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Continue reading Quick quiz: How tall is the world’s biggest production tire? at Tire Technology International.

Drivers in many regions of Europe are facing a pothole crisis, made worse this year in some areas by the “Beast from the East” arctic air-mass, which delivered icy conditions that further contributed to shattered road surfaces.
A pothole was repaired every 21 seconds on average in England and Wales during the past year. In Rome, Italy, the city earlier this year pledged to fix 50,000 potholes in one month, and a prosecutor’s probe was launched into the state of the city’s roads. In Cologne, Germany, more than 6,000 potholes were reported following this year’s exceptionally cold winter.
Potholed roads not only make journeys uncomfortable: harsh impacts with severe potholes can also cause damage to a vehicle’s wheels, tires and suspension systems, resulting in hefty repair bills for car owners.

Continue reading Innovative pothole detection system saving tires on all-new Ford Focus at Tire Technology International.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and Bridgestone Canada are issuing a voluntary noncompliance recall of approximately 2,700 certain all-position, wide-base radial commercial truck tires in size 425/65R22.5. The recall includes the following tires:

• Firestone FS818 tires in size 425/65R22.5 with Department of Transportation (DOT) date codes 2318 and 2418;
• Bridgestone M854 tires in size 425/65R22.5 with DOT date codes 2418 and 2518;
• Bridgestone M860A tires in size 425/65R22.5 with DOT date code 2518;
• Bridgestone M864 tires in size 425/65R22.5 with DOT date codes 2318 and 2418.

All tires covered under this recall were manufactured on specific dates between June 10, 2018, and June 30, 2018, and sold in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Continue reading Bridgestone recalls 2,700 commercial truck tires at Tire Technology International.

Kumho has appointed tire distributor R H Claydon to handle its truck tire distribution requirements for the whole of the UK mainland.

A third-generation family business, R H Claydon boasts full national coverage via six strategically-placed warehouses and will carry the entire range of Kumho’s medium and heavy truck tire products. The switch from Kumho’s current direct distribution program means customers will now have access to R H Claydon personnel 5.5 days per week and an online ordering arrangement 24/7 that enables orders placed up to 7am for same day delivery during the working week.

“This is a win-win situation for all concerned,” said Kumho sales director Kevin Peck.

Continue reading Kumho appoints R H Claydon to handle its truck tire distribution throughout UK at Tire Technology International.

Technology company and tire manufacturer Continental has marked the 20th anniversary of its Matador Truck Tires plant in Puchov, Slovakia, with a special event hosted by plant manager Ladislav Rosina and attended by Conti tire division management, local leaders and employees.

Since the facility opened in September 1988 more than €630m (US$732m) in manufacturing technology upgrades have been made, production volume has increased by almost 10 times, and the number of employees has nearly quadrupled to 1,500.

Nikolai Setzer, head of Continental’s tire division and member of the executive board, congratulated the team at the event: “This plant has consistently added milestones of success during implementation of our Vision 2025 program.

Continue reading Continental marks 20th anniversary of Slovakian truck tire plant at Tire Technology International.

US polymer products testing company Smithers Rapra has upgraded the wheel-testing capabilities at its Tire and Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, Ohio, to handle wheels with rim diameters up to 24in.

“Recent trends toward larger wheel sizes on SUVs and trucks have created a need for testing of larger diameter wheels,” said Jim Popio, vice president – North America. “This new machine addresses the shift in the wheel market by accommodating 24in wheels and using more sophisticated data controls in product analysis for our clients.”

The new equipment will enable Smithers Rapra to test wheels up to 24 x 13in with a machine load rating of 5,000 ft/lb (3,360 m/kg).

Continue reading Smithers Rapra upgrade accommodates testing for larger wheels at Tire Technology International.

Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced two international leadership appointments.

Luis Ceneviz, senior vice president and managing director – Europe and Latin America, has been promoted to the position of senior vice president and president – International. In this role, he has oversight of operations in Europe, Latin America and Asia effective October 1.

Alan Yang has been named vice president and general manager – Asia, effective immediately. His appointment coincides with the planned retirement of Allen Tsaur, who has been with Cooper for 11 years, most recently serving as senior vice president and general manager – Asia.

Continue reading Cooper Tire announces international leadership appointments at Tire Technology International.

Tire Retread & Repair Bureau (TRIB) managing director, David Stevens, has testified before the Section 301 Committee of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) at the US International Trade Commission on the impacts low-cost, low-quality Chinese truck and bus tires are having on the retread industry in the USA.

Commenting specifically on the tariff subheadings related to new and retreaded tires for trucks and buses (4011.20.10, 4011.20.50, 4012.12.40, 4012.12.80), Stevens said, “This industry and its US employees are under severe threat from low-cost, low-quality truck tires being imported from China.”

According to Stevens, retreading has historically represented 50% of the commercial truck tire replacement market in the USA.

Continue reading TRIB testifies at US Trade Representative hearing on tariffs at Tire Technology International.

JK Tyre, India’s third-largest tire maker, has inaugurated its new R&D facility, the US$24.3m Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence (RPSCOE) in Mysore, Karnataka.

RPSCOE, which is named after JK’s current chairman Raghupati Singhania, is part of the Harishankar Singhania Elastomer and Tyre Research Institute (HASETRI) and aims to consolidate the brand’s efforts toward product development, ideation and innovation by bringing the company’s engineers, technicians and scientists from JK Tyre’s previous four independent centers under one location. It will also coordinate the company’s product development and research operations in Mexico.

JK Tyre’s new facility will see more than 180 personnel test raw rubber, create simulations and predictive techniques for future offerings, and develop materials and compounds, computational mechanics and tire characterization.

Continue reading JK Tyre inaugurates US$24.3m R&D facility at Tire Technology International.

Shandong Linglong, China’s third-largest tire maker with annual sales of more than US$2bn, has selected a site in northern Serbia for a US$994m consumer/commercial tire plant. The plant, to be built in three phases over six years, will be Linglong’s second overseas factory and sixth overall. Its first overseas plant opened in Rayong, Thailand, in 2014.

In a filing made on August 20 with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Linglong said it chose the site, in the Zrenjanin Free Trade Zone, because of the region’s “cost advantage”. The investment and the establishment of a Serbian entity – Shandong Linglong Tire Co.

Continue reading Linglong selects Serbia for US$994 tire factory at Tire Technology International.