'Smart' Turnout for Technic at The Aftermarket Show
New Members for Responsible Recycler Scheme
Satellite Tracking Help for AA Tyre Fit
First Stop Network Expands in Scotland
EnTire Solutions Wins New Orders for TPMS Systems
Birmingham Tyre Dealership Sponsors Champion Driver
Superbrand Award for Goodyear
Kayaba to Expand Manufacturing Operations in Europe
Kwik-Fit Joins Forces with Pirelli to Sponsor British Rally Championship
Dunlop Drivers Know the Racing Line
Challenge Bibendum Moves to China

'Smart' Turnout for Technic at The Aftermarket Show

Tyre retreader Technic made the most of its first appearance at a UK exhibition for several years with a Smart car 'blue tyre concept', designed to catch the eye at the show. The 'blue tyre concept' featured tyre casings with a blue pigment silica rally-type compound, rather than the traditional carbon black.

"It was a move that has raised a great deal of interest and we are now considering adding coloured tyres to our range" said operations director Ian Smith.

New products on view included this Weatherspeed II, dual-purpose tyre with summer and winter capabilities, available in a range of sizes. The company also featured its new Pulsar Evo tread pattern for high performance tyres, as well as products from the full range of 4x4 and passenger car tyres.

New Members for Responsible Recycler Scheme

The Tyre Industry Council's Responsible Recycler Scheme has gained two new tyre collection specialist members bringing the total to thirteen. The Scheme which provides tyre retailers and related companies with the highest standards of accountability and best practice from their used tyre collectors now embraces the UK's leading operators as well as major reprocessors.

The two new Scheme Members, Eastern Waste Disposal Ltd of Brightlingsea, Essex and Leigh Tyres & Exhausts of Leigh, Lancs, will bring important new regional strengths further improving the Scheme's national coverage.

Satellite Tracking Help for AA Tyre Fit

An advanced satellite tracking system that will help AA Tyre Fit mobile units reach customers more quickly and efficiently will be in action by early this year. The AAHelp roadside rescue computer uses satellite positioning technology to continuously monitor the precise location of AA vehicles across the UK's 228,000 miles of road. It is able to calculate the fastest route available to a driver in changing traffic conditions and guide them to their destination.

AAHelp is already in use by the AA's 3,600 patrols. AA Tyre Fit's mobile units within the M25 area will have the system by the end of February with the rest of the country added by next April, when the company will have more than 200 units.

David Goodyear, General Manager of AA Tyre Fit, says: "AA Tyre Fit both carries out planned tyre fitting and works as an emergency call out service. In both instances, AAHelp will allow us to plan with maximum effectiveness the most efficient routes and timetables for our mobile fitters as they go from job to job.

"No other mobile tyre fitting service has use of any system as advanced as AAHelp and we are confident that it will give Tyre Fit a genuine service advantage."

First Stop Network Expands in Scotland

Two independent tyre dealerships in Scotland have become the latest to join the First Stop network operated by Bridgestone UK. The two new members are Motacare in Greenock and Performance Tyres in Ayr.

Phil Livingston, business development manager for Bridgestone UK said: "Both dealerships offer excellent value-for-money without compromising the quality of the product or service. We are delighted to welcome them both to the First Stop network."

EnTire Solutions Wins New Orders for TPMS Systems

EnTire Solutions, the 50/50 joint venture company formed by Michelin and TRW Automotive, has secured contracts with Honda and Fiat for its direct tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, EnTire Solutions, is now supplying tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the 2004 Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle, and has also been selected by Fiat to provide advanced TPMS for a range of its upcoming European models. Other customers include several Hyundai and Kia platforms and sensors for a range of General Motors trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Birmingham Tyre Dealership Sponsors Champion Driver

Tyres R Us has helped Birmingham man Alex Eacock finish top of his class in a national car racing championship. The tyre outlet in Birmingham has supported Alex with expert pre-race tyre and tracking assistance for the past two years, helping him win the Porsche 944 class of the Super Coupe Cup.

Co-owner of Tyres R Us Andy Graham said, "Alex has done exceptionally well to win the championship in only his second year. We are delighted to be supporting such a rising star from the region." Alex is now focussing on the 2004 season, in which when he hopes to repeat last year's success and also improve on the fifth place he achieved in the overall inter-class standings in 2003.

Tyres R Us was established in 1999 as a mobile tyre fitting service. Having gradually built up a loyal client base, it joined the Bridgestone UK First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships in 2003.

Superbrand Award for Goodyear

Goodyear has been awarded "Business Superbrand" status by the Brand Council, the UK's leading independent arbiter on branding. Voted by an independent council made up from eminent figures from the world of business, marketing and PR, Goodyear is one of an elite 60 companies awarded from an initial shortlist of over 600 brands and the only tyre company to be awarded this accolade.

Kayaba to Expand Manufacturing Operations in Europe

Kayaba Industry Co Ltd has announced that it has acquired the 75% shareholding in shock absorber manufacturer AP Amortiguadores SA currently held by ArvinMeritor. APA is currently an affiliated company of Kayaba in Northern Spain, with Kayaba owning a 25% share. The move will make APA a wholly owned subsidiary. the acquisition will make the APA plant Kayaba's key production base in Europe, enabling the Japanese company to pursue its worldwide automotive shock absorber supply strategy.

Kwik-Fit Joins Forces with Pirelli to Sponsor British Rally Championship

Pirelli Tyres has announced that it will join forces with Kwik-Fit to sponsor the UK's premier rally championship. The Pirelli British Rally Championship will now be known as the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship.

"We are delighted to be involved with the Championship that, like Kwik-Fit, covers the length and breadth of the UK", said Doug McKenzie, Kwik-Fit Marketing Director. "This series of events attracts the best teams and drivers in Britain and Euriope and a growing number of spectators annually. We're expecting more than 1 million people to attend the nine events across the UK and many more to follw the Championship on TV".

Dunlop Drivers Know the Racing Line

Dunlop have put their name to the definitive "racers bible", the Dunlop UK Circuit Guide for 2004. The 640 page guide covers every circuit and hillclimb venue in the UK and is used by experienced and novice drivers alike, who rely on the guide's unique detailed corner by corner advice to improve their lap times.

Now in its tenth year, the guide is firmly established as the no.1 race drivers' companion and has undergone a major revamp for 2004. The guides are published by What's On Motor Sport Ltd, publishers of the fast growing Circuit Driver Magazine, who also produce the Dunlop MCN Circuit Guide for the motorbike market.

Challenge Bibendum Moves to China

Michelin has announced that Challenge Bibendum, the tyre manufacturer's annual clean vehicle competition, is to make its Asian debut in 2004 in Shanghai, China. Shanghai will see the sixth staging of the event, which was introduced in 1998 in France to promote progress in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles. Since then, and gaining in popularity, Challenge Bibendum has alternated between Europe and the United States. the Asian debut will take place from 12 October to 14 October 2004 after the inaugural FIA Formula One Grand Prix race that is also to take place in Shanghai.