Truck tires recalled from GTY plant
AKRON-Continental Tire North America Inc., Yokohama Tire Corp. and Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp. are recalling a batch of truck tires produced by GTY Tire Co., the companies' joint venture facility in Mount Vernon, Ill.
Conti is recalling 50 Continental and General truck tires, Yokohama is recalling 69 tires, and Toyo is recalling 24 truck tires-for a total of 143 tires.
The affected tires were all produced from Dec. 12 to Dec. 18 and were isolated shortly after production, limiting the distribution. They all have a DOT code ending with 5004.
The companies said the defective tires contain a non-specified compound in the shoulder area of the tire. During extended running, the shoulder area of the tire could lift, resulting in degraded ride and handling. No accidents or tire failures have been reported.
Yokohama said it will replace the affected tires at no cost through July 31. Toyo will replace the tires at no charge if received by Aug. 7. Conti also will replace the tires for free.
More information on the recalled tires is available at www.yokohama.com/recall or by calling (800) 722-9888. Toyo said to call Yellow Corp. for freight information at (800) 459-7834, or Toyo at (800) 442-8696. Conti said to call (800) 847-3349 for more information.
Michelin recalls 20,000 BFG tires
OPELIKA, Ala.-Michelin North America Inc. will recall about 20,000 BFGoodrich Land Terrain tires in the U.S. and Canada that were produced with molds that did not have treadwear indicators.
Michelin said the recalled tires-size P235/75R15-were produced using two molds provided by a supplier that did not have the required indicators, which permit motorists to tell when the tires need to be replaced. The tire maker said the issue does not affect the performance of the tires.
The recalled tires were produced last year in Opelika from Feb. 29 to Aug. 19. They have DOT codes beginning with ``DOT AN HL B411'' and ending with the last four digits 0904 through 3304. The mold numbers are 40381 and 40382.
Michelin said the issue has been corrected, and consumers who bought the tires will receive new tires free of charge. Consumers may call (877) 788-8899 for more information.
TIA introduces ambassador program
BOWIE, Md.-The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has launched an Ambassador Program, aimed at recruiting TIA members to work with international tire dealers.
The program was announced at the Ontario Tire Dealers Association's annual meeting Jan. 28 in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
TIA plans to recruit 100 TIA members from the U.S., Canada and other countries to host international tire dealer visitors, show them their stores, discuss their markets and share business techniques.
TIA ambassadors will be listed on the association's Web site, www.tireindustry.org. People interested in the program also can sign up on the site or call Paul Hyatt, president of Superior Tire Corp. in Toronto, at (416) 291-9291.
Carlisle Tire's sales up 19%
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Carlisle Tire & Wheel Co.'s sales grew 19 percent last year, on both organic growth and the positive effects of the acquisition of specialty lawn and garden tire and wheel maker Trintex in August.
Carlisle Companies Inc. does not break out Carlisle Tire's sales separately, but the firm's Industrial Components division-which includes Carlisle Tire-reported sales of $727.2 million and operating earnings of $61.1 million.
Based on reliable estimates, the unit's tire sales would be in the range of $300 million. Increased sales were particularly noticeable in commercial and consumer power equipment lawn care products and ATV tires and wheels, Carlisle said.
Bandag's sales up 3% in 4th quarter
MUSCATINE, Iowa-A 9-percent decline in North American unit volume-partially from the loss of the Yellow Roadway Corp. business-impacted Bandag Inc.'s net sales in the fourth quarter, though sales also were positively influenced by quick-service lube business Speedco Inc.
Bandag reported net sales of $232.8 million in the quarter, up 3.1 percent from $225.7 million in 2003. Net sales for the year hit $854.2 million, up 4.6 percent from $816.4 million in 2003. Bandag also reported net income of $30.8 million in the fourth quarter, a 5.8-percent increase from $29.1 million. For the year, net income rose 11.1 percent to $66.9 million vs. $60.2 million the prior year.
Bandag said Speedco, which it acquired in the first quarter of 2004, contributed $16.9 million to fourth quarter sales and $55.1 million overall in 2004. Sales also were positively impacted by about $6.5 million from currency translation.
However, the company's tread shipments in the fourth quarter were down about 10 percent from factors including the loss of business from trucking fleet operator Yellow Roadway, European and Brazilian dealers buying ahead of third quarter price increases and fewer dealers in some markets. But Bandag said its full-year volume was down by less than 1 percent.
TRMG to sponsor retread contest
BOWIE, Md. -The Tread Rubber and Repair Materials Manufacturers Group (TRMG) will sponsor the Retread Appearance Contest at this year's World Tire Expo.
The expo, April 20-22 in Louisville, Ky., is sponsored by the Tire Industry Association. TRMG will award $500 to each of the ``best in show'' winners in four categories, including passenger/light truck, mold cure truck, precure truck and specialty/OTR. The winners also will receive a framed ribbon.
Retreaders interested in participating can download information from TIA's Web site, www.tireindustry.org, or call (800) 876-8372, ext. 106. Applications must be received by March 31, and the tires must be received in Louisville by April 8.
Yokohama reports fiscal 3rd qtr. results
TOKYO-Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. suffered a slight drop in operating income through three quarters of its fiscal year, despite a doubling of operating profits in North America.
For the period ended Dec. 31, Yokohama reported a 2.2-percent drop in operating income to $162.3 million as higher prices of raw materials and rising selling, general and administrative costs offset gains in other areas. Net income fell 6.9 percent to $75.1 million because of inventory losses and a loss on devaluation of investment securities.
Corporate sales increased 3 percent from a year earlier, to $2.84 billion, with Tire Division sales rising 4.3 percent to $2.09 billion on solid overseas business, especially in North America, Europe and Asian countries outside of Japan, the Tokyo-based tire maker said.
In North America, Yokohama's operating income rose 132.8 percent to $13.6 million while sales grew 4.6 percent to $491.5 million.
Management is sticking to its earlier full-year projections of gains of 4.6 percent and 9.1 percent for sales and operating income, respectively, while net income should come about 3.2 percent shy of the fiscal 2004 mark.
Calif. judge denies Steeltex class action
INDIO, Calif.-A California Superior Court judge again has denied certification of a class-action lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone for alleged defects in Firestone Steeltex radial light truck tires.
The attorneys who filed the class action simply never identified a single, common design defect between 103 different populations of Steeltex tires, Judge Christopher J. Sheldon of the Indio court explained in a notice Jan. 31, three days after he made his ruling against certification.
BFS said it is pleased but not surprised by the judge's decision, adding it agreed with Judge Sheldon that the plaintiffs never presented adequate evidence to support certification of a class action.
A team of lawyers led by Pasadena. Calif., attorney Joseph L. Lisoni filed the class-action suit in August 2002, claiming Steeltex tires are inherently prone to tread separation and seeking the court-ordered recall of some 30 million tires. Judge Sheldon denied certification in March 2004.