TIA Plans To Make SEMA Show More Attractive For Tire Manufacturers
Posted on December 17, 2009
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Tire Industry Association (TIA) and organizers of SEMA exhibition decided to find out how to raise the attractiveness of the show for the representatives of tire industry.
“We are sure that closer cooperation with TIA and meetings with the representatives of tire industry will help us shape the concept of the show to make it more important for tire companies”, - said Chris Kersting, the president and managing director of Specialty Equipment Market Association. He also added that both organizations would work together for better understanding of needs and requirements of tire industry to make the manufacturers sure that their participation in the exhibition would give the desired effect.
The number of potential tire buyers at SEMA 2009 was only 9,4% from the total number of visitors what made this group the second by size. At the same time, though 290 tire companies presented their stands at the exhibition (66 of them participated for the first time), their number dropped percentagewise if to compare with 2008 (constituting 5,1%).
“The economy influenced both industry and the exhibition, - continues Mr. Kersting. – We have retained leading positions within several years and are planning to perfect our show so it could be important annual event in which manufacturers will invest”.
Roy Littlefield, executive vice-president of TIA, also expressed confidence that the lowered number of participants could be accounted for by the problem with the identification of the tire industry place at SEMA exhibition: “Now it has become simpler to make the tires an integral part of the exhibition, and our organization is planning to position itself also as a tire exhibition”.
Answering the question about the opportunity of exhibiting commercial and off-road tires, Mr. Kersting said that the association “would consider all offers that could enahnce the attractiveness of the show”.
Bridgestone And Michelin Launched Sites To Help Drivers
Posted on December 16, 2009
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Tire companies decided to help drivers handle the difficult winter conditions with the help of the Internet.
The Bridgestone company launched www.winterdrivingsafety.com portal in the USA. The site contains helpful advice and video with detailed instructions aimed at making winter driving safer.
“Taking into account cold snowy weather that came to many parts of the country most drivers started getting prepared to difficult and potentially dangerous road conditions, - said in the company’s announcement. – American department of Bridgestone together with its team of experts on operation of cars and tires in the winter period will help drivers get rid of the nervousness that they experience before driving in such changeable weather”.
The Michelin company also decided to give a helping hand to the drivers and presented on-line “Winter Driving Academy” where one can also get advice or choose winter tires.
There are also video clips with the instructions and animated sections that explain how to avoid danger when driving on snow-covered surface.
Canadian expert on winter driving Richard Shenard helped with the development of the site and acted in many videos shot for the portal
Grand-Am Rolex Pilots Tested New Pirelli Slicks
Posted on December 14, 2009
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The Pirelli company presented Pirelli P Zero Nero Racing Slick tires (model of 2010) at the Daytona International Speedway during the December testing held within the framework of preparation for the Rolex 24 racing.
Rolex 24 will be held in January 2010. According to numerous fans the racing is “one of the most legendary racings”. Two-day testing was held on 8 – 9 December, all the teams got the first opportunity to test new racing slicks manufactured under the HAOF (Highly-Aromatic Oil-Free) technology, i.e. without the addition of highly-aromatic oils to the rubber compound. Pirelli P Zero Nero Racing Slick became the first eco-friendly tires in the segment, and the pilots said that the results “were impressive”.
The tires were tested on 24 cars at the famous 3,56-mile Daytona racing track. Though the official results of the lap passing time were not published, Max Angelelli on his SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara became the unofficial winner. Besides this, he almost beat the record. “I am satisfied, - said Angelelli. – New tires showed excellent performance. The tire can cope with such number of laps that is hard to imagine”.
Scott Pruett, who won twice in the category Rolex Series Daytona Prototype and three times at Rolex 24, was also impressed by the new Pirelli slicks. Pruett tested BMW Riley together with Felix Sabates.
“It was the durability of the tires that astonished us most of all, - noted Pruett. – This is the greatest breakthrough in the motor racing I have ever seen. Their resistance to loads is astonishing. At the end of the lap we could move with the same speed as at the beginning – that was what we all needed. As far as I can judge they managed to make a big step up. And I’m talking not only about the speed but also about the durability”.
The pilots in both classes of Rolex series will get another opportunity to test their new tires at the Daytona track on 8 – 10 January 2010 during the annual three-day Roar Before the Rolex test.
Yokohama Eco-tires Showed Excellent Performance During Thunderhill 25 Hours Race
Posted on December 11, 2009
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Pilots who took the first two places in Thunderhill 25 Hours racing were using “orange” Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R1 tires. Both winners piloted Porsche GT3 Cup. The Mercer Motorsports team won with 24:50.29 (761 laps, 2432 miles), the Ehret Winery team was the second with the result 24:51.53 (739 laps).
“Yokohama tires are just fantastic, - said Johannes van Overbeek, one of the five Mercer pilots. – They are extremely solid and durable. We had no punctures what is vital for the endurance race. But what impressed us most of all was their adaptability for operation at a wide temperature range. The night temperature was +68, in the day it rose up to +145,4. Yokohama’s performance was ideal what cannot be said about other tires”.
The Yokohama company is famous for its high-class road and racing tires. It developed a process of mixing orange oil with natural rubber what resulted in the creation of Super Nano-Power Rubber. Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R1 tire became the first tire in the history of motor racing developed with the use of this technology. It was already approved for use in 2009 Patron GT3 Challenge. The technology reduces the use of oil products by 10% and increases the tire’s utilization capability without sacrificing the features that are necessary for the racing of the highest class.
Yokohama began the development of the new compound in the 1980ies. Now ordinary consumers can also use the advantages of the technology within the framework of the company’s strategy aimed at the decrease of the damage to the environment. “Orange” tires Yokohama dB Super E-spec are already used for the original equipment of Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid and other models.
