Tyre News

Hankook Launch Pan-European TV Campaign
Apollo Tyres' Offer to Acquire Vredestein Accepted
ContiPremiumContact2 a Which? Best Buy
Safety Top of the Agenda for New Riders
Hankook Scottish Rally Championship has Gripping Start to 2009 Season
Bridgestone's Biker's Club Gets on the Road
Maxxis Tyres Teams up with Liverpool FC
HiQ Banbury in Pole Position for Business Boom
Avon Tyres Supports West Country Blood Bikes
Bush Tyres opens new Bourne Facility
Redundancies at Cooper
Michelin Launches New Service for Small Fleets

Hankook Launch Pan-European TV Campaign

Hankook Tire have announced the broadcast of its first ever advertising campaign on BBC World News, which launches across Europe this month. A new 20 second TV advertisement, produced by the BBC Worldwide Client Solutions, focuses on Hankook's enfren1) and Optimo 4S tyres. Both tyres are particularly environmentally friendly.

They are the first passenger tyres ever to be awarded, with the iF Product Design Award (International Forum Product Design Award) for their innovative and ecologically friendly design. The Optimo 4S moreover is the only tyre worldwide to hold the renowned 'Blue Angel', the official label of Germany for environmentally friendly products.

The new campaign will run on BBC World News' European feed from April to December 2009 in conjunction with Hankook's global TV clip. The new advert graphically shows both Hankook tyres enfren and Optimo 4S rolling along, the enfren with leaves and the Optimo 4S with logos of the 'Blue Angel' eco award lying in its wake. A voiceover explains how the enfren's leaf-shaped print has a positive impact on the tyre's performance and the environment, whilst the Optimo 4S has won the prestigious 'Blue Angel' award.

Hee Se Ahn, Vice-President Sales and Marketing Hankook Europe, says, "BBC World News gives us access to a vast, high quality audience of educated Europeans, male and female, which is an ideal platform for us to present our eco-friendly tyres enfren and Optimo 4S to a typical LOHAS2) target group."

Apollo Tyres' Offer to Acquire Vredestein Accepted

The trustee in bankruptcy at the Almelo Court in The Netherlands has approved Apollo Tyres' offer to acquire 100% stake of Vredestein Banden B.V. Following the announcement, the district court also declared the manufacturer's former Russian-Dutch parent company (Amtel-Vredestein N.V.) bankrupt. As a result Amtel-Vredestein has released full-year 2008 financial results which show losses doubling to US$446 million, compared with $242 million the previous year. The losses came despite relatively stable annual revenue of $881 million compared with $886 million in 2007.

ContiPremiumContact2 a Which? Best Buy

Continental's ContiPremiumContact 2 tyre has been named a Which? Best Buy in two sizes in the consumer group's April 2009 report. This takes Continental's Which? Best Buy recommendations up to eight in tyre tests featured on the Which? website. The ContiPremiumContact 2 received the highest overall performance score in the two tyre sizes featured in this months report.

In total, the tyres for medium sized family cars were given a total of four Best Buy recommendations in the following sizes; 205/55R16V the UK's most popular size; 205/55R16W, 185/60R14H and 195/65R15V.

In the 205/55R16W review, Which? said; "The ContiPremiumContact 2 offers first-rate handling on dry roads, good wet and dry braking and good resistance to aquaplaning in bends and on straight roads. Testers commented on the ContiPremiumContact 2 in the 185/60R14 H size, saying; "With this Best Buy, you'll get excellent handling on dry roads, good in wet and dry braking and decent wet grip in bends and on straight roads.

Continental's tyre for larger sporty cars, the ContiSportContact 3 received the second highest overall performance score in the 225/45R17Y category; the UK's biggest selling high performance tyre size; scoring five stars in dry handling and braking.

The ContiEcoContact 3, especially developed for smaller cars and superminis, was awarded three Which? Best Buys in the 155/70R13T, 165/70R14T and 175/65R14T categories.

Safety Top of the Agenda for New Riders

New rider proficiency and safety are top of the agenda as TyreSafe and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) encourage motorcycling newcomers to learn more about tyre safety this spring. Lighter evenings, warmer weather and the long Easter weekend will see riding surge by almost one quarter in April compared to March's total.

In order to help riders stay safe on the roads, TyreSafe has been running a Bike Tyre Safety Month campaign throughout April to advise both new and experienced riders to check their the pressure, tread depth and condition of their tyres before taking to the roads. Motorcycling is recognised as a vulnerable means of transport, however, by promoting a higher level of rider proficiency and increasing awareness of safety issues, TyreSafe and the MCI aim to inspire a new generation of more savvy riders.

"Tyre safety is critical to the bike's stability when accelerating, braking or cornering," comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. "The contact patch between the tyre and the road is only the size of a credit card, and therefore riders should ensure that their tyres are maintained correctly to help improve their safety on the roads. We also recommend that bikers take care to look ahead when riding and take measures to avoid any road hazards such as potholes, grit, drain covers and diesel spillages that could potentially damage their tyres."

Top tips for motorcycle tyre safety

¤ Check your tyre pressures from cold at least once a week using an accurate gauge

¤ Inflate tyres to the level recommended in the manufacturer's handbook

¤ Inspect tyres for cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded into the tread pattern and replace if necessary

¤ Use dust caps to keep dirt away from the valve core and to act as a secondary air seal

¤ If your rims are cracked or bent they should be replaced immediately ¤ Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1mm (for bikes over 50cc)

¤ Replace old or damaged valve stems

¤ Select the correct type of tyre for your machine and riding style

¤ Check that both tyres fitted to the bike are made by the same manufacturer and have the same tread pattern

¤ Make sure that your tyre has been fitted the right way round by checking the directional arrows on the sidewall

¤ When replacing tube type tyres always use a new inner tube ¤ Make sure your tyre/wheel assembly is balanced correctly

¤ Keep oil and grease off your tyres using detergent if necessary

¤ If you are unsure on any aspect of tyre pressure or tyre condition take your bike to an approved fitting centre and speak to the experts.

Hankook Scottish Rally Championship has Gripping Start to 2009 Season

Organisers of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship are celebrating a successful start to the season with registrations running well ahead of 2008. Despite the tough economic conditions and falling registrations elsewhere in the UK, the series continues to attract some of the country's top rally teams.

With two rounds now complete, the championship has already attracted over 200 registrations, almost 10 per cent up on the same time last year and calls to the organisers suggest this number could climb still higher as the series heads to Aberdeen for the Granite City Rally in April.

The series, which is sponsored by Hankook, is proving increasingly popular with junior drivers, and competitors outside Scotland who have been attracted by the package being offered by the SRC as well as to Scottish crews.

Launched in Glasgow last year by Scottish rally legend Jimmy McRae, the series includes eight classic rallies from February to October, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland. Hankook motorsport manager Mike Patterson said he was delighted to be involved in such a thriving championship with the great level of competition on the first two rounds set to continue throughout 2009.

"The championship has proved that with the right organisation, a positive outlook and a great mix of rallies you can continue to attract both seasoned competitors and the juniors looking to make their way up the rallying ladder,'' he said. "We have worked closely with the organisers to put together a package with a great prize fund and a format which the competitors want to be a part of and that is now paying dividends.''

Competitors in the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship head to Aberdeen for the Granite City Rally on April 25.

Bridgestone's Biker's Club Gets on the Road

Bridgestone Biker's Club celebrated a new arrival recently - a 2009 Tiger 1050. The newest member of the Club will enable the Biker's Club team riders to get out and about across the UK, visiting dealers, members and attending biker meets and ride-outs. Andy Whitehead and Gary Hartshorne are looking forward to introducing both the Club, and its latest addition, to the UK biking fraternity.

Andy said: "Gary and I really appreciate the kind offer from Cambrian Tyres which allows us to use the new Tiger to showcase the Bridgestone's Biker's Club. We will be travelling around the UK on the bike, supporting our trade and consumer customers, and giving them the bikers' nod of camaraderie when we're out and about! Our growing Biker's Club Dealer network and new website put our UK customers in touch with us here at Bridgestone and we are looking forward to developing our relationship with them and showing our commitment to and appreciation of their business."

This new endeavour is aided by two major Bridgestone service providers in the UK, Cambrian Tyres and Bike Tyrestore, as well as three key retail partners in the South of England, Protyre Retail Outlets, Universal Tyres and Autocentres, Watling Tyres and also the 31 current Biker's Club Dealer outlets across the UK.

Maxxis Tyres Teams up with Liverpool FC

Maxxis Tyres is advancing its strategy of increasing brand awareness through football sponsorship by signing a deal until the end of the 2008/09 season with Liverpool Football Club. This new partnership offers Maxxis Tyres worldwide exposure using the LED perimeter advertising system at Anfield for the key fixtures against Blackburn Rovers (April 11), Arsenal (April 21), Newcastle (May 2) and Tottenham Hotspur (May 24).

The partnership package includes prominent Maxxis Tyres advertising on LFC's official website - the UK's most popular football website with 1.6 million registered users and up to 2.9 million unique visitors per month.

HiQ Banbury in Pole Position for Business Boom

Motorists in Banbury can look forward to a stylish, sporty new service in the town after a fast fit centre invested £60,000 in a pioneering new refurbishment programme. HiQ, based in Gatteridge Street, has become the first of the franchise network's 150 stores to boast British Touring Car Championship branding, to coincide with the company's official sponsorship of Britain's premier motor racing series.

HiQ is the official sponsor of the British Touring Car Championship and the Banbury centre will aim to bring the excitement and passion of the motor racing series onto its forecourt. The new Banbury concept has been developed on the back of an eighteen month study looking at consumer attitudes to fast fit services.

Centre owner Phil Godfrey said: "Our research highlighted what the industry has suspected for a long time. On the whole customers find visiting a fast fit outlet to be a negative experience for several reasons: centres are seen as dirty, unwelcoming and confusing; staff are either unhelpful or speak in technical jargon; prices are unclear with quotes invariably increasing once a job has been carried out and customers feel they have no control over appointment times, waiting times or choice of product.

"Overall the research told us that visiting a fast fit was unlike any other retail experience customers engage in on a daily basis." The centre is designed to place the customer at the heart of the experience utilizing the following features:

• Clearly signed forecourt and parking area
• A modern, clean, welcoming reception area · Menu boards with all pricing clearly identified
• Tea and coffee making facilities to all customers
• Plasma screen TVs and up to date reading materials
• Information clearly displayed and written in non-confusing jargon free language

And Mr Godfrey said that despite the economic downturn, business continued to be brisk, as less people opt to buy new cars and maintain the ones they have. He added: "Even though we are in the midst of a credit crunch, people are not buying new cars like they used to, and are instead turning to reputable centres like ourselves."

Avon Tyres Supports West Country Blood Bikes

Melksham-based Avon Tyres has agreed to supply motorcycle tyres to the Freewheelers Emergency Volunteer Service, a registered Charity who provide emergency out-of-hours medical transport throughout the West Country. Freewheelers' fleet of marked-up Yamaha FJR1300s are often referred to as "Blood Bikes," but also provide lifesaving transport for other urgently-needed items such as test samples, patient notes, X-rays and medical supplies.

With both safety and performance so important for such a service, Avon will supply Storm-ST tyres, while JHS Racing at Keynsham will service Freewheelers' duty bikes as well as fit them with the brand new rubber.

"We do around 80,000 miles a year in total as a charity and we're doing that all year round, in all weather," said Freewheelers' Mike Belch. "The chief protection we have is that little patch of rubber that keeps the bike in contact with the road and safety and predictability is everything for us. Having good quality tyres we can trust on the bikes is literally the difference between life and death not just for us, but for the people we're helping. It's great to have such a high profile supporter as Avon."

Freewheelers only exists through charitable donations and the support from both Avon Tyres and JHS Racing means that Freewheelers' donated funds go further in supporting the NHS. The charity was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service last year for providing a cost and life-saving service to the NHS and allows motorcyclists to contribute a valuable service to the community by becoming involved.

Bush Tyres Opens new Bourne Facility

At a time when many businesses are contracting and cutting staff to reduce their outgoings, tyre retail group BA Bush & Son and its wholesale operation B.A.B. Distribution is investing in a new retail facility. The family concern, which this year celebrates sixty years in business, opened its fourteenth retail tyre depot in Bourne, Lincolnshire, at the end of April, creating a number of new jobs in the local community. The new two-storey

Bush Tyres depot is located in the centre of Bourne, just off the main road to Spalding, and stocks an extensive range of 4x4, high performance, van, agricultural, implement and turf tyres. In addition to balancing and puncture repairs the facility also sells alloy wheels and provides brakes, exhausts and suspension alignment services.

BA Bush & Son is continuing to invest in the development and expansion of its business and plans to open a new, purpose-built tyre retail centre - the fifteenth within the group - in Spalding in July/August.

Redundancies at Cooper

Due to the continued economic challenges, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd has announced that it will reduce its workforce at its UK plant in Melksham, Wiltshire. The Company is aiming to reduce its workforce by between 30 and 50 jobs out of the 1000 currently employed at Melksham, with most of the job losses being in the engineering and rubber-working departments. Cooper Tire Europe will be inviting employees to apply for voluntary redundancy in May.

Michelin Launches New Service for Small Fleets

Michelin has launched a new initiative to deliver added value for commercial vehicle operators with a fleet of up to 15 vehicles. Named 'Ask the Michelin Man', this latest service encourages small fleet owners, transport managers and owner-drivers to contact Michelin with any tyre related issues they may have.

"Smaller fleets have been telling us they would like greater access to technical assistance and advice on how to improve their tyre performance," says Martin Covington, Head of Truck and Earthmover Marketing at Michelin's UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent. "Taking simple steps, such as fitting lower rolling resistance tyres, adjusting pressures or regrooving can have a significant impact on your bottom line, whether you run a single tractor unit and trailer or a fleet of 10 rigids. Through 'Ask the Michelin Man' we are making our tyre expertise more easily available to the smaller fleet market, by both helping with specific technical issues and teaching best practice," adds Covington.

Available to fleets across the UK and Ireland, whatever their tyre policy, the new 'Ask the Michelin Man' service will also include a quarterly e-newsletter packed with tyre management advice, fuel-saving tips, competitions and exclusive promotions on Michelin Group tyres and tyre services. The 'Ask the Michelin Man' service has initially been launched to approximately 6,000 fleet operators.