Bridgestone Shifts to Steel Wheel Weights
Beginning in 2008, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) will voluntarily make steel wheel balance weights available to customers, replacing millions of lead wheel weights each year with more ecologically sensitive steel weights.
General’s Exclaim UHP Adds New Sizes
The terms “ultra-high performance” and “all-season” are no longer mutually exclusive, thanks to the introduction of General Tire’s new Exclaim UHP radial.
IRS Increases Mileage Rate Deduction to Reflect High Gas Prices
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has increased the standard business-mileage deduction to 50.5 cents for all business miles driven beginning January 1, 2008.
Top NHTSA Rule Maker to Present at HDMA Conference
Stephen R. Kratzke, the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be a featured speaker at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association’s (HDMA) Heavy Duty Dialogue ’08.
Goodyear Building Larger Retread Plant in Ontario
To meet what it sees as increasing needs for retreaded OTR tires, Goodyear Canada Inc. is building a new retread plant in North Bay, Ont.
TIA Adds to Training Staff
TIA has hired Sean MacKinnon as its director of automotive training development.
Goodyear Gets Deal to Stay Home
As expected, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced yesterday that it has a tentative deal that will bring it all-new headquarters space in Akron for its corporate and North American Tire operations.
Wada to Retire from Bridgestone/Firestone
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has announced that Masao Wada, a 37-year veteran of Bridgestone Corp. and president of BFNAT’s Bridgestone/Firestone Manufacturing Operations unit, plans to retire as of Mar. 1, 2008.
KTI Hires Western Rep Firm
Tool and equipment maker K-Tool International has named the Don Green Sales Co. as its representative in California, Arizona and Nevada.
Toyo Names New President, CEO
Kenji Nakakura has been appointed president and CEO of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., parent of Toyo Tire (USA) Corp.
Kanwar Reiterates Apollo Plans
Comments made by Apollo Tyres joint managing director and COO during his attendance at the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit on Dec. 3 reiterate the tyremaker’s goals for the coming years.
Pirelli to Raise Prices in Several Export Markets
Pirelli Tyre reports that price increases of up to 10% are planned for all passenger car, SUV and truck tyre lines sold in Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific markets, effective as of Jan. 1, 2008.