TIA to aid dealers hit by hurricanes
BOWIE, Md.-The Tire Industry Association (TIA) will offer resource assistance to its members in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia who were affected by hurricanes Charley and Frances.
TIA members can call (800) 876-8372, extension 103 for a list of available state resources as well as information about disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and recovery assistance through the Small Business Administration (SBA).
``We wanted to do something to help our members in this time of need and felt if we offered one central resource, it could reduce the time our members would have to search for contact information,'' said Roy Littlefield, TIA's executive director. ``We hope to reduce some of their frustration by having to make one phone call instead of 10.''
Yokohama's Advan on display in Paris
TOKYO-Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. plans to promote its Advan tire line at the Paris Motor Show 2004, Sept. 25 through Oct. 10 in Paris.
Yokohama said the Advan line represents the company's ``spirit of pursuing high performance and high quality of its products.'' The tire maker also plans to introduce Advan-branded products in markets around the world.
First introduced in 1978, Advan will have its first full-fledged introduction in the European market at the Paris show, Yokohama said.
Goodyear spruces up Dunlop site
AKRON-Goodyear has improved its Dunlop Web site as part of its renewed focus on the struggling brand.
Goodyear said it improved the speed and ease of navigation on the site, www.dunloptires.com. The site covers a range of passenger and light truck tires and suggests possible fitments for cars and trucks.
The site also allows users to check tire pricing and reserve tires at local retailers. In an interview with Tire Business earlier this summer, Goodyear officials said the sales are not direct through the Akron-based tire maker, and customers are essentially reserving tires through Goodyear's TireHQ system with participating dealers.
Goodyear reported that online advertising helped cull 25 percent more visits to the Dunlop site and 208 percent more online sales leads. Dunlop ads will return to the Internet on Sept. 27.
Also as part of its plans to revamp Dunlop, Goodyear said it plans to unveil new products and marketing campaigns ahead of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November in Las Vegas.
Bridgestone Corp. probes plant fire
TOKYO-Production reportedly has resumed at Bridgestone Corp.'s truck and bus tire plant in Amagi, Japan.
A fire broke out in the plant Aug. 20 and was extinguished that day. Thirteen people suffered injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation, according to a Bridgestone statement. The cause of the fire or its damage were not immediately known.
Local media said the tire maker resumed production Aug. 25, though the company did not issue a formal statement.
The 4.07-million-sq.-ft. Amagi plant produces truck and bus radial tires with 746 employees. Capacity is listed as 12,000 units a day.
Midas, Big O select Fleet Team
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.-Midas International Inc. and Big O Tires Inc. have signed on to use Comdata Corp.'s Fleet Team online maintenance tracking system.
Brentwood-based Comdata said its Fleet Team system captures key maintenance information as customers buy services and products.
It is available for no extra cost to Midas and Big O customer fleet managers. Comdata said the system also can strengthen customer relationships and attract new customers for merchants. Big O is a subsidiary of TBC Corp.
NHTSA issues tire disposal rule
WASHINGTON-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule on the disposal of recalled tires, as required under the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act.
The rule, effective Nov. 12, requires tire makers to submit reports to NHTSA, describing their plans to ensure that recalled tires aren't re-installed on vehicles and are mostly recycled rather than landfilled.
The rule also gives manufacturers a choice of notifying dealers about their recall disposal programs either annually or during each tire recall and allows for disposal by either manufacturers or dealers at the manufacturer's option.