How Much Does the Country of Production Affect Tire Quality?
Posted on November 21, 2010
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Do the tires coming under one and the same trade mark but made in different countries really differ? The question is a frequently asked one nowadays for many tire manufacturers have their plants in different corners of the world to cope with the amounts of production.
The world-known tire companies assure their customers that their products are completely the same in term of quality regardless of the country they were “made in.” They maintain that technologies and materials used on different plants do not differ much except for some components that don’t affect the quality of the end product and local resources that are not sensible to import, such as air and water.
Still, it’s worth mentioning that there’re no two identical products and in any case they would differ. But at the same time there exists such a notion as a tolerable limit that is +/- one per cent for summer tires, for instance. The data is true for the majority of tire producers, so taking into account possible deviations in both directions, it can be said that two tires that differ no more than by two per cent can be called identical.
However, people are prone to confide in one country’s products rather than to another one’s. Choosing between the tires from France and China they are more likely to buy a French tire set rather than a Chinese one. There was a research conducted by the experts from an automotive paper who did comparison tests of Goodyear Excellence tires made in France and in China.
The tires underwent a series of quality and performance tests. There were some deviations in tire weight and rubber stiffness, which makes us assume that some constructive differences do really exist. At the same time, there were almost no differences in terms of performance. There were some nuances concerning course-keeping ability, smooth running and noise level, but they are so insignificant that excellently suit the norm of 2 per cent.
So, as the research has proven, everything in hidden in our psychology and concerns only stereotypes and prejudices towards the state of technology development in this or that country. As a rule, if we don’t look at a “Made in..” mark, we don’t feel the products’ inferiority or superiority.
History of the Continental Tire Company –First Fifty Years of Success
Posted on November 15, 2010
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The history of the Continental dates back to the 8th of October 1871 when the world saw the creation of the Continental Caoutchuc & Gutta - Percha joint-stock company in the capital of Saxony, Hannover. The company dealt with soft rubber and produced rubberized fabric as well as cast tires for carriages and bicycles. The trade mark of the company became a horse.
The Continental Company was the first among German manufacturers to launch pneumatic tires for bikes. It was in 1892, and as soon as in 1898 the company started producing tire with tread featuring however no tread picture for the time being.
The year of 1900 was marked by the launch of the first German airship that was made from Continental materials. The story of success was continued a year later when Continental tires ensured the winning of the Mercedes car equipped with the company’s pneumatic tires in the races in Nice.
In 1905 the company made its first anti-skid tires that became a prototype for modern studded tires. Later on, in 1908 the company made its significant contribution into the automotive industry – it invented a demountable wheel bead for passenger cars, which helps save customers’ time and effort when changing tires.
In 1909 Continental engineers carried out the first tests of innovative synthetic rubber worked out by the Bayer Company. In 1913 the company’s pneumatic tires helped Baron A. Nathomb get a third price in the Grand Prix races in Russia. A. Nathomb didn’t change any tire during the race as they endured high speeds successfully.
In 1921 the company celebrates its 50th anniversary by launching a tire with a more flexible body made from fibrous cord. Then Continental created the first pneumatic tires for trucks to replace cast one. The former are used until the present day.
The Most Exotic and Useless Wheel Disks
Posted on November 7, 2010
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Nothing seems to amaze car owners nowadays. Even wheel disks aren’t able to do it, either they are cast, pressed or forged, pictured or not, small or large. There’s a lot to choose from, so tuning fans are satisfied and happy.
But still there’re ideas and solutions that can amaze people. Take, for instance, wheel disks made of carbon. Well, coal plastic is a fashionable material, thought accessory makers, and decided to offer carbon disks in addition to already existing carbon-based body parts. It is just the case when offer creates demand. The advantage you get is nothing compared with the pride for buying such a funny thing. Only gold springs are cooler. By the way, the latter exist.
But the truly glamourous are disks featuring diamonds. Sounds unbelievable, yet the Asanti Company successfully trades in 34-inch disks incrusted with diamonds for 2 million bucks per disk. It is rather cheap for each of the 26 thousand diamonds costs only 77 dollars. In addition, you get 1200 rubies with each of Asanti disks.
Every Japanese schoolchild knows how to beat the rich owners of diamond-adorned wheels. You just need to buy special illuminated indicator boards for your wheel disks. Each costs “only” 12 thousand dollars and allows projecting favorite pictures on your disks thus creating light show that will at once draw people’s attention. If you are tough with money, you can equip your wheel disks with LEDs that will as well produce nice pictures as you drive.
But what if you have made you car cool enough, but can’t show it as everything is hidden? You can resort to the solution offered by the Radurra company – it sells transparent wheel disks. Your brakes and suspension system will be visible to everyone! Still, the brakes cannot cool down properly but can that stop true tuning fans? Wreckers are not as expensive nowadays and you can successfully transport your vehicle with their help.
The moral is simple – there’s any alternative to classic cast and pressed wheel disks. All the above mentioned stuff can only act as toys for the rich.
TOP-10 Most Expensive Accidents In The World
Posted on May 13, 2010
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The British newspaper The Telegraph rated accidents that involved the most expensive car-brand in the world. The vast majority of machines from the list - Ferrari supercars, in addition, the Top-10 includes two Bugatti, 2 Pagani, Jaguar, McLaren and Mercedes. The total cost of cars totaled $ 47.5 million.
10. Mercedes Benz SL 300 Gullwing - $ 750,000
The list closed by accident in Seattle with the participation of Mercedes Benz SL 300.
9. Pagani Zonda S - price $ 750,000
The incident with this car came around the Scottish city of Aberdeen in September 2009. A driver, who was driving, passed a test drive under the supervision of an instructor. He lost control, resulting in the car had made outside the narrow road and struck the concrete pillar. Wrecked car was sent for repairs to the plant in Pagani Italian town of San Cesario sul Panaro, located near Modena. Insurance company Aviva subsequently billed at $ 450 000.
8. McLaren F1 - $ 850,000
Actor Rowan Atkinson, best known for playing Mr. Bean, crashed his car in October 1999, near Lancaster. At that time, McLaren F1, capable to develop 385 km/ h, and was one of the fastest cars in the world. Later, Atkinson said that the accident occurred at low speed.
7. Pagani Zonda C12 S - $ 1 million
The owner of the car broke it last December in Hong Kong, crashed into parked cars at the curb.
6. Bugatti Veyron - $ 1,2 million
Veyron - one of the most fast and expensive cars produced today in the world. The car was smashed in the English county of Surrey in March 2007. In torrential rain the driver lost control and at 65 km / h crashed into the Opel Astra, driven by a woman.
5. Jaguar XJ220 - $ 1,25 million
An accident involving Jaguar XJ220 supercar occurred at the annual Festival of Speed at Goodwood.
4. Ferrari Enzo - $ 1,5 million
On the fourth - Swedish businessman, Stefan Eriksson, has pitched his Enzo worth 1.5 million dollars. The accident occurred in 2006 on the Pacific coast in Malibu. Eriksson, lost control, crashed into a pole. He did not contest the allegation that operates the machine while drunk.
3. Ferrari 250 GT TDF - $ 1,65 million
The owner of this car crashed into a wall while racing vintage cars Shell Ferrari-Maserati at the Lime Rock track in the U.S. state of Connecticut in 2003.
2. Ferrari GT Spyder - $ 10 million
In the second place American owner of the rare Ferrari GT Spyder 1961 release. The car was purchased in 2008, also at auction. Cars were smashed during the storm in California, the owner kept his car near the coast.
1. Ferrari 250 GTO - $ 28,5 million
In the first place the British owner of the exclusive Ferrari 250 GTO, which were produced in 1962-1964. A car crashed into the front of the car going at low speed. The car was purchased at auction in 2008 for $ 28.5 million
