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Tyre News
Pirelli Sponsors Young Driver Safety Programme
Mobile Growth for ATS Euromaster
Hankook Produces 10 Millionth Tyre in Hungary
Avon Tyres Supports Formula Ford 1600 Championships
Uniflate has Pirelli Driver Centre Approval
Crewe Based ABP Motorsport Scoops CAT Garage
of the Year Award
BTCC Sponsorship for Hi-Q
Check Wheel Alignment after Pothole Damage, says
TyreSafe
Bridgestone OE on Ferrari 458 Italia
Marangoni and Kwik-Fit in Supply Partnership
Toyota Cooper Tire Team Finishes Second in 2010
Dakar Rally
Cooper Christmas Raffle Raises more than £4,000
for Charity
Pirelli in Sponsorship and Service Partnership
with Red Bull
Counting the Cost of Winter Weather
Pirelli Sponsors Young Driver Safety Programme
 As
part of its Corporate Social Responsibility activity, Pirelli
has signed up as a major sponsor of the Young Driver programme.
Aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities on the road, Young
Driver is an inventive initiative being rolled out nationwide
to teach 11 to 16 year olds driving skills.
As part of the sponsorship deal, Pirelli will be providing
tyres for use on the SEAT Ibiza cars which will be used in
the initiative. The tyre used will be Pirelli's homologated
original equipment products which include the Pirelli P7 and
Pirelli P6 Cinturato.
Kim Stanton, a Director of Young Driver, is delighted to
welcome Pirelli as a sponsor alongside other sponsors, SEAT
and Admiral Multicar. Commenting on the programme, she says:
"Young Driver has worked extensively in reviewing methods
of driving training to devise a programme offering young people
driving coaching before their 17th birthday in a fun and safe
environment.
"The lessons are given by some of the very best approved
driving instructors in the country. Children can familiarise
themselves with the controls and instruments in the car, focus
on learning vehicle control and gain invaluable experience
before having to deal with real life road traffic situations.
With eight different driving zones, the lessons are designed
to progress the young driver from basic pulling away to ultimately
overtaking manoeuvres."
Young Driver operates weekends and during school holidays
at The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, with new
venues opening in London, Manchester and Glasgow shortly.
Individual places or group bookings for 30minute or 1 hour
lessons can be purchased (£29 and £55 respectively) online
at www.youngdrivers.eu or by telephoning 0844 371 9010.
Mobile Growth for ATS Euromaster
 ATS
Euromaster has strengthened its fleet of dedicated 'car' mobile
service vans with the delivery of 44 new 3.5 tonne Mercedes-Benz
Sprinters - totaling investment of more than £1.7 million.
The new vehicles will be used to support the increased demand
for mobile fitments which has been driven primarily by the
fleet sector in which ATS Euromaster claims to have increased
its share from 18 to 28 per cent over the last 18 months.
Comprising a mix of fleet additions and replacements, the
new long wheelbase Sprinters see the dedicated 'car' fleet
grow by 25 per cent to 128 units, supported by a further 200
dual-purpose mobiles which are equipped to fit both car and
commercial vehicle tyres.
Hankook Produces 10 Millionth Tyre in
Hungary
 Two
and a half years following the opening of its manufacturing
plant in Rácalmás, Hungary, Hankook Tire rolled its 10 millionth
tyre off the production line in January 2010.
Hankook tyres in Europe are manufactured at the plant, which
is located 60 km south of Budapest. The factory opened in
2007 and is one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities
in Europe. Employing more than 1,200 people after finishing
the 1st investment stage, the plant currently produces about
15,000 tyres a day (about 5 million annually) in various different
specifications for passenger cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks.
Avon Tyres Supports Formula Ford 1600
Championships
 Avon
Tyres has put its name to two regional Formula Ford Championships
for 2010, which will be known as the Avon Tyres Club Formula
Ford Northern Championship and Avon Tyres Club Formula Ford
Southern Championship. Having been the control tyre throughout
Formula Ford 1600 racing for many years, the sponsorship of
the two Club Championships, organised by the British Racing
& Sports Car Club (BRSCC), was a natural progression.
"Our tyres are synonymous with Formula Ford so we are delighted
to support the marque's leading entry level championship,"
said Roger Everson, Sales & Marketing Manager for the Avon
Tyres Racing Division.
The BRSCC's Club Formula Ford Championships have received
a double boost with the announcement that influential Formula
Ford 'guru' James Beckett is joining the championship in the
role of overall co-ordinator.
James Beckett commented, "This is a natural progression from
working with the BRSCC on the Formula Ford Festival, and I
was pleased to be approached by the Club to work with them
on their Formula Ford 1600 projects. My passion for Formula
Ford has been well documented, and my aim is to further enhance
and develop the category through all the BRSCC regions."
Drew Furlong, BRSCC Competitions Director, added, "It is
very encouraging that Avon Tyres has shown great faith in
the championship and with James working together with our
current regional coordinators, we are very confident that
the 2010 season will be a successful one for all concerned."
Uniflate has Pirelli Driver Centre Approval
The Pirelli Driver Centre scheme - the tyre manufacturer's
pan-European network of independent fast fit centres - has
announced that it is now recommending the use of nitrogen
tyre inflation from Uniflate.
Because it does not leak from tyres in the same way as compressed
air, inflating tyres with nitrogen helps to retain the correct
pressure. In turn, this helps to reduce the risk of excessive
wear, fuel and consumption and bad handling that can occur
with under-inflated tyres.
Generally speaking, drivers can save around £50 a year by
using nitrogen inflation instead of conventional compressed
air, says Pirelli
Crewe Based ABP Motorsport Scoops CAT
Garage of the Year Award
 Euro
Car Parts presented Crewe based ABP Motorsport garage with
the prestigious CAT garage of the year award on Friday 22nd
of January at the Lensbury Hotel and conference centre in
Teddington. ABP Motorsport, Crewe, established in 1964, is
a performance and tuning specialist with a heritage in rallying
and circuit racing. The company is a Cheshire Trading Standards
Golden Spanner approved garage, scoring an almost perfect
97% in a recent mystery shop.
BTCC Sponsorship for Hi-Q
 HiQ
has announced that it has agreed a new sponsorship deal with
the British Touring Car Championship. As sister company Dunlop
makes a return as title sponsors of the BTCC in a four year
agreement, HiQ will now see its name in lights as the sponsors
of the Teams' Championship through to the end of 2013 at least.
The development is a year ahead of schedule after HiQ's association
with the championship proved even more effective than anticipated
in helping it re-profile its network across the UK. Its four-year
commitment to sponsoring the Teams' Championship will now
enable it to continue to build on those results.
The popular HiQ Champagne Moment awards will remain in place
for fans to make the most of, while exclusive BTCC content
will soon appear on the revamped HiQ website, along with giveaways
and offers for motorists.
Check Wheel Alignment after Pothole Damage,
says TyreSafe
To avoid any additional vehicle damage and expense caused
as a result of driving over potholes, TyreSafe, the UK's leading
tyre safety organisation, is advising motorists to ensure
their wheels are properly aligned. Driving over potholes can
alter the vehicle's steering and suspension geometries or
damage critical components which can reduce vehicle safety
or generate extra running costs. By ensuring wheels are correctly
aligned, drivers can minimise the effects of any pothole damage
and ensure they remain as safe as possible.
"The recent bad weather will inevitably increase the number
of potholes we see on our roads which can cause a number of
serious safety issues for drivers," explains Stuart Jackson,
chairman, TyreSafe. "If a car's wheels are not correctly aligned
it may pull to one side or cause vibrations in the steering
wheel which can be distracting and make the vehicle difficult
to control. By visiting your local garage or tyre dealer they
will be able to perform some simple checks to make sure the
wheels are correctly aligned, helping you to stay safe."
According to the AA, last February's heavy snow increased
insurance claims for pothole damage by more than 250 percent.
With the current prolonged spell of snow and freezing conditions,
road damage is expected to be even worse this year. As well
as the safety benefits offered by correct wheel alignment,
motorists can also reduce their running costs. When a vehicle's
wheels are properly aligned, it is less likely to suffer from
premature tyre wear as the tyres point in the correct direction,
reducing any 'scrubbing' action on the road surface. This
also helps to reduce the rolling resistance of the tyres meaning
that fuel costs are also reduced.
"When a driver has their wheel alignment checked, the garage
will also be able to give the tyres a proper inspection to
ensure they have not suffered any damage from the pothole,"
continues Jackson. "Cuts or bulges in a tyre mean that it
is likely to have suffered some serious internal damage making
it unsafe and illegal. The garage will also be able to check
that the tyres have adequate tread depth and the correct pressure,
both essential for safe driving."
Bridgestone OE on Ferrari 458 Italia
 Ferrari
has chosen Bridgestone tyres as original equipment for the
new 458 Italia sports car. Bridgestone will supply its new
Potenza S001 ultra high-performance sport tyre which has been
developed to match the high-level handling, control and safety
requirements of the world's most powerful sports cars.
Marangoni and Kwik-Fit in Supply Partnership
Italian tyre manufacturer Marangoni have announced a new
supply partnership with Kwik Fit. From 1st February 2010 all
UK Kwik Fit Centres will stock and sell a range of Marangoni
car, van and SUV tyres.
Toyota Cooper Tire Team Finishes Second in 2010 Dakar
Rally
 The
Toyota Cooper Tire team claimed a remarkable second place
in the T2 production car class at this year's Dakar Rally.
Dakar veteran driver, Xavier Foj, and co-driver, Pablo Jaton,
overcame many hurdles on their way to the podium position,
including a faulty ECU unit, a horrendous day digging themselves
out of the sand dunes, and an encounter with a massive rock
in a river, which almost destroyed their car's rear differential.
The pair completed more than 9,000km of the most arduous
terrain, including rocks, gravel and sand in their Toyota
Land Cruiser KXR, shod with Cooper's rugged Discoverer STT
tyres. After leading the class briefly at the beginning of
the event, famed for being the toughest off road race in the
world, the team was holding a solid third place, but moved
up to second when factory Toyota driver, Nicolas Gibon, crashed
out on day 12.
The Toyota Cooper Tires team fitted 255/75R15 and 245/75R15
STTs to the KXR for the event.
Cooper Christmas Raffle Raises more than
£4,000 for Charity
 Staff
at Cooper Tire's UK headquarters, in Melksham, raised more
than £4,000 for the Help for Heroes charity last month, with
a festive raffle. The raffle, organised by HR Officer Steve
Forbes and Unite representative Steve Saunders, took place
on December 23, and raised £2,052.03 for the forces charity.
That amount was matched by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe,
to bring the total to £4,104.06.
Local injured serviceman, Josh Campbell, conducted the draw.
The Trade Union, Cooper Tire Europe and its suppliers came
together to offer an impressive 66 prizes to be given away,
including a mountain bike, four large hampers and a plasma
television.
Steve Saunders said, "Everybody has come together to make
this happen, the draw was an outstanding success and we raised
far more money than we ever anticipated for this very worthy
cause. I just want to thank everyone for their involvement,
especially the ladies in the canteen for their tremendous
ticket sales."
Pirelli in Sponsorship and Service Partnership
with Red Bull
Pirelli UK have announced a three-year sponsorship and full
support partnership with popular and innovative MX series,
the Red Bull Pro Nationals. Pirelli will have a major support
programme for the series with a dedicated tyre-supply and
changing vehicle to cater for all riders at the events. Pirelli
were attracted to the series for its professional organisation,
good crowds and the large volume of competitors through clubman,
youth and elite riders.
Pirelli staff will be on hand at every round to fit tyres
and advise competitors on fitment, type and pressures, providing
a truly unique race service. The brand is also very interested
in getting rider feedback, which will ultimately help future
product development. A wide range of Pirelli Scorpion MX tyres
will be available at competitive supply and fitment prices.
Counting the Cost of Winter Weather
 Nearly
three million motorists have had a run-in with another vehicle
during the Big Freeze, according to research by Continental
Tyres. An unlucky one in 10 drivers have crashed into other
road-users in the last month during the snowy and icy weather.
And 45 per cent said they had two or more near misses over
the cold snap.
The average motorist involved in a prang has done £320 worth
of damage - but a third failed to own up to their wrong-doing
if the accident was their fault. Another 34 per cent avoided
involving their insurance company in order to keep their 'No
Claims Bonus'.
Tim Bailey, safety expert at Continental Tyres, which carried
out the poll of 1,000 drivers, said: "This is a shocking number
of accidents in a short period and it reveals how many people
are unprepared for driving in these conditions. We are not
necessarily past the worst yet, as further snow and ice could
arrive. The stress of driving in bad weather conditions can
lead people to make mistakes, such as driving too closely
to the vehicle in front in conditions where stopping distances
would be increased. This is when accidents can happen as drivers
underestimate the time it takes to come to a full stop.
"Motorists should take extra care in the winter, making sure
their vehicle is roadworthy, especially the tyres as they
have the greatest impact on handling. When the weather is
particularly bad drivers should also heed advice to not use
the car unless the journey is vital."
It emerged that half of those polled had to dig their car
out of the snow, one in five were pushed up a hill and an
unfortunate one in 12 had to abandon their car. But to make
matters worse, the study found one in three drivers admit
hitting the road without being able to see out of their windscreen
properly. Motorists claimed to be ''in too much of a rush''
to fully defrost their vehicle before heading off to work.
And men are far worse than women at pulling off the driveway
while peering through a tiny spot of clear glass at the road
ahead.
It also emerged four out of ten motorists don't bother cleaning
mirrors or rear windows before setting off in the winter.
And such is the lack of preparation that one in five have
reported to using a credit card to clear the windscreen of
ice. Seven out of ten never check tyre tread depth and fail
to ensure tyres are roadworthy, and one in two never put anti-freeze
in radiators. Four out of ten don't check windscreen washer
bottle levels and a similar figure don't bother to check whether
their wipers are working properly. 25% don't even bother checking
if their lights are working. Eight in 10 see other motorists
on their daily commute who have been too lazy to clear their
windscreen, an average of four cars every frosty morning.
Researchers also found one in four drivers admit they are
often half asleep when they get behind the wheel in the morning.
And they take at least four minutes to properly wake up after
getting behind the wheel. Almost four out of ten said they
found it harder to stay alert during the winter. One in five
are under the wrong assumption that you're supposed to drive
'out of' a skid when slipping on ice. And a third wrongly
choose screen wash without antifreeze to clear a frozen windscreen
which won't be of any help at all in sub zero temperatures.
"Drivers might want to consider fitting cold weather tyres
on their car to increase handling and safety over the winter
months." Bailey continued. "This is something that people
are not really aware of in the UK, but is standard in other
European countries such as Germany, where drivers are liable
to be fined if they are not equipped with the right tyres
for the wintry conditions."
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