Since its launch earlier this year, the Pirelli Star Driver scheme has attracted significant interest, with competitors from around the world seeking to win a drive in a series of six FIA World Rally Championship events.

In the second half of 2008 Nihon Michelin Tire Co., Ltd will raise the delivery prices for its replacement market products in Japan.

Michelin North America celebrated the grand opening of a second retail outlet on July 22.

Thirteen employees of Goodyear Dunlop are staging a four-day, 320-mile endurance cycle ride to benefit Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Last year’s Winter Tyre Review (T&A, September 2007) featured three Vredestein tyres designed to withstand cold weather.

South Korean vehicle manufacturer GM Daewoo Automotive and Technology recommenced production at is Bupyeong facility on July 22 following the resumption of its tyre supply.

Continental AG reports it has agreed to acquire 89.66 per cent of Turkey based tyre distributor Oltas Spa.

Since June the US state of Iowa has experienced its worst flooding in 15 years, with rivers throughout the state bursting their banks.

Continental has expanded its retail presence in Canada following the signing of an agreement with Toyota.

USW members at Goodyear’s Tyler, Texas, tire plant have voted to allow the tiremaker to shutter the facility ahead of schedule. The vote late last week accepted Goodyear’s proposal to close down the plant in advance of the original Dec. 31 date.

Michelin is the new exclusive tyre partner to A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, starting with the 2008/09 season. The French manufacturer has signed a three-year contract and replaces Cooper Tire, which had produced A1GP’s control tyres since the series’ inception in 2005.

Pirelli has begun to negotiate the buying out of minority shareholders in its Turkish units Turk Pirelli Lastikleri – which supplies commercial and passenger car tyres – and Celikord, a steel cord manufacturer.

According to the tyre manufacturer, the Dunlop Drivers Club stand was one of Goodwood Festival of Speed’s highlights.

Michelin Training Centre is celebrating delivering its 500,000th hour of high training.

An offer by a California company to buy Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s off-the-road tire business has gone nowhere because Goodyear says the operation isn't for sale.

Continental Tire North America will invest an additional $60 million in its Mt. Vernon, Ill., manufacturing plant over the next three years, bringing the total amount invested in the facility since 2006 to more than $220 million.

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s Warren County, Tenn., medium truck tire plant recently received the 2008 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for accomplishments in pollution prevention.

Dunlop’s OE team are celebrating six original equipment wins in six months.

News about Schaeffler Group’s run at Continental AG continues to come fast and furious, with European financial analysts now weighing in on how they see the deal coming down.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. may close its Tyler plant prior to the expiration of the master union contract, thus releasing about 60 remaining employees early, if the local union membership votes to ratify an agreement for closure.

Pirelli’s Carlisle, England, factory, which employs 1,000 workers, is set to cut back 60 jobs from the firm’s operation due to foreign competition and lost orders, say local news sources.

Yokohama’s Advan brand was named the official tire sponsor of Hooked on Driving, an advanced driving instruction program.

Dunlop, the last tyre manufacturer with a factory in Nigeria, is set to leave the country, favouring the importation of tyres from other nations, such as South Africa.

Independent testing organisation TUV Sud has shown that Michelin’s Energy Saver tyres lend motorists considerable savings over competitors’ brands.

Bridgestone Corp is expected to announce a sharp fall in group operating profits as a result of rising rubber prices.

Bridgestone Europe has invested 32 million euros in increasing production capacity at its Béthune, France, passenger-car tyre plant.

Groupe Michelin and China’s largest surface coal mine, China Coal Pingshuo, signed a three-year renewable contract in which Michelin will provide and maintain 53/80R63 tires for the Komatsu 930E trucks that CCP operates in the mine.

Pirelli has been given a name-check, as the virtual-competition sponsor in the title of the new racing game, Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli.

Chinese news sources are suggesting strongly that plans are in progress at Goodyear for a new US$500 million facility in Dalian, China.

Continental AG has announced that it will increase its European passenger car and light truck tyre prices (across of all brands) by 5%.

Goodyear was once again named one of America's most respected companies by the Reputation Institute (RI) and Forbes magazine.

Michelin North America is offering sponsorships for the international rugby match between top-division French Rugby Union side Clermont-Auvergne and the USA Eagles in South Carolina on Aug. 9.

Pirelli SpA plans to invest some $100 million over the next two years to double its tire production capacity in China.

The largest tyre manufacturer in Ukraine “Rosava”, selling its products in 53 countries worldwide, is modernizing its production by installing new hi-tech machinery.

Pirelli SpA has closed its repurchase of its tire group, buying out the remaining 19.19% owned by Speed SpA.

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. plans to raise prices on its replacement tires sold in Japan.

Michelin shares have dropped by 6.44% following Societe Generale SA’s decision to downgrade the leading French tyre manufacturer’s stock to ‘sell.’ Societe Generale had previously rated Michelin as “hold.”

The maker of Magnum Tire Balancing Compound recently introduced a new tire balancing compound it claims can be safely used with TPMS-equipped tires.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will be recalling 5,300 Dunlop Sport 3D. These tires were manufactured between Sept 4, 2005, through May 17, 2008.

The top 10 finalists have been chosen in the Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s 2008 Safety Scholars video contest.

The Michelin Athletic Club in Ballymena, Northern Ireland has played host to the launch of the Ballymena Business Excellence Awards 2008.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has added sizes to several of its key lines, including the Cooper Zeon XSTA, a new all-season sport truck tire.

Kumho Tire USA Inc. has gained an OE fitment from Ford.

A global tire manufacturer is relocating its distribution operations to Franklin, Ind., and creating 60 jobs by 2011.

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres has announced that further ‘substantial’ investment will be made in its Wolverhampton truck tyre retreading facility.

Fulda is sponsoring a 1991 Fiat Panda 4x4 taking part in the Mongol Rally 2008. The Fiat will set off on the 19th July and will be fitted with the Fulda EcoControl tyres.

Continental has increased its share in Continental Matador Rubber following a July 1 agreement to transfer an additional 15 per cent of Continental Matador shares.

Bridgestone Tyres has gained a contract with Thamesdown Transport, the Swindon-based bus company. Bridgestone will be supplying its range of specialised bus tyres to Thamesdown’s entire fleet.

In spite of determining that some 82,000 tyres produced between 2007 and March 2008 featured sidewall labelling not fully in compliance with U.S. safety standards, [[Goodyear]] has petitioned the National Highway Transport Safety Authority (NHTSA) to exempt the products from a recall.

Partial day strike action at Kumho’s two main South Korean facilities is likely to cost the company about KRW 2.98 billion (£1.4 million) a day in lost output.

A novelty for the 2009 summer season – in the segment of summer HIGH PERFORMANCE tyres for middle and upper medium range cars. Compare to its predecessor MP 42 Elite 2, the asymmetric tread pattern MP 44 Elite 3 brings improved proporties in the area of handling, safety on wet and dry surfaces, comfort and life.

Michelin North America has introduced the Uniroyal Laredo AWT II, designed for on- and off-road applications.

An ultra-high performance tire from Continental AG, the ContiSportContact Vmax, recently reached a speed of 254 miles per hour (or 409 kilometers per hour) on a Porsche GT9.

Michelin North America Inc. will raise prices on its Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, private and associate brand passenger and light truck replacement tires up to 12%, effective Sept. 1.

Comments given by Pirelli & C Spa chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera indicate that targets for company’s tyre business remain slightly higher despite declining car sales in Western Europe.

Goodyear’s Napanee plant between Belleville and Kingston in Ontario is to close for a week as the manufacturer continues to react against a stagnating marketplace.

After months of speculation and negotiations, a deal has been struck that will join Russia’s two largest tiremakers – Amtel-Vredestein and Sibur-Russian Tyres.

Nokian Tyres is reportedly partnering with Immo Industry Group and Aladdin Group to develop its distribution operation in Ukraine.

Bridgestone Corp. said it will raise prices on tires sold through retailers as of September, citing high costs for such materials as natural and synthetic rubber.

French tyre maker Michelin has raised its stake in Hankook Tire Co. to nearly 10% through stock market purchases, the South Korean company said on Friday.

Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) is the title sponsor of next week's Porsche Parade Gimmick Rally in Charlotte, N.C. The parade will start at CTNA headquarters on June 30.

Michelin Romania has posted a 2007 turnover of 340 million euros, a 10.8% increase over the sales of 306.8 million euros reported a year earlier.

In 1953, General Motors Corp. launched the Corvette. Fifty-five years later, the first Corvette with a Michelin original equipment tire will hit the streets.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s premium Assurance ComforTred tires, in size P235/55R18, will be standard original equipment on the 2009 Lincoln MKS, a new luxury sedan scheduled to hit dealer showrooms this summer.

Goodyear’s high speed Optitrac R+ farm radial tyre has been approved for fitment to the new 7000 series JCB Fastrac tractor.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plans to close its Australian manufacturing facility by the end of the year.

Two new Michelin Pilot Sport tires will be available to tire dealers by the end of October.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co said on Monday, June 23, it has reduced production in its North American facilities during the second quarter to counter decreased tire demand and projected shortages of certain raw materials.

ÌÀÊ has launched the Fuoco, an innovative new SUV wheel featuring a special hump that allows particular run-flat tyres to be fitted to it. “Hump EH2+” holds ETRTO homologation, which opens up a whole new market for MAK.

[[Continental]] AG has unveiled a new prototype cyber tyre technology, designed to demystify the tyre management process.

For the first time in three years, a foreign tire-maker may build a plant in Russia. The U.S. company Goodyear is considering a $200-250-million project in Yaroslavl Region to produce up to 5 million car tires a year.

On June, 23, «ÂåñòàÌàðêåò» trade house («VestaMarket”), an exclusive representative of Maxxis in Ukraine, is presenting the lineup of the leading Chinese manufacturer, which occupies the 12th position among the top players in the global tyre business.

Michelin North America, already committed to spending $350 million on various North American plant upgrades, added another $90 million to the pot earlier this week.

Pirelli Tyre must consolidate its presence in mature markets and expand in high-growth areas such as China, Russia and Brazil, stated CEO Francesco Gori in an interview with Italian newspaper Milanzo Finanza.

Russian media has reported that Amtel-Vredestein shareholders will receive no 2007 dividend from the Amtel Chernozemye tyre factory in Voronezh, Russia, following a decision made at the facility’s annual meeting on June 9.

Goodyear Dunlop has announced that it will work in partnership with the National Policing Improvement Agency, making it the main supplier of tyres to over 50 police forces in the country.

French website autoactu.com has reported details of a conflict between major tyre manufacturers Bridgestone and Michelin over the comparative energy-saving properties of Michelin’s Energy range of tyres.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is building its presence in Mexico, striking a deal to partner in a capacity expansion project at that country’s second largest tire plant.

Toyo Tire’s European subsidiary, Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, has established an Iberia representative office in Madrid, Spain.

French tire maker Michelin said on Wednesday it had raised its stake in South Korean peer Hankook Tire to 8.9% from 6%.

A two-week tyre strike by 4,000 members of International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) Turkish affiliate Lastik-Is ended on June 13, and workers from three tyre manufacturers resumed work the following day.

The U.S.-based company iVoice Technology has filed a patent application on a rubbish bin made entirely from recycled tyre crumb rubber.

Following on from its 2007 campaign, Michelin’s latest “Fill up with Air” roadshow kicks off at the Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal on July 1-2.

Specially developed Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperÑar radials are the exclusive tire for the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. marks the arrival of an all-new premium luxury touring SUV tire with an all-new performance edge.

Adventure Learning Foundation has selected the Cooper Discoverer S/T-C tire for use on the tenth leg of its World of Wonders educational expedition, which teaches school-aged children about the world’s people, cultures and places through an interactive, Web-based application.

General Tire’s Altimax HP has earned the number one ranking in the Grand Touring All-Season Tire category in an online consumer survey of tires performed by Tire Rack.

The days of an iconic Wolverhampton landmark are drawing to a close.

One worker was killed and six others were injured in an early morning explosion yesterday at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s synthetic rubber plant near Houston.

Pirelli SpA will sponsor South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who plans to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

An independent testing organisation has found that the Michelin Energy Saver tyre “has a rolling resistance 20% lower than its direct competitors.”

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is partnering with Formula Drift for the fifth consecutive year.

Marangoni SpA and Continental AG have agreed to work together in the retreading sector. The agreement will allow Marangoni Retreading Systems to produce and distribute Continental tread patterns (ContiTread) in Europe and other major markets worldwide.

With the world premiere launch of the latest Renault Magnum comes the unveiling of Michelin’s new X Energy SaverGreen tyre range.

Yokohama Rubber Co. has established Yokohama Tire Sales (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bridgestone Europe NV/SA has established three new sales subsidiaries in Eastern Europe.

Pirelli have obtained eight overall victories and two top-three placements in 11 tests conducted by European motoring authorities and the specialist press.

Hankook Tire Co. said it plans to spend some $19 million per year in its ongoing investment into developing more environmentally friendly tires.

Goodyear confirmed that it is increasing the prices of some of its Steelmark and Remington commercial truck tires by up to 10%, effective July 1.

Ever wonder what happens with your old tires after you get new ones?

Bridgestone Corp. said it has shipped its 10 millionth runflat tire.

Pirelli’s P6000 passenger tyre has taken the honors in the 195/60R15 (small/medium car) section of the 2008 Wheels Magazine Tyre Test, scoring 99.01 out of a possible 100.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and its advertising agencies – McCann Erickson, New York; MPG, Boston; and HFA, Akron – were awarded an Effie Award June 4 for the 2007 Goodyear "Get there" marketing campaign.

Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. said it has narrowed the possible locations of its new world-class technical center to two choices: Murfreesboro, Tenn. or the Firestone Park area of Akron, Ohio.

Continental has responded to claims from German news sources that Italian rival Pirelli is interested in buying the German manufacturer’s truck tyre business, stating that they have yet to be contacted.

Pirelli & C. SpA has signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations for the construction of a car, light truck and heavy truck tyre plant in Russia.

Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc. presented Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with its Quality Excellence Award for commercial tires on Hino medium-duty trucks.

Amtel-Vredestein has asked the Russian antimonopoly office to allow it to buy 100% of petrochemical firm Sibur's tire business.

Goodyear has marked the Australian launch of its latest safety-conscious tyre with a “Satisfaction Assured Trial” – an option unique in Australia for consumers to have their set of four new “Assurance” tyres replaced after 1000kms or within two weeks, inclusive of all refit charges.

A Tyre for Today’s Winters, Cars and Regulations. It will meet the needs of the most demanding drivers.

Michelin will be title sponsor of the LRM (Land Rover Monthly) Billing Show, which takes place at Billing Aquadrome, Northampton from 18 to 20 July.

"Due to continued record increases in the costs of raw materials and energy," Yokohama Tire Corp. says it will adjust prices on its consumer tires by up to 6%, effective July 1, 2008.

About 4,000 Turkish tire manufacturing workers went on strike over the weekend at four factories, demanding a 12% wage increase for the first six-month period of a two-year labor agreement, and the Turkish rate of inflation for each six-month period thereafter.

Plans are reportedly underway to increase capacity at the Sumitomo Rubber (Changshu) Co. Ltd tyre facility in China by 20%.

A number of tyre manufacturers have filed a lawsuit against chemical producers alleged to be members of a cartel operating in the late 1990s and early this decade.

Michelin will recall its Michelin Cockpit car seats for children as a precautionary measure following a poor safety rating from French consumer magazine Que Choisir.

Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) has joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced the latest offering in its line of high-performance tires, the Eagle GT.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) announced its members and their employees are now eligible to join NASA Federal Credit Union.

The Michelin Group announced on May 27 it would donate an additional 500,000 euros for victims of the earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan Province.

Independent tire dealers throughout the country are educating consumers about the importance of proper tire inflation by participating in Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s "Free Air" promotion.

Yokohama Tire Corp. and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. have reached a final settlement agreement with Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. pertaining to design patent infringement, with Hangzhou agreeing to destroy the manufacturing molds and remaining inventory of its Westlake H280 tires.

Yokohama Rubber Co. plans to donate some 10 million yen through the Chinese Red Cross Society to help sufferers of the Sichuan Province earthquake.

News reports say that Hankook Tire Co. will spend $19.7 million to buy back 1.5 million of its outstanding shares.

On May 16, Bridgestone Europe and its logistics partner Fiege officially opened the new Bridgestone European Logistics Center East in the Czech Republic town of Bor.

During a press conference held at its factory in Breuberg, Germany, the Pirelli Group outlined its industrial activities and plans for tyre business expansion in this particular market, one the company sees as key for its growth strategies.

Cooper Tire & Rubber has opened a new technical center near Shanghai.

A host of new vehicle safety and environmental requirements, including several tyre related measures, will become obligatory as of 2012.

Effective July 1, 2008, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. will increase pricing on its passenger, light truck and truck tires. The increases will vary up to 8%.

Maxxis International - U.S.A. is moving its Texas operations to a new 185,000-square-foot facility to increase efficiency and improve customer service.

Canadian students will have the chance to win a scholarship by producing a compelling safety video and participating in the 2008 Safety Scholars Canada video contest, sponsored by Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc.

Continental AG will once again serve as the official sponsor of the World Cup, continuing its decade-long involvement in major soccer events.

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. plans to boost annual production at its Toyo Tire North American Manufacturing Inc. plant in White, Ga., by 2.4 million units in 2010 and 3.2 million units the following year.

The Sumitomo HTRZ III luxury touring passenger tire, which was unveiled last November, is now available in 46 sizes.

Goodyear is reportedly considering building a five million unit tyre production plant in the Yaroslavl region of Russia, at a cost of between $200-250 million.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has introduced the latest addition to its Proxes line, the Proxes ST II high performance tire, which targets SUVs, sport trucks and select crossover vehicles.

Continental Tire North America Inc.'s (CTNA) General brand has been named the official tire of the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing, starting this year.

Michelin North America Inc.'s Spartanburg, S.C., plant is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The factory manufactures tires for commercial trucks and United States military vehicles.

[[Kumho]] Tire Co. Inc. has broken ground on a new research and development center in Young-In, South Korea. The facility is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.

Ford Motor Co. named Hankook Tire Co. as one of its top suppliers, presenting the tiremaker with its World Excellence Award.

Continental Tire North America says it will raise prices on all of its medium and heavy truck tire tires by up to 8% as of July 1.

Bloomberg has reported that Bridgestone Corp. and Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. will buy stakes in each other and work together on raw material procurement and production issues.

Amid a slow economy, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. put out the word it is hiring.

Hankook Tire America Corp. has teamed up with Primetime Race Group. As part of the agreement, Hankook will serve as the team's official tire supplier for competition in the American Le Mans Series.

Continental Tire North America officially opened its new off road tire test track at its Uvalde Texas test center.

Firestone Industrial Products Company LLC (FSIP) will open a new air spring manufacturing plant in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

On May 12, Hayes Lemmerz International announced the planned closure of its aluminium wheel manufacturing facility in Gainesville, Ga. by the end of this year.

Cooper Tire & Rubber has reportedly ceased production of its Starfire associate tyre range in North America, and the company may further reduce the number of brands it sells.

Michelin has announced that it will run a live, full size demonstration its new Energy Saver tyres at the British International Motor Show at ExCel, London Docklands from 23 July to 3 August.

The Yokohama Rubber Co. announced it will carry out a fourth-phase expansion of its Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture Plant to manufacture Off-the-Road (OTR) tires for use on mining and construction vehicles.

Prices for passenger car tyres sold under the Michelin, Warrior and BF Goodrich brand names in China will rise between 3% 7%, says Michelin (China) Investment Co., Ltd.

Prices for tread rubber products charged by Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) to its franchised dealers in the U.S. have increased by up to 5%.

More Bridgestone tyres were fitted to display vehicles at the CV Show than any other brand.

Auto Express Magazine’s annual Product Honours Awards report has recognised the Goodyear HydraGrip as the ‘Best Buy’ tyre in the family car tyre market.

Continental Tyres is claiming that correctly managed fleets running on the German manufacturer’s products gain 22% more mileage in comparison with competing tyres.

The Yokohama Rubber Co. established a new overseas subsidiary, called Yokohama Rubber Latin America Comercio Ltda., in April in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Michelin is promoting its wet-braking and fuel efficiency qualities following glowing research from independent test centre, TÜV SÜD Automotive.

Bridgestone Corp. has reported an 18.4% fall in first quarter net profits, compared with the same period a year ago.

For the second consecutive year, the ContiPremiumContact 2 has received a commendation from leading consumer publication, Auto Express, as part of its Product Honours 2008 feature.

Kumho Tire USA will break ground this Monday for its planned $225 million passenger and light truck/SUV plant in Macon, Ga.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. reported net income of $1.7 million on net sales of $679 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. That compares to income of $20.7 million on sales $669 million for the same period a year ago.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. plans to hike prices on its passenger and light truck/SUV tires, effective July 1.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is raising prices on all of its consumer tires up to 8%, effective on or after June 1. Increases cover all of the company's brands.

Goodyear has launched the Kelly Armorsteel KRH, a regional tire for P&D and school bus applications.

Michelin North America’s BFGoodrich brand is the presenting sponsor and official tire of the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has rolled out forty-one new tires covering everything from economy to premium car drivers, performance car enthusiasts, to highway and hard core applications for light trucks.

Amtel-Vredestein reported that it exceeded its 2007 sales target but expected to show a loss for the year.

Continental Tire North America has redesigned its General tire Web site – www.generaltire.com.

Michelin North America has released the BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A Tour, targeting the growing crossover and small SUV market segments.

TIA has teamed with ASA Tire Systems to offer members free, professionally designed Web pages.

During the past 18 months or so Sumo Firenza has steadily increased its European profile through exhibiting at a number of international tyre exhibitions and introducing its flagship Sumo Firenza ST-08 pattern.

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire and Pirelli Tire North America both announced tire price increases that will kick in on June 1.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, which previously approved using the company’s Fuel Max linehaul tires on SmartWay tractors and trailers.

Every year Porsche recognises its 10 best performing suppliers at the Porsche Supplier Awards, and for 2008 Bridgestone has been honoured as an award recipient.

Bridgestone reports receiving highly favourable results in summer tyre tests conducted by German and Nordic region magazines.

Northern Ireland Economy Minister Nigel Dodds has announced a £14 million investment in manufacturing and staff training at Michelin’s Ballymena plant.

As was first reported here, Yokohama Rubber Co. plans build a new tire plant in India.

Pirelli Tire North America is recalling some 8,273 tires due to concerns over tread chunking, partial tread separations and/or belt edge separations, according to NHTSA.

A joint venture between Finnish tyre maker Nokian and Kazakh company Ordabasy will build a tyre plant in the Central Asian state by 2009, an Ordabasy executive told Reuters late on Tuesday.

Goodyear is launching a heavy promotional push to support its Assurance ComforTred line.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s March recall of light truck tires includes Hercules and Pro Comp models produced by the tiremaker.

Goodyear has introduced the Unisteel G149 RSA RH tire for on-highway regional service and the Unisteel G150 HSA for school bus and city or neighborhood driving.

Bridgestone-brand Dueler radials are OE on the new 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser.

Goodyear has reworked its commercial tire Web site – www.goodyear.com/truck – making it easier for fleet maintenance managers and owners to take advantage of the company’s various educational tools and data, the tiremaker said.

Finland-based tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres is planning to open a new Vianor retail outlet in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Citing continued record increases in the cost of raw materials and energy, Yokohama Tire Corp. will increase prices on its OTR tires up to 5% and on medium truck tires by 6%, effective May 2008.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Chairman and CEO Bob Keegan assured shareholders that the company is well-positioned for the future, despite economic uncertainty in 2008, at Goodyear’s annual shareholder meeting Tuesday.

Kumho’s new online dealer training program, called EDGE (Education Driving Growth and Excellence), is now available for dealers and their sales associates to use.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has rolled out the Cooper Zeon XSTA, and all-season premium sport truck tire.

Hankook Tire Corp. plans to double capacity at its tire plant in Hungary, moving from 15,000 tires to 31,000 tires per day by 2010.

Pirelli Tyre has announced a 4% to 6% price hike on tires it sells in Europe, effective Apr. 1.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s recent recall of 48,037 light truck radials includes private brand and off-take models produced for and sold by TBC, American Car Care Centers, Nokian Tyres and Sure Tire.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. was named one of America's most trustworthy companies by Audit Integrity Inc. and Forbes magazine.

In hand with growing imports of agricultural equipment and driven vehicles into Russia, Western tyre manufacturers are also becoming more active in the supply of tyres there.

(IANS) Yokohama Rubber Co. will set up a new tyre manufacturing plant in Haryana, India, worth over Rs.9 billion (around $200 million), the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) announced on Apr. 1.

Investment funding for the planned Ordabasy joint venture in Kazakhstan, the product of cooperation between Nokian Tyres and Kazakhstanian multi-industrial company Ordabasy Corporation JSC, gained approval from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan during its sitting on Mar. 28.

Czech Republic-based manufacturer Mitas a.s. is expanding its Mitas brand earthmover radial range with the addition of a 25-inch size.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced that it held an opening ceremony on February 29 for a new tire plant that the company newly constructed in Binh Duong Province in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City to begin operation of Yokohama Tire Vietnam Inc.

Jim Milhaupt has been named national vice president of sales for Kumho Tire USA, succeeding Dave Hudrlik, who left the company.

Toyo Tire USA Corp. has launched the M154TM, which it calls an “ultra-premium,” all-steel regional highway tire for commercial trucks.

Goodyear tires have been selected as OE for several of Toyota’s Corolla and Matrix models.

Amtel-Vredestein’s Russian unit has completed the sale of its Moscow Tyre Plant operations to one of the companies of Midland Resources Holding Ltd. for $77 million.

Kumho Tire U.S.A. will increase tire prices up to 10%, effective May 1, 2008.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. introduced the M137 premium high performance steer radial for long haul, over-the-highway applications, designed to deliver more miles per 32nds to operators driving coast-to-coast.

This year’s outlook for Pirelli & C SpA, according to a Mar. 26 forecast, is one in which very little growth is expected.

As the Essen show celebrates its silver jubilee (Reifen 2008 will be the 25th time the leading tyre trade exhibition has taken place), show organisers are reporting that this year’s show will be the biggest yet.

Chery Automobile Co. will spend approximately $425 million acquiring a car factory in Russia as a shortcut to strengthen its presence in the country.

Sibur Russian Tyres announced that it will not consider forming a joint venture with troubled Amtel-Vredestein NV until A-V clears up its debt problems.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is recalling some 48,000 LT-metric tires due to potential sidewall separation.

Groupe Michelin has come up with a new global scheme to deal with rising raw materials costs and tire pricing issues.

The Associated Press reported that Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. spent some $2.4 million last year on lobbying efforts, primary on fuel economy standards, energy efficiency and climate change legislation.

Bridgestone Corp. plans to boost radial aircraft tire production at its plant in Tokyo.

Michelin has launched the new Agilis Camping tyre – currently the only motorcaravan tyre on the market with an M+S marking – as part of the new Michelin Agilis range for medium and heavy vans.

Michelin has launched its new van tyre, the Michelin Agilis, whose performance can be summed up in three figures: 1, 4 and 20.

Continental AG is reportedly set to recruit another 1,350 people for its factories in Timisoara, Carei and Arad, Romania, by the end of the year.

The recent completion of Kumho’s 315,000-square-metre Vietnamese factory brings the South Korean tyre manufacturer’s global output to circa 65 million units.

Goodyear’s Dunlop brand has released the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, a summer DOT-approved street tire with a special tread compound for dry grip.

TIA announced that it is changing the name of its portion of the SEMA Show, and adopting a new headquarters hotel for the annual event.

GE Money and Michelin North America have reached a deal to provide a Michelin-branded credit card for tire consumers.

With the new ContiWinterContact TS 830, market leader Continental has achieved further progress in terms of driving safety, mileage performance and rolling resistance in a winter tire. All of this is made possible by sophisticated tread structures, modified sidewall design and new polymer compounds in the tread.

During the Pac-10 men’s basketball tournament Los Angeles, Toyo Tires presented the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award for men’s basketball.

Continental Tire presented the keys to a custom 2007 Dodge Charger to April Ingannamorte of Altamonte Springs, Fla., the grand prize winner in the “Continental Tire Power of Four” Sweepstakes.

Mexico, Russia and Vietnam are reportedly under consideration as potential sites for Hankook Tire Co.’s third facility to be built outside of South Korea.

In recent years the pendulum has begun to swing away from the "throw away" mindset dominant in western cultures, with the need to become a more sustainable society an increasingly discussed topic.

Firestone Agricultural Tire Co. announced the development of a number of new products, including the first of its new “IF” technology radials.

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire introduced the new Bridgestone M775 on/off-highway drive radial.

Continental has announced Europe-wide price increases of between 3.5% and 5% for its passenger car and van tyre product lines.

Cooper Tire’s European Technical Centre in Melksham, opened a little over a year ago, has borne its first fruit – the all-new Avon Tyres ZV5 range.

Continental hikes tyre prices in Europe by 3.5-5 pct on high raw material costs.

Michelin North America has added to its X One super wide line with the new X One XZY3, an all-position tire for on/off-road applications.

At this year’s Tire Technology Expo, held in Cologne, Germany, a new series of awards acknowledging excellence in the tyre industry was launched, and Bridgestone was named the inaugural “Tyre Manufacturer of the Year.”

Continental Tire North America will soon launch its Ultimate Adventure consumer sweepstakes, with a top prize of a new customized Range Rover Sport.

Pirelli has already indicated a willingness to place a greater focus upon its thriving tyre business, and this emphasis is apparently being paired by a withdrawal from less profitable undertakings.

The inaugural Tire Technology International Awards forInnovation and Excellence were presented at the recent Tire Technology Expo, in Cologne and there was a marked emphasis on environmentally friendly technologies and products.

The new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will ride on Goodyear tires.

In its first look forward at 2008, the RMA expects overall tire shipments to remain “at or near levels reached in 2007,” boosted by projected replacement market gains.

Continental Tire North America’s General brand will be the title sponsor of the revived General Tire Mint 400 Race.

New tyres lower rolling resistance. Goodyear has presented its latest generation of RunOnFlat tyre technology, which the company says will offer numerous benefits to both the consumer and the environment, including improved comfort, reduced mass and rolling resistance, increased fuel economy as well as reduced CO2 emission levels.

The latest product from Toyo Tires is the new Proxes R888 SG Soft compound racing tyre, which has been specifically designed for use at Sprint/Hill climb or Short Tarmac speed events.

Dutch tyre manufacturer Vredestein has become the latest company to join TyreSafe.

As it was reported, Kumho Tire Co., Inc., held a ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of its new factory in Vietnam on March 5, 2008 , in Binh Duong Province.

DUNLOP Race Academy is calling on 2005 winner and Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup champion Simon Shaw to coach this year's rookies and help find a racing star of the future.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. has introduced new sizes to two of its top lines.

F1's tyre supplier Bridgestone are set to use all four tyres compounds within the first nine grands prix of this season.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will shut down its radial truck tire production for six days during the Easter holiday because of a slowdown in commercial truck tire sales.

Rhodia Silcea announced a 12% price increase in global prices for its precipitated silica range.

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. combined its wheel products and auto and truck units into a new unit called Wheel and Transportation Products.

Kumho Tire Co. has opened its new passenger tire plant in Vietnam, and unveiled plans to rapidly expand the new facility.

Maxxis International is now a sponsor of the New York Yankees.

The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres, Yokohama HPT Ltd, has announced several key new original equipment fitments in the Japanese manufacturer’s range for the UK market.

Uniroyal has unveiled its new RainSport 2 tyre, which the company says follows in the footsteps of the of the RTT 1, RTT 2 and Rainsport 1.

Thomson Financial reported this morning that Pirelli SpA will pay 850 million euros to buy back 38.9% share in its tire business.

Canadian TPMS maker SmarTire Systems Inc. said it has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Siemens VDO Automotive Corp., now part of [[Continental]] AG.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co plans to hold its 8th Engineering Career Day for Young Women at the company’s Akron headquarters on Apr.19.

At a time when many U.S. firms in the auto industry are bleeding red ink and filing for bankruptcy, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. gave investors a reason to cheer yesterday.

This new premium retread tyre is a full bead to bead retread giving it the appearance of a new tyre and has a tread depth of 18mm enabling it to deliver exceptional mileage performance and reliability.

Bridgestone is to present its Total Fleet Tyre Management program at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, held at the NEC in April.

Michelin North America is increasing prices on its Michelin and BFGoodrich brand medium truck tires sold in the U.S. by as much as 8%.

Bridgestone Americas Holding’s Firestone Liberia plantation unit has opened the first phase of its effort to process rubber wood.

Hankook Tire Co. has announced plans to raise its prices 5% from this month.

Automechanika Thailand, the leading international trade fair for the automotive parts, components and aftermarket industry in Thailand, opens next week from March 6-9 at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, Bangkok.

The ContiCrossContact UHP from Continental Tire North America (CTNA) is ranked No. 1, and the General Tire Grabber UHP is a close second, in an online consumer satisfaction survey of street/sport truck summer tires conducted by The Tire Rack.

Kumho Tire will provide tires for the LG Motorsports/3 Dimensional Services/Riley Technology Corvette in the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series for the 2008 season.

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres, the world's only specialist aircraft tyre manufacturer, today announced it has begun preliminary ground work investigations and held a traditional stone-laying ceremony on the site of its new retreading facility in China.

Pirelli’s new Cinturato P4, launched in January, and the Pirelli P6, have come up trumps in tyre tests conducted by consumer magazine "Which?".

Michelin Energy Saver has been voted Tire Technology of the Year at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence.

The new Michelin Energy Saver is the Company’s fourth generation of “green” car tyres that replaces the existing Energy range.

Rhodia announces the formation of a new company to manage the construction and subsequent operation of its planned silica facility in China. Details of this major new plant, dedicated to the production of high performance precipitated silica in China, were previously released last November in Shanghai.

On Feb. 27 Bridgestone publicly released details of a recent patent infringement case in China.

Kumho’s long awaited breakthrough in the area of civil aviation arrived on Feb. 19.

Top tire maker Goodyear is in final talks to invest more than $1 billion in a manufacturing plant near the Chinese city of Dalian this year, the city's mayor told Reuters on Thursday.

Allied Waste Industries Inc. tapped Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire and Bridgestone Bandag as preferred suppliers of new and retreaded radial truck and OTR tires.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. posted 2007 sales of $2.9 billion, up 13.9% vs. 2006, while net income reached $120 million, up from 2006’s loss of $78 million.

Kumho Tire USA is now working on a tire development program for the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

Goodyear has signed a three-year deal to supply tires and tire management support to Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced that the Tokyo Customs Office, as of January 18, 2008, accepted the company’s application for import injunction of counterfeit products of its DNA S. drive high-performance tires for passenger cars due to a charge that the counterfeit products infringing Yokohama Rubber’s design rights were sold in Japan.

The 2008 Pontiac G8 performance sedan will use Bridgestone Potenza RE050 À ultra-high performance tires as standard equipment on the G8 GT model and optional equipment on the car's base offering, both in size 245/45R18.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the long-term rating of Continental AG and its units to 'Baa2' following the company’s marked increase in debt and leverage resulting from the 11.4 billion euro acquisition of the Siemens VDO unit.

Goodyear Dunlop UK has taken delivery of new machinery at its Next Tread truck tyre retreading plant in Wolverhampton.

Continental has relaunched its ContiNetwork UK commercial vehicle tyre retail operation.

Bridgestone Corporation is pleased to announce that it will exhibit products for the first time at The 4th Eco-Products International Fair 2008 (EPIF 2008), which will be held for four days in Hanoi, Vietnam from March 1 through March 4, 2008.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that it will ask Polish tire company TC Debica – in which it is the majority shareholder – to nearly triple its commercial tire production for Goodyear from 1,700 to 5,000 tires per day.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and PZU today announced an agreement that will significantly enhance the value of Polish tire company TC Debica for all of its shareholders and allow for greater transparency to and input from investors.

A material that is able to self-repair even when it is sliced in two has been invented by French researchers with Dr Ludwik Leibler.

Pirelli’s new Scorpion tyres will make their first appearance on the opening gravel event of this year's World Rally Championship.

The new Fulda EcoControl has been declared one of «Which?» Magazines Best Buy tyres, ranking in the top three in the Supermini tyre test.

An increase in the share capital of Nokian Tyres, totalling 186,884 euros, was entered into the Trade Register on February 26, 2008.

Kumho Tire Co., Korea’s second-largest tire manufacturer, will supply high-performance tires to Daimler AG.

Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) will add 26 sizes to its General Altimax Arctic winter tire line this year, CTNA officials announced earlier today at a ride-and-drive event near Montreal, Quebec.

Yet another new chapter in the history of Apollo Tyre’s impressive growth was written on February 25 at a foundation stone laying ceremony for the company's new OTR tyre production facility.

Goodyear/Dunlop will be using the 2008 Commercial Vehicle Show (15-17 April) to launch its innovative Goodyear Max Technology ranges to the UK market.

On February 22 the Pirelli Group signed an agreement to collaborate with Italy’s Piedmont Region, Turin Province, the Municipality of Settimo Torinese and the Politecnico di Torino University in the development of programmes for research and innovation; specifically, the agreement covered the building of a new Pirelli industrial complex in the territory of Settimo Torinese.

Korean tyre giant Kumho established its European base in Frankfurt, Germany in January 1978, so is now celebrating 30 years on the continent. The company's total European sales for 2008 are expected to exceed $1/2 billion.

Firestone Liberia has signed an Amended and Restated Concession Agreement with the government of Liberia.

Hankook Tire intends to increase its operating profit by 32% this year, a target it will reach through the increased sale of high performance tyres and by raising prices to counter higher raw materials costs.

At its South African operations Continental Tyre SA has, over the course of three years, introduced a range of schemes that have seen power consumption reduced by 10%. The company recently shared details of its activities in this area.

Swiss based alloy wheel manufacturer Uniwheels has announced it intends to purchase the European interests of Germany’s ATS Group.

Groupe Michelin announced prices increases for European customers. The 3.5% increases on consumer tires are set to take effect between Mar. 15 and July 1.

Millions of drivers could be unwittingly endangering lives this winter by driving on perilously bald tires, reveals research by Brake and Green Flag.

Continental AG is boasting its sixth consecutive year of record sales and earnings figures in 2007, and the company’s Executive Board chairman has expressed confidence this favourable pattern will continue.

Michelin’s full year 2007 results were “good,” according to a Deutsch Bank analyst note.

Hankook Tire’s share price has “jumped” 5.4% following an upgrade from Morgan Stanley.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) has added the new Bridgestone Duravis M700 HD to its Duravis line of heavy-duty light truck and commercial tires.

Maxxis International - U.S.A. has introduced the Victra MA-Z4S, an ultra-high performance, all-season tire.

Tyre producer Amtel-Vredestein NV said, in response to press speculation last week, that production at its Amtel-Povolzhye tyre complex was resumed on Feb. 15, due to a temporary suspension in the supply of raw materials.

Continental announced they will move their corporate headquarters for Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) from Charlotte, N.C., to Lancaster County, S.C., in 2009.

The City of Danville has issued a building permit for an expansion at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant on Goodyear Boulevard.

Full year 2007 financial results for Bridgestone Corp. were released on January 19, and these figures paint a picture of a healthy year’s trading.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Mickey Thompson unit has added four new 18-inch sizes to its ET Street Radial line.

Speedtv.com has reported that a deal has been reached to merge the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series.

In a statement dated Feb. 18, Groupe Michelin “expressed its satisfaction” following an agreement reached between the company and labour unions.

Bridgestone Corp. claimed a 55% increase in net income for 2007, to $1.2 billion, against sales of $31.5 billion for the year.

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. has released details of business performance for the first three quarters of the financial year ending Mar. 31, 2008.

Titan Tire said it has produced its first prototype 63-inch radial OTR tire at its Bryan, Ohio, plant.

The Murfreesboro Gateway is among the sites Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. is considering to relocate an Akron, Ohio, technical center, said a local official.

A number of global tyre majors are making their presence felt in India’s tyre market, a market valued by the Business Standard financial newspaper at Rs 190 billion (£2.44 billion).

According to Deutsche Bank’s Equity Research Automotive Group, the dismal year for winter tyres experienced by our German neighbours may well be repeated in 2008.

It is now less than a month before Tyrexpo Africa 2008 gets underway in Johannesburg, and recent figures tell of an even healthier show than the debut exhibition in 2006.

Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. will soon be launching the Nitto NT850 Premium luxury touring tire that will offer all-season performance for a variety of luxury vehicle types such as the Toyota Camry SE, Acura TSX, Infiniti G35 Sedan and VW Jetta.

It appears as if Continental plans to reduce the workforce at its VDO automotive electronic unit by 2,000 jobs.

Speedco, a unit of Bridgestone Bandag Inc., has booted Michelin branded medium truck radials from all of its truck lube and tire locations, replacing them with Bridgestone and Firestone brand tires.

Finnish manufacturer Nokian Tyres has disclosed plans to add three extra production lines to the company’s Vsevolozhsk facility in Russia rather than the previously announced two additional lines.

As the exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's three largest racing series, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. unveiled its newest advertising messages to reinforce its leadership role in NASCAR and consumer tire innovation.

Matador recently launched the MP85 Hectorra. Company representatives described the product an ultra-high performance SUV 4x4 tyre with a new high-speed summer asymmetric tread design.

In its 2007 financial results, published February 15, French tyre major Michelin has reported increased sales and a markedly higher net income than that of the previous year.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. has unveiled its current tire technology development and visions.

South Korea’s Nexen Tire plans to open an engineering research and development facility in northeast Ohio, likely somewhere in the Akron area.

Following the news that Polish retreader Mark Gum had purchased the retreading equipment and the Colway and Greenway brands, all previously owned by C-Tyres, it has been revealed that the company will build a new factory in Poland to produce the tyres.

If you talk to car tyres as you amble down the street there’s every chance that all is not right in your life.

Debica has launched a new passenger car tyre aimed at the mileage market. The Debica Passio 2 summer tyre is the latest addition to the Passio product line, which is one of the most popular summer tyres in Poland, according to the Polish manufacturer (owned by the Goodyear group).

Michelin North America introduced the next generation of its X-Ice winter tire line, the Michelin X-Ice Xi2, earlier today, Feb. 13, at a ride-and-drive event near Montreal, Quebec.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Mickey Thompson unit has introduced two new sizes for its Pro Drag Radial.

Hankook Tire’s claim to be one of the world’s fastest growing tyre manufacturers was given a boost this week by the release of its 2007 results.

For a number of months Pirelli SpA has openly expressed its intention to buy back the 38.9% share in Pirelli Tyre that it sold to a group of six banks in 2006.

Yokohama Rubber Co. claimed an 88.1% year-over-year increase in net income, to 25.7 billion yen, through the first three quarters of its fiscal year, which ended Dec. 31, 2007.

Goodyear has announced the four finalists for its 25th annual North America Highway Hero Award.

Michelin North America's “Durable Technologies” was won the Technical Achievement Award presented by the Truck Writers of North America.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) introduced the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport today. The latest addition in the Bridgestone Potenza lineup is on display at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show in the Bridgestone Americas booth (#NH1).

A sporty new member of the Bridgestone brand family of tires made its debut today at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The Bridgestone Potenza™ G019™ Grid with UNI-T® technology will be on display through Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Chicago Auto Show in the Bridgestone Americas booth (NH1).

Toyo Tire USA Corp. has added 30 new sizes to its lines of passenger and light truck/SUV tires, including to its Proxes, Open Country and Versado products.

G-Power has claimed that its souped-up BMW M5, the 360-km/h G-Power Hurricane is the fastest in the world.

What do robots with road rage and text-messaging nutcracker dolls have in common? They were the stars of the teen-created winning videos of the 2007 Safety Scholars Video Contest sponsored by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire.

Kumho Tyres was ready to steal a march on its competitors by producing a special 18-inch Rally Raid tyre in time for the cancelled 2008 Lisbon-Dakar Rally.

As the exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's three largest series, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. unveiled the Goodyear Racing and Diversity Program, an initiative the company started to provide high school students with a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the many career paths offered through the sport of NASCAR.

Kumho established its European base in Frankfurt, Germany in January 1978; now three decades later, the South Korean tyre manufacturer is aiming to celebrate its 30th anniversary with half a billion dollars worth of European sales.

Continental will supply tires as original equipment for a variety of 2008 BMW models.