Tires

Schaeffler to end Continental accord as merger project wanes

May 13, 2013 21:46 CET
Schaeffler, the largest investor in tire and components supplier Continental, plans to end an agreement between the two German companies as it continues to dismantle a plan for a gradual merger.... Read More »

 

Schaeffler to end Continental accord as merger project wanes

3:46 pm U.S. ET | May 13, 2013
Schaeffler, the largest investor in tire and components supplier Continental, plans to end an agreement between the two German companies as it continues to dismantle a plan for a gradual merger.... Read More »

 

Nissan recalls 123,308 Altimas for spare tire issue

9:36 am U.S. ET | April 29, 2013
Nissan is recalling 123,308 Altima sedans in the United States to adjust the inflation of the spare tires, which could be over- or under-inflated.... Read More »

 

SUPPLIERS

Pirelli studying plan to offset weak Europe demand, source says

April 8, 2013 06:01 CET
Pirelli plans to offset weakening demand in Europe for its premium tires by shipping tires produced in Europe to emerging markets, where demand is growing, said an industry source on Sunday.... Read More »

 

Tire study: Replacement rate runs higher for run-flats

1:36 pm U.S. ET | March 29, 2013
Run-flat tires are far more likely than conventional tires to need replacement because of a flat or blowout, according to a new study by J.D. Power and Associates.... Read More »

 

PRODUCTION LINE

Tire repair kits gain ground

12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 17, 2012
Automakers would love to shed the weight, cost and bulk of full-sized or mini spare tires, and it's starting to look like they've found a preferred alternative: tire repair kits.... Read More »

 

Tire repair kits gain ground, but consumers still like spares

12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 11, 2012
Automakers would dearly love to shed the weight, cost and bulk of full-sized or mini spare tires, and it's starting to look like they've found a preferred alternative: tire repair kits. According to Edmunds.com, 70 car models sold in the United States in the 2012 model year were equipped with tire repair kits, up from 23 in 2009.... Read More »

 

General Motors seeks better fuel economy through tire technology

3:09 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 26, 2012
General Motors is partnering with researchers at the new National Tire Research Center in Virginia to improve fuel economy through the development of new tire technology.... Read More »

 

Europe's new tire label rules expected to increase competition

Nov. 18, 2012 06:01 CET
Starting this month, car tires in the EU have to bear performance labels. Differentiation is crucial for European tiremakers such Michelin, Continental and Pirelli as low-cost Asian manufacturers step up competition to woo away customers in the region's stagnant market.... Read More »

 

JIM HENRY

F&I lobbyists seek easier state rules for wide range of products

12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 5, 2012
F&I industry lobbyists have been pretty successful advocating a “model act” in state legislatures governing the sale of extended-service contracts. So the next move is to take a similar approach for other F&I products, such as GAP policies and tire-and-wheel plans.... Read More »

 

JESSE SNYDER

Spare or Goo? A Texas-sized test

11:13 am U.S. ET | Aug. 7, 2012
To spare or not to spare. If that's the question for modern automobile designers, whether to include a spare tire or save on weight and packaging, I want a vote.... Read More »

 

CHRISTINA ROGERS

Dropping the spare tire is a great idea until…

3:20 pm U.S. ET | July 12, 2012
Let me start by saying this: I’m all for better fuel economy. When I was shopping for a new car last year, I wouldn’t even consider a compact that didn’t get near 40 mpg highway. And then, last week, I learned having class-leading fuel economy can sometimes leave you stranded, literally, without a spare.... Read More »

 

VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY -- THE CHANGING CAR

Step 2: Invent some new high-mpg technologies

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 11, 2012
The auto industry has signed on to proposed federal mandates to dramatically improve vehicle fuel economy. But for automakers to meet new standards, some technologies will have to be invented.... Read More »

 

DALE JEWETT

Nissan expands its new tire-pressure monitoring technology

12:37 pm U.S. ET | June 8, 2012
Nissan is trying to limit driver excuses for ignoring tire pressure warnings with its Easy-fill Tire Alert technology. The system was launched on the redesigned 2011 Quest minivan and is being spread across the carmaker's lineup for 2013 models.... Read More »