Tired Tyres Putting Drivers in Danger

Cash-strapped motorists are neglecting the safety of their vehicles, particularly their tyres, according to the AA.

The motoring organisation says there is evidence that increasing numbers are driving around on tyres that are so worn, they are illegal.

The latest figures show 34 deaths and 900 injuries were caused by tyre-related problems on Britain’s roads last year.

The AA says motorists are not taking tyre safety seriously enough. It believes that this attitude could end up making our roads unsafe.

Stewart Topp, named AA Patrol of the Year in April, admits he is worried about the situation.

“In this current economic climate, people are neglecting their vehicles. If the car’s reliable, they just tend to leave it,” he said.

“It’s a safety issue. There the only things keeping you on the road so it’s important to get them checked and changed if necessary.

“A tyre that’s on its minimum [tread depth] limit of 1.6mm is 50% less efficient than a new tyre. You wouldn’t go out with a brake that’s 50% efficient, so why do it with tyres?”

Around 1,000 cars a week drive into Micheldever Tyre Services in Hampshire, where chief executive Paul Fox says he has seen the number of illegal tyres grow.

“In September 2007, we were taking off approximately 23% of fronttyres that were down to an illegal tyre-tread depth.

“In 2008, it had risen to 55% and now, 12 months on – well through the recession – we’re seeing levels of about 65% of illegality.

One of Paul’s customers is Kathleen Blackman. She admits to leaving it late to get her four tyres changed.

“You’re conscious of the car but you think ‘leave it a bit longer, leave it a bit longer’,” she said.

Tyre pressure should never be too high or too low and you should always make sure your wheels are not worn down.

If your car is fitted with illegal or defective tyres the penalties are steep.

You could be fined up to £2,500 per faulty tyre and get three points on your licence.

Source: BBC News

Toseland Makes Yamaha Superbike Debut

Current Tech3 Yamaha MotoGP man, James Toseland made his much highly anticipated return to the WSB paddock today onboard the factory Yamaha R1 this morning.

Riding a Superbike for the first time since 2007, Toseland made a steady start as he reacclimatised himself to the Superbike, Pirelli tyresand the technically demanding and hard to learn Portimao circuit.

The morning session has just ended for a one hour lunch break, where MCN caught up with the double WSB champion, he said::

“It’s been ok so far, but it’s one hell of a track to learn on a new bike. It feels a fair bit heavier than what I’m used to, but it’s jut a case of getting back into it.

“The team is working well and so far the only thing I’ve changed is the gear lever position because Ben had bigger feet than me. So far the handlebars, suspension, everything is the same as when Ben rode it.”

Source: Motorcyclenews.com

Pirelli Celebrate Championship

Running on Pirelli tyres, Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb has claimed his sixth world drivers’ title and 54th career victory at Rally Great Britain, the final round of the 2009 World Rally Championship.

Loeb came into the Wales-based race just one point behind his only title rival, Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen. In the closest finale to the World Rally Championship since 2003, the two drivers fought each other closely over all three days of the gravel event.

Despite this frenetic pace, with both drivers taking significant risks in order to gain an advantage, the performance of their soft compound Pirelli Scorpion tyres was flawless throughout the 348.30 competitive kilometres of the rally.

Loeb and Hirvonen, who both experienced running first on the road on different days of the rally, took big cuts to find the quickest lines through the corners while pushing acceleration and braking to the limit. Their tyres absorbed the blows perfectly, despite the many sharp rocks that littered the route and soft stages that degraded badly during the second run.

Conditions were also extremely variable, as is traditionally the case on Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship. Competitors had to deal with both torrential rain and bright sunshine, in temperatures that varied from eight to 17 degrees Centigrade. This made the roads both rough and slippery, yet the Pirellirubber cut through the mud to provide an excellent level of traction and grip in the adverse conditions.

“There was no room for error,” Loeb commented. “I’m absolutely delighted to win this world title, which is one of the most rewarding of my career as we had to fight so hard for it. Despite the very tough conditions, the car and the tyres performed perfectly, allowing me to take the fight all the way to the finish.”

Rally Great Britain was also the final round of the Production Car World Rally Championship, which like the main WRC also uses Pirelli tyres. The production category was won by Norwegian driver Eyvind Brynildsen in a Skoda Fabia S2000, underlining the efficiency of the Pirelli Scorpion soft-compound tyres on a wide variety of different cars.

The 2009 Pirelli Star Driver scheme, which gives five drivers from FIA regional championships the opportunity to compete on six World Rally Championship events, drew to a conclusion in Britain. Czech driver Martin Semerad was the quickest of the Pirelli Star Drivers through the Welsh forests, finishing 15th overall after Finland’s Jarkko Nikara slipped off the road on Day Two.

“We have witnessed a very exciting battle for the title and we are delighted that our tyres helped give the two protagonists the opportunity to fight for it until the very end of the season,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s rally manager.

“We would like to congratulate Sebastien Loeb, his co-driver Daniel Elena, and Citroen for claiming their second successive world championships using Pirelli tyres. This has been a very closely-fought season, during which our tyres have impressed all the competitors with both their strength and consistent performance, on asphalt and gravel.”

The 2010 World Rally Championship kicks off in just 16 weeks with the Swedish Rally from February 12-14. Next season is the last year of Pirelli’s current three-year contract with world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, to supply the World Rally Championship with control tyres.

The Italian firm will shortly start work on its tender to renew the deal into the future.

Source: Eurosport.Yahoo.com

Russian tyre manufacturing treads new ground

Russian petrochemicals group OAO Tatneft is expanding its tyre manufacturing capacity with the imminent launch of a new plant in the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk.

Its subsidiary, Tatneft-Neftekhim Management Company is preparing to commission the solid steel cord (SSC) tyre facility which will produce a range of tyres for trucks and buses. It will have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tyres.

The plant, involving investment totalling around 17 billion rubles, was first conceived in 2006 and is required to meet increasing demand for this type of tyre in Russia. Its largest customer will be the Tatarstan truck manufacturer KamAZ Auto Manufacturer.

The SSC design allows vehicle carrying capacity to be increased by 8%, significantly reduce fuel consumption and limit the emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. In addition, SSC tyres can be reformed up to three times through re-capping tread that extends the tyre life up to 500,000 kms, according to Tatneft.

The group already manufactures tyres in the region at its large Nizhnekamskshina also in Nizhnekamsk. There, it has launched a strategic investment programme covering the years up to 2013 which provides for expansion of its Kama-Euro tyres.

Hankook Issues Van Tyre Recall

A voluntary recall has been issued on a number of sizes in HankookTyre’s RA08 light commercial tyre range. The sizes included in the safety recall are 185/75R16C, 205/75R16C and 215/75R16C tyresproduced at Hankook’s facility in Dunaujvaros, Hungary between April 2008 and June 2009.

Whilst the tyres in question comply with ECE R54 requirements, Hankook has identified that some products do not meet the company’s own standards. Specifically, Hankook is concerned that under extreme conditions a weakening of the tyre’s sidewall may occur, potentially leading to a separation.

The manufacturer has liaised with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in the UK and has withdrawn all unsold stock from its retail dealers. Hankook states it will replace any affected tyres with new tyres at no cost to the consumer. Those seeking additional information can call the company’s UK recall contact centre on 0800 027 6055 between 8:30 am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Source: www.tyrepress.com

Continental Confirms Modi Tyres Partnership Reports

Continental AG’s Commercial Vehicle Tyres division has confirmed reports that it has revived its collaboration with Modi tyres Company Private Ltd. (New Delhi). According to the company, Modi will initially produce around 1 million Continental-branded cross-ply truck tyres for the Indian market. As a result of the move, the company has secured access to the 12 million commercial vehicle tyre-strong Indian market, which has been projected to grow at around 7 per cent. Production already began at the start of June 2009. The collaboration includes a technical cooperation agreement and a license agreement for Continental brand bias tyres. The Continental bias tyres will be distributed via a revived Modi sales network. “For us, this new agreement represents an extremely useful revival of our activities in India, a market, which we know will grow significantly over the coming years,” Continental project manager Christian Sass explained. Bias products still account for over 90 per cent of the Indian market.

Earlier reports had suggested the partnership is “only technical in nature and does not involve any investment from the German tyrecompany.” However, an official statement said “Further collaboration possibilities are currently being looked into.” India’s Wheels Unplugged reported that Modi Rubber Limited (MRL), is “looking to divest an undisclosed equity stake to German technology partner Continental AG, to fund expansion and as a strategic commitment,” quoting a top company executive. Continental AG representatives have not confirmed or denied this.

According to these new reports, Modi Tyres is aiming to roll out 1.1 million truck tyres and tubes annually and expects to expand its network of dealers from 500 to 2,000. In addition, Continental already has a technical agreement with JK Tyres and the reports speculate that this deal may now end.

Running at 40 per cent of its 95,000 tyres-a-year capacity, Modi Tyres reportedly re-started exports in small volumes to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan earlier this year in an effort to emerge from an apparent form of bankruptcy protection. It has also initiated marketing efforts reaching out to tyre dealers and truck fleet associations through calls and SMS text messages. Modi is aiming to reach full capacity by March 2010.

Furthremore OE supply talks have reportedly also been initiated with Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland. The commercial vehicle makers have asked for certification, for which tyres have been sent to the Indian Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).

The collaboration between Continental and Modi dates back to 1974 when an extensive technical cooperation was agreed on for the set-up of a new Modi tyre plant in Modipuram, Meerut in the state of Uttar Pradesh. From planning to execution and from technology transfer to active support, Continental has supplied expertise to Modi for many years. The tyres were marketed under the name Modi-Continental and quickly gained the position of a benchmark on the Indian market. The brand awareness of Continental increased from year to year. However, Modi temporarily stopped production of bias tyres in 2001 and only started to reactivate the tyre plant two years ago. New contacts were formed between Continental and Modi and the previous arrangements were revived in the subsequent agreements.

Source: www.tyrepress.com

ITPRF to Confirm Alan Davis Nomination in November

The International Tyre, Rubber & Plastics Federation (ITRPF) has confirmed Alan Davis nomination as general secretary of the association. Alan Davis was originally nominated during a board meeting held at the Sheraton Conference Center at Frankfurt Airport on Monday 6 July 2009. Alan Davis has spent 36 years working in the tyre industry within various departments such as manufacturing, technical, tyre research, and purchasing. His last position was UK purchasing manager for Goodyear Dunlop. The federation is currently renewing its website and reportedly intends to intensify its activities and involvement in environmental concerns, technical and technological support, and industrial trends and development of tyre and rubber waste. The ITRPF is holding its next Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 11 November at the InterCity Hotel in Celle near Hannover, Germany in conjunction with the AgriTechnica Show that will be held on 10 to 14 November 2009.

At the same time it was agreed that Jacob Peled would continue to serve as the federation president and Leen Van’t Hof as treasurer. “We are now in the midst of a world economic tsunami which according to most experts will last until the end of next year. It is certainly the time for us to get together and explore opportunities.” said federation president, Jacob Peled.

ITRPF was founded in 1958 for industrial specialists to discuss the research and development of waste tyres, rubber and plastics. The federation attracted attention of professionals from around the world in the related fields of tyre and rubber machinery manufacturers, remould tyre manufacturers, tyre dealers, rubber compounders, as well as plastics and rubber recyclers and tyre retreaders.

source: www.tyrepress.com

Michelin serves up more stars in Japan

Two years after shocking Europe’s culinary establishment by declaring Tokyo the restaurant capital of the world in its inaugural Asian guide,Michelin is again giving western food critics indigestion.

This time the French tyre and travel-guide empire is making a push into the arcane world of Japanese kaiseki cuisine – elaborate multi-course meals – with the launch yesterday of its first guide to the traditional gastronomic centres of Kyoto and Osaka.

The new guide bestows 189 Michelin stars on the two cities, second only to Tokyo’s haul of 227 stars in the 2009 guide and far ahead of the 99 stars held by Paris restaurants, New York’s 71 and London’s 47.

Kyoto and Osaka have now joined Tokyo as the only Michelin guides comprised exclusively of “starred” restaurants. By contrast, only about 10 per cent of the total 16,478 restaurants listed in Michelin’s 26 guides for 2009 boast stars.

For Michelin, which derives about 99 per cent of revenue from tyre sales, the Kyoto guide is another plank in its strategy to expand tyre markets in Asia by raising the company’s profile.

According to Clare Dorland-Clauzel, the company’s communications director, things are looking up. “The first guide was created more than 100 years ago to lift brand recognition, and in Japan we think these guides are also increasing awareness of our tyres,” she said.

Source: www.ft.com
(the financial times limited)

Goodyear develops new-generation tyre for NASA

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and theGoodyear Tyre & Rubber Company have developed an airless, rubberlesstyre to transport large, long-range vehicles across the surface of the moon.

The new Spring Tyre, with 800 load-bearing springs, is designed to carry heavier vehicles over greater distances than the wire-mesh tyre used previously on the Apollo lunar roving vehicle.

The new tyre will allow for broader exploration and the eventual development and maintenance of a lunar outpost.

The tyre may also, eventually, migrate to Earth.

According to NASA principal investigator at the Glenn Research Centre, in Cleveland, Vivake Asnani, the new moon tyre demanded quite a degree of innovation.

“With the combined requirements of increased load and life, we needed to make a fundamental change to the original moon tyre,” he explains.

What the Goodyear-NASA team developed is an innovative, yet simple network of interwoven springs that does the job.

“The tyre design seems almost obvious in retrospect, as most good inventions do.”

The Spring Tyre has been installed on NASA’s lunar electric rover test vehicle, and put through its paces at the Johnson Space Centre’s Rock Yard, in Houston.

“The spring design contours to the surface on which it is driven to provide traction,” notes Jim Benzing, Goodyear’s lead innovator on the project. “But, all of the energy used to deform the tyre is returned when the springs rebound. It doesn’t generate heat like a normal tyre.”

According to Goodyear engineers, development of the original Apollo lunar mission tyres, as well as the new Spring Tyre were driven by the fact that traditional rubber, pneumatic (air-filled) tyres used on Earth have little utility on the moon.

This is because rubber properties vary significantly between the extreme cold and hot temperatures experienced in the shaded and directly sunlit areas of the moon.

Further, unfiltered solar radiation degrades rubber, and pneumatic tyres pose an unacceptable risk of deflation.

According to Asnani, the Spring Tyre does not have a “single point failure mode”.

What this means, is that a hard impact that may cause a pneumatic tyre to puncture and deflate, will only damage one of the 800 load-bearing springs on the new tyre.

The tyre also has a combination of overall stiffness, yet flexibility, that allows off-road vehicles to travel fast over rough terrain with relatively little motion being transferred to the vehicle.

www.engineeringnews.co.za

Goodyear’s fuel saving tyre

Goodyear has introduced a new trailer tyre for long distance haulage operators, which can reduce fuel bills and emissions.

With the introduction of the Goodyear Marathon LHT+ trailer tyre total savings due to improved rolling resistance that Goodyear long haul truck tyres offer, can save operators thousands of pounds per year in diesel for a single vehicle and cut CO2 emissions by over 5300 kgs. Correct tyre choice is key to maximum economy, the company says.

The Marathon LHT + trailer tyre complements the Max Technology Goodyear Marathon LHS II and LHD II steer and drive tyres.

The combination of all three types gives the best possible overall economical and ecological benefits for the Goodyear long haul truck customer in comparison to the previous Goodyear Marathon tyres, which themselves offered excellent performance.

www.hgvuk.com

Global Campaign to Highlight Advantages of Michelin Rubber

Michelin’s first ever global advertising campaign got underway on October 6. The new campaign’s theme – “The right tyre changes everything” – is intended to illustrate the competitive advantages ofMichelin tyres in media outlets around the world. The French manufacturer states it decided to launch what it calls an “unconventional” global campaign as a response to today’s increasingly competitive business environment.

The campaign shows that by using the right tyre – a Michelin tyre, of course –consumers can reduce fuel consumption, increase driving safety and extend tread life. While creating a link with traditional Michelinadvertising, in particular its posters from the first half of the 20th century, the brand has chosen a 3-D animated presentation for its new advertising campaign. This presentation features Bibendum, the rotund and ever cheerful Michelin Man, in an animated world. As ambassador of the Michelin brand, Bib comes to the aid of motorists in trouble, replacing their faulty tyres with Michelin tyres that he pulls from his body, thereby enabling them to keep driving.

The worldwide campaign will launch initially in the United States and be gradually deployed in 55 countries. Europe and Asia will see Bibendum at work in early 2010, followed by Africa, the Middle East, India and South America.

The US rollout began on October 6 with television print media and web appearances. In addition, the US campaign launch features an enhanced digital strategy introducing the official Michelin Man Facebook page (facebook.com/michelinman) and a dedicated You Tube channel (youtube.com/michelinman).

Source: www. tyrepress.com

Michelin opens service points for trucks & buses

Fourteen Michelin service points (MSP) will be set up as one-stop service centres this year for trucks and buses to increase convenience and reduce costs for the road transport business.

The MSPs were planned in light of the steady growth of Michelin radial tyres for trucks and buses despite the transport market’s poor outlook.

Run by Michelin subdealers, MSPs require about 40% of the investment for a Michelin truck service centre (MTSC), each costing at least 10 million baht.

MSPs, to be located in secondary cities, offer lighter services such as tyre replacement, puncture repair, tyre retreading and on-site service on major roads and highways. MTSCs offer heavy jobs such as wheel alignment in major provinces. There are 42 MTSCs operated nationwide by Michelindealers.

Michelin will set up another 16 MSPs by the end of 2011, aiming to supply services for trucks and buses not covered by MTSCs, said Jaipetch Chevaphatrakul, Siam Michelin’s commercial director for truck, bus and off-road tyre business.

“The truck and bus radial tyre market has been growing at a stable pace in contrast to the transport market that suffered a slow period earlier this year,” he said. Michelin has exceeded the truck and bus radial tyremarket’s normal 7-10% annual growth, which led to the decision to set up MSPs, he said.

The tyre market for trucks and buses is expected to reach 1.8 million units this year, but he declined to say what portion are Michelin tyres.

“The tyre market for trucks and buses dropped 7% year-on-year in the first half and it was expected to improve in the second half,” he said.

For bias tyres, the market becomes smaller every year, he said. Compared to bias tyres, radials can save 5-10% of fuel consumption, and they performed better in testing for product life, traction and high security levels, he added.

Radial tyres can also be retread on their original casing with a proprietary Michelin process, offering performance similar to new tyres at half the price.

www.bangkokpost.com