Tyres & Accessories August 2013 by Tyres Industry Publications Ltd

August 2013

The magazine for the tyre and wheel industries

Tyres & Accessories August 2013 www.tyrepress.com

Yokohama HPT Ltd Dawson Road, Mount Farm, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK1 1QY Sales: 01908 625601 / 01908 625603

info@yokohama.co.uk www.yokohama.co.uk

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EDITORIAL

An age old message? IT HASN’T BEEN A GOOD MONTH for global transport’s MP Maria Eagle, whose electorate was PR. A runaway train in Canada, followed by a train crash in Spain, a bus crash in Italy and the recent head-on railway collision in Switzerland tragic broke decades long fatality records in each area. Of course mass transport in the developed world has never been safer and incidents like this are thankfully rare. And despite the innate Gestaltist tendency to draw a correlation between the random international happenings, there isn’t one. But that doesn’t stop us all being all the more aware of such incidents. Just like when you buy a new car and suddenly realize how many of that make, model and colour suddenly appear despite having been on the roads all along. With this in mind, one of the three incidents that has recently caught public attention stood out particularly clearly for this tyre journalist – the Italian bus crash. Before the investigation was even carried out, my mind was drawn back to another coach crash in the UK. While it is just speculation to suggest that aging was a factor in both cases and there is in fact no clear link between them, one couldn’t help but wonder if it was another case of apparent age-related tyre failure. The question of tyre aging returned to the fore in mid-July. Between 16 and 17 July a coroner’s inquest in Woking examining a fatal coach crash last September heard that the vehicle lost control and left the road following the failure of its front nearside tyre – a tyre manufactured more than 19 years earlier. Expert witnesses testified that several of the six tyres fitted to the coach were old and the DOT code showed the failed tyre was “abnormally old” and had potentially been delaminating for months. The problem was that such deterioration could not have been picked up by visual inspection. The tyre was only partially worn, so had either been used as a spare or in storage for a number of years. It hadn’t retreaded or regrooved. Coroner Richard Travers was obviously frustrated that there is no legal mechanism in place to monitor aging: “The real explanation that this tyre failed so catastrophically is through age,” he said, invoking Rule 43 (of the Coroners Rules 1984) that requires him to draw attention to the Minister for Transport of the dangers caused by “the fact that vehicles, be they private, commercial or public are legally able to drive on tyres without restriction on age and by reason of age are potentially in a perilous condition which there is no realistic means of detecting.” In response the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport has requested a meeting with her non-shadow counterpart to talk tyres. Garston and Halewood

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 7/2013

home to 18-year old Michael Molloy, one of three killed in last September’s crash, wanted to discuss the need for tyre age to be considered in law. “Currently the law is framed in terms of the condition of the tyre, not the age,” the Liverpool Echo reported Eagle as saying. “I think this is something that needs to be looked at and I hope to be able to discuss this with the Department for Transport….we need to do all we can to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.” And so we come back to legislation once again. One obvious way to address this is to make an age check part of the MOT. After all it would only require technicians to read and interpret the DOT code. What could be wrong with that? But things are never straightforward. In the case of the Woking Coroner’s court case, the tyre was actually two years older than the vehicle, something that is quite often the case within fleets that stock spares and even some OE tyre circumstances. So say, for example, you bought a bargain basement new car just before the plates change. This means the car is already a year old when you drive it out of the show room. If the OE tyres are two years older, this means they are three years old before you park it outside your house. By the time you have your first MOT your tyres could be 6 years old, which is the rough consensus of when it is time to change tyres on the basis of age alone. Would the public accept this? It is not the first time tyre aging has been discussed at the highest levels – think of the NTDA MOT campaign back in 2008 and another coroner’s case, which led to a rule 43 letter in 2010. At TyreSafe’s annual industry briefing on 18 July (see page 16), the feeling seemed to be that the subject was being discussed by all parties. But no sooner did I return to the office than I took a call from an apoplectic motorhome owner who had just passed his MOT before going on holiday – only to have two blowouts from 10-year-old tyres in the next 400 miles. Thankfully no-one was hurt. But he still had to spend the best part of a week of his holidays parked on the side of the road while he waited for his tyres to be delivered. The point is that unless something changes, the status quo will remain as static as his motorhome and the kinds of cases we see here will inevitably continue.

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August 2013

Contents

62 Features

News • EDITORIAL An age old message?

• NEWS IN BRIEF

• NTDA NEWS

ETRMA tyre market figures 44 Michelin: 1H ‘in line with objectives’ 46

• MOTORSPORT

BBC slams Kwik-Fit ...again 14 EU, DfT support MWSD campaign 20 Don’t try these at home ... 25

Hidden strength UK seasonal tyre market Toyo Snowprox S943 Cooper offers additional sizes

26 30 32 40

• PRODUCT INFORMATION New Conti port range Yokohama AD08 ’evolution’

• UK TYRE MARKET

• WINTER TYRES

58 66

• BRAKES

• INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET Tyrexpo India continues to grow Apollo says goodbye to Dunlop brand

Flexibility necessary Borg & Beck predicts growth Delph, Parts Alliance UK tour

68 70 72

74 78

• COMPANY NEWS Rongcheng strike against Apollo deal

• CAREER TRACKS

91 Web Directory – 89 Classifieds – 90 Advertisers’ Index – 94 Preview – 94 Impressum

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Two new patterns for regional applications Created to respond to the fast development of modern medium sized trucks, GAR820 for all position fitment and GDR619 drive axle pattern meet the increasing requirements of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transport fleets who require comfort, low noise, good wet and dry handling in addition to excellent wear out performances.

GAR820

GDR619

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dunlop to supply Flybe expansion Delticom refreshes Irish site Following on from the revamp it gave its UK website in June, online tyre retailer Delticom has redesigned its website for the Irish market. It describes the updated www.eiretyres.com website as being “clean and easy to use, with an even more user-friendly interface for faster access to the widest possible range of tyres and complete wheel solutions.” A selection filter has been added to enable buyers to view tyres from a specific brand or within a specific price bracket. More than 300 companies in Ireland currently co-operate with the online tyre shop and mount tyres and complete wheel sets on customer vehicles. sg

Pirelli boss receives suspended sentence in spying case A Milan court has handed Pirelli chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera a 20 month suspended sentence for receiving stolen information about Italian public figures during the time he was chairman of Telecom Italia. Judge Anna Calabi also ordered him to pay Telecom Italia 900,000 euros compensation. The case began in February and relates to events dating back to 2004, specifically accusations that a number of Telecom Italia employees spied on public figures in Italy using information illegally sourced from Telecom Italia phone data. A lawyer for Tronchetti Provera – who was not in court – said the Pirelli boss denies any wrongdoing. Tronchetti Provera intends to appeal the sentence, which will not take effect until the appeal process is exhausted. sg

Europe’s largest regional airline Flybe has selected Birmingham manufacturer Dunlop Aircraft Tyres to supply its expanding fleet of Embraer jets. Dunlop has been awarded an exclusive five-year deal to supply new and retreaded nose and mainwheel tyres for Flybe’s fleet of Embraer 175 aircraft and radial nosewheel tyres for the carrier’s Embraer 195s. Flybe operates 14 Embraer 195s and has so far taken delivery of nine Embraer 175s, with a further 26 of the aircraft on firm order. “For many years we have supported Flybe with tyres for its large fleet of Bombardier Q400 turboprops,” said Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ chairman, Ian Edmondson. “This significant contract to provide tyres and retreading for the airline’s fleet of regional jets further strengthens our market-leading position on Embraer E-Jets.” Dunlop tyres are currently fitted to the majority of the Embraer 170 and 175 aircraft in service, including the large fleets operated by Air Canada, Compass Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Republic Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Shuttle America and Trip. akb

ATS-E develops Service Value Calculator ATS Euromaster has developed a new Service Value Calculator (SVC) in order to demonstrate the financial benefits of managing tyres to truck, bus and coach operators. Programmable with customers’ operation-specific information the SVC measures the financial benefits available through regrooving, retreading, pressure optimisation and general tyre husbandry, such as turning tyres on the rim and twinning. ATSE produces a 10-page tyre savings report based on the inputted operational data partially yielded from a preliminary fleet inspection, summarising the annual projected savings from introducing ATS-E’s tyre management service. Group sales director, Peter Fairlie, explains: “Every aspect of our business is focused on reducing a customer’s operating costs through expert tyre management; the SVC enables us to provide the most detailed cost saving forecasts yet. We then use this data as a working plan to reveal the steps we can take jointly to secure a genuine improvement in efficiency.” The SVC takes data regarding fleet size, annual mileage, tyre costs, fuel price and current tyre condition – identified during a fleet inspection – to generate a bespoke cost savings report for each individual fleet. It then displays this information across a comprehensive tyre savings report measuring the financial impact of every area of professional tyre management, with a summary listing the total potential annual savings achievable across an entire fleet when the tyres are monitored and serviced by ATS Euromaster. This enables customers to see the direct benefits of ATS Euromaster’s new Service Value Calculator each tyre servicing activity, whilst helps the tyre management company to demonsfactoring in associated costs, such as trate the financial benefits of properly managing and servicing truck, bus and coach tyres regrooving charges. akb

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NEWS IN BRIEF

4JET embarks on tyre technology tour Laser mould cleaning and tyre marking firm 4JET Technologies GmbH (based in Alsdorf, Germany) has announced plans for a “tyre technology roadshow” stopping at leading European manufacturers’ production facilities from now until the end of October. It will include live demonstrations of laser machines for cleaning vulcanizing moulds and for tyre marking. Laser-based cleaning reportedly has advantages over methods such as CO2-dry ice cleaning: the laser does not damage the valve systems, it is a dry process, and an average mould is cleaned in less than 30 minutes. The mobile laser machine for tyre marking allows for the creation of serial numbers, bitmap files, barcodes or the customer`s logo onto the tyre surface, providing for a unique, human readable traceability over the entire product life. cja

Goodyear Dunlop brings DACH fleets under 4Fleet Goodyear Dunlop has bundled its fleet business in Germany, Austria and Switzerland under its GDHS subsidiary, 4Fleet Group GmbH. According to the company, the aim is to further expand the 4Fleet Group, which currently boasts a network of 1,200 service outlets in the three countries, into the leading tyre management service provider within the region. sg

Aequitas introduces tyre gap insurance Gap insurance provider Aequitas Automotive has announced the addition of tyre insurance to its product portfolio. TyreInsurance 123 will be rolled out this year and a retail website launched in the coming weeks. sg

Over three-quarters of European tyre population under-inflated: Bridgestone

Data from Bridgestone’s Safety Campaign 2012 has revealed that 78.3 per cent of tyres on the 28,700 cars inspected across Europe throughout the year were under-inflated to varying degrees. Additionally, 25.6 per cent of the tyre population was found to be worn below 1.6mm. The company completes a survey during its safety check workshops across Europe each year, and the latest data shows an increase in the number of tyres found to be under-inflated.Within the large group of under-inflated tyres, two more serious groupings were also identified by Bridgestone. 28.4 per cent of tyres tested were “seriously underinflated”, which the manufacturer defines as 0.5bar under the reference pressure, while 5.2 per cent were “severely underinflated”, or 0.75bar under the correct

level. As well as drawing conclusions about the safety of the vehicles, referencing reduced handling for example, Bridgestone concluded that these groups were collectively responsible for 73 per cent of the 9.9 million tons of extra carbon dioxide production in Europe due to under-inflated tyres. It estimates that the 5.2 per cent of severely under-inflated tyres accounted for more than a third (36 per cent) of this figure. Bridgestone’s region north communications manager Andy Dingley commented: “The results reveal that poorly maintained tyres are posing a serious risk to drivers, their passengers and other road users. We urge motorists to check their tyres before leaving on long journeys and before returning home.” akb

Michelin opens patents to aid global RFID uptake The adoption of a single worldwide RFID standard will accelerate the development of this technology. As a long-time supporter of unified RFID standards, Michelin has decided to lead by example and has announced it will no longer charge royalties on any of its patents that overlap the adoption of such standards. The French manufacturer will apply this to globally recognised single core tyre standards that include: AIAG B11, JAIF B21, ISO17367, TMC RP 247, and GS1-EPC TDS 1.5. In line with FRAND (Fair, Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory) licensing policies, Michelin says it will expect reciprocity from any entity that utilises its patented technology for the adoption of such standards. Explaining in greater details what it understands as reciprocity, the tyre maker says that, on a case by

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case basis, its patents will be licensed royalty-free on condition that any prospective licensee also commits to similar licensing conditions for current of future patents it holds for technologies that overlap with the adoption and execution of the standards cited above. “RFID technology has been around for many years,” commented Terry Gettys, executive vice-president, Research and Development at Michelin. “During the London Olympic Games last year, Michelin tyre embedded RFID technology was used on buses to improve safety and operation efficiency. We believe that the most important enabler to a broader integration of such technology within the transportation industry is the adoption of a global standard. This small step should help us get there.” sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 7/2013

Even more change from Evergreen Excellence in Value Evergreen Tyres are designed and manufactured to uncompromising standards. Premium quality no longer means premium price. And the result – with Evergreen, your customers will keep coming back. Another way that Evergreen is Changing Tyres.

The Evergreen Performance Centre package: – Customised work-wear – Tyre Life Guarantee – Volume incentives – Corporate hospitality – Depot signage and point-of-sale materials

NEWS IN BRIEF

Goodyear launches European Road Safety App

THIS?

REMEMBER

Stories from the past 20 years of T&A

August 1993 Goodyear announced a US$39 million investment in its factory at Bogor, Indonesia to service that country’s growing tyre market. In the UK, SP Tyres, manufacturer of the Dunlop brand, appointed David Powell as its new managing director.

August 1998 Yokohama Tire Philippines Incorporated opened its new plant with a ceremony attended by over 200 guests. Nokian Tyres was presented with the Finnish President’s Export Award; Finland’s highest honour marking export achievement.

Goodyear has launched a free European Road Safety App for Android and iOS platforms. The application, available for use in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Dutch, is designed to help guide tourists through other European country’s road laws and requirements. Users get an overview of 25 European countries, including popular destinations such as Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Portugal and Switzerland, as well as the larger western European markets. It provides such information as speed limits on highways and in the cities, alcohol levels allowed for drivers, tips for a safer drive, how to act in case of an accident, and local emergency phone numbers. The app also contains useful audio translations in six languages for emergency situations. “We have an important role to play when it comes to road safety. By helping consumers be better informed, we can help them to be safe, at home and abroad,” according to Hugues Despres, Goodyear’s brand director EMEA. “As a leading tyre manufacturer we strive to help make our customer’s drive safer and more qualitative. We are extending that role beyond the product by taking initiatives like these to the road across Europe.” The company plans to explore how it can expand the application’s functions and tools in the future. The Goodyear Safety App is an independent tool that, once downloaded, can be used across the range of functions without being connected to the internet. akb

August 2003 Bridgestone planned to invest the equivalent of 256.79 million Euros in increasing production of tyres, cord and carbon black in Thailand. In the US, Pirelli’s ‘four tyres merging into a fist’ press advert beat 60,000 entries to win a ‘Golden ADDY’ – the top accolade of the American Advertising Federation.

August 2008 Cooper Tire said that US tyre production would be reduced during the 2nd quarter of the financial year due to a weakening market and rising raw material costs. What goes around… the NTDA and the RAC Foundation warned of the dangers associated with tyre ageing.

Falken Motorsports: The Movie Falken Motorsport has released a 28 minute movie showcasing its 2013 Nürburgring 24 Hours experiences. Filmed across three countries and on location at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, it contains driver interviews and intense racing action culled from 25 terabytes of data. The film is now available to view online via sites such as YouTube and Facebook, as well as in the subscriber area for this story on Tyrepress.com. “Our fans are passionate and very important to us,” says Dennis Wilstermann, who is part of the creative team at Falken. “We decided to create the movie to give the fans and racing enthusiasts a behind-the-scenes glimpse of our motorsport team in action.” Filmed over 13 weeks in Germany,

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Scotland and Austria, the movie stars the entire Falken Motorsports team, featuring exclusive interviews with drivers Peter Dumbreck, Wolf Henzler, Martin Ragginger and Sebastian Asch. The Porsche 911 GT3 R also features as the film recalls the highs and lows of the 24 hour race. “We developed the idea of a Falken movie in July 2012,” adds Wilstermann. “Nearly a year on, having travelled 12,000 kilometres across three countries, we have a finished film. We are looking forward to the reaction from Falken fans and motorsport enthusiasts.” Falken Motorsports will continue its endurance racing at the Nürburgring in the VLN series, running until the end of October. akb

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NEWS Sun shines on Golf Day The 2013 NTDA Golf Day, sponsored once again by Westlake Tyres, was held on Wednesday 24th July. The setting was the stunning stately home of Brocket Hall, which stands in 540 acres of grounds and boasts two championship golf courses.

The buggies collect!

The NTDA event took place on the Palmerston course and, unlike last year at The Belfry, when a torrential rainstorm swept the course, the day’s play took place in brilliant sunshine. A full list of winners is given below, but a couple of highlights were the Guest Speaker Adger Brown, who proved that comedy is not his only talent by winning the Les Amiss Bowl, and Brian O’Neill of the ITIA, who recorded a hole in one. The ‘Beat the Pro’ competition on the fifth hole raised the figure of £400 for BEN. In the evening, there was a superb sit-down dinner in the Oak Room at Brocket Hall, attended by around 100, followed by the presentation of the prizes. This was MC’d by John Tarbox, Honorary Captain of the NTDA Golf Society and the prizes were given out by Surender Kandhari, Chairman of the Al Dobowi Group. The standard of play was generally very high, with some impressive scores being returned, but congratulations should go to John Shortt, of the ITIA, who was named as the overall winner of the Westlake Trophy and the prestigious Westlake black jacket. Adger Brown’s stand-up set brought the organised part of the evening to a close, but many guests continued to socialise, reflecting on what had been a great day, thanks to the hard work and organisation of the NTDA, plus of course the generous sponsorship of Westlake Tyres. Below is the full list of winners: 1ST OVERALL Winner: John Shortt (ITIA) 39

Westlake Trophy

Golfer’s brieﬁng on the ﬁrst tee

TOP NTDA MEMBER Gorrill Cup Winner: Adit Chopra (Autogem Invicta Ltd) 38 1st Division Les Amiss Bowl 1. Adger Brown (Guest Speaker) 39 2. Mike Turnham (Pan Autos Ltd) 36 3. Keith McLaren (GEA) 36 2nd Division Fullwood Bowl 1. Mike Bourne (National Tyres & Autocare) 36 2. Surender Kandari (Al Dobowi Group) 35 3. Mike Rigocki (Britannia Tyres Ltd) 33 3rd Division Godsall Cup 1. Dave Alsop (Stapleton’s Tyres Services Ltd) 36 2. Carl Johnson (ATS Euromaster Ltd) 33 3. Martin Blakey (Tech Europe Ltd) 31 Nearest Pin on Hole 8: K K Singh (Eskay/Westlake) Nearest Pin in 2 on Hole 12: Phil Rainford (Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd) Longest Drive on Hole 10: Matt Boxer (Jetyres Ltd) Team Prize: Adger Brown, Kevin Farrell, Kevin Peck & John Shortt Beat the Pro on Hole 5: 23 players beat the Pro and the competition raised £400 for BEN Our Vice Chairman explores the rough!

Where’s that gone?

NEWS

www.ntda.co.uk Brian lines up his hole in one!

Where did that go?

Virginia Espejo raising funds for BEN

That ‘hole in one’ smile! Pre-dinner drinks

Dinner

Congratulations all round The famed – or infamous!! – yellow ball Overall winner John Shortt

Dave Alsop Winner Godsall Cup

Adger Brown Winner Les Amiss Bowl

Adit Chopra Winner Gorrill Cup

UK TYRE MARKET

BBC programme slams Kwik-Fit…again KWIK-FIT HAS ONCE AGAIN FOUND itself at the centre of unwanted attention after a BBC consumer programme accused it of recommending work that didn’t need to be done and of failing to properly carry out free tyre safety checks. On 10 July, the “Your Money,TheirTricks” programme mystery shopped 10 Kwik-Fit branches with 10 different cars. The cars, which were of various

ages and models, had been pre-inspected by a forensic engineer and had been prepared in order to demonstrate whether checks had been carried out. Similar allegations were made by the BBC’s “Watchdog” programme in September 2010. But this time it was rather tackily presented as the title of the programme and the inshow caricatures demonstrate.

pany spokesperson challenged the BBC’s findings and its conclusions, pointing out that the programme makers have accepted they got some things wrong – something that wasn’t broadcast on 10 July: “From the limited information the BBC has provided in advance of its broadcast we, and an independent expert, seriously disagree with most of its findings. As a result of our detailed response to its allegations, the BBC has accepted that a number of its conclusions were wrong.” Nevertheless, Kwik-Fit did accept that there was room for improvement. “In a few cases we fully accept that our staff could have been clearer with their communication; for this we apologise and are intent on improving how we communicate our advice to customers.” However, Kwik-Fit reports that the company Kwik-Fit refuted accusations and offered “stand by the majority of the recommendations inspections to prove the point we gave, and completely reject the way the BBC Following the transmission Tyres & Accessories has calculated the cost of work it has deemed asked Kwik-Fit to respond to the charges. A com- ‘unnecessary’ by not considering how worn these parts were. “ And furthermore Kwik-Fit have offered to put the cars in question under the microscope in order to prove their point: “We have even made the BBC four separate offers for one car to be re-inspected at an independent laboratory in order to put our diagnosis to the test. The BBC continues to decline this offer.” As far as over-charging is concerned, Kwik-Fit pointed to its in-house checks and balances: “We have zero tolerance of staff recommending unnecessary work and any proven cases result in disciplinary action. We have a whistle blower line on which staff can anonymously report any aspect of malpractice from their colleagues and a senior management team will investigate and act on any reports.” Kwik-Fit representatives aimed to The BBC claims the Kwik-Fit branches recommended unnecessary work totalling £700 on four vehicles and failed to complete tests on seven out of 10 cars. While the programme reported that KwikFit and the company’s independent engineer disputed the claims a third opinion commissioned by the BBC sided with “Your Money, Their Tricks”. However, while Kwik-Fit contests the claims of dishonesty, it doesn’t address why basic pressure and tread depth checks apparently were not carried out. Neither does it explain how nail and screw punctures visible in the main body of the tread were not picked up by technicians. In addition wheel nuts were reportedly untouched after the checks, suggesting brake inspections were omitted.

T While the BBC raised important questions about KwikFit procedures, the methodology employed and the presentation of its points raised questions of its own

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

UK TYRE MARKET

shore up the competency of its work recommendation procedures by highlighting the basis on which its technicians are trained to give advice: “Any recommendations we make on replacing parts take into account manufacturers’ information and advice from organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The wear of items such as tyres and brake pads is not an exact science, but we believe ours is a professional and responsible approach which focuses first and foremost on the safety of our four and a half million customers.”

Questions remain The TV investigation was carried out after a whistle blower contacted the BBC with claims that Kwik-Fit, the UK’s largest fast fit chain, deliberately aims to attract customers with free inspections before selling them as much as possible. But while the programme raised important questi-

ons about the company’s sale process and the thoroughness of safety checks, the veracity of these specific claims simply cannot be demonstrated by the methodology employed by “Your Money, Their Tricks”. This is because the most damaging allegation made by the whistle blower was that there was some kind of systemic reason for over-selling, with the implication that this is based on the company’s staff target system. What the programme failed to address was whether any actions – if true – were carried out by individuals in isolation or were indicative of a wider problem. Furthermore, the quality of the whistle blower’s evidence cannot be substantiated as it was given anonymously and was not supported by any other evidence pertaining to the systemic nature of the allegations. These allegations simply cannot be proved either way by mystery shopping approaches, which do not address this point. That said, the allegations made by

“Your Money, Their Tricks” echo those made by another BBC consumer programme “Watchdog” in September 2010. On that occasion Kwik-Fit was accused of overcharging and failing to carry out safety checks on another 10 mystery shopper’s cars. So, whether the accusations of overcharging are proved beyond any doubt or not, the fact that Kwik-Fit has once again been hauled across the coals on a prime-time consumer programme, cannot fail to be damaging for one of Britain’s most recognised automotive brands. And if Kwik-Fit spent £1 million investing in training the last time this happened, you have to ask what the company will do this time to make sure such reports cannot be aired again. On the subject of investment, if “Your Money, Their Tricks“ is anything to go by, perhaps the BBC ought to spend a bit more money and time considering the presentation and procedures of its consumer journalism. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

Sunday Times rates Treadsetters and Bandvulc THE SUNDAY TIMES has ranked two tyre companies as being amongst the fastest growing exporters in the country. The rankings form part of the International Track 200 Listing supplement in the Sunday Times (sponsored by HSBC Commercial Banking) which ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies based on the past 24 months from available accounts. Treadsetters (Part of the TIA Group) was named the 59th fastest growing exporter surveyed. Bandvulc came in 192nd. The International Track 200 Listing highlights focuses on companies with total sales between £25 million and £200 million and with international sales ranging from £5 million up to £100 million and an average two-year international sales growth pattern from 25 per cent up to 500 per cent. According to the Sunday Times, export sales of £31.357 million and total sales of £71.213 million led to Treadsetters’ ranking. This latest accolade is the third prestigious ‘business award’ for Treadsetters since 2010 when the company received an HSBC Business Innovations Award and they also hold the distinction of being the only tyre wholesaler and producer to have been listed in both the Fast Track 100 (in 2012 at 76th position) and the latest International Track 200 Listings. Currently exporting tyres to 42 countries around the world including their own Torque brand, Treadsetters has now taken

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

their success as a leading UK based business to an international level. The company has maintained a continued rapid growth momentum over the past couple of years therefore ‘bucking the general trend’ of a static UK Business market. They have also regularly opened up new markets on a global basis and firmly established themselves as a leading supplier of value for money, quality tyres. A Treadsetters spokesperson said: “With this recognition of our ongoing achievements in international sales in the past few years. It will act as an encouraging ‘springboard’ for Treadsetters to move further forward to increased sales growth in existing markets and to open up international market opportunities.” The 192nd fastest growing exporter on the International Track 200 was Bandvulc, which specialises in tyre retreading and contract management and related services. According to the Sunday Times, Bandvulc’s exports reached £3.4 million in 2012 as a result of the company’s UK-based customers expanding their operations into markets Germany, Poland and Hungary. Despite this, the result could be seen as a slowing of export growth because Bandvulc was ranked 72 in the 2012 report. Bandvulc’s total sales were reported to have been £54.136 million. cja

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UK TYRE MARKET

Pssst, viral videos and a new strapline TyreSafe details “check your pressure” campaign TYRESAFE has unveiled a range of steps the tyre safety education body is investing in in order to promote positive tyre safety messages this year. Announced at the fourth annual TyreSafe industry briefing on 18 July, the suite of awareness-raising initiatives includes a bolstered tyre safety month, a new campaign microsite, dealer locater, promotional videos created with both YouTube and social media networks in mind and a matrix sign collaboration with the Highways Agency. With the potential mopping up cost of just one tyre blowout weighing in at up to £4 million (vehicle replacement costs and insurance claims aside), you can see what the Highways Agency is keen to work with TyreSafe on a “prevention is better than cure” orientated approach. The sharp-eyed amongst you will have already noticed that, in practice, this means motorways matrix signs are now displaying a simple tyre safety message “Safe Tyres Save Lives”. This comes as part of a collection of measures, which also sees the Highways Agency produce videos highlighting the real cost of poor tyre maintenance. Asked if there are any other tyre safety messages planned for the matrix signs, the Highways Agency’s Stuart Lovatt explained that this is the first and only directly tyre-related safety message that has be shown on digital motorway signage. Owing to the fact that it took something like five years to get to this stage, it is not something that is likely to change tomorrow. TyreSafe is also using specially produced video content to communicate its core safety messages to consumers. At the moment this centres on two projects – a “Don’t be a hazard” how-to video giving advice on tyre pressure checking; and “Check Your Pressure” a spoof music

video based on a thinly veiled parody of Queen’s “Under Pressure” and starring a few familiar TyreSafe and wider tyre industry faces. While they are designed to be accessible and fun respectively, they also convey the simple and clear central message the organisation is promoting this year: “Safe Tyres Save Lives”. And it has to be said that the almost subliminal reference to “Under Pressure” along with the virally-orientated production of the “Check Your Pressure” are smart moves, which will hopefully pay dividends when it comes to consumer engagement. In addition to some of the big-picture plans described here, TyreSafe is also reminding drivers to make sure their tyres are properly inflated, in order to avoid temperature induced tyre failures. When tyres are under-inflated, excessive heat builds up within the tyre and makes them much more susceptible to suffering from a rapid deflation. These dramatic events can make the car extremely difficult to control, especially as they occur most frequently after prolonged periods of high speed running on busy motorways or A-roads. Underlining the scale of the risk and dangers, figures from the RAC show that last year, its patrol crews attended more than 50,000 tyre related call-outs in July and August alone. Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “We all love the hot weather – apart from our tyres if they’re not properly looked after. With July and August normally being the hottest

two months of the year, car tyres are placed under increased stress from the higher temperatures like we’re currently experiencing. It really is important that motorists check their pressures at least once a month all year round, but even more so at this time of the year.“ Under-inflation, as well as being a huge safety issue from an increased risk of tyre failures and punctures, can also be financially costly because of a reduced tyre life and increased fuel consumption as the engine has to work harder to make the tyre turn. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “In 2012 RAC patrols attended 344,000 call-outs for tyre and wheel jobs, making it our second biggest breakdown with 15 per cent of our 2.3 million breakdowns. We urge everyone taking to the roads this summer to make sure their tyres are in good condition otherwise they risk spending some unwanted time on the hard shoulder or in a lay-by instead of on the beach.“ All-in-all, with TyreSafe citing as saying that 78 per cent of European motorists are driving on underinflated tyres, starting at the beginning with a very simple – if basic – message is clearly an important step. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson shared details of the organisation’s plans

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UK TYRE MARKET

UK automotive industry agrees £1 billion investment plan

The UK government has agreed to match automotive industry investment of £500 million, resulting in a £1 billion 10 year automotive investment plant designed to secure the growth and development of its vehicle and component manufacturing sector. This new funding supports multi-billion pound investments announced in the last few years by global automotive companies to boost production levels and develop new technologies and models. And when the term “automotive industry” is used it includes original equipment components such as tyres, with the full report pointing out tyre plants in Northern Ireland and Scotland as the wider British impact the investment programme is likely to have. Developed under Automotive Council guidance, industry and government will fund and resource investments in a range of projects including the creation of an Advanced Propulsion Centre, thousands of new motor industry apprenticeships and the creation of an Automotive Investment Organisation. The development of the strategy also sees the provision of finance for tooling investments in the supply chain, and a renewed commitment to encourage the UK as a lead market in the production and sale of low emission vehicles.

the Automotive Investment Organisation to drive UK investment by global automotive component companies. Skills - an industry framework for skills and a skills roadmap, including the creation of 7,600 apprenticeships and 1,700 graduate opportunities in the automotive industry. Supply chain - driving growth and competitiveness including creating a framework with suppliers, vehicle manufacturers and banking organisations to solve the problem of financing tooling investment. Low carbon - financial support to encourage consumers into lower emission vehicles, and to grow investment in the manu-

facture of low and ultra-low emissions vehicles and components. Business environment - establishing better cross-government relationships by including HM Treasury on the Automotive Council to ensure the UK remains an attractive place to invest. “The Automotive Council is an exemplar of industry and government working together to build long-term success and it is through the Council that we will implement the roadmap. I am confident that the strategy and the joint investment by government and the industry will make the UK an even more attractive place to design, build and sell automotive components and vehicles”, said Mike Baunton, SMMT Interim chief executive. cja

The key elements of the strategy include: Technology - the creation of an Advanced Propulsion Centre to support and enhance the UK’s expertise in research and development. Inward investment - the creation of

Source: Automotive Council UK

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EU, DfT support for MWSD wheel safety campaign

Transport Committee chair and North West MEP, Brian Simpson

MOTOR WHEEL SERVICE DISTRIBUTION has welcomed news that the European Parliament (EP) has voted to support the testing of commercial vehicle wheels fitted onto non-standard axles as part of the EU Roadworthiness Package. The measure has also received the endorsement of the Department for Transport (DfT) in MWSD’s home UK market. The company, distributor of Wheels India’s xlite wheel range, has campaigned for many years to achieve greater recognition for the dangers associated with what it believes to be unsuitable wheel safety check requirements. Managing director John Ellis has lobbied for more stringent checks to be carried out on wheels, first to guard the distribution chain against potentially faulty take-off wheels, and latterly to catch signs of premature fatigue and damage for wheels fitted to incompatibly shaped hubs. Ellis presented expert testimony to the EP’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), and this was raised as an amendment by Transport Committee chair and North West MEP, Brian Simpson following the initial report in March. As a result the compatibility of wheels and the hubs on which they are mounted has been included within new TRAN legislation.

The legislative text reads: “wheels and hubs are critical safety components and should be totally compatible.” This covers both roadside technical inspections and periodic vehicle testing. MWSD has long argued that non-circumferential hubs, which give only partial contact between axle and wheel, are causing untested load stresses which cause cracks and “half life expectancy” of the wheel. To improve safety Ellis called for: • wheels to be identified as safety critical; • closer cooperation with original equipment manufacturers; • all wheels and axles be tested to European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation standards; • and for all wheels periodically to undertake a thorough 10-point check plan. The next stage will be for negotiations to start between the Council, which has not yet supported the amendment, and the EP to finalise the legislative text. Both parties are known as co-legislators, meaning they have equal power and will work together to find an agreement. Further details are due towards the end of the year. Ellis said: “This is hugely welcome news, and a significant step forwards in

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promoting wheel safety and the issues being created by non-circumferential hubs. We were also very pleased to see the DfT support the amendment, who we have been working closely with since the outset of the campaign in early 2010. “That said there is still plenty of work to be done, and we will continue to work closely with Brian Simpson, the DfT, Paul Goggins (Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East) and the North West Automotive Alliance (NWAA), all of whom we thank for their continuing support, in getting tighter regulations ratified.” Simpson added: “This subject is very close to my heart and I will continue to do all I possibly can to reach an agreement with the Council and see the amendment in law. This change is not designed to place extra financial burden on the CV sector, but create far safer practices for what is a safety critical item. “The UK Government sits in Council with its 27 counterparts from the other EU Member States, and for this amendment to make it into the final legislative act we need support from Council. We trust that we can count on the UK Government to push for this amendment and get the support required.” akb

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International logistics company saving with Michelin tyre policy FOLLOWING ITS EMPLOYMENT of a full Michelin tyre policy for its trailer fleet in July 2011, Manchester based logistics specialist Davies Turner estimates it has saved more than £20,000 as a result of the decrease in tyre failures. The company says that pre-Michelin it dealt with at least one tyre-related breakdown per month from competitor remould tyres. The haulier’s 42 trailers collect hanging garments from North Africa, transporting them through Europe to the UK, with third party hauliers providing the traction. Each tyre failure that occurred overseas cost approximately £900 in call-out charges, tyre replacement and associated downtime. Since Michelin’s technical manager Dan Lamb recommended a Michelin Four Lives policy across its 385/55R22.5-shod fleet of Krone trailers, Davies Turner has experienced no tyre failures across any of its Michelin-shod trailers. John Lucy, Moroccan services manager at Davies Turner, says: “We noticed in 2011 that the quality of our remould tyres was deteriorating and tyre-related breakdowns were occurring at least once every four weeks,

particularly when our fleet was abroad in hotter climates. That simply wasn’t safe or financially viable, and we were keen to resolve the problem promptly. “We spoke to Michelin and Dan Lamb recommended a Michelin Four Lives policy to us; he wasn’t at all fazed by the demanding nature of our operation, and was keen to let the Michelin products do the talking and prove themselves in service. The results we have seen since have been fantastic. Whereas our previous tyres couldn’t cope with the heat in Spain and Morocco, Michelin’s new and Remix tyres have lasted time and time again, making our vehicles safer and saving us time and money.” ATS Euromaster is responsible for servicing and maintaining Davies Turner’s tyres, ensuring they are regrooved when worn to 3mm and then sent to Michelin’s Remix factory in Stoke-on-Trent to be comprehensively remanufactured, before being regrooved again, giving the haulier maximum longevity and performance. In addition to improved tyre life and robustness, Davies Turner’s sub-contracted hauliers benefit from reduced fuel

John Lucy, Moroccan services manager at Davies Turner

consumption thanks to Michelin’s low rolling resistance trailer tyres. Since the beginning of 2013, this has included a move to fitting X Line Energy T fitments, Michelin’s latest low rolling resistance trailer tyre, which replaces the previous generation X Energy SaverGreen XTs. The X Line Energy T is designed for trailers operating at high average speeds on motorways and major trunk roads, and is Michelin’s first truck tyre rated ‘A’ in rolling resistance under the European tyre labelling programme. Founded in 1870, Davies Turner’s trailers operate seven days a week, travelling up to 100,000 kilometres a year. akb

Hankook Truck Master service key for Hicks Logistics SOUTH WALES

COMPANY HICKS LOGISTICS settled on Hankook tyres as its preferred choice over ten years ago, using the Korean manufacturer’s AH22+ and DH05 tyres on its Scania, Volvo and Mercedes tractor units and the TH22 wide singles, and TH10 for the low loaders, on its trailers. Hankook’s new Alphatread retread tyres are set to be tested on the fleet and Hankook expects to be able to deliver increased value for money as a result. Hankook’s service has also been key to the continued association with Hicks; the company has its own dedicated tyre fitter at the head office, and is able to manage its own tyres in the local area. However, when working throughout the UK Hankook Truck Masters are relied on to service the fleet. The seventy strong truck fleet operates from Hicks’ base at Caldicot; however, 25 trucks and low loader trailers are stationed at 10 UK platforms sites across the UK from Sussex to

Teeside, delivering and collecting hired equipment for the powered access specialists. Transport manager, Simon Hicks, explains that this service is ideal for the company’s needs. “For us it is simple. We make one telephone call and we know the breakdown or service will be dealt with. We are often working to tight deadlines and can’t afford to be spending time chasing up tyre fitters around the country. Hankook does it all for us. It’s convenient, we know what we will be charged, that they will fit the tyres we want and do what we need, when we want.” Hankook Truck Masters has over 400 service points in the UK and one telephone number to provide the service all fleets need. The most important aspect of the service Hankook provides is that it is based on what the customer needs. For Hicks, local service is not required on a regular basis but an on call service around the UK and occasionally further afield is. akb

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

COMMAND PERFORMANCE

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

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UK TYRE MARKET

Iconic Bond car surfaces

Ever wanted to live out your James Bond fantasies? Now the Lotus Esprit Series 1 ‘Submarine’ Car used in the “The Spy Who Loved Me” is up for auction you can…if you have enough money. But don’t bother trying to change the tyres. The vehicle to be offered by RM Auctions at its forthcoming London sale, 8-9 September, in Battersea Park, is the one and only fully functioning car especially designed and built for the famous underwater sequence seen on screen in the 1977 film. Abundantly authenticated, and known as ‘Wet Nellie’ on the set, it

was developed from one of six Esprit body shells used in the making of the film. As the only car to be built into a fully operational, self-propelled ‘submarine’, by Perry Oceanographic, based in Riviera Beach, Florida, it is the vehicle which claimed the most screen time in the film. The driver of the car was Don Griffin, a retired US Navy SEAL and test pilot for Perry, who operated the vehicle utilizing its motorized propellers while manoeuvring with levered steering mechanisms. At the time, the car was said to have cost over $100,000 to create (equivalent to

nearly a half million dollars today). Subsequent to filming the underwater scenes in the Bahamas, the vehicle was shipped to Long Island, NY, where it was kept in an unassuming storage unit on a ten year rental, paid in advance. Fate later intervened when, in 1989, the then rent delinquent unit was put up ‘blind’ for public auction. A modest winning bid from an area couple brought surprise and wonder when the blankets were removed to reveal the iconic 007 ‘Submarine’ Car. The only real drawback about this car is that, owing to the fact that it has been converted into a submarine, it won’t work on dry land. Why? Because it hasn’t got any wheels or tyres. Perhaps the only other barrier to owning such a vehicle is the price tag. The Aston Martin DB5 used by Sean Connery in the enormously popular Goldfinger and Thunderball movies, for an incredible £2.9 million during its 2010 London sale. What the Espirit will go for is anyone’s guess, but considering its half a million initial cost and the provenance attached to it – a seven figure bid seem likely to win. cja

UK car manufacturing grows 1.1% in 2013 1H CAR MANUFACTURING IN THE UK has grown during the first half of 2013, with acceleration to 4.6 per cent coming in the second quarter and a 10.4 per cent rise in June. The SMMT says that while four out of five cars built in the UK are exported, higher output for the home market, up 24.4 per cent, has boosted volumes. “Car output in the UK grew during the first half of 2013, up 1.1 per cent building on a strong 2012 when manufacturing performed above pre-recession levels,“ said Mike Baunton, SMMT interim chief executive. “Subdued demand in some European countries has held back production levels this year, but it is encouraging to see a significant rise in volumes destined for UK buyers. Our industry is building and developing innovative, highquality products that appeal to a global customer base and because of this, inde-

pendent analysts are confident that car home market demand,“ said Nigel Base, output will grow in the long-term despite SMMT commercial vehicle manager. economic concerns on the continent.“ “Year-to-date volumes offer a slightly gloomier picture, falling 13.5% in the first half of 2013 as CV manufacturers contiCV output rises in June, down in 1H nue to feel the effects of weak demand 2013 abroad. The remainder of the year will be Commercial vehicle output also rose 1.4 challenging, but strengthening UK per cent to 8,480 units in June, off the demand is expected to support domestic back of increased volumes for the home manufacturers of vans, trucks buses and market. However, CV manufacturing coaches.“ Engine manufacturing rose 10.9 per overall fell 13.5 per cent during the first half of 2013 to 48,517 units. A fall in cent in June to 225,266 units. Despite export volumes has impacted growth the surge in June, output during the first with just 51 per cent of volumes going half of 2013 was down 1.2 per cent to overseas for the year-to-date versus 61 1,319,998 units. The SMMT says engine production has performed in line with per cent a year ago. “June’s CV output provides a welco- overall UK vehicle manufacturing trends. me boost to our commercial vehicle As for vehicles, weak export volumes are industry, with volumes increasing 1.4% in constraining overall growth. akb the month, following a 17% surge in

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UK TYRE MARKET

Don’t try these at home… that she would wind heavy duty chains around her car when not in it, sealing both front doors shut with 2 similarly heavy duty padlocks to prevent thieves from getting in. A man from Leeds who had managed to snap off his indicator lever decided to replace it with a twig to make sure he could still successfully indicate whilst on the roads. When a young driver from Stroud noticed that his sunroof was stuck open, thanks to a faulty electronic opening/closing mechanism, he improvised with an open umbrella and a hefty amount of duct tape, despite this doing nothing for the security of the vehicle. Still, he said it kept the rain out effectively. Despite airbags being a vital safety feature in modern motors, a male driver from Yorkshire decided to take matters into his own hands when informed by a mechanic that there was a fault with his. He cut out various sized sections of memory foam from a mattress topper he had in his home and glue them to the different sections of his steering wheel, thinking that the soft material would be sufficient protection in the event of an accident. A married couple from Epping decided that in the absence of their car’s bonnet, they would opt for a double duvet cover to protect their engine and car parts from the elements, fastened down with duct tape. pg

Whilst many people may put off visiting a mechanic for as long as possible when they first discover that a repair is needed for their vehicle, most will eventually take a trip to the local garage in an effort to resolve the problem.

However, the team at www.bba-reman.com have looked back through their repair history to see what DIY lengths some drivers go to in order to make sure their vehicle keeps running. BBA Reman also conducted a poll of 1,036 car owners in the UK, to compile an ultimate list of the top ten most outrageous DIY car repairs. The most weird and wonderful examples of frugality highlighted in the past 12 months were as follows: A man in his late 30s attempted to use bubblegum to try and fix not one, but 5 small leaks in his car radiator. He also poured 250g of black peppercorns into the radiator, after reading that ground black pepper could help repair radiator leaks, which caused a strong odour in the vehicle and a blockage. An electric fault that caused a woman’s front headlights to stop working decided that she would secure 2 battery operated torches to her bonnet with rope, despite the fact they were super bright. An elderly man with faulty air conditioning attempted to cool down one hot week last summer by taping 20 handheld battery operated pocket fans to his dash board and switching them all on at the same time. One couple, on noticing their speedometer wasn’t working at all, bought an iPhone 4, downloaded a speedometer app and then fixed it to their dashboard with an iPhone holder. Despite being one of the better DIY repairs to come from the research, it 2013 3 -15, 1 wasn’t the most accurate . A v o N · CHIN GHAI ways of monitoring the SHAN speed of the car; especially considering the couple had been using it for 6 months. A 19 year old man from Bristol found what he deemed to be an ingenious way to fix his leaky exhaust pipe, with a few empty beer cans cut open and used to wrap around the damaged area, sealed with brown parFurther information: Messe Essen GmbH · Phone: +49 201 72 44-727 · Fax: +49 201 72 44-435 cel tape. E-Mail: reifen.china@messe-essen.de · www.reifen-china.com A woman in her late 50s China United Rubber Corporation who had managed to Phone: +86 10 5865 0277 · Fax: +86 10 5865 0288 lose both sets of keys to her E-Mail: reifen.china@chrubber.com · www.reifenchina.com Volkswagen Polo decided

10.

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WINTER TYRES

Hidden strength Is the UK becoming an all-seasontyre market? FOR A DECADE OR MORE the case has been made for the development of winter tyre market in the UK. While there have always been residual levels of winter tyre take-up in the most northerly and mountainous parts of Britain, in the past 10 years or so tyre manufacturers have invested considerable time, effort and resources in making it a relatively normal part of the UK tyre culture. In recent years there has been development in the winter tyre market and it seems clear that this has far from peaked. However, at the same time there is now evidence that sales of all-season tyres have matched and overtaken these. With all this in mind Tyres & Accessories spoke with representatives of Bridgestone, Falken and Hankook and asked what is the right tool for the job in the UK? And is the UK becoming an all-season tyre market? While there has been talk of introducing winter tyres to the UK since the turn of the millennium, efforts to develop a British winter tyre market really gained pace around 2004/2005. And while research from the obviously winter-based Nordic and the now majority winter German markets were certainly not discounted, the Netherlands was held up a as the most comparable case study. Despite a similar climate and relatively small overall size, the Dutch winter tyre market had grown first to low double digits before reaching a fifth of the market. This was reportedly achieved by a three-pronged attack – a unified pro-winter industry position, pro-winter legislation and fleet integration. Indeed in some ways this kind of three pronged attack can also be seen as a three phase plan. Either way the idea was to try and incubate the

W When is a winter tyre not a winter tyre? When it’s an allseason tyre. The lack of clarity relating to what we call winter tyres is a confusion, but nevertheless the trend towards all-season tyres in the UK appears to be clear

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embryonic British winter tyre market through the same development process. By 2006 and with the serious entrance of additional new tyre manufacturers such as Michelin the market was beginning to take shape outside the ranks of the existing leaders Continental and Vredestein. Apart from its typical long-term outlook, which was shared by the other premium players, what Michelin brought to the table was access to fleets, with a pilot scheme beginning with selected customers the year before (2005) in the north of England. Full-year 2005 figures that Tyres & Accessories, in 2006 show that all this pushed winter tyre sales up to around 54,000 non-truck winter tyres; still this only represented roughly half a per cent market share. Communications were centred on the below seven degrees message, which argues that winter tyre compounds are designed to operate best in temperatures experienced by many of us in Britain (especially commuter drivers) for most of the year. This took the emphasis off a direct correlation with the falling of snow and brought with it a slight change in nomenclature, with several PR and marketing departments switching to the term “cold weather tyres” for the same reason. However, this

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WINTER TYRES

Source: T&A research, courtesy of Goodyear

approach has not been consistent and thus the market is now a patchwork of such terms (something that is also due to the varying approaches to winter tyre marketing we will encounter latter). Nevertheless it should also be said that evidence still supports these arguments. Last year alone, the Met Office recorded 147 days between the end of October and March where the temperature dropped below this level. Nevertheless three winters of significant snowfall in the 2009 – early 2011 period combined with increased fleet sales, and the adoption of tyre hotels by a number of leading car dealers and tyre retailers all helped push the market up to new heights. A lack of a full-blown snowfall in 2011 meant the growth that had been accelerating year after year was tough to continue. However, at the start of 2012 T&A reported that annual demand for winter tyres in the UK had grown to around 450,000 units – something like eight-times its 2005 levels. As good as this is, it is still some way off the three million unit (10 per cent share) target market influencers had said was a long-term goal back in 2005.

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Are all-season tyres are a hidden strength? The latest sell-out data shows that winter tyre sales fluctuated somewhat between 2010 and 2012. 2011 marked the peak, according to one source, at around 330,000 units. What has not been publically discussed until now is that all-season tyres seem to have been the market’s best kept secret. In all three years all-season tyre sales outperformed winter tyre sales virtually doubling them in 2010. The relative stability of all-season sales – especially when compared with winter sell-out volumes – suggests that sales of these products are also a safer bet for UK manufacturers and distributors alike. In addition we have to take stock of the fact that the combined winter and allseason sales reported suggest that total “seasonal” tyre sales represent a much bigger piece of the pie than anyone has been prepared to admit publically before. Of course all these conclusions are fraught with difficulty due to problems defining what an all-season tyre actually is. For example the Hankook Optimo 4S is pitched and marketed as an all-season

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product, but also bears the snowflake insignia of a bona fide winter tyre. Of course this just one example, but there are others, and yes this is largely to do with the fact that this categorisation is only dependent on the successful attainment of a particular straight line ice grip co-efficient. Magazine tyre tests have repeatedly demonstrated only out-andout winter tyres perform the best in snow and ice conditions. And with unclear definitions the risk of double counting is higher. But it is still hard to argue away the simple facts that a) significant numbers of all-season tyres are being sold on a relatively consistent basis; and b) more all-season tyres appear to be sold each year than winter tyres. Nevertheless Mark Grace, marketing manager at Hankook Tyre (UK) Ltd remains optimistic about winter tyres, but firmly backs both options: “British drivers are more aware than ever of the benefits of fitting winter tyres and, in recent years, demand has been so high that dealers have sold out of stock. This usually happens during icy spells, suggesting that UK consumers are reacting to conditions rather than planning ahead for the colder months. “Whilst dealers should be prepared for increased demand year-on-year, those opting for winter tyres are still in a minority and there is continued confusion as to whether all-season tyres are actually more suited to UK conditions. Hankook has experienced positive sales results for both winter and all-season options, as more people begin to understand the importance of choosing the correct tyre.” There is also room for further communication and education about what winter tyres really are, according to Grace: “Many people mistakenly believe that winter tyres are only for use in snow and ice but that simply isn’t the case.” And this combined with the perceived expense of winter tyres is said to be “off putting to many consumers.” The thinking is that although winter tyres are usually priced similarly to their summer counterparts, the initial outlay can seem too much. And for those without the space to store spare tyres through their respective off-

WINTER TYRES

outer tread providing protection against premature wear of the running surface. “Innovations such as the anti-aging mechanism allow Falken to produce tyres that meet and exceed motorists’ expectations for performance and endurance; yet can be sold at affordable prices. This can help to ensure that consumers are offered safe and reliable tyres regardless of the season,” concludes Smith.

Bridgestone affirms pro-all-season position

While historically the debate has been between summer and winter tyres, now that all season tyres are clearly part of the picture Hankook marketing manager Mark Grace now occupies the new middle ground of summer, winter and all-season tyre promotion

seasons, winter tyres may simply not be an option. And here’s where all-season tyres come in, Grace explains, pointing out the limitations of each option: “For those that still feel winter tyres are too inconvenient or costly, all-season tyres can be a good compromise, but they are just that - a compromise. Most all-season tyres will perform much better in cold weather than summer patterns and will usually handle well in warmer months too.” Nevertheless, economic factors remain key from Hankook’s point of view with recent company research showing that two thirds of UK drivers are influenced by price when choosing tyres. However “as more people begin to understand the benefits, we do expect sales of winter tyres to rise significantly”, Grace concluded. Like Hankook, Falken pointed to the challenging economic climate still as a reason why drivers may be reluctant to purchase a second set of tyres for seasonal use. This financial pressure on consumers is reinforced by recent research into customer tyre wear undertaken by Micheldever. The results revealed that 58 per cent of the vehicles surveyed had at least one tyre below the legal tread depth of 1.6 mm; over 95 per cent of vehicles had a tyre below 2 mm. “Without a doubt, swapping to winter tyres is a sensible approach for any moto-

rists planning to drive even moderate distances in weather where there is a risk of winter weather,” says Matt Smith, UK and Ireland director of Falken Tyres. “But, encouraging drivers to purchase a second set of tyres that are only practical for a limited timeframe can be difficult when cash-strapped consumers are already opting for part-worns, or purchasing individual tyres per dealer visit.” Yet Smith accepts that some are choosing all-season tyres, “merging the benefits of winter and summer tyres into one, all-season tyres present a costeffective solution to retaining grip, handling and tyre life throughout the year”. He pointed to Falken’s recently announced EuroAll Season AS200 as an example. “Falken now offers consumers an affordable tyre that’s usable 365 days a year, to take out the worry and inconvenience of swapping between summer and winter tyres,” continued Smith. “Our engineers created an all-new rubber compound, comprising of enhanced silica content and a high proportion of styrene groups. This delivers exceptional wet handling and shorter braking distances.” To help extend the lifetime of the AS200 against a range of environmental influences that the tyre will be required to endure, an anti-aging mechanism has been added to the lower reservoir tread. From there, it continuously permeates to the

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Bridgestone’s North Region communications manager Andy Dingley said that the most suitable tyre for winter months depended on the climate itself, but admitted that all-weather tyres might represent the most compelling proposition for motorists in the UK. Of course in his view the brand’s Weather Control tyres are ideal for motorists when conditions are typically British. “The Bridgestone A001 Weather Control has been developed for specific European regions with moderate climates and wet, light winters such as the UK, Ireland and Belgium. The new Bridgestone A001 Weather Control is designed to give drivers in these regions a confident, safe driving experience all year round without compromise.” The company also sought to “balance” the advice offered by several other tyre makers: “Many motorists are being given inaccurate advice about winter tyres in this country. We feel that a balance must be struck where families can drive safely in all road conditions in the UK without breaking the bank, and Weather Control tyres could be that balance for many motorists.” So with the numerical evidence appearing to suggest that there is more demand for all-season demand than we might have previously thought and with some of the leading and growing tyre manufacturing ranging from supportive to outright promoting all-season tyres, it seems clear that this part of the car tyre segment is now well and truly part of the UK tyre markets. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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WINTER TYRES

The UK seasonal tyre market is larger than you think Winter tyres outperform all-season sales during the coldest months GfK’s data measures the peak winter period (November – February) and compares the results over the last four winters. And on first glance it is immediately apparent that winter tyre sales have grown from 1.5 per cent of total market unit volumes to more than double this (3.5 per cent) between November 2012 and February 2013. However, as good as this is, this latest figure is actually some way behind the 4.3 per cent unit market share reported between November 2011 and February 2012. Or in other words sales stalled during the last winter season (October 2012 to February 2013). This winter saw sales fall by around 30 per cent. At the same time the figures show that winter tyre sales represent a disproportionately high 5.5 per cent value share during the peak November 2011 to February 2012 period, suggesting winter tyres generate roughly a quarter more income than standard summer tyres on average. Obviously the weather will have helped push sales along and this will have assisted both figures, but the fact that the market tripled in the space of three years (even if it did fall back a bit latterly) and the fact that value shares outperform “normal” tyre products suggests there is still plenty of potential in the UK winter market.

AS WE HAVE SEEN in our introductory article, the UK tyre industry has been taking deliberate steps to develop its winter tyre market for over a decade. As a result winter tyre sales constitute an increasingly important market position. At the same time, the evidenceTyres & Accessories has seen suggests all-season tyre sales have been growing at an even faster rate and could even be outperforming winter tyres when measured across complete 12 month periods. Back in May (see Tyres & Accessories May, page 18) we reported on the latest relevant research produced by market analysts GfK, which suggested winter tyre sales were accelerating faster than ever. This month, in keeping with our winter versus all-season theme, we expand on this data to include a number of all-season details and compare it with the conclusion drawn by our other sources.

According to GfK, the company’s researchers generally measure all-season tyres as part of the overall summer tyre market in the UK. However if we drill down a bit further and look at this sector in isolation we can see it holds a roughly two per cent volume market share. While this may at first sound small, this could represent as much 600,000 tyres annually when you consider the market as a whole is generally accepted to be very roughly 30 million units a year. And what’s more this share has not altered significantly in the last three winter sales periods we refer to suggesting - as our other data indicates – that this position is relatively stable. T&A’s speculation as to what these market shares might mean in terms of unit volumes aside, what is clear is Seasonal tyre unit market shares that the combined winter and all-sea2009 - 2012 in % son market shares could have been Year* Winter Tyres All-season** Combined as much as 5.5 per cent last year, pea2009 1.5 2 3.5 king at 6.3 per cent in and around 2010 2.9 2 4.9*** 2011. A thumb in the air estimate sug2011 4.3 2 6.3 gests this equates to around 1.89 mil2012 3.5 2 5.5 lion units, although with difficulties in *GfK sell-out data compares the last four winter precisely defining the difference bet(November – February ) periods ween all-season and winter tyres ine**Rough figure based on GfK data ***T&A estimate vitably leading to some double counting it may be prudent to round any Source: GfK, T&A research such estimate down.

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However while the total size of the UK winter/all-season tyre market might be surprisingly large, the fact that the largest volumes of winter product are sold in Scotland won’t shock anyone. According to GfK, winter tyre sales north of the border represent 28 – 30 per cent of the total. We are left with three relatively clear conclusions: winter tyre sales remain way ahead historic levels albeit behind the winter 2011-2012 peak; combined winter and all-season sales represent a larger share of the market than previous publically acknowledged; and GfK’s latest data does not necessarily support the theory that the allseason market is actually larger than the out and out winter tyre parc. There could be a number of technical reasons for this – e.g. different sample periods, different sample sizes, different categorisations of product type – or this thesis could just be wrong. Either way, what both perspectives affirm is that despite a double digit recession and the refusal of snow to fall consistently at the right time of year, there remains clear potential for the winter/allseason market to grow. And those offering a combined winter and all-season offering appear best placed to capitalise on this. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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WINTER TYRES

Toyo launches the new Snowprox S943

Toyo has made marked improvements in virtually every characteristic, especially the usually competitive wear life, rolling resistance and wet handling

Toyo has launched a new winter tyre designed to offer “a safer winter driving experience” and offering significant improvements in all key labelling characteristics as well. Massive improvements in both rolling resistance (19 per cent) and tyre wear (37 per cent) are the highlights of what is quite clearly a new generation product. From a design perspective the new tyre – dubbed Snowprox S943 – features unidirectional tread and wide centre groves for grip and snow traction. Large shoulder blocks with

high sipe density are included in order to provide a “superlative edge effect” on slippery and snow-covered surfaces. Meanwhile a new compound gives significantly improved wet braking and fuel consumption performance than its predecessor. Optimised construction has also afforded the tyre some weight saving, which translates into better rolling resistance performance at the test centre. As a result of all this, Toyo representatives explain that the Snowprox 943 195/65 R15 91H offers 5 per cent better hydroplaning performance; 4 per cent better snow braking; and last – but by no means least – a whopping 19 per cent better rolling resistance performance. This transports the tyre up to the top end of the “C” boundary on the European tyre label, knocking on the door of “B”, which is impressive because the Snowprox S942 was languishing towards the bottom of “E” territory before the upgrade and because “C” has provided something of glass ceiling for contemporary winter tyres. When you add in that wet grip is 9 per cent better than the previous model and Toyo has managed to do all this while at the same time improving wear life by an enormous 37 per cent, it is clear that Toyo has made a large step forward with its latest winter tyre. When you consider the fact that the company has made its greatest improvements in the areas that usually directly counteract each other (wet grip and tyre wear), this latest development is all the more impressive. cja

Falken launches new all-season tyre FALKEN HAS LAUNCHED the Euroall Season AS200, which is – as the name would suggest – an all-season tyre. According to the company, Falken’s new all-year-round tyre offers improved traction on dry, wet and even snowy roads without compromising on comfort. The Euroall Season AS200 also features significantly reduced tyre rolling noise and shorter braking distances. The tyre will be available at specialist tyre dealers from July 2013 in a total range of 27 dimensions. The Euroall Season AS200 is tailored specifically to the complex requirements of the European market. Four wide and deep longitudinal grooves ensure excellent dispersal of even high volumes of

water, while the offset lateral grooves direct water away from the tyre. The allnew rubber compound contains extra silica plus a high proportion of styrene groups to give better wet handling. In addition, the AS200 has a built-in anti-aging mechanism in which an antiaging agent permeates continuously from the lower reservoir tread to the outer tread, thus protecting the running surface from aging and aggressive environmental influences throughout the life of the tyre. “The Euroall Season

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AS200 is our first all-year-round tyre, and is ideal for all regions,“ explains Markus Bögner, sales director Germany at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH. “In developing the rubber compound, Falken focused on finding the perfect balance between outstanding wet and dry handling and high mileage – preferably throughout all possible driving conditions and weathers.“ The sidewall of the AS200 also features the M&S label required in Europe, as well as the snowflake symbol indicating good traction in winter conditions. cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

PRECISION RESPONSE Pushing the bounds of winter performance to new heights, the Blizzak LM-30, LM-32 and LM-35 offer outstanding levels of grip when you need it most. The Blizzak range incorporates Bridgestoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest lamellen technology, combining remarkable stability with balanced, all-round performance on wet and dry surfaces, on snow and on ice. So you can power through winter with total control.

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WINTER TYRES

Winter patterns for all surfaces from – SD-International CONTRACT

TYRE MANUFACTURER SDInternational reports that it provides winter tyre patterns for all road surfaces across its three private brands – Pace, Zeta and Maxtrek. Both the Zeta and Pace brands offer the Antarctica range which is available in three different pattern designs. The Antarctica 5 includes a V-Type directional tread with wide longitudinal grooves for water dispersal, wide shoulder blocks with a compound designed for improved cornering stability and ride comfort at high speed. The Antarctica 6 pattern incorporates a shoulder design intended to enhance grip on snow and ice with evenly distributed holes to combat side slip. Other features include large directional blocks

(optional on SUV’s) to give safe, efficient traction on all types of winter road surfaces. The Antarctica 8 also offers a number of impressive benefits such as three wide longitudinal grooves for fast and efficient water dispersal and improved handling, braking and resistance to hydroplaning, drainage grooves on each side of the shoulder area to effectively drain snow, slush and water and give maximum contact with the road. At the same time high density 3D sipes ensure increased safety and mobility. All three Antarctica patterns are manufactured with a high silica compound, a multi flat profile and wide tread design and are available in an extensive selection of V rated sizes.

The Maxtrek TREK M7 is a studless winter pattern with a new tread designed to offer grip on all winter road conditions. Benefits of the tyre include solid central ribs for dual stability to enhance steering response, a special silica compound with five circumferential grooves giving excellent traction on wet roads. Also a widely spaced tread block within the aggressive profile to carve through deep snow and clear out the grooves. SD-International’s sales and marketing director, Peter Nicholls commented: “Across our Antarctica and TREK M7 winter patterns we can guarantee to provide a tough and durable winter tyre to meet all European road conditions and applications.” cja

Vredestein launches Wintrac xtreme S On 18 June 2013 Apollo Vredestein Introduced its latest UHP winter tyre. The Wintrac xtreme S was designed in cooperation with Italian design house Giugiaro; a partnership that also led to the success of products such as the Ultrac Sessanta and Ultrac Vorti. To celebrate 15 years of cooperation, the introduction of the Wintrac xtreme S took place in Turin, the home of Italdesign Giugiaro and the hub of the automotive industry. The “style” element also explains why the latest version of the xtreme features an “S” in its name. As the successor to the Wintrac xtreme, the Wintrac xtreme S was designed to counter harsh conditions in the coldest season. Superior grip and superb steering precision make the Wintrac xtreme S exceptionally safe on snow, ice and slush, as well as wet and dry cold surfaces. Internal Sipe Locking Technology (ISLT) is intended to take the tyre to a higher level, offering stability at top speeds. And when you consider that this tyre comes with Y speed rating, this means up to 300 km/h. According to the company, optimal traction and grip are delivered by the

large number of sipes on the tread in two types. The central block has straight sipes for maximum traction and a shorter braking distance on snow and ice, while the zigzag sipes in the shoulders are designed to offer handling on slippery surfaces. The tread of the Wintrac xtreme S has two extra wide circumferential grooves. Combined with the V-grooves in the stable centre of the tyre, efficient drainage is assured along with an optimal grip on wet surfaces. In addition to the wellknown M+S designation, the Wintrac xtreme S also carries the ‘Three Peak Snowflake’ symbol, allowing it to be sold as a winter tyre around the world.

Low rolling resistance and long life Vredestein representatives report that xtreme S’s tread compound has an improved polymer mixture with an optimised filling system. Combined with a new generation of silane this is designed to significantly increase durability and offer comfortable driving. In addition, the combination also said to significantly reduce rolling resistance.

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The Wintrac xtreme S was reportedly developed in close cooperation with various automotive industry partners. In addition to Italdesign Giugiaro, which contributed to the design of the symmetrical, directional tread, Vredestein also partnered with premium car stylers such as Carlsson, Hamann and Mansory.

The Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S size range 215/65 205/55 215/60 225/55 245/50 245/40 235/45 235/40 245/40 275/35 245/35 275/30

R 16 98 H R 16 94 V XL R 17 96 H R 17 101 V XL R 18 104 V XL R 18 97 Y XL R 19 99 V XL R 19 96 Y XL R 19 98 Y XL R 19 100 Y XL R 20 95 Y XL R 20 97 Y XL

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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ContiWinterContact TS850 scoops string of awards in 2013 CONTINENTAL garnered a number of winter tyre accolades in the first half of 2013, most recently receiving a coveted award from the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auto Express magazine. Continentalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ContiWinterContact TS850 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best Winter Tyreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for the second consecutive year in the 2013 Product Awards. Auto Express attributed the TS850â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength to its â&#x20AC;&#x153;dominationâ&#x20AC;? across a broad range of performance characteristics: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rarely has a tyre dominated like this, it was first or second in every one of our tests and showed its spread of talents by leading the way on snow and in the wet and dry.â&#x20AC;? The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best Winter Tyreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accolade celebrates the best of the best in the winter tyre market, revealing the most inspirational

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products for the winter season. The awards highlight exceptional performance, quality, safety, desirability and value alongside the magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual tyre tests. Covering multiple product categories such as gadgets and maintenance, the Auto Express Product Awards offer motoring enthusiasts confidence when looking for their next product purchase. Peter Robb, brand manager at Continental, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This win for the ContiWinterContact TS850 is an excellent endorsement for our product range and continues to underline the impressive performance of our latest winter tyre following multiple tyre tests across Europe since its launch last year.â&#x20AC;? A the start of the year the TS850 also wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so-called Continentalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice award, which saw ContiWinterContact TS850 has Auto Express product testers Kim won a clutch of magazine Adams and Jamie Fretwell chose awards this year their 20 favourite products of 2012 from a range of car accessories from tools to technology and tyres to cleaning kits. Commenting on the TS850, the publication wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tyres rarely make it on to our lists of favouritesâ&#x20AC;Ś But this Continental winter tyre grabbed our attention with a string of superb results.â&#x20AC;? Then in February the TS850 (205/55 R16) won another award from Auto Express sister magazine Evo. Scoring a total of 372.9 points out of a possible 400 in a range of tests that covered wet and dry performance, snow conditions and other braking, snow and criteria such as rolling resistance, noise and price, the TS850 was particularly praised for its snow and wet performance. cja

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Maxxis offers both winter and all-season options MAXXIS PRODUCES tyres for the range of weather conditions, from the high performance PRO R1 summer tyre to the MAPW performance winter tyre. Despite originating in Taiwan, the company’s research and development department has even created a range of Nordic tyres specifically designed for Scandinavia and its severe weather conditions. These extreme tyres come with advanced tread compounds, high density sipes, and a rectangular shoulder profile that helps expand surface contact and provide extra safety in all conditions, meaning they work differently to other winter tyres due to the severe weather conditions. Like many tyre manufacturers Maxxis points out that most of the UK has an average temperature of below seven degrees Celsius from November through to March, meaning that when temperatures fall below seven degrees Celsius, it is significantly safer for drivers to use winter tyres during this period. However the company also produces a range of allseason tyres. Maxxis’ range of all-season tyres deliver optimal performance in all weather conditions, due to its all-weather tread compounds that have been developed for its range of all-season tyres. Maxxis’ range of all-season tyres help improve performance and driving stability on wet roads and increase traction and handling in snowy conditions, meaning that drivers all around the globe can benefit from one of the world’s top ten tyre manufacturers technology. The MAAS tyre features an “advanced tread compound” and unidirectional tread design which is said to help increase traction and provide improved handling, offering drivers greater performance and stability in wet and snowy conditions, as well as a quieter ride with increased tyre life. cja

Goodyear Marathon Coach, Ultra Grip Coach now in TreadMax range GOODYEAR HAS ANNOUNCED the avail- tion asymmetric tyre for year-round use, ability of its most recent coach tyre products as TreadMax retreads. The TreadMax Marathon Coach all position and TreadMax UltraGrip Coach winter drive moldcure retreads come in size 295/80R22.5. The newly launched products have the same tread pattern, compound and features as their new tyre counterparts, Goodyear states. Both retreads are also regroovable for more life and economy. The tyres feature Goodyear’s TravelMax, a combination of technologies that include Silefex tread compound and an asymmetric design. Goodyear says that TravelMax is designed particularly to extend mileage. The manufacturer believes the new products will allow coach operators to use their tyre assets to reduce cost per km without compromising on tyre performance. TreadMax retreads are built using only Goodyear Max Technology casings, a measure Goodyear has introduced to ensure the tyre performances related to the tyre’s construction are maintained during its retread life. In addition coach operators can choose to upgrade other Goodyear Max Technology tyre casings such as Goodyear Marathon or Regional tyres of the same size during the retreading process. Marathon, Ultra Grip Coach characteristics The Marathon Coach is an all posi-

boasting even wear and improved mileage with a high comfort level, Goodyear says. The tyre’s asymmetric tread was designed to tackle the problem of uneven tyre wear, a problem Goodyear describes as serious for tyres on modern coaches. The Ultra Grip Coach winter drive tyre features enhanced snow traction, and is thus particularly aimed at coaches that operate in areas such as the Nordic countries and Alpine regions. The tread design and width improve grip and traction in winter conditions and also reduces noise levels for greater passenger comfort. The new tyres are part of the Goodyear comprehensive range of premium moldcure retread products. TreadMax retreads are all manufactured by Goodyear in its own facilities using the moldcure process, which employs virtually identical tread compounds and patterns to new tyres. The bead-to-bead process is also described as almost identical to that used in the production of new tyres. akb

Goodyear’s Marathon Coach all position and Ultra Grip Coach winter drive tread designs are now available as retreads on the company’s Max Technology casings in size 295/80R22.5

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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WINTER TYRES

Cooper offers additional winter sizes COOPER TIRE EUROPE describes its seasonal offering as “a focused list of improved winter tyres which provides a better offering for both trade and consumer as soon as the temperature drops” . The range encompasses fitments for all types of cars and 4x4s.

Ten new sizes are being added to the Cooper WeatherMaster WSC range in time for the 2013 winter season

Sarah McRoberts, marketing communications manager of Cooper Tire Europe, underlined the importance of winter tyres in the cold months, saying: “Our last winter was a particularly harsh one, with lengthy spells of freezing conditions and snow which brought major disruption to the lives of motorists. “As we look set to face another chilly winter, it’s important for UK motorists to realise that winter tyres are not simply reserved for the typically colder countries such as those in Scandinavia and central and Eastern Europe, but that they are a sensible and viable option for use on the UK roads.” Launched in June 2012, the WeatherMaster WSC is the latest addition to Cooper’s winter tyre offering. The WeatherMaster WSC features a directional tread design and high-silica polymer, low-modulus tread compound are designed to provide increased grip on icy, slushy and wet surfaces. Ten new sizes have been confirmed for the 2013 winter season, ranging from 17- to 20inch rims, including a fitment for the Mitsubishi Outlander. The WeatherMaster Snow H/V provides a winter option for owners of modern European performance cars that require an H or V speed rated tyre. With a silica-rich winter traction compound offering improved grip in wet and snowy conditions, as well as when temperatures are low on the road. This tyre carries the Severe Snow Symbol. The WM-ST3 is a studdable car tyre with a directional tread pattern using 3D

Sipe Technology for improved handling, wear and traction on snow and ice. Intelligent stud placement optimises ice traction, and nano-polymer technology is used in the tyre, offering a firm footing on snow and slush. The WeatherMaster ST2 features a TriPolymer Blend Tread Compound, formulated to provide excellent winter traction while maintaining wet and dry performance. Studdable and rated for S/T speeds of up to 118mph with extra load sizes where appropriate, it is a tyre that fits a wide range of fitments for multiple vehicles. The Discoverer M+S2 has a directional tread pattern to improve the tyre’s traction as well as reducing noise levels in dry conditions, while tread blocks with Lamellen siping and an Enhanced Tread Compound give better traction and braking in ice and snow. Marked with the Severe Snow Symbol and S-marked in line with European legislation, the tyre’s T speed rating ensures it is suitable for speeds up to 118mph. Offset stud pin holes, enable the M+S2 to provide enhanced stud retention and optimum performance on ice. The Discoverer M+S is another extremely strong winter option. Its zig-zag tread and sipe pattern provides traction in the most extreme conditions, while offset stud holes provide strong stud retention and traction on ice. Deep sipes perform throughout the life of the tyre, while the all-terrain design enables this to be a strong tyre in all on and off-road conditions whether the surface is mud or snow,

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wet or dry roads. The S rating is suitable for speeds up to 112mph. Cooper’s Discoverer M+S Sport is best described as a European SUV/4x4 winter tyre. Featuring Snow Groove Design Technology, the tyre enables the motorist to capitalise on the higher traction characteristics of ‘snow-on-snow’ compared to ‘snow on rubber,’ without reducing tread element stiffness. The tyre’s silica compound improves grip in rain and snow as well as dry, cold conditions. In speed ratings up to 149mph, the studless SUV design tyre is perfectly suited to modern high performance 4x4s and for European Alpine conditions.

Avon’s winter portfolio As far as Avon is concerned, the Ice Touring ST is a performance winter tyre, which provides superior traction in snow, ice, slush and wet and gives excellent tyre life. Available in 16 and 17-inch sizes to fit popular high performance cars, the Ice Touring ST is also available in H and V speed ratings. The Ice Touring ST is marked with the ‘Severe Snow Conditions’ symbol. The CR85 is a performance winter tyre, which is available in a broad range of wide, low-profile sizes to fit high performance vehicles. High in silica content for flexibility and grip in cold weather, the CR85 is marked with both the ‘Severe Snow Conditions’ and ‘Mud and Snow’ symbols. cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

WINTER TYRES

Yokohama aims to keep you rolling in all weather WITH BRITISH WINTERS becoming unpredictable over the last few years, there is no better time for consumers to seriously consider the benefits of fitting winter tyres. In light of this Japanese manufacturer Yokohama offers reasons why its winter and all-season tyres could be what you are looking for. The brand’s range of winter tyres, known as W.drive, consists of something for everyone, from daily runaround to high performance super-saloon and even light commercials. Offering enhanced performance at temperatures lower than seven degrees Celcius, the W.drive features a construction, design and compound designed to ensure that the very highest levels of grip and safety are maintained at all times and

in all conditions. Of course, Yokohama’s W.drive range will also prove superior in the advent of snow and ice. Tests have shown that, driving at only 30mph in the snow, a winter tyre can help a car stop eight metres sooner than a comparable summer tyre. The design of the W.drive has been developed to generate optimum grip by creating the maximum surface area possible, combined with a large number of edges that provide traction on ice. The same principles that drove the development of the W.drive range have also been incorporated into the Geolandar I/T+, aimed at SUVs for both on and off-road use. It has been designed to provide exceptional traction on snow and ice while the addition of a strengthe-

ned construction allows it to be used at higher speeds, hence the ‘T’ rating in most sizes. Yokohama’s W.drive range has proved so successful that manufacturers such as Mercedes AMG, Audi and Bentley have approved it for winter use and the highlyrespected German motoring organisation ADAC has recommended it to consumers. And it’s not just cars that can benefit from the Yokohama range of winter tyres. The WY01 is intended for light commercial vehicles, ensuring that Britain’s industry can also continue regardless of the weather. In addition to the winter pattern WY01, Yokohama also produces the popular Y354, a genuine all-season fitment. cja

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COMPANY NEWS

Rongcheng strike distracts from Apollo/Cooper takeover But deal remains on-track NEWS THAT WORKERS at Cooper Tire’s Cooper Chengshan plant in are striking in opposition to Apollo’s proposed US$2.5 billion takeover of Cooper may not be halting negotiations between the two companies, but is it certainly an unwelcome distraction. Workers at Cooper Chengshan, a jointventure between Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (USA) and Chengshan Group (), are reportedly on strike in protest against Apollo’s proposed acquisition of Cooper. While there are no signs that this is the case yet, it seems that unions are looking to leverage the timing of strike action. As the trade union which represents workers told local news sources: the Rongcheng plant is “the largest, most profitable and fastest-growing factory of the eight” plants that come as part of the Cooper deal, Cooper Chengshan and industrial action could theoretically throw a fairly significant spanner in the works. According to the Chinese Economic Observer newspaper, on 27 June six representatives of the trade union met Hal Miller, president of Cooper’s International Tire Division to air their concerns. At first glance the union representatives and workers appear pretty intransigent as they reportedly said “the one and only condition under which they would return to work was if the acquisition was halted.” There are believed to be three main reasons for the union’s opposition to the deal: the risk of what they deem “excessive” debt, which would make the factory financially vulnerable to potential market decline; cultural differences between Chinese and Indian businesses, which are seen as a step too far following the

Bit of a blur: While it is clear that the Chinese industrial action doesn’t affect any other plant, it is more difficult to work out exactly what is going on “huge price” of adjustment to the American style of management; and thirdly Apollo has been warned that by “ignoring the concerns of the union the parties were breaking Chinese law”. Nevertheless there has not been any indication that the deal has slowed down or is faltering.

Cooper Rongcheng strike is delaying shipments What it is interrupting is the delivery of existing orders. Representatives of Cooper Tire’s , corporate headquarters confirmed that the company is facing strike action at its and in so doing shed a little more light on the situation. In answer to Tyres & Accessories’ questions, a company spokesperson confirmed that as a result the dispute the factory is “in communication with customers…regarding product supply”. No further details of

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what this means in practice have been released. However, T&A has seen one such customer communication, which suggests the strike, which has reportedly been going on for around a month, is resulting in the delay of export shipments. Interestingly the communiqué to customers suggests that sales staff is in some way siding with the striking workers: “Because the workers boycott transaction of Apollo and protect their legitimate rights, there is no production at the moment. We regret to inform you that your order delivery time may be delayed.” However, while Findlay-based executives confirmed that industrial action is taking place, they pointed out that it was limited to one factory. This means the Cooper Kunshan factory located just outside is said to be unaffected by the action. Cooper’s corporate spokesperson also reaffirmed the continuing nature of

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

COMPANY NEWS

the US$2.5 billion Apollo/Cooper takeover transaction: “Cooper is currently experiencing a temporary work stoppage at our plant in . All other Cooper facilities in , and throughout the rest of the world, continue to operate as normal. We are in communication with customers as appropriate regarding product supply. The pending merger agreement between Apollo Tyres and Cooper is on track and expected to close by the end of this year.” For their part, Apollo representatives have broadly confirmed that there has been disquiet. But they also report that the deal is very much on-track and indeed entering the end-game of what they referred to as a “compelling strategic transaction”. In answer to T&A’s questions, an Apollo spokesperson said: “The transaction is on schedule to close. Cooper and Apollo Tyres are committed to working through the final stages of closing this compelling strategic transaction.” Interestingly, and perhaps indicating how Apollo proposes to deal with intercultural differences in the post merger company, the spokesperson suggested that Cooper staff would be working hard to resolve any issues: “Apollo recognises that Cooper is working to resolve any issues with Cooper’s facility in Rongcheng, China.“ This is significant because the union leaders behind the strike action suggested that, following the Chinese company’s adaptation to US working practices in conjunction with Cooper, a further conversion to “Indian” approaches would be a step too far. However, if this is not reading too much into the statement, it appears that Apollo is upholding the authority (let’s remember that Apollo is not actually the owner of Cooper until the transaction formally completes) and the relational structures already in place.

Brand politics could be at the root of the troubles According to Cooper Chengshan itself, Cooper Chengshan () Tire Company (Cooper Chengshan) is a joint-venture

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

between Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (USA) and Chengshan Group () founded in January, 2006. In March 2010, Cooper extended its majority shareholding of the Chengshan joint venture to 65 per cent. The share acquisition cost Cooper roughly $18 million and came at the behest of minority shareholder Chengshan Group, which exercised a socalled “put” option negotiated as part of the company’s initial Cooper Chengshan investment. Cooper Chengshan reports that its factory has more than 5,000 staff and an annual capacity of 15 million tyres. This figure includes 5 million truck and bus radials, 8 million passenger radials and 2 million cross-ply tyres. Brands produced in the factory include: Starfire, Chengshan, Austone, Fortune, Roadmaster and Dean. The plant supplies

over 30 leading OE customers including: China National Heavy Duty Truck, FAWVW, Baotou North Benz Heavy-Duty Truck and Brilliance BMW. The fact that production at Cooper Kunshan continues unaffected is perhaps not surprising when you consider that this plant, unlike Cooper Chengshan, is 100 per cent owned Cooper following the company’s $116.5 million buyout from Kenda in March 2011. Meanwhile, the fact that Cooper Chengshan appears to be largely responsible for producing half a dozen of the company’s house brands – some of which are likely to get lost in a post Apollo takeover brand portfolio – goes some way to explaining what may be concerning striking workers. chris.anthony@tyrepress.com

3 investment banks buy into Apollo While some Chinese workers are striking, on the other side of the world, European and American corporate investors have literally been buying into Apollo’s takeover narrative. In less than two weeks (between 11 July and 23 July) Morgan Stanley, Swiss Finance and Goldman Sachs bought shareholdings equivalent to 2.39 per cent of the company and simultaneously highlighting some degree of investor confidence in the deal. First up was Morgan Stanley on 11 July. News of this deal, conducted through the bank’s Morgan Stanley Asia Pte’s subsidiary, actually prompted a slight rise in the Indian tyre maker’s share price. Morgan Stanley purchased 2.7 million Apollo shares – a 0.5 per cent stake in the company – for Rs 63.37 a share. After this news was released, shares rose briefly to Rs 64.80; still more than 31 per cent down on their trading price before Apollo announced it would acquire Cooper Tire & Rubber. This was followed by a much larger transaction on 19 July when Swiss Finance Corporation purchased 6.78 million Apollo Tyres shares on the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE (National Stock Exchange of India) for Rs 482.19 million (£5.3 million). This transaction gives the trading institution a 1.34 per cent stake in Apollo. The shares were purchased at an average price of Rs 71. In a separate deal, Swiss Finance then sold 200,000 Apollo Tyres shares on the NSE for a total of Rs 14.8 million, or Rs 74 per share. The latest notable share purchase we are currently aware of came on 23 July when Goldman Sachs Singapore PTE acquired 2,768,258 Apollo Tyres shares on the National Stock Exchange of India for Rs 69.70 per share. This gives the investment banking and securities firm a 0.55 per cent holding in the tyre maker. sg/cja

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COMPANY NEWS

ETRMA: All segments except truck tyres down in 1H 2013 Analysts question 2H recovery thesis IN JUNE 2013 almost all tyre seg- ETRMA data bad news for tyre ments outperformed the same period last year, according to sales data released by European industry body ETRMA on 16 July. Winter tyres were said to be the exception to this rule, but no further details have yet been given. One perhaps surprising observation is that markets with weaker economies in Southern Europe are actually performing better than the more established DACH or Scandinavian regions “In southern Europe, the consumer cannot delay any longer change of tyres. We seem to have reached the bottom” , ETRMA secretary general, Fazilet Cinaralp commented. However as good as bottoming out may be for future prospects of an upturn, in the short term is said to be bad news for input suppliers.

suppliers, reduces pricing power Analysts highlighted the fact that continued decline in tyre demand is bad news for companies supplying components and raw materials to tyre manufacturers. In an investor’s note published on 18 July and entitled: “Weak tyre demand keeps synthetic rubber producers under pressure”, Moody’s Investor Service analyst Elena Nadtotchi assessed the impact of the ETRMA data. Interestingly for the tyre business, the investor’s note contradicted ETRMA’s optimism for a second half demand pickup: “Replacement tyre sales in Europe were declining since the end of 2011 and many market participants expected tyre demand to recover in the second half of 2013, but we believe demand will remain depressed, if up versus the first half of the year which will offer little immediate support to SBR volumes.”

In June truck replacement tyre demand continued its positive Europe replacement market 1H 2013 development (+6%), with 2012 2013 % variation truck OE tyre demand said to Car 96,717 91,249 -6% be “quite stable”. Agricultural Truck 3,741 3,925 +5% tyre sales (agro) were also 959 924 -4% positive in June (+4%) and, Agri 2 Wheel 5,314 5,026 -5% once again, the market was described as “stable”. Source: ETRMA Europool In the first half of the year “We estimate the replacement marsales things didn’t look so rose. Consumer, agriculture and motorcycle ket accounts for approximately 70 – 80 of tyre sales (including scooters) fell bet- all tyre sales in Europe and other develoween 4 and 6 per cent. Truck tyres how- ped markets, while tyre sales in emerever moved roughly the same amount (5 ging markets are driven by new car sales. Weak customer demand is credit per cent) in the distinctly more positive opposite direction. Despite the mixed negative for producers of styrene butanews, ETRMA expects the market to diene rubber, or SBR, including Lanxess AG (Baa2 stable), Trinseo Materials reach 2012 figures at the year end.

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Operating S.C.A. (B1 negative), OJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNK) (Ba3 positive), Sibur Holding, OJSC (Ba1 stable) and, to a lesser degree Ashland Inc. (Ba1 stable)”. Her point was that this reduces tyre manufacturer suppliers’ pricing power and drives down segment revenues. For example Lanxess reported an 18 per cent on-year decline in segment sales in the first quarter, the investor’s note explained. Falling demand has driven down the price of key chemicals that are used for tyre production, such as SBR and its key feedstock butadiene (BD). According to ICIS, since the start of 2013 US and European spot BD prices have fallen approximately 41 per cent and the Asian spot BD price is now down 51 per cent. Similarly, prices for synthetic rubbers that are usually linked to the feedstock prices are also falling, with European spot SBR 1500 prices down approximately 12 per cent and US spot SBR 1502 prices approximately 30 per cent since the start of 2013. According to Moody’s this is because as well as declining demand there is now an oversupply of SBR because many producers including NKNK, Trinseo and Lanxess added significant capacity in 2012/13 to address future demand from emerging markets and in response to record prices and strong volumes in 2009-2012. The investor’s note concluded with more bad news for the input suppliers: “SBR producers may also face more pricing pressure in the second half of the year because feedstock prices have also continued to decline as a result of weak demand and oversupply of butadiene due to the recent addition of extra new capacity by Asian producers.” cja

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

COMPANY NEWS

Our sponsorship reaches 100% of core target group – Continental No chance of this sports professional leaving the field due to tyre failure…

THESE

DAYS it seems every tyre maker and his dog participate in motorsport. This is fine of course, and a good way to boost brand awareness. But serving as a tyre supplier involves considerable product development costs, not to mention the logistics and planning associated with each championship round. And motorsport sponsorship only reaches a particular target audience – unless, as we’ve seen throughout this year, in cases where the tyre supplier finds itself on the receiving end of negative media attention.

Of the top five tyre manufacturers, just one has opted to swim against this tide of motorsport involvement. Continental has chosen instead to invest its sponsorship budget in a sport where there is nary a tyre in sight and it needn’t fear a grilling from the press the morning after each championship round. And it has done so, with very positive results, for some time now. Football, or soccer if you prefer, has in one form or another been part of Continental’s history for more than a century. The German tyre maker and automotive supplier did a brisk trade in soft rubber footballs and rubber football bladders in its early days, and began its initial football sponsorship in the 1950s with local club Hannover 96. In those days, stadium advertising was unknown and shirt advertising was banned, a far cry from the lucrative sport sponsorship business today. Football took off as a sponsorship tool for Continental in the modern sense of the

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word in 1995, following the UEFA decision to replace the European Cup with the Champions League. The company signed up as an official partner, and the arrangement quickly paid off for Conti. The German firm says the Champions League proved superior to any other sporting event in terms of its ability to boost awareness of Continental name amongst motorists and potential customers, and by the end of the first season brand awareness was already on the rise in all of the company’s core markets. More recently, Continental has entered into sponsorship deals for the FIFA World Cup, starting with the event hosted in Germany in 2006, and UEFA Euro, which it first sponsored in 2012. It supported this year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and in June was an official partner to the DFB Cup Final in Berlin. Continental is also linked to the men’s national teams in Spain and The Netherlands, as well as in France, where sponsorship also includes the women’s national team, and in England, where Continental sponsors the FA Women’s Super League. Sponsorship in England and the USA also extends to the national football associations – The FA and US Soccer. These links to the beautiful game are regularly communicated in the company’s advertising and Continental’s own surveys show that more and more drivers have internalised the connection – which in turn drives sales as consumers are far more likely to buy brands they recognise. Conti notes that high awareness of its flagship brand generates dependable demand for its products Continental draws attention to one particular survey that indicates its football sponsorship activities reach 100 per cent

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of its core target group. The company found that awareness of the Continental tyre brand has increased in all markets since 2003, in some cases substantially. Remarkably, this is even true in its German home market, where brand recognition rates have risen from an already high 88 per cent to 93 per cent. The largest increases in Europe occurred in Poland and Russia, with brand awareness respectively rising from 45 to 62 and from 30 to 55 per cent as of 2012. Furthermore, Continental is also profiting from a new trend – a growing interest in football amongst female fans. This provides access to a target group that has not always been easy for tyre makers to effectively reach. “As by far the world’s most popular sport, professional football has proved an outstanding central communications platform for us,” comments Nikolai Setzer, Executive Board member and head of Continental’s Tire division. “Since 1995, we have recorded a steady increase in brand awareness for our premium Continental brand and have fired up the brand image with the powerful emotions from football stadiums around the world…It is hard to imagine Continental not being involved in football. Football has a fundamental role to play in society at large – and for our premium Continental brand in particular.” Continental’s contract with the FIFA World Cup is up for renewal next year and its current agreement with UEFA continues until 2016. The finals of UEFA EURO 2016 will be hosted by two-times European champion France, a country that also happens to be one of Continental’s largest and most important European markets. sg

COMPANY NEWS

Michelin: 1H performance ‘in line with objectives’ But net income down 45% y-o-y segment decreased 4.5 per cent year-on- results. Writing just a couple of hours year to €3.1 billion and net specialty tyre after the earnings details had been sales dropped 11.3 per cent to €1.7 billion. published, the Wall Street Journal opined The price-mix pushed net sales down that because first-half net profit fell 45 by €242 million, or 2.3 per cent. Michelin per cent and because Michelin is taking a says this reflects the €281 million negati- €250 million restructuring charge to ve impact from contractual price reducti- improve manufacturing efficiency some ons based on raw materials indexation investors became unsettled and closed clauses and its price repositioning efforts their positions. However, Michelin was in certain tyre sizes. It also comprised a the not the only firm suffering in Europe positive €39 million impact from changes and mixed responses to British GDP to the sales mix led by Michelin’s premium strategy Michelin first half 2013 figures at a glance in the 17-inch and larger pasNet sales: €10,159 billion senger car tyre segment – Net income: €1,153 billion Michelin reports above marManufacturing efficiency charge: €250 million ket average sales for these products in all its major regional replacement markets. The nega- improvements and German business “Michelin’s first-half performance was in tive 1.4 per cent currency effect, which confidence are thought to have affected line with the 2013 objectives and attests reduced net sales by €143 million, result- investors too. Summarising the news in a brief to the Group’s continuous improvement ed from the stronger euro. Consolidated operating income be- investor update published immediately as it moves forward in its New Phase of Dynamic Growth,” stated chief executive fore non-recurring items amounted to after Michelin’s financials were published, €1,153 million or Deutsche Bank analysts reported that the officer Jean 11.3 per cent of company’s first half operating income of Dominique “Non-recurring expenses stood at €250 net sales in the €1.15 billion (down 13 per cent year-onSenard. “The million for the period, corresponding to the first six months year) was in line with consensus, but shy Group confirms of 2013, down of Deutsche’s €1.2 billion estimate. Their its objectives for restructuring costs generated by current 2013, with the projects that ‘aim to improve the competiti- from €1,320 mil- view is that this is down to “a small negalion and 12.3 per tive price and mix [decline] net of raw target of reportveness of manufacturing operations’”. cent result in mat which will reverse in the second half”. ing stable oper(Michelin first half 2013 results statement). first-half 2012. First half net profits of €507 million also ating income Car and light fell short of Deutsche Bank estimates of before nonrecurring items, a more than ten per cent truck tyre operating income and margin €570 million and a long way behind conreturn on capital employed and positive decreased 5.3 to €550 million and 10.3 sensus expectations of €610 million. per cent respectively. Truck tyre operating Nevertheless the analysts appear to free cash flow.” Net sales amounted to €10,159 milli- income declined to €203 million while have faith in the management’s belief on in the first six months of 2013, only a operating margin rose 0.1 per cent year- that the business will have a stronger jot down on the €10,706 million earned in on-year to 6.5 per cent. Net specialty tyre second half thanks to positive volume the first half of last year. Volumes decrea- operating income dropped 24.5 per cent effect and improved positive price and sed by 1.5 per cent in weaker markets to €400 million and margin narrowed to mix positioning. As a result, their full year during the first quarter but showed signs 23.3 per cent in the first half of this year. estimates of €2.4 billion of operating profit (an increase of 15 per cent in the of improvement in the second. Sales second half of the year) remain unchanwere lower across the company’s three Share price slip after 1H financials ged. product areas - car and light truck net sg/cja sales decreased 3.3 per cent in 1H 2013 Michelin shares fell 5 per cent after the to €5.3 billion, net sales in the truck tyre publication of its first half 2013 financial

UPON

first half 2013 results, Michelin voiced its expectation that mature markets will continue their recovery from last year’s weakness in the remainder of the year, while expansion should be seen in emerging markets. Should this trend play out, the French manufacturer sees itself in good stead to achieve its projected fullyear volumes. This is all well and good, however Michelin’s reportage of its latest results said little about the first-half bottom line, which is markedly down on the same time last year.

ANNOUNCING

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COMPANY NEWS

CV trailer market to grow 2% despite weak 1H DEMAND

FOR HEAVY GOODS vehicle trailers is expected to grow 2 per cent during the course of 2013, despite a weak first six months of the year. Analysts from Clear International have issued a new reports saying as much and forecasting the demand for heavy goods trailers in Western Europe to 2017.

Although Belgium and Germany have already regained their pre-recession level of GDP, and France and the UK will do so in 2014, the Netherlands won’t get there until 2017 and Italy and Spain will take even longer. Even more importantly for trailer demand, the investment level in these seven largest economies will recover slower than the GDP increases. According to Clear, the UK and Germany will be the first countries to match their pre-recession investment levels and that will not be until 2015. Furthermore, demand for road transport in Western Europe, measure in tonne-kilometres, continued to fall in 2012. The average fall for the seven largest economies totals 16.6 per cent since 2006. In simple terms this means fewer trailers are required in Europe now than seven years ago, which is why we see the trailer parc (fleet size) falling in almost every country. The trailer parc continues to fall since the demand for new trailers is lower than the replacement level required to maintain the trailer fleet at its current size. It must be emphasised that this has never hap-

pened since the heavy duty trailer was invented. The size of the parc has always increased every year even through recessions and slowdowns. Gary Beecroft of Clear stated: “Another fact to consider is that we have never gone more than 10 years without an economic slowdown. That means the next recession could come in 2018/19.” However even in the conditions described above the forecast for new trailer demand is that it will match the level of 2006 (approximately) by 2016. According to Clear, it remains unlikely that the demand level of 2007/8 will be seen again. However, 2006 was the third highest level on record. The figures for the trade in merchandised goods in the big 7 countries show an upturn from the fourth quarter 2012 and this will flow through to the demand for road transport, resulting in an improvement in most countries this year. Therefore trailer demand, though down 7.1 per cent in the first half of 2013 will be up 12.6 per cent in the second half and up 1.8 per cent for the year overall. Double digit growth is forecast in all but two of the countries covered. Having said all that 77 per cent of all goods in Europe are moved by road and most of that proportion is transported on a trailer. cja

IM YR LO

L AA CO AL

Remog

REMOG S.p.A. - Via Lithos, 13 - 25086 - Rezzato BS Italy Tel.:+39(0)30-2593383 Fax: +39(0)30-2593386 Website: www.remog.it - e-mail: remog@remog.it TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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COMPANY NEWS

The installation of telematics is one part of the package offered by Michelin solutions

New Michelin solutions division launches with Effifuel A NEW DIVISION within the Michelin Group dedicated to improving its cus- se their operations and involve us in the tomers’ fleet fuel efficiency has launched with what it claims is a unique offer for truck and trailer fleets.The Effifuel solution, targeted at both hauliers and own-account operators, is designed to help customers contain and reduce their fuel costs. Through the new initiative Michelin solutions will work with fleets to define a contractual commitment based on fuel savings and the resources to be deployed to attain them. The savings generated by the solution will be shared by the partners.

Michelin solutions explains that it can access an array of services, including eco-driving training courses, monitoring of drivers’ at-the-wheel behaviour based on individual eco-scores and the installation of telematics display units. Fuel analysts from within Michelin solutions can assist in gathering and studying data on the influences of fuel consumption, whilst also optimising tyre management through pence-per-kilometre tyre pricing and a fitment strategy aimed at reducing fuel consumption. This can include the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to improve the safety of the driver, vehicle and its cargo. “Some of these services already exist individually,” explains Franck Estoquié, chief marketing officer, Michelin solutions. “What’s new is to be

able to package them together in the same solution, manage them efficiently and make a long-term commitment.” The first stage of working with a new fleet will see Michelin solutions conduct a detailed audit of vehicle types, current tyres, itineraries, vehicle operating weights and driver habits, before helping to define an objective efficiency savings target, measured in litres per 100 km. Once a savings structure is in place, Michelin solutions can offer fleets commitments to meet those targets over periods of up to four years. Throughout the contract period Michelin solutions’ own fuel analysts conduct in-depth studies and regular fleet reports. “The idea is not to replace fleet managers but to provide them with resources, visibility and advice to optimi-

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process,” says Estoquié. “If the joint fuel saving goal is met, we share the gains. If it is not, Michelin solutions reimburses a portion of the expenses incurred on a pro rata basis.” Michelin solutions says this makes the operation risk-free for fleets, and may enable the customer to reduce considerably its vehicle running costs, which in turn has a positive impact on operating margins. Effifuel is being offered to single marque or mixed fleets, and across all brands of truck. Michelin says it aims to deploy the new unit in most European countries, including the UK, throughout 2013, before moving to North America, South America and China in 2014 and 2015. Michelin solutions also says it wants to launch initiatives to meet the needs of other fleets, including passenger cars, vans and earthmover equipment. Michelin solutions replaces the division previously known in the UK as Michelin Fleet Solutions, and currently employs more than 800 people globally. It is responsible for more than 500,000 vehicles currently on contract. akb

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COMPANY NEWS

Kraiburg keeping customers happy KRAIBURG REPORTS that it has maintained its high annual customer satisfaction rating, roughly a year since the last analysis was done. According to the company, the news is confirmation that Kraiburg Austria’s customers are “very satisfied with their supplier of quality precure and hotcure materials.” The overall score is the same as last year at 1.6. The retreading specialist polled 38 customers in 27 countries who accounted for more than 40 per cent of total sales in 2012, inviting them to award marks from 1 at the top to 6 at the bottom. There were seven sections of questions in total. All the scores were in the ones and remained at the previous year’s level, with the one exception of communication and information which scored worse than last year with 1.9. The top grade of 1.27 went to the technical support services. It is the advice and

information on possible improvements to the product quality which the customers value most in this category – and which prompts them to want even more one-on-one contact. Product quality scored an excellent 1.54 and is still very much appreciated by the retreaders, both for orders of hotcure retreading materials and for the tread patterns in the K_base, K_tech and K_plus ranges. “The results are very gratifying and they also spur us on to do more“, said a delighted Holger Düx, head of sales and marketing at KRAIBURG Austria, “and so we are already working on a package of measures which will enable us to cater for the requirements of our customers even better in future and to beat our performance next year“. cja

Trelleborg, Massey Ferguson partner for demo Tour TRELLEBORG HAS BEEN SELECTED as the official partner for Massey Ferguson’s Super6 Demo Tour, a European wide road show across ten key markets presenting the Massey Ferguson tractor range. Trelleborg views the tour as an opportunity to strengthen further its strategic partnership with the leading tractor manufacturer, while taking the opportunity to showcase its latest product innovations. The tour’s latest stop is in Rome on 17 July with its interactive mobile stand, the ‘Blue Box’, displaying the latest Trelleborg innovations and digital services. “After England, Austria, Norway, Belgium and Sweden, the international Super6 Demo Tour will come to Italy,” says Paolo Fogagnolo, country manager for Italy and Greece at Trelleborg Wheel Systems.

“The Super6 Demo Tour will feature the latest generation of Massey Ferguson tractors equipped with Trelleborg tyres. The MF 8690 DVT Exclusive tractor fitted with Trelleborg TM1000 High Power IF 710/75R42 and IF 650/60R34 tyres will be seen for the first time on the tour. The tyres have been developed according to Trelleborg’s Blue Tire technology to meet the requirements of today’s high powered tractors. “Massey Ferguson tractors equipped with Trelleborg tyres combine well-proven, cutting edge technology with the latest fuel efficient engines as well as operator comfort. Pioneering the ulti-

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mate in SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology and designed specifically for agriculture, the MF 8690 DVT Exclusive offers outstanding engine efficiency for lower fuel consumption. At the same time, the extra wide footprint area of TM1000 High Power tyres provides outstanding traction and fuel efficiency, optimizing working time and reducing emissions.” Gianluca Gherardi, Massey Ferguson national sales manager, comments: “We are really excited about this new initiative that further reinforces the strong relationship between Massey Ferguson and Trelleborg. We share the same vision and strategy for the future of farming and we are both aware of the effectiveness of the field demonstrations as a useful tool to improve the direct contact with final users.” akb

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Nexen Tire Europe GmbH - U.K Office

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MOTORSPORT

Michelin renews European NASCAR partnership

Michelin has renewed its commitment to the NASCAR Whelen EuroSeries (the new name for the former Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series). The tyre maker’s involvement in the US-imported championship as technical partner and tyre supplier dates back to 2009, and the company has developed two tyres for the mechanically simple cars used in NASCAR. These are the Michelin S9C slick (33/70-15) and P2E rain tyre (33/70-15).

Michelin says the NASCAR Whelen Euro-Series fits its perception of responsible motorsport

As the cars competing in the NASCAR Whelen Euro-Series are identical to their American counterparts, the Michelin tyres are tall and wide and feature 16cm sidewalls. An absence of electronic aids on the heavy, 400hp or greater cars means an additional emphasis is placed upon the rubber. Regulations permit just one set of tyres per meeting, which including practice, qualifying and the race itself involves some three hours of track time. Therefore both grip and longevity are demanded from the Michelin-supplied tyres. For a total campaign, each car and driver requires just 24 tyres – which equates to a total of 600 tyres for the season. “This series is important for Michelin because it fits with our perception of responsible motorsport, with capped tyre allocations at each meeting,” comments Philippe Mussati, director of Michelin Motorsport’s Customer Competition Department. “This reasoned approach to motorsport makes sense to the teams, organisers, partners and spectators, while also being good for the environment.” The NASCAR Whelen Euro-Series takes place at both conventional race tracks and 600-metre long ovals with ninedegree banking (such as Tours, France). As a result, Michelin must supply versatile tyres that provide the expected level of performance at all venues. “We faced several technical chall-

enges when designing the tyres for the NASCAR Whelen EuroSeries,” Mussati explains. “First of all, the cars are highly specific in terms of their weight, power output, suspension and absence of electronic aids. Their tyres must therefore take these constraints into account to deliver the required grip, longevity and competitiveness. This fits perfectly with the ‘Michelin Total Performance’ research and development strategy which seeks to take performance forward on all these fronts at the same time. “Another challenge was the variety of track layouts and surfaces visited in the course of the season,” he continues. “This variety is another complex parameter when it comes to ensuring performance and longevity. Michelin has taken all these factors into account to develop a slick and a rain tyre that are an ideal match for the demands of NASCAR racing in Europe.” Michelin says it views its partnership with the NASCAR Whelen Euro-Series as “a way to ensure the long-term future in Europe of the machinery seen in the American series.” The tyre maker adds that it has closely collaborated with the series organisers since 2009 in areas such as tyre cost, aiming to meet both the requirements of competitors and ensure the series is affordable. sg

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

MOTORSPORT

Michelin helps Drayson to EV land speed record Michelin’s LMP1 tyres, which helped Audi’s hybrid car to victory in the 90th Le Mans 24 hour race, have been put to record-breaking use by Lord Drayson. Drayson Racing Technologies’ B12 69/EV electric Le Mans Prototype set a new electric land

speed record, smashing the previous 40 year-old 175mph record by 29.2mph. The record-breaking run took place at Elvington Airfield nearYork on the evening of 25 June, 2013.

Earlier this month Michelin announced a strategic partnership with Drayson Racing Technologies and breaking the World Electric Land Speed Record for a car weighing less than 1,000kg by posting an average of 204.185mph over two runs completed within one hour is a suitably spectacular way to kick off this alliance. The Michelin tyres were confidential-specification LMP1 tyres which have been developed for the sustained high speeds encountered in endurance racing, designed in association with leading global endurance racing teams. The sizes were 33/68-18 on the front axle and 37/71-18 on the rear. The tyre design chosen for the record attempt offered performance characteristics optimised for the conditions of the challenge. Michelin says the tyres exemplify its Total Performance ethos by managing to combine low rolling resistance to reduce battery drain; high traction levels to enable the car to accelerate to maximum speed as quickly as possible;

good stability to enable the car to safely run with minimal down-force; and excellent braking performance to ensure the car could be stopped safely before the end of the runway. This isn’t the first record for an electric vehicle fitted with Michelin tyres. In 1899 La Jamais Contente broke the 100km/h barrier fitted with the Company’s pneumatic tyres when most cars were still running on solid tyres. akb

Honda plots F1 return from new Milton Keynes base Following confirmation of a return to Formula One for the 2015 season in May, Honda has announced that it will base its European racing operation in Milton Keynes. Honda says the new facility will be the European frontline operation for its F1 participation, a joint project with McLaren to supply the power unit, including the engine and energy recovery system. It will rebuild and maintain power units developed at the Honda R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, while its trackside support operations from this new European office. This office will be located in the new engine research and development centre of Mugen Euro Co, Ltd, the UK subsidiary

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

of M-TEC Co Ltd (Japan), where Honda plans to start operations from June 2014. It will also provide an engineer office for Honda’s activities in the world Touring Car Championship. Honda explained that the development and manufacture of Honda's F1 power units will still take place at the R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, but that it sees as important the establishment of a European facility to support its racing operation. With this in mind, the UK, home of McLaren and many F1 suppliers, and proximity to seven of the 19 races taking place in Europe in 2013, acts as a global hub for the transportation of parts and team personnel.

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Yasuhisa Arai, senior managing officer and director, chief officer of Motorsports, Honda R&D Co, Ltd. said: “With the confirmation of a new F1 operation base in UK, our preparation to join F1 has become more specific and concrete. To meet and exceed the expectations of our fans, we will accelerate our development to bring back the unique Honda engine sound onto the track.” akb

MOTORSPORT

Maxxis supporting Babe Michelle’s drifting ambitions Maxxis is supporting the drifting ambitions of one of its promotional team of Maxxis Babes. Michelle Westby has set her sights on achieving her semi-pro licence by the end of 2013 having taken up drifting a year ago and the tyre supplier that originally made her part of its motorsport marketing presence is supporting her driving ambitions with sponsorship, tyres and website assistance. Maxxis International managing director Derek McMartin says the relationship is “proving to be mutually beneficial.”

Maxxis Babe Michelle Westby is working her way towards drifting semi pro status, with help from the tyre manufacturer

He explains: “As well as supplying her with tyres we have also lent a hand building her a website to help promote her drifting and modelling in order to raise her profile keep work coming in so she can keep progressing her car. In return Maxxis becomes synonymous with a real racing talent with a growing army of fans. It really is win-win for everyone, so we’re more than happy to play our part in helping Michelle succeed.” Westby describes herself as a tomboy who has to “glam up for my work”; while she continues to enjoy the job she has spent the last four years doing, she describes modelling ultimately as “really a means to an end. I fell in love with drifting when I was working for Time Attack and the European Drift championship. I became mesmerized by the grace, and when I went out as a passenger it took my breath away. The feeling of drifting is amazing, the adrenaline rush makes me feel alive. “I started doing as much modelling and photographic work as possible to help me save up enough money to buy and build my first drift car. I was working nine to five in the

week and then all weekend. I had to make a lot of sacrifices, social nights out were more rare and I certainly couldn’t go out buying clothes all the time any more but I didn’t mind making sacrifices as I knew its drifting that I wanted to do more than anything. “Last year I bought a cheap 200sx, welded the diff and I was up and running. I’ve been on quite a few practice sessions at Santa Pod, and now that I have Maxxis behind me I can go to bigger circuits that require fatter tyres and more power. I am now loving sliding around race tracks such as Lydden Hill, being able to use wider wheels and gripier tyres, which has helped me progress so much quicker. “Before I was using part worn tyres on 15inch wheels and I just wasn’t getting the grip I needed. I’m really happy with the way my career is developing, and can’t thank Maxxis, Super Pro, Garage D enough, Drift Innovation for all of their support and AWS racewear who have just sponsored me a racesuit, jacket and gloves.” Maxxis continues to be a principle sponsor of the British Drift Championship, and investing in Westby’s ambitions shows once again the brand’s commitment to this form of motorsport. Westby hopes to try out the Fuel Topia Barrel Sprint competition on her way to her ultimate goal of the British Drift Championship. akb

MOTORSPORT

Cooper launches rallycross wet tyre Developed for the European Rallycross Championship with competitive testing in Germany, Sweden and Norway, Cooper Tire has launched its new 17” wet-weather rallycross tyre. The new tyre has already run in open competition in both Portugal and France, setting fastest laps in the heats. Cooper says its eponymous and Avon brands are established as global rallycross leaders, with these brands supplying the tyres of choice for the vast majority of competitors. The new rubber has been praised by competitors such as 14-time European Rallycross champion and Hansen Motorsport Team Manager, Kenneth Hansen, who indicated that Cooper’s wet-weather tyre performance was comparable to that of its highly-acclaimed ACB11 in dry conditions. European marketing communications manager Sarah McRoberts said that the move was indicative of Cooper’s long-term involvement in the sport, saying, “Rallycross is a discipline which we’ve been involved with for several years, with both the Cooper and Avon brands being held in very high esteem amongst rallycross competitors. “It’s now a very exciting time for the sport and for us, as it continues to grow in stature and is now receiving the respect and interest it deserves as a truly demanding and exciting form of motorsport. As we look to further increase our involvement in rallycross, it’s undoubtedly the right time to branch out and develop a brand new wet-weather tyre that provides the same superior performance as our highly acclaimed ACB11 dry-weather tyres.” For the 2013 European Rallycross season, Cooper Tire is sponsoring rookie racer, Timmy Hansen. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a successful start to his rallycross career, sealing his maiden win at round three in Hungary. The young Swede now lies second in the SuperCar standings. The next round of the European Rallycross Championship will be held at Höljes, Sweden, over the weekend of 6-7 July. akb

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Extra tyre info for DTM fans Spectators watching 14 July’s DTM round at the Norisring circuit in southern Germany were left in no doubt as to which tyres each driver selected. Championship tyre supplier Hankook opted to visually differentiate the option tyres by printing its brand name in larger, yellow text on the sidewall. Viewers at home were also helped in the tyre department through additional on-screen information; graphics shown on televised coverage now indicate which tyres a vehicle is using. This information is transmitted via the rim-mounted sensors each DTM car has used since the start of 2012 to convey information on tyre pressure. Tyre data sent from each sensor carries an individual code that is assigned prior to the distribution of the option tyres. Should a DTM car enter the circuit fitted with option tyres, a receiver within the car notes this information and automatically transmits it to the television graphics interface. “The use of individual codes that are automatically identified will make the use of the option tyres even more transparent, from the Norisring weekend,” says Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e. V. “As next step following the bigger yellow identification marks on the tyre sides that we have already been using since Spielberg, this system makes sure that the TV graphics also are up to date at any time. This provides the spectators and the TV audience a better overview of what is going on in the race.” Option tyres have been used in DTM since the beginning of the current season. Thanks to their softer compound, they enable the driver using them to set faster lap times - for a certain period of time. With prolonged use, however, their performance quickly deteriorates. Every driver receives - solely for the race - one set of these tyres and must use them in the race. The option tyres allow the drivers to opt for different strategies. The Norisring, set out on the site of the former Nazi party rally ground in Nuremburg, is the only street circuit on the DTM calendar. Highlights of the race were shown in the UK on ITV4, while German viewers enjoyed live coverage on ARD. sg

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MOTORSPORT

Dmack tyres on 3 Fiesta R5 WRC crews Finland’s Jari Ketomaa gets ready to compete Rally Finland on Dmack rubber in his Autotek-run Fiesta R5s wrapped in Dmack 2013 livery

Tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship Dmack was chosen as the first fitment to three of the five new Ford Fiesta R5s built by M-Sport.The cars were to make their debut, as Tyres & Accessories went to press, on the Neste Oil Rally Finland on 31 July- 3 August. Local driver Jari Ketomaa and Norwegian Eyvind Brynildsen in Autotek-run Fiesta R5s wrapped in Dmack 2013 livery, and Robert Barrable from Dublin, Ireland in his CA1 Sport Fiesta planned to line up at the start of the event in Jyvaskyla with Dmack’s DMG+2 gravel tyre.

Ketomaa will contest his home rally after tasting success with Dmack earlier this year when he took a dominant victory on the second round of the FIA European Rally Championship in Latvia. Brynildsen has also had a recent victory, winning the South Swedish Rally in early May in his Group N Mitsubishi. Both drivers will undertake a pre-event test to get fully up to speed with the new car and the traditionally high-speed gravel roads that will face them in Finland. Barrable, meanwhile, made his WRC debut at Rally Portugal in April where he finished 11th overall and second in WRC2 using Dmack tyres. The new R5 regulations aim to lower the cost of competition at the top levels of the sport, and Dmack makes the point that it too entered the WRC with a similar ethos. The Dmack crews will face stiff competition in Finland with over 20 WRC2 entries planned for the event.

Dick Cormack, Dmack motorsport director, said: “The new Ford Fiesta R5 looks extremely impressive and the R5 category has attracted a huge interest from many top private teams and competitors. Its cost reduction strategy fits perfectly with Dmack’s culture of delivering affordable motorsport tyres and it’s extremely encouraging to see most of the R5 crews in Finland choosing to run with DMACK for the WRC debut of the new machine.” Jari Ketomaa said: “It will be great to be one of the drivers to establish R5 cars in WRC level. They are expected to be very competitive so that gives us a good stepping-stone to fight for victory in Rally Finland. The new Dmack tyres are a good step forward from last year’s gravel tyre. The grip and braking levels have improved and now I have a good feeling with the tyre all the way through the corner. That gives great confidence for a driver to

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push which is very important in a race like Finland.” Eyvind Brynildsen said: “Finland is a great rally – fans, the atmosphere and the stages are all unbelievable. I have done more than 30 rallies in the World Rally Championship but with the new Fiesta R5 and Dmack’s new tyre, this will be one of the most exciting events for me. There are a lot of good drivers in the WRC2, from the results of the other rallies we can see they are strong. But it’s our time to show some results now and we hope we can do it in Finland.” Dmack, a brand manufactured in China by Shandong Yongtai and developed over the past few years in tandem with Carlisle-based Dick Cormack, faces stiff competition as always from the other WRC tyre supplier, Michelin. Dmack launched a range of passenger car and commercial vehicle tyres through a number of global distribution partners in 2012. akb

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MOTORSPORT

Falken ups grassroots motorsport engagement with Ministox driver

An 11-year old racing driver has gained tyre brand Falken’s support alongside her first victory in the National Ministox series. The Japanese manufacturer supplies tyres to Catherine Harris as part of its expanding presence in UK grass roots motorsport. The brand recently announced its intention to back the ANWCC Under-17s AutoSOLO and the K11 Micra Rally series, and is using this involvement as a way of raising the awareness of the importance of tyres to the next generation of car drivers. Harris won her first heat and final victories in National Ministox, where children ages 10 to 15 compete in armoured Minis on tarmac and shale tracks, running on Falken’s Ziex ZE912 and Sincera tyres. The car uses a mix of 10’’ and 12’’ wheels. By offering a blend of affordability and performance on tarmac and shale surfaces, Falken says the ZE912 is an increasing popular choice for competitors. Harris’ older brother Tom, himself a multiple stock car champion, helps maintain his sister’s Ministox and decided to equip her Mini with Falken tyres, citing the key reasons for selecting the brand’s tyres for the often tricky and challenging driving conditions. “For kids, first and foremost we want a safe tyre from a known brand we trust,” says Tom Harris, “Falken not only delivers that but also offers good grip and provides the kids with excellent feedback as they learn to control the car. Falken’s ZE912 also offers excellent durability, making them long lasting, cost-effective tyres – ideal for kids to use while honing their racing skills.” For Falken’s UK and Ireland director, Matt Smith, getting involved in a growing multitude of motorsports targeting the youth market is exactly what tyre makers such as Falken should be doing. “It’s imperative that younger people start learning about the importance of tyres,” says Smith. “These initiatives get the younger audience thinking about the role of tyres in the safety and performance of the car.” The support from Falken has already got Catherine Harris thinking about tyres: “Before, I never really thought about them but now I have learnt they make a big difference to how the car goes and stops.” akb

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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National Ministox driver Catherine Harris

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New port range a taste of Conti’s expansion strategy Investment in growth areas OVER

THE LAST DECADE or so Continental has focused heavily on its automotive businesses, and with an annual turnover of 32.76 billion euros it today ranks as the world’s third largest automotive supplier (behind Denso and Robert Bosch). But now the pendulum is swinging the other way. During a recent press conference, Nikolai Setzer outlined the company’s current strategy of investing into non-automotive areas in order to balance Continental’s footprint.The Tire division head also said investment is being undertaken to reduce vulnerability to automotive sector downturns.

German manufacturer presented a range that reflects this focus – a CST portfolio featuring newly-developed technology and aimed at the expanding port industry. Ports and harbours were a logical choice for Continental. Current estimates place the global container trade at around 600 million teu, or 20 foot container equivalents, per annum. And if the experts’ predictions pan out, this business will grow significantly in the coming years. Little wonder then that Continental identified this as an interesting segment. The TOC Container Supply Chain Europe exhibition in Rotterdam (June 25 to 27) was chosen as the venue for the harbour tyre portfolio’s official debut; during the launch the head of Continental’s Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit discussed opportunities within the segment and the technology “We bought and integrated VDO in the expected to optimise total cost of owneryear 2000. Now we want to clearly grow ship for end-users. “In the years until 2024, container shipthose parts which are more non-automotive and on the rubber side of the business,” ments will double to 1.2 billion teu,” shares he comments. Setzer added that areas of Dr. Andreas Esser. “We want to grow anticipated future growth are a particular together with the market development in investment focus, and Continental’s the harbour segment in the future, and our Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) business answer is that we’ve created a specialised has been an early beneficiary. In June, the product portfolio for the harbour business. We want to support and benefit custContinental’s port tyre portfolio consists of omers with great the following products: solutions that bring them benefits, and V.ply tyres by doing so we also • Continental StraddleMaster want to want to • Continental ContainerMaster and DockMaster increase our market • Continental CraneMaster share in the port business.” Radial/solid tyres Development of • Continental TerminalTransport this new, specialised • ContiRV20 portfolio began by • ContiRT20 analysing end-user • Continental Trailer needs. According to

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Nikolai Setzer reports that Continental is looking to invest in non-automotive growth areas Dr. Michael Maertens, managing director of Continental Commercial Specialty Tires, the number one customer requirement was identified as safety – straddle carriers, for example, have a tendency to tip over with spectacular destructiveness if incorrectly maneouvered. Pushing against this safety requirement are productivity pressures resulting from the need to load and unload ever larger vessels in the same amount of port space, while cost competitiveness and total cost of tyre ownership (TCO) are other key issues that harbour customers face. “After fuel, the tyre spend is already the second biggest cost in port operation,” Maertens comments. “More than that, 20 per cent of a vehicle’s fuel consumption originates in the rolling resistance of tyres. With our new high-quality portfolio we offer our customers in the harbour business a complete solution that increases reliability and safety. At the same time it helps to keep operating costs down and to optimise the environmental performance of their fleets.” The new portfolio includes customised tyres for all vehicle types operating in port logistics, including straddle carriers – a vehicle described by Maertens as “the most demanding vehicle in port operations

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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and therefore the target of our development”, reach stackers, rubber tyre gantry cranes, terminal tractors and trailers, and heavy-duty forklifts. Most tyres in the range are based on something Continental calls “V.ply technology”. This is, Maertens elaborates, a design that takes the best elements of cross-ply and radial technology. “We took the stability of cross-ply and tried to bring it to the rolling resistance level of a radial tyre,” he explains. “We changed the cross-ply cord angle from ‘x’ ply to ‘v’ ply so that we have a cord angle that runs in a radial direction, so the tyre is much stiffer but still maintains stability in its sidewalls. That brings it close to radial rolling resistance while retaining the stability needed to prevent accidents. It offers the best of both worlds.” The use of ‘V.ply’ allows for the production of sidewalls three times thicker than those used in radial tyres. A V.ply casing consists of up to 20 layers of cross-ply fibre woven into three separate wire beads. As steel cord does not provide an optimal bond between the carcass construction and the rubber shell, V.ply technology uses high-resistance polymer. The new V.ply range consists of three products – the Straddle Master for straddle carriers, ContainerMaster and DockMaster for reach stackers, heavy-duty forklifts and empty container handlers (the DockMaster is a slick version of the ContainerMaster), and the CraneMaster for rubber gantry cranes, mobile harbour cranes and automated guided vehicles. Michael Maertens reports that the range is currently undergoing testing in ten locations around the world. “The tests are not yet finished, but what we can say is that they are pretty close in lifetime to radial tyres,” he shares. “There is a gap, but it is less than a ten per cent magnitude.” He adds that, in terms of price positioning, Continental will adhere to its aim of offering the best total cost of ownership, and therefore “the price will be according to performance.”

when further products join the CST portfolio – Andreas Esser declares “there are three areas where we’ve said we want to grow, where we want to place a focus. These are industrial material handling, OTR material handling and underground mining” – these too will also be marketed as Continental tyres; General-branded underground mining tyres will be phased out. And Simex will head in the same direction. Continental ‘inherited’ the Simex brand through its joint venture with Sime Darby in Malaysia, which ended in May 2012 following Continental’s acquisition of its partner’s 30 per cent share in the operation. Nikolai Setzer and Andreas Esser indicate that the Simex brand will not play any major future role in Continental’s specialty tyre segment; the Continental brand name will be utilised as new product lines are rolled out. “In the past we were very active with our Malaysian brand, Simex,” says Esser. “We want to change that now, with a stronger focus on high performance and into a Continental-branded product.” Incidentally, the former jointventure facility in Malaysia, now renamed

Continental Tyre Malaysia, manufactures the new ‘Master’ port and harbour tyre range. Continental’s interest in specialty tyres even extends to the larger of the breed and Setzer says an entry into the ‘giant’ tyre segment is conceivable, although the barriers to entry are higher here than for other market segments. Naturally, Continental cannot invest in every business area and market at once, and Nikolai Setzer foresees that agricultural tyres will be the company’s next investment focus. Continental has not participated in this highly dynamic market since it divested this business area in Europe and sold it to the CGS Group (Mitas). Whichever product area Continental turns its attention to next, the key point here is that the Continental brand is the company’s premium product and will be increasingly promoted as such. While Nikolai Setzer didn’t go as far as officially announcing the end of the General and Simex brands within the Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) business unit, both of these will take a back seat in the coming years. stephen.goodchild@tyrepress.com

Continental’s premium brand strategy This new line-up will be solely marketed under the Continental brand name. And

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Straddle carriers were the target of Continental’s V.ply development

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Michelin updates rally range to match ERC regs IN

with the new regulations in the FIA European Rally Championship (FIA ERC), Michelin launched its latest range of asphalt rally tyres at the GEKO Ypres Rally between 27 and 29 June. The French tyre maker describes the new Michelin Pilot Sport R range as “streamlined” and “cost-effective” – music to the ears of ERC organisers, whose proposal to restrict tyre usage as of theYpres Rally was agreed upon by the FIA on 24 May. Organiser Eurosport Events says these measures have been implemented to “reduce the cost of competing in the flagship competition.”This decision followed new tyre regulations introduced by the FIA on 1 May. ACCORDANCE

“The ERC tyre regulations were far too expensive,” explains François Ribeiro, motorsport development director at Eurosport Events. “We want the ERC’s open tyre competition to remain, but we had to do something to drastically cut costs for the teams. With six new tyres allowed after each service park, we had a situation where teams were running 36 to 42 tyres for 250 kilometres of stages, which was economic nonsense given the endurance capability of new tyres. We have consulted with the teams, rally organisers and the tyre manufacturers and proposed a tyre restriction plan which the FIA Rally Commission has rubberstamped.” With the introduction of the Pilot Sport R, Michelin’s asphalt range has decreased from six to four tyres. Michelin says the tyres are designed to work within wider operating windows and the tread compound used in the Pilot Sport R is said to be “more versatile” than its predecessor. Each tyre features a new asymmetrical tread pattern that supports the new regulation’s stipulation that the same tread pattern must be used in both wet and dry conditions and that the sea-to-land ratio in tread patterns must increase from 17 to 23 per cent. The inner shoulder of the Pilot Sport R10 and R20 tyres are thus deliberately

groove-free to maximise traction and braking on dry roads, while the more rounded outer shoulder offers optimal contact pressure to maximise cornering grip. Michelin says the tread pattern offers a gain of 13 per cent in terms of contact patch, which means 3.5 per cent more rubber in contact with the ground to guarantee the maximum possible grip. The new tyres are also lighter than their predecessors, with each one having shed seven per cent of its weight to now register 9.7 kilogrammes. “Our new Michelin Pilot Sport R range is more streamlined than before, meaning drivers will now need to choose between just four tyres rather than six,” summarises Philippe Mussati, director of Michelin Motorsport’s Customer Competition department. “It is also more competitive, having been designed with a new construction, a new tread pattern and tougher and stronger, more competitive compounds that will avoid the necessity for frequent tyre changes. Its design stems from Michelin’s determination to work closely alongside its customers and to share their targets. “Not only that, but this new range is more cost-effective – given that budget is very much at the forefront of teams’ concerns these days – and Michelin is committed to playing its part to make sure that

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The new range first saw action at Ypres on 27 to 29 June

ours is a responsible sport, which benefits the teams, organisers, governing body and above all the environment, with the end goal of generating better mobility in the future,” he adds. When asked about a possible return to Formula One, Michelin often replies that it would only do so were the championship once again open to multiple tyre suppliers. And Mussati says that the scope for all tyre makers to participate in the ERC is a key reason why the championship is an important one for Michelin. “It is a series that is open to tyre competition with no fewer than five different manufacturers in the field; that constitutes a genuine technical and sporting challenge, which is just what we relish at Michelin, as direct confrontation with our rivals is something that is rooted in our brand’s genes.” He also opines that the ERC regulations allow Michelin “to innovate, to develop increasingly competitive new tyre solutions - and therefore to work with our partners in the pursuit of victory.” According to the recently-introduced ERC regulations, from Ypres onwards a quota of 20 tyres (plus four for the shakedown) will be allocated to each team. The shakedown will now also act as a qualifying session. sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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Avon was delighted with the feedback it received from motorcycle magazine journalists

New Avon Storm 3D X-M hypersport bike tyre wins magazine plaudits THE

LAUNCH OF AVON TYRES’ latest sports touring motorcycle tyre aimed at the hypersport market, the Storm 3D X-M, took place near the brand’s Melksham, Wiltshire manufacturing base at Castle Combe in May. The Cooper-owned brand says it has since been reaping the plaudits for the new tyre, tested out by two-wheel specialist journalists on the fast and bumpy circuit.

Jon Urry, working for Motor Cycle News explained that though “Combe is a notoriously bumpy track, the tyre provided a remarkable level of grip, allowing the pegs to be dragged through the third gear

off-camber corners. At the end of a continuous stint of over 30 fast laps, the rear began to slide when powering on in third gear, but for a tyre designed to last for 10,000-12,000 miles, that’s quite an achievement. The steering felt composed and the Storm provided good grip right from cold with impressive stability at speed.” Simon Roots, editor of Fast Bikes magazine, praised the tyre’s resistance to slowing steering, producing “a tyre that compromises little. There are plenty of heavy braking areas around Combe and the X-M let the Fazer go hard into a turn with the brakes still manfully slowing the bike up. After a session on my R1 on Avon’s 3D Ultra Xtremes my wrist wasn’t

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used to delicate throttle openings, but I needn’t have worried as the X-M provided a great level of grip and angles down to the peg. They also coped well with the bumps.” Alan Dowds, editor of SuperBike magazine, and freelancer Stuart Barker, writing for RiDE magazine added that they had been impressed with the nominally road-going tyre’s competence on-track. Barker praised the tyre’s performance on the road after the track-based testing had finished: “the nicely scrubbed 3D X-Ms inspired enough confidence for some hard cornering and serious lean angles. The unexpected result of accepting Avon’s invitation was that I finally found a reason to rejoice in the BMW F800GT.”

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Mike Armitage, road test editor from Bike magazine also credited the tyre with improving his Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s low-speed handling: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Steering is weight at low-speed manoeuvres and the bars need constant pressure to maintain course. Or thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it was. Avonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Storm 3D X-M make the most significant difference Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever experienced from changing tyres. Steering is lighter and more responsive. Agility is enhanced at all speeds, without a loss of stability. Trendy 3D sipes give sure-footed confidence in soggy conditions.â&#x20AC;? Doug Ross, head of global motorcycle tyre sales for Avon Tyres, was pleased with the feedback: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, so good was some of the commentary that selected journalists have requested the X-Ms on their long-term project bikes, all of which

is very rewarding for us at Avon. We have worked hard to create a new product that marries stable handling characteristics and durability, two things at the forefront of any motorcyclistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind when selecting new rubber. To have such glowingly positive feedback about a product in a crowded and competitive market from our knowledgeable media is extremely satisfying.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Higher mileageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from British-made tyre Manufactured in Melksham, the new addition to the Avon Storm Ultra family of sports touring tyres takes the technology found in the 3D Ultra sports tyre family and uses it to create a sports touring tyre which also delivers higher mileage, Avon says. The Storm 3D X-M features interlocking three-dimensional points hidden

in the tyreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grooves, which improve stability, grip and warm-up times, while limiting tread flex. These latest advances in tyre technology are married to a highperformance single and multi-compound silica-rich tread that enhances wet grip. Avon characterises improved handling and stability characteristics as â&#x20AC;&#x153;essential on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hyperbikesâ&#x20AC;?, such as the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, Kawasaki GTR1400 and Kawasaki ZZR1400. It is confidant that the Storm 3D X-M can â&#x20AC;&#x153;transform the performanceâ&#x20AC;? of older model hyperbikes, such as BMWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s K1300 series and Hondaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Super Blackbird. The Avon Storm 3D X-M is available now in sizes 120/70-ZR17 (front) and 180/55-ZR17 and 190/50-ZR17 (rear). akb

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2014 debut for Sumitomo’s ‘ultra pure’ tyres SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES’ recent development of a highly purified form of natural rubber may take on tyre form as early as next year. The Japanese manufacturer says it plans to utilise its UPNR (Ultra Pure Natural Rubber) in several tyres, starting with new ranges scheduled for launch in 2014.

By applying 4D Nano Design to improving natural rubber, a material that (according to figures from the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association) accounts for 28.2 per cent of a tyre’s material mass, Sumitomo Rubber says it has “learned that thoroughly removing the impurities inherent in natural rubber not only improves tyre durability and wear resistance thanks to the increased bonding between rubber molecules and carbon black, but “With the recent rise in global environmental also contributes to improved tyre fuel-efficawareness, there is now an increasing demand The 4d Nano Design technology used in iency performance by increasing the interfor more fuel-efficient, resource-saving tyres,” the development of UPNR has also been wrote Sumitomo in a statement announcing the applied to several volume production tyres, action between the rubber and carbon black, thereby enhancing the dispersion of successful development of UPNR. “In order to including the Enasave Premium respond to this demand while also striving to ensure greater carbon black at the microscopic level.” Yet removing these impurisafety and peace of mind, it is becoming increasingly important to ties is reported to have been problematic, as the process also develop new, high-performance rubber-based materials to im- removes the components that protect rubber molecules and in doing so makes the rubber more prone to deterioration when prove tyre grip performance even further.” A stepping stone on the path to UPNR was the 2011 develop- exposed to the kind of heat experienced in the tyre production ment of ‘4D Nano Design’, a new material development technolo- process. With the development of UPNR, Sumitomo Rubber claims to gy that Sumitomo says enabled it to “freely control material properties through advanced material simulation,” thereby allowing it have successfully tackled the deterioration problem. The tyre to accurately recreate and analyse the behaviour of molecules at maker describes UPNR as an “entirely new, highly purified form a nano scale. This technology has, incidentally, already been of natural rubber that combines both superior fuel efficiency and applied in the development of new materials that employ synthe- highly durable wear resistance.” Sumitomo Rubber Industries is currently constructing a tic rubber, silica and carbon black, including materials used in the company’s Enasave Premium, Winter Maxx and SP688 tyre ran- UPNR production plant in Thailand. sg ges.

Pirelli soaks-up noise with sponge technology At first glance, sponges and in-car noise doing so reduce the amount of noise paslevels don’t seem to have much in com- sing through to the cabin. Based upon mon. Yet this springy material, much loved comparisons made jointly with Audi using by those with a penchant for cleanliness, a noise cancelling tyre and a P Zero in sizes has found its way into a tyre Pirelli has 275/30ZR21 and 285/30ZR21 (fitted to an developed for original equipment customer Audi RS6 and RS7), Pirelli says its spongeAudi, and the Italian tyre maker says the based system reduces noise by between two to three decibels, or on average by tyre reduces noise considerably. half, with a consequent The noiseimprovement in driving dampening technolocomfort. Other tyre gy has been named characteristics remain the “Pirelli Noise unaffected by the sponCancelling System” ge’s presence, the and makes use of a manufacturer states. polyurethane sponge Tyres using this on the inside of the system have the letters tyre. The sponge is Sometimes simple ideas are effective: ‘PNCS’ written on the designed to absorb Pirelli’s new technology looks like a kitchen sidewalls to denote its vibrations and by sponge glued to the tread’s underside

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use, and Pirelli notes the noise cancelling technology adds to production costs. At present the “Pirelli Noise Cancelling System” is available as original equipment on Audi RS6 and RS7 models running on 285/30ZR21 and 275/30ZR21 sized tyres respectively, and Pirelli indicates the tyres will also be made available as a replacement market fitment for these vehicles. As for the future, a Pirelli R&D engineer told Tyres & Accessories that “future size extensions featuring this technology will be considered on an as needed basis following the requirements of the premium/prestige OEMs.” He added that Pirelli will definitely be involved with these potential future products “thanks to the fact that it is the pioneer of this technology.” sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Marangoni completes on/off road Ringtread range MARANGONI RETREADING SYSTEMS has launched the product it says â&#x20AC;&#x153;completesâ&#x20AC;? its Ringtread on/off range. This final addition to the line-up, the non-directional pattern Mix101, is designed for use on drive axles of vehicles operating in mixed road/quarry applications and is a new version of the Mix100 that is aimed at less heavy-duty applications. The Mix101 features a variable block arrangement that Marangoni says ensures excellent traction on any type of surface; specifically, the square tread profile gives a wide footprint that maximises grip on the road. The wide opening on the shoulders serves to keep the tread free from stones, mud and water; moreover, the reinforcing bridges on the central ribs provide resistance to impact and stability on soft ground) as well as resistance to rocky road surfaces. Other stated features include sturdiness in the most demanding off-road conditions and reduced risk of penetration by sharp bodies due to the presence of reinforced cushion gum. The Mix101 is currently available in sizes 250M and 260M. sg Mix101

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Celebrating ti thirty thi t years of keeping the people of North East of Scotland on the move.

The friendly, local people you can trust.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Yokohama launches AD08 ‘evolution’ YOKOHAMA HAS ADDED another high performance PCR to its ranks following the introduction earlier in the year of its leading UHP product, the Advan Sport V105. The Japanese manufacturer has added the latest evolution of its Advan Neova AD08 tyre, a product it describes as its “most aggressive road-going product.”The new version, the Advan Neova AD08R, appears similar externally; however, Yokohama assures its customers that alterations made to the tyre’s compound have resulted in significant improvements to the high levels of grip and response that made its predecessor a tyre of choice for ultra-high performance road and track day use.

Yokohama says the new version has added to the features of the original AD08 through an intensive development and test cycle using some of Japan’s most reputed racers and developers. The familiar tread design retains the uni-block tread shoulders for increased stability and consistency while the round grooves dispel water to ensure high levels of grip in the wet, as well as the dry. The manufacturer is, then, pinning the advantages of the AD08R on the aforementioned compound changes, and it says this is where the greatest gains have been made. Additional carbon content improves dry grip while extra silica serves the same purpose for the wet. Superior stiffness and durability is the result of the addition of a macromolecule polymer while Orange Oil, developed initially for Yokohama’s motorsport tyres and adopted on its road products, enhances traction. Yokohama exemplifies the improvements achieved with tangible test results conducted by the company at the Tsukuba circuit in Japan in February. Here test drivers were able to improve lap times by more than half a second around the famous circuit, with three per cent gains in dry braking and five per cent improvement in wet braking. Drivers Manabu Orida and Nobuteru Taniguchi both reported better feeling and response from the new tyres while tuner

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Yakusa Shibata reported greater control and stability. Commenting, managing director of Yokohama HPT Ltd, David Seward, said: “The original ADVAN Neova AD08 was a very good tyre but it is clear that the new AD08R is an even better product. The tyre designers have used experience gained from motorsport activities to create an improved tyre for drivers looking for the ultimate in road performance or for track day use.” The new tyre is available from August 2013 in a range of sizes between 15” and 19”. The company revealed that the smallest size – 190/50R15 – would cost £83.16 (excluding VAT). akb

North American BMW X5 to roll on Goodyear A run-flat version of Goodyear’s Eagle LS2 will be fitted as original equipment on the all-new 2014 BMW X5 that has now gone on sale in North America. The tyre is supplied to BMW in 255/55R18 for the front and 255/50R19 on the rear. Goodyear says its tyres are on more new vehicles in North America than any other brand; brands it supplies original equipment tyres to include Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Jeep, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Scion, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Continental continues to pursue car connectivity CONTINENTAL

its ongoing plans to more fully “connect” cars. As far as the automotive supplier is concerned, it is not just about smartphones or computers, but rather, but rather connectivity is becoming an increasingly influential part of any sales proposition. For Conti, the connected vehicle will be a key subject of future developments. “Today, more and more new vehicle functions are already based on connectivity.To create innovative functions, we are linking vehicle components and systems ever more closely with one another and, at the same time, increasingly connecting the vehicle to the outside world,” explains Ralf Lenninger, head of the Strategy and Development department of Continental’s Interior division. IS

CONTINUING

Up to now, drivers have been able to experience vehicle connectivity with the outside world mainly in the field of infotainment. A USB interface or Bluetooth are already more or less standard. “If we take a look at consumers’ behaviour it becomes obvious: In the next few years, the connection of vehicle infotainment

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that links the driving situation and the driver’s attentiveness. In the “driver focus concept vehicle”, an infrared camera in the cockpit records the driver’s state of attention, and sensors in the driver assistance systems such as lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control detect a potentially hazardous situation. Both sources of information are integrated into an innovative HMI that uses a 360-degree LED light strip inside the Conti using smartphones to store car vehicle to direct the driver’s attention directly to the hazardous situation. Thus driving preferences distracted drivers are warned early about Continental reports that it is working on potential hazards. using smartphones not only for music streaming and phone communication, Online diagnostics? but also as the vehicle key, for personalizing the seat position or for navigation In accordance with the Car2Car purposes. Especially for the emerging Communication Consortium, Continental markets, Continental is developing an foresees introduction of initial series innovative instrument cluster, which uses applications starting in 2016. “With vehismartphone GPS data and navigation cle-to-X communication, we are basically software, but displays the navigation expanding the sensing range of the vehiinstructions directly in the instrument cle’s own sensors by a cloud-based cluster. The Continental development seventh sense. This makes the vehicle engineers are going with diversity to part of the Internet of Everything and satisfy the changing demands drivers creates the basis for an intelligent transmake on human-machine interfaces port system with a whole new world of (HMI). Thus it is not only for design rea- functions,” adds Lenninger. Online diagsons that development work is focusing nostic services, parking space reservation curved touch screens, touch pads ons or tailor-made insurance tariffs are with character recognition and haptic just a few examples of the many possibifeedback, or 3D screens. At the end of lities. For fully automated vehicles, a realthe day, the operation of the functions time data carpet from the cloud providing has to be primarily aligned to driving exact information on the current traffic safety. To reduce driver distraction, situation along the route ahead is one of Continental is also working on a concept the basics still to be developed. cja features to the Internet will become more and more widespread,” continues Lenninger. Connection to the Internet can be via the vehicle’s own telematics box or through integration of a smartphone. Standards such as Near Field Communication or wireless charging are part of a growing infrastructure to integrate smartphones more and more smoothly in vehicles.

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BRAKES

Flexibility necessary for European brake market players While the European financial fug continues, brake suppliers are being required to show greater flexibility in their operations.The reactions of brands operating in the sector are shown in this feature to include a drive towards internationalisation – particularly with performance products generating improved revenues in the Americas and Asia Pacific – and a more varied product line-up to suit both OEM and end-user requirements. A new report published by Markets and Markets suggests that the global brake market will “grow to $28,532 million by 2018, as compared to $20,210 million in 2013, with a CAGR of 7.14% from 2013 to 2018. During this period of flux, the report suggests drum brakes will occupy the major share when compared to disc brakes systems, but that demand for discs will increase at a faster rate and slowly surpass the drum brakes market. Disc systems’ advantages include addressing growing vehicle and passenger safety concerns, and more stringent environmental and safety regulations. Disc brake technology has better heat dissipation efficacy, is more lightweight, more effective in all-weather conditions and reduced stopping distance, with not much additional cost. Penetration of disc

brakes in the commercial vehicle segments is limited to Europe alone, while other regions prefer disc brakes in the passenger vehicle segment only.Mature European markets’ shift towards pad and disc technology has been tempered somewhat by the popularity of cheaper drum and shoe systems in less developed eastern European regions, while some UK suppliers have reported shortterm growth in demand for the latter system on smaller, cheaper cars. Overall though, the switch to smaller vehicles to benefit from improved efficiency has led to older cars being removed from the market, reducing aftermarket demand for the older brake technology. The report suggests that the drum/shoe market will have contracted by around eight per cent in the leading five countries by 2015, off-

set largely by an anticipated rise in the need for brake pads and discs to replace them. As a result, suppliers of drums and shoes could consider product diversification while brake pad and disc manufacturers address increased production capacity challenges.In 2013, the report estimates the Asia-Pacific Region to be the largest market for automotive brakes and will remain top consumer till the year 2018, while Europe and North America take the next two places. Demand for automotive brakes in the Asia-Pacific and North American regions is estimated to grow at faster rates than in the European region over the next five years, making European supplier internationalisation seem a particularly sound strategy. The full report is available from Markets and Markets. akb

Brembo searches growth in Americas

Leading European performance brakes brand Brembo is continuing to diversify its global strategy in a bid to tackle sales figures that continue to fall in much of its traditionally strong markets. In the first quarter of 2013, the German and, to a lesser extent based on the relatively good performance of its automotive manufacturing, UK markets were the only two to increase sales, while domestic Italian and southern Europe continued to look weak. However, growing sales in the USA and China are prompting global investment, such as the 115 million euro investment the manufacturer recently announced to expand its US and Brazilian operations. And the company has continued to indulge its penchant for spectacle, with involvement in top-level motor-

sport series, such as MotoGP and Formula One, and Hollywood blockbusters driving its continued premium brand marketing. Chairman of Brembo, Alberto Bombassei played up the company’s “revenue and margin growth, despite the challenging economic scenario” in the first quarter of 2013, saying this was “enabled by the extensive internationalisation achieved by the Group over time, as also witnessed by the additional investments planned for the current year. Thanks to its consolidated global presence, the company is in a position to offset the declines in those markets, such as Italy and southern Europe generally, where demand for cars and motorbikes is continuing to show a significant decline.”

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Brembo’s 115 million euro investment in the Americas will be spread over the 2013-2015 three-year period, used to expand the Homer industrial hub (Detroit, Michigan), and to move and step up production in the current plant in São Paulo. These investments are in line with the Group’s development strategy aimed at strengthening the productive capacity in the areas where customers are demanding a greater product volume and a higher service level. In the United States, the investment will total 83 million euros, thus significantly increasing the productive capacity of the Homer industrial hub. The expansion of the plant has become necessary after the acquisition of new businesses and further market shares with our main

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

BRAKES

The main character in Fast & Furious 6 (pictured left) is fitted with a specially developed braking system from Brembo

North American customers, such as Chrysler, General Motors and Ford. This initiative is expected to enable the subsidiary Brembo North America Inc. to double its sales, going from €178.5 million for 2012 to about €350 million for 2015. In Brazil, €32 million will be used to move the current plant from São Paulo to Santo Antonio de Posse (north of São Paulo), where a larger and more modern plant will be put into operation, enabling the Company to meet its growing production requirements. Also the subsidiary Brembo do Brasil Ltda is thus expected to increase its sales by about 100% in the three-year period, going from €66.6 million for 2012 to about €130 million for 2015. “Brembo’s investments in the Americas,” stated Bombassei, “support two important areas that continue to perform dynamically and show positive market trends and that are marked by a gradual increase in demand for our products. The company must continue down the path of internationalisation and, in parallel to these measures, it will continue to plan investments not only in expanding markets such as China, India and Eastern Europe, but also in Italy where, although the automotive crisis unfortunately is not showing clear signs of a reversal of the current recessionary trend, we have continued to invest, from 2008 to the present, at a rate of over € 40 million a year.”

Fast & Furious, motorsport As previously mentioned, Brembo has continued to position itself as a technology leader through visibility in sporting and popular culture contexts. Somewhat accurately described by Brembo as “the main character” in Fast & Furious 6, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona uses a dual caliper braking system on the rear for the

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

variety of special and spectacular stunts performed in lieu of human interaction during the movie. Fast & Furious 6 head of transportation Dennis McCarthy called upon Brembo to design the brake system, and the message that such fierce driving skills can only be supported by world-leading braking technology is clearly communicated. Brembo engineered a unique system, which consisted of a custom dual circuit configuration for the rear with two pair of four-piston aluminium alloy calipers. One pair is used for conventional braking, while the other is connected to a hydraulic handbrake for vehicle dynamic control that establishes drifting; something the movie is well known for. The discs are 350x28mm wide, and include 72-vane friction surfaces with racing Type III slotting, a two-piece floating construction, with billet aluminium mounting centres and Brembo hardware which allows for better ventilation. The front system is composed of sixpiston lightweight monobloc brake calipers in aluminium alloy, with an integral stiffening bridge along with high performance brake pads that have a large surface area and volume for fade resistance and longevity. The front discs are similar to the rear ones, 350x34mm wide 72vane friction surfaces with racing Type III slotting as well. This technology comes from top-level racing programs, and is derived from the

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Gran Turismo systems available through authorized dealers. Brembo has also continued to position itself at the forefront of motorsport, and its internationalisation goals are being supported in this way too. Most recently, it became the official media host at the 35th annual Concours d’Elegance of America on Sunday, 28 July, also sponsoring a display of 30 supercars and motorcycles for the third straight year. The Concours brings together a collection of significant and rare cars particularly noted for their design, craftsmanship and style qualities. Some of the supercars on display at this year’s event include a 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish, a 2014 Corvette Stingray, four 2013 Ferraris (458 Italia, California, F12 and FF), a 2014 Jaguar XF, four Lamborghinis (’86 Jalpa, ’08 Reventon, ’13 Aventador and ’13 Gallardo), a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C and three 2013 BMW motorcycles, among others. Many are equipped with Brembo brakes as original equipment. Having begun actitvities in the market in 1988, North America now represents 23 per cent of Brembo’s worldwide revenue, second only to Germany. "With the consolidation in our new headquarters and R&D center in Plymouth and our growing presence in North America, the Concours d'Elegance of America is an excellent fit for Brembo," commented Dan Sandberg, president and CEO of Brembo North America. akb

BRAKES

First Line’s Borg & Beck brand precicts drum/shoe growth

Parent company First Line expects its Borg & Beck braking range to double YoY sales in 2013

While we have become accustomed to technological advances driving changes in mature markets, Automotive part supplier First Line, owner of the Borg & Beck brand of braking systems, comments that a more retroactive potential change in the brake market is being driven by automotive ecological and economic considerations. The company says that in recent years, braking technology has remained fairly stable with no great evolutionary advances, which means the biggest change in the market continues to be the growth of the drum/shoe combination as the rear brake solution for many small cars. As vehicle manufacturers are forced to reduce both the weight and cost of the small cars in their range, they are specifying less sophisticated and less expensive solutions where they can, and drum brake technology gives them the savings they need while still providing the performance they also require. The full effect of this change has yet to be felt, the Borg & Beck supplier says, noting that this previously unforeseen development will obviously present opportunities for the aftermarket and will drive growth in drums and shoes, which some years ago would have looked very unlikely. It believes that the brands in growth, in which it includes its own brand, are

those that invest in new-to-range (NTR) additions and look to introduce the latest vehicle applications in their range in the shortest possible timeframe.

Borg & Beck ‘on course to double YoY sales’ First Line identifies the core to the popularity of the Borg & Beck range is the commitment to developing the range and ensure that it introduces new vehicle applications to market as soon as possible. Being at the forefront with these additions has raised the awareness of the programme, the supplier says, and kept it ahead of many of its competitors, which is one of the reasons why it is on course to double its sales this year. First Line says this growth comes from both increasing business with its existing customer base and new accounts that recognise the opportunities that the brand gives them in a crowded marketplace. The Borg & Beck friction range now consists of 1,350 pads, 1,480 discs, 460 shoes, 235 drums, 97 pre-assembled brake shoe kits, 106 wear leads and 380 accessory kits. To supplement these dry products, the Borg & Beck hydraulic programme comprises 1,224 brake hose, 380 wheel cylinder and 104 brake master cylinder references, which in line with the entire range are produced using quality

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materials and manufacturing processes. Notable NTR references across the range include front pads for the Nissan Juke and Hyundai i30, discs for the 2011 Vauxhall Zafira and wheel cylinders for the Peugeot 208, Citroën C3 and Renault Kangoo. First Line places particular emphasis on cataloguing, so naturally full application reference details, along with product diagrams and images are available via the Borg & Beck Webcat as well as through the other major electronic cataloguing system providers. Printed catalogues are also available. First Line says it has also moved to ensure that the entire programme is able to compete equally against other quality braking suppliers, The company has aligned its pricing to provide the workshop with what it describes as “an extremely competitive proposition”. As a result, the combination of quality, range, availability and price is sure to help the brand to continue to increase its share of the market. First Line summarises that its Borg & Beck braking programme provides the independent workshop with a comprehensive range of high quality ‘dry’ friction and ‘wet’ hydraulic components. The brand is well regarded, has a longstanding reputation for quality and is one of the few aftermarket brand names that is recognised beyond the confines of the trade. akb

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

BRAKES

Tarox launches 410mm Toyota Land Cruiser ‘big brake’ kit ITALIAN BRAKING BRAND TAROX has launched its latest kit, a product that it excitingly calls “the very definition of overengineered”. The company says the finished 410mm front brake upgrade for the popular Toyota Land Cruiser 4.5 V8 J200 model offers improvements in both control and retardation. The kit is aimed at both enthusiasts looking to get more out of their car off-road, but also at the many conversion companies that armour or equip the ultra-tough Land Cruiser for life on the front line. To this end, the kit has been designed to cope with much more weight than just the standard vehicle, offering increased stopping power on even fully armoured examples. On a nonarmoured vehicle, Tarox says the precise modulation and feel means that they are never more than is needed. It believes the product improves on the OE brakes, which it says may be fine for empty desert tracks but “can quickly come unstuck” offroad or on busy European streets. Based around two RT 12 pistons calipers and 410mm twopiece discs, the Tarox kit contains everything needed for a quick and simple fitment. All brackets, pads and hoses are included

to the make the upgrade a simple case of bolting up, bleeding through and bedding in. Tarox describes the system’s 12-pot calipers as “the last word in performance braking”; they are effectively two sixpot calipers conjoined, complete with four pads, instead of the traditional two. The V8 Land Cruiser rolls out of the factory on 20” wheels, so Tarox’s design engineers have scaled everything up accordingly, with the kit still fitting comfortably inside the original rims. Fiat’s Balocco proving ground was used to develop the kit, with performance on low adherence surfaces and flooded roads, as well as fully laden stop tests being particularly important. Tarox reveals a lengthy development time was taken to ensure that the power of the kit could be balanced with feel and control in extreme conditions, to prevent the ABS from being over-worked. The resultant kit is ultimately pitched as an upgrade for the off-road enthusiast and “a downright essential” for the armourer. It is priced at £3,900. akb

ACDelco introduces 1,200 part brake disc range Having introduced a new range of brake discs at the beginning of the year, ACDelco’s UK and European aftermarket operation says the company has been “delighted with the uptake”. Taking in some 1,200 part numbers, the range provides comprehensive coverage of the pan-European vehicle parc and complements the distributor’s existing range of 1,500 brake pads. Commenting on the success of the brake discs programme following the launch, ACDelco director Lee Quinney said: “We knew from customer feedback, not just here in the UK but across a number of European aftermarkets, that the product was eagerly anticipated, and both the feedback we have had and product throughput appears to have made the investment more than worthwhile. The brake discs are proving to be extremely popular and is just one of a number of product areas that our aftermarket operation will continue focus on as the year progresses. “In addition to the brake discs range obviously featuring a high percentage of fast moving part numbers, a number of more obscure applications are covered, which we feel confident will widen overall appeal and help stimulate further growth for ACDelco throughout the rest of the year,” he added.

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The disc range is covered in the company’s latest electronic catalogue, found on its www.acdelco.eu.com website. The range also features on MAM, Tech Doc and MasterCat. Supplied with a 12month/20,000km warranty, all brake discs are designed to provide optimum performance and durability and are manufactured to vehicle specific requirements to ensure safe and consistent stopping abilities. They are produced using high quality cast iron for improved performance, life and noise levels, all discs are balance ventilated and precision engineered to provide greater comfort. Additionally, featuring low lateral run out, all discs are vibration and judder free, feature minimum thickness levels and have precision tolerance centre bores to help reduce any imbalances during braking, the company concludes. akb

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BRAKES

Delphi, Parts Alliance ‘Take a Brake’ on UK tour DELPHI PRODUCT & SERVICE SOLUTIONS IS TOURING the UK with The Parts Alliance as this issue goes to press, launching an interactive, customer-facing initiative. The brakes supplier’s 12 week tour has been given the punning title ‘Take a Brake’, reflected in the tea/coffee break atmosphere of the tour’s stops, designed to get end-users interacting with representatives of the two companies, who will give their insights into the latest Delphi braking technologies. The tour also has a social media focus, with both companies making extensive use of their Twitter and Facebook pages to publicise the tour and the braking products. The Parts Alliance announced DPSS as the preferred supplier of premium braking systems for the group’s 12 distributor companies throughout the UK and Ireland. For the next three years, DPSS will provide its national distribution network and 20,000 customers with brake pads, discs, hydraulics, ABS sensors and accessories, as well as training and support services as part of its complete systems approach to aftermarket service and repair. Delphi has a greater than 99 per cent car parc coverage in its braking portfolio, The Parts Alliance says, as well as being one of the largest original equipment players. Another determining factor was the speed with which Delphi’s engineers can launch its first-to-market products – within six months of a new vehicle introduction, The Parts Alliance says – in partnering with DPSS. With an increased opportunity to service newer vehicles

sooner, The Parts Alliance identified this as an opportunity to generate additional business within the distributor network. The ‘Take a Brake’ tour is designed to cement the brand’s reputation with UK customers, demonstrating in person the comprehensive coverage and quality of its premium braking portfolio. The tour is part of the joint Delphi and The Parts Alliance ‘Stop with the Best’ communications campaign, and on display in the van are a wide range of Delphi brake pads, discs and accessories, as well as a technical video highlighting Delphi’s OE standards for braking quality and engineering. Two product experts will also be on hand to field any questions. “The ‘Take a Brake’ tour will provide our customers with the opportunity to touch, look and learn more about our braking products,” said Lúcia Veiga Moretti, president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions. “And what better way

to make it convenient, than by bringing the product and our product experts directly to the technicians?” “Our tour was specifically designed with the technician in mind,” said Steve Fulford, chairman of The Parts Alliance. “We realise technicians are busy and don’t always have time to step outside the garage. They will get to see the Delphi product quality, while enjoying a well-earned drink and snack, at their premises.” Customers can follow along with the “Take a Brake” Tour and track the tour stops on both the DPSS and Parts Alliance Facebook pages (Facebook.com/ DelphiAutoParts and Facebook.com/ StopWithTheBest) or through Twitter accounts (@DelphiAutoParts and @Stop WithTheBest). Customers are also encouraged to tweet, and post pictures and videos of their interactions with the van and its crew. akb

Delphi reconfirmed as The Parts Alliance preferred supplier The Parts Alliance announced Delphi’s reconfirmation as its preferred supplier of premium braking systems in June. Steve Fulford reasoned that Delphi is “strategically best positioned for our distribution network and more than 20,000 customers. As a leading supplier to the top 25 vehicle manufacturers worldwide, Delphi’s established presence on the OE platform and their expertise complement our future strategies. Not only will we have access to their high quality parts but also training and sup-

port services to deliver the most comprehensive solution to our customers.” “This is just the beginning of what I hope to be a long, multi-faceted collaboration with The Parts Alliance,” Lúcia Veiga Moretti responded. “We are excited to have the opportunity to service their distribution network and customers, and look forward to further product and service opportunities that complement their business strategy.” Delphi braking parts are added monthly covering European, Asian and

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German applications. Across these markets, the company claims coverage of 98.5 per cent of applications. Focusing on OE standards in terms of aesthetics and performance, Delphi undertakes regular independent testing on its braking products together with OEMs, particularly on stopping dist ances and performance in various weather and road conditions. DPSS also conducts strict laboratory and dynamometer analysis, as well as real-world testing including Alpine and

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BRAKES

Mark Darvill (left) and Michael Gougeon

The ‘Take a Brake’ tour of the UK will promote interaction between end users, distributor and manufacturer

high speed trials, to help produce durable, safe and long-lasting braking parts. DPSS brake pads conform to European R90 braking regulations as a minimum. Additionally, DPSS runs a diagnostics and training programme that The Parts Alliance says will prepare its members for increasingly complex diesel, vehicle electronics, thermal, steering & suspen-

sion, and braking systems now coming to market. The training curriculum includes hands-on training at its Warwick Training, online webinars and more than 150 Learning Management System courses. The DPSS DS suite of tools offers The Parts Alliance a comprehensive range of diagnostic software platforms

to service all makes light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This platform flexibility, from DS150 to DS350 to rugged tablets, not only addresses all makes coverage, but includes a complete service solution including free one day training, ongoing software updates and dedicated hotline support. akb

Apec giving away iPad Minis to promote braking guarantee Marking the anniversary of its two-year/24,000 mile guarantee, Apec Braking is giving away four iPad Minis. Each time a guarantee is registered at the company’s website for every axle set of matching Apec discs and pads before 31 August 2013, the technician will be entered into its prize draw, offering the chance to win an Apple iPad Mini. Online registration involves entering a postcode to automatically bring up all your garages details then enter the specific vehicle information. The software retains the workshop particulars, saving you time and hassle with every future visit. Specialist braking supplier to independent garages, Apec Braking has a range of more than 6,000 friction and hydraulic parts. The company has a strong stockholding, covering 99 per cent of all cars and LCVs in the UK and Ireland. akb

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Tyrexpo India continues to grow Plans for 2015 already in place EXHIBITOR AND VISITOR NUMBERS were report- bal tyre-buying economies. ECI says this year’s ed to be up 11 per cent at July’sTyrexpo India 2013 exhibition, and the show organiser has confirmed its plans to return to Chennai in July 2015.

BKT’s Rajiv Poddar, who officially opened Tyrexpo India, shakes hands with the show’s media representative, Mark Harrison. ECI International managing director Paul Farrant stands at left in the photo

increase in exhibitor and visitor numbers was consistent with expectations, especially taking local market conditions into account. The organiser expressed particular pleasure in the international pulling power of the show, bringing important export markets within reach of Indian producers.

“This was our second exhibition in India and we were greatly encouraged by the reaction received from both exhibitors and visitors,” said ECI International managing director Paul Farrant. “There is enormous potential in the tyre sector and we are very confident that the show will continue to grow and develop into a significant event for the tyre and equipment aftermarket.” Tyrexpo India 2013 drew visitors from 67 countries to Chennai, representing the majority of glo-

A number of manufacturers introduced new products at the show. Aeolus, BKT, Emrald and TVS Tyres all introduced commercial tyres for applications ranging from truck to OTR. Amongst these, Aeolus was notable for being one of a number of Chinese manufacturers making their debut in India. Aeolus displayed two new truck tyre sizes,

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Product launches aplenty

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10.00 R20-18/20 and 11.00 R20-18, as it seeks to establish a presence in the Indian market. Company spokesman Yang Yanzhao told visitors that Aeolus ultimately aspires to become a top three supplier of OTR tyres in the Indian market. OTR manufacturer BKT presented three new specialist tyres at the show. The additions target popular applications for high speed Elgi showed off the Armonos-made monorail system crane, port and mining machinery and comprise: 445/95R25 BKT equally between the Indian and export Airomax AM27 TL for High Speed Cranes; markets so we benefit across the busi18.00-25 40PR BKT Container King for ness.” Tyrexpo India 2013 also marked the port applications, such as reach stackers; and 18.00R33 Earthmax SR45 E4 for public launch of a significant joint venture mining equipment, including Rigid Dump between Myers Tire Supply International, Truck fitments. “Our extensive R&D and America’s largest wholesale distributor of technological capacity drives a constant tools, supplies and equipment, and programme of new product development India’s TVS Automobile Solutions, part of activity,” commented Rajiv Poddar, BKT the giant TVS & Sons. The agreement executive director. Poddar opines that makes up to 15,000 lines available to cusIndia’s huge natural mineral deposits will tomers in India, covering all tyre and provide future opportunities for the tyre wheel service requirements. industry. India’s TVS Tyres, widely known as a Growing Chinese presence major supplier of tyres for motorcycles and scooters (of which it produces 1.5 As previously mentioned, this year severmillion tyres per month), displayed two al Chinese manufacturers exhibited at new industrial tyres at the show. These Tyrexpo India for the first time. Aeolus were its new 14.00-25 EM18 20 DR TL was joined by its compatriots Hangzhou tyre for backhoe loader applications and a Zhongce, Linglong and Wanda Boto; ECI 23.1-26 TM09 12 PR TL tyre for com- International says their presence is indicpactors under the TVS Eurogrip brand. ative of the increasing interest Chinese PRS Tyres launched new additions to tyre manufacturers are taking in the its industrial and agricultural ranges with Indian market following several years of two sizes for Bobcat equipment in the 12- trade restrictions. 16.5 Skid Force and 10.0/75-15.3 Hangzhou Zhongce, which is using its Loadstar products. A new 12.5/80-18 Chao Yang brand to spearhead sales in cross-ply tyre for backhoe loader applica- India, placed particular emphasis on its tions was also being marketed to show CM913 10.00R20 and CM914 10.00R20 visitors. P. Prasanth, the Indian firm’s retreadable truck tyres. The manufacturer executive director, commented: “Tyrexpo is already an original equipment supplier India is an ideal show for us as it allows to a number of major Indian OEMs includus to interact with our domestic dealers ing Tata Motors, Mahindra and Ashok and customers as well as international Leyland. Wanda Boto’s Frank Zhang was visitors. Our business profile is divided another exhibitor looking to increase

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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brand awareness and establish a strong regional distribution network in India. Merry Wang from Linglong confirmed a similar approach to securing extended distribution on a state by state basis for their full range of products, but with a greater focus on its PCR products.

Elgi targeting tyre makers Retreading equipment supplier Elgi targeted new tyre manufacturers with the launch of a monorail tyre handling system developed by its Brazilian subsidiary, Armonas. India is home to 39 tyre makers and 60 individual production plants, and Elgi aims to take advantage of producers moving into, or developing their retreading capacity – a business becoming ever more viable due to the growth of commercial vehicle radialisation in India. The monorail system connects and streamlines all stages of the retreading process into a single production line; increasing efficiency, reducing manpower and eradicating contamination, as once loaded onto the monorail the tyre makes no further contact with the factory floor until retreading is complete. “We completed the purchase of Armonas earlier this year, recognising that the monorail system takes retreading efficiency to a new level,” said Elgi’s Satish Kumar. “It is the first of its kind in India and we think it will appeal to larger new tyre manufacturers who want to develop their business by investing in a high quality, professional retreading operation.”

Preparing for expansion in 2015 ECI aims to build on this year’s success and the next show will see Tyrexpo India return to the Chennai Trade Centre between 7 and 9 July 2015. Both halls one and two have been booked in order to allow for the exhibition’s anticipated expansion. andrew.bogie@tyrepress.com/sg

INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Plenty of tread left in part used tyre debate OVER

THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, two particular overseas news items regarding part-worn tyres caught Tyre & Accessories’ attention; one involved a government attempting to restrict their availability despite widespread flouting of the law, and the other centred on a safety body distancing itself from reports it would clamp down on the trade. Together, they highlight an issue frustrating those wishing to put an end to this business.

ing the product on a per consignment basis, however, the market monitoring is being done by different local government authorities together with the Ministry of Interior to make sure that only approved tyres are traded in the country,” said Mohammad Saleh Badri, director-general of regulatory body the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology. In Sharjah, used tyres are reportedly sold for between 50 and 150 dirhams (£9£27) depending on the size and age of the tyre.

ban, it explained, applies only to the import of “sub-standard” tyres. While most of the news attributed to the NRSC was correct – that ‘C’ temperature rated tyres are unsuitable for use in African climates, a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm must be adhered to and tyres older than four years old (from the date of manufacture) may not be mounted on a vehicle – the commission emphasised that its statement on the banning of tyre imports was directed solely towards substandard tyres and not used tyres in general. In a release, the NRSC explained that “a sub-standard tyre is not a question of their description as new or used but rather their compliance Nearly a year after the with the specific requirements proviUnited Arab Emirates ded by Regulation 62 of the Road banned the sale of used Traffic Regulation.” tyres, local news sourLow purchase price is a tough ces reported that an opponent to fight, and part-worn import ban had been trade protagonists can effectively added to measures argue that their products satisfy a designed to curb the demand for affordable motoring. Yet part-worn trade. The law the case of Ghana brings up a quesis part of a tyre managetion that is hard to get around. Who ment plan implemented decides if a particular used tyre is by the Emirates safe, and how? The need to legislate Standardisation and against the import of “sub-standard” Metrology Authority tyres shows that tyres – used tyres – (Esma), which will of unacceptable quality are entering implement the ban on the country and ending up mounted the import of used tyres on vehicles. On paper, Ghana’s aforein September. mentioned tyre restrictions close the Despite this additiondoor on some imports, but what al legislation, the Gulf does the reality look like? Unloading News reported in July Not banned – Ghana’s NRSC assures motorists that used tyre imports are still each container of part-worns upon arrithat the federal law intro- allowed val and independently inspecting duced in 2012 is “being every tyre for external and internal damopenly flouted by traders and workshops Used tyres still legal in Ghana age is not economically viable, therefore in Sharjah and Dubai.” Despite the apparent clarity of the UAE’s legal position, In July, Ghana’s media published reports the responsibility lies with used tyre trathere appears to be some degree of igno- that the trade in used tyres would cease ders to make sure all legal requirements rance of the law, with local dealers claim- to be legal in September. This created are fulfilled, including those related to ing they have not received any official quite a stir in the African country, as part- safety. And as the news from the UAE communication banning the practice. worn tyres – including those that began shows, this can never be guaranteed. “The approval of tyres entering the their life in Europe – are a popular choice sg/cja UAE is under Esma in partnership with amongst motorists. Days later, however, the Ports and Customs authorities, the country’s National Road Safety where we believe the policies are effecti- Commission made it clear that not all vely implemented since we are monitor- used tyres were unwelcome. The NRSC

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Apollo says goodbye to Dunlop brand African rollout for Vredestein range RECENTLY THE DUNLOP BRAND – which day Ladysmith passenger car and light traces its lineage back to John Boyd Dunlop’s 1888 pneumatic tyre patent – underwent a change of ownership in 32 national markets. Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI), trademark holder of the brand in Asia and part of Africa, and 25 per cent stakeholder in the Goodyear Dunlop joint-ventures in Europe, North America and Australasia, acquired the rights to the Dunlop brand name in a further 30 African countries and two bordering on the Indian Ocean. The handover was made as part of a US$60 million deal with Apollo Tyres shortly before the Indian tyre maker announced its $2.5 billion Cooper Tire & Rubber acquisition. Not surprisingly, news of the arrangement between SRI and Apollo was all but lost in the noise surrounding the Cooper Tire acquisition announcement. But although Dunlop’s change of ownership in these markets only registered as a faint blip on the global tyre industry radar, Apollo’s divestment of its regional rights must be viewed in the context of its adoption of a global tri-brand strategy and the company’s desire to, as chairman Onkar Kanwar stated, “increase the presence of Apollo and Vredestein branded tyres in Africa.” So what has SRI received for the US$60 million it paid Apollo? Apart from the production and sales rights to the Dunlop name in all parts of Africa it doesn’t already supply, with its purchase of Apollo Tyres South Africa (ATSA) the Japanese tyre maker has acquired a manufacturing presence on the African continent in the form of the 9,600 tyre a

commercial vehicle tyre factory, one of two South African plants run by Apollo. SRI also takes over the ATSA sales network. Until now, SRI has supplied its African markets with tyres manufactured outside the region; after the receipt of all regulatory approvals, which it expects to be in hand by September 2013, the company will operate the Ladysmith plant as its main production base in South Africa. Planned production capacity should reach 12,000 tyres per day by 2016, a figure that will enable SRI to greatly increase its unit sales in Africa and facilitates its ‘Vision 2020’ aim of increasing global tyre business sales to ¥780 billion by 2015 and ¥1,000 billion by 2020 (respectively £5.18 billion and £6.64 billion at current exchange rates). Or, as SRI said in a statement, the acquisition of these business operations from Apollo will enable it to “greatly increase the scale of our tyre sales business in Africa and thereby accelerate the pace of our global expansion and development.”

Farewell Dunlop, hello Vredestein The deal with SRI leaves Apollo $60 million richer – a drop in the ocean compared with the debt it has taken on elsewhere – and on the other side of the scales it removes around 2.5 million passenger car tyres out of the company’s regional production. The Durban truck and bus tyre plant, which manufactures some 300,000 tyres a year, remains an Apollo asset. As does the Dunlop Zimbabwe Limited manufacturing company and its Bulawayo factory over the border. The Bulawayo plant in Zimbabwe produced Dunlop brand tyres, which were sold in the domestic market and exported to South Africa and Zambia. In June the

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Apollo has sold the Ladysmith pcr and ltr plant to SRI as part of a $60m deal

factory’s capacity utilisation reached close to 50 per cent, and Dunlop Zimbabwe managing director Kennedy Mandevani announced the arrival of a “new brand of tyres.” Apollo Tyres’ vicechairman and managing director Neeraj Kanwar confirmed to Tyres & Accessories that the brand replacing the Bulawayo factory’s Dunlop production is Vredestein. Preparations are now underway for the Dutch brand’s manufacture, shared Mandevani in early July: “Apollo Vredestein have just bought six new presses for the production of high quality tyres with a plan to buy 18 more over the next few years to make the production volume more than 5 million tyres.” It would be logical to assume that Dunlop Zimbabwe’s exports to South Africa will continue and the Vredestein tyres produced in Bulawayo will, to a lesser or greater extent, compensate for the Ladysmith production that goes to SRI. However, Neeraj Kanwar says it is too early to comment on this as the deal between Apollo and the Japanese tyre maker has yet to close. For this reason, the Indian firm has also chosen not to discuss the direction it will take with a new sales network and future plans for the Apollo and Vredestein brands, not to mention Cooper, in Africa. “Any product or sales strategy will be worked upon only after the closure of the deal,” said Kanwar. We must therefore wait until after September to find out the exact shape the “win-win situation for both organisations,” which is how the deal was described by Onkar Kanwar, will take. stephen.goodchild@tyrepress.com

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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Time and wear make tyres louder, and quieter - study THE

RESULTS OF A STUDY carried out by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University indicate that two changes through the life of a tyre – tread rubber hardness and tread wear – have a counterbalancing effect on each other. Wing-tat Hung, Yat-ken Lam and Chung-fai Ng, from the university’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Randolph Chi-kin Leung from Testing was carried out on hot rolled dense asphalt (l) and porous asphalt surfaces the Department of Mechanical Engineering, presented the findings of their study ‘the impacts of tyre conducted at a test track on both hot roll- and 70 km/h and numerous runs were hardness and tread depth on ed dense asphalt and porous asphalt road performed to ensure the data recorded over a 200 metre stretch of road was tyre/road noise’ at this week’s ICSV surfaces. recorded according to ISO criteria. The The four tyres (labelled A, B, C and F 20 congress in Thailand.

The group measured the two abovementioned aging-related parameters on four Yokohama size 185/65R15 88H C.drive AC01 tyres produced in week 31 of 2007. The tyres came from the same production batch and were measured at varying hardness and tread depths. Unlike most previous research into tyre rolling noise, the Hong Kong-based academics did not conduct their study in a laboratory using drum facilities. Instead, they employed an ISO11819-2 certified twin-wheel CPX (close proximity) vehicle that was developed at the university. Tests were

for the study) were subjected to CPX tyre/road measurement tests at various stages. Tread hardness and depth were measured both in the laboratory and immediately before rolling noise tests were held at the test track. The study group observed that rubber hardness measured in the laboratory was 2-3 Shore A higher than in field measurements, the difference explainable by the higher outdoor temperature. As expected, tread depth remained constant regardless of whether it was measured in the lab or outdoors. Measurements on the two road surfaces were carried out at test speeds of 50

Tread hardness and depth

Source: ICSV20

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results showed the differences in measured rolling noise between the four tyres to be less than 1 dB at both speeds on the hot rolled dense asphalt surface. The differences of the measured tyre/road noise levels on the porous asphalt surface also remained small, albeit the difference between the highest and the lowest level was marginally larger. As the tread depths of tyres A and C were nearly the same, the difference in tyre/road noise level between these two tyres can be mainly attributed to the difference in rubber hardness. Indeed, the measured noise levels using tyre A is constantly higher than that measured for tyre C (0.6 dB(A) at 50 km/h and 0.8 - 0.9 dB(A) at 70 km/h), indicating that noise levels increase as rubber hardness increases. The rubber hardness of tyres C and F was nearly identical and therefore the difference in measured noise level between these two tyres can be mainly attributed to the difference in tread depth. In fact, the noise levels measured using the F tyre were always 0.6 to 0.8 dB(A) higher at 50 km/h and 0.5 dB(A) at 70 km/h, which shows that rolling noise decreases as tread depth reduces.

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Results The study found that as a tyre ages, the tread rubber becomes harder, increasing rolling noise. And a reduction in tread depth counteracts this, as it causes rolling noise to reduce. But does this mean a shallower tread depth will cancel out the added rolling noise caused by rubber hardening? Yes and no – it depends upon speed and road surface. The results show that rolling noise at 50 km/h on the hot rolled dense asphalt surface rose as tyre rubber hardened and decreased as tread depth became shallower. This same phenomenon was observed at 70km/h for tread depth, but no significant change due to rubber hardness was observed. For the porous asphalt surface, similar results were obtained, except that no significant relati-

onship between Rolling noise – hot rolled dense asphalt noise and tread depth can be drawn for reference at 50 km/h. Rolling noise peaked at around 1000Hz on the hot rolled dense asphalt surSource: ICSV20 face, and spectra analysis showed rubber Rolling noise – porous asphalt hardness had little effect at this frequency, while tread depth had a significant effect at this frequency range. Tests on the porous asphalt surface showed a peak Source: ICSV20 in rolling noise at around 800Hz, and at this frequency cant effect while tread depth did not have band rubber hardness showed a signifi- any significant effect. sg

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Kenda announces 2013 production capacity increase plans KENDA RUBBER INDUSTRIAL CO has reported its intention to increase its global production capacity for passenger car tyres by 50 per cent in 2013.The company will manufacture 38,000 units per day by the end of 2013 in order to meet rising market demand, with the increases coming in both its home market of Taiwan and in two Chinese factories. These include the Tianjin factory, which produced its first prototype tyre in May. The planned increases comprise an additional 4,000 units per day to its capacity in Taiwan; 5,000 more units at the company’s new plant in Tianjin, China by the end of this year; and 2,500 additional daily units from its new factory in

Shanghai. The tyre maker currently produces 22,500 tyres daily in its Kunshan, China, plant and 4,000 units per day in its Yunlin, Taiwan facility. “Kenda’s new plant in Tianjin is operating on a trial basis and likely to become fully operational next month, instead of by the end of next quarter as we previously expected,” Chairman Yang Ying-ming said in a recent shareholders meeting. Kenda Tire president Jimmy Yang told the US market of the successful production of the first prototype tyre manufactured at the Tainjin factory in May. “After years of hard work and planning, we are so excited to see our third automotive factory completed and running,” he said, “We are excited to bring the quality of a Taiwanese technology to other countries in order to produce high quality, world class tyres.” Production will be available to cust-

omers from the factory in the third quarter of 2013. Once fully operational, the factory will produce 20,000 tyres daily, primarily for supply to the Europe, Africa, and Asia markets. The Tainjin factory is Kenda’s second factory built in the last five years and Kenda estimates that it will allow the manufacturer to produce over 50,000 automotive tyres daily once fully completed. “Kenda might be the new kids on the block with automotive tire production, but Kenda is not new to the tyre business. Kenda factories produce over 700,000 tyres and tubes for other industries every day and we believe our experience in tyre manufacturing allows us to produce high quality tyres for all industries we sell in,” explained Yang. akb

Tigar a top Serbian exporter Serbia’s Ministry of Finance and Economy has published its list of the country’s leading exporters in the first quarter of 2013, and the automotive sector was amongst the major contributors in this area. Third on the top exporter list, behind Fiat Automobili Srbija and the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), was Tigar Tyres. In April 2012, parent company Michelin announced it would invest 170 million euros in the Tigar Tyres facility in Pirot, several hundred kilometres southwest of Belgrade.

With this investment, budget tyre production is rising from its 2012 level of 8 million tyres to 12 million tyres by the end of 2016. The Pirot plant manufactures Tigar, Kormoran and Riken brand budget tyres, with most production shipped to the growing Russian and CIS markets, as well as to markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. sg

New language, domain for Double Coin/CMA site VISITORS TO DOUBLE COIN’S American on web presence are invited to say ¡Hola! to a new Spanish language site. The tyre maker and the China Manufacturers Alliance have introduced the option in recognition of demand for information in Spanish from within both North and Central America. To further emphasise the site’s status as a source of informati-

for the region, the existing DoubleCoin-us.com domain is being phased out and replaced by a new address, DoubleCoinTires.com. Spanish speaking visitors can access the page in their language directly at Espanol.DoubleCoin Tires.com. Both language websites can be accessed using a smartphone or other mobile device.

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“We’ve recognised increased customer demand for Double Coin tyres not only in the US, but throughout North and Central America,” said CMA vice-president Aaron C. Murphy. “Double Coin is a well-positioned brand with continued growth and exposure in these markets.” sg

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Euro-Tyre becomes exclusive Interstate importer to Spain and Portugal INTERSTATE TYRE & RUBBER CO has announced the agreement of a new exclusive passenger car and light truck tyres distribution deal with Euro-Tyre BV Sucursal Portugal in Spain and Portugal. Interstate says the companies will pursue a number of brand awareness and marketing communication initiatives through fellow Benelux tyre wholesaler Euro-Tyre’s Portuguese affiliate in order to stimulate sales and growth for Interstate. Theo de Vries, Interstate’s vice presi-

dent, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be in partnership with Euro Tyre– they are a truly professional company and have a good business model which is designed for ‘new style’ tyre distribution. We look forward to a long and successful relationship.” Euro-Tyre’s Iberian peninsula managing director Manuel Felix commented: “We are delighted to be entering into a partnership with Interstate Tire & Rubber Co. Our company mission is to offer our

clients the best available options. Interstate fits in with this mission perfectly.” Interstate offers more than 300 sizes in passenger, SUV and light truck segments. Headquartered in Murtede Cantanhede, Portugal, Euro Tyre now has distribution warehouses in Spain and Portugal. akb

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Pirelli aims second phase of Mexico investment at green tyres PIRELLI HAS DETAILED PLANS to put the second half of its US$400 million investment in the company’s Silao, Mexico factory towards so-called “green performance” tyre production. Mexico’s president Enrique Peña Nieto met with a delegation of Pirelli’s top management who illustrated the progress of the company’s investment in the country at the announcement. Pirelli’s $400 million Silao investment forms part of the company’s strategic industrial plan presented in November 2011; the first $200 million has already been spent and investment of the remaining $200 million, to be completed by 2017, is already underway too. According to the company, green performance means “environmentally friendly premium tyres, as part of the strategic direction of the company towards a greener product line”. Overall, the initial project and the new project in Mexico will create 1,400 direct jobs and about 400 indirect jobs in the period to 2017. The Silao facility, which is equipped with the Pirelli group technology and production processes, was inaugurated on 31 May 2012 and produced its one milli-

Celebrating the announcement

onth tyre on 18 June 2013. In line with Pirelli’s regional local for local strategy, tyres produced in Silao serve the US, the Canadian, and the growing Mexican markets. The plant produces high performance and ultra-high performance tyres for cars and light trucks. It covers an area of 135,000 square metres and its capacity will reach 3.5 million tyres in 2015. When fully operational in 2017, capacity is expected to reach 5.5 million units. Pirelli’s commitment to the community of Silao includes sponsorship of an InterCampus soccer program for local children, in partnership with the F.C. Internazionale Italian first division team, and a planned state-of-the-art technical

training facility near the factory. Giuliano Menassi, senior vice-president Operations for Pirelli Group worldwide said: “Our experience manufacturing in Mexico has been so positive that we have decided to launch a new green performance project. We are grateful to President Peña Nieto for meeting with us today, and to all the federal, state and local authorities who havebeen so helpful to us in realizing this exciting project.” As well as the president, the other participants in the meeting included economy secretary Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, governor of Guanajuato Estate Miguel Márquez Márquez, ProMéxico general director Francisco González Díaz, and the ambassador of Italy in México, Roberto Spinelli. For Pirelli, senior vicepresident operations Giuliano Menassi, Pirelli Mexico CEO Tom Gravalos and Pirelli Mexico industrial director Fernando Madeira Toledo were in attendance. cja

Tyre trio make Fortune Global 500 list Fortune has released this year’s ‘Global 500’ list, which names the world’s largest companies in respect to turnover for the fiscal year ending before or on 31 March 2013. While no tyre firm could hold a candle to Royal Dutch Shell, whose revenues of US$481.7 billion propelled it into the number one position, three leading tyre majors made it onto the list. Germany’s Continental showed up exactly halfway through the Global 500, ranking at 250 with a turnover of $42.1 billion. Admittedly, only around 40 per cent of this turnover was generated by the company’s Rubber Group; when rated solely on tyre sales,

Continental would have failed to make the Global 500 grade. The next tyre manufacturer to put in an appearance was Bridgestone, who with a 2012 turnover of $38.1 billion secured place 283 on the list. Further down the Global 500, at position 421, came Michelin. The French manufacturer reported a 2012 turnover of $27.6 billion. Goodyear, with 2012 turnover of $20.9 billion, found itself on the wrong side of the 500th place cutoff. When calculating revenue, Fortune’s figures include consolidated subsidiaries and reported revenues from discontinued operations, but exclude excise taxes. sg

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INTERNATIONAL TYRE MARKET

Lanxess opens first Russian facility LESS THAN

after inaugurating its 100,000 tonne per annum butyl rubber plant in Singapore and six weeks after launching a new curing bladder facility in Brazil, Lanxess celebrated the opening of another production site that will serve the tyre and automotive industries.The company’s first facility in Russia, a polymer-bound rubber additives plant operated by its Rhein Chemie subsidiary, officially To Russia with love: Lanxess’ facility in Lipetsk is its first in this growing market opened on 4 July; a second facility at the plant site in Lipetsk, which will her milestone in our long-term commit- Moscow Times, the invited dignitaries lisproduce bladders for use in tyre ment to this market. Since entering the tened to a prayer of blessing from an market in 2009, we have quadrupled our Orthodox priest before holy water was production, will open in 2016. A MONTH

An unspecified “seven-digit figure” investment (previously said to be five million euros) has been directed towards the newly-opened and upcoming facilities, and Lanxess intends to sell the rubber additives produced in Lipetsk in the Russian and CIS markets. Annual capacity is said to be 1,500 tonnes of predispersed, polymer-bound Rhenogran rubber additives. In addition to its application in tyre manufacture, Rhenogran is used for the production of technical elastomer products such as profiles, hoses and seals. Along with delivering greater ease of handling and enabling faster processing of rubber compounds, Lanxess says the use of Rhenogran “significantly increases” the quality of rubber components and improves their long-term functionality and durability. The bladder facility will be capable of manufacturing 80,000 Rhenoshape bladders a year. “This production site underlines our focus on the global growth markets,” stated Rainier van Roessel, member of Lanxess’ Board of Management. “That applies both to the group as a whole and to Rhein Chemie, which now has its own plants in all the BRIC markets.” Fellow Board of Management member Werner Breuers added: “Opening our first production facility in Russia marks yet anot-

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

sales in Russia and established strategic partnerships in our target industries and with research institutes. The new facility will enable us to harness market potential more effectively, particularly in the automotive and tyre industries.” Lanxess claims that studies show Russia’s automotive and tyre industries will enjoy mid to high single-digit annual growth in the medium-term. Therefore, Lanxess notes that the Lipetsk site, located in the same area as Yokohama’s 2012opened passenger car tyre factory, offers great potential. “Its excellent location in close proximity to our customers and the good infrastructure in the Lipetsk Industrial Park were crucial to our decision to choose the site,” said Anno Borkowsky, managing director of Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH. “We are seeing a rise in demand from the Russian automotive and tyre industries for quality products and, thanks to our new plant and high-quality, innovative product portfolio, we can now cater to their needs directly from Russia.”

Holy water and local content The opening ceremony was attended by Lanxess board members and executives, German’s ambassador to Russia and the local governor. Tyres & Accessories was not present, however according to The

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sprinkled on the plant building and machinery. The Publication adds that this was followed by another spectacle: “An ensemble of men and women decked out in traditional Cossack outfits performed folk song and dance numbers so vigorously that Anno Borkowsky, chief of the Lanxess subsidiary that owns the plant, swayed with the rhythm and stroked the air with his elbows.” Air-stroking elbows aside, the opening of the new plant was a significant moment for Lanxess. During a press conference prior to the ceremony, Borkowsky shared that the Russian government’s requirement that international vehicle manufacturers use a higher percentage of local content in exchange for more favourable tariff conditions, will aid in selling the plant’s output. Although this is Lanxess’ first facility in Russia, the company has been present there for four years. In March 2009, Lanxess established its Moscow-based sales company, OOO Lanxess. During this first year the company achieved sales of around 20 million euros; by 2012, this had grown to around 80 million euros. Lanxess has also worked closely with the Russian Academy of Sciences in the field of research and development since 2009 and has set up a research network with leading Russian institutes and universities. sg

The Parts Alliance appoints new national key accounts manager The Parts Alliance has announced the appointment of David Bloxham as national key account manager. He joins the growing National Accounts team, based in Solihull, during what he describes as “an exciting time of growth for the [automotive] aftermarket.” Bloxham brings with him 16 years’ experience within different areas of the automotive industry, including spells at Sogefi and Klarius. Mike Curry, sales director national accounts for The Parts Alliance, said: “We are very proud of the strong relationships we have with both our national and independent customers. David will be a great asset to our National Accounts team, allowing us to build on and grow our relationships.” akb

New chief executive at Bohnenkamp Germany-based agricultural and off-road tyre specialist Bohnenkamp AG has appointed Gregor Rüth its new chief executive. Rüth begins in this role on 1 August and is now working together with fellow board member Michael Rieken to ensure a smooth takeover. At a meeting with senior staff, Rüth stated that the most important goal in his new role was the successful continuation of Bohnenkamp’s growth strategy within Europe and the company’s sustainable alignment towards customer satisfaction. Rüth’s prior roles before joining Bohnenkamp include responsibility for the machine tools division at German firm Körber AG. Most recently, he served as management spokesperson for the Gildemeister Group’s turning technology business area. sg

Two receive outstanding service awards form Hankook Tyre UK IN JUNE HANKOOK TYRE UK marked the ongoing service of its staff and presented members of the team with awards for outstanding service. According, the lunch recognised the 10 year anniversary for two members of its senior staff who both started work at the company in 2002. Ian Mayoll UK sales director, Barrie Barrie Horrocks Horrocks, was awarded for his outstanding service after celebrating with the company. The awards at the lunch were presen10 years with the company last year. Horrocks joined the company as com- ted by the managing director at Hankook mercial sales manager, a role he was in Tyre UK, Tony Lee, who said: “Hankook for 9 years before being promoted to relies on people. Without our devoted staff our continued success would not be sales director in 2011. Ian Mayoll’s contribution to the com- possible. The dedication of our team here pany was also recognised. For Ian, the in Daventry is vital to the growth of the UK PCR sales manager, the award cele- company on a global scale so staff loyalty brates his second spell with Hankook UK. is key. “It’s fantastic that Barrie, Ian, and the He was first employed by the company in 1990 when he became Hankook’s first others, have stayed with the company for European employee, he then briefly left such long periods of time so it’s important to congratulate them, and recognise the company before returning in 2002. Credit and administration manager, their commitment and what they have Julie Beere’s work for company was also achieved. Hopefully they will all be workrecognised as this year sees her reaching ing here for many more years to come!” Hankook Tyre has been operating 15 years with Hankook. Further Outstanding Service awards were also from its Northamptonshire base in presented to Tracy Martin and Ben Daventry since 1997, and continued its Francis for completing 10 years service in ongoing UK expansion with a new ware2012, and to Alex Brown and Steve house facility, which opened early this Manuel for whom 2013 marks 10 years year. cja

New Sava sales director GOODYEAR DUNLOP SAVA TIRES has appointed Jože Stružnik its new sales director. Stružnik began in his new role on 8 July and primarily focuses on consolidating the tyre maker’s position as a leading tyre supplier to its Slovenian home market and nine further countries in the Balkan region. He replaces Tomaž Lanišek, who has left the tyre maker to take on the role of chief executive at Knauf Insulation’s Slovenian operation. sg

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TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Tattersall promoted to ATS Euromaster head of national accounts Simon Tattersall has been promoted to a new position leading the company’s growing portfolio of national fleet business, encompassing its largest car, van and truck customers. Previously head of national truck, Tattersall is now titled head of national accounts. He will be responsible for a team of 10 national account managers currently managing more than £120 million worth of fleet business annually. ATS-E’s key national accounts range from major leasing, rental and utilities fleets to some of the country’s most recognised logistics operators, including Eddie Stobart, TNT and Hoyer Group. Commenting on his appointment, Tattersall says: “As a company we are focused on being easy to do business with and are increasingly supporting

national fleets operating a variety of vehicle types, which don’t necessarily match our traditional car/van and truck split. “As our business grows, it makes sense to approach these key markets as a single identity, and with a consistent message and management approach for our customers.” Tattersall, 59, joined ATS Euromaster in 2009, bringing significant expertise to the national tyre expert, after 28 years with parent company Michelin. Prior to joining ATS Euromaster, he held a dual role as business development manager for Michelin Fleet Solutions and sales manager, responsible for Michelin’s original equipment sales to trailer manufacturers in the UK and Nordic markets. Tattersall will continue to report to

Peter Fairlie, group sales director, and be based at the company’s head office and 24/7 customer service centre in Aston, Birmingham. akb

ATS Euromaster’s Simon Tettersall has taken up the newly created position of head of national accounts

Further pan-European team expansions for Giti Tire

Giti Tire sales director Eastern Europe, Robert Koutny

Maurizio Moleri is Giti Tire’s new truck and bus manager for Spain and Portugal

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

GITI TIRE HAS ANNOUNCED the appointments of Robert Koutny as sales director Eastern Europe, and Maurizio Moleri as truck and bus manager for Spain and Portugal. The manufacturer has been building its European team throughout 2013 since officially launching its GT Assist commercial vehicle roadside service assistance programme in the UK and Republic of Ireland in January. Koutny will be responsible for the development and establishment of the GT Radial, Primewell and Runway brands in the Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian and Balkan markets. Based in Prague and reporting directly to managing director - Europe, Richard Lyons, he will work across passenger car, van and commercial vehicle sectors. Previously he worked as a management consultant, gaining valuable experiences in developing business in the tire industry, before which he worked for Bridgestone Europe and Bandag, Belgium. Moleri will partner with GT Radial and Primewell distributors across Spain and Portugal to support the continued expansion of the truck tyre business and develop each brand’s positioning in the mid-tier sector. With more than 20 years industry experience, most recently with Pirelli (Spain), he will be located in Barcelona and report to the country manager for Italy and Spain, Corrado Moglia, and work closely with marketing director - Europe Commercial Tires, Peter Foulkes. Lyons said: “Our recent appointments reaffirm that we only want the best people from their respective fields, and both Robert and Maurizio not only have the knowledge to deliver results, they have the experience with the leading brands that can only reinforce our mid-tier positioning of the Giti Tire portfolio.” akb

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Rob Henderson joins Enjoy Tyre

Zeisser appointed Yokohama’s North American head of OE sales

CONTRACT TYRE MANUFACTURER Enjoy Tyre Co Ltd appointed Rob Henderson as general manager for UK and Europe. Based in Hangzhou, China, Enjoy Tyre has been established for 23 years supplying its Rotalla car tyre brand across a number of global markets. The company reports that it is currently investing in the development of a new Routeway car tyre range for 2014 to add to its existing truck and bus radial range. According to the company, Enjoy Tyre intends to establish an increased trading profile across Europe and view Rob as the “perfect springboard” to achieve this objective. Enjoy Tyre managing director Ms Xu Xia said: “As we look towards increased sales performance in the UK and Europe, Enjoy Tyre are extremely pleased to welcome Rob Henderson to our team. In our opinion he is the perfect tyre professional to lead the company forward on this exciting new development. Henderson, who is well known in the UK and European brings with him a wealth of related experience including management roles at Eskay Tyres and latterly Stamford tyres. Commenting on his latest challenge in the tyre industry, he said: “I am delighted to be joining the Enjoy team and look forward to helping the company raise their growing profile in Europe.” cja

YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION has hired Andrew Zeisser as its new director of OE sales. In this role, Zeisser will be responsible for the company’s original equipment business in North America and will lead Yokohama Tire Corporation’s OE sales, engineering and quality functions. He will be based at the company’s Detroit, Michigan office. Prior to joining Yokohama Tire, Zeisser worked at Hankook Tire America as vice- Andrew Zeisser Photo.JPG president of OE. He also held various positions at Continental General Tire, including director of automotive engineering. Zeisser holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Cleveland State University and an MBA in management from Case Western Reserve University. “Andrew is a long-time industry insider with 32 years of experience, many of them in the OE arena,” said Takayuki Hamaya, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s chief operating officer. “He will be a strong, essential asset to Yokohama as we continue to expand our OE programmes.” sg

Solideal account managers to specialise SOLIDEAL UK reports that Camoplast Solideal is restructuring its global business to place a greater emphasis on the materials handling and construction markets. Therefore, as of 1 August a specialist account manager selling to only one market sector will replace current customer contacts. This means that customers who purchase both solid and construction tyres, for example, will now deal with two specialist account managers instead of just one, as may previously been the case. Solideal says that by specialising, sales contacts are better able to focus on providing “the right solution every time”. sg

Rietbergen Goodyear Dunlop’s new DACH region boss Dr. Rainer Landwehr, group managing director of Goodyear Dunlop’s ‘DACH’ (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) market region, has announced his resignation. The tyre maker reported on 10 July that Dr. Landwehr would work with his successor in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth changeover period before leaving to engage in new challenges outside the company. As of 1 August, the position left vacant by Landwehr’s departure has been filled by George Rietbergen, currently vice-president at Goodyear Dunlop’s Commercial Product Business Unit EMEA. George Rietbergen is best known to the UK tyre industry from his tenure as managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, a position he held between early 2010 and mid 2012. Prior to his stint in the UK, Rietbergen was general manager Belgium, Nether-

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lands and Luxembourg and is said to have developed the Benelux cluster into “a very customer focused, efficient and team orientated organisation.” Rietbergen joined Goodyear Dunlop from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as director, e-business in 2001. In 2003, he was promoted to retail director and took on responsibility for over 1800 franchised stores in Europe, and two years later he was appointed general manager for the Benelux cluster. Rietbergen’s Commercial Product Business Unit EMEA role was handed over to Henry Johnson, vice-president Emerging Markets EMEA on 1 August. Johnson now carries out this function alongside his existing position. sg

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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Abrasives www.olivercorp.com

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

Breakdown Services www.itdn.org.uk

Earthmover Wheels www.kirkbytyres.co.uk

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

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

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

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

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

Importers/Wholesalers www.tym-international.com

Industrial Tyres www.solideal.com

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

Locking Wheel Nuts www.dynomec.co.uk

Materials/Accessories www.gogommasrl.it

Miscellaneous www.zeppelin-systems.com www.traxjh.com

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

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

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

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WEB DIRECTORY

Software www.mamsoft.co.uk/tyres

Testing Services www.dunloptyretesting.co.uk

Truck Tyre Retreading www.bandvulc.co.uk

Truck Wheels www.kirkbytyres.co.uk

Tyre Compounds www.vipal.com.br

Tyre Computer Software www.teamsystems.co.uk

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

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

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WEB DIRECTORY

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

Tyre Exporters www.china-tyre.com

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

Tyre Moulds www.jwinc.co.kr

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

www.northhantstyres.com www.vintagetyres.com www.vredestein.com

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

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

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

Vintage Tyres www.grouptyre.co.uk www.longstonetyres.co.uk

TYRES & ACCESSORIES 8/2013

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PREVIEW First published in June 1946, T&A is distributed in the second week of every month by:

In Our Next Issue A brief look forward at a few of the articles appearing in next month‘s T&A.

I Truck tyres I With SMMT and ACEA figures suggesting that new trucks continue to slide, despite gains in lighter commercial vehicles, 2013 looks like an even tougher market for tyre manufacturers in the segment. Premium brands continue to seek strategies to persuade fleets to continue to roll on their tyres, employing apps and marketing tools to show the added value they say their tyres provide, while more price-conscious brands attempt to consolidate their positions with increased technology and service options. A year on from tyre labelling, Tyres & Accessories surveys the current state of the truck tyre market.

I Reifen China - preview I With China now the largest car and tyre producing marketing on earth, and with five Chinese tyre makers in the global top 20 its importance in the global landscape cannot be (and generally isn’t) ignored. In addition to scale, the largest Chinese manufacturers are increasingly investing in upping the standards of products they products, with their eyes on the global OE prize. With this (and more) in mind, Tyre & Accessories looks forward to our annual report on the latest developments from the Chinese market.

I Retreading Special I Despite the fact that European truck registrations continuing to falter in every major market other than the UK, the total amount of commercial vehicle kilometres driven has risen by 40 per cent during the last decade. So while the short and medium-term picture remains challenging, the long view continues to present opportunities for the retreading sector. Similarly, casing supply continues to put pressure on retreaders and suppliers. Despite all this, forward thinking companies are partnering in each other’s efforts to move forward and be successful. That’s why September’s Retreading Special once again focuses on retreaders, retreading materials and suppliers in the European and international markets - bringing you all the latest news and analysis.

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Tyre Industry Publications Ltd. Unit I, Magnolia Centre Telford Road, Clacton-on-Sea Essex CO 15 4LP, England Telephone: +44 (0)1255 222233 Editorial: +44 (0) 1782 214224 Fax: +44 (0)1255 222234 e-mail: info@tyrepress.com Internet: www.tyrepress.com Correspondence and advertising material should be sent to the above address. Publisher: Klaus Haddenbrock klaus.haddenbrock@reifenpresse.de Editor: Christopher Anthony chris.anthony@tyrepress.com Stephen Goodchild stephen.goodchild@tyrepress.com Andrew Bogie andrew.bogie@tyrepress.com Contributing Editor: Peter Gardner peter.gardner@tyrepress.com Advertising Manager: Alan Day alan@tyrepress.com Advertising Sales: Scott Parker scott.parker@tyrepress.com Circulation Manager: Julie Wilshaw julie.wilshaw@tyrepress.com Editorial office: 6A Salem Street, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire, ST1 5PR Telephone: +44 (0) 1782 214224 Fax: +44 (0) 1782 286589 Contributors: detlef.vogt@reifenpresse.de christian.marx@reifenpresse.de arno.borchers@reifenpresse.de Layout: Heike Schomaker-Eymers Gaby Hinck 2013 Subscription Rate: £65 (UK), £85 (Europe), £120 (R.O.W.) per year. Back issues: £5 per copy. Reg. No: 1023538 England VAT No: 466 0254 53 Bank: National Westminster Bank PLC, 10 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1TA Account No: 70304440 Sort Code: 60 05 33 Printed by: The Magazine Printing Company 1082 Mollison Avenue Brimsdown, Enfield Middlessex EN3 7NT Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company, using only paper fro FSC/PEFC suppliers. www.magprint.co.uk Tyre Industry Publications Ltd. can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers

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