Tyre News

Michelin Scoops National Award for Innovation
Driven to Distraction
Hi-Q Franchisee Inflates Breast Cancer Care Coffers
VIP treatment at F1 for First Stop Winner
Cheshire Recycling Company is Picture Perfect
Industry Welcomes Commission's Statement on Block Exemption Regulation
F1 Glamour Helps Raise nearly £1,000 for Charity
Hankook Heads to Czech Republic for Barum Rally
First Stop Unveils Latest Model Store

Michelin Scoops National Award for Innovation

Michelin has scooped one of the most prestigious awards at this year's fiercely contested Motor Transport Awards, held in front of an audience of 1,300 senior road transport professionals at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Wednesday, 1 July 2009. In winning the Innovation Award, Michelin demonstrated that its new X One MaxiTrailer tyre not only delivers an impressive increase in tyre life of up to 50 per cent, but also provides significant gains in productivity, safety and reduced environmental impact.

The evening saw Michelin beat off stiff competition from a trio of fellow finalists which included white goods manufacturer Indesit UK, asset management specialist Amey, and a joint entry from B&Q and Ceva Logistics.

The award was jointly presented by top comedian Omid Djalili, category sponsor Trevor Ellis, Chairman of Palletline, and Justin Stanton, Editor of Motor Transport. Receiving the trophy was Bill Schafer, the newly appointed Commercial Director of Michelin's truck tyre division, and Martin Covington, Head of Truck and Earthmover Marketing.

Driven to Distraction

British drivers only concentrate for two thirds of their time behind the wheel, according to a new study commissioned by Continental Tyres. Six in 10 people also admit to 'zoning out' whilst behind the wheel with a massive 59 per cent of drivers finding they forget parts of their journey. And over half (51 per cent) switch to 'auto-pilot mode' on their daily commute to and from work.

The survey of 4,000 motorists for Continental Tyres found that motorists were only fully concentrated on the road for 67 per cent of the time spent in the driver's seat. And tuning the radio, talking to passengers and gawping at the scenery topped the list of everyday distractions.

Guy Frobisher at Continental Tyres said: "These statistics are really worrying. When driving, so much can happen in just a few seconds that you need to be able to react quickly so you can brake safely. If you're not fully paying attention you are less likely to anticipate the risks that emerge during a journey and reactions are slowed.

"The net effect is that people are not avoiding the risks and they are less likely to brake in time, meaning more accidents.'' The research found the average driver is on the road for 45 minutes a day and that they are in their own little world for 17 minutes of this time. They make an average of three trips in their car each day. They are distracted at least three times on each journey and for at least four seconds each time. At just 40 mph a car will travel over 18 metres every second. Some 27 per cent of respondents believe their short attention span is to blame for their poor driving - with more than four in 10 being disinterested in the road ahead and not being able to concentrate for more than 37 minutes.

It also emerged 45 per cent have crashed or had a close call due to being distracted whilst behind the wheel. Guy Frobisher added: "Our fast-paced lives can mean little time to fit everything in, but driving is no time for multi-tasking. Our advice is to avoid distractions like eating or drinking or making a phone call, even if hands-free. You could prevent an accident. Even with their eyes on the road, drivers should be aware of the affect that tyre tread depth has on stopping distances.

"Tests show that in wet weather a car travelling at 70mph with 3mm of tread would stop when a car at the legal minimum of 1.6mm would still be travelling at 50mph and not come to a stop for a further 44 metres. It's then that you hope that other drivers are not only paying attention but also ensuring their tyres are in good condition as well.

" Worryingly, a quarter of respondents have scared others with their driving and one in five has feared for their own safety. Although 57 per cent admit their driving improves when children are in the car. Nearly half (48 per cent) admit to having knowingly broken the law - from talking on their mobile phone to skipping a red light. Nine in 10 admit to rubber-necking at accidents on the side of the road. Yet 86 per cent rate themselves as 'good drivers'.

Hi-Q Franchisee Inflates Breast Cancer Care Coffers

A HiQ franchisee is celebrating after raising more than £2,000 for Breast Cancer Care at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it was revealed. Richard Whittemore, who runs ten HiQ centres in the south of England under his Elite Garages Group company, helped to generate £2,075 at the event, while checking hundreds of motorists' tyres in an attempt to eliminate illegal tyre usage. Richard took a team of fast fitters around the festival to check hundreds of tread depths and in return, visitors donated money to Breast Cancer Care - HiQ's chosen charity for 2009.

The initiative took place at Goodwood after a recent survey claimed that more than 3 million UK motorists are currently driving on illegal tyres. Figures from the National Tyre Distributors Association show that of nearly 60,000 cars checked, 7,000 were being driven on at least one illegal tyre. The findings suggest that as many as 3.6 million cars in the UK could also be running on illegal tyres, if the figures were extrapolated across the population.

Richard said: "We were delighted with the amount of money raised and thank everyone for their generosity. We also used hand held technology to check motorists' tyres, which was another successful aspect of the weekend."

VIP treatment at F1 for First Stop Winner

Lucky local resident, Laura Bull, won a VIP trip to enjoy all the action at this year's British F1 Grand Prix, at Silverstone. Laura won the fantastic prize at A & A Tyres, Cardiff, part of the First Stop network of tyre dealerships, after she popped in for a set of four new Bridgestone tyres. As part of the First Stop network, which is supported by sole tyre supplier to this year's F1 championship, Bridgestone, A & A Tyres were able to offer the glamorous prize which included weekend accommodation and entrance to the Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and the Grand Prix itself on Sunday.

Laura Bull, who is a regular A & A Tyres customer, commented: "When I was informed I had won, I was over the moon. I never win anything, let alone a VIP trip to the F1!"

Cheshire Recycling Company is Picture Perfect

Three garden designers have pushed the boundaries of creative landscaping by digging deep to create a gold medal winning show garden at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Talented landscape designers Rebecca Butterworth, Victoria Pustygina and Ludovica Ginanneschi clinched the coveted award for the Best Conceptual Garden after encouraging visitors to seek out their garden entitled 'It's Hard to See'.

One of five avant garde and thought-provoking designs at the Show, the trio's picture perfect design garden which had a blank canvas 'picture frame' framing a?incorporated a 5m sunken lush garden 1m below ground level.?hidden 2m To create the frame around the garden Rebecca and the team used black Terrasofta rubber landscape shavings by Dunweedin', made from 100 per cent recycled fork-lift truck tyres.

Rebecca explained: "As with any discovery, the search is neither easy nor obvious and to replicate this, the viewer is encouraged to seek out and find the garden. "At first sight the immediate surface area appears to be empty but if the viewer looks carefully, where they wouldn't normally look, they will be offered a glimpse of something strong, vibrant and beautiful below the soil level.

"This is the first time we have worked with a product like Terrasofta and it has formed an integral part of the design. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it's very simple to work with and because it comes in a variety of colours we have been able to pick the right colour to create a strong visual impact."

Dunweedin's Terrasofta landscaping shavings tackle the problem of millions of tonnes of disused fork-lift truck tyres, as well as providing gardeners with a soft, child-friendly surface covering that lasts ten times longer than bark chippings. Available in a range of vivid colours, the shavings are softer underfoot, wheelchair friendly and will not deteriorate, splinter or decompose.

Rebecca is not the first garden designer to use Dunweedin's innovative range of landscaping products. Celebrity gardener Kim Wilde supports Dunweedin' and has used its products in her award-winning garden designs. Horticulturalist and Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland also recently used Dunweedin's rubber landscaping chippings in the new BBC 2 series.

Dunweedin', based in Cheshire, produces a wide range of eco-friendly garden products including rubber chippings for landscaping, rubber crumb for lawns and rubber playground chippings - all of which are made from 100 per cent recycled tyres.

Industry Welcomes Commission's Statement on Block Exemption Regulation

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has welcomed the European Commission's statement setting out the future legal framework for the sale of vehicles and aftersales services following the expiry of the current Block Exemption Regulation in May 2010. The report recommends that the current regulation for the sale of vehicles should be extended until 2013.

For the aftermarket, the Commission is now considering and consulting on whether general competition rules or refined sector specific rules should be applied. Industry has until the end of September to respond to the Commission's proposals, following which further announcements are anticipated.

Commenting, Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive said, "The Commission's statement recognises the importance of a smooth transition of the current regulation and a welcome desire to find the optimum solution for the aftermarket.

"The Commission has recognised the high level of competition in the motor industry and this decision gives much needed reassurance and stability to the market during the current economic difficulties," he concluded. The current regulation has contributed to positive consumer benefits through healthy competition in all areas of the industry and SMMT supports the EU's desire to simplify regulation. Competition is alive and well in the motor industry and SMMT is in dialogue with government to validate findings.

F1 Glamour Helps Raise nearly £1,000 for Charity

McConechy's Tyre and Exhaust Centres, with a helping hand from tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, raised almost £1,000 for Diabetes UK at the Glasgow River Festival recently. Generous visitors to the festival enjoyed getting up close to Bridgestone's replica Ferrari F1 car and testing their racing skills on a F1 simulator in exchange for a small donation to Diabetes UK.

These fantastic donations raised a whopping £970 as Donald Carmichael, managing director of McConechy's, said: "Thanks to the weather and the huge generosity of the festival goers we managed to raise a fantastic amount for Diabetes UK. With the 2009 championship in full swing, F1 fans young and old made the most of the exclusive opportunity to take the driving seat in the F1 car and simulator. The event was a huge success and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2010!"

Hankook Heads to Czech Republic for Barum Rally

Tyre giant Hankook heads to the Czech Republic this month as it steps up its testing programme in preparation for a full assault on the Intercontinental Rally challenge (IRC) in 2010. Hankook is working with world renowned preparation company MSD to run the Opel Corsa OPC Super 2000 with testing now well underway.

The preparations move to the Barum Czech Rally Zlin later this month with Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen at the wheel alongside co-driver Ola Fløene. Andreas sees the move to a Super 2000 car as a gear opportunity. "The future of rallying at the top level will be with Super 2000 cars and it will be good to be part of a team committed to this in the future,'' he said. The 20 year old made his stage debut in the UK when he had just turned 17 and has quickly made a name for himself as a fast young charger with a mature attitude on the world rally stage.

"MSD has done tremendous development work on the Corsa and testing behind closed doors has show us that with the Hankook tyres we have a great package,'' said Hankook motorsport manager. "Competing on selected rounds which are part of the IRC this year will give us the added bonus of testing the car in competition conditions and assess every part of our plans for 2010.''

The demanding asphalt roads on the Barum Rallyon the rally are set to provide a comprehensive test for the car with the mix of slow and technical sections and fast straights providing the perfect combination for MSD and Hankook to gain valuable data.

Later this year the team is set to contest events in Spain, San Remo and Scotland to complete testing ahead of 2010. "The mix of rallies chosen for 2009 will give the team valuable experience on both asphalt and gravel surfaces and ensure maximum opportunity for tyre development before the 2010 season gets underway,'' said Mike.

For MSD the opportunity to work with Hankook on rallies counting towards IRC points provides valuable development work for the team. David Whitehead, managing director of MSD said, "Success at this level means many hours of development and we are fortunate to be able to contest selected rounds ahead of the full assault next year which should put us in a very competitive position.''

The Barum Czech Rally Zlin gets underway on August 21

First Stop Unveils Latest Model Store

The Exhaust Tyres Batteries (ETB) group, which has branches across the Midlands and is part of the First Stop network of tyre dealerships, has recently seen its head office re-developed to become the latest 'model store' for the network. ETB and Bridgestone have made a significant investment in the refurbishment of the head office, based in Worcester, including the complete refurbishment of the exterior and a new reception area to provide a more appealing environment for customers.

The First Stop 'model stores' are the flagship outlets for the network and are part of the ongoing development to strengthen the First Stop brand and its network of quality tyre dealerships throughout the UK and give customers the best possible experience.

The new store was unveiled in June and has significantly boosted ETB's business, proving a success with both employees and customers. The recent re-development of ETB's head office comes after its Stratford branch was also converted to a 'model store' last autumn.

Mark Fereday, Retail Development Manager for First Stop, commented: "ETB is a well established and respected business in the tyre industry and it is very significant for the First Stop network that it has chosen to redevelop its head office to become First Stop's latest 'model store'. "More and more dealerships are recognising the benefits and opportunities that are associated with being part of the First Stop network, particularly as we continue to drive the brand in the second half of 2009 with continued training and investment for dealers and exciting promotions and events for customers."