponse, as “a new milestone” for Dunlop: this year marks 125 years of experience in manufacturing tyres designed to win races.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

PRODUCT INFORMATION

he first glimpse of the “we would not be Dunlop if we did not Sport BluResponse name focus on the overall performance and not at June’s Reifen 2012 only the label grades. Independent test showcased an AA-rated results from TÜV SUD clearly show that, concept product. even with high label grades, we have not Presented as “a major – and will not – compromise on perforbreakthrough in tyre tech- mance.” The compromise disavowed by nology” by Jean-Pierre Jeusette, director Dunlop is that of achieving high label graof Goodyear’s Innovation Center des at the expense of characteristics not Luxembourg, the final production model on the label, which increasingly became has clearly undergone some changes, as the premium tyre manufacturer view on was predicted at Reifen. “It’s extremely labelling during the legislation’s introductichallenging to develop tyres that achieve on period.

Carli used adjectives such as “comfortop grading in all aspects of the EU tyre label, keeping high levels of performance table” and “sporty” as well as grip to chain all other relevant performance and racterise the tyre, which he says is targetsafety related criteria,” Jeusette explain- ed at the current high performance sectied, and alongside the challenges associa- on – meaning medium-sized cars rolling ted with industrialising the new tyre tech- on 15”, or more popularly 16” tyres. In nologies and material mixes, it can be terms of Dunlop’s strategy for the Sport inferred that the slightly lower grades of BluResponse, “16” is the must-win size” the final product are a result of engineer- for Carli, who also emphasised the imporing a “well-balanced tyre across Goodyear tance of the V speed index. The tyre thereDunlop’s full spectrum of performance cri- fore fits into place in the Dunlop range teria.” Rzonzef underlined this point when between the 2009-launched SP Street he repeated the company’s “3:15:50” Response, covering 13-15” profiles, and view on characteristic testing: “the label the ultra high performance Sport Maxx RT tests three criteria, magazines test 15, from 2012, which covers sizes between 17” and over-20”. The Sport BluResponse Goodyear Dunlop tests 50.”

This context might seem to run slight- has been “designed to match the original ly against part of the strapline attached to equipment requirements of the drivers of the Sport BluResponse at the launch, “All this size profile in the market,” Carli contigrip, no compromise”, due to the differ- nued, meaning OEMs ranging from the oriented Renault, ence in label ratings between concept mass-market and production tyres – after all, when can Volkswagen and Ford models to homolgaany tyre be described as completely free tion on some Jaguar models. from compromise? The tyre’s rankings show that the Sport BluResponse com- The importance of the label to the petes on a par with the best tyres availa- Sport BluResponse ble in the medium-sized car segment in labelling terms – and Dunlop brand mana- As we have seen, Dunlop is keen to disger Guillaume Carli expressed “confidence in the tyre’s test-winning potential”. The tyre also has test-winning pedigree, as the successor to the SP Sport Fast Response, a “test winner on a regular basis over the last five years”. Sanjay Khanna, managing director, Dunlop Brand elucidates further the The Sport BluResponse’s A-rated wet grip was demonstrated brand’s explanation for its with the backdrop of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit “no compromise” claim:

T

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

tance itself from a potential manufacturer response to the tyre label that would privilege the three recorded characteristics over non-labelling features, such as dry grip or longevity. Carli exemplified this attitude when he said the Sport BluResponse’s predecessor, the Fast Response was “one of the best tyres on the market for mileage” and that in improving performances there was a “desire not to compromise on this”. However, the main messages communicated by the Dunlop team at the launch spoke to the high grades achieved, suggesting a greater confidence in the power of the tyre label in this segment than perhaps other premium brands have conveyed.

“Recent research among Dunlop consumers revealed that, amongst the main criteria considered to select a new tyre, most consumers pay attention to the brand first, then wet grip as a reflection of safety, and then fuel efficiency,” Khanna stated. “That makes Dunlop, with its new Sport BluResponse a big player on the market.” To back up this assertion one of the main Dunlop engineers on the project, Pierre Brochet showed how TÜV-SÜD testing in France and Germany in September 2012, comparing the performance of the Sport BluResponse against four premium brand competitors on a VW Golf (size 205/55R16 91V), had shown the tyre to be a new “benchmark in the segment”.

On wet surfaces, the Sport BluResponse’s large central grooves evacuate water efficiently, delivering high quality aquaplaning performance.

Compared with several key competitors, the tyre was described shown by the test results to be “a long way ahead” in wet braking, stopping up to three metres shorter than the average of competitors’ results. It has a smaller advantage of up to three per cent versus the average scores of tested competitors in wet handling. Overall, this meant that the tyre achieves an A grade in most sizes for wet grip.

In rolling resistance, the new Sport BluResponse offers rolling resistance so improved that Brochet characterised the tyre as “jumping one generation” in this

49

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Dunlop announces fuel efficiency, alternate fuel source partnership

Dunlop Motorsport marketing and communications director, James Bailey

characteristic. Dunlop said the tyre achieved 130 per cent of the Fast Response’s rolling resistance performance, giving it mostly Bs and Cs on the tyre label. The manufacturer also noted that the aerodynamics of the tyre had been reworked to reduce a small amount of drag. Noise ratings – widely, if implicitly, acknowledged as the label score few care about – were not included on the list of predicted grades shown by Dunlop, but the company said it had improved this characteristic over the tyre’s predecessor too.

Sporting heritage of a 16” tyre Presenting the technical advances contained in the new Sport BluResponse explains the reasoning behind launching the tyre in the UAE. While it may seem incongruent to launch a tyre focused on 15-16” profiles amidst the glamorous high-end malls and premium spectacledriven real estate of the “city in the sky” Burj Khalifa in Dubai, as well as the £800 million Formula One, and Ferrari Worldhosting Yas Marina race track in Abu Dhabi where the product was demonstrated, the key technologies of the Sport BluResponse were presented as technologies filtered down from Dunlop’s 125 years of motorsport developmental experience, especially those from endurance racing. In achieving the A grade in wet grip, Dunlop uses a “new compound, similar to [that found in] motorsport tyres, which is able to adapt more to the roughness of a road surface.” In gaining a B rating in rolling resistance, Dunlop pointed to the motorsport derived compound

50

Dunlop’s 125th birthday – and 125 years of competitive tyre manufacturing – is being viewed by the brand as an opportunity to look forward to future motorsport developments designed for sustainability. Dunlop Motorsport marketing and communications director, James Bailey told visitors to the 24hr Dubai race at which the manufacturer is the exclusive tyre supplier of how the company has recently shifted part of its focus to supporting fuel efficiencies and alternative sources of energy both on the race track and on the road.

“Motorsport has not stood still for over 100 years, and it will not stop today”, says Jean-Felix Bazelin, general manager of Dunlop Motorsport. “Neither will the development of new car technology, for both track and road – and the era of fuel efficiency and alternate fuel sources is a big trend these days. As we see an increasing number of alternate fuel races, cars and initiatives take place on the race track, Dunlop is also taking great leaps forward with new technology to meet new standards.”

Bailey announced an addition to the company’s hybrid, electric and alternate fuel car technological development: a tyre supply deal with GreenGT H2, the first hydrogen fuel cell Le Mans car, due to compete for the first time at Le Mans in 2013.

Dunlop said this meant it was effectively embarking on a specific tyre development programme for future generations of electric and hydrogen powered race cars.

Sebastien Montet, Race Design & Development manager for Dunlop Motorsport explains the three main challenges for tyre designers to overcome in this area: “With vehicles such as the GreenGT H2 we need to think about the vehicle weight, different engine characteristics and an improvement in fuel efficiency. A change in vehicle weight will mean an increase in the forces carried by the tyre, different engine torque characteristics mean the tyres require an increase in longitudinal stiffness, and improved fuel efficiency will be optimized in lower rolling resistance in the tyres we design.”

Dunlop also announced a reversal of sorts for the race to road hierarchy of development: “As tyre technology evolves, we are also increasingly seeing road technology come into racing,” said Sanjay Khanna, managing director, Dunlop Brand. Dunlop has reached an agreement with Nissan and its Eco Racing Team in Spain to supply its BluResponse AA tyre. Dunlop’s AA-labelled tyres are to be fitted on the Nissan Juke 1.5 dCi, the Nissan Micra 1.2 DIG-S, and two electric Nissan LEAF models, which are taking part at the Spain-based Eco Series races.

“This type of race showcases the importance of fuel efficiencies to enable race teams to win on the track”, says Khanna. “After all, fuel is a weight in the car that hinders its performance. At the same time, the more fuel efficient a car is, the more laps it can run without needing to refuel – and lose time. It is here that Dunlop plays a critical role, delivering the best rolling resistance, balanced with performance, to achieve victory be helping the car reduce both fuel needed and fuel consumption.”

The BluResponse AA is effectively the antecedent of the new Sport BluResponse tyre, launched in Dubai in January. It was launched at Reifen as a concept tyre, and achieves the highest tyre label grades obtainable on fuel efficiency and wet grip.

Dunlop’s Sport BluResponse were built on this technological development, though the rolling resistance grades it achieves are reduce by one or two boundaries.

“Tyre technology is evolving. We have spent the past 125 years evolving around cars, and they have evolved around us,” concludes Khanna. “Together we have played a critical role in helping achieve new standards and built new expectations. It is an approach we will continue to pursue, and the launch of our Dunlop Sport BluResponse is no different – we can achieve great things – high label grades – but we also deliver so much more beyond that. That is why we say ‘performance without compromise’.” akb

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Not all tyres are created equal.

Infinity Tyres.

Bred to be better.

There are tyres. Then there are Infinity tyres. Designed specifically to meet the demands of your customer’s lives. Their unfailing safety, dependability and performance ensures that they are the natural choice for every motoring situation.

www.infinity-tyres.com

a4_ecomax_publicidad.indd 2

Infintity tyres are available through our authorised UK distributor, Bond International Please call 0844 8440112

08/02/13 09:08

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Dunlop extends Sport Maxx RT line, gains Maserati OE

Goodyear Dunlop vice president, Consumer, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Michel Rzonzef cuts the cake celebrating 125 years of the Dunlop brand

– again developed through motorsport – which “disperses heat” better due to “reduced molecule activity”, while the tyre’s stiffer sidewalls “reduce deflection and deformation”, both of which help to “maintain the mileage” of the Fast Response by distributing pressure and heat across the tyre’s footprint.

These features provide the reason for flying out to the UAE to demonstrate a tyre that is self-avowedly “concentrated on the European market,” as Carli said: concurrently with the product launch event at Yas Marina, Dunlop was supplying 7,000 tyres and its expertise to what Dunlop Motorsport director, James Bailey calls “the busiest fast fit centre in the world” at the 24 Hours of Dubai at the neighbouring Emirate’s Autodrome. It is in these sorts of endurance events, in which Dunlop now “specialises” according to Bailey, that Dunlop “learns about tyre construction”, and develops the sorts of technologies that filter down to the Sport BluResponse.

Open to professional, semiprofessional and amateurs, the Dunlop 24hr Dubai 24hr race attracts around 100 teams running touring cars, GT’s and 24hr specials from around the world. Unlike the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Dunlop compete against other tyre companies with bespoke tyres designed around the needs of each car, the 24hr Dubai presents a different challenge for the tyre engineers, who provide the same top level, latest generation Dunlop tyres to all, ensuring parity and consistency for all competitors, like at exclusive supply 24hr

52

Dunlop is to extend its Sport Maxx RT a year on from its original launch in Ascari, Spain in February 2012. 25 sizes will be added to the line-up to meet increasing demand for the sporty and high performance tyre, the company states. In addition to the number of new aftermarket fitments, Dunlop has secured original fitment on the Maserati Quattroporte, due to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in 2013. It will be fitted with Sport Maxx RTs in sizes 245/45ZR19 98Y (front) and 275/40ZR19 101Y (rear).

“When we introduced the Sport Maxx RT, we wanted to ensure we could continue to claim a leading position in the ultra high performance tyre market”, states Sanjay Khanna, managing director, Dunlop Brand. “[To] meet with the increasing demand for additional ranges of cars, we are launching the Sport Maxx RT in 25 new sizes.” Commenting on the OE fitment, Khanna said: „We’re extremely proud of Maserati’s choice.“ The Sport Maxx RT is designed to deliver improved wet and dry grip, lower fuel consumption, shorter braking distances and enhanced cornering control. TÜV tests showed the tyre had a seven per cent advantage over the average of its competitors in both dry and wet braking, with 11 per cent better rolling resistance, compared to its key competitors on the market, Dunlop said. akb

races in Silverstone or Barcelona. Dunlop fits its tyres at these events to supercars such as the Lamborghini Gallardo LP600, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and McLaren MP4-12 GT3 through to specially adapted Renault Clios, Seat Leons and VW Golfs in their classes.

The Dunlop 24hr Dubai takes place along Dunlop’s “busiest fast fit centre in the world” at the 24hr Dubai race the 5.39km Dubai Autodrome circuit, one of the most the temperature measurement across the modern in the world. It is also considered tread as tyres come off competing vehias one of the most challenging, as it has a cles. The tyre used in the 24hr Dubai is combination of high-speed straights and usually measured at temperatures bettechnical corners. “We are delighted with ween 90 and 100 C, and – just as the our successful partnership in Dubai”, says Sport BluResponse has been engineered Jean-Felix Bazelin, general manager, for uniform temperatures across the tread Dunlop Motorsport. “We were here from to help reduce rolling resistance and the beginning, eight years ago, and we increase longevity – Dunlop targets a really are impressed by what this event range of a maximum of 10 C. In ways such as this, Bailey identifies a possible has become.”

Spending some time at the circuit future for motorsport “as a leader in techduring the final stages of this year’s event, nology for a sustainable driving future”. those attending the launch witnessed the Dunlop presents the BluResponse as an massive research and data acquisition exemplifier of how this may be achieved Dunlop completes at an event such as in regular driving applications. this. One aspect that catches the eye is andrew.bogie@tyrepress.com

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Project2_Page 53 05/02/2013 16:59 Page 1

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Closing the gap Yokohama hopes A-rated Advan V105 will boost OE credentials YOKOHAMA HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED its flagship Advan Sport V105 tyre, offering journalists the change to test drive the new product at the Ascari race track near Ronda in southern Spain.

The official launch follows an initial preview of the product, presumably aimed at the Asian markets, at the Macau Grand Prix in November. It also precedes the final leg of the launch phase set to take place at the Geneva Motor Show, which this time is likely to be pitched at potential OEM customers. While the fact that Yokohama is updating and replacing its popular Advan V103 product is evidently not new, what executives added at the launch was further detail of the strategy behind the tyre and the technology that has gone into producing it.

A

Atao Kishi, Yokohama corporate officer, general manager of Tire Global Product Planning division, and deputy general manager of the company’s Tire Global Technical division explained the corporate context V105 has been launched into. In April 2006, Yokohama Rubber published its medium-term management plan, Grand Design 100 (or GD100).

Atao Kishi, Yokohama corporate officer, general manager of Tire Global Product Planning division, and deputy general manager of the company’s Tire Global Technical division

54

Currently 81 per cent of the company’s turnover is generated by tyres. Part of the GD100 strategy is to increase exports to 45 per cent of sales or 66 million tyres, which means an increase of seven million from current levels by 2014. All this is building up to the goal of achieving 86 million units of export sales by the time the company reaches its centenary in 2017. In order to achieve this goal, Yokohama has spent the eight or so years since the Advan concept was introduced at the end of 2004 building the flagship line into an increasingly premium brand. This approach is based on a two-pronged strategy of high performance and development including motorsport sponsorship (see “Thrills and spills in Macau”, Tyres & Accessories, December 2012 for more on this) and OE development. Meanwhile the Yokohama brand continues with the environmental/fuel-saving approach being adopted by the BluEarth range.

Takeshi Masatomo, manager of summer passenger car tyre product planning at Yokohama added further detail about what this means in the case of the new V105 product. The V105 is said to be the result of a continuing process of “product evaluation” developed in conjunction with “one of Europe’s leading automotive manufacturers”. The specific identity of this car maker was not revealed, however judging by the cars available to demons-

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

trate the new “luxury performance” product it is a fair bet to say it is one of the leading German marques. And it is probably not too much of a stretch to mention the name Mercedes-Benz in particular as the V105’s “love driving” strapline was regularly interspersed with the adjectives “sporty but comfortable” during the presentation. This in turn seems more suited to the Mercedes modus operandi as opposed to the more performance-orientated BMW approach, for example.

Furthermore, a quick look at the product data for the first 30-odd sizes the V105 is being released in reveals that no less than 10 are 16 – 18-inch MO-marked fitments and therefore Mercedes approved. In fact, the tyre is already OE on the Mercedes SL-class, for example. Other specific OE targets include Porsche, Audi and the BMW M Series.

Technological developments According to Yokohama this kind of success has – at least in part – come as the result of a number of key technological developments that have sprung forth from the Japanese tyre manufacturer’s research and development operations.

These basically centre on aerodynamics improvements, compound development and even the development of its own electric vehicle, the Aero-Y. Full details of the ways Yokohama is using aerodynamics to improve its products are being released during and after Tire Technology Expo, but Takeshi Masatomo offered an

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

PRODUCT INFORMATION

introduction to two of them.

Firstly Yokohama has begun applying the lessons learnt by its golf department and is implementing golf ball-style dimples on some of its tyre lines. This technology has been added to reduce drag and therefore improve fuel efficiency.

Continuing in this vein, the company has been experimenting with placing protruding fins on the inside edge of tyres. If you were wondering how adding fins improves aerodynamics you aren’t alone.

The simple answer is that they are designed to help channel air-flow within wheel wells. Without these fins airflow in these cavities is said to be particularly chaotic and therefore adds drag. So while it may make a theoretical tyre – one not actually fitted on a vehicle – less aerodynamic, in the context of the whole vehicle, drag is said to be reduced. It is not clear when this technology will be visible on market-ready products; however it is certainly an interesting approach.

V105-specific developments Switching our focus back to the V105 in particular, Yokohama has deployed “Matrix Body Ply” technology, along with a revised tread design and significantly modified compounds in order to achieve its OE goals.

predecessor. One of the most noticeable features is the redesign of the longitudinal grooves that circumnavigate the casing. Previously four broad grooves could be seen spread out across the tread. Now there are three broad grooves and one thinner one, emphasising the The Advan Sport V105 S product’s move towards and increasingly asymmetrical design. 11.1 per cent improvement in wet steerAccording to the technicians behind the ing stability, 14.1 per cent improvement product, this forms the basis of a tread in wet braking (shortening stopping disthat is in simple physical terms two-thirds tances by up to seven metres) and 15 per optimised for wet performance and one- cent reductions in pattern and road noise. third (the outside edge) for dry handling At the same time the company reports and overall cornering. that more marginal advances in dry perAt the same time as these develop- formance have been made, with dry brakments have been added to the V105, the ing improved by 4.1 per cent and dry compound has also been significantly steering stability improved by about one altered. It now features increased quanti- per cent. All these tests were conducted ties of silica, a brand new silica dispersi- on the 265/35R19 variants of the V105. on agent used for the first time in a If it wasn’t immediately obvious from Yokohama tyre and orange oil. As a result the performance enhancements descrithe polymer is said to be highly reactive bed above, the label data associated with to silica, offer high wear resistance and the new tyre shows how Yokohama better wet grip than ever. engineers have gone to significant lengths to improve the wet performance.

As a result the “luxury performance” oriWhat the label data tells us entated product has achieved wet brakAll this means the Advan V105 offers an ing A grades in virtually all of the 33 initi-

The company reports that steering precision has been improved through the use of “Matrix Body Ply” in the tyre’s internal construction. According to the company and contrary to conventional radial casing design, this approach layers plies at an angle other than 90 degrees across the tread area of the tyre. This is said to borrow general construction philosophies that use triangles to strengthen structures, but without adding weight. As a result the new structure reportedly reduces tyre weight by 4.6 per cent in 265/35ZR19. Furthermore using plies with slanted cords helps the tyre “envelop” the road and therefore offer a larger contact patch.

While “evolution” was the term used

by Yokohama representatives, the V105 tread looks quite different from its V103

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Yokohama launched its latest flagship tyre at the Ascari race resort in southern Spain

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

55

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Yokohama has clearly had its eye on high profile OE fitments during the development of new Advan V105

al launch sizes. Just four 16-inch sizes and one 17-inch fitments drop a band and score B instead. In half of these cases this is offset by significant improvements in rolling resistance compared with the

before the 2016 revision of minimum European tyre labelling standards.

However, it has to be said that if fuel efficiency was a primary concern of the kind of drivers that are likely to fit the V105, they probably would have bought vehicles other than Mercedes, Porsche et al. The pass-by noise rating of the range is similarly underwhelming. And while sound-proofing is at its best on luxury vehicles 74 decibel results on quite a few sizes and a three wave rating on at least one somewhat undermines the luxury part of the performance luxury motif Yokohama has been associating with this product. However with roughly 15 per cent improvements in wet characterisrest of the range, which broadly comes in tics, it is hard to deny that the V105 ticks at E. There are however a light smattering the performance box. of F grades across the range, something chris.anthony@tyrepress.com the research and development department will no-doubt be seeking to improve

Nokian renews winter tyre range THREE NEW PRODUCTS have been added to Nokian Tyres’ Hakkapeliitta winter tyre range for the Nordic market and two new winter tyres have also been introduced for the Central European and North American markets. Announcing the five new products, company president and CEO Kim Gran stated “this is the biggest launch in the history of our company as we renew most of our winter tyre range. The new generation of Hakkapeliitta tyres is a significant upgrade to our long line of test winning products. We are looking forward to introducing the finely tuned safety and handling properties to the consumers.”

The Finnish tyre maker says that when designing the new Hakkapeliitta tyres, the focus was on creating authentic winter tyres that perform safely and reliably under the demanding and varying northern conditions, from extremely low temperatures to wet weather.

The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is described by Nokian as a tyre that “masters all the elements of winter.” The design of this latest-generation studded Hakkapeliitta tyre is based on the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 that was introduced in 2009. This multiple test winner holds a world record in its field: over 30 test wins in car magazines between 2009 and 2012.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 is a non-studded winter tyre that Nokian says will “safely tackle even the trickiest winter conditions.” The manufacturer reports the Hakkapeliitta R2 “has made a significant leap of progress” in the area of grip on ice

56

surfaces. It adds that the tyre will be “the number one choice for those who value unique driving comfort and eco-friendly travelling.” Rolling resistance is also said to be extremely low and developments in handling on ice, snow, and wet roads have been made.

The world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer is also introducing the non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV winter tyre, specially tailored for sport utility vehicles. “The new innovations in the tread patterns and compounds of this stable, rugged new product ensure that the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV’s handling and grip properties are top-notch,” the tyre maker shares.

Nokian Tyres is introducing the new Hakkapeliitta products to its most important partners at its own testing centre in Ivalo, Finland in the coming weeks. In addition to the launch in Ivalo, promotional tours will also be held the Nordic countries and Russia. All of the three aforementioned Hakkapeliitta products are aimed at the company’s core Nordic and Russian markets, and will start shipping to retailers in early 2013.

During the spring, the company is also launching the Nokian WR SUV 3 winter tyre, developed for Central Europe’s varying winter conditions and the ever-increasing SUV segment. The new Nokian WR G3 for passenger cars, on the other hand, is an extension of the Nokian Tyres’ All Weather Plus product line for the North American market. Nokian will publish detailed product information of new the winter tyres in February. sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Greater on-road emphasis for Michelin’s latest Anakee IT’S ANAKEE IN THE UK with the local release on back roads or dirt trails. Michelin says it has of Michelin’s Anakee III. The new tyre succeeds the Anakee II and Michelin says its tyre developers placed a greater emphasis on road use this time round; the Anakee III is designed for 90 per cent on-road/10 per cent off-road use. Homologation has already been approved for the new 2013 BMW R 1200 GS, a bike Michelin refers to as the benchmark motorcycle in its category. As a result, more than half of these BMW models coming off the production line will be fitted with the new Michelin tyre as original equipment. Michelin says the Anakee III will also equip the segment’s other leading motorcycles.

“The performance and multipurpose nature of the Michelin Anakee III is reflected in its ability to meet BMW’s extremely demanding specifications and as a result Michelin will be the main tyre supplier for the new model,” wrote the tyre maker in a product release. “To accomplish this, BMW and Michelin worked together to co-develop the tyre, which saw both partners renew their respective product ranges. The new BMW R 1200 GS was entirely revamped, from the liquid cooled engine to the tyre sizes of 120/70 R19 for the front and 170/60 R17 for the rear.”

Michelin claims a “technological breakthrough” with the Anakee III in comparison with the previous-generation tyre. “Because of the close cooperation between BMW and Michelin, the two products are perfectly aligned. And the fact that the Michelin Anakee III has been selected to equip the majority of the R 1200 GS production confirms Michelin’s technological leadership and ability to meet the expectations of the most demanding manufacturers and riders.”

The market success of larger trail bikes is being driven by several factors. Reassuringly safe, comfortable and easy to ride, these bikes are at home just about anywhere. They can negotiate traffic jams on the daily commute, hit the motorway for longer trips with a passenger and luggage and can also pull off the road for cross-country adventures

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

addressed these expectations with the Michelin Anakee III as it is capable of adapting to any of the uses popular with big trail bike enthusiasts.

As previously mentioned, the Anakee is slightly more of a road tyre than its predecessor.

Despite this, Michelin states that it preserves all of its recognised ability to negotiate trails. The void ratio of the tread has been reduced from 30 per cent to 20 per cent, while safety, high mileage and riding enjoyment top the list of design specifications.

The Anakee III tread pattern is described by Michelin as being “unique and innovative” and was developed through Michelin’s technological expertise, which features bevel-cut central sipes for improved lateral grip. Thanks to the use of new silica-based compounds, the Anakee III rear tyre reportedly lasts up to 20 per cent longer than the Anakee II. In addition, the silica helps improve wet grip while the tread design is said to reduce irregular wear while delivering a lively response and consistent behaviour as the miles roll by, for greater safety and a more enjoyable ride.

“In short, the new Michelin Anakee III offers an agile, yet stable ride even with a passenger and luggage (thanks to its rigid casing), precise cornering even at high speed , and excellent braking and cornering response,” states Michelin. “When cornering at a 30° angle, the contact patch is 10 per cent larger than with the preceding Anakee II tyre, thereby demonstrating Michelin’s ability to simultaneously deliver superior performance in several areas by using advanced technologies.”

The Michelin Anakee III is available as of January 2013 in five cross-ply and 9 radial sizes.

Later in the year Michelin will also release the Anakee Wild, an off-road version of the new tyre. It says the Anakee Wild is “highly stylised in terms of both design and performance. Already certified by BMW, this radial tyre is designed for riders who love to take their bikes out on the trail.” sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

Anakee III front and rear tyres

57

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Bridgestone launches latest Exedra, Racing Battlax TWO

NEW

BRIDGESTONE

MOTORCYCLE TYRES,

The inverted V-shaped groove design was

aimed at divergent market segments, were developed to help reduce wear while maximising grip in all conditions. The groove positions on both introduced at the start of 2013.

T Exedra max radial front and rear fitments

58

The first of these is aimed at heavyweight, long distance touring bikes. The new Exedra Max will progressively replace the current Exedra touring line-up in Europe, and the range is available in radial and cross-ply structures with 21 sizes for the front and 20 sizes for the rear – a size line-up Bridgestone Europe says will fit most heavyweight cruisers currently on European roads. The polymer compounds used in the Exedra Max are adapted to each size, optimising performance and mileage for each model.

To develop the Exedra Max, Bridgestone says it took the best factors from its existing Exedra range and optimised the mix in four major areas of performance: mileage, stability of straight riding, handling, and grip on wet and dry surfaces. The tyre maker says the result is a tyre that invites riders to “cruise to the max” on their heavyweight, long distance touring machines.

“Bridgestone has many years of experience in cruiser tyre technology around the world. For Exedra Max we have applied this knowhow to one basic design for ultimate riding comfort on all types of heavy cruisers,” commented Vincent Van Houtte, senior manager Motorcycle Tyre Products, Bridgestone Europe.

Tested on a wide variety of roads around the world, the new Exedra Max pattern designs are intended to ensure excellent stability and reliable response, comments Bridgestone. They are optimised to reduce pattern noise and improve efficiency for a smooth, comfortable and economical ride.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

treads are designed to enhance linear handling and the impression of rigidity, even with heavy bikes and tandem riding. On the front pattern, the centre groove improves wet grip and contact feeling. The rear pattern features a centre rib with reduced grooves and a wide contact area, to increase traction and wear resistance.

Straight-line stability is all-important for long distance cruising, the manufacturer notes.

Bridgestone has thus designed the Exedra Max rear tyre with an especially large curve shape to give this stability and comfort on straight roads.

With its 5-layer compound for maximum traction at any angle, Exedra Max also provides superb grip, stability and line-holding during cornering.

Racing Battlax V01 slick tyre For novice and medium class riders keen for a spin on the race circuit, Bridgestone has launched the Racing Battlax V01 racing slick. The manufacturer says the new tyre has its technological roots in Bridgestone’s latest MotoGP compounds and contact area engineering, giving riders increased handling, cornering, and warm-up performance.

The new compounds for the Racing Battlax V01 work towards optimising grip across the selected temperature range. The front V01 tyre with monospiral belt construction has a single crown radius providing high stability under the lean angle, while the smaller dual crown radius on the rear improves grip and smoothness.

Compared to the preceding Battlax R01/R02 combination, the V01 has a stiffer construction and contact feel, helping to increase lateral grip in cornering. Bridgestone testing shows “big improvements in handling, cornering stability and warm-up performance, in addition to decreasing “chattering” (excessive vibration), leading to “significant gains in best and average lap times”.

The Racing Battlax V01 slick is currently available in size 120/600R17 V01F S0F TL for front tyres and 190/650R17 V01R in soft and medium compounds for the rear.

Entering its fifth year in 2013, Bridgestone’s

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Goodyear supplying OE tyres to NAIAS award winners

Bridgestone’s MotoGP derived Racing Battlax V01 racing slick

exclusive tyre supplier agreement with MotoGP allows the company to work with the best riders, teams and engineers in the world, obtaining an enormous amount of tyre data and experience in all conditions and temperatures.

The racing tyre technologies derived from this research cascade down through Bridgestone’s Battlax range of

premium track and road tyres. 2012 marked Bridgestone’s 11th year of involvement with the MotoGP circuit, and contained the 100th MotoGP victory on Bridgestone tyres at the Moto Grand Prix of San Marino, Italy, on 16 September. akb/sg

Avon Storm 3D X-M offers 15-20% higher mileage than predecessor FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION of the 3D Ultra last year, Avon is further expanding its motorcycle tyre range with the release of the Storm 3D X-M. In a short release introducing the new product, the tyre maker says the new X-M delivers 15 to 20 per cent greater mileage in comparison with the current Storm range. The sipes on the X-M also contain three-dimensional points that are designed to improve stability, grip, limit tread flex and allow the tyre to warm-up in less time – a feature also seen on the 3D Ultra. High performance single and multi compound super rich silica (SRS) treads are also present; Avon says these enhance wet grip. The tyre maker adds that the X-M possesses outstanding handling and stability qualities.

The new range is suitable for motorcycles such as the Suzuki Hayabusa, Honda Blackbird, Kawasaki GTR1400, and Suzuki GSX1400. sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

Goodyear supplied some of the most vaunted vehicles at the recent North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

The 2013 Ram 1500 and the Tesla Model S were honoured in two very different categories, though Goodyear supplies the standard tyres on both models.

The updated 2013 Ram 1500 pickup was selected as “North American Truck/Utility of the Year.” The award is selected annually by 49 North American automotive journalists, and the honour is announced during the NAIAS Press Days.

Goodyear supplies several different tyre fitments for varying Ram 1500 models – including the Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor, Wrangler SR-A and Fortera SL tyres. Fitments range in wheel diameters from 17- to 22-inch sizes. The Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tyres in 17- and 20-inch sizes were especially singled out for low rolling resistance, helping Chrysler to gain a bestin-class fuel economy rating for the Ram 1500.

In addition, the NAIAS Urban Green Vehicle of the Year, the Tesla Model S, was announced at the 17th annual Urban Wheel Awards on the eve of the auto show.

Standard fitment for the Tesla S are Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 tyres in a 245/45R19 size.

“Supplying the tyres for some of the most highly respected vehicles on the road is a familiar role for us, and we are proud when experts choose Goodyear tyres,” said Johann Finkelmeier, Goodyear’s vice-president, original equipment. “These vehicles are winners, and we want the tyres to play an important role in that appeal.”

Goodyear tyres are original equipment on many vehicles from Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hummer, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Ram and Toyota. The company says more new vehicles in North America are equipped with Goodyear tyres than any other brand. akb

59

VAN TYRES

Stapleton’s refocuses on van tyres STAPLETON’S renewed focus on the van sector will be much appreciated by tyre retailers keen to help their own customers keep their vans rolling – as will the effects of the company’s recently completed programme of strategic growth and consolidation of its nationwide distribution network.

The UE168 from Maxxis, a new addition to the Stapleton’s line-up

60

Almost by definition, the van tyre market is a time-sensitive one – because vans are the workhorses on which so many businesses and industries rely.

Whether they are owned by a sole trader or are part of a major fleet, commercial vehicles are literally the wheels of industry – so their owners and operators are always eager to minimise costly off-road time. More than with any other sector of the tyre market, it is vital therefore that the retailer can offer the right tyre at the right price for every commercial vehicle on the road – and that they can do so with a minimum of delay.

Already well-established as the UK’s largest tyre distributor, Stapleton’s stockholding at any given time now tops 1.2 million, which, combined with the company’s 14 distribution points and 300-strong fleet, offers almost unprecedented choice as well as the capability to deliver with rare rapidity.

“Our comprehensive stockholding together with enhanced hourly, three times daily, twice a day and next day deliveries exemplifies our ‘Working for the Customer’ philosophy,” says Stapleton’s head of General Wholesale, Nigel O’Hara. “Equally important, though, is the stable of private brand van and light truck tyres that we’ve been developing over the last few years. In addition to the household name premium brands like Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli exclusive brands such as Maxxis, Nexen, Matador and Primewell among others enable our dealers to offer hard-pressed commercial vehicle driver/operators keenly priced alternative products without the slightest compromise in safety or performance. We’re convinced that this gives them some vital extra muscle in a fiercely competitive market!”

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

The most recent name to join that exclusive stable is Maxxis, a brand Stapleton’s describes as having an enviable motorsports pedigree – one that translates to its van and light truck tyres in the shape of the Maxxis UE Van Tyre range. Designed to deal effortlessly with the toughest challenges a van tyre is likely to face, the rugged UE103’s deep shoulder grooves make it puncture and abrasionresistant and delivers responsive all-season, allround handling and performance. The UE168 shares those fundamental characteristics, augmented by a compound and tread design specially formulated with the long haul and longevity in mind.

With the PV600, Primewell, a veteran member of the Stapleton’s stable these days, addresses in particular the needs of the van driver carrying heavy loads, for whom safety and road noise are paramount concerns. Available in 20 sizes from 14 to 16-inches its high endurance technology is designed to make light work of heavy loads with excellent safety margins and an impressively quiet ride.

Of course, not all van driving is heavyweight work – and following on from the ever popular MPS 320 Maxilla is the new MPS 330 Maxilla 2 from Matador. Available from 14 to 16-inch the new MPS 330 provides excellent wet weather performance due to its robust construction and three wide radial drainage grooves - and is particularly popular with drivers who like their van to perform like a car on the motorway and on the urban cycle too.

In a similar vein, Nexen’s CP321 multi-purpose vehicle tyre – just one of three van tyre patterns from this Korean manufacturer that’s deservedly well established in the UK – is an excellent allround solution for van operators with responsive car-like handling and even wear thanks to its solid shoulder rib in all its 14 sizes from 13 to 16-inches.

“Being the operators of a sizeable fleet of vans ourselves, we’re acutely aware of the problems that drivers and owners face,” concludes Nigel O’Hara. “I believe our intimate understanding of this market sector has been a major factor in arming our retailers with the competitively priced products their customers demand. Not only has this helped our retailers in less than favourable market conditions, it has also been instrumental in helping Stapleton’s to continue to buck the global economic trend.” sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

VAN TYRES

Lower cost of ownership an aim for Dunlop’s EconoDrive IN

THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR Dunlop introduced its latest generation of light commercial vehicle tyre, the EconoDrive.

The company placed a focus on cost of ownership when developing the new range and says the EconoDrive includes some 12 advanced engineering upgrades and new technologies, specifically designed to ensure that light commercials can go farther, for longer, and at lower cost. These include improved mileage, better rolling resistance, new construction elements, a four rib tread design for wet conditions and a redeveloped compound.

Dunlop views the light truck market as a growth area over the coming years and notes that this will fuel a solid replacement tyre market. Therefore it sees a rising demand for fuel efficient tyres that deliver high mileage; with cost of ownership seeing dramatic increases, driven by petrol prices, it identifies fuel efficiency as a key driver for fleet and individual vehicle owners alike.

“At Dunlop we have always understood that companies which operate light trucks are in the market to make a profit with their goods and services,” commented Dunlop brand managing director Sanjay Khanna. “Delivering a

next generation tyre which is specifically designed to provide a combined promise of high quality, long distances, a comfortable ride and all at reduced fuel cost means we are helping them to achieve their specific business targets head-on.”

Dunlop says its EconoDrive has been developed to meet these specific needs.

Amongst the new and upgraded features, Dunlop’s new tyre comes with a new, stiffer Silica/Carbon Black blend specifically designed to reduce rolling resistance and increase mileage. Further efforts to lower rolling resistance on the EconoDrive include the introduction of an optimised ply line and sidewall gauge, combined with high ply turn-up, which allows for less heat generation and as a result less resistance. Optimised topping at each belt ending further ensures less heat generation, again delivering a better roll.

“We have gone through great lengths to develop a tyre which delivers on cost of ownership,” Khanna continued. “A significant amount of effort has gone into the development a state-of-the-art tyre for light trucks and vans which delivers, delivers and delivers on fuel efficiencies.

To achieve this we did not only concentrate on improving in one area, we literally

pushed the boundaries to do so across the board.”

Apart from delivering on fuel efficiencies, Dunlop says its engineers also spent a significant amount of time to develop a tyre that delivers a comfortable drive. Specific features include the insertion of an optimised construction under the tread that is specially designed to provide uniform pressure distribution, and a stiff belt material for better force transmission in lateral and longitudinal directions. A flat belt construction allows for squarer footprint and therefore more contact on shoulder providing enhanced handling. A thicker sidewall gauge helps to protect against curb damage.

On wet road surfaces, a centreline circumferential groove enables to tyre to effectively absorb water, while lateral grooves allow for an efficient water evacuation towards the outside.

“We have put a lot of effort into the development of this tyre and it shows”, concluded Khanna. “When developing this tyre we wanted to meet as many of the needs indicated to us by light truck drivers, and today we deliver a tyre that meets those needs.” sg

A quality van tyre option from Treadsetters INTERNATIONAL PCR, uhp and truck tyre wholesaler, Shropshire based Treadsetters, expanded their ever increasing product portfolio in 2012 with the introduction of van and light commercial tyres. The company says it can now provide a comprehensive van tyre range which includes all major ‘A’ brands from budget level right through to the premium sector. All van tyres are readily available from stock at the company’s expansive warehouse facilities in Telford and customers can benefit from Treadsetters high standard of swift delivery and competitive pricing.

Treadsetters works to a dedicated policy of listening to and working in partnership with its suppliers concerning the continual expansion of size options and profiles throughout its entire product portfolio as part of their intention to consistently increase market share on a global basis.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

“Our overall ambition is to always give Treadsetters client base a wide choice of tyres to choose from at all market sector levels backed by a total commitment towards professional customer service and prompt delivery schedules.

We pride ourselves on always ensuring every customer receives the right tyre at the right price – when needed,” commented a company spokesman. sg The HiFly Super 2000

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

61

VAN TYRES

Grouptyre Promotes exclusive van tyres Independent UK wholesaler Grouptyre offers an extensive choice of van tyres from its exclusive brands Evergreen, Federal and Goodride. Covering a wide range of sizes for all light commercial vehicle operations, Grouptyre says it has a van tyre for every use. The company adds that its delivery service is unrivalled, and therefore it can ensure it can get the right tyre to its customers whenever they’re needed.

The Goodride 328

62

ER01 tyre is perfectly suited to everyday commercial duty. Engineered to withstand a high load capacity, the ER01, available from 12 to 16-inches, offers a combination of proven design, durability and value in one.

The MR273 is the “work horse” of the range, ideal for hardworking commercial use. The steel belted radial ensures prolonged highway use and offers excellent steering, stability and high mileage capabilities.

If you are looking for an all-season highway tyre, offering a smooth, quiet and stable ride, then look no further than the MS357. The three all round Evergreen tyre channels evacuate water effectively for excelOffering a range of sizes for the commercial van lent wet weather braking. Ideal for pickups, vans driver, Evergreen’s van tyres are made with safety, and SUVs, the MS357’s styling will enhance the sustainability and performance central to the look of any SUV. design and manufacturing process.

The Evergreen ES88 is designed for durability Goodride and handling and performs exceptionally in all weather conditions. Its enhanced structure design Goodride’s range of van tyres ensures quality and and reinforced carcass material ensures super car- reliability in all conditions, says Grouptyre. Offering rying capacity. The block design of the tread pat- an extensive range of patterns and sizes, including tern ensures excellent performance on both wet the popular 16-inch fitments, you can be sure that and dry roads, as well as a comfortable drive for Goodride will prove to perform where it matters – passengers. on the road, over countless miles, in all conditions.

The ES89 is designed for Vans and SUVs The range of van tyres, which includes the with a tread pattern that offers the versatility of H120 and H170 patterns, provide wide tread performance in on and off road applications. This widths and high density tread pattern designs, is primarily due to the large tread blocks which suit giving the tyres wider contact areas, and therefore a variety of road conditions and extra grip, traction and long tread life. Robust sideensure traction and grip on walls add strength to the tyres, ensuring you have muddy roads. A reinforced reliable van tyres which perform to the high stancentral rib enhances mano- dards you require for your vehicles. euvrability and high-speed The SC301’s double-ply casing construction driving performance. handles heavy loads with superior durability whilst its heavy duty steel belt plies deliver handling stability and puncture resistance.

Federal The ST303 offers a strong combination of polyWell-established tyre ester casing and steel belts which increase durabibrand Federal offers a lity and its wide tread width and low-heating comcompre-hensive range pound ensure linger tyre life.

And the SC328, with four ribs to add miles to of products designed to meet the everyday tread life, offers enhanced traction on wet roads needs of the van driver. with its zigzag grooves. sg Federal’s Ecovan

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

VAN TYRES

GT Radial range aimed at covering the spectrum of van user needs OPTIMUM MILEAGE, load bearing, comfort and safety form the foundations of the GT Radial commercial light truck and tyre range from GiTi Tire. Speaking with Tyres & Accessories, Brian McDermott, country manager (UK), GiTi Tire, commented: “We are extremely proud of GT Radial’s strong brand history in the UK van and light truck market since the inaugural products were introduced in 1995. Our reputation in this sector is built on strong ties and quality products based on a real understanding of the users’ requirements, and this solid foundation allowed us to transfer these attributes across our full range of PCR, 4x4 and TBR tyres.

“We are constantly working with our research and development teams on the next generation of tyres, with a new product due to be launched later this year that will really help cement our place at the top of the mid-market tier,” McDermott added. Prior to this new product’s launch, the GT Radial offering for this segment includes four tyres that cover the spectrum of requirements for today’s van operator, whether running a fleet or a single unit.

The Maxmiler EX has been created for the new generation of comfortable, high load, high speed commercial vehicles. An optimised weight construction is aimed at reducing fuel consumption and improving comfort, whilst a reinforced belt improves safety while driving at speed with heavy loads. The EX is available in 23 sizes from 165/70R14C to 225/75R16C, the load index ranges from 89/87 to 118/116 with speed indexes from R-H.

Designed for highway driving conditions, the Maxmiler CX features a tread pattern and compound that are designed to deliver excellent wet and dry grip and maximum mileage.

The tyre is available in 20 sizes from 155R12C to 225/75R16C. Load index ranges from 88/86 to 118/116, with speed indexes from R-T. The Maxmiler X is designed specifically for commercial light The Maxmiler CX is designed for highway driving conditions trucks where both good mileage and handling are the foremost considerations. Utilising the same build technology as the Maxmiler CX, the tyre comes in 10 sizes from 145R12C to 185R15C with loads indexes from 80/78 to 109/107 and speed indexes from N-Q. For the important winter months where every day off the road could mean a day without pay, the Maxmiler WT is a hugely important commercial light truck tyre. Reinforced construction delivers robust load bearing capacity and the advanced sipe design enhances traction and braking on all road conditions.

M+S marked, the product delivers excellent performance when most required. Available in 17 sizes from 165/70R14C to 225/75R16C, the load indexes range from 89/87 to 118/116 with speed indexes from Q-T. sg

Firenza to expand SV053 range in 2013

The Firenza SV053 van pattern

64

FIRENZA has established itself as a popular brand in the PCR, UHP and Truck tyre market sectors and also offers an innovative option within the van and light commercial sector with its SV053 pattern.

All Firenza tyres are produced with the incorporation of the latest Japanese manufacturing technology and the company says the Firenza SV053 van tyre offers a collection of important benefits including excellent wet grip, impressive high mileage performance plus a tread design and pattern for a reassuring comfortable and quiet ride. The SV053 pattern is currently available in every popular European size in 65, 75 and 80 series and further sizes will be added during the course of this year.

Rob Henderson, Firenza’s business manager for the UK and Europe points out that the SV053 tyre is a proven competitor in the market and is particularly popular with fleets both in the UK and Europe and the range will continue to be increased through customer demand. sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

VAN TYRES

Mileage, safety priorities for Agilis+

British industry can keep rolling with Yokohama WITH BRITISH WINTERS becoming increasing-

L

Like other members of the Michelin product range, the French tyre maker’s latest generation Michelin van tyre was developed according to the principle of “Total Performance.” This Michelin strategy involves offering the best possible combination of safety, fuel saving and mileage performances within a tyre, and to this end the company not only reports respectable label results (C for fuel efficiency and B for wet grip, with external road noise at 70dB); it says that in comparison with a tyre that meets the minimum performance level defined in the European tyre labelling regulation, the Agilis+ saves 270 litres of fuel for every 60,000 kilometres/37,000 miles travelled. Furthermore, the Agilis+ shortens braking distance by more than 17 metres on wet pavement, compared again with this minimum label rating tyre.

“For professional users, vehicles often play a decisive role in ensuring that their business operates efficiently. Sales representatives, tradesmen and other professionals must be able to depend on their tyres just like they depend on all the other tools of their trade,” stated Michelin in a document announcing the release of the Agilis+ in mid-2012. “To meet the high expectations of these users, Michelin has developed the new Michelin Agilis+, a light truck tyre that successfully combines different areas of tyre performance that are usually hard to reconcile. The new tyre enables users to carry out their professional activities efficiently and safely, while also reducing their operating costs thanks to the dual impact of lower fuel consumption and greater mileage.”

In addition to the above-mentioned fuel saving and braking distance advantages, Michelin says the Agilis+ offers an optimum combination of mileage and safety. The tyre features sidewall anti-scrape shields that protect it from damage when it comes into contact with a curb or pothole. Better still, it also has eight anti-scrape patches that make it even more resistant to day-to-day wear and tear. sg

Michelin’s Agilis+

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

ly frosty, there is no reason for commercial vehicle operators to follow what now appears to be tradition and simply sit tight and wait out the worst of the snow and ice. Two tyres in Yokohama’s three-strong range of van tyres mean that light commercial vehicles can continue to move regardless of the weather.

In light of the recent snow, the most obvious choice would be the WY01, part of Yokohama’s W.drive winter tyre range. The WY01 has been developed specifically for light commercial vehicles, using the same technology that goes into the rest of the Japanese brand’s range of cold-weather tyres.

Designed to offer improved performance compared to a standard summer tyre in ambient temperatures of less than 7°C, the WY01’s compound provides superior mechanical grip while the tread design develops more traction in adverse weather, and hence, safety in all conditions. It is available in four key sizes to suit the light commercial market.

For operators looking for the most convenient solution, the Y354 offers genuine all-season, year-round performance. In addition to M+S designation, the Y354 also carries the snowflake/three peak symbol, identifying it as capable of dealing with the harshest of weather conditions.

The Y354 is available in a range of 21 sizes from 14 to 17-inches to cater for all sizes of vans, from small units such as the Ford Fiesta up to the largest, like the VW Crafter.

However, it has been developed to provide exceptional grip and longevity in all conditions, meaning that operators can fit it and not worry about having to change when the weather becomes warmer or conversely, with the onset of winter.

The RY818 is a traditional ‘summer’ tyre and is particularly useful for urban use. Its tread pattern is designed to clear water effectively while its construction and rim protection strip help to minimise the chances of damage during a busy delivery route.

All three tyres are available from Yokohama’s nationwide dealer network. sg

65

VAN TYRES

Avon highlights driving safety, comfort in van range

Bridgestone: Taking care of the road so you take care of business With winter conditions hitting a crescendo at the start of the year, Britain’s roads have become treacherous territory for commuters trying to navigate the snow. For many van fleet operators, however, work demands mean that staying at home is often not an option, and there is nothing for it but to brave the roads no matter the weather. Consequently, van drivers need to know that they have a dependable set of tyres that will not let them down when conditions get tough.

To respond to this need, Bridgestone continues to provide a leading range of van tyres designed to respond to the range of evolving demands faced by drivers today.

Bridgestone’s answer to icy conditions is the Blizzak LM32 C, a premium winter tyre offering maximum reliability to keep van drivers and their businesses moving throughout the winter. The LM-32 C’s advanced top tread compound allows it to provide superior braking and handling performance even at low temperatures, ensuring the safe, secure driving experience of less harsh road conditions. Additionally, the latest pattern and groove design guarantees outstanding traction on icy or snow-covered roads. Its design is robust and lightweight, to ensure that the increased pressure of winter driving do not impact on tyre durability and economy.

Within Bridgestone’s Duravis van tyre range there are two versatile options for drivers – the R410 and the R630 – both of which save money and fuel. The R410 tyre is a go-thedistance, high-mileage tyre, designed for withstanding heavy duty daily use without compromising on long-term durability.

A specially optimised tread pattern reduces irregular tyre wear, while the jointless cap layer construction ensures that even at high speeds; the R410 provides a lasting, quality driving experience. The R410 also provides superior performance on wet and greasy surfaces, ensuring that grip remains responsive even on tight corners.

Like its counterpart, the R630 is a rugged tyre that can handle wet surfaces comfortably. Its advanced tread design, featuring 3D sipes with Key Hole shaping which widen as the tyre wears, maintains reliable wet handling throughout the tyre life. Thanks to its Super LL Carbon compound, the R630 can last up to 30 per cent longer than conventional tyres, making it the perfect balance between economy and durability.

Finding the right van tyre can be key to responding to a business’ delivery needs, as well as ensuring that operations remain economical. Bridgestone’s van tyre range takes care of the conditions on the road so that you can take care of your business. sg

66

Avon Tyres’ van range covers fitments for all seasons and a range of road conditions. The Avanza AV10 is constructed to allow light vans to carry medium loads without compromising long tyre life. The AV10 benefits from toughened sidewalls to cope with kerbs and potholes, while its straight-line stability makes the AV10 a good choice for motorway driving. The tyre’s tread pattern is designed to not only disperses water rapidly, but also reduce noise levels to deliver a more comfortable driving experience.

The Avon Trailer 950, with its bold tread pattern, is designed for use both on- and off-road. Able to cope with heavy loads on tarmac and mud, Avon says the the Avon Trailer 950 also boasts excellent off-road traction. The Avon Trailer 13-15 is a general purpose trailer tyre. Ideal for non-driven wheels, particularly those of low-loaders, livestock and delivery trailers, the Trailer 13-15 is intended to provide excellent stability on the road.

The AV11 has been designed to offer greater longevity and durability for typically high-mileage vehicles. Featuring robust sidewalls to cope with kerbing damage and a reinforced carcass to handle heavy payloads, the AV11 – designed using computer technology – stands up to the harsh demands of long-distance driving. Better wet weather handling also ensures that drivers needn’t be affected by inclement weather conditions.

Developed for medium-sized vans that need to deal with challenging conditions, the Vanmaster M+S boasts aggressively profiled tread blocks and a patented tread groove design featuring serrations on its inner surface to offer outstanding traction in snow, ice, slush and mud.

Heavy siping of the tread blocks also enhances traction and braking, while a central circumferential rib improves steering response. Developed using a specially formulated tread compound, designed to cope in the harshest winter conditions, the Vanmaster M+S is the promoted as the ideal van tyre to keep drivers mobile in the winter. sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

Avon’s Vanmaster M+S supplies winter security for medium vans

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

VAN TYRES

SD-International: A quality choice of van patterns AS

ONE OF THE UK AND EUROPE’S most progressive contract tyre manufacturers, Shanghai based SD-International offers four individual brand and pattern options to the van and light truck market sector with their Pace, Zeta and Maxtrek labels.

The Zeta ZTR18 tyre incorporates a number of important features, including new non-directional ‘twists and turns’ grooves, which are intended to provide exceptional grip when driving on any road surface through all four seasons, including muddy, stony and general off-road surfaces and conditions.

The tread compound uses has also been developed to further reduce fuel consumption and increase mileage performance, while continuous channels ensure the quicker and more effective displacement of water from the contact patch. The ZTR18 is promoted as an economical, value for money product.

The Pace PC18 van pattern offers exactly the level of driving comfort and safety features as the Zeta ZTR18.

The Maxtrek 700 tyre, says SD-International,

offers quality features such as low rolling resistance and heat displacement to ensure increased fuel efficiency, and also incorporates a specially engineered sideslip protection technology that increases overall handling performance.

Finally, the Maxtrek SU810 pattern has been produced to give a tread that provides high levels of economy and drive performance on both vans and other light commercial vehicles. Important features include a deeper groove design and improved compound for longer lasting tread wear, sideslip protection with heat displacement, low rolling resistance and higher fuel efficiency.

SD-International firmly believes that across its Pace, Zeta and Maxtrek brands the company is able to provide an extensive selection of quality van and light commercial tyres at a competitive price level. Further information on all SDInternational’s product range and services can be found on the sd-international.cn website. sg

The Zeta ZTR18 and Maxtrek 700 light truck patterns from SD-International

Pirelli van tyres – the Chrono range

V

Vans have developed rapidly in recent years and are now reaching previously unachieved levels of performance. As a result, drivers need to understand the stress put on a van tyre when carrying heavy loads at various speeds, so they can choose a tyre that is reliable, safe, comfortable and economical. The Pirelli Chrono range of van tyres was conceived to ease the workload and minimise longterm problems for commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

improves comfort levels due to the new optimised mould profile and new internal structure, while braking performance has been improved due to a more robust internal structure in the bead and belt areas. Pirelli says Chrono 2 matches the new demands of the commercial vehicle such as robustness, wear resistance and load capacity, together with the performance characteristics of summer car tyres, such as good road grip and high comfort levels.

Chrono 2 Pirelli describes the Chrono 2, an evolution of the original Chrono, as the ideal choice for van and commercial vehicles. The tyre has been developed to provide greater efficiency and better rolling resistance scores. This has been achieved through the use of new innovative materials that reduce tyre weight. Chrono 2 also

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Chrono Camper The Chrono Camper is Pirelli’s choice for motor homes and camper vehicles. Its reinforced structure increases tyre life and reduces the risk of “flat spotting”, which can occur when vehicles remain idle for a long period of time. This tyre provides a constant level of grip, braking safety and cornering capability, even with high loads.

Chrono Winter The aggressive tread pattern and compound that has been developed especially for Chrono Winter is said to guarantee traction and manoeuvrability on all snow covered surfaces, while the reinforced structure results in excellent levels of performance even when the vehicle is fully laden. Pirelli reports that driving safety combined with low noise levels make this tyre an ideal companion when tackling the most extreme winter road conditions. sg

The Chrono 2

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

67

VAN TYRES

Vantra LT developed to deal with the high demands of regional traffic

Vantra LT

HANKOOK TIRE’S current flagship in the light commercial vehicle segment is the Vantra LT. Released in 2012, the range was developed to deal with the high demands placed on passenger and goods transport vehicles in regional traffic; upon the tyre’s release, Hankook said durability, fuel efficiency and mileage were all factors that played a key role during the Vantra LT’s development, as did safety-related driving characteristics such as short breaking distances and superior wet performance. The Vantra LT is available in 34 dimensions, covering 14 to 16inch rim diameters in series 82 to 60 and tread width from 165 to 235. All tyres in the Vantra range bear the M+S marking.

Frequent use in start/stop traffic places special demands on tyres, comments the manufacturer. Therefore, in addition to safety, important features in a tyre for this segment are economy, long service-life and robustness. Hankook reports that the Vantra LT’s design incorporate features such as a sidewall protect shield and optimised groove loc-ation with durable contact patch technology – qualities said to en-able increased performance and assure safety at high speeds whilst at the same time reducing tread wear and improving the tyre’s fuel efficiency by up to 13 per cent versus the predecessor model.

In addition, three-channel wide central grooves and 3D lateral grooves enable are included to facilitate rapid water dispersion.

68

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

The Hankook Vantra LT’s footprint is designed to improve durability by applying a square shape contact patch technology that allows for an optimised groove position, increasing stability in the outer grounding footprint area. In combination with the tyre’s reinforced belt structure, which features a double steel belt, this allows a more even distribution of ground pressure – resulting in a reported improvement in wear performance of up to 12 per cent. In addition, the reduced tyre deformation results in a lowered rolling resistance, resulting in higher fuel efficiency and thus heightened cost-effectiveness – a key factor for tyres used for start/stop traffic. The tyre’s applied sidewall protection shield helps to prevent sidewall damage.

Hankook says the tread pattern not only guarantees superior wet braking performance and effectively prevents hydroplaning; it is also said to improve fuel efficiency by minimising energy loss while driving. The Vantra LT’s optimised block stiffness reportedly further improves the tyre’s handling performance in wet, dry and even cold weather conditions without sacrificing block strength. Hankook adds that the tyre’s running smoothness – and thus control and driving comfort – is also perceptibly greater In the words of Jin-Wook Choi, president of Hankook Tire and CEO for Europe, “quality and technological leadership in all product categories are key focal points for Hankook. With the Vantra LT we are targeting the specific needs of our customers that are interested in a tyre that delivers constant performance and safety over a long service life and helps saving money and protecting the environment at the same time.” sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Project5_Layout 1 06/12/2012 11:57 Page 1

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Michelin, Conti boosting North American capacity Tyre makers report growing demand MARKET DATA PUBLISHED BY MICHELIN shows that the North American original equipment markets made modest gains in 2012; year-on-year, the passenger car tyre and light truck segment grew 16 per cent within the region, while the heavy truck segment increased by two per cent. Michelin shares that tyre production demands at its North American facilities is rising, and to meet this higher demand the company will expand production capacity at its semi-finished rubber factory in Starr, South Carolina.

Michelin’s Pete Selleck gives details of the Starr expansion project

70

P

Potential output at the Starr plant, one of two Michelin factories producing rubber compound in South Carolina (the other being Sandy Spring, Michelin’s largest rubber-producing facility in the world), will increase through a US$200 million expansion project that will begin operation in 2014.

Michelin has not stated what the Starr plant’s capacity will be following the project’s completion.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

News of the Starr expansion was announced on 24 January and is the latest in a string of major manufacturing commitments made by Michelin North America. Together, these projects represent a $1.15 billion investment by Michelin in the state of South Carolina and the creation of at least 870 new manufacturing jobs in the state. The Starr project alone will create more than 100 new jobs.

“I am proud to say this new expansion at this facility is one of the lynchpins that will allow us to maintain Michelin’s industry leadership in providing customers with the best tyres in all categories,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America. “Michelin’s continued investment in Anderson County and the state of South Carolina is a testament to our proven, highquality workforce here.”

“This facility produces the quality rubber compound used in Michelin’s tyres, and its ability to meet the strong demand for our products is critically important,” added Rich Kornacki, executive vice-president of Michelin North America and head of the specialty product lines. “We are proud to place yet another one of Michelin’s key plants in Anderson County, South Carolina, an area that has been great for our business.”

Michelin is South Carolina’s largest manufacturing employer. When all construction projects are complete, nearly 9,000 of Michelin’s 22,000 employees in North America will be located in South Carolina. Nine of Michelin North America’s 18 production facilities are located in the state.

“We are delighted that Michelin again has decided to invest in our great state and our won-

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Following the expansion, Conti’s Mount Vernon plant will be able to produce more then 3 million truck tyres a year

ment improvements and increased production capacity; the project will include the installation of new technologies in all aspects of the manufacturing process, supporting the success and continued growth of wide commercial vehicle tyres such as the X One. The project will include a 3,000 square metre assembly building expansion and Michelin anticipates the investment will create approximately 50 new local jobs.

“Today’s announcement shows once again that Michelin believes in both the province of Nova Scotia and our highly skilled employees,” said Dana LeBlanc, president, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. “The demand is growing in North America for our wide based tyre Canadian truck tyre production also products like the Michelin X One, and this expanding manufacturing investment at Waterville In addition to increasing compound will help us meet that demand.” capacity in Starr, Michelin is investing CDN$73 million (£46.3 million) in its Conti investing in US truck tyre Waterville truck tyre factory in Canada production and aims to increase capacity there over the coming four to five years. Michelin Michelin isn’t the sole market player North America says the Waterville plant ramping up its capacity on the other side will make capital investments in equip- of the Atlantic. Continental reports that derful county,” said Anderson County Council chairman Francis Crowder. “The relationship between Anderson County and Michelin has been long and fruitful.

Today Michelin will again add quality jobs and investment to our area. We are truly blessed and we pledge to continue nurturing this very special relationship now and in the future.”

Construction work has already begun on the Starr plant expansion, adjacent to the current facility. Also nearby is Michelin’s previously announced and now under construction earthmover tyre plant; this is scheduled to begin producing tyres later this year.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

another expansion of its Mount Vernon plant will commence in order to meet growing North American demand for commercial vehicle tyres. Continental Tire the Americas will invest $129 million in the plant, with $95 million of the funds going towards expanding CV tyre production, including wide-base truck tyres.

The expansion of the Mount Vernon plant’s commercial vehicle production is expected to be complete in mid-2015 and will increase truck tyre capacity to more than three million units per annum. At least 80 new jobs will be created.

“With the investment in the Mount Vernon CVT production area, we are adding volume to support the current market, enhancing our capabilities for advanced technologies and increasing our ability to anticipate the market demands of the future,” said Paul Williams, executive vice-president, Truck Tires said. “This investment is further commitment to Continental’s strategy for growth in the Americas.”

Other projects covered by the investment include expanding the site’s warehouse plus new technology and equipment in the plant’s mixing operation. The two projects should be complete in 2015 and will add at least 30 new full-time jobs to the plant.

“Continental Tire the Americas continues to grow its business in the US and across the Americas,” said Dr. Jochen Etzel, chief executive officer, Continental Tire the Americas. “This investment will support our efforts to provide an outstanding line-up of passenger, light truck and commercial vehicle tyres for our customers.”

Conti’s Mount Vernon has benefitted from substantial investment in recent years. In May 2011 the tyre maker announced it would increase passenger car and light truck tyre production there – and add 444 new full-time positions over a four year period – through a $224 million investment; total investment in the plant since 2006 exceeds $615 million. sg

71

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Yulex, Versalis to produce guayule rubber in Southern Europe ITALIAN

ELASTOMER FIRM

VERSALIS

and guayule biomass specialist Yulex Corporation have announced the formation of a strategic partnership to manufacture guayule-based biorubber materials. Within the partnership, the companies will launch an industrial-scale production complex in Southern Europe.

Guayule, unlike Hevea brasiliensis, is suited for growth in a number of regions – including Southern Europe

A

According to Yulex, the partnership agreement will cover the entire manufacturing chain from crop science to biorubber extraction to the construction of a biomass power station. Versalis will manufacture materials for various applications: after an initial focus on consumer and medical specialty markets, the target is to optimise the process to reach the tyre industry. The partnership will leverage Yulex’s core competencies including crop science and biorubber extraction technologies, to boost Versalis’ bio-based portfolio. The investment will include a research project to develop technologies targeting the tyre industry.

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a renewable, non-food crop that requires little water usage, no pesticides and it is an alternative source of natural rubber because – unlike Hevea rubber – the latex produced from guayule is allergy friendly.

Versalis, with its market leading position in the elastomer industry, plans to expand its leading-edge technologies in the synthetic rubber business by including guayule rubber as a supplementary business opportunity and an increased commercial offering. “The partnership with Yulex is strategic to Versalis, considering concerns over the forecasted scarcity in the butadiene market and volatility of this chemical, which in turn causes

72

long term pressure on the price of products like synthetic rubber,” said Versalis chief executive officer Daniele Ferrari.

“Partnering with Yulex represents our commitment and momentum towards entering the global market as a major green chemistry player. All of our green chemistry partnerships aim to enhance Versalis’ bio-based portfolio and will feed oil-based production chains with high-performance intermediates from renewable feedstocks, in particular in the elastomers business.”

“Versalis is an ideal global partner for Yulex, as they are a leading supplier of elastomers and have the ability to rapidly scale and commercialise processes,” said Jeff Martin, chief executive officer, president and co-founder of Yulex Corporation.

“Together, through our shared vision of expanding green chemistry, we can accelerate the positive impact that guayule-based biorubber high-value products have on the environment, human health and sustainable global growth.”

Yulex Corporation first made tyre industry headlines in February 2012 when Cooper Tire & Rubber announced it had entered into a partnership with Yulex with a view towards producing a Hevea rubber alternative in North America. Under this deal, Cooper agreed to provide advanced polymer and materials science expertise

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

and utilise its design, development and testing capabilities as part of this project.

Yulex would contribute experience with the development and production of advanced engineered biopolymers from the guayule plant.

“The agreement between Cooper Tire and Yulex will facilitate development of a domestic supplemental source of natural rubber by leveraging resources and capabilities of both companies,” said Chuck Yurkovich, Cooper’s vice-president of Global Technology, in February 2012.

“Our goal is to develop a reliable source of natural rubber, thus decreasing our reliance on off-shore raw material sources. If successful, the programme will create a new agricultural polymer with broadbased tyre industry applications, convert desert wasteland into viable farm land for associated crops, and create jobs for American workers.”

In July 2012 Cooper and Yulex received a US$6.9 million grant for research into the guayule plant. The grant covers a four year period and is intended for research focused on developing enhanced manufacturing processes, testing and utilising guayule natural rubber for use in tyres, and evaluating the remaining guayule plant biomass as a source of biofuel for the transportation industry. sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Surprisingly strong.

Your Driving Force.

Westlake Tyres deliver the muscle needed for the road. As one of the largest truck tyre manufacturers in the world, LW PDNHV SHUIHFW VHQVH WR VHOHFW :HVWODNH·V LPSUHVVLYH TXDOLW\ DQG UHOLDELOLW\ :LWK DQ H[WHQVLYH UDQJH RI W\UHV IRU DOO DSSOLFDWLRQV \RX FDQ EH FHUWDLQ WKDW ZKDWHYHU WKH FKDOOHQJH :HVWODNH FDQ PHHW LW

www.westlaketyres.com VACU-LUG TYRES LTD *RQHUE\ +LOO )RRW Grantham /LQFROQVKLUH 1* +( ( PDLO ZHVWODNH#YDFXOXJ FRP 7HO

ZHVWODNHBSXEOLFLGDGBFDPLRQBD LQGG

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Royalties from Cabot-Michelin agreement begin flowing

Theme for Michelin Challenge Design 2014 announced

US-BASED speciality chemicals company Cabot Corporation has announced reaching “another key milestone” in its technology licensing agreement with Manufacture Francaise des Pneumatiques Michelin for use of Cabot’s patented elastomer composite technology in tyre applications. Regular royalty payments to Cabot have now begun and will extend through fiscal 2022.

Since 2008, Cabot has been working with Michelin to develop the technology and manufacturing operations necessary to commercialise the technology in global tyre markets. Through this agreement, Michelin has exclusive rights to Cabot’s elastomer composite process technology for tyre applications and is entitled to build and operate plants that utilise this technology.

“This royalty agreement is the continuation of a prosperous and long-term relationship with Michelin, as well as a significant new business opportunity for Cabot,” said Patrick Prevost, president and chief executive officer, Cabot Corporation. “The agreement highlights Cabot’s technology leadership and deep commitment to developing innovative solutions for the tyre industry.”

Cabot’s patented technology uses liquid phase mixing rather than conventional dry phase mixing to incorporate reinforcing agents such as carbon black into elastomers. This technology delivers superior dispersion of reinforcing agents such as carbon black within the elastomer, which creates composites that display unique properties.

The same kind of elastomer composite technology utilised by Michelin is available for non-tyre applications directly from Cabot through its Transfinity brand of elastomer composite products. sg

74

The latest topic explores the ‘duality’ of tomorrow’s cars

THE MICHELIN CHALLENGE DESIGN is now in its twelfth year and once again it invites aspiring designers from around the world to focus on design relating to a theme or an emerging trend in the automotive industry. For the 2014 competition, Michelin has chosen the theme “Driven/Undriven: The Duality of Tomorrow’s Automobiles.” Under this topic, participants are asked to explore the human connection to a vehicle and address the potential of autonomous motoring, as it opens new possibilities in automotive design. Specifically, participants in the 2014 Michelin Challenge Design are encouraged to design a vehicle with features and capabilities to engage drivers both in an “Undriven” autonomous mode and a “Driven” driver-controlled mode.

“The strength of the Michelin Challenge Design competition is its ability to explore themes within the automotive industry that have the potential to affect vehicle and tyre design worldwide,” said John Moloney, vice-president of original equipment marketing, Michelin North and South America. “We continue to be surprised and delighted by the calibre or work that comes through this programme and excited about what the 2014 theme will bring.”

While introducing the new theme, Michelin notes that with expected increases in populations, vehicles and traffic demands, vehicle autonomy is emerging as an essential component of future mobility systems. City planners and automotive system designers expect the car of the future will require some method of autonomous control to keep city traffic flowing. In addition, the emotional connection with one’s vehicle has traditionally been as closely tied with driving as with the sense of freedom that vehicle ownership has delivered to generations. Now, Michelin challenges designers to explore how a vehicle can be designed to operate autonomously, while also creating an emotional connection through a “driven” mode.

The entry process and more information can be found at www.michelinchallengedesign.com. Final submissions are due 1 June 2013. sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

MAXXIS-12-441 Thailand Rewards TTN_Layout 1 11/01/2013 09:40 Page 1

Thailand Plus so much more with the Maxxis Rewards Dealer Programme

Exotic Thailand is the destination for our Rewards trip in 2013. A 7 day all inclusive package awaits our winners. To join the Maxxis Rewards programme contact Stapleton’s now.

R E W A R D S

Maxxis International UK Carr Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England IP11 3RX

for more information visit www.maxxis.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Further Accuride investments to benefit steel wheel business COMMERCIAL

and component manufacturer Accuride Corporation plans to invest more than US$30 million over the next two years in upgrading its steel wheel facilities during 2013-15. Specifics of this investment have not been given at this time; the US-based company says it will announce details of its 2013 capital programme later this year.

VEHICLE WHEEL

Accuride’s Accu-Lite steel wheel

T

The newly-announced upgrades build upon a $150 million investment programme launched in 2011 and now mostly completed. This investment aimed to restructure and expand Accuride’s core wheel and wheel-end component operations and upgrade the capabilities of each of its four business units. These investments included $55 million for additional aluminium wheel capacity, more than $35 million to restructure and upgrade the company’s ‘Gunite’ brake and wheel component business, and $21 million in environmental and safety-related facility upgrades. Today, with its aluminium wheel manufacturing investments complete, Accuride has doubled its production capacity for forged aluminium wheels, while the programme to install advanced machining and assembly equipment, upgrade casting for the Gunite

brand and consolidate its manufacturing footprint is 90 per cent complete.

Reporting the company’s activities at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2013 in Las Vegas on 21 January, Accuride stated that its actions to restore the competitiveness and dependability of its core North American operations are resulting in marked gains in quality, delivery, and lead-time performance, which are the metrics it says matter most to customers. Due to the resulting positive impact on customer confidence, the company recently earned new long-term agreements with several key customers, who represent more than 70 per cent of its core wheel business. Accuride also secured new aluminium wheel business of up to $30 million annually that it will serve using its newly-expanded aluminium capacity. This leaves, Accuride added,

additional aluminium capacity open; it can use this to respond rapidly to growth in customer demand if and when the projected recovery in the North American commercial vehicle industry occurs in the second half of 2013.

“The majority of our programme to restore dependable operational performance across Accuride is now complete and already yielding gains in product quality, delivery, lead-times, pricing and competitiveness,” said Rick Dauch, Accuride president and CEO. “Thanks to the investments we have made in our core business, we are quickly regaining customers’ faith in our ability to support their needs while positioning ourselves for the projected market recovery to come.” sg

New location for Bridgestone’s Shenyang plant confirmed BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION says it has acquired the land The new site will encompass approximately 395,000 square where its Shenyang, China truck and bus tyre plant will be relocated to. In accordance with Shenyang City development policies, which were revised following the urbanisation of the area surrounding the Bridgestone (Shenyang) Tire Co., Ltd plant, production will be moved to the Shenyang Chemical Industry Park.

76

metres and relocation will involve a total investment of US$99.9 million.

As of 30 November 2012 the 100 per cent Bridgestone Corporation-owned plant had a daily production capacity of approximately 3,700 tyres and employed 1,199 people. sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

‘Most modern’ – 2nd line at Pirelli’s Russian JV plant opens 56 million euros invested in plant modernisation A

line at Pirelli and Russian Technologies’ Voronezh factory in southwest Russia has been inaugurated. Pirelli says the new production line – Voronezh 2 – has been upgraded to the Italian tyre maker’s “advanced technological standards” and as of March 2013 will enable the production of the compounds required to produce Pirelli premium high performance tyres, especially for the winter segment.

SECOND PRODUCTION

T

The launch ceremony was attended by Dmitry Manturov, minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and Alexander Gordeev, governor of the Voronezh region, along with Pirelli chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera and Russian Technologies general director S.V. Chemesov.

As laid out in Pirelli’s three-year industrial plan, total investment in Voronezh will amount to 100 million euros; 56 million of this has gone towards plant modernisation, including the installation of new equipment that is fully compliant with Pirelli’s quality standards, plus the training of specialists for the Voronezh plant through programmes at Pirelli factories in Italy, Turkey and Germany. The remainder of the investment is expected to be implemented by 2015, at which time the plant will reach its full production capacity of 4 million units per annum.

By working together, Pirelli, Russian Technologies and the Voronezh Regional Administration are said to have made Voronezh Tyre Plant the most modern tyre production factory in

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Russia in just one year. “The project successfully implemented in Voronezh by Pirelli and Rostec shows that the Russian provinces have great economic potential which should be used for attraction of foreign investors,” stated Dmitry Manturov.

Russian Technologies’ Chemezov added: “This project is quite significant for Rostec. Our foreign colleagues’ experience and technology made us be sure that Voronezh Tyre Plant could be quickly reequipped and make world-class tyres. We managed to attract foreign partner and practically revive Voronezh enterprise by high-standard retooling. This will help us save current employment and also create additional jobs.”

“Voronezh Tyre Plant is an enterprise of special social and economic importance to Voronezh Region,” commented Voronezh governor Gordeev. “We are pleased to see that provinces attract major international business and we are ready to provide all possible support.”

“Russia is a key strategic market for Pirelli. Voronezh Tyre Plant is a splendid example of a symbiotic collaboration between the Russian authorities, industry, and the experience and technology of an international company,” said Pirelli’s Tronchetti Provera. “We intend not only to produce world-class premium tyres that meet the needs of the Russian consumers, but also to create a large and efficient logistics centre at the Voronezh tyre plant which will deliver to domestic and export customers.” sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

77

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Further Accuride investments to benefit steel wheel business COMMERCIAL

and component manufacturer Accuride Corporation plans to invest more than US$30 million over the next two years in upgrading its steel wheel facilities during 2013-15. Specifics of this investment have not been given at this time; the US-based company says it will announce details of its 2013 capital programme later this year.

VEHICLE WHEEL

Accuride’s Accu-Lite steel wheel

T

The newly-announced upgrades build upon a $150 million investment programme launched in 2011 and now mostly completed. This investment aimed to restructure and expand Accuride’s core wheel and wheel-end component operations and upgrade the capabilities of each of its four business units. These investments included $55 million for additional aluminium wheel capacity, more than $35 million to restructure and upgrade the company’s ‘Gunite’ brake and wheel component business, and $21 million in environmental and safety-related facility upgrades. Today, with its aluminium wheel manufacturing investments complete, Accuride has doubled its production capacity for forged aluminium wheels, while the programme to install advanced machining and assembly equipment, upgrade casting for the Gunite

brand and consolidate its manufacturing footprint is 90 per cent complete.

Reporting the company’s activities at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2013 in Las Vegas on 21 January, Accuride stated that its actions to restore the competitiveness and dependability of its core North American operations are resulting in marked gains in quality, delivery, and lead-time performance, which are the metrics it says matter most to customers. Due to the resulting positive impact on customer confidence, the company recently earned new long-term agreements with several key customers, who represent more than 70 per cent of its core wheel business. Accuride also secured new aluminium wheel business of up to $30 million annually that it will serve using its newly-expanded aluminium capacity. This leaves, Accuride added,

additional aluminium capacity open; it can use this to respond rapidly to growth in customer demand if and when the projected recovery in the North American commercial vehicle industry occurs in the second half of 2013.

“The majority of our programme to restore dependable operational performance across Accuride is now complete and already yielding gains in product quality, delivery, lead-times, pricing and competitiveness,” said Rick Dauch, Accuride president and CEO. “Thanks to the investments we have made in our core business, we are quickly regaining customers’ faith in our ability to support their needs while positioning ourselves for the projected market recovery to come.” sg

New location for Bridgestone’s Shenyang plant confirmed BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION says it has acquired the land The new site will encompass approximately 395,000 square where its Shenyang, China truck and bus tyre plant will be relocated to. In accordance with Shenyang City development policies, which were revised following the urbanisation of the area surrounding the Bridgestone (Shenyang) Tire Co., Ltd plant, production will be moved to the Shenyang Chemical Industry Park.

76

metres and relocation will involve a total investment of US$99.9 million.

As of 30 November 2012 the 100 per cent Bridgestone Corporation-owned plant had a daily production capacity of approximately 3,700 tyres and employed 1,199 people. sg

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

‘Most modern’ – 2nd line at Pirelli’s Russian JV plant opens 56 million euros invested in plant modernisation A

SECOND PRODUCTION line at Pirelli and Russian Technologies’ Voronezh factory in southwest Russia has been inaugurated. Pirelli says the new production line – Voronezh 2 – has been upgraded to the Italian tyre maker’s “advanced technological standards” and as of March 2013 will enable the production of the compounds required to produce Pirelli premium high performance tyres, especially for the winter segment.

vinces attract major international business and we are ready to provide all possible support.”

“Russia is a key strategic market for Pirelli. Voronezh Tyre Plant is a splendid example of a symbiotic collaboration between the Russian authorities, industry, and the experience and technology of an international company,” said Pirelli’s Tronchetti Provera. “We intend not only to produce world-class premium tyres that meet the needs of the Russian consumers, but also to create a large and efficient logistics centre at the Voronezh tyre plant which will deliver to domestic and export customers.”

T

The launch ceremony was attended by Dmitry Manturov, minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and Alexander Gordeev, governor of the Voronezh region, along with Pirelli chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera and Russian Technologies general director S.V. Chemesov.

As laid out in Pirelli’s three-year industrial plan, total investment in Voronezh will amount to 100 million euros; 56 million of this has gone towards plant modernisation, including the installation of new equipment that is fully compliant with Pirelli’s quality standards, plus the training of specialists for the Voronezh plant through programmes at Pirelli factories in Italy, Turkey and Germany. The remainder of the investment is expected to be implemented by 2015, at which time the plant will reach its full production capacity of 4 million units per annum.

By working together, Pirelli, Russian Technologies and the Voronezh Regional Administration are said to have made Voronezh Tyre Plant the most modern tyre production factory in Russia in just one year. “The project successfully implemented in Voronezh by Pirelli and Rostec shows that the Russian provinces have great economic potential which should be used for attraction of foreign investors,” stated Dmitry Manturov. Russian Technologies’ Chemezov added: “This project is quite significant for Rostec. Our foreign colleagues’ experience and technology made us be sure that Voronezh Tyre Plant could be quickly reequipped and make world-class tyres. We managed to attract foreign partner and practically revive Voronezh enterprise by high-standard retooling. This will help us save current employment and also create additional jobs.”

“Voronezh Tyre Plant is an enterprise of special social and economic importance to Voronezh Region,” commented Voronezh governor Gordeev. “We are pleased to see that pro-

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

sg

B+J Rocket

77

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Growth to 10% expected for India’s tyre industry in 2012-13 IN

ITS 2012 ANNUAL REPORT, Indian manufacturer MRF Ltd predicts that the country’s domestic tyre industry will grow by eight to ten per cent in the current financial year (to 30 September 2013). This growth will most likely be accompanied by continued pressure on margins should cost issued not be addressed, it adds.

As for the financial year between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012, MRF estimates the Indian tyre industry’s total turnover was Rs 410 billion (£4.8 billion), with exports accounting for Rs 42 billion (£496.6 million). MRF’s turnover during this time came to Rs 131 billion (£1.5 billion), an increase of around 23 per cent over the previous year. Manufacturers produced 125.4 million tyres, with the seven leading manufacturers accounting for 80 per cent of all producti“The growth of the tyre industry will also on.

Truck and bus tyre segment sales depend upon the expansions in the automobile industry and the efforts made by made up 55 per cent of India’s tyre industhe government to improve the road try turnover in 2011-12, MRF reports. infrastructure,” stated the annual report. Around 57 per cent of this turnover was “Also, the government should study the achieved in the more competitive but higinverted tax issue and take corrective her-margin replacement business. The action by providing a level playing field in OE segment accounted for 30 per cent of turnover, and MRF comments that OE the tyre industry.” “cannot be ignored as volumes are high, but margins are less as prices are dependent more on the manufacturers of vehicles.” In the passenger car segment, 47 per cent of tyres were sold to OEMs and 49 per cent in the replacement segment.

Truck, bus and light commercial production was predominately cross-ply – radialisation in India’s light commercial vehicle sector is currently 22 per cent and in the truck and bus segment 17 per cent – while 98 per cent of all passenger car tyres manufactured were radial construction.

Commercial vehicle radialisation is expected to increase by three to four per cent during 2012-13, opines MRF. Although 83% of the truck market rolled on cross-ply tyres in 2011A small decrease in 12, MRF believes CV radialisation will increase 3-4% this year Indian heavy vehicle pro-

78

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

duction was offset by a substantial rise in the light commercial vehicle segment; heavy commercial vehicle production decreased three per cent year-on-year in 2011-12 while light commercial vehicle production rose 30 per cent during this period. Passenger car production remained stable, motorcycle production increased five per cent and scooter production 25 per cent. Agricultural segment production rose two per cent year-on-year.

According to MRF, India’s tyre industry currently provides direct and indirect employment to one million people including dealers, retreaders and truck operators. sg

Bridgestone to open Thailand tech centre Bridgestone Corporation has announced plans for its Bridgestone Asia Pacific PTE Ltd (BSAP) subsidiary to establish a technical centre in Thailand. The total investment of the project is said to be around 3.7 billion yen, with the opening pencilled in for July 2013.

According to the company, the new site will gradual take over tyre development, production technology and quality management for operations in the Asia Pacific region, which are currently handled by the company’s technical centre in Japan. The idea is that the new facility will be able to more quickly reflect information from the markets it covers.

The site, which is tentatively being called Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Center Co., Ltd. will be situated in a suburb of Bangkok, Thailand and will be established in March 2013. Masajiro Fujiwara will represent the centre, which will employ around 100 employees technicians. cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WEB DIRECTORY

Abrasives www.olivercorp.com

Associations www.btmauk.com www.etrma.org www.itdn.org.uk www.itma-europe.com www.ntda.co.uk www.tireindustry.org www.tyrerecovery.org.uk www.tyresafe.org

Breakdown Services www.itdn.org.uk

Earthmover Wheels www.kirkbytyres.co.uk

E-Commerce www.etyres.co.uk www.oddballtyres.co.uk

Exhausts/Silencers www.cesuk.com www.klarius.eu

Exhibitions www.autopromotec.it www.citexpo.com.cn www.eci-international.com www.maxima-expo.ru www.rubbere.com www.semashow.com www.theaftermarketshow.com

Fleet Management Systems www.advancedidcorp.com www.pneu-logic.co.uk

80

Importers/Wholesalers www.tym-international.com

Industrial Tyres www.solideal.com

Lifting Equipment www.jiglift.com www.ecolift.cn

Locking Wheel Nuts www.dynomec.co.uk

Materials/Accessories www.gogommasrl.it

Miscellaneous www.traxjh.com

Motorcycle Tyre Wholesalers www.cambriantyres.co.uk www.worldofbiketyres.com

Recycling Machinery www.btrgroup.co.uk www.mmhrecsys.com www.systems4recycling.com

Retreading/Recycling/Disposal www.credenv.com www.cmshredders.com www.dmetyres.co.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk/tyrewatch www.kraiburg-retreading.com retreading.marangoni.com www.sapphirerecovery.co.uk www.treadsdirect.com www.watts-rubber.com

Software www.mamsoft.co.uk/tyres

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

WEB DIRECTORY

Testing Services www.dunloptyretesting.co.uk

Truck Tyre Retreading www.bandvulc.co.uk

Truck Wheels www.kirkbytyres.co.uk

Tyre Compounds www.vipal.com.br

Tyre Computer Software www.teamsystems.co.uk

Tyre Distributors/Wholesalers www.aeolus-tyres.eu www.bitsuk.co.uk www.blackcircles.com www.bridgestone.eu/truckpoint www.dalytyres.com www.cooperbros.co.uk www.deldo.com www.deklokbanden.com www.dessimpson.co.uk www.euro-tyre.com www.fieldens.co.uk www.fulda.co.uk www.glanworthtyres.com www.gold-spark.com www.goodyear.co.uk www.gripenwheels.com www.grouptyre.co.uk www.gt-tires.com www.haemmerling.de www.herculesinternational.com www.heuver.com www.internationaltyres.com www.inter-sprint.nl

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

www.kenda.com.tw www.kingdavidtyres.co.uk www.kirkbytyres.co.uk www.kumho-euro.com www.lassa-europe.com www.lexanitire.com www.lctyres.ie www.lytire.com www.magnatyres.com www.maitechtire.com www.marangoni.com www.mastercrafttyres.co.uk www.matador.sk www.midlandmobiletyres.co.uk www.micheldever.co.uk www.mickeythompson.co.uk www.mrftyres.com www.nankang.com.tw www.nete.co.uk www.nexentire.co.kr www.northwesttyres.com www.pirelli.co.uk www.sd-international.cn www.sentaida-international.com www.silverstone.com.my www.sintontyres.co.uk www.southam-tyres.co.uk www.starco.com www.stapletons-tyres.co.uk The fast and direct way to your homepage: Web Directory in Tyre & Accessories & the Link section in www.tyrepress.com To appear in thisWebsite Directory for 12 months – which will include hyperlinked entries on the Tyres & Accessories website – please contact: info@tyrepress.com

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

81

WEB DIRECTORY

www.techkingtires.com www.toyo.co.uk www.treadwayscorp.com www.trelleborg.com www.tribatyre.com www.tyreandwheels.com www.tyres-bernaerts.com www.tyrespot.co.uk www.uniroyaltruck.co.uk www.viking.co.uk www.vredestein.com www.yokohama.co.uk

Tyre Exporters www.china-tyre.com

Tyre Manufacturers www.bkt-tires.com www.bridgestone.eu/truckpoint www.conti-online.co.uk www.coopertire.com www.dunloptyres.co.uk www.eptyres.com www.hankooktire.eu www.mitas-tyres.com

Tyre Moulds www.jwinc.co.kr

Tyre Repair/Inflation www.airbosstyre.com www.harvieprema.co.uk www.monaflex.com www.schrader-valves.co.uk www.smartronics.co.uk www.punctureproof.com www.uniflate.com

82

Vintage Tyres www.grouptyre.co.uk www.longstonetyres.co.uk www.northhantstyres.com www.vintagetyres.com www.vredestein.com

Wheels www.afan-tyres.co.uk www.alcar.co.uk www.elitedirect.com www.imagewheels.co.uk www.mswuk.com www.overfinch.com www.performancealloys.com www.tsw-wheels.co.uk www.trelleborg.com/wheelsystems-uk

Wheel Balancers/Accessories www.dionys-hofmann.com www.haweka.com

Workshop Equipment www.agequipment.co.uk www.bateman-sellarc.co.uk www.beissbarth.co.uk www.butler.it www.cosengautomotive.com www.innotecworld.com www.pro-align.co.uk www.reinheimer-stitcher-roller.com www.sunbornsolutions.com www.supertracker.com www.tip-top.co.uk www.tsissg.com www.tyre-equipment.co.uk www.wheelalignmentuk.com

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

Classifieds Classifieds

WANTED Classifieds

TA November CLASSIFIED_Layout 1 11/11/2011 15:36 Page 91

Classifieds Classifieds

TA November CLASSIFIED_Layout 1 11/11/2011 15:36 Page 91

TYRES

ATV TYRES, TURF TYRES, INNER TUBES CALL FREE:

FOR

SALE

Second Hand Remould Plant for passenger & light truck tyre.

Contact Seamus on 00 353 (0) 876395512

0800 731 1720

Advertisers Index

B&J Rocket 77 TA November CLASSIFIED_Layout 1 11/11/2011 15:36 Page 92 Cam Systems Back Cover Wholesale Part Worn Tyres TYRES FOR SALE Dunlop 5 Wholesale Worn Tyres ImportedPart From Europe Imported From Europe Event 21 All All tyres tyres are are guaranteed!!! guaranteed!!!

Federal For 53 For further further details details contact contact Mike Rose:magnumtyres@live.co.uk Giti 39 Mike Rose:magnumtyres@live.co.uk w w w. t y r e p r e s s . c o m 0121 783 6300 / 07967 546988 Giti0121 truck 783 6300 / 07967 546988 63 WWW.MAGNUM-TYRES.COM TYRES FOR SALE Large stock of quality used car & light truck tyres for UK & w w w. t y r e p r e s s . c o m Goodyear InsideWorn Front Cover WWW.MAGNUM-TYRES.COM Tyres from £5.50 Tyres from £5.50 Part Wholesale Tyres Export GrouptyreImported 19 From Europe w w w. t y r e p r e s s . c o m 1000’s in stock atJun ction 8/9 M40, Oxford Tyres from £5.50 Tyres from £5.50 All tyres are guaranteed!!!

Hankook 7 Please call with your requirments For further details contact w w w. t y r e p r e s s . c o m Infi nity Rose:magnumtyres@live.co.uk 51 Mike Kumho 9 w w w. t y r e p r e s s . c o m 0121 783 6300 / 07967 546988 WELLINGTON RUBBER WWW.MAGNUM-TYRES.COM Maxxis 75 CO. LTD Consistent Buyers of Tyres from Tyres from £5.50 Nexen 11 £5.50 TYRE BUFFINGS HALL 2, STAND 117 Primewell 23 WELLINGTON RUBBER BUTYL TUBES Promotec Spa 79 CO. LTD BUTYL BLADDERS Tym International 69 Textile Street, West Gorton, Manchester M12 5DL Consistent Buyers of Westlake Tel: 0161 223 7181 73 WELLINGTON RUBBER Fax: 0161 223 0173 Yokohama Front Cover

WHOLESALE QUALITY USED TYRES

01865 775522 / 07889 006841 & ask for Paul

ATV TYRES, TURF TYRES, INNER TUBES CALL FREE:

phillipstyresltd@btconnect.com

TYRECO. BUFFINGS LTD Online & Printed Magazine Master-level qualified vulcaniser, in regular employment Consistent Buyers of BUTYL TUBES and with more than 30 years’ experience in all tyre segments, TYRE particularly in the repairBUFFINGS of large tyres, with numerous years BUTYL BLADDERS

More for less

ofTextile overseas experience experience in the mining business, BUTYL TUBES Street, West plus Gorton, Manchester M12 5DL seeksBUTYL a new scope of responsibilities.

BLADDERS Tel: 0161 223 7181 Overseas opportunities also gladly considered.

Textile Street, West Gorton, Manchester M12 5DL TRUCK CASINGS Fax: 0161 223 0173 Please write to recruitment@tyrepress.com ref Vulcan1557 Tel: 0161 223 SPECIAL PRICES PAID7181 FOR ALL MAKES & SIZES Fax: 0161 223 0173 WE BUY & SELL WORLDWIDE

ED

WANT

FOR

A.L.TYRES SHEFFIELD ST., OFF LANCASHIRE HILL, STOCKPORT, SK4 1RL

SAL

E

TEL.+44(0)161 477 5813 FAX.+44(0)161 480 0416

ADRIAN@ALTYRES.CO.UK WWW.ALTYRES.CO.UK

D E T N T A N WA

FOR R

HALL 2, STAND 117

w

Large stock of quality used car & light truck tyres for UK & All kinds of Japanese Export … Distribution to individual addresses – 10% discount HALL 2, STAND 117 Casings and Used Tyres Multiple copy 1000’s subscriptions of Tyres & Accessories in stock atJunction 8/9 M40, Oxford magazine mailed directly to individual addresses by Contact Please call your Tyre Industry Publications Ltd are onlywith eligible for a requirments

w

w

TEL: +81 29 2553712 phillipstyresltd@btconnect.com PRICING INFORMATION

w

OFFER

TRUCK CASINGS

A.L.TYRES

A.L.TYRES SHEFFIELD ST., OFF LANCASHIRE HILL, STOCKPORT, SK4 1RL

AL SSA

LEE

FAX.+44(0)161 480 0416

TEL.+44(0)161 477 5813 ADRIAN@ALTYRES.CO.UK WWW.ALTYRES.CO.UK FAX.+44(0)161 480 0416 SHEFFIELD …

ST., OFF LANCASHIRE Multiple subscriptions keep all key personnel in HILL, STOCKPORT, SK4 1RL your company informed withADRIAN@ALTYRES.CO.UK news from the tyre industry as it happens, the latest developments, legislation, WWW.ALTYRES.CO.UK analysis and in-depth features - the most detailed and essential industry intelligence.

WHY?

w

01865 KANEKO 775522 / 07889SHOJI., 006841 & ask for Paul LTD. 10% discount regardless of the number of subscriptions taken.

FAX: +81 29 2553713 JAPANESE CASINGS Email:

NUMBER OF SUBSCRIPTIONS 10 – 39 40 – 49

DISCOUNT 10%

JAPANESE CASINGS 12% kaneko@syd.odn.ne.jp

All kinds of Japanese 15%

50 – 99

Bulk Subscription All kinds of Japanese 20%

Casings and Used Tyres Casings and Used Tyres

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

BULK SUBSCRIPTIONS … are simply multiple copies of Tyres & Accessories magazine mailed to a single address and distributed by your company or other TRUCK CASINGS distribution methods to your employees.

Bulk online subscriptions allowPAID multiple users to SPECIAL PRICES receive ALL their own unique username and password, &PAID SIZES FOR SPECIALMAKES PRICES giving full & access to ourWORLDWIDE online magazine, website WE BUY SELL ALL MAKES & SIZES FOR and receiving our daily e-Newsletter direct to TEL.+44(0)161 477 5813 WEtheir BUY & SELL WORLDWIDE mailbox.

W

0

WHOLESALE QUALITY USED TYRES JAPANESE CASINGS

100 and over

WHAT ARE?

S Pla

0800 731 1720

Bulk Subscription to ‘Tyres & Accessories’

W

Contact to ‘Tyres & Accessories’

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION (UK)

Contact ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION (6 months)

£60 (for one year) PZZ\LZ VM ;`YLZ (JJLZZVYPLZ THNHaPUL TVU[OZ JVTWSL[L HJJLZZ [V ^^^ [`YLWYLZZ JVT including online magazine and subscription to our popular e-Newsletter (UK based customers only)

£45 (for 6 months) TVU[OZ JVTWSL[L HJJLZZ [V ^^^ [`YLWYLZZ JVT

and subscription to our popular e-Newsletter.

KANEKO SHOJI., SHOJI., LTD. & included) Printed Magazine (PrintOnline magazine not KANEKO LTD.

(12 months) TEL: +81 ONLINE 29SUBSCRIPTION 2553712

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION (EUROPE)

£80 (for one year) TVU[OZ JVTWSL[L HJJLZZ [V ^^^ [`YLWYLZZ JVT TEL: +81 29 2553712 and subscription to our popular e-Newsletter.

£70 (for one year) PZZ\LZ VM ;`YLZ (JJLZZVYPLZ THNHaPUL TVU[OZ JVTWSL[L HJJLZZ [V ^^^ [`YLWYLZZ JVT including online magazine and subscription to our popular e-Newsletter (European based customers only)

FAX: +81 29 2553713 (Print magazine not included)

More for less

FAX: +81 29 2553713 Email:

kaneko@syd.odn.ne.jp Email:

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION (ROW)

£90 (for one year) PZZ\LZ VM ;`YLZ (JJLZZVYPLZ THNHaPUL TVU[OZ JVTWSL[L HJJLZZ [V ^^^ [`YLWYLZZ JVT including online magazine and subscription to our popular e-Newsletter (ROW based customers only)

kaneko@syd.odn.ne.jp

OFFE

… Distribut Multiple co magazine m Tyre Industr 10% discou subscriptio

PRICI

NUMBER OF S 10 – 39 40 – 49

For further information on bulk subscriptions, please contact

Julie Wilshaw at julie.wilshaw@tyrepress.com or Telephone 44 (0) 1782 214224

WHAT ARE? BULK SUBSCRIPTIONS … are simply multiple copies

TA Classified May.indd 1

of Tyres & Accessories magazine mailed to a single address and distributed by your company or other distribution methods to your employees.

Bulk online subscriptions allow multiple users to receive their own unique username and password,

50 – 99

100 and ove

SUBS

MAGAZINE SU

£60 (for one y PZZ\LZ VM ; TVU[OZ JV including onli popular e-Ne

MAGAZINE SU 10/05/2012 17:06£70 (for one y

2520_TYRES&ACCESSORIES-1-4ppmk2_Layout 1 05/12/2012 16:14 Page 1 VT50_PRACTICAL CLASSICS-tyres-1-4pp:Layout 1

4/10/11

buy classic tyres the classictyres easy way for all classics

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

vintagetyres.com/tradelink authentic tyres from the ultimate tyre authority

rias

1/4 AD • KNOWLEDGEABLE WITHVTS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

• COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TYRES • OFTEN COPIED, BUT OUR TYRES ARE THE REAL THING • ALL OF OUR TYRES COMPLY WITH EUROPEAN LAW • CONSTANTLY SEARCHING FOR ORIGINAL MOULDS authentic tyres from TO DEVELOP ‘NEW’ ORIGINAL PRODUCTS

the ultimate classic tyre authority No comparison really.

• •

vintagetyres.com/tradelink //

// /// /

/

/

//

/ / / //

/

t: 01590 612261 sales@vintagetyres.com

//

/ / / //

/

sales@vintagetyres.com

t: 01590 612261 f: 01590 612722

Need advice on classic tyre choice, fitment or atechnical query?

Give us a ring or email.

Locking Wheel Nut LIFTING EQUIPMENT Remover

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

LOSING TRADE DUE TO LOCK NUTS?

Removes 100% of locks nuts

Will not damage 1/4 AD alloy wheels Dynomec

Designed &Dynomec Manufactured in the UK

by DynomecDynomec Ltd

Dynomec

DYNAMEC

AS USED BY THE AA

See Our Website For A Demonstration www.lockingwheelnutremover.com

Tel: 01977 520666 Fax: 01977 510333 www.dynomec.co.uk www.lockingwheelnutremover.com Dynomec Ltd., 34a Fryston Road, Castleford

company West Yorkshire, WF10 3EW 1 05/12/2012 16:14 ent to 7.2 2520_TYRES&ACCESSORIES-1-4ppmk2_Layout uro turnosegment, WWW.TYREPRESS.COM 123 will increa. The tyre

Working closely with the companies independent dealer network to identify oppurtunities and establish and develop relationships with key fleets Identify and convert key fleets onto using GiTi products Manage all commercial business activities with new and existing fleets To be the key account manager relating to all commericial activities between the fleet, tyre specialist and head office To identify training and development requirements in the distribution chain and recommend and deploy appropriate initiatives Have a understanding of tyre managerment programmes

Your skills and experience should include: • • • • • • •

/ // ///

cja

GiTi Tire (UK) Ltd is now recruiting a National Key Account Manager responsible for developing relationships with strategic key fleets across the UK.

• ALWAYS COMPETITIVELY PRICED

//

ase market supplier’s for the GT ition with dy controls de or so. ble for the y German will contiarkets as ding mediEuropean state cleConsumer rgest glortugal and ear,” comw structure Division. e have perrer to the ed 15 years r doesn’t ontinue to otes that duction of ain a top olio and an enger car n place for

GiTi Tire (UK) Ltd a subsidiary of GiTi Tire with its head office based near Manchester provides sales marketing and technical support to its UK dealer network.

• • •

/

aluese

With state-of-the-art research and development capabilities, GiTi Tire is currently ranked fourth in the world of radial truck tyre production producing highly attractive solutions for fleets large and small, who are looking for a high quality product with excellent service back-up.

•

vintagetyres.com

as 7 retail has more etwork. akb

GiTi Tire is one of the top 10 largest tyre companies in the world in terms of both volume and revenue. The company exports to more than 100 countries and offers a complete product range for Europe including passenger car, SUV, van, light truck, heavy truck and bus tyres.

• HUGE RANGE AVAILABLE FOR SAME DAY DESPATCH YOUR DIRECT TRADE ACCOUNT

apodistrias a partnerbe the prehe market products –

Position: National Key Account Manager

Reporting to the UK Sales and Marketing Director the key responsibilities of the National Key Account Manager will be:

• FREE DELIVERY ON UK ORDERS OVER £50

• FRIENDLY, EXPERT ADVICEOUR FROM CLASSIC ENTHUSIASTS THROUGH WEBSITE

mited as its k tyres in st automopanies will g commuor Sailun in advertiseautomotive nd events; ntation and stomers. or added – rship with , and in six ht into the market. We

15:2

Educated to a very high standard Extensive knowledge of the transport industry Several years experience within the commercial fleet sector Exceptional communication and presentation skills Willing to travel extensively The position is home based and you will possess excellent time management skills, capable of working independently and efficiently PC literate including knowledge of MS Office tools

We are offering an attractive remuneration package commensurate with your knowledge and experience, including a competitive salary, company car package, phone and laptop.

If you believe you have the necessary skills and experience this challenging and rewarding position requires, please send your application including your current Curriculum Vitae to: Tony McHugh UK Sales and Marketing Director GiTi Tire (UK) Ltd 2 Cherry Tree Lane Rostherne Nr. Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 3RZ email:recruitment@gititire.co.uk

Position: Truck Regional Sales Manager Scotland and Northern Ireland GiTi Tire is one of the top 10 largest tyre companies in the world in terms of both volume and revenue. The company exports to more than 100 countries and offers a complete product range for Europe including passenger car, SUV, van, light truck, heavy truck and bus tyres.

With state-of-the-art research and development capabilities, GiTi Tire is currently ranked fourth in the world of radial truck tyre production, producing highly attractive solutions for fleets large and small who are looking for a high quality product with excellent service back-up.

GiTi Tire (UK) Ltd a subsidiary of GiTi Tire, with it’s head office based near Manchester providing sales, marketing and technical support to its UK dealer network.

To further expand the company’s footprint in the UK market GiTi Tire (UK) Ltd is now recruiting for an additional Regional Sales Manager for the Scotland and Northern Ireland territory.

Reporting to and working very closely with the UK Sales and Marketing Director. The key responsibilities of the Regional Sales Manager will be: • • • • • •

Identify and convert new customers onto GiTi products Manage all commercial business activities with new and existing customers To be the key liaison between the fleet owner, tyre specialist and head office on all commercial activities To maximize the sales mix with new and existing customers To develop and enhance sales and marketing initiatives in conjunction with the dealer partners to further grow profitable business To identify training and development requirements in the distribution chain and recommend and deploy appropriate initiatives

Your skills and experience should include: • • • • •

Educated to a very high standard Willing to travel extensively The position is home based and you will possess excellent time management skills, capable of working independently and efficiently Flexible hands-on approach working closely with tyres and vehicles PC literate including knowledge of MS Office tools

We are offering an attractive remuneration package commensurate with your knowledge and experience, including a competitive salary, company car package, phone and laptop.

If you believe you have the necessary skills and experience this challenging and rewarding position requires, please send your application including your current Curriculum Vitae to: Tony McHugh UK Sales and Marketing Director GiTi Tire (UK) Ltd 2 Cherry Tree Lane Rostherne Nr. Altrincham Cheshire WA14 3RZ Page 1 email:recruitment@gititire.co.uk

PREVIEW First published in June 1946, T&A is distributed in the second week of every month by: Tyre Industry Publications Ltd. Unit I, Magnolia Centre Telford Road, Clacton-on-Sea Essex CO 15 4LP, England Telephone: +44 (0)1255 222233 Editorial: +44 (0) 1782 214224 Fax: +44 (0)1255 222234 e-mail: info@tyrepress.com Internet: www.tyrepress.com Correspondence and advertising material should be sent to the above address.

Publisher: Klaus Haddenbrock klaus.haddenbrock@reifenpresse.de Editor: Christopher Anthony chris.anthony@tyrepress.com Stephen Goodchild stephen.goodchild@tyrepress.com Andrew Bogie andrew.bogie@tyrepress.com Contributing Editor: Peter Gardner peter.gardner@tyrepress.com Advertising Manager: Alan Day alan@tyrepress.com Advertising Sales: Scott Parker scott.parker@tyrepress.com Circulation Manager: Julie Wilshaw julie.wilshaw@tyrepress.com Editorial office: 6A Salem Street, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire, ST1 5PR Telephone: +44 (0) 1782 214224 Fax: +44 (0) 1782 286589 Contributors: detlef.vogt@reifenpresse.de christian.marx@reifenpresse.de arno.borchers@reifenpresse.de Layout: Heike Schomaker-Eymers Gaby Hinck 2013 Subscription Rate: £65 (UK), £85 (Europe), £120 (R.O.W.) per year.

Back issues: £5 per copy.

Reg. No: 1023538 England VAT No: 466 0254 53 Bank: National Westminster Bank PLC, 10 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1TA Account No: 70304440 Sort Code: 60 05 33 Printed by: The Magazine Printing Company 1082 Mollison Avenue Brimsdown, Enfield Middlessex EN3 7NT Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company, using only paper fro FSC/PEFC suppliers. www.magprint.co.uk Tyre Industry Publications Ltd. can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 2/2013

In Our Next Issue A brief look forward at a few of the articles appearing in next month‘s T&A.

I 4x4 tyres I If you want to get some serious driving done on sand, dirt or gravel, or if you just want to sit higher in traffic than everyone else, then a 4x4 is just the ticket. Of course, if you do opt for one you’d better make sure you get the right tyres for the job. It’s a good thing then that the team at T&A has ensured this is made easier – Look out for our feature on this very popular March topic in the next issue of Tyres & Accessories.

I Ancillary garage services I Much as we love tyres here at T&A, we also recognise the importance of other types of produce and services to garages and fast fits. That’s why in March we’re covering the subject of ancillary garage services, a topic that includes exhausts, MoT, glass, servicing and SMART repairs. Pick up your March issue for more details.

I Retreading I In addition to our regular features Tyres & Accessories is pleased to provide readers with an in-depth supplement filled with the latest news and developments in the retreading sector. Turn to our ‘Retreading Special’ – shipped with your March issue of T&A – to keep up to date with the latest retreading news from here and abroad.

WWW.TYREPRESS.COM

85

Subscribe NOW! to ‘Tyres & Accessories’ Online & Printed Magazine

PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN THE TYRE TRADE Tyres & Accessories is the leading English language tyre trade publication in Europe which was first published in 1946. At Tyres & Accessories, we believe that our readers and advertisers deserve the best. That is why we continually demonstrate our commitment to the industry by providing the finest possible news and information service, which, in turn, enables us to offer the most effective advertising medium available.

The magazine has an audited circulation of over

7100 copies per month, which goes out to all the European industry’s leading decision makers. Our website www.tyrepress.com has witnessed particular growth in its online readership. The English site regularly attracts up to 170,000 visits per month, while our popular e-Newsletter goes out to over 18,500 tyre business email addresses every working day.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Magazine Subscription (UK)

£65.00

Magazine Subscription (EUROPE)

£85.00

Magazine Subscription (ROW)

£120.00

Online Subscription (1 month)

£20.00

Online Subscription (6 month)

£45.00

Online Subscription (12 month)

£80.00

• 12 issues of Tyres & Accessories magazine • 12 months access to our website www.tyrepress.com • 12 months access to our on-line magazine • Daily e-Newsletter • 1, 6 or 12 months access to our website www.tyrepress.com • 1, 6 or 12 months access to our on-line magazine • Daily e-Newsletter (Print magazine not included)

Your membership will be setup for the name and email address you provide here:

Company:

Customer Name:

Billing Address:

Delivery Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Website:

Date in month born e.g. 1 - 31:

Invoice Required:

Yes

No

HOW TO MAKE A PAYMENT Credit Card Payment can be made online using our secure and flexible credit card payment service Sage Pay at http://www. tyrepress.com/subscribe/member.php (existing customers) and at http://www.tyrepress.com/subscribe/signup.php (new customers) or by telephone 44 (0) 1782 214224 or complete the table below and return to Julie Wilshaw at julie. wilshaw@tyrepress.com and we will enter the details for you.

Please note that whether you are making payment online, over the phone or via order form your data is dealt with securely.

CREDIT CARD DETAILS Card Holder Name Card Number Card Holder Address Start Date

End Date

Issue No

CV2 3 or 4 digits security code on reverse of card PLEASE PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION IN A SEPARATE EMAIL OR TELEPHONE CALL

Bank Transfer/BACS National Westminster Bank plc, 10 Station Road, Clacton on Sea, Essex CO15 1TA UK Account Name: Tyre Industry Publications Ltd Account No: 70304440 Sort Code: 60 05 33 Swift Code: NWBKGB2L IBAN Code: GB79 NWBK 6005 3370 3044 40 Cheques Made payable to ’TYRE INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS LTD‘ and crossed ’A/C PAYEE‘ and posted to Julie Wilshaw, Tyre Industry Publications Ltd, 6a Salem Street, Etruria, STOKE ON TRENT ST1 5PR UK

ORDER CONFIRMATION Once your subscription order has been set up you will receive an email containing your receipted invoice for your records. This shows a summary of your order, payment details, an order reference number and contact details for enquiries.

For any further information please contact Julie Wilshaw at julie.wilshaw@tyrepress.com or Telephone 44 (0) 1782 214224 or visit our website at www.tyrepress.com

NEED TO KNOW THE LOCATION AND VALUE OF YOUR TRUCK CASINGS? INTRODUCING INTEGRATED CASING MANAGEMENT. THE NEW UniSerV MODULE FROM CAM SYSTEMS FOR THE TRUCK TYRE SPECIALIST Call on +44 (0)1453 891000 or visit us at www.cam-systems.co.uk