Handling Hybrid Vehicle Service
In light of unstable fuel costs, consumers are once again returning tobasic transportation by trading in their old gas-guzzling SUVs for moreeconomical vehicles, especially those powered by hybrid electricvehicle (HEV) technology. This was especially evident in thegovernment’s Cash For Clunkers program, which had to be extended due tothe surprisingly swift consumer response to the program.Hybrid
Goodyear Completes Latin American Farm Tire Sale to Titan
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has completed the sale of its Latin American farm tire business to Titan Tire Corp. for approximately $99 million, subject to post-closing conditions and adjustments, for the Latin American business. The transaction includes Goodyear’s Sao Paulo, Brazil, manufacturing plant, property, equipment and inventories and a licensing agreement that will allow
Yokohama Offers an iPad a Day at ConExpo
In addition to exhibiting the latest of its OTR and commercial truck tires at the ConExpo in Las Vegas March 22-26, Yokohama Tire Corp. will be giving away an iPad a day for five days at its booth (N-1257). "People go to Las Vegas to win, so we’re trying to help make that come true,"
BKT Aims For Off-Road Segment Leadership
It’s now more than 15 years since Balkrishna Industries Ltd., or BKT, wound up its two-wheeler, car and truck tire business in favor of a focus on off-road tires. This "place every egg in one basket" decision was a major step for the then-seven-year-old company, yet it is one the Indian manufacturer has never regretted.
Out of Control Costs Leave Little-to-Wrangle Higher Tire Prices
At TIA’s annual OTR Conference a few weeks ago, Shawn Rasey, president of Bridgestone Americas’ OTR unit, delivered some sobering news. Painfully sobering to thousands of tire dealers of all denominations in all places – everywhere. "As I speak to you this morning," Rasey said, "the price of natural rubber has risen 92% in just
Eurotire Says Plant Up and Running
New York City-based Eurotire Inc. said that its OTR tire production facility in Romania is "fully completed." "Limited production of OTR radial tires was initiated at that facility in 2010," Eurotire claimed, and "field testing and proving of the new radial tire products produced at that plant was started in earnest at that time, as
Hall of Famer Joe Esco Dies
Joe W. Esco, 86, a pioneer in the retail tire industry and a member of the industry hall of fame, passed away Feb. 1 at his Oklahoma City home after a lengthy illness. Born in Alabama and a World War II veteran, Esco spent most of his life in Oklahoma City. After graduating from college,
Switching Loyalties: Renault Gets in Tire Business
Renault has announced that it will become the first vehicle manufacturer to offer customers its own-branded tire, when its Motrio range is released to Renault dealers on Feb. 1. The manufacturer is pitching the budget segment tire to drivers of “older Renault vehicles, with prices starting at £36 per tire fully fitted.” For now, the
Pro Snowboarder Shaun White ‘Upgrades to BFGoodrich’
Two-time Olympic Gold medal winner Shaun White has partnered with Michelin’s BFGoodrich brand in the multi-year “Upgrade to BFGoodrich” campaign, which kicks off at ESPN Winter X Games 15 in Aspen, Colo. Taught by BFGoodrich specialists and a group of professional drivers known as “TeamBFG,” White is learning how to upgrade his driving performance, with
After a Year of Introspection, Alliance Ready for Growth
When Tire Review last met with Yogesh Mahansaria, CEO of Alliance Tire Group, the company had recently built a greenfield plant in India and bought portions of the bankrupt GPX International Tire. After spending most of 2010 examining its goals and how the newly-acquired assets fit into the company’s overall strategy, Mahansaria says ATG is