Ferrari chooses Bridgestone Potenza RE050 radials for Ferrari Superamerica
Winter Tyre Sales Potential to be explored by UK Tyre Industry.
First Stop Dealers Raise £20,000 for Charity
Kwik-Fit Acquires Axto
BMW Confirms Commitment to Continental Run-Flat Tyres
Join the 2006 Gold Rush Now
French VMs Choose Bridgestone for Latest Models
Leicestershire Sees Rise in Defective Tyres
Michelin Tyres Chosen for the new Airbus A380
Tyre Companies Make Donations for Tsunami Victims

Ferrari chooses Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Radials for Ferrari Superamerica

Bridgestone has announced that it is to supply Potenza RE050 radial tyres for the Ferrari Superamerica.

The Superamerica is a brand new innovative convertible derived from the 575M Maranello that will be produced in limited edition, powered with a 12-cylinder engine and feature an innovative rotating roof in combination with electrochromic technology, which allows the driver to adjust the amount of sunlight that shines into the cockpit. The Potenza tyres will be of size 255/35ZR19 on the front wheels and 305/30ZR19 on the rear wheels.

Bridgestone has adopted a non-directional, asynchronous tread pattern in the Potenza RE050 tyres that will appear on the Ferrari Superamerica. Wet-weather handling is an especially important consideration in Europe and so Bridgestone's engineers have designed the tyres to provide excellent performance on both wet and dry surfaces. They have designed the inner tread to optimal wet-surface performance and the outer tread for optimal dry-surface handling.

Comfort was also a big emphasis in creating the tyres, and the result combines a quiet, pleasant touring experience with superior wet and dry handling. Bridgestone will begin delivering tyres in January 2005 for factory installation on the Superamerica.

Winter Tyre Sales Potential to be explored by UK Tyre Industry.

A recent conference held by the NTDA on Winter Tyres has spawned an interest which could lead to a completely new market for tyre sales in the UK according to NTDA Chairman Martin Rowlands. According to Rowlands, the seminar, which was held during January, has acted as a catalyst for the whole of the industry to get together to explore the potential for Winter Tyre sales in the UK.

"With very few exceptions", said Rowlands, "everyone at the conference agreed that the Industry should make a determined effort to promote the benefits of driving on winter tyres when the temperature goes below 7 degrees C. Our seminar graphically illustrated that Winter /Cold weather tyres have the ability to improve both safety on the roads and reduce motoring costs" he added. The NTDA will now set up a small working group to put together ideas for a campaign and discuss how such a campaign could be funded.

NTDA Director Richard Edy added: " To do this properly we need time so it is not our intention to launch anything to the to the motoring public for some time " We need to have everything in place to ensure that anything we do is a success and, if we can emulate the success of our colleagues in Holland who built their market up to over 12% of their total market we could be looking at a new market of several million tyres in the UK" he concluded.

First Stop Dealers Raise £20,000 for Charity

According to Bridgestone, First Stop tyre dealers have raised between them as much as £20,000 for UK charities during 2004. The money was raised by holding Formula One-themed events across the country, with a replica Ferrari Formula One car, supplied by Bridgestone UK, being the main attraction. With the help of First Stop business development managers, dealerships hosted individual events at local shopping centres or supermarkets giving members of the public the chance to have their photos taken with the impressive vehicle and also test their driving skills on a motor racing simulator, in return for charity donations.

Andy Dingley, senior marketing analyst at Bridgestone UK, said: "The Formula One car draws huge crowds wherever it is displayed. The events provide an excellent opportunity for dealerships to gain positive local media coverage and more importantly raise money for worthy causes.

Kwik-Fit Acquires Axto

Speedy, a subsidiary of the Kwik-Fit Group and the largest fast-fit operator in France has acquired the French Axto fast-fit network of 43 centres. The acquisition further strengthens Speedy's market leading position in France, where the company now operates through 518 centres. Speedy is also accelerating its programme of franchisee acquisitions both in France and other overseas markets and is hoping to reach its objective of 200 franchises in the very near future.

Gilles Chauveau, Managing Director of Speedy said, "Our strategy is to continue developing Speedy both domestically and at an international level. The Speedy brand has a strong identity, based on its commitment to customer values and delivering a high quality service."

Kwik-Fit Group Ltd is also continuing to expand its Pit.Stop brand in Germany, having opened six new greenfield sites during November bringing the total opened in 2004 to 30. This takes the Pit.Stop brand to 323 company operated outlets.

BMW Confirms Commitment to Continental Run-Flat Tyres

When the new 1 Series went on UK sale in October, BMW reaffirmed its stance on the fitment of run-flat tyres to volume-selling vehicles by selecting Continental's Self Supporting Runflat Tyres (SSR) as Original Equipment (OE), a decision which was made following eight years of intensive product testing by BMW and involved investigations into the various alternative solutions to the run-flat conundrum.

Commenting on Continental's involvement, Key Account Manager for (OE) business, Richard Durance said: "Throughout the product testing we were committed to developing a product that performed at least as well as traditional pneumatic tyres. In the ContiPremiumContact SSR we have succeeded. Braking, cornering and even rolling resistance in both wet and dry conditions are as good as a conventional tyre."

The advantages of Continental's SSR technology are numerous but key to its adoption by BMW was its ability to be applied universally. No special wheel rims or unique fitting equipment is required, avoiding problems in the aftermarket. Run-flat tyres are also standard fitment on BMW's 5 series, 6 Series, Z4 roadster and MINI and Continental's SSR technology is scheduled to appear on the forthcoming 3 Series, which goes on sale early in 2005.

Richard Durrance added: "BMW sell more than half a million 3 Series per annum, which will impact on the importance given to run-flat tyres within the tyre industry. "At present run-flat tyres are more expensive than conventional tyres and around 10% heavier. However, with heavyweight manufacturers such as BMW recognising the benefits of technologies like SSR these costs are likely to come down as sales volumes increase and economies of scale come into play."

Join the 2006 Gold Rush Now

With only just over one month to go until the 2005 Fulda Challenge begins, organisers of the annual extreme arctic adventure are now accepting applications for the 2006 event. One of the world's toughest sports endurance competitions, the Fulda Challenge, takes place early each year, in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The icy wilderness sets the scene for a week of demanding activities designed to test the human qualities of stamina, skill and determination to the limit.

The 2005 UK team, comprising of Marketing Manager Emmie Gribble and Offshore Engineer Richard Jackson, is currently preparing for next year's challenge, which takes place between 29 January and 8 February 2005. During the seven-day trip, the super-fit duo will travel in a convoy of Toyota Rav4s and will be forced to combat perilous winter driving conditions in vehicles equipped with Fulda's dedicated Tramp 4x4 Yukon tyres. Along with teams from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, USA and Canada, the UK team will take the Alaska Highway to Haines Junction and journey through the Kluane National Park.

The Klondike Highway will lead the teams to Eagle Plains and the Arctic Circle - via the gold rush town of Dawson City and the seemingly endless Dempster Highway. The teams will stop only to compete in several daunting daily challenges. A range of Yukon activities, including ice climbing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, car pulling and ski-doo racing are just some of the events that competitors in previous years have faced.

Fulda UK Brand Manager Marcus White said: "The standard of entries for 2005 was extremely high. As well as possessing the fitness levels that the challenge requires, all the selected athletes worked well on their own - and as part of a team. This made for two superb selection weekends, which went down to the wire in the final events. Fulda UK is hoping for victory in 2005 and would like to see even more people apply for 2006."

Extreme sports enthusiasts, 4x4 drivers, adventure racers, triathletes, or anyone else who thinks they have got what it takes to pull a car, ski, snowshoe, climb and run, are invited to apply online at www.fulda.co.uk.

Short-listed applicants will be invited to an initial selection event in June/July 2005 (details to be confirmed). Up to five men and five women will be selected to compete in the final Fulda Tyres Challenge elimination event, which takes place in Sulden, Italy in late September/early October 2005. Here the UK team will be chosen to compete in the Fulda Tyres Challenge, which takes place in January/February 2006.

French VMs Choose Bridgestone for Latest Models

Both Peugeot and Renault have named Bridgestone as original equipment tyre suppliers for important new additions at the small end of their ranges.

Peugeot will fit the Bridgestone Turanza ER300 in 185/60 R15 84 H size on its new 1007 'model. The French automotive manufacturer has high hopes for its new entry-level mini, which is targeted for production at average volumes of 180,000 per year. A key element in the customer appeal of the 'small but tall' 1007 will be unique sliding electric doors that allow easy access in even the most restricted parking spaces. Bridgestone Europe will deliver tyres produced at its plant in Burgos, Spain, for fitting to the compact run-about.

Meanwhile, Renault has chosen the new Bridgestone B250 165/65 R15 81 T as an ideal complement to its Modus MPV. Based on the next-generation Clio, the five-door people-carrier is taller, longer and wider than the company's current supermini, the Twingo. It will be built in Valladolid, Spain, at an average rate of 300,000 units per year. Safety was a key consideration for Renault in developing the new vehicle, which can include up to six airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes and traction control.

In this respect, the Bridgestone tyre is a logical choice, as safety was also central to its design. Soon to be launched on the replacement market, the B250 excels in wet and dry braking, without losing out on rolling resistance.

"Winning the approval of these two leading European makers is a source of great satisfaction," says Didier Schneider, Vice-President, Original Equipment - Bridgestone Europe. "Peugeot's decision to fit the Turanza, our premium touring car tyre, to its new mini confirms the company's determination to ensure that the 1007 will be as enjoyable to drive as it is interesting to look at. And for Renault, the B250 will certainly contribute to the sense of security enjoyed by drivers and passengers in its smallest-yet MPV."

Leicestershire Sees Rise in Defective Tyres

A series of roadside tyre checks arranged by Leicestershire Constabulary supported by the Tyre Industry Council (TIC) has revealed a 4% rise to 17% in the number of defective tyres on cars on the roads of Leicestershire. In similar checks in 2003 a slightly above average of 13% of vehicles checked had at least one tyre at or below the 1.6mm legal requirement - in 2004 the figure rose to just over 17% - the national average is 12%. The number of vehicles with badly worn tyres also rose dramatically from 14.6% in 2003 to 17.6%.

Leicestershire Constabulary's road safety officer, PC John Budulis said: "I am very disappointed that so many people put not only their own lives at risk, but many other people's by driving about on defective tyres. It only takes a few seconds to check the condition of your tyres, but very few people take the time to do so. Leicestershire Police are committed to making our roads safer and will continue to enforce the tyre legislation".

Michelin Tyres Chosen for the new Airbus A380

Michelin has announced the introduction of a lightweight tyre capable of operating at the speed and weight of the new Airbus A380. As a result Airbus have made the decision to equip the Airbus 380 with Michelin tyres.

Due to enter commercial service in 2006 the new double deck, 555 seat, Airbus A380 is the biggest passenger aircraft in the world and, with a maximum take-off weight of 560 tonnes, is by far the heaviest commercial aircraft to date. Using its own, highly damage resistant, NZG technology Michelin was able to meet the constraints of this project and develop a new tyre capable of supporting a load of 33 tonnes at 378 Km/h. The combined weight saving of the 20 tyres on the main landing gear is 360kg.

Tyre Companies Make Donations for Tsunami Victims

Both Continental and Bridgestone have announced that they are making major financial contributions to help the Tsunami victims in Asia.

Continental has announced a contribution of US $ 500,000. The company says it is currently working with aid organisations to determine whether the donation, or a proportion of it, should be donated in the form of material resources. Among the options curently being considered are; the provision of portable fuel tanks or tyres suitable for off-road vehicles and trucks in the worst affected regions - products made by ContiTech AG in Hanover and Continental's production facility in Malaysia respectively.

Meanwhile, Bridgestone Corporation has contributed ¥100 million (about $900,000) to support relief efforts in countries affected by the tsunami. The company made the donation on behalf of the Bridgestone Group through the Japan Red Cross, and Bridgestone has instructed that organisation to allocate the funds at its discretion. In addition, Bridgestone subsidiaries in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India will make separate contributions to local relief efforts.