Tyre News

Greens Triumph in Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence
Kumho to Supply Tyres for Mercedes-Benz Viano X-Clusive
New OE Fitments for Yokohama in the UK
Bridgestone Motorsport Announces White Marking for Extreme Wet Weather Tyres
TW Tyres Holds Safety Event for Local Drivers
ProTyre Appointed as Official Supplier of Michelin Tyres to Race Series
Hankook Ventus Prime Ranked First in Summer Tyre Test
Maxxis Vietnam Factory Daily Output to Top 16,000

Greens Triumph in Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence

Eco-friendly innovations have swept the board at the inaugural Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, which were presented at Tire Technology Expo recently in Cologne, Germany. Awards were handed out for ecological tyre advances including intelligent recycling technologies; low-rolling resistance tyres constructed with less harmful chemicals; materials-saving, advanced computer modelling systems and development techniques; and energy-efficient manufacturing systems.

Among the triumphant companies was Michelin, the French company winning the Tire Technology of the Year Award for its even more environmentally friendly version of the established Energy Saver range. Developed specially for Peugeot's recently introduced 308, the tyre uses a rubber compound based on a new generation of silica and uses a specially developed mixing process that sees the need for carbon black almost completely eliminated. The design helps create a low rolling resistance of 20%, generating significant fuel savings, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions of nearly 4g/km.

More eco-friendly technology triumphed in the Tire Manufacturing and Design Innovation category, with the Institute of Mechanics and Computational Mechanics at the Leibniz Universität Hannover picking up the trophy for creating advanced tyre modelling software that provides substantially more detailed theoretical calculations and so enables simple and quick research into variations of constructional parameters, saving development materials and time.

Global Resource Corporation won the Environmental Achievement of the Year for its patent-pending microwave process that enables the removal of oil and other petroleum products from scrap tyres.

The Tire Industry Supplier of the Year was Herbert Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG who won the category for advances in curing press technology. The company's new 52in double-cavity column press is so compact and efficient that it can replace a 40.5in curing press within the same factory footprint. The press therefore allows manufacturers to expand production without physically adding to facilities or rearranging production lines. The machine can also cure two tyres at once, further improving efficiency.

The final Award of the day went to Bridgestone as the company was crowned Tire Manufacturer of the Year. The Japanese manufacturer was presented with the trophy for numerous achievements over the last 12 months including the expansion of both its Technical Centre and Proving Ground in Europe, the latter said to be the only proving ground in Europe that can test all road surface and tyre type configurations. Within its aircraft tyres division, Bridgestone is now producing radial tyres for the first Airbus A380, which has a take-off speed of 370Kmh and weighs up to 570 tons. The tyres feature an advanced radial structure with high elastic modulus/strength cords that reduce weight over a conventionally constructed tire by between 7 to 10 per cent. Bridgestone was also cited by the judges for its participation in various 'eco-projects' in which it is working with WWF Japan (World Wide Fund for Nature Japan) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to improve the ecological balance of its activities. Yet another contribution to the world of motoring is its work in a road safety campaign, Think Before You Drive.

Kumho to Supply Tyres for Mercedes-Benz Viano X-Clusive

Kumho Tyres has announced that it is to supply tyres for OE fitment to the new Mercedes-Benz Viano X-Clusive - the range-topping Viano with the comfort of a luxury saloon and the practicality of an MPV, that made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The X-Clusive's 18" alloy wheels will be shod with Kumho's ECSTA KU19 UHP (Ultra High Performance) tyres.

The asymmetric tread pattern combines optimal dry and wet weather performance with a smooth ride and minimal road noise. Kumho has supplied Daimler AG with tyres for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class since last year and worked closely with the company in the development of the tyres for the Viano X-Clusive.

New OE Fitments for Yokohama in the UK

The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres, Yokohama HPT Ltd, has announced several key new Original Equipment (OE) fitments in the Japanese manufacturer's range for the UK market. Building on Yokohama's success on some of the world's most evocative automotive brands and its matching achievements in motorsport, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship, these new fitments reinforce Yokohama's reputation for producing safe and reliable tyres with the emphasis on performance.

The latest high performance brand selecting Yokohama as the tyre of choice is Volkswagen, for its new Touareg model. The choice follows Porsche, which recently adopted the ADVAN Sport model on its high-performance SUV, the Cayenne. Volkswagen has followed suit, with the new model leaving the factory with both 19in and 20in wheel options fitted with ADVAN Sport, sized 275/45R19 and 275/40R20 respectively.

Volkswagen's selection of Yokohama ADVAN OE fitment comes hot off the back of the launch of the new Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX, arguably the most eagerly-anticipated developments of one of the world's greatest road cars. The EvoX marks a new era in the range, which traditionally has evolved gradually with each successive variant and the latest specification rolls out of the factory, fitted with Yokohama tyres.

The EvoX features a brand-new chassis but retains the two-litre turbocharged engine that made the previous versions so popular and the competition versions so successful. It once again features Mitsubishi's intelligent four wheel-drive system to produce what has been described as one of the most rewarding driver's cars built. The new EvoX will be fitted with the Yokohama A13C tyre from the factory, sized 245/40x18in. Developed in conjunction with Mitsubishi engineers, the A13C has been created to provide the perfect combination of grip, longevity, safety and comfort; four qualities that the Yokohama name has become synonymous with.

In addition to Mitsubishi, fellow Japanese manufacturer Honda has also adopted the brand for its 2008 model Accord. The 225/50VR17 tyre, designated the E70D, is again designed with performance and comfort in mind, for the mid-sized Honda. The 18in upgrade option on the Accord is also fitted with Yokohama tyres as standard, designated the V103 and sized 225/45R18.

Another Japanese manufacturer choosing Yokohama tyres is Mazda, with the 2008 Mazda 2 fitted with 175/65R14 A349 tyres from the factory. Subaru has also selected Yokohama as fitment for the new Impreza model, in both 16in and 17in sizes; 205/55R16 A349 and 205/50R17 A10E respectively. In addition, both the 16in and 17in wheel options on the UK-specification Chrysler Grand Voyager are fitted with Yokohama tyres. The tyres are sized 225/65R16 and 225/65R17 respectively and are designated the A349A.

Bridgestone Motorsport Announces White Marking for Extreme Wet Weather Tyres

Bridgestone Motorsport has confirmed that for the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship season their extreme wet weather tyre will be marked with a white line in the bottom of the central groove. This is in addition to marking the softer of the two dry tyre compounds at each race. The white tyre marking, which will be present from the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne onwards, has been introduced at the request of the teams and in consultation with the FIA to make Bridgestone's extreme wet weather tyres visibly distinguishable from the wet weather tyres when used on the track in the wet.

Markings of this kind were first introduced by Bridgestone in March 2007, after an eleventh hour change to the 2007 Formula One Sporting Regulations which stipulated the two specifications of dry weather tyre at each event must be visibly distinguishable from one another. Bridgestone welcomed the application of tyre markings as it enabled the media and the public to further understand the strategies employed by various teams and potentially increase their enjoyment of the race.

Bridgestone hopes that marking the extreme wet weather tyre this season will have a similar effect. Marking of the extreme wet weather tyres will be undertaken by Bridgestone's tyre fitters at the circuit, in the same manner as the 2007 dry weather tyre markings.

TW Tyres Holds Safety Event for Local Drivers

First Stop independent tyre dealership, TW Tyres geared up for an open day aimed at helping local customers to solve all their tyre and car problems. The afternoon provided female drivers with practical advice on maintaining their vehicles, with specific focus on all-important tyre checks.

Recent research has shown that up to 90 percent of drivers do not know their correct tyre pressures and TW Tyres were keen to address this issue and offer practical help to local drivers. As part of Bridgestone's First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships, Carl Williams and Sally Smith from Bridgestone were on hand giving presentations and offering their expertise along with technical adviser Chris Scott and the TW Tyres team. Rugby FM also joined up with TW Tyres on the day by holding a phone-in clinic on car maintenance issues for all those who couldn't make it.

ProTyre Appointed as Official Supplier of Michelin Tyres to Race Series

Protyre has been appointed as the official tyre supplier for all three of the 2008 Ginetta Championships, proving to be one of the UK's most popular single-make race series. Protyre Motorsport will provide the Michelin control tyres and offer a full tyre & technical support for the competitors at each of the 2008 Championship rounds. The G20 Junior cars will be shod with Michelin 195/50 R 15 V Pilot Exalto tyres, the G20 Senior cars will run on the 205/50 ZR 15 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup road legal track day tyre and the 19/57-15 P2A full wet tyre, whilst the G50 series will use the 24/64-18 S8D slick and 24/64-18 P2A full wet Michelin competition rubber.

Hankook Ventus Prime Ranked First in Summer Tyre Test

The ultra high-performance tyre Ventus Prime from Hankook Tire has been ranked first in a comprehensive summer tyre test conducted by Germany's renowned automotive magazine "auto, motor und sport" (issue 7/2008).

"Excellent handling characteristics and superior braking ability on both wet and dry surfaces" steered it to first place for the automotive premium segment in a comparative test against 8 tyres. Using tyre dimension 235/55 R17 W/Y, products from manufacturers like Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin were tested on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. With a "notable gap", the Hankook Ventus Prime - especially designed for comfortable driving to be used on cars up to the luxury segment - outclassed the whole competition. "auto, motor und sport" labeled this a "sensation". Only Ventus Prime was awarded the coveted rating "exceptionally recommended".

Maxxis Vietnam Factory Daily Output to Top 16,000

Since opening in July last year Cheng Shin Rubber Vietnam Ind. Co. Ltd - the Maxxis factory located in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam - has gone from strength to strength. The 200,000 sq m manufacturing plant's current capacity is 8,000 motorcycle tyres a day and by the end of 2008 this will rise to a daily capacity of 16,000 tyres. The facility, which employs 265 people and commenced production in February 2007, supplies mainly to the Vietnamese replacement market, with some export sales to other south-east Asian countries.