Companies in North Staffordshire have been offered a challenge by Michelin Development Ltd in an attempt to spark a wave of new start-ups and business developments.

Michelin Development is the business development section of Michelin Tyre plc, and it offers existing or prospective businesses funding and advice in order to create work in four regions of the UK. The regions, all of which have historical links with the tyre company, are East Lancashire, North Staffordshire, Dundee and Ballymena. Two years ago North Staffordshire was the leading job creator within the Michelin Development portfolio, today the region is firmly in last place. No jobs have been created within the region this year, while in East Lancashire the scheme looks set to create 200 new jobs this year.

Mike Cole, director of Michelin Development, has issued a challenge to North Staffordshire entrepreneurs, asking them to create 200 new positions in the coming year. He said: “We issue this challenge as we want to see a North Staffordshire renaissance, returning to the times when the region accounted for almost half of the jobs created by our fund. East Lancashire is a wonderful example of what can be achieved, particularly when you consider that demographically it’s a very similar region to North Staffordshire. This leads us to question, what is holding back North Staffordshire? Given this situation we today call on entrepreneurs in North Staffordshire to take up the challenge, realise their business dreams and make the region the flagship area once again.”

Michelin Development is part of a European initiative aimed at small businesses, and forms the core of Michelin’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme. During the last five years, the programme has helped over 100 new businesses in a range of industries in the form of offers of unsecured loans at Bank of England base rate and the supply of free business advice. Next year they hope to loan another £1 million and create 250 more jobs.

During the recent GT event at Thruxton race track, engineers from the Avon Tyre Crew hosted schoolchildren as part of the Young Engineers initiative. The scheme is designed to promote engineering and to encourage youngsters to study engineering through to a high level.

The engineers talked to the children about the importance of engineering and illustrated the career development available within the discipline. The 19 11-year old children, from All Saints Junior School in Hastings, saw a spectacular array of GT cars, including Ferraris, Porsches and Aston Martins, and learnt of the important contribution tyre design makes to all forms of racing. Avon, who are company sponsors of the British GT Championships, supply the tyres for all the cars in the GT and for the British Formula 3, Formula Ford and Caterham Superlight championships.

Brian Davies, British GT Sales Manager at Avon Tyres, and Gavin Johnson, the company’s Technical Engineer, were available to discuss the importance of different tyre compounds and pressures. They also explained the logistical nightmare of changing 1,000 tyres over a single race weekend.

The children’s teacher, Faith Rew said, “We had an amazing time at Thruxton, and everyone made our day very special. The talk at Avon Tyres was enjoyed by all the children and was interesting and informative. The crew was super and the children wore their Avon Tyres caps with pride!”

A recent report by the RAC has revealed that poor driving techniques are not only damaging the environment, but are also costing motorists up to £100 per year in wasted fuel. A few common misconceptions about driving techniques coupled with slovenly maintenance regimes, such as driving on under-inflated tyres, contribute to the waste of £2.2 billion of fuel every year.

Despite the spread of satellite navigation systems we still drive an unnecessary five billion miles each year while lost. This fact, combined with bad journey planning, wastes enough fuel to fill 267 Olympic sized swimming pools.

The RAC’s research reveals that 60 percent of drivers are unaware that changing gear when revs are high reduces fuel consumption, and a further 40 percent think that driving under 45mph saves fuel. On the maintenance front, 10 percent of drivers admit that they check their tyre pressure less than once a year, and 77 percent are unaware that under-inflated increase fuel consumption.

According to the RAC, drivers are not clear as to which driving practices can save fuel. A tenth of motorists believe, wrongly, that regular braking will reduce fuel consumption. Almost a sixth of drivers think that warming up the engine prior to a journey cuts down on the use of fuel, and over a quarter are not aware that they can reduce fuel use by simply switching off their air-conditioning system.

David Bizley, RAC’s Technical Director commented, “With fuel prices at a record high, adopting eco driving techniques is an easy way for consumers to reduce their fuel consumption to help purses, wallets and the environment. We hope that by raising awareness of the simple changes motorists can make to their driving style, they will be able to absorb some of the increasing cost of fuel through their own driving habits.”

The RAC has produced the following eight check-points to help improve fuel efficiency and reduce cars’ impact on the environment:

• 1) Pump up to cut down: under inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving, which means engines have to work harder, so more fuel is used and more CO2 emissions are produced (the owner handbook will advise the correct pressure)
• 2) Less clutter means less CO2: clutter in boots add weight and engines must work harder to transport it, so removing it can reduce the engine’s workload and cut CO2 emissions (also remove roof boxes or rails when not in use the drag caused increases fuel consumption )
• 3) Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2: not only does staying at or within the speed limit increase driver safety, it also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on fuel costs
• 4) Less stopping and starting means less CO2: anticipating traffic flow will reduce fuel consumption
• 5) Over-revving accelerates emissions: modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position while standing still only wastes fuel and increases engine wear
• 6) Idling is wasting fuel: if you’re likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, simply switch off the engine.
• 7) Shop around: Use a fuel comparison website to find the best priced fuel in your region
• Don’t get lost: don’t waste fuel by going the wrong way - plan route before leaving with RAC Route Planner: Here.

In summary, according to the RAC, motorists could save up to 8 percent of their annual fuel bill by changing their driving habits. Their figure of £100 is based on fuel prices of £1.03 for petrol and £1.07 for diesel. Their research was carried out by market research specialists Tickbox, who surveyed 1198 motorists between the 11th and 18th February 1980.

Continental Tyres have joined the debate concerning the use of low-rolling resistance tyres. The debate revolves around the trade-off between the environmental advantages of low-rolling resistance and the safety concern, that the tyres are less efficient in wet braking conditions. Recently, Michelin claimed that they had overcome the problem with their new generation of Energy Saver tyres. According to Michelin their research team has overcome the problem in designing a tyre that has all the benefits of low-rolling resistance without the concomitant drawback of loss of braking efficiency in the wet.

Continental has joined the debate by stressing that safety must remain the highest priority. The company’s head of passenger car tyre development, Dr Burkhard Wies, has pointed to the dangers of European legislation focusing on low-rolling resistance at the expense of road safety. Wies stressed that while Continental’s tyres are extremely efficient in terms of fuel consumption, the company’s policy is that this cannot be obtained at the expense of safety.

In fact, in recent tests run by Tyres & Accessories magazine, the new Michelin low-rolling resistance tyres were shown to require a longer stopping distance than a set of new Continental tyres. In the test, under wet conditions, the new Continentals clocked up a stopping distance of 42 metres, while the Michelins needed 51 metres to brake to a standstill from a speed of 80km/hr.

It seems likely that this debate will run and run, but Continental are right to stress the importance of the safety element, and it is to be hoped that the European legislators will be equally cautious before imposing any dictates on the fuel consumption implications of tyres.

Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 victory at Silverstone was, to no small extent, due to the compatibility of the McLaren team’s car and the Bridgestone F1 tyre. The McLaren places a greater load on its tyres than the Ferraris. This enabled the Bridgestone tyres to reach the optimum racing temperature rapidly, which is a problem with the wet-weather tyres. As the weather turned increasingly wet the combination gave Hamilton a crucial advantage over his rivals.

Kimi Raikkonen started well, but changed to intermediate tyres in the early pit stop. When the rain came Raikkonen’s challenge was, effectively, ended. Hamilton’s victory leaves him tied for first place in the drivers’ championship, alongside the two Ferrari team-mates, Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. Hamilton will hope to continue his winning form at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on July 20th.

The inexorable rise in the price of crude oil has hit motorists badly over the last month or so. It seems now that the hard-pressed motorist is going to be hit again by rising tyre prices. This is, once again, a direct consequence of inflated oil prices.

Oil is an important raw material in tyre manufacture, and the current price of crude oil ($135 per barrel) has pushed tyre manufacturing costs up by 15% over the last four months. Some producers, such as Goodyear, have mitigated the impact of these rises by using natural, rather than synthetic, rubber. However, this has increased demand on the rubber market, and prices of the natural raw material are rising rapidly.

A large proportion of these increases has been absorbed by retailers, but that can only be done for a finite length of time, and the increases will have to be passed on to the end user at some point.

The imminent price rises will make it increasingly worthwhile for motorists to shop around and look beyond the traditional suppliers in order to find the best value for money in the tyre market.

Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, has added his voice to those calling for motorists to check that their tyres are properly inflated. Speaking in Missouri, on July 30th, Mr Obama advised his audience on energy saving through “green” driving. The Presidential contender said, “There are things that you can do individually though to save energy. Making sure your tyres are properly inflated, simple thing, but we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tyres and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.”

Tyre manufacturers, tyre industry organizations and we at etyres have been telling motorist for some time that driving with correctly inflated tyres saves fuel, and lessens wear on tyres. It seems that we now have some fairly powerful advocates arguing our case.

Earlier this year Pirelli launched its competition to find the best young rally drivers in the world. The aim is to find the five best drivers from both the 2008 and 2009 FIA Regional Championships. The top drivers from each year will then compete in six World Championship rallies in 2010. These rallies will take place with all the drivers competing in identical Group N or Super 2000 cars, which will be supplied by an FIA contracted specialist preparation company. The aim of the competition is to promote the sport and help younger drivers to compete at the highest level. In order to compete, the drivers must be under 27 years of age on January 1st in the year of the Regional Championship.

Morrie Chandler, FIA World Rally Championship Commission president, said: “We also recognise it is not all about driving and the project includes a five day course in vocational development. We want our competitors to understand the importance of physical fitness, safety education (on and off-road) as well personal presentation, media and public relations skills. All these elements will be an integral part of the Star Drivers’ future development.”

The Regional Championships are already under way. In Africa three of the five qualifying rounds have been completed, and Kenyans Alfir Khan and Peter Horsey are currently leading the field. The Asia Pacific region will be contested in a Star Driver Final in Malaysia, on 11th-12th of October. In Europe the 18 countries mounting FIA World Rally Championship or FIA European Rally Championship events have been invited to nominate a driver to compete in a one-off race in Freistadt, Austria, on 24th-26th of October. The last qualifying driver will come from the Middle East Group, following its final race in December.

Avon Tyres are preparing for the forthcoming winter with a selection of winter tyres. The company produces winter tyres for a variety of vehicles. Their Ranger Ice tyres are designed for the four wheel drive market, while their Ice Touring ST range is built for high performance cars. The company also produces a selection of winter tyres for small to medium sized cars.

Demand for winter tyres is on the increase, as motorists become more aware of their importance for safe driving in cold conditions. The Avon Ranger Ice is designed to meet the needs of 4×4 drivers driving on snow and ice. Its aggressive tread pattern gives excellent traction in the most difficult conditions, and the high silica content of the tyre compound keeps the wheel supple, even at low temperatures.

The growing popularity of high performance cars has caused Avon to look at its offerings in this sector. Their range of winter tyres are available in a variety of profiles and speed ratings, enabling motorists to enjoy high performance driving with increased safety in cold, wintry conditions. The Avon Ice Touring ST is rated for “Severe Snow Conditions” and carries M+S (mud and snow) markings. The high silica content of the tread compound means the tyres enjoy a low glass transition temperature, which keeps the tyre flexible at temperatures below 7 degrees centigrade.

For small to medium cars Avon offer the Ice Touring T, which has a tread pattern designed to maximize grip in wet/snowy conditions. It has the same high silica content, ensuring efficiency in cold weather.

Whatever the vehicle, Avon now has something to offer that will enhance safety in whatever conditions the winter throws our way.

The changing climate has prompted Pirelli to review its aims when designing new tyres. The first of this new generation of tyres is Pirelli’s Winter Sottozero Serie ll range. The tyre has undergone tests on a glacier near the Matterhorn, which delivered the extreme conditions required to test the tyre to its limits. The test site was so extreme that Pirelli could only get access by flying the test cars in by helicopter.

The extreme conditions were designed to push the tyres to their limit, but CEO of Pirelli, Francesco Gori, explained the true role of the Winter Sottozero, “This tyre is not just good for snow - it is also good for low temperature levels”. This reflects Pirelli’s changing perspective regarding winter tyres. In the past they have been viewed as specialist equipment designed for snowy conditions.

Pirelli’s notion is that climate change is a fact and that the weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable. In response they are aiming to create more versatile tyres that can cope with snow and ice, but are also efficient on cold, wet roads. Both the road and the tyre’s performance change at temperatures below 7 degrees. According to Pirelli, the Winter Sottozero Serie II should revolutionise the traditional idea of the winter tyre - a product that is not a snow tyre, but a seasonal one, suitable for all weather and road conditions throughout Europe from October to April.

The Winter Sottozero Serie ll range contains two types of tyre, the W210/W240 version is for high-performance cars, while the W270 variant is for super sports cars. Maurizio Boiocchi, senior vice-president of product and R&D at Pirelli, commented, “We have two families of product with the same fundamental innovations. As two related family members, the W210/W240 and the W270 have many shared characteristics, yet other qualities are unique to each tyre”.

Pirelli has developed a tread compound to produce a tyre that can be used in winter to replace the P Zero summer tyres. It will deliver the same high performance characteristics during the harsher conditions of winter. The tyres also incorporate Pirelli’s Temperature Dynamic Compound technology, which gives better performance at low temperatures, crucially, those below 7 degrees. Improved stability is delivered courtesy of the tyres interactive brickwork siping. Both versions of the tyre also utilize 0 degree polyamide fibre, which gives thermal stability, making the tyres less prone to loss of performance consequent to changes in road and air temperatures.

It is reassuring to see that tyre manufacturers are not only alert to the needs to create tyres that are more environmentally friendly, but are also adjusting tyre designs to take account of the changing condition resulting from global warming.