Australian Tyre Dealer, February/March 2016

Australian Tyre Dealer | vol. 25 | issue 1 | Feb/Mar 2016

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. Pirelli to supply Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico for the new Tesla model X SUV

Print Post approved PPP444752/0002

6. Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

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.

original equipment for new 7 Series 8.

Relaunch for world's 'most liked' tyre brand 9. Bridgestone MasterClass awards

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

Tesla has chosen the Pirelli Scorpion Asimmetrico for its new Model X SUV. A joint collaboration between Pirelli and Tesla engineers has resulted in a specially-created version of the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico designed to satisfy the particular requirements of the new Model X . . . Page 4.

recognise the best of the best 10. Sponsorship win-win for Western Sydney 15. Cooper Tires awarded for best rubber on the road

FEATURES 12. The ATD Interview: Tom Klinge, co-founder

EDITOR Jonathan Nash

and Director of Klinge & Co. 16. Showdown in Motown: The 2016 North

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

American International Auto Show

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Barry Browne 03 9807 9154 Email: barry@barrybrownemedia.com.au

AUTO NEWS 20. Last Land Rover Defenders roll off the production line

EDITORIAL Enquiries should be made to: The Editor 07 3237 8721 or email atd@mtaq.com.au

21. Ford unveils Falcon Sprint models

PRODUCTS 22. Narva “Spot-On with new Blue-Spot L.E.D

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safety light 23. New Projecta Workshop Battery Manager

If you don’t wish to receive further editions of Australian Tyre Dealer please email us at publications@ mtaq.com.au

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held each year in Detroit, is one of the world’s most famous and grandest motor shows . . . Page 16

MOTORSPORTS 24. Ogier takes another victory at Rally Sweden

MTA-Queensland ABN: 740 289 338 48

25. Toyo Tires jump at Super Truck sophomores 26. Tekno Autosports McLaren 650S GT3 secures historic clean sweep on Bathurst 12 hour debut 28. Motorsport calendar 2016 20140138 201503336

“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.

Tom Klinge has been involved in the tyre industry for more than 40 years. Beginning his career as a tyre fitter in a small Queensland country town, he has, through family-owned company Klinge & Co., taken his passion for the business, and his visionary and innovative ideas on tyre management and industry safety, to the global stage . . . Page 12.

30. WORLD NEWS

Shane Van Gisbergen, Alvaro Parente, and Jonathon Webb, driving the No:59 McLaren 650S GT3 for the Tekno Autosports team, won the Bathurst 12-hour race in February. And they did so in spectacular fashion . . . Page 26.

1 1

EDITOR’S WORD

H Jonathan Nash Editor

22

ello and welcome to Australian Tyre Dealer.

In our first edition of 2016, we have an enlightening interview with Tom Klinge, co-founder and director of Klinge & Co. Long established as one of the world’s leaders in tyre management systems and services, Klinge & Co.’s customers include global mining, construction and transport companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Fortescue and there are more than 200 Klinge & Co. employees servicing those customers across the globe.

Tom started his career in the industry as a tyre fitter in the small Queensland country town of St George more than 40 years ago, and his passionate support for the industry, his development of new technologies, and work in the training and safety aspects of the business saw him honoured last year by the Tire Industry Association (TIA) who presented him with the prestigious Ed Wagner Leadership Award in recognition of the positive influence and impact he has had on the industry.

You can read more about Tom and Klinge & Co., starting on page 12.

In industry news this edition, Pirelli reports that it is to supply its Scorpion Asimmetrico tyres to Tesla for the company's new electric Model X SUV, while Bridgestone says it is to supply its Potenza S001 Next Generation Run Flat Tyre as original equipment for BMW's new 7 Series. Nexen and Cooper Tires both report that they have picked up design awards for their products, while the Tyre Stewardship Association continues its good work and has announced news surrounding its financial support of research into uses for end-of-life tyres.

The tyre industry and sport come together away from the race track this month with Toyo Tires announcing a multi-million dollar,

multi-year co-major partnership deal with AFL team the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

The sponsorship will see the Toyo Tires logo placed on the team's guernsey and 'includes significant signage, branding and activation opportunities across a suite of Giants assets'.

“This partnership is good for Toyo, good for footy, the Giants and, ultimately, good for our customers,” said Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia CEO Michael Rudd.

“Sport is the campfire around which families gather. AFL is a truly national game with family values complementary to Toyo’s family safety focus, and those of our tyre retail partners."

In other news, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) took place in Detroit in January.

One of world's most famous car shows, nearly one million visitors attended this year, with more than 5000 journalists joining them to report on the vehicle debuts and announcements made by major manufacturers. From sports car concepts to all-electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as technology that brings the autonomous vehicle ever closer, the Show was a chance for the industry's big guns to show off all their latest advances. Check out some of what was revealed on pages 16 to19.

Also in this edition, we have motorsport and auto news, a listing of all the major motorsport events for 2016 and a wrap-up of tyre industry news from around the world.

I hope you enjoy this editioin of Australian Tyre Dealer. Feel free to drop me a line if you have some news you would like to share with the industry. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jonathan Nash jonathann@mtaq.com.au

Coverpicture: © ag visuell

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Pirelli to supply Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico for the new Tesla model X SUV T

esla has chosen the Pirelli Scorpion Asimmetrico for its new Model X SUV. A joint collaboration between Pirelli and Tesla engineers has resulted in a specially-created version of the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico designed to satisfy the particular requirements of the new Model X, which uses 265/35ZR22 102W at the front and 285/35ZR22 106W at the rear.

Tesla has announced a top speed of 250km/h for its latest model but, with a W speed rating, its Scorpion Zero tyres ensure optimal performance up to 270km/h, with M+S markings that denote year-round capability.

Tesla's SUV stands out not only for its top speed, but also for its acceleration - the Model X is able to reach 100km/h from a standing start in just 3.4 seconds.

In order to cope with performance figures worthy of a sports car, the company required tyres able to put down the maximum torque 4

Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico

and power instantly.

The Model X has a range of up to 470 kilometres and offers high levels of comfort in a full-size SUV that is able to easily accommodate seven adults and their luggage.

Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico is the high-performance tyre in the Pirelli Scorpion range and has, says Pirelli, been designed to equip the world’s most powerful SUVs.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT original equipment for new 7 Series B MW has chosen Bridgestone’s Potenza S001 Next Generation Run Flat Tyre as original equipment for its new 7 Series.

For almost two decades, BMW has partnered with Bridgestone in numerous initiatives, including OE fitments, joint technological developments (such as Run Flat Technology tyres), collaboration on BMW’s Driving Experience and as an exclusive development partner for the BMW i3.

Fitment of Potenza S001 RFT as original equipment on the 7 Series is the latest Bridgestone product to extend the successful partnership with BMW. “With a host of exciting features, from its innovative carbon core to BMW laser light technology, the 7 Series is well and truly setting the benchmark for luxury cars,” said Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand’s Managing Director Andrew Moffatt.

“It’s only fitting then that the 7 Series has a tyre that matches this

Nexen tyres pick up Good Design Awards

F

ive of Nexen Tire’s products were recently selected as ‘Good Design products’ at both the the Korean and US Good Design Awards.

The company won the the Korea Institute of Design Promotion Award in the Lifestyle Vehicles category for its Roadian AT Pro RA8, while it also picked up the Korea Good Design Award for its N’Fera SUR4 tyre.

Nexen had three winners at the US Good Design Awards

6

Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT

ground-breaking approach and the Potenza S001 RFT is the perfect choice.”

The Potenza S001 RFT incorporates a host of technologies developed

by Bridgestone to ensure it offers class-leading performance as well as superior ride comfort. The company says a thinner sidewall, coupled with new heat suppressing technologies to limit tyre distortion, offers improved safety and the bonus of repairability.

Bridgestone says safety is one of the key benefits of the Potenza with its Roadian AT Pro RA8, N’Fera RU5 and N’Fera AU5 taking honours in the Transportation category.

The company says the Roadian AT Pro RA8, selected as a winner in both Korea and the US, has outstanding off-road performance and is being supplied as the tyre for the new RAM 3500 pickup from Fiat Chrysler.

S001 RFT – largely thanks to reinforced sidewalls which allow the vehicle to continue momentum in the event of a puncture, which could otherwise result in a dangerous swerve.

“Our RFT technology enables you to keep driving for up to 80km at a speed of 80km/h after a puncture,” said Mr Moffatt. “That really does make a difference from a safety perspective – it means you have the chance to pull over safely or potentially avoid having to change your tyre on the side of the road.

“We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with BMW and proud to see this great product fitted as original equipment on the 7 Series.”

Potenza S001 is fitted as standard on the BMW 7 Series 730d, 740i and 740Li models in 245/45R19 sizing, with an optional accessory for 275/40R19 rear tyres. For the 750i and 750Li models, staggered sizing in 245/40R20 and 275/35R20 is provided.

The N’Fera SUR4 is an ultra-high performance semi racing tyre; the N’Fera AU5 a product designed for its ride quality, mileage performance and fuel efficiency; while the N’Fera RU5 is the top-class product for SUVs with both excellent running and high mileage performance.

“The recently released products of the N’Fera and Roadian series are exhibiting not only excellent performance but also tangible results in design,” said Han Minhyun, Nexen Tire Vice President and R&D Director. “We will continue to enhance our productive competitiveness by further increasing R&D investments.”

THIS IS WHAT 50 MILLION TYRES LOOK LIKE. THAT’S HOW MANY ARE DISCARDED IN AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR.*

Volume based on Equivalent Passenger Units (EPUs). An EPU is standard passenger car tyre.

Full EPU Ratio Tables available at www.tyrestewardship.org.au

*

TRP TSA0008

If you want your old tyres recycled in the most environmentally sustainable way, only deal with Tyre Stewardship Accredited suppliers. Look for this logo or go to our website to find out who they are. www.tyrestewardship.org.au

INDUSTRY NEWS

Use of end-of-life tyres to increase the safety, speed and payload of Australian trains

A

The new Nitto Tyres Australia website displays cutting edge design and simplifies the tyre purchase process

Relaunch for world's 'most liked' tyre brand T he "most liked" tyre brand globally on Facebook, Nitto Tyres, has relaunched in Australia with a new nationwide distribution channel and a new website.

The popular tyre marque has further strengthened its commitment to the local market with the appointment of prominent motorsport stuntman Matty Mingay as brand ambassador.

Nitto Tyres Australia marketing manager Jose Angeles said the 136-outlet Bob Jane T-Marts chain will retail the company's broad range of ultra-high performance, 4x4, SUV and passenger tyres.

"This national retail partnership, along with the new dedicated website, will dramatically expand Nitto's presence in Australia and make our tyres much more accessible to an already extensive fan and retail base," said Mr Angeles.

"With over 11.7 million Facebook fans, Nitto is the most liked tyre maker in the world, exceeding the fan bases of prestigious automotive marques."

Mr Angeles said Mr Mingay is Australia's number one action sports athlete.

"He performs in front of 2.2 million 8

people a year and pushes tyres to their limit, which aligns perfectly with the enthusiasm and passion the Nitto brand stirs with drivers."

Mr Mingay said Nitto was his first choice of tyre.

"When I am on track with my team in front of crowds all over the world drifting, truck jumping and pushing the limits, we are putting our lives on the line. We rely on Nitto tyres to help us go hard and put on the best show we can, and to get us home safely after the show is over," he said.

The www.nittotyre.com.au website is the first dedicated information hub for Nitto tyres locally. Mr Angeles said the site would allow motorists to research the right Nitto tyre for their vehicle and locate their closest dealer with ease.

"Localised online information will make the brand more accessible and the process of tyre purchasing easier and more intuitive for Aussies in every suburb," he said.

The relaunch of Nitto Tyres coincides with a unique "buy 4, get 1 more" promotion across all Nitto SUV and 4x4 tyres that runs through February and March, only at Bob Jane T-Marts outlets.

n upgrade to larger, heavier and faster trains can result in significant construction and maintenance costs to rail infrastructure. Now, a solution may be found through the use of new materials, made largely of old tyres, which will help to improve the performance and reduce the cost of the tracks. That is the objective behind a research project by the University of Wollongong, in conjunction with industry partner Ecoflex, recently funded by Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) and the New South Wales Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

A new Rubber based Energy Absorbing Layer (REAL) is being studied as an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional compacted gravel capping layer for new tracks. The study will look at the opportunity for this material to be used to improve track stability and therefore operational efficiency.

The project is expected to yield information that could help develop a valuable domestic market for recycled end-of-life tyre material. The University of Wollongong research team, led by Professor Buddhima Indraratna, expects to deliver research results by August 2017.

TSA says that it will announce a number of projects either funded through its recent competitive round of funding applications, or cooperatively negotiated with universities, state and federal entities.

The first round of applications closed at the end of 2015 and sought submissions for the allocation of up to $1.6million in research grants with a focus on developing domestic markets for recycled tyre material.

Further funding rounds will be announced during the course of 2016.

Bridgestone MasterClass awards recognise the best of the best B ridgestone Australia has announced the winners of its annual MasterClass awards, recognising retail outlets across the country for their commitment to customer service, safety, compliance, sales, showroom and workshop management and Joanne Denley, Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Director Corporate Services and responsible tyre recycling.

Risk Management; Ashley and Fiona McDougall, owners of Bridgestone Select Coffs Harbour; For the third year in a row, and Andrew Moffatt, Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Bridgestone Select Coffs Harbour won the top honour – being named repeat customers and when you see Bridgestone’s National Franchise of how well Neil and the team treat their the Year and taking home a brand new customers, it’s not hard to understand Toyota Hilux as part of the major prize. why people keep coming back.”

Owner Ashley McDougall said In addition to being named National the win was a testament to the Franchise of the Year, the store was efforts of his team, including also inducted into Bridgestone’s manager Neil McAlpine who has Chairman’s Club – an accolade worked at the store for 38 years. reserved for those stores which deliver “Neil takes a systematic approach the ultimate in customer service, to running the store and does his operational excellence and more. utmost to make each and every Bridgestone Australia and New customer feel at home,” said Ashley.

Zealand Managing Director Andrew Moffatt said the importance of the “90 per cent of business is from

Stuckey Tyre Service, racing since 1972

S

tuckey Tyre Service began selling competition tyres in 1972, and though the operation may have changed over the years the emphasis on supplying the best tyres has not, with 2015 seeing the addition of both Michelin Vintage Tyres and Avon Motorsport Tyres.

“We have been expanding our specialist tyre range for a few years,”

said general manager Russell Stuckey.

“But being awarded the Michelin Vintage Tyre agency in April was the icing on the cake. We now have a range of quality tyres to suit most marques, from current day back to the 1920s, and these include competition use as well as for normal road use.”

Late in 2015, Stuckey Tyre Service was awarded the Avon Motorsport Tyre agency, which includes slicks and treaded tyres for both modern and historic racing classes. “The modern Avon facility at Melksham in the UK

The complete range of Michelin Classic Tyres now available. Fresh stock at competitive prices.

MasterClass program is two-fold.

“Not only do our MasterClass awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our people, but the program is also a vital part of ensuring all our retail outlets across the country maintain the highest standards in all areas of operation,” he said.

“Congratulations to Ashley and his team on being named Bridgestone’s National Franchise of the Year for the third year in a row – it’s an incredible achievement.”

Alongside the national winner, the following stores were announced as Bridgestone’s State Franchise of the Year retail outlets: • Queensland – Bridgestone Select Upper Coomera • South Australia/Northern Territory – Bridgestone Select Aberfoyle Park (SA) • Western Australia – Bridgestone Select Malaga • Victorian/Tasmania – Bridgestone Select Hobart (TAS) • New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory – Coffs Harbour (NSW)

was established in 1981 as a specialist producer of motorsport tyres and now has a wide range of tyres to suit many specialist categories of racing” said Russell. “Our current range includes road legal race tyres, slicks in both bias and radial construction, as well as treaded tyres for historic race cars.”

Stuckey Tyre Service has not changed its commitment to Dunlop Motorsport with new tyres and categories to support, including Toyota’s new 86 Racing Series beginning in 2016.

www.stuckey.com.au www.michelinclassic.com 9

GWS Giants co-captain Callan Ward, coach Leon Cameron, Toyo Tyre & Rubber CEO Michael Rudd and GWS Giants Steve Johnson

GWS Giants co-captain Callan Ward and 2016 recruit

Sponsorship win-win for Western Sydney L eading tyre brand Toyo Tires has announced a multi-million dollar, multi-year co-major partnership deal with rising AFL team the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS. The sponsorship will see the Toyo Tires logo take pride of place around the nation on the team’s guernsey and includes significant signage, branding and activation opportunities across a suite of GIANTS assets.

The partnership forms a major part of Western Sydney-based Toyo Tires’ drive to create safer roads for Australian families.

The partnership commences as the GIANTS prepare to press for a final eight position in their fifth season in the AFL, and as Toyo moves to capture the family-car tyre market.

Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia CEO Michael Rudd said the partnership goes far beyond signage and guernsey rights, demonstrating a new direction for the company and a commitment to supporting tyre retail partners.

“This partnership is good for Toyo, good for footy, the GIANTS and, ultimately, good for our customers,” he said.

“Sport is the campfire around which families gather. AFL is a truly national game with family values complementary to Toyo’s family safety focus, and those of our tyre retail partners.

“AFL provides a year-round window that reaches the heartland of Australia, 10

“Toyo and the GIANTS are both challengers, moving up their respective ranks. The GIANTS have the largest population footprint of any AFL team, and the partnership broadens the appeal of the Toyo brand.” from AusKick to the elite level. It is the sponsorship of choice for successful car brands and with good cause. It is the most searched, most attended and most watched game and its fans are engaged in the new vehicle market, and we want those fans to think Toyo.

“Toyo and the GIANTS are both challengers, moving up their respective ranks. The GIANTS have the largest population footprint of any AFL team, and the partnership broadens the appeal of the Toyo brand.”

Mr Rudd said the sponsorship signifies a push by Toyo to give back to the community.

Steve Johnson with a Toyo Tires Stadium Super Truck

“In 41 years of local history, Toyo Tires has always been headquartered in Western Sydney. Our intention is to add value for GIANTS’ fans and to create safer roads for Australians.

Toyo tyres excel in improving safety and performance, unlocking potential and bringing out the giant in any car.

“With almost 13 million vehicles registered there are over 50 million tyres navigating Australia. Tyres are the one point of contact between the vehicle and the road. With the right information, drivers enhance the safety of their vehicles, and our roads.”

GWS GIANTS CEO David Matthews said the club was delighted to partner with an organisation of Toyo’s standing on the international stage.

“We are thrilled to welcome Toyo Tires, an internationally respected and recognised brand, as our newest co-major partner,” Mr Matthews said.

“The ability to attract brands like Toyo is testament to the GIANTS’ values and commitment to success and a reflection of our ongoing growth and development both on and off the field.

“This partnership represents a clear alignment for both organisations with shared objectives in the Western Sydney community and beyond.

We are proud to partner with an organisation like Toyo who have such a strong community focus and a partnership portfolio that includes some of the biggest sporting organisations in the world.”

The GWS GIANTS join Toyo Tires’ global roster of highly recognised elite sports properties including AC Milan, Leicester City FC, Boston Red Sox, Anaheim Ducks, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Stadium Super Trucks and motorsport series around the world.

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THE OFFICIAL TYRE

Co-founder and Director of Klinge & Co, Tom Klinge

THE ATD INTERVIEW: TOM KLINGE Tom Klinge has been involved in the tyre industry for more than 40 years. Beginning his career as a tyre fitter in a small Queensland country town, he has, through family-owned company Klinge & Co., taken his passion for the business, and his visionary and innovative ideas on tyre management and industry safety, to the global stage, counting some of the world's biggest companies as customers.

P

assion, drive, commitment - words and attributes that any business owner would recognise as being fundamental to their success.

And they are words that come up several times during ATD’s conversation with Tom Klinge, co-founder and director of Klinge & Co - a tyre service, training, software and consulting company based in Brisbane.

Long established as one of the world’s leaders in tyre management systems and services, Klinge & Co.’s customers include global mining, construction and transport companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Fortescue and there are more than 200 Klinge employees servicing those customers across the globe.

It has been quite a journey for Tom who, along with wife Dianne, co-founded the business in 1971. It has seen 12

“When we started, we had a vision of where the business would go and we get a great deal of satisfaction watching the growth of the people within the company.” him move from being a tyre fitter working at a Goodyear dealership in the country Queensland town of St George, to running a company with a global presence and, on the way, influencing the industry to such a degree that the

Following a move to Brisbane in 1971, and an enlightening conversation with a customer, Tom and Dianne started Klinge & Co., their company which would concentrate on clients that used larger tyre sizes.

Working for a local tyre business at the time, Tom arrived at the customer’s depot later than expected and was told by the client that they wouldn’t mind paying for what had traditionally been a free service, as long as they could get that service at a time convenient to them.

“Dianne and I talked about this, and we really didn’t have much to lose,” says Tom of the conversation that spurred them to found Klinge & Co. “The idea was that we wouldn’t sell tyres but would maintain them. We would rotate them, ensure they were removed at the right time for re-treading – basically

“The idea was that we wouldn’t sell tyres but would maintain them.

We would rotate them, ensure they were removed at the right time for re-treading – basically do everything so the tyres lasted longer and worked better for the people who owned them.” international Tire Industry Association (TIA), in November 2015, presented him with the ‘Ed Wagner Leadership Award’ – a prestigious award recognising the positive influence and impact he has had on the industry.

Tom is the first Australian to be so honoured and in acknowledging his contributions, the TIA recognised him as an ‘innovator and active visionary with a passion for safety’, as well as ‘a pioneer and key innovator in electronic tyre management’ whose product, the Total Tyre Control software technology, is ‘recognised as the standard within the industry’.

“The award came as quite a surprise,” says Tom. “I got the news in an email from the the TIA in October and I just kept reading and reading it! There had been no rumours, no anything, so it was a total surprise.

“However, while my name is on the award, and I am certainly very proud to be the first Australian to receive it, I think it really is an award for all of us here at the company.

“When we started, we had a vision of where the business would go and we get a great deal of satisfaction watching the growth of the people within the company.”

The Klinge & Co. story starts in St George, a small, rural country town 500km west of Brisbane, where Tom scored a job with the local Goodyear dealership and found he relished the work, particularly when working with larger tyres.

“During my time there, the Queensland government began building the E.J. Beardmore Dam and, as a result, large earthmoving equipment came to St George,” he says. “And I really enjoyed working on the large tyres, the OTR tyres. In fact, the bigger the better!”

do everything so the tyres lasted longer and worked better for the people who owned them. That was the vision for the company then, and still is to this day.”

Within a few years, the hard-working couple had secured a number of big-name customers and, in 1975, clinched their first mine-site contract.

It would mark a major turning point for the business.

“It was a very exciting time when we secured the deal with the BHP Gemco Groote Eylandt Mining Company in the Northern Territory,” says Tom. “And it was there that we realised we needed software to be able to track and report on the life and the performance of individual tyres.

“I remember calling Dianne on the radio-phone – and back then you had to book three weeks in advance to use that radio-phone! – and discussing the fact that the manual method of tyre record cards was slowing us down.

“Knowing Dianne was good with computers, I asked her if there was a way we could track the tyres when they go into service, and then record for our customers the efficiencies we were providing.

“It was then, on that day, that we decided on Total Tyre Control.”

Today, after 40 years of development, Total Tyre Control (TTC), and its add-on features, is considered the standard for computerised tyre management systems (TMS), allowing tyre dealers, repairers, re-treaders and tyre owners to track information about their tyres in real-time. continued on page 14

13

“Depending on where you are in the business determines what you’ll get from Total Tyre Control,” says Tom. “If you’re a tyre manufacturer, you have the information coming back to your R&D people. If you’re a tyre dealer you can use the information gathered on the performance of the tyres to do projections on when tyres will need to be replaced, meaning better planning and budgeting.

The same goes for the repairer and re-treader.

“Training is very important. . .

We are, in fact, a Registered Training Organisation in Australia and train servicemen in other countries as part of our consultancy work.”

“With such high-integrity information, customers can see exactly what is happening, they can budget better, be safer, and run their business better.”

The system is constantly evolving to embrace the demands of customers for mobility, as well as to incorporate the advantages of other new technologies - such as tyre pressure monitoring systems, where information comes directly from sensors built into the tyre. And as the benefits of the system become clearer to other industries, so the demand for Total Tyre Control is growing.

“The quarrying, ports and construction type businesses are saying they now have a need for the TMS system,” says

Tom. “So, that is where our focus is - on mobility, on using technology such as the Cloud to enable customers to track any number of vehicles they wish, from one to 1000.”

Along with the hi-tech TTC system, Klinge & Co. also provides tyre service training – an area that has been crucial to Tom since he started in the industry.

“Training is very important,” he says. “We are, in fact, a Registered Training Organisation in Australia and train servicemen in other countries as part of our consultancy work.

“Back in 1987, I was President of the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association and was pushing for higher levels of training,” adds Tom. “Bob Hawke had introduced the Priority One scheme, which was aimed at training the Australian workforce, and a few of us in Queensland put together a curriculum for the training of tyre servicemen. It was very successful and we were able to put hundreds of people through that program.

“Sadly, after a few years, the political will disappeared and the program went with it. However, we kept developing it and using it ourselves and in 2003 we gifted that program to the Tire Industry Association. Now, it is known as the TIA 200 Level Basic Earthmover Tire Service Training Program and it is used in a number of countries and is available in a number of languages.”

After forty years of running the business - during which time he also received life membership to the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association - Tom and Dianne are bringing the next generation of managers through to help guide Klinge & Co. And the family-owned company will still have members of the family at its head.

“From my perspective, our success has come because of Tom and his passion for tyres and the industry. . . That passion has been the driving force.”

“Dianne and I are taking a more ‘helicopter view’ of the business these days,” says Tom. “But our eldest son, Russell, is now the General Manager, and our youngest son, Alex, who is a certified earthmover tyre fitter, is involved in the development of our software as well as the marketing and research of the latest mobile systems. Our daughter also plays a role in the business - Klinge & Co. is a real family affair."

Though the next generation is now involved with the company, it’s going to take a bit to slow Tom down. He is still involved with a number of industry associations and committees, in Australia and overseas, and his enthusiasm and drive to do the best for his customers and the industry is as evident now as it was when the company started.

As Tom's wife Dianne explains: “From my perspective, our success has come because of Tom and his passion for tyres and the industry," she says. "That passion has been the driving force.”

You can learn more about the Total Tyre Control system and Klinge & Co. at www.klinge.com.au

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Cooper Tires awarded for best rubber on the road C Matt LeBlanc to co-host revamped Top Gear

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op Gear, the mega-popular British motoring program, has announced its new line-up of hosts.

Presenting duties will be shared by seven hosts, and a couple of them are very recognisable names indeed.

Joining British TV and radio personality Chris Evans and the anonymous 'Stig' will be Matt LeBlanc, who achieved worldwide fame playing the character of Joey Tribbiani on the US sitcom Friends, and who is, apparently, a bit of a petrolhead as well as a selfconfessed fan of the UK program.

Fellow hosts will be former Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan, German racing drive Sabine Schmitz and motoring journalists Chris Harris and Rory Reid.

“As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter,” said LeBlanc. “What a thrill!”

Chris Evans said of his new Top Gear team: “We really do have a bit of everything for everyone. A fellow lifelong petrolhead from the other side of the pond in Matt; a fearless speed-demon in the irrepressible and effervescent Sabine; the encyclopedic, funny and wonderfully colourful character that is EJ; Chris, one of the world’s top no-nonsense car reviewers; and Rory, who simply blew me away in his audition and fully deserves his place on the team."

The new Top Gear is due to arrive on screens in May.

ooper Tires have been recognised at the 2015 Good Design Awards for four of their products including the Discoverer STT PRO and the Discoverer SRX which are sold nationally by Brisbane based Exclusive Tyre Distributors.

Exclusive Tyre Distributors General Manager Steve Vickers said the Good Design Award winners are selected from several thousand entries from nearly 50 countries.

“The Award is based on criteria including innovative design, new technologies, form, materials, construction, concept, function, utility, energy efficiency, and sensitivity to the environment.

“Cooper Tires is a 100-year-old business and their experience in delivering a range of quality products to the global tyre market is second to none. The SRX is part of the Cooper Tires SUV vehicle range which have one of the highest UTQG (Uniform Tyre Quality Grading) in Australia and these awards further enhances Cooper Tires position of delivering tyres that are generations ahead of other leading brands,” said Mr Vickers.

The Discoverer STT PRO caters for the serious off road driver while the Discoverer SRX is ideal for SUV class vehicles.

“We didn’t want to rely on what Cooper Tires told us about their products, we really wanted to test them ourselves under extreme Australian conditions so we could be authentic when we talked to our clients about these tyres,” said Mr Vickers.

“Our team took the STT PRO to a number of remote locations including the Kimberly and Central Queensland and it’s clear that these tyres were designed for serious off-roaders who love mud, gravel and rocks because there was a lot less chipping of the tyres as well as wear and tear and yet there was still a great level of comfort while driving.

“The SRX is where there is the greatest level of growth in the tyre

Exclusive Tyre Distributors General Manager Steve Vickers

market and its design ensures the tyre handles the wet better than its competition as it ‘sticks’ to the road a lot better while still being very quiet while driving. There’s also an 80,000 km warranty so it’s a great investment for families knowing their tyres are covered for three to four years,” Mr Vickers said.

An added bonus is the innovative Coopers’ ‘wear square’, a visual tread wear indicator that gives consumers a convenient way to gauge the amount of wear on the tread of the tyre.

“There are markers on the inside and outside edges of the tyre’s tread in four separate locations and by simply looking at the ‘wear square’ indicator, drivers can gauge its wear and tear.

“Not only is this a great tool from a safety point of view it can also help indicate when buyers need to start budgeting for new tyres as well as a wheel alignment or any other front end or mechanical issues,” he said.

Cooper Tires senior vice president– global research and development Chuck Yurkovich said having four outstanding products achieve the Good Design Award is a testament to Cooper's commitment to providing high quality products.

“Our products are continuing to receive very positive reviews, and this is further validation that the work Cooper has been doing to create innovative products that perform is being recognised.”

More information on the tyres and the retailer network is available at www.coopertires.com.au 15

Showdown in

MOTOWN T

HE NORTH AMERICAN International Auto Show (NAIAS), held each year in Detroit, is one of the world’s most famous and grandest motor shows. With a history that runs back more than 100 years, it is a major draw card for global automakers to show off their latest and greatest creations, and now attracts nearly 1million visitors, and more than 5000 journalists, to America’s ‘Motor City’.

The January 2016 edition of the Show proved to be as popular with the public and industry as ever, with dozens of vehicles, as well as next-generation products and technologies, making their debuts. Here are a few of the announcements and reveals from this year’s show.

ACURA PRECISION A look at the future for the luxury arm of Honda, the Precision concept was designed around the company’s new theme of ‘Precision Crafted Performance’.

Acura says this means ‘a renewed commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every facet of the product experience and creating a powerful and very exciting direction for the next generation of Acura models.’

Nice words, and the athletic and powerful-looking exterior design, coupled to a hi-tech and futuristic interior, does indeed make the Precision concept very appealing.

AUDI H-TRON CONCEPT The Audi H-Tron Quattro concept has an all-electric drive using hydrogen as its energy source. The unit delivers up to 110 kW with a battery providing a further temporary boost of up to 100 kW. Electric motors sit on the front and rear axles and power the H-Tron from 0 to 100 km/h in under seven seconds. Three hydrogen tanks are located beneath the floor of the passenger and luggage compartment and Audi says the hydrogen tanks can be refueled safely and easily in around four minutes and offer a range of up to 600kms.

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KIA TELLURIDE Kia’s full-size SUV concept – a three-row, seven-passenger luxury liner - is a pretty bold entry by the South Korean company. Highlighting their interest in offering a premium SUV model, the Telluride is stuffed with hi-tech equipment, including, rather amazingly, sensors embedded in the seats that monitor the occupants’ vital signs and then displays that info on the door panels.

The Telluride is powered by a PHEV powertrain, and the combination of a 3.5-litre V6 engine and powerful electric motor gives the SUV 400hp while achieving an economy of 9.5l/100km.

BUICK AVISTA A real head-turner from Buick, the Avista has already caused whispers amongst the motoring media that it may appear in Australia as the new Holden Monaro. A design award winner at the Detroit show, the Avista certainly looks muscular and powerful, and its 3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine powers the two-plus-two rear-drive coupe with 400hp of grunt.

MERCEDES E-CLASS THE NEW MERCEDES E-Class looks like it will be one of the most advanced machines on the road and the model revealed in Detroit is stacked so full of technology that it makes it closer to being an autonomous vehicle than almost anything before it.

The list of hi-tech systems in the car is astonishing and includes PRE-SAFE® Sound - a system that emits a short interference signal through the vehicle's sound system if the risk of a collision is detected.

Active Brake Assist is also fitted as standard. The system is able to warn the driver of impending crash situations, provide just the right level of support during emergency braking and, if necessary, also apply the brakes automatically. In addition to slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles, it can also detect pedestrians crossing within the area ahead of the vehicle.

Additional standard equipment includes Attention Assist, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness; and Crosswind Assist, which can help the driver by substantially mitigating the effects of strong crosswinds to prevent the vehicle from drifting too far off track.

Other highlights of the optional Driver Assistance Package Plus include Drive Pilot which is not only able to automatically maintain the selected distance from the vehicle in front, but can also follow the traffic in front at speeds of up to 130 mph. Another feature, Steering Pilot, can continue to actively intervene by taking account of surrounding vehicles and parallel structures.

Additional features include Remote Parking Pilot which allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely using a smartphone app.

The company says the E-Class will also have the world's first fully integral Car-to-X solution to go into series production. The mobile phonesupported exchange of information with other vehicles further ahead on the road can effectively allow the driver to ‘see around corners’. continued on page 18

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VLF AUTOMOTIVE FORCE 1 A creation by legendary designer Henrik Fisker, the two-seat Force 1 is a high-performance, low-production sports car, manufactured by the newly launched VLF Automotive. And it is a real beast of a supercar.

Featuring an all carbon fibre, lightweight body and 21-inch wheels fitted with high-performance Pirelli P Zero tyres, the car has a 745HP, 8.4-litre V10 engine buried beneath its striking exterior. That engine can propel the car to a top speed of 350km/h and to 100km/h in 3 seconds. Limited numbers of the Force 1 V10 will be produced and start at a base price of $US268,500.

TOYOTA MIRAI KYMETA TOYOTA DISPLAYED A research car, based on the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, equipped with satellite communications technology from Kymeta, a US-based company that is 'the world leader in flat-panel antenna technology'.

Toyota is working to enhance its connected technologies and is considering using satellite communications in the future, The company says that while these satellites have historically required the use of a “dish” antenna on the ground, Kymeta’s satellite antennas remove the need for mechanical components by using software and liquid crystal technologies to electronically track and steer towards satellites. The company says that satellite communications offer several key benefits to meet automotive needs, including: 1. the distribution of huge amounts of data to a vehicle 2. broad coverage areas and the global deployment of connected vehicles that share common standards across national borders, and 3. more stable and secure communications, particularly in emergencies such as natural disasters.

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AUDI LUNAR QUATTRO IT’S NOT A vehicle you would expect to see at one of the world’s most important car shows, but Audi did reveal a rather special little vehicle - the Lunar Quattro. The company is assisting the Berlin-based engineering group Part-Time Scientists in the Google Lunar XPRIZE – a competition organised for engineers and business enterprises worldwide which offers approximately $30 million in prize money. To win, a team needs to transport an automated vehicle to the moon and, once there, the rover must drive at least 500m and transmit high-resolution images and video footage back to Earth.

For power, the Lunar Quattro uses a swiveling solar panel to generate electricity which is fed to a lithium-ion battery that powers the four wheel hub motors. All four of the wheels can be rotated 360 degrees.

NISSAN IDS CONCEPT Making its US debut at Detroit, Nissan says the IDS is ‘a vision of the future of autonomous driving and zero emission EVs’ and will, according to CEO Carlos Ghosn, “revolutionise the relationship between car and driver, and future mobility." An example of this, the company says, is shown through the Piloted Drive function. When the driver selects Piloted Drive and turns over driving to the vehicle, the car's performance — from accelerating to braking to cornering — imitates the driver's own style and preferences. In Manual Drive mode the driver has control but the Nissan IDS Concept continues to provide assistance. Sensors continually monitor conditions and, in the event of imminent danger, will assist the driver in taking evasive action. The company says that, in addition to its learning prowess, the IDS Concept's Artificial Intelligence (AI) ‘communicates like an attentive partner’ to ‘create a driving experience that is comfortable, enjoyable and safe’.

LEXUS LC 500 Powered by the proven 5.0-litre V8 found in the RC F and GS F, the LC 500 is the first Lexus to use the brand’s all-new, premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform. The coupe shares many of the design cues of the LF-LC concept revealed four years ago in Detroit and there’s no denying the low, wide stance gives the car an attractive and aggressive look. The LC 500 boasts the Lexus Safety System+ which integrates several of of the company’s active safety technologies: an All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (All-speed DRCC), a Pre-Collision System (PCS) , and Lane Keep Assist (LKA).

19

AUTO NEWS

Last Land Rover Defenders roll off the production line T

he iconic Land Rover Defender, the tough as nails off-roader that has been grinding its way through the world’s harshest environments for 68 years, has finally reached the end of its production run with the last of the current Defenders rolling out of the famous Solihull, UK, factory in January.

To mark the occasion, Land Rover invited more than 700 current and former Solihull employees involved in the production of Series Land Rover and Defender vehicles to see and drive some of the most important vehicles from its history, including the first pre-production ‘Huey’ Series I as well as the last vehicle off the production line, a Defender 90 Heritage Soft Top. At the same time, Land Rover announced a new Heritage Restoration Program, which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line. A team of experts, including some long serving Defender employees, will

oversee the restoration of a number of Series Land Rovers sourced from across the globe. The first vehicles will go on sale in July 2016.

“Today we celebrate what generations of men and women have done since the outline for the Land Rover was originally drawn in the sand,” said Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover. “The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes the world a better place, often in some of the most extreme circumstances. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Defender, among all our employees, but this is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion, and a wonderful future to look forward to.”

More than two million Series Land Rovers and Defenders (a name the vehicle was given in 1990) have been built since 1948.

The last Land Rover Defender coming off the production line at Solihull

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MotorWorld Sydney motoring festival officially launched

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he new five-day MotorWorld Sydney motoring festival, to be held at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek, from November 30 to December 4, 2016 was launched at the beginning of February by Stuart Ayres, NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism & Major Events and Minister for Sport.

With as many as 100,000 national and international visitors expected to attend the event, MotorWorld Sydney could become Australia’s biggest driving experience, with visitors having the opportunity to test-drive cars on track, road or off-road circuits. Close to 20,000 test drive opportunities will be on offer over the five days.

Organisers said that the event had already proven to be a popular initiative with automotive industry leaders and media partners, with major brands expressing strong interest in participating. They are expected to be joined by aftermarket suppliers, retailers, and service and lifestyle companies. Other unique elements of the event are the educational program, the VIP hospitality concept as well as an extensive family entertainment offering.

“Today’s vehicle buyers want to be informed and entertained at the same time,” said Kris Willand, Managing Director of MotorWorld Sydney. “Our main target will be families and our focus will be on giving them a chance to test drive vehicles on street, track or off-road circuits.

A quality entertainment and edutainment program will ensure all members of the family will have a great day out.”

Ford unveils Falcon Sprint models F ord’s new limited-edition, highperformance Falcon Sprint series is here and will be available to fans of the blue oval from May 2016.

A total of just 1400 limited edition Falcon Sprints will be built with 550 being XR6 Sprints and 850 XR8 Sprints. New Zealand will be allocated 150 cars – 50 XR6 Sprints and 100 XR8 Sprints.

Each will receive numbered build plates for each model – located on the engine.

“We’re excited to be able to offer our Falcon enthusiasts a car that truly represents the performance DNA of Ford,” said Graeme Whickman, Ford President and CEO. “The Falcon chassis is recognised for its refined ride and fantastic Ford Falcon Sprint balance but our dedicated product development engineers have taken the opportunity to further hone the bespoke Sprint calibrated version Falcon’s dynamic package – ride, of Ford’s 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 body control and performance of that develops 345 kW @ 5,750 rpm the six-cylinder turbo and V8. and 575 Nm @ 2,220-6,250 rpm.

“We think customers will The XR6 Sprint is also a performance really appreciate the amount of powerhouse, developing 325 kW @ dedication and work that’s gone 6,000 rpm and 576 Nm @ 2,750 rpm. into this limited-edition series.”

Both engines benefit from a ‘transient At the core of the Sprint are Ford’s turbocharged 4.0 in-line six cylinder and overboost function’ that provides extra acclaimed Supercharged 5.0-litre V8. performance for up to 10 seconds if The XR8 Sprint will be powered by a conditions allow, specifically intake air

temperature under normal operation.

The Falcon XR Sprint series will be available as an automatic Turbocharged six-cylinder, while the Supercharged V8 will be available with either a manual and automatic transmission.

Manufacturers List Pricing: Falcon XR6 Sprint $54,990 Falcon XR8 Sprint Manual $59,990 Falcon XR8 Sprint Auto $62,190.

BMW i8 the world’s highest-selling hybrid sports car

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MW has reported that global sales of the i8 hybrid reached 5,456 units last year, making the sleek and powerful sports car the best-selling vehicle of its kind.

Powered by the combination of a three-cylinder turbocharged engine and an electric drive system, BMW claims the i8’s plug-in hybrid technology delivers system output of 266 kW with combined fuel consumption of 2.1 litres/100 km.

“The success of the BMW i8 speaks for itself,” said Ian Robertson, BMW

has comfortably exceeded our own expectations. I can think of no better illustration of the relevance of our young BMW i brand.”

The home for the German company’s hybrid and all-electric vehicles, sales for i brand models have been solid. In 2015, sales of the all-electric i3 and hybrid i8 were around 66 per cent up on the previous year with a total of 29,513 deliveries. BMW i currently offers the i3 in a total of 36 countries.

BMW i8

AG Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “It is already the world’s most successful hybrid sports car and

21

PRODUCTS

Narva 'Spot-On' with new Blue-Spot L.E.D safety light

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arva has launched a new ‘Blue Spot’ L.E.D safety light.

The company says the new light is ideal for fitment to forklifts, and other similar equipment used in materials handling applications, for warning pedestrians and other equipment of an approaching forklift. While reversing alarms are already mandated on such equipment, Narva says that in loud and busy working environments such as factories and warehouses, the alarm can be lost amongst the noise.

With a concentrated light projection, the Narva’s Blue-Spot safety light can be easily mounted to the forklift’s

protective roof frame, casting a strong beam approximately 500mm at 5 metres onto the floor ahead, warning others of the intended driving path.

The new safety addition is particularly valuable to anyone crossing from a blind angle such as in between racking in front of an oncoming forklift.

The 9-110 volt light features two XP-E 3 watt L.E.Ds and is programmed to be a constant beam. Despite its strong light output it boasts compact dimensions of 100mm H x 122mm W x 82mm D. The light has a very low current draw (0.4A at 12V and 0.2A at 24V) plus the benefit of exceptionally long service life.

For ease of fitment and durability, stainless steel mounting hardware is also included as standard.

The Blue-Spot L.E.D safety light is supported by a 5-Year L.E.D Narva warranty.

Already widely used in the USA and Europe, the new Narva Blue-Spot lights are available in Australia from leading automotive, transport and warehousing outlets.

100 executives from across the world participating in the event.

The 300 millionth

commemorative golden clutch cover was produced at the newly constructed automated manufacturing clutch cover assembly line in Japan. The clutch cover was signed by company President Hidehito Hisakawa and by the other presidents of other production locations.

Similar commemorative events were carried out at other clutch manufacturing plants in the USA, Hungary, Thailand, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan.

The 9-110 volt light features two potent XP-E 3 watt L.E.Ds and is programmed to be a constant beam.

EXEDY celebrates 300 million Clutch covers produced

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n December 1, 2015, EXEDY celebrated the production of 300 Million Clutch Cover units. The company – the world’s largest OEM clutch manufacturer for Japanese vehicles, as well as a supplier to Ford and GM – celebrated the milestone at its headquarters in Japan with over

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GearWrench launches multi-function ratchet

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earWrench has launched the Quarter Inch Drive, Compact Multi-Function Ratchet (MFR), for almost all mechanical occasions.

The MFR dual-flex head has been designed to get into awkward spots ordinary ratchet wrenches can’t. This is because the MFR can be locked into 7 different positions and unlocked for angled access. The ratchet has a slim-line quarter-inch drive on one end and a quarter-inch hex bit-driver and holder on the other.

The GearWrench thumb-wheel allows the user to start and turn loose fasteners with speed and accuracy. GearWrench says the MFR has exceeded torque requirement standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Other features of the MFR include a 72-tooth count, quickrelease drive tool retention and a full polish chrome finish.

The Quarter Inch Drive Compact Multi-Function Ratchet is available now in two different sizes and as a part of a kit.

• ¼” Drive Compact MultiFunction Ratchet 5-¾” - RRP $69 • ¼” Drive Long Multi-Function Ratchet 12” - RRP $78 • 43 Pc. ¼" Drive Multi-Function Ratchet Set - RRP $179 Set Includes: • 81018 Compact Ratchet • 81019 Long Ratchet • 4 ¼” Drive extension • ¼” Drive Sockets: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13mm • Screwdriver Bit Box with 30 Pc For more information on the entire range of GearWrench products head to www.gearwrench.com.au

New Projecta Workshop Battery Manager T he diverse nature of today's vehicles sees them use a variety of different battery types, including deep cycle, AGM, Gel, Calcium, Marine, Stop/Start and Starting, often requiring workshops use a number of battery chargers/managers to best suit the various requirements.

Projecta’s new HDBM4000, 8-stage 6/12/24V 3-40A workshop battery manager addresses this by catering to all the mentioned vehicle and battery types in a single unit, providing an all-in-one solution for battery testing, charging and maintenance.

Projecta says the unit is simple to use, and once connected to the battery the HDBM4000 automatically sets an ideal charge rate (3-40A) and is also manually adjustable if required.

With multi-chemistry battery selection, including a cold temperature mode, the advanced eight-stage charging program can help rejuvenate sulphated batteries and remove acid stratification from calcium batteries, ensuring a full charge and optimum battery condition.

As well as its superior charging functions, the HDBM4000 analyses overall battery condition, testing charge level and starting capacity while also checking for alternator faults.

The company says that, as a power source, it can deliver clear and stable

Projecta HDBM4000, 8-stage 6/12/24V 3-40A workshop battery manager

power during diagnostic testing ensuring accurate readings and if battery placement is needed, it maintains a constant voltage to ensure vehicle memory settings are retained.

The HDBM4000 also has an engine start mode which delivers a short and powerful charge that can have a vehicle ready to start in five minutes, while a ‘showroom mode’ allows the unit to operate silently if charging at night or in a quiet environment.

All functions are controlled via simple three button operation, with a large and easy-to-read LCD interface displaying all operational information for the technician.

The unit comes standard with three metre leads and battery clamps, but longer leads of six metres and ten metres are available.

The unit can be purchased at all leading transport, automotive and 4WD outlets throughout Australia.

Versatile, portable compressor from Cooldrive

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oolDrive Distribution has added to its range a highly-versatile compressor from Jaylec, ideal for off-road, camping and home use.

The company say the 12 volt, 150psi Jaylec Portable Compressor can be used in serious off-road conditions, when tyres need re-inflating after traversing sandy or muddy terrain, or at home inflating footballs and pool toys. Designed to be fully portable, it is powered off a 12V battery via the included heavy-duty alligator

clamps. Alternatively, the Jaylec Portable Compressor can be hardwired and permanently mounted.

The company say the unit is practical and easily maintained thanks to an oil-less motor, automatic thermal cut-out switch, a 45Amp circuit breaker with reset button, and easily cleaned air filter.

Other practical features include a metal sand tray base with anti-vibration rubber feet and a three-piece inflation adapter kit.

23

MOTORSPORTS

Ogier takes another victory at Rally Sweden J ust two races into the 2016 World Rally Championship season and there is already the whiff of inevitability about yet another championship for the astonishing team of Sebastien Ogier/ Julien Ingrassia.

After taking the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia won again at Rally Sweden in January, the pair followed up in The duo’s lead was cut to less the Rally of Sweden with an than 10 seconds on day two of imperious display in the Polo R the rally when they were faced WRC car, taking their third win in with the the challenge of opening four years at the classic meeting. the route on roads covered with The reigning world champion a layer of fresh snow, sweeping drove his Volkswagen Polo R the road clear for the following to a 29.8sec victory to add to cars. New Zealand ace Hayden his 2013 and 2015 triumphs.

Paddon made things very Ogier also claimed full bonus interesting by taking 23 seconds points for winning the final out of Ogier’s lead and leaving Power Stage and after two of the himself just 8.8 seconds adrift of 14 rounds the Frenchman has maximum championship points. the Frenchman at one point.

Ogier, however, kept his cool to take the victory.

The sense of invincibility about Ogier and Ingrassia continues to grow and the pair have been at the top of the championship almost continuously since February 2013.

Victory at the 2016 Rally Sweden saw the reigning champions pull 23 points clear of their team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger in the Championship race.

“Winning in Sweden again is an incredible feeling. I just love this rally,” said Ogier. “The conditions were far from ideal at the start of the week after the thawing and all the rain, which makes it all the more pleasing that we eventually had a really good, wintery Rally Sweden. Yesterday, we probably had to take the greatest risk of our career in order to win. It paid off, and I am just really happy.”

BFGoodrich Tires becomes exclusive tyre supplier for Red Bull Global Rallycross

have racked up a long list of championship victories.

The BFGoodrich brand has delivered more championships in world-class desert racing than any other tyre manufacturer over the past four decades, including 27 overall wins in the famous Baja 1000.

“The BFGoodrich brand is a critical part of the Groupe Michelins success in motorsports.

The brand is key in how we use competition both to engage our consumers and to develop new products,” said Scott Clark, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Michelin North America.

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ed Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) and BFGoodrich Tires have announced a multiyear agreement that will see BFGoodrich become the official tyre supplier for the Red Bull GRC series. The agreement will commence immediately in preparation for the opening race of the 2016 Red Bull GRC season in May, and covers both the Supercar and GRC Lites classes.

“We are extremely excited to partner with BFGoodrich as 24

our exclusive tyre supplier in Red Bull GRC competition,” said Red Bull Global Rallycross CEO Colin Dyne. “BFGoodrich’slegacy, both in and out of motorsport, is second to none, and we look forward to working with them as one of our most integral partners beginning with this season.”

Groupe Michelin has made a long and successful commitment to worldwide motorsport and its two global brands, Michelin and BFGoodrich,

Robby Gordon flys down pit straight in 2015

Toyo Tires jump at Super Truck sophomores T

oyo Tires has confirmed naming rights sponsorship of the Toyo Tires Stadium Super Trucks at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, for the second consecutive year.

Running March 3-6, the Clipsal 500 event will see a full competition round of the Toyo Tires Stadium Super Trucks duked out on the Adelaide street circuit.

Led by motorsport maestro Robby Gordon, the full field of Stadium Super Trucks Robby Gordon showing a group of Toyo dealers the details of a stadium super truck race exclusively on Toyo Tires Open Country A/T II. Available to the public through Toyo Tires retailers, the all-terrain tyre features improved wear and puncture resistance, with an aggressive tread pattern and innovative compound providing superior grip in on and off-road applications.

Toyo Tires Stadium Super Trucks will see high profile local and international drivers trade paint in the high powered on and off-road trucks. During competition drivers exceed speeds of 240 kilometres per hour, with ramps launching trucks five metres into the air and 40 metres down track.

“Stadium Super Trucks is harsh on tyres and the Open Country A/T II tyres take everything we can throw at them.

There isn't much I haven't put these tyres through.”

SST founder, seven-time off-road world champion and Team Toyo stalwart Robby Gordon is excited to relaunch the series in Adelaide.

"The Clipsal 500 is one of the biggest and best entertainment events in Australia, so for us it was a perfect fit,” he said.

"Stadium Super Trucks is harsh on tyres and the Open Country A/T II tyres take everything we can throw at them. There isn't much I haven't put these tyres through."

Toyo Tyres Australia marketing manager Jose Angeles said audiences love the drama of Stadium Super Trucks, with the series bolstering the credentials of the Open Country A/TII tyre.

“Race speeds, drifting, two wheeling, jumps, rolls. These guys are doing it all and the crowd loves it. There is nothing that comes close to SST anywhere in the world and we are proud to have an off-the-shelf tyre standing up to the abuse race after race.”

Toyo's Open Country A/T II is available now in 38 sizes with an expanding range - most available in a light-truck construction.

25

MOTORSPORTS

Tekno Autosports' McLaren secures historic clean sweep on Bathurst 12 hour debut S

hane Van Gisbergen, Alvaro Parente, and Jonathon Webb, driving the #59 McLaren 650S GT3 for the Tekno Autosports team, won the 2016 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12-hour race, the first race of the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge.

And they did so in spectacular fashion, taking the McLaren on its debut competitive outing on Mount Panorama and promptly claiming a clean sweep over the course with pole position, fastest lap, overall race win and a new lap record.

Starting in the dark, the race set

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“I knew that the tyres would be good, but I didn’t think they would be that good! . . .

The car was the fastest all weekend: any time I needed a gap, I just stuck the knife in!”

off at a quick pace with Van Gisbergen starting strongly in his opening stint.

From there, the racing built on the expectations shown in qualifying, and ensured the crowds were kept guessing right up until the chequered flag fell.

In clear air and with no traffic, Van Gisbergen opened up a strong lead in his opening spell, setting a new official course lap record of 2m 01.567s, and the pitstop strategy saw the #59 car maintain a top six position over the following few hours, with Factory Driver Parente and Tekno team owner Webb both running consistently quick

laps. An electrical systems reset briefly brought the team's sprint to the flag to a halt on the start / finish straight, but the car was quickly back up and running with minimal time lost.

The hard-charging second spell

by Parente saw the Portuguese driver stay in touch with the leaders, and Webb maintained position before handing over to Van Gisbergen in P4 for the final stint.

A well-calculated strategy ensured the #59 car was able to leapfrog the leaders as they were forced to stop for fuel to ensure they would reach the finish. As the clock reached 12 hours, Van Gisbergen managed the gap to the chasing pack, crossing the line with a winning margin of 1.276 seconds from the fast-finishing Nissan of Katsumasa Chiyo.

The winning GT3 ran on the latest evolution of Pirelli’s medium compound DMC P Zero tyre, which demonstrated performance and consistency throughout a

“Winners of the Bathurst 12 Hour – that is something that will take a little while to sink in . . . It is a great result for McLaren and massive for Tekno, especially as it was our debut outing together.” wide range of temperatures.

“I knew that the tyres would be good, but I didn’t think they would be that good!” said Van Gisbergen, who scored perhaps his own biggest career success to date. “The car was the fastest all weekend: any time I needed a gap, I just stuck the knife in!”

The race result, at one of the world’s toughest endurance events, marks the continued success for the 650S GT3 at the highest levels of GT racing across the world.

“Winners of the Bathurst 12 Hour – that is something that will take a little while to sink in,” said Jonathon Webb, team owner of Tekno Autosports.

“It is a great result for McLaren and massive for Tekno, especially as it was our debut outing together.

“We faced some real challenges over the course of the weekend, but we pulled together and I am really proud of the guys who have worked faultlessly to achieve this result. Any endurance race is a true challenge, and it is not an easy race to win first time out – you just have to look at the quality of the competition and how close the racing was from the first to the last minute.”

The next round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge takes place at SpaFrancorchamps in Belgium in July.

27

MOTORSPORTS

Motorsport calendar 2016

FORMULA ONE Australia Bahrain China Russia Spain Monaco Canada Europe Austria Britain Hungary Germany Belgium Italy Singapore Malaysia Japan USA Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

Albert Park Bahrain International Circuit Shanghai International Circuit Sochi International Street Circuit Catalunya Monaco Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve Baku Street Circuit, Azerbaijan Red Bull Ring Silverstone Hungaroring Hockenheimring Spa-Francorchamps Monza Marina Bay Street Circuit Sepang Suzuka Circuit of the Americas Autodromo Rosendo Hernandez Interlagos Yas Marina Circuit

March 18-20 April 1-3 April 15-17 April 29-May 1 May 13-15 May 26-29 June 10-12 June 17-19 July 1-3 July 8-10 July 22-24 July 29-31 August 26-28 Sept 2-4 Sept 16-18 Sept 3-Oct 2 Oct 7-9 Oct 21-23 Oct 28-30 Nov 11-13 Nov 25-27

Losail Circuit Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit of the Americas Jerez Le Mans Mugello

Mar 17-20 Apr 1-3 April 8-10 Apr 22-24 May 6-8 May 20-22

MOTOGP Qatar Argentina Americas Spain France Italy 28

Spain Netherlands Germany Austria Czech Republic Britain San Marino Aragon (Spain) Japan Australia Malaysia Valencia (Spain)

Catalunya Assen Sachsenring Red Bull Ring Automotodrom Brno Silverstone Misano Motorland Aragon Twin Ring Motegi Phillip Island Sepang Valencia

June 3-5 June 24-26 July 15-17 Aug 12-14 Aug 19-21 Sept 2-4 Sept 9-11 Sept 23-25 Oct 14-16 Oct 21-23 Oct 28-30 Nov 11-13

FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 6 Hours of Silverstone 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours of Le Mans 6 Hours of Nurburgring 6 Hours of Mexico City 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas 6 Hours of Fuji 6 Hours of Shanghai 6 Hours of Bahrain

Silverstone, UK Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

April 17 May 7

Le Mans, France Nurburgring, Germany Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Circuit of the Americas, Texas

June 18-19 July 24 Sept 3 Sept 17

Fuji International Speedway Shanghai International Circuit Bahrain International Circuit

Oct 16 Nov 6 Nov 19

Puerto Madero Street Circuit Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Long Beach Paris Street Circuit

Feb 6 Mar 12 April 2 April 23

FORMULA E Argentina Mexico Long Beach, USA France

Germany Russia UK

Berlin Tempelhof Airport Moscow Street Circuit Battersea Park, London

May 21 June 4 July 2-3

Adelaide Street Circuit Albert Park Symmons Plains Phillip Island Barbagallo Winton Hidden Valley Raceway Townsville Street Circuit Queensland Raceway Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit Sydney Motorsport Park

Mar 3-6 March 17-20 April 1-3 Apr 15-17 May 6-8 May 20-22 June 17-19 July 8-10 July 22-24 Aug 12-14 Aug 26-28

Sandown International Raceway Mount Panorama Surfers Paradise Street Circuit Pukekohe Park Raceway

Sept 16-18 Oct 6-9 Oct 21-23 Nov 4-6

Homebush Street Circuit

Nov 25-27

V8 SUPERCARS Clipsal 500 Adelaide Australian Grand Prix Tasmania SuperSprint Phillip Island SuperSprint Perth SuperSprint Winton SuperSprint Darwin Triple Crown Townsville 400 Ipswich SuperSprint KL City Grand Prix Sydney Motorsport Park SuperSprint Sandown 500 Bathurst 1000 Gold Coast 600 Auckland International SuperSprint Sydney 500

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Rally Monte Carlo Rally Sweden Rally Mexico Rally Argentina Rally de Portugal Rally d’Italia Sardegna

Gap Karlstad Leon Villa Carlos Paz Porto Alghero

Jan 21-24 Feb 11-14 March 3-6 April 21-24 May 19-22 June 9-12

Rally Poland Rally Finland Rally Deutschland Rally China Rally de France Rally de Espana Wales Rally GB Rally Australia

Mikotajki Jyvaskyla Trier Guangdong Corte Salou Deeside Coffs Harbour

July 1-3 July 28-31 Aug 18-21 Sept 8-11 Sept 29-Oct 2 Oct 13-16 Oct 27-30 Nov 17-20

Phillip Island Chang International Circuit Motorland Aragon Assen Imola Sepang Donington Park Misano Laguna Seca Monza Lausitz Magny-Cours Jerez Losail

Feb 26-28 March 11-13 April 1-3 April 15-17 April 29-May 1 May 13-15 May 27-29 June 17-19 July 8-10 July 22-24 Sept 16-18 Sept 30-Oct 2 Oct 14-16 Oct 28-30

WORLD SUPERBIKE Australia Thailand Aragaon Netherlands Italy Malaysia UK Riviera di Rimini USA Monza (Italy) Germany France Spain Qatar

INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour 24 Hours of Spa Sepang 12 hours

Mount Panorama, Australia Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium Sepang, Malaysia

February 5-7 July 30-31 December 11 29

WORLD NEWS US Rally America, the premier sanctioning body for performance rally competition in the United States, has signed a contingency and spec tyre deal with Maxxis for 2016-2017. The program will provide a level playing field for National 2WD competitors, for whom the Maxxis Victra R19 will be the new spec tyre. Maxxis will continue to offer free shipping to competitors, and winners will have the opportunity to earn monetary prizes within the program administered by Rally America. Competitors in other classes who race on the Maxxis R19 will have opportunities to win products through a contingency program. Through the Honda team, Maxxis will provide a selfservice tyre-mounting station to National 2WD teams competing in the Rally America National Championship, and to teams participating in the contingency program in all classes.

“Were both pleased and proud to make this announcement,” said Bill Fogg Sr., owner of Rally America, Inc. “Maxxis International is recognised around the world as a leader in the manufacturing and

Continental selects site in Mississippi for new plant

C

ontinental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) has reached an agreement with the state of Mississippi to purchase a site for the construction of a commercial vehicle tyre plant.

Continental has committed for a long term investment totaling approximately $US1.4 billion and employing 2,500 people when the plant reaches full capacity in the next decade.

“The project in Hinds County, Mississippi, is part of our global

30

distribution of competition tyres for professionals and enthusiasts.

Having this top-level tyre manufacturer and its technical assistance available at each of our National Championship events for the next two years is a tremendous step forward for the sport of rally, and it will provide a lot of support for the teams, in addition to being very convenient from their point of view. Were all very excited about this partnership.”

The relationship between Rally America and Maxxis began in April 2014 with Maxxis sponsorship of the Honda Performance Development Team.

Maxxis presence at Rally America National events led the company to immediately recognise the viability of the rally racing market.

The company has continued to reap benefits from its involvement with the organisation, including receiving feedback on tyre performance directly from racers.

checklist in anticipation of the most important journeys they will ever make – the trips to and from hospital, before and after the arrival of a new-born baby. The organisation says that while the heavily-pregnant mums may not be able to carry out the checks themselves, they should ask a partner or local TyreSafe retailer to ensure their tyres’ air pressure, condition and tread depth are safe and legal.

According to Tyresafe, around 700,000 new babies will make their first journey home from hospital this year.

Alarmingly, more than one in four of those may travel home on illegal or dangerous tyres.

UK TyreSafe - the UK’s tyre safety organisation – is launching a new awareness campaign aimed at pregnant women. TyreSafe is encouraging mums-to-be to add 'Check Tyres' to their pre-birth

Yokohama reports that its Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia, LLC (YTMV) facility

growth strategy. In a first step, the new plant is especially addressing our commitment to grow our commercial vehicle tyre business in North America,” said Nikolai Setzer, Continental’s Executive Board Member for the tyre business. “The announcement of a new tyre plant in the US is the second in just five years for Continental. We thank the state of Mississippi, Hinds County and the City of Clinton and Governor Bryant for his leadership in bringing us to the Jackson area, and we look forward to a strong business relationship for years to come.”

Continental says its business growth has consistently exceeded

the market over the last five years and the company continues to see customer demand for its products -- both new truck and bus tyres as well as retreads which are growing beyond the company’s existing capacity.

A date for the start of construction has not yet been announced, but the company expects to break ground in the next several months. The production of commercial vehicle tyres is planned to start by end of 2019.

Aside from the U.S., Continental’s tyre division has recently expanded production capacity in Russia, China and Europe to better serve global demand on a long-term basis.

US

Cooper Tire to acquire majority interest in China joint venture for TBR tyre production

C

ooper Tire & Rubber Company has announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase a majority of China-based Qingdao Ge Rui Da Rubber Co., Ltd. (GRT).

Cooper will own 65 per cent of the entity, which will be renamed Cooper Qingdao Tire Co., Ltd. (CQT), for approximately 600 million RMB ($US93 million) including the acquisition and initial investments in the operation. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2016 pending certain permits and approvals by the Chinese government.

CQT is expected to serve as a global source of truck and bus radial (TBR) trye production for Cooper including Roadmaster brand tyres for the North American market as well as TBR tyres for Asia and other markets. Passenger car radial (PCR) tyres may also be manufactured at the facility in the future. It is estimated that at full capacity, CQT will be capable of producing approximately 2.5 million to 3 million TBR tyres annually and nearly the same number of PCR tyres within the existing one million-square-foot production facility, with room for further expansion at the location.

GRT is located north of Qingdao in northeast China and currently employs approximately 600 workers.

“Cooper is excited to take this positive step to secure additional TBR tyre supply and further our Asia growth strategy,” said Brad Hughes, Cooper’s Chief Operating Officer.

“After a comprehensive review of options, we are pleased to have reached this agreement, which meets our goal of finding a new source of high quality, cost competitive TBR tyres for North America and Asia.”

has celebrated its 25th anniversary and produced its 80 millionth tyre.

“These are two very significant achievements for Yokohama, particularly in the US,” said Tetsuro Murakami, YTMV president. “The plant helped establish our brand by providing a strategic manufacturing facility in the United States to serve both the OEM and replacement markets.

Twenty-five years later, the 80th million tyre - an AVID Ascend with Yokohama’s signature technology, orange oil - rolled off the line. The accomplishments are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our employees.”

Yokohama says that YTMV has also been at the forefront of the company’s environmental achievements in the US. In 2015, the plant became a zero landfill operation and received the 2015 Environmental Warrior Award from the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA). The award was bestowed to YTMV as part of VWEAs 2015 Industrial Waste and Pretreatment Environmental Excellence Awards Program.

YTMV has additionally been highly active in its parent company, The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.s, ongoing global initiative, Forever Forest. The initiative aims to plant approximately 500,000 trees around Yokohama’s facilities worldwide by 2017. Since 2009, nearly 11,000 trees have been planted at the Virginia facility.

UK Avon Tyres has introduced the all-new StreetRunner range of smaller-sized tyres for the learner and commuter market, which are specifically engineered for entry-level bikes that offer less power, but require great tyres with excellent grip, good mileage, nimble handling and strong stability.

Specially designed for 125ccclass machines, the new Avon StreetRunner comes in a range of sizes, including OEM size Avon StreetRunner

options for the Honda CBF125 and CBR125, and Yamaha's YBR125 and YZF125.

The StreetRunner's grippy compound is optimised for wet weather and urban performance, while an all-new tread pattern clears water effectively and helps tyres warm-up fast.

The StreetRunner is available in dedicated front and rear sizes, as well as several convenient universal fitments.

UK

VanContact Winter

Continental has launched the VanContact Winter, a new winter tyre for light commercial vehicles and vans. Along with superior safety characteristics on snowy and icy surfaces and precision handling on snow-covered or wet roads, Continental say the VanContact Winter also offers significantly improved fuel efficiency.

The rolling resistance has also been reduced by a substantial 15 percent over its predecessor, the VancoWinter 2. This is due to an advanced silica compound which lessens tyre deformation on entering the contact patch, thereby reducing energy loss, as well as to an improved overall design.

Continental says the VanContact Winter owes a five percent improvement in performance when braking on snow and nine percent improvement when braking in the wet to both its tread compound and its optimised sipe concept. Sinus sipes in the tread center and an interrupted continued on page 32

31

WORLD NEWS

Bridgestone launches DriveGuard in UK ®

B

ridgestone has launched the Bridgestone DriveGuard touring tyre in the UK which boasts additional benefits and safety for motorists, including the ability to drive for 50 miles (80km) at 50mph (80km/h) following a puncture.

Bridgestone says the product is designed to be fitted on to all passenger cars (with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)) to remove concerns relating to tyre damage (including in sidewall and tread areas) and to deliver the highest standards of safety, wet performance, comfort and fuel efficiency; giving drivers additional peace of mind, safety and convenience.

The DriveGuard is not restricted to a factory fitment on specific brands or car models and can be fitted on to most cars equipped with TPMS, which has been mandatory in Europe on new cars since November 2014.

Bridgestone says the DriveGuard technology uses a proprietary high-tech cooling fin design as well as supportive and tough reinforced sidewalls which allow drivers to maintain control and continue driving safely and comfortably for 50 miles (80km) at up to 50mph (80km/h) after a puncture, until it is safe to either repair or replace the tyre.

Bridgestone DriveGuard

32

Additionally, the company says the DriveGuard offers best-in-class performance with no compromise on wet or rolling resistance and ranks highly in performance categories that are important to drivers, such as wet safety.

Underlining the company's commitment to road safety – in practically all conditions – Bridgestone says the DriveGuard can help prevent accidents resulting from punctures, sudden loss of pressure or other types of tyre damage.

“Bridgestone DriveGuard empowers you to keep moving and avoid the immediate burden and unsafe circumstances of a flat tyre; drivers get to choose when and where they have their tyre replaced – within the indicated speed and distance limits,” said Eduardo Minardi, Executive Chairman of Bridgestone EMEA. “Our revolutionary new technology will considerably contribute to road safety and give drivers additional peace of mind and convenience while on the road.”

Bridgestone DriveGuard will be available from April in Europe in 19 Summer and 11 Winter sizes – from 185/65 R15 up to 245/40 R18. Sizes will hit the market in two waves.

sipe structure in the shoulder blocks significantly increase the number of gripping edges in the longitudinal direction. Zigzag circumferential grooves and evenly spaced snow pockets in the shoulder blocks improve the compression of snow in the grooves, making for greater grip.

The new VanContact Winter is now available in 12 sizes, with plans to further expand the product range through 2016.

JAPAN

YRC President Hikomitsu Noji (second from right) and Asahikawa mayor Masahito Nishikawa (third from right) at the tape-cutting ceremony marking the opening of TTCH

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has opened a new winter tyre test facility, the Tyre Test Center of Hokkaido (TTCH), in Asahikawa City. Yokohama Rubber President Hikomitsu Noji and Asahikawa mayor Masahito Nishikawa attended the centre’s opening ceremony on January 20.

The TTCH is located on a 906,462m2 site that formerly was used as a horse race track. Yokohama Rubber acquired the site in March 2015. In addition to a 1km-long straight snow track, the test course is equipped with a flat ice track, hill track, snow and ice circle, and a handling track. The course is able to conduct tests with passenger cars running at speeds above 100km/h, as well as braking, starting and acceleration tests with trucks and buses on a variety of road conditions, including winding and sloped roads. The company says that stable winter temperatures below freezing will enable them to test the performance of its winter tyres under severe winter conditions from the end ot December to the end of February.

During the rest of the year, the Company will use TTCH to test summer tyres.

To date, Yokohama Rubber has tested

its winter tyres on self-owned courses in Japan and rented courses in Sweden.

However, global expansion of the company’s tyre business has increased the number of items that must be evaluated and required increasingly sophisticated evaluation methods.

US The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been selected by Boeing to provide main nose and landing gear tyres for its new 777X aircraft, which is scheduled for delivery in 2019.

Building on the success of the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner, Boeing says the 777X will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world.

Goodyear will supply its Flight

Radial tyre for the Boeing 777X. The Goodyear Flight Radial, incorporates Goodyear Featherweight Alloy Core Bead Technology, the latest in Goodyear lightweight radial aircraft technology.

It also contains a variety of other features, including strong, rigid tread belts with enhanced rubber that offer dimensional stability, longer service life and increased cut resistance.

“The 777X supply agreement is a very important next step in the continuation of the long-standing relationship between Goodyear and Boeing, and is further validation of Goodyear’s commitment to supplying the aviation industry with premium products and services,” said Pierre Jambon, vice president of Goodyear’s

off-highway business. “We look forward to providing our Flight Radial tyre for the highly anticipated Boeing 777X.”

SOUTH KOREA Kumho Tire has appointed 61-year-old Han-Seob Lee to be its new CEO. He will head up the Korean tyre manufacturer‘s global business.

During his early career at Kumho Tire, Lee held various positions within its European operation and is regarded as an expert in the European tyre market.

Lee then held several positions within the company’s Korean headquarters before returning to Europe in 2005 as President of Kumho Tire Europe. For his most recent post he once again returned to South Korea, where he was responsible for Kumho’s global sales activities.

UK drivers reveal autonomous vehicle concerns

R

esearch conducted for Continental Tyres has revealed the majority of UK motorists (three in five) currently worry about the safety of a fully autonomous vehicle.

They are also concerned that technology failing would result in the vehicle breaking down (51 per cent). 40 per cent simply mistrust the concept of a self-driving car, with a fifth of motorists even saying it scares them.

The research for Continental Tyres is part of its ‘Vision Zero’ commitment, which aims to eliminate road accidents through innovative tyre technologies and automotive systems.

Despite concerns, the 2,000 people surveyed did express what they consider to be major advantages of driverless vehicles; the top being the possibility of safer roads, more efficient and reduced journey times, and having to concentrate less.

Yet, when asked about their view on the prospects of autonomous vehicles a quarter of UK motorists believe that motoring and technology companies could exaggerate what is possible.

“With our award-winning summer and winter tyre ranges, safety is of utmost importance at Continental when it comes to any of our products or automotive technologies,” said Mark Griffiths, Safety spokesman for

Continental Tyres. “It is clear from this research that UK motorists identify with safety as a significant trust factor.

“There are very exciting times ahead with the advent of automated technology, though with any advance comes concerns. As a leading automotive business we play an important role in educating people about safety, right across the vehicle from our automotive systems to our premium tyre ranges.”

The top ten list of advantages of autonomous driving as identified

by UK motorists in the study are: 1. Road safety.

2. More efficient / reduced journey times.

3. Less concentration required.

4. Reduced insurance costs (through fewer accidents).

5. Opportunity to use mobile.

6. Increased mobility for non-drivers.

7. Opportunity to eat in the car.

8. Opportunity to read in the car.

9. More productive use of time.

10. Opportunity to use tablet/laptop.

33

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