By Oliver Hall

Leading tyres company Michelin Tyre PLC has appointed a new managing director to be based at its UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent.

Eric Le Corre brings a wealth of experience of the French tyres manufacturers operations in Europe and North America after 11 years with the company, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Michelin North America, based in Greenville.

Mr Le Corre joined Michelin in 1999 and was appointed head of Michelin Group’s Investor Relations in 2000. He was responsible for relations with institutional and individual investors, including employee shareholders, and was also a member of the Michelin Group Finance and Accounting management team. He held this position until he joined Michelin North America at the end of 2005.

Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Le Corre said: “I am very pleased to be back in the UK again and to be joining Michelin UK at a time when we have important developments to look forward to in both our industrial and our sales and marketing activities.”

Mr Le Corre is taking over the position following the retirement of Jim Rickard.

By Denna Bowman

Under-inflated tyres are costing UK motorists more than £440 million, according to research carried out by a leading tyres manufacturer.

The research carried out for Michelin also revealed that not only are motorists letting poor tyre pressure affect their bank balance, but more than 370 million litres of fuel are being wasted each year.

This summer the French tyres manufacturer has been racing to the rescue of drivers who are in the dark when it comes to tyre pressures by taking its Fill Up With Air campaign around the country.

Its team offers free tyre checks to help improve safety and reduce vehicle CO2 emissions, while also helping motorists save cash.

Peter Snelling, head of communications for Michelin, said: “Based on the findings of Michelin’s 2009 campaign, if all of the cars in the UK were running on correctly inflated tyres then motorists would save more than £440 million and more than 370 million litres of fuel a year. As a result, CO2 emissions would also be reduced by almost 1 million tonnes.

“Michelin’s 2010, Fill Up With Air campaign is going to be the biggest to date with more than 50 locations included in the tour.

“It really is a matter of life and death and people should learn to check their tyres regularly and thoroughly which is what we can help them to do.

“Tyres that are under inflated can cause poor handling on the road and potentially lead to serious accidents and put lives at risk.”

Michelin is campaigning to make drivers aware that the wrong tyre pressures can mean tyres wear out more quickly as well as increasing the car’s fuel consumption. With fuel prices at an all-time high it is now more important than ever that people set their tyres to the correct pressure.

Snelling added: “It is not only the nation’s purse which is suffering but the environment too. If motorists consume less fuel by having the correct tyre pressure then they produce less CO2 emissions which is much better for the environment.”

The Fill Up with Air Roadshow is touring the UK and Ireland until October. Drivers who want to find their nearest FUWA location can log on to the Michelin website at www.michelin.com

*Figures are based on a parc of 30.3 m cars driving 12,000 miles pa at 35 mpg, with fuel costing £1.20 per litre.

By Denna Bowman

A company director who raked in more than £325,000 by illegally dumping tyres on council land illegally escaped with a lighter court sentence because his business had closed down.

Edward O’Neill pleaded guilty to illegally dumping and shredding tyres on vacant land owned by Nottinghamshire County Council.

The 57-year-old director of Robin Hood Environmental Ltd received a two year conditional discharge and was ordered to £1,500.

David Brown, lead officer for the Environment Agency’s investigation, said after last week’s sentencing: “It is important that sites comply with the rules and regulations. Where companies choose to ignore these rules we will take action through the courts.

“We have worked together with our partners in Mansfield District Council to show that neither organisation will allow companies to threaten the environment or place the public at risk.

“Had this company still being in existence the penalties would have been far greater. Other companies and individuals should take careful note of this and follow the rules.”

The court heard that O’Neill’s company owned and operated the waste disposal site in Warsop, which was next to a vacant county council plot of land.

Environment Agency inspectors told him on visits to the site he was unlawfully storing tyres and needed a waste management licence for the council-owned land. He was asked to remove the tyres but never complied.

O’Neill told agency officers he believed he owned the land, tyres had been deposited there for more than 20 years and the land was licensed.

He made no attempt to get a licence for the site, which was destroyed in a massive fire in 2009.

In mitigation Tim Green said O’Neill had been misled by a surveyors’ report mistakenly showing his company owned the council land.

But, he admitted the defendant had failed to take any steps to remove the tyres when he had been informed of this error.

By Alex Kapadia

Bridgestone has announced the compounds it will supply for the final four races of the 2010 Formula One season - its last as sole tyres supplier to the sport.

The Japanese tyres manufacturer has taken a more conservative approach to the rubber it wheels out out for the Japanese, Korean, Brazlian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix races.

The news may come as a disappointment to F1 fans who might have expected Bridgestone to make more extreme allocations, like they did for the German Grand Prix where it supplied a hard-super soft combination in the interests of the ’show’.

Instead, they have been extra cautious with the allocation for the first Korean race, opting for the soft and hard compounds, which will also be used at the preceeding Japanese GP.

The latter two races will see the use of the super-soft and medium compounds.

Hirohide Hamashima, head of motorsport tyre development for Bridgestone, said: “The most interesting question for these final allocations is which tyres will we bring to Korea? As always for a new race we work closely with the FIA, the circuit and the teams to reach o

By Denna Bowman

Organisers of the UK’s leading tyres show have announced that it is a sell-out with all exhibitor stands snapped up.

Brityrex International ‘10, which takes place in Manchester next month, will bring together tyres and equipment suppliers from around the world.

The news of the sell-out comes from show organisers ECI International and follows a run of late confirmations including SD International, Gripen Wheels, Marix UK and Ayce Systems.

Market analysts Encircle Marketing, tyre education operation TEFORS, Banner Batteries, Strongman Tools and Straightset are also believed to be taking part.

Paul Farrant, managing director of ECI, said: “I’m delighted to say we have a full house for the show with the last available stand space now sold.

“Not only will the show be around 20 per cent bigger than the last staging in 2007, it will also offer a greater breadth, range and choice of products and services for tyre and equipment buyers.”

Summarising the exhibition, which takes place between 5-7 October, Farrant added: “The breadth, range and diversity of exhibitors at this year’s show means that visitors will be able to meet potential new suppliers across almost every area of their business, from tyres and retreading to IT, recycling, tools, equipment and consumables.

“There is no other industry event which can offer so much in return for spending quality time over 3 days in the trade-only environment of Brityrex.”

By Denna Bowman

Firefighters tackled a massive blaze which broke out at a tyres storage centre in Glasgow earlier today and sent plumes of choking black smoke billowing across the south of the city.

Around 30 people were evacuated from their homes after the lock-up, which deals in scrap and old tyres, went up in flames in the Ibrox area of the city.

Seven fire engines and more than 20 firefighters were called to battle the blaze which led to major travel chaos for drivers as several roads were closed.

The Ibrox Subway station was shut down as a precaution and Glasgow Airport was also on alert as the wind was blowing the smoke in its direction.

A spokesman for BAA, which runs the airport, said: “Our duty manager was made aware of the situation, but we have been told that by the time any smoke reaches us, there will be very little. There is no adverse affect on flights this morning.”

A temporary shelter was set up for evacuated residents at Ibrox Library and Learning Centre while other people were being told to stay indoors.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police received a report of a fire at a number of lock-ups in Fairley Street near to the junction of Carmichael Street.

“Smoke from the fire is currently blowing in a south-westerly direction and as a precaution, local residents are being advised to stay indoors and keep their windows closed.”

Investigations are expected to be carried out to find out how the blaze started and whether or not it was deliberate.

By Alex Kapadia

Bridgestone have revealed that they would be happy to share the knowledge they have built up surrounding Formula One tyres during the past 13 years with the sports new supplier Pirelli.

When Bridgestone entered Formula One in 1997 they enjoyed a much smoother ride than the Italian tyres manufacturer is in for, according to Hirohide Hamashima, director of motorsport tyre development for the Japanese tyres company.

He said: “We had the advantage that we could enter step by step, because Goodyear was still there. First we had only one top team, then two and so on.

“For Pirelli it’s different because they immediately have to equip the entire field, which will be very difficult,” he added.

Hamashima revealed that Pirelli has not yet asked for any advice or involvement.

He said: “So far Pirelli has not asked for advice, because engineers are very proud, especially when it comes to the competition.

“If Pirelli would like to make use of some of our employees, it would be our pleasure. We have built up very good contacts with the teams and I would not want there to be a big confusion.

“The transition of Bridgestone to Pirelli should run as smoothly as is possible,” added Hamashima.

By Alex Kapadia

Adrian Sutil is expecting a “challenging year” ahead for Formula One as Pirelli adjusts to the sport as the new tyres supplier.

The Force India driver said the Italian tyres manufacturer is going to take a year or two to gain the necessary experience.

Pirelli is taking over from Bridgestone as the exclusive tyres supplier to F1 and has already kicked off its on-track development programme.

Sutil told Germany’s Spox: “I see it being a challenging year. It’s understandable that as a new tyre manufacturer you need to collect your experience. It’s going to be one or two years until Pirelli supplies the perfect tyre.” he predicted to Germany’s Spox.

However, the German racing driver welcomed the new challenge.

“It’s the same for everyone,” he said: “so everyone has to cope with the situation. That makes it exciting.”

Pirelli is delighted with the way its new Formula One tyres are performing after completing a successful second test at Paul Ricard last week.

And the Italian tyres manufacturer has revealed it is ahead of schedule in the development of its tyres for the 2011 season.

By Denna Bowman

The British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA) has elected David Smith as its new chairman with immediate effect.

Smith, who has been the managing director of Continental Tyres since 2007, brings with him a wealth of experience from within the tyres industry.

The BTMA is the trade association that represents the UK interests of companies manufacturing new tyres in the UK and elsewhere in the European Union.

Smith said: “I am honoured to have been elected to this key role within the tyre industry. I look forward to helping the association develop even further and ensuring that our members’ interests remain at the heart of the organisation. By delivering an increasingly effective service, I am confident that we can help our members maintain and improve their competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.”

David has worked for Continental since 2003 joining the company originally as finance director. Prior to that, David worked for a number of manufacturing businesses at both managing director and finance director level. He has also sat on the BTMA board for the last three years. In his new position, David will represent the BTMA on the board of the Tyre Industry Federation.

Smith replaces former Goodyear managing director Mark Brickhill whose two year chairmanship ended in July.

By Oliver Hall

Goodyear is set to hike the price of all its consumer tyres brands by 6 percent in the US from next month.

The new tyres prices will come into effect from 1 October 2010 and is a direct response to the escalating costs of raw materials.

A Goodyear spokesman is reported by Modern Tyre Dealer to have acknowledged that the increase will encompass all of Goodyear’s consumer tyre brands, including Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly.

Last month, Bridgestone Europe announced it was increasing the price of its consumer, commercial and specialty tyres, starting from October 2010.

Its prices will rise by three to six per cent depending on the market and product category, according to the Japanese tyres manufacturer.

Makio Ohashi, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe, said: “The increase in the cost in raw materials has continued and reached a historically high level. We have to recover some of those costs by this price increase and most probably further increases will be necessary in the coming year.”