The old mindset was that tyre consumers weren’t able to make their own purchase decisions, so the repair shop salesperson usually had the power to decide which products to offer, and the only issue would be what they sold, not if they sold. And the whole package or fitting and balancing the tyres sold was already money in the bank. Now, they are lucky if they get the latter, as an enormous amount of consumers have found that there is a lot of money to be saved by purchasing the tyres online and then shopping around for the cheapest place to have them fitted and balanced. People in the industry know that this often results in consumers buying the wrong products, as there are many factors apart from the size of the tyres that are equally important, and it can end up being a lot more expensive for consumers if they are not careful. But this still doesn’t defer the wide masses of consumers to take this route. Some companies have figured this out, and I have even seen an example of a really clever online platform, offering consumers the option to first find the best price for a given set of tyres and then choose the most convenient shop where they will be delivered directly and fitted after booking a time through the portal. That is a brilliant solution for consumers – but yes, the platform takes most of the profits from both the party selling the tyres and the shop selling the fitting service, no doubt about that.

Regardless, it shows that intelligent solutions making things easier and cheaper for consumers are those that create market shares. The ability to let the consumer choose between tyre offers from all over the country instead of just the local shop is already a great benefit, but to also be able to book a time and place to have them fitted without having to contact another party for that is truly brilliant. Furthermore, in these Covid times it’s perfect, as everything except dropping the car off for the service can be done in a flash in front of the screen at home. The next thing might be shops also offering home services using mobile tyre fitting stations, and the client would just need to unlock the car using the remote key from behind the window in case it needs to roll a bit. But it does sound a bit paranoid, doesn’t it? I mean, I hope we’ll get a bit back to real human interaction after Covid, and this last service step might just be a bit too much.

That being said, it would make sense to offer the service at the office parking lot to save the employee/consumer the time to drop off and pick up the car at the shop. Lately, we have seen windshield repair companies offering this exact type of service, even for whole windshield replacement jobs, and I hear it’s fabulous – as long as it’s not raining. These sort of intelligent, out-of-the-box solutions where companies move their products and services to where it’s convenient for the consumers are definitely creating great value, and growing in scale. The key trend which Covid has spawned here is moving the focus to value and benefits instead of unit pricing; after all, it’s easier to make profits from a transaction when having more than just the product itself in the basket, and it becomes harder for consumers to distinguish offers when only looking at the price.

In these days, where the costs of freight and transportation have skyrocketed as an after-effect of the first Covid-19 outbreak in China, and later strengthened by compound effects related to shipping disruptions, accordion-style capacity fluctuations, congestion and semi-conductor chip shortages, one can only thrive and prosper in the tyre business if one is successful in letting consumers see the value of a proposal, and not only the price. Intelligent algorithms, traffic analysis and consumer behaviour projections will be the most important factors going forward. (TT)

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”