Australian Tyre Dealer | vol. 22 | issue 3 | June/July 2013
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CONTENTS 2. editors word ATD is a publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) and is endorsed by the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association (ATDRA)
Industry News 4. F1 advantage for Advanti 5. Orange oil is just the start
Print Post approved PPP444752/0002
Recall of wheels
6. HSV go Continental
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the ATDRA or any State or Territory constituent body, or of the Publishers and they take no responsibility for them, except where specifically indicated.
New small car tyre
7. Award for brake tester 8. Apollo goes truly global
YHI International’s Advanti Racing wheel has been named ‘official supplier’ to the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, p. 4.
9. Dunlop helps Harley celebrate
Head Office Building 8/2728 Logan Road Eight Mile Plains Qld 4113 PO Box 4530 Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: atd@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au
Yokohama joins GT6
14. What’s new from Tyres4U in 2013 20. Pirelli equips bespoke sports car
New job website
22. Classic American cool
FEATUREs
EDITOR Bill Key
10. Chinese summit promotes a win win philosophy
ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic
18. Michelin goes for safety and a peaceful drive
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Bill Key Mobile: 0421 057 094 Facsimile: 07 3844 4488 Email: billk@mtaq.com.auu
The theme for the Triangle Group’s 2013 Global Business Summit, held in China last month, was Innovation, Cooperation, Excellence and Win-Win, p. 10.
Brisbane Truck Show 16. New Contis go on show
EDITORIAL Enquiries should be made to: The Editor 07 3237 8777 or email atd@mtaq.com.au
Racing truck takes centre stage
SUPERCAR WORLD 24. Pirelli helps Lamborghini celebrate 50 years
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $45.60 (inc gst) in Australia $99.00 overseas (airmail)
Bugatti Veyron rubber: Loads of money
MOTORSPORTS
In 1954 drag racer Romeo Palamides and San Francisco machine shop owner JO Ellison teamed up to build a fuel dragster featuring purpose-built magnesium race wheels of their own design, p. 22.
26. Great spectacle for rally fans: Coffs Coast Rally Australia MTA-Queensland ABN: 740 289 338 48
Falken celebrates 30 years at the Nürburgring 28. Pirelli holds off F1 changes
Tyres tried and tested at TT
29. Courtney weighs up options
world NEWS 20120005 20120084
“Australian Tyre Dealer” welcomes submissions of information and prepared articles, but their publication will be at its sole discretion. Material appearing in “Australian Tyre Dealer” is copyright, and reproduction in whole or part without the Publisher’s written consent is prohibited. “Australian Tyre Dealer” is circulated to tyre dealers, senior executives of companies which supply the tyre industry, and representatives of relevant industry groups.
27. Dunlop takes Targa clean sweep
30. Q&A with Greg Graham, brand manager for the Marangoni tyre brand
Spectators will see the world’s fastest rally drivers and cars in breath-taking action on every stage of Coates Hire Rally Australia when the FIA World Rally Championship comes to the New South Wales Coffs Coast on 12-15 September, p. 26. 1
Editor’s word
C Bill Key Editor
hina is undoubtedly a major global force in manufacturing. With the second largest economy in the world and an automobile population of over 120 million it is hardly surprising that it is also one of the most important markets for tyre and automotive industries. Australian Tyre Dealer magazine was in China last month for The Triangle Group’s Global Business Summit hosted in Shanghai. The Triangle Group was established in 1976 and now employs 8000 people, has an annual production of more than 25 million pieces and a turn over of US$2b. It was the first tyre brand in China to receive the country’s prestigious certification of ‘China World Famous Trademark’ and ‘China Name Brand’ and provides OE tyres to more than 50 major Chinese automobile companies. While we were there, Triangle invited us to visit their headquarters and factories in the northern coastal city of Wei Hei to experience the scale of their operations and their determination to become a global leader in the tyre industry. Read the special report on Page 10. French giant Michelin launched a brand new tyre this month, the Primacy 3ST and ATD was in Thailand for
the international unveiling. The new passenger tyre has been developed especially for the Asia Pacific region including Australia, and is being marketed as a quieter tyre that has added safety and handling characteristics. ATD also took part in a number of comparison tests and were given first hand demonstrations on the new innovative technology used by the Michelin in the new Primacy 3ST tyre. Pirelli has partnered with Italian bespoke car design studio, Studiotorino to become the tyre of choice for their new limited edition Moncensio sports car. The photos on Page 20 will make your mouth water. In international motorsport news on Page 28, the Isle of Man TT has just concluded with both Avon and Dunlop performing extremely well in their categories. Feel free to drop me a line at billk@mtaq.com.au or give me a ring on (07) 3237 8777 if you have some news you would like to share with the industry, or if you’re interested in grabbing some advertising opportunities. Regards, Bill Key
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INDUSTRY NEWS
F1 advantage for Advanti YHI International’s Advanti Racing Wheel has been named ‘official supplier’ to the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
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he Singapore-based group has inked an agreement to supply Advanti Racing Alloy Wheels for all Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 race cars through to the end of the 2015 championship. With this agreement, YHI holds the right to use the official designation “Advanti Racing, Official Supplier to Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team” in all the group’s advertising and promotional materials, business stationery, websites and alloy wheels packaging. During the championship term, YHI also holds the right to display the “Advanti Racing” name on the wheels fitted to the Mercedes F1 cars, and Mercedes will equip its F1 cars at races and tests, as well as show cars, exclusively with the Advanti Racing Alloy Wheels. Executive chairman and group managing director Richard Tay said: “We are very pleased to be the official partner with Mercedes AMG team and be associated with this international and prestigious racing event.” He added that the sponsorship is in line with YHI International’s marketing 4
strategy for its automotive products, as the group is a global company with a presence in more than 100 countries. “Sponsoring the Mercedes’s alloy wheels is part of YHI’s multi-product, multi-brand and multi-category (3M) strategy to raise the profile of its own proprietary brands worldwide,” added Mr Tay.
“This collaboration with Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team affirms the group’s strategy to make YHI a global and recognised brand name where ‘the world is our market’. We believe that with this new
sponsorship, YHI’s image and brand value of its proprietary products will be elevated. This new partnership would certainly create stronger branding associated with a better known racing team. We will continue to work with our partners and distributors to be the trend-setter and market leader of alloy wheel designs and quality.” This collaboration with Mercedes AMG Petronas is YHI’s second partnership within the F1 circuit. The company was previously the official partner of Scuderia Toro Rosso from 2008 to 2012. YHI says a key feature of Advanti Racing Alloy Wheels is the adoption of Enkei’s premium alloy wheel flow forming technology to produce next-generation lighter weighing and higher quality alloy wheels. Enkei has developed a new manufacturing process called Most Advanced Technology (MAT), which combines a one-piece wheel casting technology with a rim forming technology called the spinning process. YHI says this is vital to improving a wheel’s material property and strength.
Orange oil is just the start
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ith environmental responsibility and carbon footprint issues gaining more importance in the way world does business, the Managing Director of Yokahama believes his company has taken an enormous first step likely to influence all tyre manufacturers around the planet. Mr. Tatsuya (Tim) Murata, Managing Director of Yokohama Tyre Australia, says the inclusion of orange oil at a nano particle level to replace some petroleum-based oil content in its BluEarth AE01 eco-tyre is just the beginning. In his view, it represents a watershed moment in the global tyre sector and is a source of company pride in the competitive Australian market. “By including orange oil in this new eco-tyre, we’ve achieved not just
the introduction of a genuine ecofocused tyre, we are meeting the strong performance expectations of the consumer market for more tyre malleability with increased lifespan,” said Mr. Murata. “We are pleased to be using oil that is a by-product from the food processing sector and infusing this at a nano level into the tyre to give us these two qualities which are normally mutually exclusive. “The amount of orange oil in these tyres is not a huge quantity – for scientific reasons the amount used is optimised to maximise the safety and performance factors we set out to achieve. “As the Managing Director of the Australian arm of the global Yokohama tyre brand that engineered this tyre solution, the BluEarth AE01 is a massive achievement by our company and it does challenge the entire industry to focus on developing more eco-friendly and carbon conscious tyre solutions.”
Tatsuya Murata, Managing Director of Yokohama Tyre Australia
recall of wheels
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he Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last month published a recall of 20-inch alloy XHP Razor wheels after reports of the wheels breaking or fracturing during use. The recalled wheels were supplied by Bob Jane Corporation between April 2009 and January 2012. Bob Jane has recalled 105 wheels and is contacting customers directly to offer them a full refund or free replacement wheels. The recalled wheels have also been sold by a number of other suppliers. The ACCC will be negotiating recalls with the other suppliers over the coming weeks. “If you think your car has been fitted with 20-inch XHP Razor wheels, you should immediately take your car to a mechanic or tyre supplier to have the wheels checked,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said. Consumers can contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502, www.productsafety. gov.au or www.recalls.gov.au. The recall notice is available at http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/ index.phtml/itemId/1048655
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INDUSTRY NEWS HSV go Continental
New small car tyre
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ontinental Tyres of Australia confirmed last month that it was selected as the official original equipment tyre of Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), Australia’s leading performance car manufacturer. The ultra-high performance and award-winning ContiSportContact 5P will now feature on all HSVs in Australia, including the new 430kW GTS, which is the fastest, most powerful performance production car ever built in Australia. “We feel extremely honoured that HSV has selected our ContiSportContact 5P to feature on its new line-up,” said Mitchell Golledge, Marketing Manager, Continental Tyres of Australia. Available in a range of sizes from 18-inches upwards, the ContiSportContact 5P will feature in a staggered fitment on all HSVs with 255/35 R20 tyres on the front and 275/35 R20 tyres on the rear. Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati has also homologated the ContiSportContact 5P for the new Quattroporte.
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ContiSportContact 5P
This is the first approval Continental has ever received from Maserati, and the tyre will be supplied in six 19 to 21-inch sizes in line with equipment specifications and engine size. The tyres built specially for the Quattroporte will be marked with the letters “MGT” to avoid confusion with other tyres from the same series.
umho has launched a new generation of modestly priced small car tyres with the introduction of the Sense KR26. The Sense range is an evolution of Kumho’s Solus and is a new entrylevel tyre, targeting the most popular segment of the Australian car market - compact and small to medium cars. According to Kumho Tyre Australia’s national marketing and training manager, David Basha, the Sense KR26 has been developed to provide a long lasting, cost effective, quality tyre for Australia’s most popular cars such as Mazda 3, Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla. “The best selling cars in Australia are all small to medium size and the Kumho Sense KR26 is an affordable quality tyre for the most popular passenger cars on the Australian market,” said David Basha. The Sense KR26 features a symmetrical tread design with curved sipes in the blocks to improve stiffness in the tyre, limit block slip and increase mileage. Curved lateral grooves not only aid the tyre’s longevity but push the water towards the three longitudinal grooves which ensure the KR26 effectively channels water and prevents aquaplaning.
Kumho Sense KR26
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AWARD FOR BRAKE TESTER
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ontinental’s new Automated Indoor Braking Analyser (AIBA) has been named Development Tool of the Year by the international jury of the Vehicle Dynamics Innovation (VDI) Award 2013. Situated at Contidrom, Continental’s testing facility in Hanover, Germany, the AIBA is integrated in a hall 300 metres long and up to 30 metres wide. Once its current industrialisation phase is completed, the AIBA will be capable of testing the braking of up to 100,000 tyres a year on dry, wet and icy road surfaces all year round.
The AIBA now allows tyre tests to be performed all year round under fully air-conditioned test conditions that can be reproduced almost perfectly.
In the facility, a driverless test vehicle is accelerated up to 120 kmh fully automatically and then braked on various standardised road surfaces that can be easily exchanged by means of hydraulics. Previously, tests had been conducted at the Contidrom on a track exposed to the elements and subject to varying environmental influences such as temperature and wind.
Results already distorted by the test driver’s reaction time and braking force used to also deviate somewhat based on the air and road temperatures – with the AIBA facility now substantially reducing this variation. The AIBA now allows tyre tests to be performed all year round under fully air-conditioned test conditions that can be reproduced almost perfectly.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Apollo goes truly global After months of speculation and rumour, Indian tyre giant Apollo has announced it’s acquisition of iconic US tyre company Cooper for $US2.5b.
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ubbernews.com reported the deal will boost Apollo to seventh in global tyre manufacturer rankings, with combined sales of $6.6b in 2012. Cooper is the world’s 11th-largest tyre maker, and Apollo the 16th. The all-cash transaction will also leave Goodyear as the only US-headquartered producer of consumer and commercial tyres not owned by a foreign-based company. A wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo will acquire Cooper in a purchase unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, the firms said. The companies said the combination will bring together manufacturers with highly complementary brands, geographic presence and technological expertise to create a global leader in tyre manufacturing and distribution. Apollo, founded in 1972, produces line premium and mid-tier tyres and has an increasing reputation for fast development in particularly with regards to its Apollo and Vredestein brands, which have been able to attain OE contracts with leading carmakers and tuners. Cooper, founded in 1914, manufactures premium and mid-tier tyres worldwide through brands such as, Mastercraft, Starfire, Chengshan, Roadmaster, Avon and their signature brand Cooper which is a favourite of many Australian off-road enthusiasts. The companies said the merger should deliver value creation benefits of about $80m to $120m annually at the EBITDA level. They said the ongoing benefits are expected to be fully achieved after three years and derived from operating scale, sourcing benefits, technology, product optimization, and manufacturing improvements. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Apollo’s earnings. The deal should close in the second half of the year, assuming timely 8
The companies said the merger should deliver value creation benefits of about $80m to $120m annually at the EBITDA level.
regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, as well as approval by Cooper’s stockholders, the firms said. After the deal is finished, Cooper will become a privately held company. The tire makers said it is expected Cooper will continue to be led by members of its current management team and operate out of its facilities located around the world, which includes three in the US. Apollo’s HQ in the Gurgaon suburb of Delhi is now poised to be control centre of a truly global operation.
Dunlop helps Harley celebrate
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illiam Harley and the Davidson brothers launched their iconic motorcycle from a machine shop in Milwaukee 110 years ago. Harley-Davidson is celebrating the milestone throughout 2013, and Dunlop has been chosen as the official tyre sponsor of the company’s global anniversary events. The Australian Harley Davidson celebrations were held in Williamstown, Victoria back in April, but there are many events around the world and Dunlop will play a major role in the celebrations, including this month’s Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary events in Rome (including a ‘bike blessing’ in St. Peter’s Square), Sturgis and of course, the Milwaukee events over the US Labor Day weekend in September. Harley riders will have the chance to speak with Dunlop staff
during these events about tyre selection and performance. Dunlop tyres for Harley-Davidson motorcycles are made in the US and have been mounted as original equipment on Harleys since 1984. “Harley-Davidson riders are passionate about their motorcycles and appreciate the impact of riding on quality tyres like Dunlop,” said John C Farris Jr, director of Global Brand Alliances & Business Development at Harley-Davidson. “Our 110th anniversary is a unique opportunity to showcase the respected tradition that connects Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Dunlop tyres, which includes Dunlop’s long time support for Harley-Davidson racing programmes.” “Dunlop places great importance and value on the history it shares with Harley-Davidson, and this sponsorship opportunity offers a fantastic platform to demonstrate the strength of this relationship,” said Mike Buckley, Dunlop vice-president of Sales, Marketing, Research and Development. “This opportunity to celebrate our 125th anniversary concurrently with HarleyDavidson affords Dunlop the chance to reinforce the importance of tyre care and maintenance with Harley-Davidson riders, while we also share information about how to select the proper tyre and get the most out of Dunlop tyres on Harley-Davidson motorcycles during these gatherings.”
YOKOHAMA JOINS GT6
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okohama has become a technical partner for “Gran Turismo6,” the latest version of the globally popular racing video game series Gran Turismo which is celebrating its 15th birthday this year. Realism is the great attraction of the series and, in order to develop the game’s new physics and engine reproducing car behaviour, Yokohama provided tyre data for the simulation. This is the first time a tyre manufacturer has served as an official technical partner. Through its participation, Yokohama hopes to boost its global recognition across generations of automotive enthusiasts. As of March 2013, the “Gran Turismo” series had recorded sales of 70 million units around the world, and has been highly evaluated not only by avid gamers but by professional race drivers, automotiverelated companies and more. Gran Turismo 6 was unveiled at the Silverstone Circuit in England in May and should be available in Australia soon.
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Chinese su
promotes a win win ph
Triangle headquaters
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Ray Tolhurst, John Ruddick and David Jewell inspect a Triangle tyre during the summit
ummit
hilosophy T
he theme for the Triangle Group’s 2013 Global Business Summit, held in China last month, was Innovation, Cooperation, Excellence and Win-Win. ATD was in Shanghai with a team of Australian tyre distributors as over 500 delegates from more than 140 countries took part in the weekend-long event at the luxurious Shangri-La Pudong Hotel. In a very UN-style format, delegates were able to understand all the languages used by the keynote speakers via a headset linked to translators. Triangle tyres’ plan for effective business gobalisation played a major part in the Shanghai Summit with future marketing focused on the theme of a ‘globalised tyre company’, along with the company’s ongoing commitment to a greener future and innovative thinking in reducing energy consumption. Triangle Board Chairman, Mr Ding Yuhua said in his opening speech that the relationship between economic development, energy, environmental, society and humanity development was all important to Triangle. “We have realised that in the face of the serious challenges of the global financial crisis, countries around the world are using every measure possible to support their economies, but we also have a major responsibility to protect the environment for the future,” said Mr Ding. “We must build a healthy environment for longterm survival and development of humanity. “We can not ignore the ecological balance and environmental protection, and tyres play a major part in this. “Tyres account for around 20 percent of the whole vehicle energy consumption, second only to the engine. “Energy saving tyres can achieve more than 5 per cent of fuel savings, which makes the tyre a very important carrier for the innovation of energy saving and emission reductions in the automobile industry. “China can not sacrifice the ecological environment and people’s health for industry development. “The Triangle Group as a member of the global tyre industry takes our own economic, social and environmental responsibilities very seriously.” “We have transformed and upgraded our business in order to become a new style of manufacturer and to forge new production models for sustainability in the industry,” he said. China’s automobile population is more than 120 million, and annual production is over 18 million, making the country a giant player in the global automotive industry, with companies from around the world looking for partnerships within China. Chinese economist Mr Zhang Guoqing agreed with Mr Ding’s message adding that Chinese companies have to embrace a new business landscape to be better prepared to compete in the global business community. “It is no longer enough to be the cheapest in the market place we must also be of the highest quality, we must provide unique high quality products and social responsibilities should remain high on the agenda,” said Mr Zhang. continued page 12 11
“By doing this and hiring talented people who have international experience and understanding, we will have a strong voice in the international arena.” The Triangle Group was established in 1976 and is responsible for the production of commercial, passenger, radial OTR, jumbo OTR and special tyres. Located in the city of Wei Hei in the Shandong Province, Triangle employs 8000 people and has an annual production of more than 25 million pieces and turn over of US$2b and was the first tyre brand in China to receive the country’s prestigious certification of ‘China World Famous Trademark’ and ‘China Name Brand’. Production currently consists of 5 million TBR; 20 million PCR and 200,000 OTR, with a plan to reach an annual production of 40 million in the future. Jumbo OTR tyre production technology and equipment development received the first-class award for science and technology progress in the tyre industry, the highest award of its kind since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. This technology helped Triangle break the international monopoly of high-tech OTR products in China. In addition to it’s global sales, Triangle provides OE tyres to more than 50 major Chinese automobile companies, including Cherry, Lingong and Heavy Truck, supplies tyres for the Chinese military and has long-term strategic relationships with Goodyear, Volvo, Daewoo, and Caterpillar. Caterpillar started the SQEP (Supplier Quality Excellence Program) in 2007 in order to select, evaluate and certify partners and Triangle won the bronze award, followed by silver and gold trophies in 2008 and 2009. It dramatically increased sales volumes in Russia and Brazil last year with growth of 186 and 179 per cent respectively. South Africa is also an important market for Triangle with a 16 per cent rise last year.
THE SUMMIT IDENTIFIED SIX KEY AREAS FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS 1. The implementation of the globalisation strategy is the unanimous request of the mission to realize “Bringing progress to society and creating wealth for human kind”, and achieve sustainable development. 2. The realisation of the strategic objectives of globalisation will be the result of the joint efforts made by Triangle Group and its global partners, who have been continuously accelerating the appreciation of product values and brand to enhance brand position. 3. The success of globalisation strategy is to continue to build a global value chain,
firmly establish the mechanism of cohesion and shared values. 4. Effective progress of globalisation strategy will be based on our scientific design and step-by-step implementation, through development of human resources, intellectual resources, market resources, and sharing of global resources, so as to enlarge our capacity of resources for the near, medium, long-term development. 5. Regional market strategy, product support strategy, and consumer service strategy will be our focus of promoting globalisation. 6. We will work hand-in-hand with global partners, to build platforms together, seize opportunity together, create value together, grow up together, and share success together.
TRIANGLE FACTORY AND HEADQUATERS
The picturesque coastal city of Wei Hei, in the north of China is home to the Triangle Group and ATD was invited along with a select group of Australian distributors to visit their impressive headquarters, including the existing production plant, research and development centre and massive new factory. The new factory features a covered area of 430 acres plus ancillary buildings, and residential housing. It was also pointed out that there is still a vast area yet to be built on, but earmarked for future development for the company. It is not only the sheer size of the new factory that is impressive, but the fact that the roof is home to hundreds of solar panels offering photovalic power in addition to the wired supply. According to company officials this will reduce energy consumption by 3 per cent, and is part of the Triangle Group’s focus on environmental sustainability. The fully automated storage and loading area for tyres seems to go forever, both vertically and horizontally and it is estimated that 70-80 containers per month are shipped from there to Australia. It is this ability to send the required numbers when they are needed that has helped Consolidated Tyre Company in Australia continue a successful partnership with Triangle. “The back up from Triangle is fantastic,” said CEO of Asia Tyres, David Swarbrick. “They are always ready to support us, and whenever we need tyres, we know we will receive them promptly, it makes it very easy to do business.”
Brian Tampaline, senior sales representative for Asia Tyre Company in Queensland spoke on the successful partnership of Consolidated Tyres and Asia Tyres with the Triangle Group
in promoting, distributing and marketing the brand in Australia. Consolidated Tyre Company and Asia Tyres have been distributing the Triangle brand in Australia for more than a decade and is the core product for each company. “We realised very early, that we needed to distinguish the Triangle brand from its competitors, so we began promoting Triangle as a product that can compete with the established tyre market leaders in quality, performance, value, and reliability,” said Mr Tampaline. “We attended trade shows and advertised in trade journals, always with an emphasise on the Triangle brand name. “This approach hit a chord
CEO of Asia Tyres, David Swarbrick exchanges documents with Mr Ding Yuhua
in the market enabling us to effectively grow the brand with significant penetration in the TBR and OEM market. “Although our sales continue to grow, we recognise the fierce counter-attack from established brands suggests that we need to move to another level to further expand our market share. “In particular the passenger car tyre market in Australia is very competitive. The top three local brands occupy more than half the market share through their long established and comprehensive retail networks. “Other brands successfully secure a market share with local retail franchises, therefore our next
target is to build Triangle branded retailers and service networks with the support of the Triangle group. “I firmly believe we are in a position to keep increasing our market share, and improving brand awareness and continue to operationally support the Triangle Group. As part of the Australian contingent present at the Global Business Summit, Asia Tyre Company’s CEO, David Swarbrick took part in an exchanging of documents with Triangle Board Chairman, Mr Ding Yuhua recognising Asia Tyres 10 year strategic partnership with Triangle Tyres. 13
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On top of great brands and great service, Tyres4U has great solutions for you to satisfy your needs & those of your customers. What can Tyres4U Offer Australian Tyre Dealers? Tyres4U consistently ranks at the top in customer surveys, on delivering the right tyre at the right time with a choice of good, better and best tyre options for all customer budgets. A key goal for Tyres4U is being “easy to do business with”, so you have more time to spend with your customers and less time
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Brisbane Truck Show
New Contis go on show Continental Tyres of Australia debuted a new product line at last month’s Brisbane Truck Show
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ontinental is confident the all-new Hybrid range featuring leading edge technologies will change commercial travel on Australian roads. Both the Hybrid steer and drive tyres from Continental offer excellent retreadability thanks to their advanced bead construction, reinforced sidewalls and specially developed belt packages, which combine to significantly improve durability. The HS Hybrid steer life expectancy and fuel economy have been maximised, due to its combination of optimised tread geometry, a new belt package and compounds. Its tyre pattern consists of wide shoulder ribs and narrow grooves, which results in even wear under changing load conditions on all axels and the special groove design avoids stone trapping. Wet traction is also maximised as a result of the new siping technology, which provides numerous grip edges and breaks the water film, creating a superior connection to the road.
Also offering additional advanced technologies, the all-new HD Hybrid drive tyre covers all common usage conditions for heavy trucks, as a result of its unique combination of tread grooves and blocks. Its three-dimensional tread structure is based on a unique design concept with constant tread pattern proportions, ensuring low rolling resistance and wear rates. This also then delivers low fuel consumption and superior
mileage simultaneously, resulting in delivering low overall driving costs. “The Commercial Vehicle Tyre division has the goal of ensuring economic mobility in goods transport, passenger transit and construction-site vehicles by offering tyres for a wide spectrum of applications and service conditions,” said Mitchell Golledge, Marketing Manager, Continental Tyres of Australia.
RACING TRUCK takes centre stage
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wild off-road racing truck that uses tyre technology developed for extreme Australian conditions was one of the stars of the Brisbane Truck Show last month Brad Gallard’s 2012 Finke Desert Race-winning Trophy Truck made its public debut in 2013 competition specification, featuring stronger, more aerodynamic bodywork and new Toyo livery. Gallard unfortunately had to withdraw from this year’s race due to technical issues on day one. The Open Country M/T-R race spec tyre features a modified version of the ultra-tough compound used for Toyo’s M315 and M506 on/off-road truck tyre models. 16
The compound is designed specifically for Australian conditions, including severe off-road applications, and was tested during product development by a logging company at Gympie in Queensland. The compound used in the M315 and M506 resists tread damage such as cuts and chips, which can reduce grip and drive.
Michelin goes for safety and
a peaceful drive
D
Australian Tyre Dealer was in Thailand for the launch of Michelin’s new passenger tyre, the Primacy 3ST.
eveloped especially for the Asia Pacific region including Australia, the new Primacy 3ST is being marketed as a quieter tyre that has added safety and handling characteristics, describing it as a tyre that “keeps noise out and comfort in”. In light of this it makes sense that the ST stands for ‘Silence Tuned’ and as part of an international group of journalists, ATD was given the opportunity to test the Primacy 3ST against competitors on a race track near the mountains of Khao Yai, just outside Bangkok. The tests comprised of wet track handling and braking, dry track handling, noise, and drivability. 18
In all tests the Michelin out-performed its competitor, but it was in the wet braking and handling that the results were most obvious. After gunning the cars coming out of a waterdrenched corner and reaching 70kmh, the brakes were engaged heavily on a wet tarmac, with stopping distances electronically recorded. The average difference during testing for the Australian media was 2.2m and 2.9m during the entire test period in Michelin’s favour, and from a driver’s perspective the handling on the corners was also more stable and precise.
The reason for this according to Pierre Azemat, Michelin Product Marketing Manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania is a series of new technologies from the French company called Stabiligrip, FlexMax, EvenPeak and CushionGuard. “FlexMax’s main responsibility is to deliver safety, the tread compound adapts to the road surface giving a mechanical connection to the surface and it also increases the amount of surface area in contact with the road to increase the amount of grip,” said Mr Azemat. “In addition to this, a chamfer on the blocks helps prevent any distortion during braking, to again give maximum contact pressure underneath the tread block. “Maximum amount of rubber on the road means best braking performance.” Stabiligrip joins with FlexMax with a series of bands between the tread blocks, locking the blocks together to prevent distortion, enabling Primacy 3ST to have good dry grip but also allows the tyre to have a groove that remains open to maximize wet grip. “The best tyre for dry handling is going to be a slick, like we see in motorsport, but a slick tyre without grooves is no good for wet performance, so we need to add grooves and sipes. The problem with adding those is it reduces the rigidity of the tread block and hinders dry performance,” added Azemat. “Hence why we have introduced Stabiligrip to break this compromise between wet and dry performance.” To combat noise and enhance comfort, Michelin has developed two more technologies called EvenPeak and CushionGuard. CushionGuard works with the FlexMax compound by adding a shock absorbent curved sidewall combined with a layer of noise-filtering rubber to diminish vibrations. EvenPeak is responsible for a quieter ride, with a simple idea of creating a wider variety of tread block sizes and shapes that enables road noise to be spread over a wider frequency range delivery up to 8 per cent quieter ride compared to leading competitors. “It is very similar to playing a keyboard,” explains Azemat. “If you play all the keys in one area, you get a peak of noise, but if you play across the whole keyboard you get a more harmonious sound, that’s what the different size tread blocks create.” The Primacy 3ST was developed by Michelin at its Japanese operations using a specific construction and compound to benefit the region and although similar to the European Primacy 3, the ST was tested over 1.3 million kilometres in Thailand and Malaysia to maximize the performance for Southeast Asia and Pacific region drivers providing a more robust tyre. “ The diverse weather conditions in Australia make the needs of drivers here different to those in other regions such as Europe,” said Michelin Australia Managing Director Thierry Martin. “We are listening to the needs of drivers, and have responded to data collected over a ten year period to develop this new, breakthrough tyre.” The new Primacy 3ST is already being fitted as OEM on the new Honda Accord and is available in the Australian market now in a range of sizes from 15 to 19 inch.
EvenPeak
Fewer tread block sizes concentrate noise at the same frequency.
With EvenPeak technology more tread block sizes reduce any peak in noise.
CushionGuard
Curved sidewall better absorbs bumps in the road.
Flexible tread compound cushions vibrations.
FlexMax / StabiliGrip
Flexible treads mean better grip.
Self-locking bands improve handling. 19
Pirelli equips limited edition Moncenisio
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irelli, who have traditionally worked closely alongside bespoke car designers, will equip the latest product from Studiotorino, the limited edition Moncenisio. Derived from the Porsche Cayman S, the new “fine sports car” from the northern Italian firm will be available from November on Pirelli’s most performanceoriented tyres, the P Zero in 235/35R20 at the front and 265/35R20 at the back. The transformation of the new car into an exclusive limited edition has come under the responsibility of designer Daniele Gaglione, completing the style and line-up of the previous projects carried out by Studiotorino: the RK Spider and RK Coupe from 2005 and 2006.
New job website
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new player has been launched into the multi-million dollar online employment market in Australia with JobStop.com, adding another brand to the stable of the Gold Coast-based BAM Group. The new business has been strategically linked with motorsport website speedcafe.com, which has been developed into one of the world’s leading racing authorities. While the low-lying fruit of the motorsport and motoring industries are the first targets for jobstop.com, there are already plans in place to 20
The new car’s name is derived from one of the best-known Alpine passes of the Piemonte region in northern Italy. It’s famous not only for the historic ‘Susa-Moncenisio’ race, which is traditionally recognised as the world’s first hillclimb, but also for the particular blue colour of the lake, a colour that the Moncenisio has been inspired by. The new car will be produced as 20 numbered examples and can be personalised to suit the desires and tastes of each individual customer. Expected to be bought by connoisseurs and collectors the Moncenisio continues a 90-year Studiotorino tradition of hand built, made to measure, limited edition sports cars.
extend the brand into all employment areas with mining, education and health opportunities already in the pipeline, according to the site’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Leisa Emberson. “JobStop.com’s aim is to be a fast, easy and hassle-free platform for those searching for a new job and for companies and recruiters looking to hire staff,” said Emberson. As part of the launch, use of the site is free for all employers and potential employees for at least the first three months. It is envisaged that the site will be up to 50 per cent less expensive to use than current popular employment sites when it finally puts its pay wall in place. “Becoming a strategic alliance partner with Speedcafe.com extends the brand and
provides an automatic and loyal audience. “This gives those seeking to employ staff confidence they can find their new employee via JobStop. The model allows employers to advertise with zero risk - it gives them the additional opportunity to display their brand to a broad audience. Those looking for a job can search by location, key words, industry and even tailor their personal dashboard to find jobs that suit them. An option exists for job searchers to add their CV for employers to find them. The website will also be creating regular employment news and information and is to become a real hub for the industry. There is already strong daily use of social media to promote the brand and products.
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Advertorial
Classic American cool
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n 1954 drag racer Romeo Palamides and San Francisco machine shop owner JO Ellison teamed up to build a fuel dragster featuring purpose-built magnesium race wheels of their own design. The wheels remained virtually unknown until two years later when Hot Rod Magazine featured ‘The Romeo’ dragster on the cover. When hot-rodders and drag racers saw the 15x7-inch cast magnesium wheels, which boasted an enviable strength-to-weight ratio, orders started rolling in for what would become the first American Racing product. In 1958 a four-slot magnesium-racing wheel called the Standard was put into production for competition use and the company was on its way. It was four years later however when the aluminium Torq Thrust wheel, intended for street use was launched and a true legend was born. The five-spoke parabolic style wheel is credited with launching the custom wheel industry, and now, nearly 60 years later this icon of American pop culture is available again in Australia. Throughout the decades the American Racing Wheel has been a symbol of automotive cool, and still prides itself on the mission that began in that San 22
Francisco machine shop all those years ago. Steve McQueen’s cult classic, ‘Bullitt’ turned the American Racing Wheel into a moviestar. The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 fastback driven by Frank Bullitt in one of the most memorable car chases of all time, screaming through the hilly streets of San Fransisco featured American Racing Torq Thrust wheels, and the brand was catapulted from racetracks to Hollywood, appealing to everyone who wanted serious street cred. During the seventies and eighties,
American Racing’s star continued to shine on television with the Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee Dodge Charger riding on the brand’s Vector wheels and The A-Team’s customized black and grey GMC Vandura featuring special red and black Vectors. Motor racing was never far away, and all through the nineties and noughties and up to the present, American racing wheels have competed in and won the gruelling Pikes Peak Hill Climb, set record’s in the drag racing world and today sponsor current Indy 500 champ Tony Kanaan. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and many companies have tried to copy the American racing style. “There are a lot of fakes out there, but American racing wheels are the real deal,” said American Racing Product Manager Brendan Lake. “So many hot rod wheels have tried to copy the legendary Torq Thrust, but I’m happy to say that the genuine article is here again in Australia.” In 1998 the company was producing 5 million wheels per year and in 2007 Hot Rod Magazine named the Torq Thrust wheel, originally designed by Tom Griffith in 1962 as one of the “10 Most Significant Speed Parts of all Time”, firmly cementing it and the American Racing name’s place in history.
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hen you stock the genuine American Racing wheels you’re selling one of the most iconic wheel brands in the world today.
The makings of an American Icon The American Racing Wheel brand is steeped in history and still prides itself on the mission that began in a San Francisco shop nearly 60 years ago today. In 1962, American Racing introduced the first aftermarket all-alloy wheel – the Torq Thrust which today is arguably the most recognised wheel design in the world and what would become responsible for launching the custom wheel industry. In the late 1960’s, the American Racing Torq Thrust Wheel appeared on Steve McQueen’s 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback in the classic thriller ‘Bullitt’. In the late 1970’s, American Racing featured again in the hit TV Series ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’. The iconic ‘General The General Lee - Vector Lee’ Dodge Charger rode on American Racing Vector wheels which would also feature on the A-Team’s black GMC Vandura. Bullitt - Torq Thrust D The American Racing brand’s iconic status was recognised in 2007 when Hot Rod Magazine named the Torq Thrust Wheel, originally designed some 50 years earlier, as one of the “10 most significant speed parts of all time.”
Why sell the American Racing Wheels? Here’s 4 reasons: 1. American Racing wheels give you access to a wide range of today’s hottest American designed styles on the market for your showroom. Styles are available in fitments to suit all common 4WD’s and SUV’s in Australia as well as a comprehensive ‘Vintage’ and ‘Hot Rod’ range featuring custom backspaces. 2. American Racing Wheels offer styles with the unique PVD Chrome (Physical Vapour Deposition) a process originally developed for the space program. Finally a finish that’s made to last, PVD offers you a point of difference that other wheels don’t have which is more durable than conventional chrome in many ways.
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3. American Racing Wheels are American designed with ‘Higher Load Ratings’ and manufactured to the highest tolerances in the industry to ensure there are no compromises on performance. 4. American Racing Wheels offer on all 2-piece ‘Vintage’ and ‘Hot Rod’ styles the new ‘Custom Shop’ which allows you to offer a different combination of custom paint finishes. 5. You’re selling a genuine brand that has been built for over 60 years with a rich heritage; American Racing is here to stay.
The American Racing brand is available exclusively through 4x4 Wheel Co. For more information about fitments on the 4WD, SUV, VINTAGE or HOT ROD range, visit www.americanracingwheels.com.au or call the wheel experts on:
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23
SUPERCAR WORLD
Birthday wishes
T
o help celebrate the 50th birthday of Lamborghini, the Pirelli Foundation hosted the launch of the iconic supercar’s anniversary in Milan. The choice of Pirelli and its foundation was no coincidence. The collaboration between Pirelli and Lamborghini dates back to 1963, the year in which Ferruccio Lamborghini asked Leopoldo Pirelli to equip the newly-created constructor’s first car. This was the 350 GTV, launched as a prototype at the Turin Motor Show the same year. Both this model and the production version, badged 350 GT, used Pirelli’s Cinturato HS tyre, developed at the time to equip sports cars that were already capable of reaching the 240kmh mark. The HS designation stood for ‘high speed’, indicating the tyre’s capability of withstanding the sustained high speeds generated by the emerging supercars of the 1960s. 1966 was the year in which Lamborghini really came of age, with the introduction of the legendary Miura. Tyres for the Miura were added to
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Pirelli’s range in 1967, together with original equipment for the Lamborghini 350 GT and 400. The partnership between Pirelli and Lamborghini is not just a technical one. Lamborghini cars often star in Pirelli’s advertising. The Lamborghini Countach Anniversary was used in a series of Pirelli advertising campaigns throughout America and Southeast Asia, while the Miura was the centrepiece of a 1970 ad for Pirelli original equipment. In 1990 the Lamborghini Diablo arrived on the scene. Just 3000 examples were built; all of them equipped with Pirelli tyres, while the turn of the century brought the Murcielago (2002) and Gallardo (2003) – both of which used P Zero Rosso. So this remarkable story comes right up to date. The new Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster using a bespoke P Zero tyre and the Veneno, a dream car created to celebrate Lamborghini’s 50th birthday, is fitted with speciallydeveloped Pirelli tyres that carry a distinctive red logo inspired by the P Zero Formula One tyres.
Expensive rubber
A
ccording to a report published on the Autocar website earlier this year Bugatti Veyron rubber must be a prime contender for the most expensive car tyres in the world with a set of four new tyres costing £23,500 or AU$40,000 to replace. Michelin won the OE contract to supply these products with the 406 kmh car, which is capable of 0-300kmh in under 14 seconds fitting the Michelin Pilot Sport Pax System 245-690 R520 A (front) and 365-710 R 540 A (rear) tyres. The main reason for the great expense, Autocar explains, is the fact that they have to be capable of 407 kmh “over 160 kmh faster than Concorde’s landing speed.” However according to the report, what’s worse is that every fourth tyre change (assuming you can afford to run the car that long) the Veyron’s wheels have to be stress tested for cracks. The replacement cost for these 20-inch forged rims is said to be over $12,000 each. Little wonder then that one Veyron owner has reportedly taken to the comparatively more economical option of having his car trailed to wherever he wants to drive it, while he follows in his private jet.
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MOTORSPORTS
Great spectacle for rally fans
S
pectators will see the world’s fastest rally drivers and cars in breath-taking action on every stage of Coates Hire Rally Australia when the FIA World Rally Championship comes to the New South Wales Coffs Coast on 12-15 September. A wide choice of tickets are now on sale from rallyaustralia.com. au and ticketek.com at pre-event discount prices as low as $15 offering viewing at 30 locations on 22 competition Special Stages over three days and three nights. A more compact course and major expansion of spectating options, including the city-based, nightly Armor All Super Special Stage and the all-new Flooded Gum Rally Village on the final day, have been designed to appeal to everyone from dedicated rally fans to families. The 22nd Rally Australia will showcase the talents of driving stars such as Sebastien Ogier of France, Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen and JariMatti Latvala, Dani Sordo of Spain
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If you haven’t seen a WRC rally before, it’s international sport at its best. and Evgeny Novikov of Russia as the WRC visits the Coffs Coast for Round 10 of its 13-nation tour. “Coates Hire Rally Australia will be the ultimate entertainment experience, with drivers contesting motorsport’s most challenging international series against the backdrop of the beautiful Coffs Coast tourist region,” says Event Manager David Catchpole. “And spectators won’t need to be rally fans to enjoy every minute. The WRC brings fan-friendly stars from many countries, the drama of fierce competition to be World Champion and a fantastic crowd atmosphere on the Stages.
“If you haven’t seen a WRC rally before, it’s international sport at its best.” Organisers expect the most popular venues to be the Armor All Super Special Stage at the Rally Hub in Brelsford Park, Coffs Harbour on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and the Flooded Gum Rally Village on Sunday’s Wedding Bells Special Stage. The $15 ticket buys adult general admission to all “Community” spectator points on any day. But on the evidence of the previous Coffs Coast Rally Australia in 2011, most spectators are likely to buy an Event Super Pass, which will admit holders to all locations from Thursday to Sunday. The pass will cost $175, or $195 with grandstand seating at the Armor All Super Special Stage. A Family Event Super Pass for two adults and two children aged between 5 and 16 is priced at $559.
DUNLOP TAKES TARGA CLEAN SWEEP
J
ason White has claimed back-toback Targa Tasmania Titles after dominating the five-day marathon in his Dunlop-shod Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale. Hobart-based South Australian, Steve Glenney, finished a solid second in his Nissan GT-R, one minute and five seconds behind White, with Adelaide’s Matt Sims taking the final podium position in another Nissan—both also sporting Dunlop rubber and giving the global tyre giant a podium clean sweep.
Steve Glenney, finished a solid second, with Matt Sims taking the final podium position—both sporting Dunlop rubber.
While he was the fastest driver for the majority of the event, things didn’t always go to plan for White. He suffered a broken front differential on day two, and also encountered electrical and fuel gremlins throughout the first four days. However, his experience shone through when needed most, and he extended his lead over the final stages to eventually win by over a minute, the first to win back-to-back Targa Tasmania titles since Jim Richards in 2003. “That’s four wins for us now and we’re very, very happy with that,” a jubilant White said. “It’s been a long, arduous week for us and we’ve had plenty of hurdles to jump over, some of them pretty big, and we’ve had a lot of concerns but we’ve made it, which is very sweet. Glenney had been hopeful of reeling the Lamborghini in, but in just his first event in the Nissan GT-R, he had a few teething problems of his own, and was happy to settle with second place in the end. “It’s a pleasing result even though I hate coming second,” Glenney said. “We’re all here to win, but I’m very pleased as it’s a car which had had very little modification or race-prep, so to get it to the finish, let alone come second, is a great result for everyone involved with this team.”
TALKIN’ FALKEN
F
alken celebrated 30 years since its birth with what could be described as an eventful 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. The Falken Motorsports team held first position for a time following an overnight break in racing as a result of heavy rain. British driver Peter Dumbreck climbed from tenth to first during the first stint, using Falken’s wet weather tyres to excellent effect. However, two incidents, including one that required a rescue vehicle, put paid to dreams of glory, with the team ending the 24 hours in a very creditable 20th. Taking the German name for the high-speed bird of prey, the brand formed its European operation, Falken Tyre Europe, in Offenbach in 2009. Falken was also launching its new Euroall Season AS200 tyre for compact, mid-range and SUV models; available in 27 dimensions between 13 and 18 inches, and speed rated T, H and V, the tyre moves into HP territory at the top of its range, with 17” XL fitments for the Audi A4, A5 and A6, BMW 3, 5 and 6 Series and the Mercedes SLK.
ORDER TYRES ON-LINE 24HRS/7 DAYS
www.tyres4u.com.au plus many more brands including Continental 27
MOTORSPORTS Tyres tried and tested at TT
C
Pirelli holds off on F1 changes
P
irelli has ruled out changing the construction of its Formula One tyres until at least August because of teams failing to reach agreement at the recent Canadian Grand Prix reported The Guardian newspaper. Announcing its compounds earlier this month for the next three races – in Britain, Germany and Hungary – the Italian company said it had abandoned a plan to introduce a new tyre at Silverstone. “This decision is due to the fact that the new tyres, which were brought to the Friday free practice sessions in Canada, could not be tested sufficiently due to rain,” Pirelli said. It added that the teams had “failed to agree unanimously about introducing the changes”. Pirelli said: “Instead a change in the tyre production process should now ensure that the delamination issue has been addressed.” Formula One’s sole provider has been in the headlines all season after some teams, with champions Red Bull among the most vocal, complained that the 2013 tyres did not allow them to race as before. The tyres have been designed to encourage more pit stops and overtaking by losing performance quicker but that has led to criticism that drivers have had to make too many stops and 28
reduce speeds to make them last. The tyres have also suffered from delamination – when the tread peels off while the tyre remains inflated. Although not a safety issue, Pirelli is concerned about its image and is keen to prevent it happening. In an interview last month with The official Formula 1 website, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, defended Pirelli. “I asked Pirelli to make tyres that would not complete 50 percent of a race – meaning we need pit stops. And that’s what they did. It is very, very difficult to predict and say these tyres will last 15 or 20 per cent of the race because each circuit is different, we are facing very different temperatures, the cars are different, and last but not least each driver has a different driving style. “In the times when Niki (Lauda) was racing, his biggest concern was looking after the gearbox and the brakes – not the tyres. “Then we got away from that and the drivers didn’t have to think about anything. Now they have to use their brains and start thinking about how to win races”. “The easiest thing for Pirelli would be to produce tyres that you put on at the first race of the season and take off at the last. That would be easy, “ he added.
ompeting in its 125th anniversary year, Dunlop tyres have had another successful week at the Isle of Man TT. 14 out of 15 podium places used its tyres and three lap records were set in the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock classes respectively. Dunlop was the Official tyre partner for the Isle of Man TT, with around 70 competitors riding on Dunlop tyres in the Supersport, Superstock, Superbike and Senior TT races. Meanwhile, the sidecar events saw more than 40 competitors using Avon tyres, as Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle took victory in the first and Ben and Tom Birchall claimed an emotional maiden TT win in the second on the brand’s products. Having taken their LCR outfit to glory, Ben Birchall said, “We could get used to this feeling! What a team we had behind us and that includes Avon Tyres. To be honest the tyres were faultless and despite the very hot conditions they were as good on the last lap as on the first.” Avon has a long history in motorcycle racing on two and three wheels. Its first motorcycle tyre was manufactured in 1911 and since then champions such as Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Barry Sheene have won on Avon.
Courtney to weigh up options The racing future of out-of-contract factory Holden star James Courtney will take shape by early August after the 2010 V8 Supercars Champion sits down with manager Alan Gow and reviews his driving options beyond 2013. Gow will fly out from his UK base for the July 26-28 Coates Hire Ipswich 360 at Queensland Raceway to meet with Courtney and no doubt discuss his client’s possible future in in the V8 Supercars pitlane with any potential suitors. “He’ll come and talk to me and tell me what options are on the table and we’ll make a decision,” Courtney told v8supercars.com.au. “There are plenty of things out there.” The 32-year old says he would like to continue with HRT because he has “unfinished business”, and he had a strong showing at the recent Darwin event, including a pole position. However, there is plenty of rumour insisting he is more likely to depart overseas
for a future in sports car racing. “I have put in three years (at HRT) of blood, sweat and tears and arguing like hell to get things done my way and things are starting to happen,” said Courtney. “So on one hand it would have been great if we had this sort of progress earlier, but better late than never. “It would be sad to leave HRT without achieving what I set out to achieve and I am very much about achieving the goals and moving on. If the opportunity is right it would be good to stay here in Supercars with a competitive package.” One fundamental impediment to Courtney continuing on with HRT or any other V8 Supercars outfit is money. Signed to HRT on a lucrative deal (reputedly $1m or more per annum), he has very little chance of securing that sort of salary this time round because most teams are cash-strapped thanks to the fall in licence income and the cost of building new Car of the Future racers. Courtney’s decision on his future will play a key role in determining how the 2013 driver silly season plays out. FPR’s Will Davison and Erebus Motorsport V8’s Tim Slade are also big talents out of contract in 2013.
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WORLD NEWS South Korea South Korean based company Hankook is reportedly planning to build a new tyre production facility in either India or Malaysia, reported Tyrepress.com. The news follows the announcement that Hankook plans
to double it’s European output over the next two years at its Hungarian factory to 10 million tyres a year. Speaking to the Financial Times, Hankook executive Calvin Pak explained that the company’s next phase of expansion would be in south Asia “for example in India or Malaysia.” There was
Marangoni targets australia
Q&A
with Greg Graham, Brand Manager for the Marangoni Tyre brand. ATD: We’ve obviously heard of Marangoni, but can you give us a bit of background on the company and your products? GG: Marangoni are a significant Italian based industrial
Group. We have various ‘Tyre related’ business areas, including the manufacture of Truck & OTR retreaded tyres, manufacture of industrial tyres, design and manufacture of tyre industry machines and equipment, and also new Car/LT/SUV manufacturing. Although we are an Italian company, we have a real global presence in most of our business areas.
ATD: Can you tell us a bit more about your aspirations for the Australian marketplace? GG: My own role within Marangoni, is specific to our new tyre production. We produce a comprehensive range of car, light truck and SUV tyres, and our aim is to re-establish our brand in the Australian market. I’m based in the UK, but I’m responsible for various global markets.
ATD: You say ‘re-establish’, can you explain? GG: Yes certainly…. Many people will recognise our brand as having been available Nationally through Australian wholesale channels in the not so distant past. We had a historic wholesale partnership which allowed us to market and sell our tyres throughout Australia, and to a very successful level. Unfortunately this partnership was unable to continue, but it proved to us that the Marangoni Tyre brand was easily accepted by Australian tyre retailers and their customers.
ATD: So, what is your next step in allowing you to re-enter the Australian market? GG: After a short gap in supplying the Australian market, we decided it was now time for us to try to 30
even talk of a North American plant “in the longer term.” Calvin Pak reportedly explained that Hankook’s competitive advantage over European manufacturers was that it had won quality accolades but remained “more affordable thanks to less of a brand premium.”
re-launch our brand. We believe that Marangoni has a decent history in Australia, and a high level of brand equity still seems to exist. As we’re not directly based in your country, we thought that we’d ask any interested parties to get in touch to discuss what we can offer. Although of course we’d love to be involved with some of the bigger players in the market, we are completely flexible in our approach at this time. We would be happy to evaluate whether a regional offer could work in Australia, but as I said before we are certainly not averse to discussing any opportunities with National companies.
ATD: What do you believe you can offer to any interested parties? GG: At Marangoni we genuinely believe in creating true partnerships. We completely understand that to build a brand takes time and much effort from both sides. Our aim is always to work in the long term with our partners, and our customer retention statistics certainly demonstrate that fact. We offer high quality, top specification products, which give reliable real world performance and durability. We are also hugely flexible in the way that we can create a supply structures / packages individual to each marketplace. We sell our tyres all over the globe, and we know that every one of our partners have a different set of requirements to allow them to be successful. Another very important additional benefit, is the inclusion of our fully factory backed “Lifetime Warranty”. This covers all of our tyres against accidental or “road hazard” damage, for the life of the tyre. Of course it is based on a tread depth / pro rata calculation, but we don’t put a time limit on when claims can be made. Our customer base tell us that this is a huge benefit to retailers and consumers alike.
ATD: What can businessess expect if they drop you an email? GG: All enquiries will come directly to myself, and all will be treated with the same level of importance. All I require are the contact details of the person responsible for purchasing tyres for their business, and I’ll follow them up with them personally. As people will be dealing directly with Marangoni, and not an agent, they can be sure that their information is safe and will only be used by myself.
TYRE COLLECTION
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MaRangoni aRE looking foR ausTRalian wholEsalE oR RETail paRTnERs (naTional oR REgional), To bE pRoTEcTEd wiTh ExclusivE aREas. if You aRE inTEREsTEd in finding ouT MoRE, and if YouR businEss is capablE of REcEiving conTainER dElivERiEs, plEasE EMail us YouR conTacT dETails. australia@marangoni.com 31
WORLD NEWS Jakarta
KUWAIT
At a time when Australia is doing all it can to limit the number of used tyres entering the domestic waste stream, an enormous tyre graveyard has been uncovered in the Middle East. British newspaper the Daily Mail has reported on the tyre burial ground located in Kuwait. In the city’s Sulaibiya area every year gigantic holes are dug in the sandy earth and filled with old tyres - there are now over seven million in the ground. The expanse of rubber is so large that the sizable indents on the earth are now visible from space (above). It is thought the tyres are from both Kuwait and other countries which have paid for them to be taken away – four companies are in charge of the disposal and are thought to make a substantial amount from the disposal fees. Last month ATD reported on the decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to authorise a national Tyre Stewardship Scheme for five years. The aim of the Scheme is to reduce the amount of used tyres entering landfill, being illegally dumped or exported overseas.
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A deal signed between Compagnie Financière Groupe Michelin and PT Petrokimia Butadiene Indonesia (PBI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (CAP), will see the production of styrene and butadienederived synthetic rubber taking place in Indonesia through a joint venture firm. The agreement gives Michelin 55 per cent ownership in the new company, with PBI holding the remainder. The total investment is estimated to be US$435 million, with plant construction expected to commence in early 2015. Completion and start-up is targeted for the beginning of 2017.
USA
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has officially opened its new global headquarters. The 60,000 square metre Global Headquarters building is home to nearly 2000 corporate and North American Tyre associates and is connected to Goodyear’s existing Innovation Center and serves as a central campus for the company in Akron, Ohio.
HUNGARY
Hankook Tyre and the Hungarian Government have jointly announced details of further investment in the tyre manufacturer’s European production facility, south of Budapest. Hankook plans to invest $440m adding a further manufacturing unit to the site, which will create over 950 new jobs and further boost Hankook’s production volume in Europe, bringing capacity up to 17 million tyres per year.
TAIWAN
Taiwanese tyre maker Cheng Shin Rubber is reported to be considering building its seventh plant in China according to The Taipei Times. The newspaper reported comments made to this effect by company vicepresident Wu Hsuan-miao following Cheng Shin’s annual general meeting. “We will come up with a concrete plan on the construction of a new plant early next year, when the global demand for tyres is set to stabilise,” Wu told the Taipei Times. He added that Cheng Shin, which manufactures the Maxxis, CST, Sakura
and Presa brands, needs to expand its production capacity as its existing plants are expected to be running at full capacity by the end of 2013.
FINLAND The North American premium touring tyre segment is the stated target for Nokian’s newest all-season tyre, the Nokian WR G3. The Finnish manufacturer says the combination of its “solid winter experience” plus the use of “environmentally friendly premium products” such as nanotechnology and canola oil in the tyre “guarantee their reliable functionality in the typically varying weather conditions of North America.”
SINGAPORE At an official ceremony in June, attended by around 400 guests, German specialty chemicals firm Lanxess inaugurated its new butyl rubber plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island. Tyrepress.com reported that the plant, built at a cost of 400m euros, is the company’s largest single investment and is described as being the “most modern of its kind in Asia.” The 100,000 tonne per annum plant will produce premium halobutyl rubber and regular butyl rubber. The plant entered operation in the first quarter of 2013 and is being ramped up gradually. Commercial production will start in the third quarter of this year, with full capacity expected to be reached in 2015. It is to be staffed by around 160 skilled employees, most of who will be recruited locally. The Jurong Island plant is Lanxess’ third butyl rubber facility, alongside the plants in Sarnia, Canada, and Belgium. “To me, this new plant is a powerful symbol of our strong belief in the bright future that lies ahead for the rubber industry and the dynamic markets of Asia,” said Axel C. Heitmann, Lanxess’ Board of Management Chairman, during the opening ceremony. “This is the largest investment in the company’s history, and underlines the importance of Asia as a location for our synthetic rubber business. We have clearly built this plant with the future of mobility in mind because we think and act long-term.”
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