Home > Learning Center > Gas-Friendly Tire?
Gas-Friendly Tire?
South Korea’s Hankook Tire Co. has developed an “ultra fuel efficiency tire” – the fx-Optimo – which, the tiremaker claims, “drastically maximizes fuel efficiency” by lowering rolling resistance as much as 25% without impacting other performance characteristics.
The company has spent five years and 10 billion won developing the new tire and has hinted that this release will form the basis of a “green strategy” that will target the hybrid vehicle market.
Hankook reports that, compared to existing tires of the same size, the fx-Optimo boasts 25% lower rolling resistance, for a maximum 3% improvement in fuel efficiency. In addition, the tire is said to exhibit enhanced wet braking and control characteristics compared to existing tires. And, according to Hankook, the tire delivers treadwear comparable to existing tires.
The tiremaker plans to tackle the European market first, which is highly sensitive to fuel prices, as well as hybrid vehicle producers in Asia and elsewhere.
Hankook says it used a special rubber compound technology and tire structure design for the new product – the Hankook Hybrid System (HHS) – and will brand the fx-Optimo sidewalls with the HHS logo. Tread durability and lower rolling resistance comes from splitting silica particles into nano-sized pieces, Hankook says, and creating a more balanced mix with traditional carbon black.
Get The Drift?
Falken Tire Corp. is taking its D.O.T. (Drift on Track) Drift Safety Program national next year, after a successful launch in the Los Angeles area. The program uses instructional videos and professional drivers to teach high schoolers how drifting is best learned in a safe and controlled environment. D.O.T. is being run in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department and is hitting select Los Angeles area high schools throughout 2006.
Hall of Fame Nominations Open
Nominations are now open for the Tire Industry Hall of Fame. The 2006 class will be inducted at the upcoming SEMA Show, Oct. 31-Nov. 3. In addition, TIA is seeking nominations for its Friend of the Industry Award, which will recognize “proven supporters” of the tire industry.
Nominations for 2006 inductees to the Tire Industry Hall of Fame and the Friend of the Industry Award are being accepted until June 30.
Anyone can nominate an individual for their contributions to the industry, including those who were tire dealers, retreaders, or worked in the industry with tiremakers, equipment suppliers, tire and rubber recyclers or others aligned with the tire industry.
Nominees can still be active in the industry or “historical contributors,” those who have made a significant contribution to the tire industry but may be retired, deceased or have moved to another industry.
Inductees are chosen based on their contributions of new ideas, practices, and/or innovations that promoted the health and well being of the tire industry; exemplary and distinguished service in the tire industry; and respect for their peers. Contributions in civic, cultural, educational, or charitable endeavors will be considered but are not a primary consideration as attributes for selection.
Nomination forms for both honors are available on the TIA Web site at tireindustry.org.
TIA Finally Decides WTE Fate
The World Tire Expo is no more, and Louisville will apparently not be the host for future TIA conferences. The tire industry group is replacing the WTE with the TIA Commercial Tire & Retreading Conference, which will be held next February in conjunction with the annual Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) conference.
Over its last three meetings, the biannual WTE had suffered from declining interest and attendance. TIA held off making a final determination on the WTE’s fate for a year before deciding to link up with the well attended TMC event, which will be held Feb. 6-8 in Tampa.
Cruizin’ From Cruise
American Car Care Centers (ACCC) presented ACCC dealer Dave Barron of Tamaqua, Pa., with the keys to a brand-new 2006 Corvette, the grand prize raffled to ACCC dealers during the group’s recent national dealer meeting and Caribbean cruise. More than 900 people – dealers and guests – attended, and the car was among dozens of prizes awarded during the weeklong event.
No Surprise: Titan Wants CTNA OTR Plant
Titan International Inc. has entered into negotiations aimed at purchasing Continental Tire North America’s (CTNA) OTR tire plant in Bryan, Ohio. Titan hoped to have the deal completed by the end of this month.
Titan’s plan to buy the plant had been rumored for some time, but no definitive moves had been made. It is suspected, some industry observers say, that Titan’s recent successful purchase of Goodyear’s agricultural tire business – which included negotiating a new contract with USW workers at Goodyear’s Freeport, Ill., plant – served as a springboard for this move.
As with past suitors – German retreaders Roesler Group and Denman Tire Corp. owner Pensler Group – Titan must negotiate a new master contract with the United Steelworkers and USW Local 850, which represents workers at the Bryan plant.
“Several buyers have shown significant interest in our plant in the last three years,” said John Bowling, USW Local 890 chairman for the plant. “Our local leadership is optimistic that Titan is committed to U.S. manufacturing and maintaining our production here in Bryan.”
Conti Opens New Brazil Tire Plant
Continental AG formally dedicated its new tire plant in Camacari, Brazil, just 18 months after laying the cornerstone for the 500,000-square-meter plant. Continental said that, by the end of 2006, the plant, which will primarily serve North America, will be producing 9,000 passenger tires a day, and output will increase to 14,000 units per day in the first half of 2007. Production of commercial truck tires is slated to start in July, with an initial output of 1,000 tires per day, increasing to 1,700 tires per day in 2007. Financial analysts say Continental stands to save some $100 million by off-shoring its North American tire needs.
TR Again Sponsors China Tire Show
For the second straight year, Tire Review will be the exclusive U.S. media sponsor of the China International Tire Expo (CITExpo), which will be held Sept. 6-8 at the Shanghai Everbright Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China.
Tire Review joins its news partners Tyres & Accessories and Rubber Asia as key media supporters of the event.
Entering its fourth year, CITExpo is China’s premier tire exposition, and the program aims “to facilitate the trade and development of the world tire industry by bridging the gaps between the soaring tire industry in China and overseas.”
CITExpo 2005, held in December, attracted more than 130 exhibitors and some 6,500 attendees, including manufacturers, buyers, distributors, wholesalers and direct retail and manufacturing purchasers.
“We are proud to continue our support of CITExpo, the fastest-growing tire industry exposition in the world’s fastest-growing tire market,” said Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review. “As we have with our efforts, the show’s organizers took a truly global approach with the program and the result can be seen in the 2005 event, which exceeded all expectations in terms of attendance and exhibiting companies.”
For more information and registration materials, visit the CITExpo Web site at citexpo.com.cn.
http://www.tirereview.com/?type=art&id=5822
Truck Accessories | Auto | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home
©