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Yokohama Advan chosen as OE for Audi Q7 | 29th May 2009
Audi has chosen the Yokohama Advan as OE for its luxury SUV, the Q7, a full time 4x4 vehicle , exceeding 5 metres in length, available on purchase with a huge 6.0 Litre V12 engine. in order to handle the vehicles performance output Audi has chosen to fit the Yokohama Advan as OE Tyres and will be available in 2 sizes, for both the front and rear wheels, - 275/45R20 110Y or 265/50R19 110Y.
The Q7 joins the Audi S6 and S8 in having OE tyres supplied by Yohohama. Yokohama commented that the tyre was chosen, for its high levels of overall performance, stability and comfort at high speeds combined excellent braking performance.
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Panel awards Bridgestone “superbrand” status | 28th May 2009
A Panel, made up of influential business journalists, advertising and public relations experts has awarded Bridgestone “superbrand” status in Germany for a second time. The title is valid for 2 years. |
Technical development award for Toyo | 26th May 2009
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. has won the Award for Technical Development in cooperation with Honda R&D Co. Ltd, for fuel efficient technologies applied to its Tranpath A20 tire, the original equipment tyre for its Honda Crossroad model since 2007.
According to Toyo, “the prize is awarded to individual members or associate developers who have developed new products or new technologies useful in the advancement of automotive technologies."
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Toyota chooses Toyo Proxes for 3rd Generation Prius | 22nd May 2009
Released onto the Japanese market on the 18th May the ,3rd generation Prius, the vehicle seen as the prime environmental statement, will ride on the eco-friendly Proxes R30A tyre as OE.
A toyo press statement commented that the gProxes@R30A is a tyre with improved lower rolling resistance and super silencecdeveloped for the new Prius, which aims for both overwhelming performance in eco-friendliness and fun for driving.h |
EU labeling plans concern Continental | 20th May 2009
Continental has voiced its concerns over potential problems with the EU labeling laws due to come into force in 2012 claiming that experts are still skeptical about the problems involved.
The labeling regulations due to come into force in 2012 are designed to make motorists aware of tyres offering safety combined with low rolling resistance. Continental press officer Alexander Lührs explained, that this “would mean the industry had to not only determine precisely and identify the values of each tyre line, but also of each tyre size," which Conti believe will, sooner or later, inevitably lead to higher prices.
Conti also points to the need for the label to have clear graphics in order that customers are able to understand the new system clearly and argues that all suggested graphics so far are hard to understand, in particular the those indicating braking distance.
One strategy put in place to assist motorists understand the new label system is an online fuel calculator which will be made available, allowing consumers to compare individual models. "On many of the products the difference will be marginal" cautioned Lührs. "But the safety requirements made on tyres should not be pushed completely into the background in this context."
As well as the ability of customers to understand the new labels Conti has also voiced concerns over potential problems with certification and subsequent checks on tyre values. Alexander Lührs fears that "as long as the authorities have no way of checking or imposing sanctions, the whole thing is not as effective as it might sound."
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Auto Express names Pirelli P Zero Tyre of the Year 2009 | 15th May 2009
Auto Express Magazine has named the Pirelli P Zero as “Tyre of the Year” in front of 3 other brands. The tyre won the award for the design of a tyre with the best combination of wet and dry braking and handling, aquaplaning and rolling resistance performance, and price. The Magazine commented that “Designing tyres is all about trading off performance in one area for a gain in another However, Pirelli has certainly hit on a winning compromise here, as the P Zero starred not only in the wet, but also in the dry. It topped the times on both handling tracks, plus got the honours in curved aquaplaning. No wonder it inspires confidence when the heavens open. A great all-rounder that thoroughly deserves a place on your car.” |
Toyo Introduces its Premium Drive Tyre | 12 May 2009
Designed for local, regional and long haul motorway applications Toyo Tire U.S.A Corp has introduced the Toyo M647 premium drive tyre which contains Toyo’s e-balance technology. This technology which minimizes growth of the tread profile during operation which "helps to maintain a more uniform and flatter tread radius during the entire life of the casing, which results in long wear for increased value," say Toyo officials. The tyre will be available in size 295/75R22.5 in a 14-ply, Load Range G configuration. |
Freightliner M2 Trucks chose Continental as OE | 12 May 2009
Freightliner has chosen Continental Tire North America Inc. to supply OE tyres for all its Business Class M2 medium-duty trucks. On top of this continental tyres will be optional on other Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) brands including Western Star trucks, Thomas Built buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation chassis and all other Freightliner vehicles.
Director of product marketing at Freightliner Trucks, Melissa Clausen, commented that “Continental's heavy steer tyres complement our proven engineering for the Business Class M2 trucks. The M2 is designed for maximum reliability and fuel efficiency, and this is what we found in Continental's product offering.”
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Dunlop extends the Roadsmart Bike Tyre Range | 11 May 2009
Dunlop Motorcycle UK has announced that it has added new sizes to its already popular Roadsmart tyre range. The Roadsmart which meets the need of all-weather, all year round riders on sports-touring, naked street bikes and super-sport machines, range will now be available in sizes 110/80 R19 (59V) and 150/70 R17 (69V).
Motorcycle manager, UK and Ireland, Lisa Faulkner, said that “We’re very happy to be able to bring the Roadsmart range to even more riders. Large capacity trail bikes have become an increasingly popular choice for road use, Roadsmart is one of the best all round tyres and it was only natural that we would develop a tyre for these bikes.”
Featuring short warm up times, and confidence on the street with linear handling and continuous feedback in all conditions on the road the Roadsmart has enjoyed success with both customers and the motorcycle media. The construction of the tyre, which features multi-tread compounds, composed of the latest polymers, carbon black and silica has allowed the tyre to be successful on the open road and with its adapted profile the Roadsmart offers high speed stability and performance, with strong levels of grip in wet and dry conditions and good shock absorption at speed.
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BAE chooses Goodyear Tyres | 11th May 2009
The Goodyear MV/T tyre size 395/85R20 has been chosen as OE for the widely used BAE Tactical Vehicle Systems military transport vehicle.
The contract for 100,000 tyres will be produced at Goodyears Danville plant. Kris Fettig, Goodyear military OE account executive said "Goodyear is extremely pleased with BAE Systems' decision to source Goodyear tires exclusively on this platform and, more importantly, this fitment signifies an important step forward in Goodyear's working relationship with one of the world's premier providers of military vehicles." |
Supercar Sensation chooses ContiSportContact2 Continental | 7th May 2009
Supercar Sensation, the Charlotte, N.C.-based provider of high performance driving experiences has chosen CTNA, Continental’s North American division as thier supplier of tyres.
CTNA will provide the Continental ContiSportContact 2 and 3 ultra-high performance tires to outfit Supercar Sensation's fleet, which includes a Ferrari F430, a Porsche 911 Turbo and other vehicles.
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5-6% improvements by the ContiSportContact 3 | 5th May 2009
The ContiSportContact 3 range available in 17, 18 or 19” with V, W, Y and Z speed ratings is the latest in Continental’s range of ultra high performance, and yields greater performance levels in dry and wet coinditions, claims Continental.
When compared with its predecessor the ContiSportContact 2, braking distances on both wet and dry roads have been reduced by five per cent each, whilst aquaplaning protection was improved by six per cent. The new asymmetrical tread pattern design has enabled the tyre developers to achieve a high level of grip and the tread ribs are designed to deform minimally, so that the ground contact patch remains constant, even when taking bends at speed. Rolling resistance and tyre wear have also been reduced, by 5%, when compared to the ContiSportContact2.
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Reminder to check Motorcycle tyres pressures | 5th May 2009
Avon Tyres would like to remind motorcyclists to check thier tyre pressures ahead of the motorcycling summer season.
Peter McNally, Avon Tyres’ Technical Product Manager for Motorcycle tyres says: “Tyre pressures on a motorcycle are critical to the safety of the rider aboard it – there’s no other way of putting it...The tyre’s connection with the road has to be perfect and if the tyre is under inflated after a winter’s lay-off, the bike will not handle properly and it could be dangerous...
During testing for our range of tyres – including our new VP2 Sports tyres – we have seen how under-pressure tyres can degrade handling, affect steering, as well as leading to increased and un-even tyre wear.”
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okohama Rubber Co. Opens its Tyre Testing Centre in Thailand | 5th May 2009
In a move to make Thailand the tyre research and development centre for the region, Yokohama Rubber Co. has opened its new 9 million pound Tyre test centre in Rayong. Joining Yokohamas other R&D centre in Japan the new centre will be used to test tyres for passenger cars, trucks and buses manufactured by factories of the Yokohama Group in Japan, Asia and the US
On is official opening on April 30th, Takashi Fukui, managing corporate officer said "With its completion, the Tyre Test Centre of Asia has become the second comprehensive development base owned by Yokohama Rubber Group … making it possible to drastically improve the group's tyre development capability in terms of both quantity and quality."
The centre includes a high-speed track with a road length of 4.1 km and a longest straight stretch of 1km, where a high-speed running test of over 200kph is possible as well as a multipurpose track and general road track and covers a 1.69-million-square-metre site.
Mr Fukui stated that Yokohama “are committed to upgrading brand value of Yokohama tyres around the world by utilising these two bases as the core.”
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