By Denna Bowman

Nexen has received the prestigious ‘Good Design 2011′ Award for its Winguard Sport, UHP winter tyres.

The award strengthens the Korean tyres manufacturers drive for global competitiveness, after the company won the International Forum Design Award 2010 and Good Design award from Design Korea 2011.

Lee Hyun Bong, CEO of Nexen Tyre, said: “We are extremely proud to receive the Good Design award, especially as it comes after the IF Design Award in 2011, because it shows Nexen Tyre design’s global competitiveness.

“Nexen Tyre is committed continuously to increase brand awareness in a global market, by enhancing its design capabilities.”

Good Design Award is conferred annually by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design together with The European Centre of Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.

It recognises the achievements of the best industrial and graphic designers and world manufacturers for the pursuit of extraordinary design excellence in twenty-five categories, including electronics, transportation, furniture, industrial machinery and architecture, among others.

Founded in 1950 and now in its 62nd year, Good Design is the world’s oldest and the most prestigious scheme.

Submissions to the programme are judged by panels using the highest aesthetic criteria in terms of innovative design, new technologies, shape, materials, construction, concept, function, utility, energy efficiency and sensitivity to environmental issues. Some five hundred designs from forty-eight nations were submitted for 2011.

In the ‘transport’ category, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Kia all won awards as car manufacturers but, remarkably, Nexen Tyre was the sole winner among tyre manufacturers.

Winguard Sport is universally praised for an innovative design that is inspired by a glacier; the tyre’s sidewall carries a snow-flake motive, which is highly visual, to help buyers immediately recognise the product’s main characteristics.

The product is developed to enhance driving stability in winter conditions, with asymmetric tread design which facilitates drainage and enhances anti-hydroplaning, thus improving traction and cornering performance in both wet and snowy roads.

By Denna Bowman

Frequent road using businesses are being urged to fit winter tyres to their vehicles to reduce the chance of an accident and improve their insurance premium.

Motor insurance brokers eQuoteDirect warns that road-dependant businesses with multiple vehicles are particularly vulnerable but can take certain precautions to avoid winter accidents which could end up inflating their renewal quotes.

eQuoteDirect say winter tyres can significantly reduce icy stopping distances and are the first line of defence for winter roadsters.

The company stresses that when temperatures drop below 8 degrees C, the silicon compounds in standard tyres are affected and their flexibility and resilience can be reduced. Stopping distances in snow and ice are at least 10 times greater than on dry roads.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “We can’t stress enough about the dangers of driving in winter.

“The gritting trucks only cover the major roads and it’s those icy side streets where motorists are at risk.

“If everybody can get used to preparing their vehicles for winter we should see a drop in accident figures and insurance premiums nationwide.”

Winter proofing windscreens is also recommended by the brokers. Window washer needs to have anti-freeze components inside in order to function properly. eQuoteDirect are encouraging drivers to also check if their headlights and wing mirrors have frosted over.

After all the precautionary measures have been taken, workers still need to be extra careful when driving in wintry conditions.

By Denna Bowman

The new, environmentally-friendly Nexen N’Blue ECO and HD tyres are scheduled to arrive in the European markets and many other countries during the third quarter of 2011.

The name is comprised of `N`, for `Nexen` as well as the descriptive `Blue`, a colour which gives the idea of refreshing coolness. `ECO` stands for `ecology` and `HD` for `handling`.

The N’Blue contains a special compound that includes “eco-friendly materials,” according to Nexen officials. It also contains a special tread pattern for stability, plus “a dynamically engineered tread sequence to reduce road noise.”

Both product ranges have lower fuel consumption as well as lower 
CO2 emissions, as a result of reduced rolling resistance and weight.

The environmentally-friendly N’Blue Eco and HD range has been developed specifically for Europe as a summer tyre.

The Korean firm launched the Nexen N’Blue at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year, where it also aimed to increase awareness of the brand and establish the company’s standing as an international tyre manufacturer.

By Denna Bowman

Nexen tyres is targeting the European luxury SUV market with its latest high-performance products for the premium segments.

The Korean tyres manufacturer is already very successful in the US market, thanks to its wide range of SUV tyres.

Now it is targeting the large, luxury SUV segment across Europe with the likes of its Roadian HP, in the size 325/35R28: the largest Roadian HP, specially developed for tuned SUVs or high-performance recreational vehicles.

The directional profile design combines V-shaped centre ribs with straight profile sections in the wide shoulder block, providing constant lateral control. The tyre offers remarkable braking and handling features on both dry and wet surfaces, reducing the risk of aquaplaning.

Produced in Korea, the Roadian HP 325/35R28 is approved for speeds up to 149mph (240 km/h), with a V speed rating.

The Roadian HP is internationally available in sizes from 16” to 28” and in widths from 215 to 325 mm, with H and V speed rating.

Nexen Tyre presented its Roadian HP 325/35R28 at the Tuning World Bodensee 2011, in Germany, at the beginning of May, when a set of the 28” version were fitted to a Hummer belonging to Nexen’s associate CFC (Car Film Components Germany).

Nexen is delighted it’s become the first Korean tyres manufacturer to be issued with an AEO - that’s an Authorised Economic Operator - certificate by the country’s custom authorities.

This will make it easier for them to export their tyres around the world, because it streamlines customs regulations and is therefore a valuable tool to faster and more reliable customs checks.

Coupled with the FTA certificate, which documents the origin of an export product, which was granted to Nexen in November 2010, these two certifications, the company expects to increase its export competitiveness by simplifying the customs procedure and saving both time and costs.

Since 70% of all Nexen products are exported, Nexen was keen to obtain the certificate and carried out all necessary preparations within a year, thus managing to fulfil all the requirements in a short period of time.

Hyunjong Lee, Director of the Business Management Division of Nexen, said: “The AEO status increases our competitiveness in the export area, and provides the necessary impulse for Nexen’s expansion in the global market”.

“We will continue to do everything necessary to supply our customers throughout the world quickly and
reliably with Nexen quality products.”

Denna Bowman

By Denna Bowman

Nexen has introduced a new summer tyre offering high-performance with smooth-run features.

According to the Korean tyres manufacturer, the profile of the new CP661 (TR) tyres provide not only noticeable energy savings, but also excellent handling on both wet and dry surfaces.

John Bosco Kim, Managing Director Nexen Tyre Europe GmbH, says: “These tyres will offer European customers a good alternative in terms of fuel saving.”

The four wide longitudinal tread grooves help expel large quantities of water, while the central double rib ensures permanent contact with the road and good steering performance even at high speeds. The 5-random-pitch design developed by Nexen also significantly reduces the rolling noises.

The CP661 (TR) range includes twenty-five sizes (from 13” to 17”), with aspect ratios between 55 and 70.

The new tyre is made at the Nexen production facilities in Korea and China. A CP661 version is currently fitted as the OE tyre of the KIA Soul and the KIA Forte model.

Personal recommendations are the best form of promotion for any business, and these days with so many social network sites, forums and chatrooms, it has never been easier for people to voice their views.

We are delighted that so many of our tyres customers choose to give their feedback, like James on the popular Mercedes-Benz Owners club forum.

A regular poster, this is what James99 had to say about etyres this morning: “I thought I’d just leave some feedback on my first experience with ETyres in case anyone is considering using them. Ordered 4 Falkens on their site Saturday evening for fitting Monday. Sunday afternoon a guy from ETyres phoned, explained they were out of stock, so I could either wait or fit some others. I chose Nexens (I’d seen decent reviews of them) and they would be fitted Monday at no extra charge to the Falkens (their usual price for the Nexens is £14 more each than the Falkens).

“9.30am Monday, they rang to give an hour slot when they expected to arrive. Fitter arrived as scheduled, very polite and seemed to know what he was doing. And importantly to me, he took decent care of my alloys. Hand tools used for the nuts, and each torqued to the Mercedes spec - last one while I watched as it’s one of the things on their sign off sheet. Air pressures were correct too according to the book.

“It could be different in other branches (I’m in Orpington, Kent) but I’m really impressed and would certainly use them from now on. Good prices too and saves a trip to a fitters.”

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Denna Bowman

Nexen has won the coveted international iF Product Design Award 2011 for two of its tyres.

The Korean tyres manufacturer, which exports to more than 120 countries worldwide, received the prestigious award for the N8000 UHP summer tyre and the Winguard Sport winter tyre.

It was up against tough competition in a field with 2,756 products from 1,121 registered participants in 43 countries.

John Bosco Kim, managing director of Nexen Tyre Europe, welcomed the plaudit and said: “For us, design prizes are among our most important distinctions.

“Design does not just play a role in the appearance of tyres; the profile is the most important element for the functionality of a tyre.

“This prize from an international jury shows that Nexen is also among the leading tyre manufacturers when it comes to research and development.

“For us, the iF design award 2011 is above all a commitment and incentive to further improve our products on an ongoing basis.”

The N8000 has an asymmetric tread design and transverse grooves. The Winguard Sport features special grooving for better handling on snow, and its streamlined transverse grooves improve handling in wet conditions.

The accolade from Germany’s International Forum Design was first introduced in 1954 and is awarded upon the merits of a product’s design, technology, degree of innovation and brand value potential.

By Alex Kapadia

Pirelli tyres are reported to be seriously considering racing ace Kimi Raikkonen to test its new tyres for Formula One.

It has emerged that the Italian company will supply two sets of tyres to each team at a special Abu Dhabi test immediately after November’s season finale.

However, Pirelli is also keen to do some testing before then, and - after initially running with a GP2 car - is considering using either an old BMW or Toyota car.

As for the driver, Nick Heidfeld had been touted, but this might have handed an unfair advantage to Mercedes.

According to Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Pirelli’s racing boss Paul Hembery proposed in Valencia that Finn racer Raikkonen could be an option.

The 2007 world champion left Ferrari at the end of last year and currently drives full-time in the Pirelli-shod world rally championship.

His manager Steve Robertson said: “Currently, Kimi is totally focused on what he is doing.

“But if Pirelli approaches us, of course we will discuss it. Then, it would depend on whether Kimi is interested in this sort of challenge, and how it would fit into his schedule,” he added.

By Denna Bowman

US motorists have been hit another wave of tyres manufacturers who have announced they are set to hike prices.

Nexen tyres will apply an 8 per cent price increase on all warehouse orders and June factory direct container production. The increase will apply to all sizes and patterns.

John Aben, Nexen’s vice president of sales and marketing, says the decision to raise tyre prices was based on “the rapid cost increase of raw materials and ocean freight.

Kumho will raise prices on all its passenger and light truck tyres up to 8 per cent from 1 June.

The company stated: “The unprecedented increase in raw material costs over the past few months have made it necessary for Kumho to implement this increase.”

The following month, Pirelli will increase replacement passenger and light truck tyre prices by 4 per cent effective from 1 July.

Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental and Hankook have already announced similar price rises.