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Bridgestone
Starts Construction of Hungarian Plant
Forecourt
Advertising to Fuel Tyre Sales
Dartford
Man in Charity Challenge of a Lifetime
ITMA
Elects New President
Lucky
Severn for Middleton
Goodyear
First Supplier of RunOnFlat Tyres for Ford's New MPVs.
New
Audi Q7 to Sport Bridgestone Tyres
Cooper
Adds Discoverer ATR
Bridgestone
receives President's Award at Podio Ferrari 2006
Michelin
Completes Century of F1 Wins
SJR
Hankook Backs Wales Rally GB Launch
Cooper
Tire Announces New Sizes for Zeon 2XS Series
Dunlop
SP Sport Maxx Rated Top in Aussie Test
Bridgestone Starts Construction
of Hungarian Plant
 Bridgestone
Europe has announced that work has started on a new state-of-the-art
tyre plant in Tatabanya, Hungary, for the production of high-performance
radial tyres for passenger cars and light trucks.
Construction of the
€190 million complex is being financed and managed by Bridgestone
Hungary Manufacturing Ltd - a newly-formed subsidiary of Bridgestone
Europe NV/SA - with completion due at the end of 2007. Production
is scheduled to reach more than 8,000 tyres a day by 2009.
The foundation stone
was laid by Mr Takashi Urano, President, CEO and Chairman of Bridgestone
Europe, Mr József Vápár, Director General of the Ministry of economy
and transport; Mr Miklós Horváth, Mayor of Kornye and Mr János Bencsik,
Mayor of Tatabanya on 8th of June.
"This plant is vital
for our European objective of steady, profitable growth" said Mr
Urano at the ceremony. "It is a showcase of advanced technology
and a key asset in our strategy of focusing on high-value-added
products in the extremely competitive European tyre market".
Forecourt Advertising to
Fuel Tyre Sales
 Michelin
is set to drive sales of its range of tyres with the launch of a
two month long promotional campaign across Alvern Media's forecourt
advertising network. The advertising will tie in with Michelin's
low rolling resistance tyre technology that can help reduce fuel
consumption, by tempting motorists with up to Ł50 worth of free
fuel with the purchase of four new tyres.
The pump nozzle advertising
seeks to engage Michelin's core target audience while in a highly
relevant state of mind - when re-fuelling. It will be the first
time Michelin has advertised on Alvern Media's pump nozzles, and
will run across Sainsbury's forecourts nationally.
Dartford Man in Charity Challenge
of a Lifetime
 A
Dartford tyre dealer is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime
in aid of charity. Paul Vanner is joining 99 other people from across
the UK in a project called Riders for Health, which aims to provide
remote African villages with motorbikes, which are vital to enable
them to obtain medical supplies from towns often hundreds of miles
away.
Paul, who runs First
Stop outlet Watling Tyres on East Hill, explained: "When we arrive
in Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, we will split into ten groups
each consisting of ten motorbike riders and one support unit. We
will then travel to ten villages in order to donate a bike to each
one.
"It will be a tough
challenge as the tenth village we visit could be up to 12 days'
ride away from our starting point, but I'm sure it will be rewarding,
too. The bikes will be going to communities that really need help,
and I feel privileged to be in a position to offer support," added
Paul.
In order to take part
in the event in November, each participant must raise at least Ł4,500
in sponsorship, which is used to buy the bikes in the UK, maintain
them once delivered, and train villagers to safely use them.
Having already donated
the first Ł500 from his own pocket, Paul has now organised a raffle
at his tyre depot to help boost the fund-raising pot. Paul has teamed
up with a host of generous local and national companies to offer
a range of prizes, including a set of top-of-the-range tyres, and
tickets to a Kent County Cricket Club match.
Visitors to the store
who buy tickets will also receive the added benefit of a money-off
voucher for their next tyre purchase.
ITMA Elects New President
Richard Page, Managing
Director of Hankook Tyre UK was elected Association President with
immediate effect at this year's Association AGM held on April 12th.
Richard takes over the helm of the Association from Steve Tidmarsh
MD of Kumho UK who has completed a two-year term of office.
Lucky Severn for Middleton
 Matador
Tyres backed rally driver Craig Middleton bounced back from his
fiery exit on the RBS International Manx Rally with a superb victory
on the Severn Valley National Rally recently. With the Hyundai Accent
WRC repaired after it ignited on the Isle of Man, the 26 year old
Welshman from Llandrindod Wells took a hard earned victory in hot
and sunny conditions.
The win keeps Craig's
chances of winning the MSA National Gravel Rally Championship alive
after a year of mixed fortune so far. Partnered by Royston's Robin
Hernaman, Craig suffered a troubled day with the former works Hyundai.
A boost pressure problem with the turbo meant that the Accent WRC
was down on power during the opening loop of stages near to the
rally base in Builth Wells. Try as he might, Middleton had no answer
to the pace of leading drivers Marcus Dodd and Barry Johnson as
they traded fastest times at the front of the field. The frustrated
Middleton was pushing hard in the dusty conditions, but the lack
of power hampered his progress significantly.
At service, the Matador
Tyre Sport team rectified the problem, and Craig was able to get
back into the swing of things as the rally headed out to the Brechfa
forest complex. Middleton's attempt at Wales Rally GB last year
would prove useful as the Welshman had good experience of the little
used forestry plantation in West Wales.
The two stages held
within the complex were to turn the rally on its head. First, Johnson
rolled his Subaru after hitting a bank on the first stage. Middleton
was now up to second as a result, but as he left the second stage
in Brechfa, Craig was leading the event by a substantial margin.
Dodd had suffered terminal engine problems, and Craig was over a
minute ahead of the chasing pack, led by Roger Duckworth and his
Subaru Impreza WRC.
After winning the Rallye
Sunseeker but retiring from the following two rounds, Craig was
delighted that fortune had favoured him for a change: 'Obviously
I have sympathy for Marcus and Barry, as they were both pushing
very hard and were unlucky' said Craig, who also won the event in
2004. 'I've got to say I was very disappointed to retire from the
Border Counties and Manx events, so winning my home event has really
made up for it. The Matador Tyres performed brilliantly today as
well. Even in the high temperatures and with the abrasive surface,
the tyre gave me plenty of grip at all times - I was delighted.'
Middleton's next outing
will be the Swansea Bay Rally on July 22nd. With the championship
still wide open at this stage of the season, Middleton will no doubt
be keen to make it victory number three of 2006 if possible.
Goodyear First Supplier of
RunOnFlat Tyres for Ford's New MPVs.
Goodyear has announced
that it is to be the sole supplier of RunOnFlat tyres to Ford in
the ramp-up to the launch of the manufacturer's latest MPVs: the
Galaxy and the S-MAX. In the design of its new cars, Ford has paid
great attention to detail. The S-MAX matches sports style and driving
pleasure with flexible and spacious accommodation. The larger, more
luxurious Galaxy is slightly bigger than the model it replaces.
What becomes clear
when looking at both models is the fact that the driving pleasure,
comfort and security of the driver took top priority in the design
of the vehicles - a fact which is reinforced by the company's choice
to equip both models with Goodyear's high-performance Excellence
RunOnFlat tyres. In the event of a puncture or deflation, Goodyear
RunOnFlat tyres are designed to run for a minimum of 80 km (50 miles)
at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 miles per hour) allowing the Ford
Galaxy or S-MAX motorist to continue driving home or to the next
tyre or car dealer - without any compromise on comfort, safety or
performance.
"Goodyear's Excellence
RunOnFlat tyres are specifically designed to provide the motoring
public with higher levels of safety, comfort, and handling performance",
said Benjamin Willot, Goodyear Director Original Equipment Sales
and Marketing, Europe, Middle East and Africa, adding: "they are
the perfect addition to these state-of-the-art vehicles."
The Goodyear Excellence
tyres in various sizes are built at the company's European plants
in Amiens, France and Fulda, Germany.
New Audi Q7 to
Sport Bridgestone Tyres
 Bridgestone
has announced that the Audi Q7 luxury sport utility vehicle will
be fitted with Bridgestone's new Dueler H/P Sport tyres. The tough,
seven-seat all-terrain vehicle with luxury saloon refinement launches
with a choice of two engines - a 4.2-litre V8 with FSI petrol direct
injection, developing 350PS, and a refined 3.0-litre TDI V6, delivering
233PS. Both engines will transmit their power via six-speed automatic
transmission.
The car's powerful
performance and excellent handling capabilities are complemented
by its Dueler H/P Sport tyres - Bridgestone's first 4x4 tyre derived
from Formula One technology. Designed to give precision and comfort
to drivers, the Dueler H/P Sport helps provide the new generation
of high-performance SUVs with the same driving characteristics enjoyed
by powerful sports saloons: excellent on-road wet and dry handling,
sharp steering precision, and maximum in-car comfort.
The tyre's tread pattern
design is fully symmetrical up to 18 inch rim sizes, while the 19
inch and 20 inch sizes are designed with an asymmetrical pattern,
providing the extra performance required by higher-powered models.
Block stiffness is increased on the outside shoulder and by the
tie-bar centre ribs on the larger sizes, to achieve the impressive
handling capabilities.
The Dueler H/P Sport
is available in 11 sizes, from 50 to 65 series, with a further 20
sizes to follow by August 2006.
Cooper Adds Discoverer ATR
 Cooper
Tires has expanded its Discoverer off-road family of tyres with
the addition of the 'Discoverer ATR' all-terrain tyre. Designed
exclusively for use on 4x4s, light trucks and SUVs, the new tyre
is claimed to deliver outstanding traction and versatility thanks
to a radically new tread pattern, construction and compound.
The rugged five-rib
tread pattern extends over the shoulders to enhance off-road traction.
Combined with wide and deep saw tooth circumferential grooves, and
lateral slots, the Discoverer ATR provides a solid all-terrain performance
advantage and enhanced all-weather traction.
Design aside, the ATR,
also features a newly formulated compound to deliver a quiet ride
and exceptional tarmac handling capabilities.
The R and S speed rated
all-terrain tyre is available in popular 14-, 15-, 16-, and 17-inch
sizes, and one of the industry's only 20-inch outline white letter
wheel diameter sizes. The new ATR will boast extensive size coverage
- more than 50 - that will include many new fitments for 4x4s and
SUVs on the market today.
The Discoverer ATR
has been designed using Cooper's advanced VT2ech computer aided
modelling technology.
Bridgestone receives President's
Award at Podio Ferrari 2006
 Bridgestone
received the President's Award at the Podio Ferrari prize-giving
ceremony in Maranello, Italy, on 7th June. This annual awards programme
recognises and rewards suppliers and technical partners who have
excelled in innovation, technology and product development whilst
working with Ferrari.
Mr Luca di Montezemolo,
President and CEO of Ferrari, presented the prestigious award to
Mr Takashi Urano, Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe,
in recognition of Bridgestone's "major contribution to ensuring
cutting-edge performance from the Formula 1 cars and transferring
this experience to our GT cars".
This is the third time
that Bridgestone has won the Premio del Presidente award in the
six years that the event has been running. "We are very honoured"
said Mr Urano after receiving the award, "and we are determined
to continue providing excellence to meet the challenges that lie
ahead".
Michelin Completes Century
of F1 Wins
Fernando Alonso's
victory in Montreal has given Michelin its 100th win in Formula
One racing. This latest success, Michelin's seventh of the season,
is the company's 41st since returning to the sport in 2001. During
its first period of F1 involvement, between 1977 and 1984, Michelin
scored 59 wins. All but seven of the 100 wins have been achieved
in the face of opposition from at least one other tyre manufacturer.
"Our victory in Canada
marks an important occasion for everyone at Michelin," said Michelin
Group director, Michel Rollier. "Our 130,000 employees were deeply
affected by the recent death of Edouard Michelin and this 100th
F1 victory is the finest tribute that our motorsport department
and, by association, the entire workforce, could dedicate to his
memory."
Michelin's first win
was scored by Carlos Reutemann (Ferrari) in Brazil 1978, while Alain
Prost holds the "record" for the most Michelin wins with 16. Current
world champion Fernando Alonso could still beat that before Michelin
bows out of the Formula One arena at the end of 2006. All 14 of
his F1 victories have been scored on Michelin tyres.
SJR Hankook Backs Wales
Rally GB Launch
 Welsh
rally legend Gwyndaf Evans was on hand to help organisers launch
the 2006 Wales Rally GB in style at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff
recently. The Hankook-backed driver is playing a starring role in
the British Rally Championship this year and is eagerly looking
forward to Wales Rally GB - which is this year the finale for the
British Rally Championship.
The 47 year old from
Dinas Mawddwy has competed in the international event 18 times and
says that the rally has a special place in his heart. "I have always
enjoyed tremendous home support and hopefully this year there will
be an added reason as I battle for the British Rally Championship
title,'' said Gwyndaf who is part of the Welsh rally team contesting
the BRC. Wales has some of the best rallying stages in the world
and this year looks like being a cracking event as part of the World
Rally Championship and the British Rally Championship.''
The SJR Hankook team
has a strong Welsh presence this year with both Gwyndaf Evans and
team mate Stuart Jones flying the Welsh Dragon for Wales and driving
for Wales in the BRC.
Also on hand to launch
Wales Rally GB in Cardiff was Nigel Griffiths in the Tesco 99 Octane/Hankook
Subaru.
Cooper Tire Announces New
Sizes for Zeon 2XS Series
Further to soaring
customer demand, Cooper Tire has launched a broad new range of sizes
for its popular Zeon 2XS series. The four new tyre sizes, which
include sizes from 245/35 R19 to 255/35 R20, means the 2XS is now
suitable for fitment to a much broader range of high performance
cars.
The Cooper Zeon 2XS's
signature tapered tread features a deeper groove in the fastest
wearing part of the tyre - the centre. The tyre's unique characteristics
deliver longer tyre life, while the 'double shoulder' design affords
a quieter ride through reduced noise frequency.
The Zeon 2XS's handling
properties have been designed to offer unparalleled levels of predictability
on approach to the limits of the tyre's grip. This provides the
driver with ample warning that it is time to slow down, and greater
confidence in the capability of their tyres.
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx Rated
Top in Aussie Test
Dunlop's SP Sport Maxx
tyre has received a global accolade from the Australian Wheels magazine,
who named the Dunlop ultra-performance tyre as the "best all-rounder"
among nine 17-inch candidates in their June issue.Tyres
in 235/45R17 size were tested in a high speed slalom, in wet and
dry braking and cornering and on hot laps around a racetrack.
Simon Durston-Smith,
Brand Support Manager, Dunlop, said the SP Sport Maxx minimizes
those compromises with technology. "Multi-Radius Tread technology
puts more tread rubber on the road for excellent dry handling and
traction through all stages of cornering. Meanwhile, Twin Hydro-Paddle
technology efficiently pumps water from under the tyre for responsive
handling on wet roads.
" In addition, the
tyre tread contains higher levels of silica compounds and high-structured
carbon blacks for excellent acceleration and braking performance,
Simon added
"We're proud that another
top magazine recognized the all-round performance capabilities of
the SP Sport Maxx. It proved its superiority in all weather conditions,"
he said.
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