Cooper, Alcoa announce recalls WASHINGTON—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is recalling 1,683 Cooper Trendsetter SE, Mastercraft and Hercules tires, size P225/70R15, manufactured in August and September 1998.
These tires may lack proper rubber coverage of the belt edge, causing the ply cords to break and the tubeless liner to tear, Cooper said.
Also, Aluminum Co. of America is recalling 88,394 Alcoa LTS and Alcoa Classic light truck wheels, because fatigue cracks can occur in the outboard bead seat area, causing tires to leak air.
Tires Plus hires Sears executive
BURNSVILLE, Minn.—Team Tires Plus has named Kyle Kennedy as vice president (head coach) of retail operations.
Mr. Kennedy previously served with the Sears Tire Group as senior director of sales and marketing. Prior to that he also served as vice president of sales with National Tire Wholesale (now National Tire and Battery), which he expanded to $400 million a year in sales.
Boyds Wheels agrees to plan
STANTON, Calif.—Boyds Wheels Inc. has emerged from Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection by confirming a joint plan of reorganization before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
The plan, accepted by 85 percent of Boyds Wheels' creditors, calls for the Automotive Performance Group to infuse approximately $2 million to recapitalize Boyds Wheels and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hot Rod by Boyds.
Automotive Performance will take an 80-percent controlling interest.
Boyds Wheels said it will resume its manufacturing activities, most likely by outsourcing production to Asia.
The plan also includes provisions for its 300 creditors to receive 17 percent of the company's publicly traded stock.
The firm's 3,500 equity holders also will retain 3 percent of Boyds Wheels' stock.
BFS taps Cicero to head BFOR
NASHVILLE,Tenn.—Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has promoted Emanuele ``Manny'' Cicero to president of Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Co. (BFOR), effective Jan. 11.
Mr. Cicero, 43, replaces Robert J. McNally, who has been named vice president of business process and information technologies.
Mr. Cicero, who previously had served as vice president of sales and marketing for the off-road unit, joined BFS in 1984 as a territory sales manager in New York. He performed several sales and marketing management functions before being named director of the off-the-road division in 1992.
In 1994, Mr. Cicero served as executive director of sales, marketing and customer service for BFOR.
Magazine ranks Michelin tire best
GREENVILLE, S.C.—Automobile Magazine named the Michelin XGT V4 as best all-season performance tire in its December issue.
The publication conducted tests in three phases, including subjective ride tests, stopping distance tests and maximum handling performance tests on a two-mile racing circuit.
Six tire brands were tested. The Michelin XGT V4 ``was the easiest tire to drive,'' according to the magazine.
All tires were tested on a 1999 Ford Contour SVT with 16-inch alloy wheels.
Cooper finalizes Dean Tire deal
FINDLAY, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. completed its previously announced purchase of Louisville, Ky.-based Dean Tire & Rubber Co. Jan. 4.
Cooper bought ownership of the Dean brand and will service Dean distributors and dealers directly from its Findlay headquarters.
John Fitzgerald, former Dean vice president of marketing, will head the Dean division from an office in Louisville.