Hybrid Mercedes S-Class Will Be Equipped With Bridgestone Tires
The massive German sedan will be equipped with Bridgestone RE050 Ecopia tires.
As it can be understood from the name of the model Ecopia tires belong to the flagship ecological series of the company and provide not only outstanding performance on dry and wet surface but also reduced rolling resistance what in its turn decreases fuel consumption level. The Bridgestone’s aspiration for the reduction of the rolling resistance is based on the research of the Association of Japanese Rubber Manufacturers (JRMA) which shows that the 87,1% of the total CO2 exhaust that occurs during the whole tire “life” is connected with its direct use.
The Bridgestone company is sure that it will be able “to make considerable contribution to the solution of the problems connected with such ecological problems as global warming”. The first tires of Ecopia series – Ecopia EP100 – appeared on the market in April of 2008 and were intended for trucks and station vagons.
New contract for the delivery of Ecopia tires for hybrid Mercedes S-Class means that Bridgestone is intended to expand the application sphere of these tires and enhance its positions in the sector of original equipment. Bridgestone also continues to upgrade its eco-tires with the use of Nano-Pro Tech technology that allows to modify specific properties of the rubber and control its microstructure on molecular level.
By 2014 100% of summer tires by Bridgestone will have belonged to the ecological series.
Analysts Forecast Growth Of The Michelin’s Profit
The majority of financial analysts forecast growth of the Michelin’s profit after the revival of the international market as well as the growth of sales of premium-class tires in 2010.
According to the statement of the Deutsche Bank (one of the leading German banks) in spite of considerable negative outer influence the leading tire producers appeared to be “very consistent” in 2009. It means that they corrected price formation policy in time, took the advantage of the decrease of raw material cost (in the second half-year) and successfully distributed the production of primary and secondary tires.
The analysts also believe that the sales volume in the following year will considerably increase if to compare with the current extra-low level. It is reported that the Michelin company will have maximum profit, the Pirelli company will be ranked as the second. At the same time the profit of the Continental company will be the least in the segment of the tires that provide only 30% of the company’s revenue.
Current sales of the manufactured tires have been a lot worse than those of new tires that had been previously stored at the stocks of dealers and wholesale sellers. Looking in the future the analysts of the German bank hope that the sales volume of new tires will rise in 2010 by 6 – 8% after the 13 – 15% decrease in 2009. The increase can be even bigger but it still will be lower by 15 – 17% than the rate of 2007.
“The Right Tire Changes Everything” – First Global Advertising Campaign Of Michelin
On 6th October was launched the global advertising campaign of the Michelin company. Its motto – “The right tire changes everything”, its aim – to show all the advantages of the Michelin tires using different advertising mass media all over the world.
The company has decided to launch the global advertising campaign against the background of high competitiveness that is observed on the world markets.
The products of the Michelin company ensure excellent braking performance, maximum durability and considerable fuel consumption reduction. The main idea of the campaign is that the use of right tires helps reduce fuel expenses, increase safety level and prolong service life of the tires.
Within the framework of its advertising tradition – marketing technique of poster use that has been applied since the middle of the XX century – the Michelin company has chosen animated 3D presentation for the new campaign. Its main hero is Bibendum, symbol of the Michelin brand that helps drivers in emergency situations. He replaces damaged tires with the new ones that he takes off himself.
The global campaign began in the United States. It will embrace 55 countries. In Europe and Asia it will begin in 2010, then in Africa, Middle East, India and South America.
In the USA the campaign was launched on 6th October as the advertisement on TV, printed sources and the Internet. Besides this the American campaign will have special digital support in the form of Bibendum profile at Facebook and YouTube. For more detailed information visit mchelinman.com/the-right-tire.
The new campaign developed by TBWA depicts commitment of the Michelin company to preserve its leadership on the world market.
Michelin Won Recognition Of Consumer Reports
American edition Consumer Reports named four Michelin models as the best all-season and winter tires on the American market. The testing results will be published in November release of the edition. Each of the four models received mark “excellent” and became the winner in comparative testing that included 69 models – it was one of the most large-scale testings of all-season and winter tires held by Consumer Reports.
Michelin HydroEdge became the best all-season model in “S” and “T” speed rating categories, Michelin Primacy MXV4 and Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S showed the best performance in “H” and “V” speed rating categories correspondingly. Michelin X-Ice XI2 became the winner in the category of winter tires.
Consumer Reports engineers conducted testing taking into consideration many criteria – braking on dry and wet surface, steering control, hydroplaning resistance, traction on snow-covered surface, braking on ice, comfort, noise level, rolling resistance and durability. Although the Michelin models became the winners according to the results of the testing they weren’t the best at each of the testing criteria. Hydroedge tire, for example, received satisfactory mark for its traction performance on ice. Besides this Michelin tires appeared to be the most expensive among the tires that were tested.
Other tires that demonstrated good results were Hankook Optimo H727, Nokian WR G2, Dunlop Signature which were presented in the category of all-season tires with “H” and ”V” speed rating letters. Among winter tires the second result after Michelin X-Ice XI2 belonged to General Altimax Arctic.
Consumer Reports conducts testing of the tires according to objective and subjective criteria, measures braking distances, cornering stability on dry and wet surface, steering control when emergency maneuvering and hydroplaning resistance. To ensure the equivalence of the testing all the tires are tested in equal sizes and on the same vehicle.
