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Cooper
Drifts into Record Books
First
Stop Outlet in Campaign to Improve Road Safety Standards
New
WRAP Project Explores Potential for Used Tyres in Bridleways
Bridgestone
Earns Supplier of the Year Award from General Motors
Grant
Grabs Two More Records With Yokohama
Cooper
Announces AC Partnership
Matador
Increase Profits
Easytrack
and Service and Sport Introduce Race-Style Tyre Support
Yokohama
Becomes Official Tyre Supplier to D1 GB Drift And Time Attack Series
Half
of UK Motorists are Risking Their Lives Says New Survey
Walon
Splashes out with Michelin Fitment
Cooper Drifts into Record
Books
 Cooper
Tires has smashed the World Donuting record at the Santa Pod Raceway
in Northamptonshire. Twenty-two enthusiasts mainly from the online
'Drift' community, Driftworks.co.uk, helped Cooper surpass the previous
record for the number of cars simultaneously donuting, which stood
at three cars.
The cars, which included
an exotic collection of Japanese performance cars such as the Nissan
Skyline, Toyota Soarer and drifter's favourite, the lightweight
Toyota Corolla, had to perform donuts for no less than 10 seconds
to earn their places in the history books. Among the participants
were several competitors of the UK D1 National Championship, the
UK's premier drifting competition.
Big in Japan, drifting
is growing in popularity across the world. D1 is a fast-paced discipline
that sees drivers sliding their high-performance cars, at times
side-by-side, through a tight course at speeds of over 100mph. Drifting
relies on both driver talent and tyre performance as drivers apply
the brakes to initiate a slide, or drift, and control the car as
it slides from side to side through a marked course. The drift is
maintained with a precise balance of power, braking and steering.
Drivers are judged on execution and style as they complete the course.
Cooper Tire's extensive
knowledge of drifting - due to its involvement in the US Drift and
Formula Drift series in the United States - has assisted in the
development of hard wearing but relatively soft tyre compounds which
offer exceptional levels of adhesion in both wet and dry conditions.
First Stop Outlet in Campaign
to Improve Road Safety Standards
 Learner
drivers in Kent will soon be benefiting from expert advice after
a First Stop tyre dealership hosted a safety seminar for driving
instructors as part of a wider campaign to reduce accidents in the
region. More than 50 members of the Motor Schools Association (MSA)
packed into the Setyres depot in Tunbridge Wells to hear experts
from tyre firm Bridgestone, the Driving Standards Agency, and the
Fire Brigade explain how they can further educate new drivers on
road safety issues.
As part of the event,
Bridgestone UK's Chris Hawkins introduced the Think Before You Drive
campaign, which is aimed at reducing deaths on the region's roads
by educating people about the importance of regularly checking the
condition of their tyres.
"Many drivers, both
young and old, are unaware of the dangers of not regularly checking
the pressure and tread depth of their tyres," said Chris. "With
the help of Setyres, and other tyre outlets in Bridgestone's First
Stop network of independent dealerships, we are using the Think
Before You Drive message to try to change this situation.
"It is vitally important
that the general awareness levels of motorists are raised with regards
to tyre safety, and drivers understand how important it is to ensure
their tyres are safe to drive on. By working closely with MSA members,
who will pass the information on to their pupils, we can ensure
new drivers in the region start their motoring years with a full
appreciation of the importance of driving on tyres which are properly
inflated, and have a safe amount of tread on them," he added.
New WRAP Project Explores
Potential for Used Tyres in Bridleways
A new demonstration
trial which will explore the potential for using post-consumer tyres
in bridleway surfaces has been awarded funding from WRAP (the Waste
& Resources Action Programme).
Scott Wilson, in collaboration
with Nottinghamshire County Council, Charles Lawrence International
Ltd, the Countryside Agency and the University of Nottingham, was
awarded the funding as part of WRAP's Tyres Programme, which seeks
to support demonstration trials where recycled rubber is being used
in new applications utilising existing technologies.
Bridleway surfaces
are usually constructed from traditional unbound materials or left
in the natural state, but in many instances asphalt is used as it
provides a flat, durable surface. Post-consumer tyres have the potential
to be used as a construction layer in bridleways as an unbound material
or as a bound material to provide a 'shock-absorbing' bridleway
for equestrians and joggers, whilst also providing a flat surface
preferred by cyclists, wheel chair users and many walkers.
The WRAP bridleway
trial is the first of its kind to be carried out in the UK and will
involve tyre rubber being used for Rights of Way foundations, surface
dressing and in between conventional materials along a 420m stretch
in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The surfacing will be monitored every
three months alongside an 80-metre section that is made of conventional
recycled materials to assess its durability.
The demonstration will
assess the practicalities of using processed used tyre material
in bridleways, including the selection of material, preparation
for the application, utilisation and performance of the material
in the application, reporting on handling, best practice guidance
where applicable and discussion on specifications or standards.
Steve Waite, Tyres
Project Manager, said: "With shredded tyres banned from landfill
sites from July this year, WRAP is working to develop new technologies
and uses for recycled tyre rubber. This exciting project has been
funded because it offers the potential to significantly increase
the use of recycled tyre rubber in the surfacing of bridleways."
Bridgestone Earns Supplier
of the Year Award from General Motors
Bridgestone Corporation
has announced it has earned a Supplier of the Year award from General
Motors Corporation for the eleventh year in a row. The award is
for excellence in tyres and related service provided to General
Motors globally in 2005 by Tokyo-based Bridgestone Corporation and
by its subsidiaries, including Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone
Americas Holding, Inc., and Brussels-based Bridgestone Europe NV/SA.
Bridgestone Corporation
senior vice president Tatsuya Okajima accepted the award on behalf
of the Bridgestone Group during ceremonies Saturday, April 29, at
GM's Vehicle Engineering Center at the General Motors Technical
Center in Warren, Michigan.
The GM Supplier of
the Year award began as a global programme in 1992. Winners are
selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering,
manufacturing, and logistics who base their decisions on supplier
performance in quality, service, technology, and price. This year,
General Motors honoured 85 suppliers including the Bridgestone Group
for their outstanding performance throughout 2005.
Grant Grabs Two More Records
With Yokohama
 Yokohama-supported
stunt driver Terry Grant has claimed a further two world records
for doing donuts, spinning a car in a circle about the front wheels.
His latest feat was performed in front of the cameras for the Guinness
World Record Show in Madrid, Spain and as he has done throughout
this year, Terry used Yokohama tyres as part of his routine.
The first record he
broke was held by Dale Morrison and was for 69 donuts performed
consecutively. Terry's Yokohama-equipped TVR Sagaris performed 71
donuts one after the other to take the record. Terry then went on
to set a new record for the number of donuts performed while standing
on the roof of a car, unrestrained, using his trademark Legends
race car.
Once his head had stopped
spinning, Terry was quick to praise the Yokohama tyres he used for
the feat. "I have to say thanks to Yokohama for supplying the perfect
tyre for the job," he said. "It takes something really special to
survive that level of abuse."
Terry already has his
sights set on his next feat, a recreation of the twisting ramp jump
from the Bond Movie, The Man With The Golden Gun. According to Grant,
it hasn't been performed live for almost 30 years and he intends
to resurrect the stunt for his live show.
Cooper Announces AC Partnership
 Cooper
Tire has been confirmed as the official tyre supplier to the AC
MkV, a faithful recreation of the ultimate sports car icon, the
AC Cobra. The celebrated two-seater will be shod with Cooper Zeon
2XS tyres (225/50 WR16 on the front and 245/50 WR16 on the rear)
when it goes on sale in July.
The AC MkV is not an
imitation of the original, but the next generation of the open-top,
former Le Mans winning sports car. Cooper Tire has been at the forefront
of the development, ensuring the tyres match the performance of
the throaty 360bhp V8 Ford engine. With race inspired treads, the
Cooper Zeon 2XS proved to be the perfect choice, balancing superb
grip and handling with a design that compliments the classic nature
of the car.
"The AC badge is greatly
admired around the world, so we're naturally delighted to be part
of its re-birth," said Cooper Tire European business development
director, Steve Cundy. Production of the AC MkV will take place
in Malta, with a new dealership based in London, and an estimated
on the road price of £49,500.
Matador Increase Profits
Slovakian tyre manufacturer
Matador has reported net profits of 16,4 million Euro for the 2005
financial year. Compared with 2004 Matador improved by 1,4 million
Euro, an increase of 9.3 per cent. In 2005 the Group achieved its
income increase above all thanks to the Tyres Division, whose profit
before taxes and interests (EBIT) equaled almost 22,2 million Euro.
Last year Matador employed 4.730 employees on average.
Easytrack and Service and
Sport Introduce Race-Style Tyre Support
Easytrack, Europe's
biggest trackday event organiser, is bringing professional race-style
tyre support to its trackday events. A deal has been struck with
Service & Sport to provide fitting and balancing of tyres at Easytrack
events - but the added value is race-support style technical assistance.
"We won't just stop
at fitting and balancing, we'll be able to tell owners and drivers
how they, their cars and their tyres are all getting along, behaving
and performing," said Jerry Freeman of S&S, a former Pirelli motorsport
specialist. "A tyre is more than just a circular lump of rubber.
There are compounds, constructions and tread patterns to consider;
different types of tyres suit different cars, and sometimes a driver's
driving style can affect the type of tyre he or she really needs.
"Weather and temperature
are of course issues as well, and a slight adjustment in tyre pressure
can completely alter the performance and handling of a car. It's
the experience of being able to 'read' a tyre that makes all the
difference.
"Our plan is to be
provide the best possible tyres for the job at the best price -
something our low overheads can help achieve - but also to provide
genuinely superior advice and support to trackday drivers.
"We recognise that
some trackdayers are out for some fun, but we also understand that
some take it very seriously - just short of the focus that race
drivers and race teams would apply."
Service & Sport will
be able to provide virtually any shape, size or make of tyre for
fitting at Easytrack events, providing they are pre-ordered in advance.
The S&S team will also take a stock of the most popular trackday
tyres from a variety of manufacturers to each Easytrack event.
Yokohama Becomes Official
Tyre Supplier to D1 GB Drift And Time Attack Series
The UK distributor
for Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama has signed an agreement
to become an official tyre supplier to the first D1 Drift championship
in the UK, the 2006 D1GB series. This follows a successful partnership
with the D1 Drift exhibition event which visited the UK for the
first time in 2005. Drifting is widely seen as the fastest growing
form of motorsport in the UK. It's based on rear-wheel drive cars
powersliding, or oversteering, through a series of corners and in
2006, will feature at Silverstone, Rockingham and Knockhill race
circuits in the UK.
Drivers are marked
on a variety of criteria, including the entry speed to the corners,
the transition from one corner to the next, the angle of the car's
slide and extra points for style, such as the amount of tyre smoke
generated during the slide. The competition itself is based on a
sixteen-car knockout, with pairs of cars each tackling two runs
side by side, one leading the other before swapping, until the final
pair are left. Drivers earn additional points for getting alongside
or even passing the opposition.
Yokohama is also an
official tyre supplier to the Time Attack series, which runs alongside
the D1GB. The concept is for drivers of highly modified road cars
to try to set the fastest lap time at each circuit the series visits.
Private drivers will
be invited to battle with a selection of the performance tuning
industry's most respected car builders. The Time Attack competition
is split into a series of classes, meaning comparable machinery
will compete head to head, rather than trying to overcome significant
power advantages.
Yokohama has a well-deserved
reputation for innovation and this partnership with the D1GB and
Time Attack series' is proof positive of that. In addition to supplying
tyres and branding at every event, Yokohama HPT, the UK distributor
for Yokohama tyres, will also offer a tyre changing facility to
competitors at each of the five rounds.
Half of UK Motorists are
Risking Their Lives Says New Survey
More than half of UK
motorists believe that they are driving around safely when in fact
they are dangerously unaware that they are putting their lives and
the lives of their passengers at risk. According to a new survey,
more than 80% of drivers believe they have never driven on a tyre
which is even slightly unsafe, but only a third of those questioned
know what the legal minimum tread depth of their tyres actually
is. And while more than half of motorists claim to have checked
their tyre pressures in the last month, 49% of drivers do not know
that an under-inflated tyre can dramatically affect a car's stopping
distance, leading to potentially horrific results.
Bridgestone UK is behind
the survey, as part of a new campaign to use its network of 170
First Stop tyre dealerships to offer every driver in the country
a free tyre health check and cut down on the 34,351 deaths and serious
injuries on UK roads each year*. The company has recently joined
forces with the RAC Foundation and FIA Foundation to promote the
Think Before You Drive campaign, encouraging all drivers to check
their tyres in an effort to reduce accidents.
"Tyres are the only
contact our cars have with the road," said John McNaught, managing
director of Bridgestone UK. "Our survey has illustrated that while
people believe they are driving around safely, the truth is that
many motorists are still unsure as to how much air should be in
their tyres, and how much tread should be on them.
"At best, half of the
people on the road are mistaken about the safety of their vehicles.
At worst, many are dangerously unaware that they're putting themselves
and their passengers - which in many cases are children - in danger,"
said John.
The survey showed that
women are the worst offenders, with only 46% having checked their
tyre tread depth in the last month and only 23% actually knowing
the safe legal tread depth limit is 1.6mm. Teenagers also fared
badly, with almost 60% of 17 to 24-year-olds admitting they do not
know how much tread needs to be on their tyres to keep them safe.
And while drivers over 55 claim to be the most vigilant, with a
massive 85% insisting they have never driven with a tyre even slightly
flat or remotely unsafe, an amazing 65% admitted they did not know
how much tread they should have on their tyres.
Walon Splashes
out with Michelin Fitment
 Automotive
logistics specialist Walon UK has specified five new DAF CF 85.380
car transporters with Michelin Anti-Splash tyres, designed to dramatically
reduce the projection of water (often referred to as splash) created
by the steer axle tyres. This reduction is made possible by the
introduction of a deflector into the tyre's design, which comprises
a small rib around the shoulder of the tyre which is sufficient
to deflect the splash back down towards the road surface rather
than up onto the windscreens of passing vehicles and pedestrians.This
design was originally developed by Michelin for aviation use and
is now available on the 385/55 R22.5 XFA2 Energy Anti-Splash for
fitment as original equipment and replacement tyres.
The latest transporter
trailers delivered to Walon also feature the new Michelin 275/70
R 22.5 XTA2 Energy tyre, designed specifically for fitment to car
transporters. Compared with the 295/60 R22.5 XTA2 Energy tyre it
offers a six per cent increase in axle payload, rising from 6,700
kg to 7,100 kg. It also offers a four centimeters increase in available
space for vehicles being transported, thanks to a reduction in the
section width of the tyre.
Peter Huxtable of Walon
UK, explains: "Michelin is our preferred tyre supplier across our
500-strong transporter fleet and this latest delivery represents
the first Walon trucks to be fitted with Anti-Splash tyres. We expect
them to reduce the splash thrown up from the road surface, significantly
improving the driver's vision in the mirrors whilst also making
it safer for other road users in bad weather conditions.
"The increased axle
payloads from the new Michelin trailer tyres will also improve our
carrying capacity when transporting larger vehicles, such as luxury
4x4 models, and fits perfectly with the industry trend of cars becoming
longer and heavier," he adds.
Walon is the leading
supplier of finished vehicle logistics services to the UK automotive
industry and operates from a network of 25 distribution centres
nationwide. As part of the AutoLogic Group, Walon is responsible
for over 1.2 million vehicle movements each year on behalf of vehicle
manufacturers, fleet operators and dealerships.
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