Continental Win Award for World Cup Campaign
Win the Life of a Racing Driver with Dunlop
Latest Tyre Check Campaign Shows Northern Ireland has Least Illegal Tyres
Ten Thousand Hours and Still Going
Continental Achieves Record Figures
Michelin to Build New EM Tyre Plant in Brazil
Bridgestone Opens Chinese Plant for Rubber Anti-Vibration Components
Goodyear Performs in Farm Tyre Tests
Continental OE on New Ford Concept Car
Centenary of the Gordon Bennett Cup

Continental Win Award for World Cup Campaign

Continental Tyres has scored a double first, winning two individual categories of the inaugural TAFF (Tyre and Fast Fit) Awards organised by the National Tyre Distributors Association.

Not only did voting from the retail trade confirm Continental as the "Best tyre Brand" for 2005 in the awards, but the Company's World Cup-themed advertising campaign also scooped the Best Advertising Campaign category. NTDA past president, Martin Rowlands, presented the Awards to Continental Managing Director, Brian Smith on the occasion of the Association's recent annual dinner.

For Brian Smith, wining the Best Tyre Brand category is recognition that Continental'ss involvement in industry campaigns such as the 3mm tread depth initiative and cold weather tyres is appreciated by the retail trade. "It's not enough to manufacture and distribute a range of premium quality products. At Continental we also strive to build partnerships with our customers to help them develop their business potential. It is most gratifying to win this award and I would like to thank everyone who voted for us."

Continental's World Cup-themed advertising campaign on TV and the press also proved a winner with tyre retailers. "This is just the beginning of a series of initiatives linked to our sponsorship of the 2006 FIFA World Cup", explained Brian, "One of the most exciting is our signing of Alan Shearer as Continental brand ambassador and we're looking forward to working with him over the coming months."

Win the Life of a Racing Driver with Dunlop

Following on from its success last year, the Dunlop Race Academy is back for 2005, offering driving enthusiasts the chance to race at Silverstone in a televised championship race as well as sample the celebrity lifestyle of a racing driver.

Last years competition attracted over 7000 entrants and according to Dunlop this year should be even bigger. Seven regional finalists will qualify to receive expert racing tuition from Le Mans driver Calum Lockie at Donington before competing against each other on track in a bid to find the top three. After a series of tests these three will be invited back for a final head to head shoot out at Silverstone and the winner goes through to compete in the Dunlop Driver's Cup; the final round in the highly competitive Ginetta Championship where they will be pitted against experienced racers.

In addition the winner will get the chance to experience the lifestyle of a racing driver for a weekend. This will include VIP style, travel and accommodation at David Coulthard's Columbus hotel in Monaco and the accessories to look the part, including an Ozwald Boateng bespoke suit and lifestyle accessories from Mulberry, Dunhill, Paul Smith and many more.

For a chance to make it into the Dunlop Race Academy this summer visit www.driversknow.co.uk and simply apply online.

Last year, Andy Walker from Derby, won the first ever Dunlop Race Academy. After the intensive trials he came through to win the coveted drive in the Ginetta. On his debut, he made a stunning start to run comfortably in midfield until a late race spin. A week later he was sipping champagne in David Coulthard's Monaco hotel.

Latest Tyre Check Campaign Shows Northern Ireland has Least Illegal Tyres

A week long series of roadside tyre checks undertaken by the police and supported by experts from the Tyre Industry Council has shown that Northern Ireland has the lowest recorded level of defective car tyres. Some 1,000 cars and vans were checked and only 5.6% had one or more illegal tyres - the UK average is 12%.

Whilst Northern Ireland motorists can take the credit for having the smallest number of illegal tyres, the survey did, however, show an increase in the number of worn, but not illegal tyres. Some 17% recorded a tyre between 1.7mm and 2mm.

Ten Thousand Hours and Still Going

Ray Smith is a farmer and contractor at Lakenheath, Suffolk. He was recently visited by his local Firestone Area Sales Manager, Terry Brown, after Ray had enquired about some new front tyres for his New Holland 8560 as the tread is getting low. Upon investigating the tyres, Terry was shocked to find that they are 11 years old.

Ray estimates that he does about 1000 hours a year on this tractor, of which about 40% is roadwork. "I'm going to replace them with another set of R7000's" comments Ray, "The performance is only now starting to deteriorate - and that's because the crown is becoming flat. There is minimal tyre wall damage and that is largely attributable to kerb or object impact. I have a fleet of five tractors and none have had tyres that have lasted this long, so I might as well go for a direct replacement."

Ray admits that the majority of land that the tractor operates on is a mixed medium soil with little flint or stone, but the tractor does spend a fair amount of time on the road - particularly doing heavy trailer work. The tyres have actually been used on three different tractors and have out-lasted a NH8340 as well as the tractor they were initially used on - a Ford 8210. The R7000 is principally a field tyre yet Ray claims that they are very comfortable on the road. He cannot recall having any problems or punctures.

Ray's business, 'RE Smith' has been operating since 1958; he has 300 acres of arable land principally growing wheat, barley and sugar beet. His contracting business covers a radius of 70 miles and includes combining, bailing, drilling, ploughing and pressing, muck & lime spreading as well as hedge and verge trimming for the Local Authority.

Terry Brown of Firestone comments, "It's understandable that Ray has had no problems with sidewall cracking as the tyre has a cut-resistant rubber compound. The flexible sidewalls produce a large contact patch maximising flotation and minimising soil compaction while the 45° lug angle and spacing ensure effective self-cleaning and excellent traction. As well as being a large contractor, Ray does a lot of testing for tractor manufacturers so he has a lot of yardsticks to compare with; feedback from Ray and other farmers is invaluable in making sure we develop products with performance characteristics that match users' needs."

Continental Achieves Record Figures

Continental AG has announced that it has achieved the best figures in its 134 year history in 2004. After exchange rate effects and the consolidation of Continental Sime Tyre and Phoenix, consolidated sales increased by 9.2% to €12,597.4 million (2003: €11,534.4 million). The operating result (EBIT) increased substantially by 28.2% to €1,096.4 million (2003: €855.2 million) and return on sales by 8.7% (2003: 7.4%). Before the restructuring expense of €104.0 million for the plant in Mayfield, U.S.A., the increase in the operating result actually amounts to 40.4% and the return on sales 9.5%. Consolidated net income after taxes went up 114.6% from €314.0 million to €673.8 million, with earnings per share rising €2.51 from €2.37 to €4.88.

Michelin to Build New EM Tyre Plant in Brazil

Michelin has announced that it is to construct a new earthmover tyre plant in Brazil set adjacent to its existing heavy truck tyre site in Campo Grande. The new plant will employ up to 400 people and is expected to start production from the second half of 2007. It will produce 25" to 49" tyres and its initial production capacity will be 40,000 tonnes with the capacity to increase to up to 55,000 tonnes.

Bridgestone Opens Chinese Plant for Rubber Anti-Vibration Components

Bridgestone has held the official opening of a plant that produces rubber anti-vibration components for automobiles in China's Jiangsu Province. The plant is in the city of Changzhou, about 160 kilometers west of Shanghai and began production in January 2005. Owner and operator of the plant is Bridgestone (Changzhou) Automotive Products Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation.

About 60 people were on hand for the opening ceremony, including Chinese government and municipal officials, as well as Bridgestone representatives. Heading the Bridgestone contingent were Tatsuya Okajima, a board member responsible for original equipment, and Hiromichi Odagiri a vice president and senior officer who serves as chief representative of Bridgestone tyre operations in China.

Bridgestone (Changzhou) Automotive Products' plant will have a monthly production capacity of about 170,000 antivibration components in September 2006. It will supply those components mainly to automobile plants in China. Bridgestone has invested about $16 million in the plant, which is the Bridgestone Group's sixth plant for producing antivibration components.The group also produces those products at two sites in Japan, at two in the United States, and at one in Thailand.

Goodyear Performs in Farm Tyre Tests

The German Agricultural Society 'Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft' (DLG), one of the leading, independent organisations in the German agricultural and food sector, has extensively road tested two Goodyear farm tyres, the super wide OPTITRAC DT818 and the super volume OPTITRAC DT830. DLG's conclusion is that both DT818 and DT830 driving comfort at speeds up to 50 km/h on a smooth road is as good as when driving a passenger car.

The OPTITRAC DT818 in the sizes 540/65r30 and 650/65r38 were fitted on a John Deere 6920 tractor and the OPTITRAC DT830 in the sizes 710/65r30 and 800/70R30 on a Fendt 9030 VarioTMS. The DLG tested the comfort level of both tyre combinations on smooth public roads without and with tractor attachments. The acceleration levels were measured in three directions through sensors located near the seat mounting points. The John Deere 6920 attachment was a Lemken seeder and the Fendt 9030 was equipped with a Lemken compactor. These two attachments guaranteed a very realistic and difficult test environment.

The Goodyear OPTITRAC farm tyres and the John Deere and Fendt combinations were then compared with reference tractors equipped with tyres in the size 600/65R34, an industrial machine fitted with 14.5-20 MPT tyres and a passenger car with tyres in the size 195/65R15. With both John Deere and Fendt, Goodyear OPTITRAC's driving comfort was rated "good' to "very good".

Serge Daleiden, Group manager sales and marketing farm tyres Goodyear Germany is delighted but not surprised about these good test results. "Since the introduction of the OPTITRAC range, our tyres' outstanding performance has been confirmed by many farmers, contractors and machine manufacturers. The DLG test confirms that Goodyear OPTITRAC tyres help European farmers get their job done more effectively, not just in the field but also on the road. It is a pleasant confirmation of our hard work for the European farm community", said Daleiden. Goodyear OPTITRAC is one tyre concept, in six different patterns and in 112 tyre dimensions.

Continental OE on New Ford Concept Car

Continental has provided tyres for the new Ford Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) prototype - an exciting crossover concept model, recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Combining sporty looks with 'real world' versatility the SAV has been defined as new breed of car for people who value load-carrying flexibility. Its one-box design is unashamedly utility orientated and places the SAV's appeal somewhere between a sports estate and a compact MPV. Detailing on the show car is inspired by modern sportswear, with an orange 'racing stripe' theme featuring throughout - from floor mats to exterior features including an orange front nose-grille. This retro effect is complimented by exclusive orange piping on the sidewalls of the 21-inch, low profile performance Continental tyres.

Guy Frobisher, Marketing Director of Continental Tyres said: "The Geneva Motor Show is renowned as a platform for showcasing the best in progressive technology. Providing tyres for this hugely exciting prototype demonstrates that tyres continue to be an integral part of future car designs and that they too evolve with the development of new technologies and markets."

At the show, Continental also unveiled their latest tyre, the ContiPremiumContact 2. This brand new tyre features an innovative 3D groove, which drastically reduces braking distances in both dry and wet weather and improves the car's manoeuvrability.

Centenary of the Gordon Bennett Cup

From June 2 - 5, 2005 Automobile Club d'Auvergne - with the support of Michelin and SATCAR - will revive the spirit of the Gordon Bennett cup 1905, the ancestor of today's Grand Prix and Formula One races. No less than 150 vintage racing and luxury cars built at the turn of the century in some 11 countries are expected in Clermont-Ferrand to celebrate the centenary of the Gordon Bennett Cup in what will be an outstanding international event. Participants will flock from Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Switzerland, Mexico and United States to cover the same course as a century ago - a 140 kilometer (90 mile) track at the foot of Puy-de-Dôme at the heart of the Auvergne volcano park.

The impressive line up of dream cars will include in particular five vintage cars that actually took part in the Gordon Bennett Cup: two Napier Gordon Bennett (1903), a Mercedes 60 HP 2- Seater (1903), which entered history when Jenatzy won the Gordon Bennett Cup in 1903 in Ireland, a Pope Toledo Gordon Bennett (1905) and a Panhard Levassor Z40 (1905) which will run for the first time since it was restored. The Léon Bollée "tandem seater" of 1897, a tricycle fitted with an engine, will be the oldest vehicle of the race and can be said to be a forerunner of the automobile. On the sports event side, more than fifty racing cars are enrolled. Some feature performance levels that were simply incredible at the time, with 7000 to 13000cc capacity!

To pay tribute to the car that won the race in 1905, Michelin specially restored one of the only two Richard Brasiers left in existence, and registered it in the centenary race. It will sport the same blue it wore in period where, under the race's regulation, the vehicle's colour matched a country code: black for Italy, green for the UK, red for the United States, yellow for Belgium, white for Germany and blue for France.