Trial set for suit against Toyo
SAN DIEGO-A trial date of Jan. 29 has been set in San Diego Superior Court for the lawsuit of Toyo de Baja California Inc. against Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd., Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp. and Toyo International Corp.
Toyo de Baja California, former sole Mexican distributor of Toyo tires, seeks unspecified damages against the parent company and its subsidiaries for canceling Toyo de Baja California's contract Dec. 31, 2003, after Toyo decided it wanted to distribute its tires in Mexico directly.
Robert Scoular, a Los Angeles attorney representing Toyo, said the tire maker has a standing policy not to discuss pending litigation.
FordDirect offering NitroFill products
POMPANO BEACH, Fla.-Nitrogen tire inflation systems distributor Kreska Technologies Inc. has agreed to supply more than 4,500 FordDirect dealers with NitroFill-brand nitrogen generators and inflation products.
FordDirect is an online vehicle shopping site owned jointly by Ford Motor Co. and its franchised Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover dealers. The agreement gives these dealerships special pricing and billing options.
Kreska President Jay Lighter declined to elaborate on the contract but said Ford has been a NitroFill customer for some time. He also said Kreska will release more details about the deal in October.
Other NitroFill customers include the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, AutoNation and NASCAR, among others.
The company distributes NitroFill for manufacturer Pneumatech Inc. in Kenosha, Wis.
Titan inks 5-year supply agreement
QUINCY, Ill.-Titan Tire Corp. and Titan Wheel Corp., subsidiaries of Titan International Inc., have signed a five-year wheel and tire supply agreement with Grove U.S. L.L.C., maker of mobile hydraulic, truck mounted and industrial cranes.
``Titan is happy to partner with Grove, a company known for strong, reliable lifting solutions, in this long-term commitment,'' said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor Jr. ``The General OTR tire brand is a leader in the crane industry, and Titan's wheels are the best in the business. Grove's customers will benefit from quality equipment, paired with leading American-made Titan assemblies.''
Titan expanded its off-highway tire business with the acquisition of Continental Tire North America Inc.'s Bryan, Ohio, off-the-road tire facility on July 31.
Michelin offers trucking club
GREENVILLE, S.C.-Michelin North America Inc. is inviting truckers who purchase its X One super-single tire to join ``The One Club.''
The One Club is a way for X One tire users to ensure that they receive the most recent X One product updates, technical information, maintenance tips and other information from Michelin.
After completing the registration process, new members of the club receive a free X One Special Edition collectible model truck mounted with X One tires. Other rewards also are available to club members.
Yokohama hires advertising agency
FULLERTON, Calif.-Yokohama Tire Corp. has selected Kovel-Fuller Inc. to handle assignments for the tire maker's advertising strategy, creative development, media planning, media buying, point-of-sale and other marketing functions.
The Culver City, Calif.-agency will cover Yokohama's consumer, commercial and off-the-road divisions.
``Making the Advan name stronger in the U.S. will be a central part in our marketing strategy, and having Kovel-Fuller at our side to do just that primes us better for another period of substantial growth,'' said Jim Mayfield, director of the Advan brand for Fullerton-based Yokohama.
Petro:Lube adds BFGoodrich tires
GREENVILLE, S.C.-Petro Stopping Centers L.P. has extended its business arrangement with Michelin Americas Truck Tires (MATT), agreeing to add the tire maker's BFGoodrich truck tires and Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) retreads to the line of Michelin new truck tires already carried at its 60 Petro:Lube service centers in the U.S.
Petro:Lube is adding BFGoodrich tires and MRT retreads on a store-by-store basis, Michelin said. Petro:Lube expects to have 65 locations selling these tires and retreads by year-end, with plans to open approximately five new locations per year the next few years.
El Paso, Texas-based Petro offers preventive maintenance, tire sales and repair and light-duty truck repair.