An Armagh motorcyclist is preparing for the most exhilarating two-wheel journey of his life, after winning a European-wide Bridgestone competition to meet nine-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi.

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. 

Encircle Marketing’s latest Mystery Shopping results shows that the Fast Fit Channel collectively leads the way when it comes to demonstrating high class telephone customer service skills.

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!

Tyrespot has three vacancies - Purchasing Manager, Sales Manager and Logistics Manager.

See the Job Vacancies page for more information.

Formed just five months ago Falken Tyre India (FTI) has swiftly evolved into one of India's most competitive and progressive tyre distribution companies.

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.

An ambulance service that fitted its rapid response vehicles with Michelin cold weather tyres for the second year running has praised the tyres for keeping its fleet mobile throughout winter.

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."

Over the past twenty five years, Southampton based Supertracker has built up a reputation as one of the UK's leading wheel alignment specialists and although the company has never expanded into Europe. It does have a rather unusual and successful association with Africa.

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. 

Online tyre retailer, Tyremen, has claimed that the new EU tyre labelling system introduced in November 2012 is a waste of time and isn’t effective at helping car owners to identify good tyres. Online tyre retailer, Tyremen, has claimed that the new EU tyre labelling system introduced in November 2012 is a waste of time and isn’t effective at helping car owners to identify good tyres. The retailer argues that the labelling criteria excludes a wide range of important characteristics that illustrate performance, including resistance to aquaplaning, driving stability, handling precision, durability and braking performance on dry roads.

Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook and DTM have announced that they have successfully extended their official supply partnership ahead of schedule. The world-renowned Europe-based touring car racing series, will continue to race on Hankook ‘Ventus’ line of motorsport tyres until at least 2016, relying on Hankook Tire’s superior tyre technology.

"The cooperation with Hankook during the first two years of our partnership has absolutely convinced us of the high level of performance they deliver. This is why we wanted to continue our successful cooperation beyond 2013. The early extension of the contract is a logical consequence," says Mr. Hans Werner Aufrecht, Chairman of the Board of the DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. 

An ‘attractive, user-friendly’ website has been unveiled by Bridgestone in the UK, in an attempt to provide the most comprehensive information possible about its portfolio of products.

Featuring a local Bridgestone dealer locator and fresh new content, drivers of cars, SUVs, 4x4s and vans can find out more about the most suitable tyres for their vehicles.http://auto.bridgestone.co.uk/passenger-tyres

In all parts of the site, a DEALER LOCATOR is readily available to guide visitors to a local sales outlet.

Maxxis sponsored Team Japspeed has announced that Brett Castle will be joining it from 2013. UK drifting legend and all-round nice guy Brett will be taking over the vacant driver’s seat in the infamous Japspeed Impreza and will be piloting it in this year’s Maxxis British Drift Championship.

Brett has been an integral part of drifting in the UK since 2001 and has a wealth of knowledge and experience that will undoubtedly be a force to reckon with during the upcoming season. He will be helped by the team’s use of Maxxis MAZ1 Drift tyres as they have a specially formulated compound developed to grip tarmac harder as the tyres heat up, resist disintegration under heavy use, and produce more smoke.

India’s leading tyre manufacturer, the US$ 2.5 billion (FY12) Apollo Tyres Ltd, has opened its Sales Office in Bangkok to serve the entire ASEAN region, with Thailand as the hub of operations. This region would be catered to by exports out of India currently. After Dubai for the Middle East region, this is the second hub outside company’s operations in India, The Netherlands and South Africa.

The ASEAN region has gradually become one of Apollo’s strongest export markets, out of India, accounting for more than 40% of exports revenue. The contribution of this region to the total exports revenue of the company out of India has doubled in the last 3 years time. The company already has a sizable distribution network in the ASEAN market.

Apollo is well positioned to serve the 6 million units a year commercial vehicle replacement tyre market in the ASEAN region -- a segment where Apollo enjoys a clear product technology and service leadership position. The fastest growing segment is the 22.6 million units a year passenger vehicle tyres. Apollo Tyres sells its range of Passenger Vehicle, 4x4, Commercial and Off-highway tyres in the ASEAN region.