Pirelli Yielded to Hankook On The European Market?
Will Hankook push out Pirelli from the top five tire manufacturers of Europe?
The market research conducted by Hankook showed that the Michelin company remains an absolute leader on the tire market (both in segments of passenger and truck tires). At the same time a new player appeared in the previously stable top five – namely Hankook.
Why did Hankook decided to publish its research now, after one of the most difficult periods in the history of the market? It can be explained by the fact that 2009 was an extremely successful year for the Korean company. The peculiar combination of factors has changed the state of affairs during last 12 months. The major question now – will Hankook be able to retain its positions in Europe in the following years?
Here is the forecast of Hankook for the end of 2009 (passenger tires market): Michelin will remain the leader with the market stake of 20%, the second place goes to Goodyear Dunlop (18%), the third – to Bridgestone (12%), Pirelli has 8%. The most interesting fact here is that Hankook holds the 7th place with 7%. It means that its lagging behind Pirelli is not so big.
What concerns truck tires the first place again goes to Michelin (32%), the second place – Goodyear Dunlop (18%), Continental holds 16% of the market, Bridgestone – 13%. According to Hankook, it performs even better in this segment and holds the 5th place thus having overtaken Pirelli.
Since December has just begun the data can be regarded only as a forecast. At the same time Hankook gives 18% to other companies what means that its research is based on the analysis of the whole market. It also cannot be the result of companies that are members of ERMC Europool because the stake of Cooper and Trelleborg would be much higher in this case. Thus, there may be doubts regarding the correctness of the data in respect of sales volumes of Cooper, Kumho, GTRadial, Nexen, Nokian, Toyo, Yokohama etc. The rise of their stake will inevitably lead to the reduction of that of the five major companies. Anyway, only time can eliminate the doubts.
Has Formula 1 Lost Its Attractiveness?
The editor of Modern Tire Dealer magazine Bob Ulrich says that no one cares about Bridgestone’s leaving Formula 1 championship.
“So, Bridgestone stops supplying Formula 1 with its tires after 2010 season. In its announcement the company noted that it needs to “redirect resources” (i.e. millions of dollars) as it had achieved its goals in F1 – improved the recognizability of the brand and developed innovative technologies. Akron Beacon Journal wrote a small article on the issue and nothing appeared there besides that article. No shouting from F1 teams, no hot discussions at fan forums.
Even International Automobile Association FIA, Formula 1 managing body, buried the press-release in the depths of its website and the text was extremely unemotional: “Formula 1 championship will use the services of a new supplier beginning with 2011, since the Bridgestone company has announced that it will not extend its contract after the termination of its validity term.”
I had an opportunity to meet Christine Crakovyak from Bridgestone at the SEMA exhibition and find out more about the situation.
“The company must constantly assess the importance and necessity of all of its investments, as they should be implemented only at the appropriate time and for the appropriate purposes” – was the answer. The participation of Bridgestone in F1 led to the considerable improvement of the brand recognizability (especially in Europe), new contracts in the Original Equipment sector (with Aston Martin, for example), and modernization of the tires’ design and manufacturing process.
“It was an excellent cooperation, - she continued. – But now it is time to move to the next level”.
Who can replace Bridgestone in Formula 1? Definitely, Michelin won’t participate. Goodyear once left the championship, and its current financial position will hardly allow them to return. Pirelli? Korean Kumho announced in 2004 that it would develop tires for F1 within three years. I’m not sure. Avon Tyres may replace Bridgestone as it supplies Formula 2…
The question is the same: who cares?”
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.
RunFlat Tires. Advantages And Disadvantages.
The modern world of vehicle manufacture is constantly changing. New technologies are developing not only in the field of car production but also in the appearance of innovative tire constructions. The perfect example of this – RSC (RunFlat System Component) technology.
Different manufacturers use different abbreviations for marking of such tires. For example: Bridgestone RFT, Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP, Kumho XPR, Toyo Run Flat (TRF) etc.
Such tires allow to continue a ride with a total loss of pressure at 50mph speed for a 30 – 90 mile distance (depending on the producer).
Such characteristics of the tires allow not to carry spare wheel what frees space in the trunk. Besides this the driver doesn’t have to change punctured tire. This process is unsafe and unpleasant as there can be unfavourable weather conditions not to mention loss of time and dirty hands.
Besides this when loosing the pressure rapidly at high speed the car equipped with such tires ensures better directional and cornering stability allowing the driver to stop or finish maneuver. Tires equipped with RSC technology do not need special mounting equipment and are suitable for regular wheels. Both summer and winter tires are manufactured with the use of Runflat technology.
The only condition for the mounting of such tires is obligatory presence of tire pressure control system in the car! If You don’t have it You can just not feel the loss of the pressure at low speeds while at high speeds it can lead to an accident.
The main idea of Runflat technology is the use of enhanced sidewall and enhanced cord that provides more reliable mounting of the tire on a wheel.
Now it’s time to talk about the disadvantages. The main disadvantages are high price of the tire (depending on the size it can be higher by 50%) and its big weight.
Big weight affects dynamic characteristics of the car. More rigid sidewalls make the tire half as heavy as regular ones. After the mounting of such tires the car becomes “heavier” what results in the loss of comfort.
All the major tire manufacturers are working on the improvement of weight and comfort characteristics.
Anyway, the choice is up to You…
