Commenting on the Award, Goodyear Brand Manager Michelle Fisher says: “We’re really excited to win the Best Tyre award – not only is it a great endorsement of our product, but it’s a testament to our on-going innovation and drive to bring high performance tyres to market that never compromise on safety."

The latest Plimsoll Analysis found that average profit margins have fallen to 6.3% of sales and 104 of the UK's top 400 Tyre Wholesalers & Distributors are now running at a loss – a finding that would lead you to believe the industry was suffering with chronic oversupply, rising costs and severe pricing issues. However, the same study has revealed 23 businesses are making record profits.

The Plimsoll Analysis, which is also available in an online format, provides an individual profile of each of the UK’s top 400 Tyre Wholesalers & Distributors. It offers an overall financial rating, a valuation as well as an acquisition attractiveness assessment on each company.

For more information on the Tyre Wholesalers & Distributors report or any of Plimsoll’s email c.glancey@plimsoll.co.uk Readers of this article are entitled to a £50 discount off this report by calling 01642 626419 and quoting reference PR/TI77.

The sports tyre, built on Dunlop’s racing DNA, is fitted on the Porsche 911 GT3 in a 245/35 ZR20 (91Y) NO for the front wheels and 305/30 ZR20 (103Y)XL NO for the rear axle. The sizes and the specific combination there-off were specifically developed for the new Porsche 911 GT3 and built in close collaboration with Porsche.

Ideal for medium and high-powered cars, the CF2 utilises the very latest materials and production methods, drawing heavily from Toyo’s UHP and Motorsport ranges to create a tyre that offers exceptionally high levels of safety, durability, and comfort.

The EUROALL SEASON AS200 is tailored specifically to the complex requirements of the European market. Four wide and deep longitudinal grooves ensure excellent dispersal of even high volumes of water, while the offset lateral grooves direct water away from the tyre. The all-new rubber compound contains extra silica plus a high proportion of styrene groups to give exceptional wet handling. In addition, the AS200 has a built-in anti-aging mechanism in which an anti-aging agent permeates continuously from the lower reservoir tread to the outer tread, thus protecting the running surface from aging and aggressive environmental influences throughout the life of the tyre.

Results from the last financial year show Maxxis tyre sales figures surpassing $4.5 billion (US) for the first time, up over $2 billion in the last five years alone. These results are just the latest stage in a meteoric rise for the Asian-based manufacturer, as UK MD Derek McMartin confirms:

“We’ve been making good progress up the Global Tire Company Rankings for a long time and have been in the top ten for over five years now. In these turbulent times it will be interesting to see how we have fared against our competitors and where we would have been had we not invested so much on future proofing our place amongst the elite. Demand for our products continues on an upward spiral and we have moved to meet this by almost doubling our production output."

The sales force assisting ‘Challenge’ app works by calculating the true cost of tyres over time and shares the performance data with all other users, before providing performance comparisons against competitors’ tyres - all on the user’s tablet.

Deployed in 2012, the technology has revolutionised Bridgestone’s sales process and is now regarded as a strategic tool, after being created by RNF Digital.

The Campaign will be displayed on bus stops citywide, featuring the most dynamic and remarkable member of Lassa family, Phenoma, engineered particulary to let passionate driving enthusiasts and high demanding fans lose their ego.

Campaign ads will also feature a call for Instragram and Twitter uploads with #proprioperme to invite participants to share pictures showing them what let lose their ego, what makes them spoiled as beautiful summer days just begin.

Lassa Tyres will also be present at the 25th Autopromotec Fair at the Bologna Exhibition Centre from May 22nd to May 26th, 2013. 

Retail customers who purchase four Mitas radial drive tyres of over 600mm in section from Bush Tyres between 12 June 2013 and 13 September 2013, when the promotional offer finishes, will automatically receive an Apple iPad. Those purchasing four Mitas radial drive tyres of less than 600mm in section width, or eight trailer tyres, will receive an Apple iPad Mini. The offer allows multiple purchases, so customers who buy more than one set of tyres will receive more than one product. Terms & Conditions apply.

Visit http://www.apple.com/ to view images of iPads and iPad Minis.

Maxxis’ efforts to heighten focus on digital communications, is driven by its belief that online and social media platforms are fast becoming the most effective ways of communicating directly with consumers.  With a strong existing following on its social media channels, the appointment of Jas will help strengthen and build Maxxis’ presence and give existing and potential customers the opportunity to interact with the brand and its assets on a daily basis.

Jas will report directly to Maxxis UK Marketing Manager Amy Colbourne.

Bandi Vaczi becomes Head of Global Marketing Communications at Apollo Tyres 
Michiel Kramer will follow Bandi Vaczi (36), who has been promoted to Head of Global Marketing Communications. For six years, Vaczi was in charge of the Marketing Communications department, where he was responsible for the marketing and communications at corporate and product level for all products and the brands Vredestein, Maloya and Apollo. In his new role, Vaczi will be responsible for Marketing Communications for all brands in the portfolio of Apollo Tyres Ltd, i.e., Apollo, Vredestein and Dunlop.

The Responsible Retailer launch was held at a Press Conference in the Ardencote Manor Hotel, Warwickshire on Friday 10^th May.

A Responsible Retailer Certificate will be awarded to retailers meeting best practice standards by a recognised tyre collection company who will also be an approved member of the TRA.

The stand was manned throughout the show by both Sailun personnel and an English-speaking Russian translator.

The overriding objective behind Sailun’s participation in the show was to further raise the profile of the brand, to demonstrate our desire and intent to penetrate the Russian market and to meet both existing and prospective distributors.  

Tominey joins from BSUK Limited where he held the position of ASM from 2006, before which he spent five years selling commercial vehicles for Arnold Clark.

“I have been based in central Scotland for over seven years and built up good contacts at dealer and fleet levels,” said Tominey.  “With GT Radial’s great mix of products and price points supported by GT Assist, the CV roadside service assistance programme, I have everything in place to make a real impact.”

Consolidated annual revenues, across operations in Asia, Africa and Europe, increased 5% to reach Rs 127.9 billion. During the same period the net profit for the company surged 50% to reach Rs 6.1 billion. The Indian Operations’ revenue grew 4% this year as compared to previous year; Europe Operations increased by 5% where as the African Operations’ grew 15%, despite challenging local circumstances.

Commenting on the results, Onkar S Kanwar, Chairman, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “Our continued focus on improving our product and customer mix across geographies has helped us to hold on to our topline, despite the extremely challenging circumstances arising out of broader economic concerns. I believe that the worst is behind us, and we should see improvement in both automotive and tyre sales going forward.”

The concept behind the car was to set the fastest lap for a road-legal Subaru Impreza. While the car was highly modified, it was driven directly to the circuit, completed its record lap and was then driven back to the UK, all on the same tyres, fuel and brake pads. A handful of tools and spares travelled in the car but it was a genuine road-going car.

Yokohama, which has a development centre located at the Nordschleife, has a long-standing relationship with Revolution Motorstore, spanning 16 years. When the company built the Impreza, to celebrate its 15th anniversary, Yokohama tyres were the natural choice for the project, according to MD Glenn Campbell. Revolution chose the legendary Yokohama ADVAN A048 road-legal track day tyre for the attempt, sized 255/40x17 all round.

The Ariel Atom Cup was created in response to demand for a genuine race series for the exoskeletal road cars. Bespoke versions were developed for the one-make series and Yokohama was chosen to supply ADVAN A048 tyres to the field for the season.

 Goodyear  Racing tyres, which have been specifically designed and developed for  the  European Truck Racing Championship, are the only type approved by the  sport’s  governing body. They  will be available to all entrants with supply and support at every race.

David Hoy has beaten thousands of enthusiasts across Europe to meet the greatest MotoGP rider of all time, courtesy of Bridgestone’s high profile ‘Mission Rossi’ initiative.

The 46 year-old is now preparing to fly out to the Netherlands for the Assen round of the championship, where he will receive VIP passes, accommodation, and a private ‘meet and greet’ with the Italian legend himself.

David, of Ballyleny Road, Richhill, entered the Bridgestone competition when he popped into his local tyre fitter, G M Tyres, recently.

After purchasing a set of Battlax Sport Touring T30 tyres, he was automatically entered into the Mission Rossi giveaway. 

In partnership with its UK distributor, Bond International, Infinity Tyres will return to sponsor the inaugural race of the Dante Festival at York Racecourse on Wednesday 16 May 2013.

Encircle make over 5,000 calls every month in the UK with each call scored across 31 key elements and then weighted to provide a % score out of 100. Using this approach, they can then produce a league table of best to worst outlets and classify the information across a number of different parameters.

In addition, using their unique ‘Performance Cube’ which can place an outlet or POS in a ‘head to head’ position to see who is the best in class, where the strengths and weaknesses sit and categorise key areas for improvement or to shout about, Encircle can report who is the best overall Centre in the market and what makes them that way!

See the Job Vacancies page for more information.

With headquarters in Gurgaon in Northern India, FTI has already opened seventeen warehousing facilities throughout India in strategically placed locations with the determined aim of establishing a fully comprehensive tyre network throughout the entire country.

Implementing the rich and successful heritage of the Falken brand within the Motorsport fraternity  and coupling it with the Japanese expertise of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited, the world's sixth and Japan's second largest tyre manufacturers. FTI is now marketing an impressive and extensive tyre product portfolio which incorporates all the latest innovative tread designs from Japan, Europe and North America.

East Midlands Ambulance Services NHS Trust (EMAS) switched a total of 306 ambulances and fast response cars on to Michelin Agilis Alpin and Alpin A4 tyres, which are specially designed to perform best in temperatures below seven degrees Celsius.

EMAS first tested Michelin’s cold weather tyres at a track day at MIRA in Warwickshire in 2011, and according to Fleet General Manager Steve Farnsworth, the tyres have since become an integral part of the Trust’s winter operation.

“When we tested Michelin’s cold weather tyres we found that they could reduce an ambulance’s braking distance by more than half on a slippery surface similar to ice and snow compared to standard tyres, which is a tremendous difference."

For the past five years, Supertracker laser aligners have been operating in Nigeria and helped the country become acquainted with low cost, efficient wheel alignment centred around a growing partnership with Mr Olusegun Aderemi owner of Automotive Servicing Specialists – Segmat.

Mr Aderemi (who is known as 'Prince' as he is an actual Prince of his local tribal community) has always had a passion for the automotive business and in 2008 whilst visiting the UK, contacted Supertracker to learn more about wheel alignment and subsequently enrolled on one of their well known training courses.