By Oliver Hall

A town centre was closed yesterday as firefighters battled a major blaze of 400,000 old tyres.

The main road through Warsop was shut off and residents had been temporarily evacuated from their home late on Friday evening as the acrid smoke billowed across the skyline.

Locals were also warned to keep their windows and doors shut throughout Saturday to avoid the potentially toxic smoke.

The fire broke out at a tyre recycling firm – formerly Warsop Rubber Company and now Robin Hood Environmental – next to the Nottinghamshire County Council/Veolia recycling centre.

Notts Fire and Rescue Service had to lay a huge pipe across the main A60 road, streets and many residents’ driveways so they could pump high volumes of water on to the blazing tyres.

This meant the road to the town centre was closed yesterday and is expected to remain out of use today.

The fire service is being advised by the Met Office, the district environmental health department and police over any potential changes in wind direction, which could cause a danger to nearby residents.

Fire station manager Nick Ward added that it was too soon to speculate as to the cause of the blaze and said he did not think fire investigators would be able to get to the seat of the fire until into next week.

One resident told reporters that he had seen three youths running away from the scene shortly before the fire started and had reported this to police.

Tyres are one of the most important components of a vehicle – however, they are also one of the most overlooked.

In the US, according to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than one in four cars and light trucks are being driven with at least one of their tyres being significantly under-inflated.

With National Tyre Safety Week just around the corner in the US (June 7 – 13) Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends motorists follow the following maintenance guide to keep tyres in tip-top condition:

First, check tyre pressure – they can lose one pound of air pressure per square inch (psi) every month and one psi for every 10˚F temperature drop, so it’s important to check them monthly, including spares, with an accurate tyre gauge.

To find out if tyres are properly inflated, locate the recommended tyre inflation pressure listed on the sticker on your vehicle’s driver’s side door jamb, fuel filler lid, or in your glove box, trunk or owner’s manual.

If possible, check tyre pressure when the vehicle has been driven less than one mile or has been sitting for at least three hours.

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

Yokohama tyres have been selected as the original fitment for Audi’s stylish performance sports utility vehicle the Q7.

Audi’s list of requirements for the 4×4 included tyres that are capable of handling the vehicles considerable performance output.

The Yokohama Advan fit the German car makers bill for original equipment on its full-size, luxury SUV, and they will be offered in two sizes – 275/45R20 110Y or 265/50R19 110Y – for both front and rear wheels.

The Japanese tyre manufacturers are delighted to have been chosen to supply the tyres and commented that the Advan’s high level of overall performance, proven stability and comfort at high speeds (300 km/h), as well as excellent braking, make it a perfect partner for the Q7.

The Q7 is the third Audi model to have Yokohama tyres fitted as original equipment, along with the S6 and S8 Audi’s top-class S series.

Audi describe the Q7 as setting standards in the SUV segment. They enthuse: “It ingeniously combines sportiness and versatility, sophisticated technology and the luxury of a premium-class vehicle.

“On the road it excels with sporty driving performance and dynamism; off-road its uncompromising propulsion is dazzling. The Audi Q7 is the performance SUV from the creator of quattro.”

Oliver Hall, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

A new law which would make it illegal for tyres dealers not to reveal the details of a tyres age to customers in California has been blasted by a leading industry group.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association criticised the California Assembly tyres aging bill for being inconsistent, contradictory and fear-mongering.

And the RMA said it will also only serve to drum up business for the bill’s primary supporters – trial lawyers.

Dan Zielinski, senior vice president of public affairs for the RMA, said: “Proponents of this bill use fear-mongering to allege that tyres reaching a certain chronological age are dangerous.

“But the bill is inconsistent in its application.”

Vehicle sales from an auto dealer or private party are exempt from the notification requirement, it noted, as are replacement tyre sales from auto dealers.

Mr Zielinksi added: “These exemptions make the measure contradictory on its face and are implicit acknowledgement that chronological tire age alone is not a hazard.”

He also argued that the bill “would only benefit trial lawyers by creating a new roadmap to sue California tyre dealers.

“The measure makes inaccurate statements about tyre performance and imposes new burdens on tire retailers in a particularly unfortunate economic climate.”

Supporters of the measure claim that tires reaching a certain age are a potential safety hazard and say the notification is necessary to prevent older tires from being placed into service.

The bill will be introduced in the California Senate in a few days, because June 5 is the deadline for bills passed in the California Assembly to be transferred to the Senate.

The bill passed by a 41-28 vote in the 80-member assembly, meaning 41 votes is the least a bill can receive and still pass.

By Alex Kapadia

When it comes to racing tyres, size really does matter - especially for this Formula One season which has seen the return of slicks after an 11-seasons’ absence.

The replacement of the grooved tyres which were previously on the tread area means that the proportional size of the rear tyres contact patch has changed relative to the fronts, according to a report on the F1 website.

Hirohide Hamashima, director of motorsport tyre development for Bridgestone, said: “There are many differences between a slick and a grooved tyre, but the change of the proportional tread area in contact with the road is a very important aspect of the performance potential.

“This year we are hearing a lot of talk about weight distribution and the balance of the cars and this is related to the big changes to the regulations for the cars and the tyres for 2009.

“The latest aerodynamic regulations mean a lower and wider front wing, but a taller and narrower rear wing. This means the proportion of aerodynamic grip - the grip provided by the downforce pushing the car down onto the road - has moved towards the front of the car.

“In addition to this, there is more mechanical grip - grip provided by the tyres interacting with the road surface - than before at the front of the car, due to the proportionally bigger contact patch of the front tyre, so the latest cars have a lot more grip on the front than previously.”

The additional grip at the front means that the latest cars work their rear tyres harder than before.

Mr Hamshima added: “We can certainly say that the current generation car has an oversteer tendency, where the rear of the car doesn’t have as much grip as the front, and this tendency is a focus for teams in their car set-ups and designs.”

The size of the front tyre has a particular impact on a Formula One car’s aerodynamics. The front tyres present a large surface cross section to the airflow and cause a lot of drag, so a big factor in the design of the car’s bodywork and wings is trying to compensate for this.

For the future, Bridgestone has already tested a narrower front tyre and is working with the FIA and the teams regarding any potential change for the future.

“For Bridgestone we can make front tyres of the current size, or of a narrower width, so it is not a problem for us once a decision is made about the tyre size,” explains Hamashima.

“The size is set in the regulations, so it is not a change we would make in isolation, it is something that if it happens it will be because there have been consultations between us, the FIA and also the teams.”

Bridgestone tested a smaller front tyre in Jerez in Spain back in March.

“The test in March, where eight teams were present, was useful for evaluating a potential new front tyre size by six teams,” explains Hamashima.

“We went narrower on width, but based on what we learnt from running that tyre we would probably want to go a bit narrower still. For now, however, we have the excitement of the 2009 season.”

Apparently we Brits lose a staggering £3.5 billion each year to scams, cons and tricks – here are a couple to be on your guard against.

You are driving along the motorway when a driver draws alongside you, pointing to one of your tyres and gesturing to you to pull over.

Naturally, you stop to check your tyres at the side of the road or on the hardshoulder and the other driver kindly pulls over to help.

While you inspect the tyre, he lifts all your valuables from the front seat.

A new version on this is when you return to your parked car and get in, only to see a flier stuck under the rear window wiper obscuring your view.

So you jump out to remove it, thieves nip in and drive off in the car – more than likely taking your bag/shopping with it.

The majority of these scams occur in foreign destinations when people are at their most vulnerable.

But here are a couple of tips for you: if you fear you have a flat tyre, try to continue until the next service station and if you do have to remove the flier, make sure your valuables are hidden.

In both cases, always keep the car locked.

Katherine Clarkson, National Accounts

By Denna Bowman

A bill that would require tyres dealers to provide tyre age information on sales receipts has been passed by a one-vote margin by the California Assembly.

Dealers that don’t provide age information on every one of the tyres that they sell would face a fine of $250 for each violation, the bill states.

Also, tyre buyers who don’t receive tyre age information have the explicit right under the bill to bring a civil action against the dealer.

Sean Kane, president of Safety Research and Strategies which sponsored the bill, said it would provide safety benefits on two fronts.

He said: “The bill will provide tyre buyers with information that is already out there, but that usually gets buried.

“It also will help educate tyre dealers because we find many of them aren’t given the information and training they need on the effects of tyre aging.

“Eventually this will change how tyre aging is treated. The public gets to decide what is an acceptable level of risk.”

The bill is duel to be introduced in the California Senate in a few days. The deadline for bills passed in the California Assembly to be transferred to the Senate is 5th June.

The bill passed by a 41-28 vote in the 80-member assembly, meaning 41 votes is the least a bill can receive and still pass.

With summer just round the corner our thoughts turn to get-aways and daytrips – but first we should make sure our cars are in good shape.

Inspecting tyres, booking a service and making sure lights and indicators work should all be up there on the check list with buying suntan lotion and shorts!

The condition of your tyres can have massive effects on both your safety and your pocket, according to leading car parks supplier Breakeryard.com.

With the recession prompting Brits to shun the annual airport chaos and escape the sky-high Euro destinations, increasing numbers of holidaymakers will be spending their annual summer getaway in the coastal and cultural attractions across the UK.

But Breakeryard.com warns that holidaying on home turf can have its own problems if your car is not properly prepared and urges vehicle owners to follow a few simple tips for stress-free summer driving.

Their top tips include inspecting tyres to make sure they are correctly inflated, which will lead to safer driving and a reduction in fuel consumption; making sure your car is serviced and ensuring lights and indicators are in good working order.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

A furious paramedic’s assistant has blasted the vandals who slashed one of his car tyres for putting the life of an 18-month-old baby seriously at risk.

Ashley Buttle, and emergency care assistant for South Central Ambulance Service was on his way to work in Slough earlier this week when he discovered one of his car tyres was “as flat as a pancake”.

He believed it was a faulty valve initially and was able to borrow his father’s car - however, he later discovered that it had been slashed.

Mr Buttle told the Bucks Free Press newspaper: “The vandals might just as well have slashed the tyres on the ambulance itself.

“Deliberate acts of vandalism such as this can make you late for work and quite simply mean in my case one less ambulance on the road for that period of time.”

Mr Buttle works with a paramedic as one half of an ambulance crew.

He said: “Our first job was with a very poorly 18 month old baby – I don’t know if they’d have been able to get to the job without me. It’s just fortunate I could borrow my dad’s car.

“I have calmed down a bit now but I was absolutely furious when I found out.”

The ambulance worker said it would cost him the equivalent of his wages for two days to repair – around £120.

“It’s money I can ill afford. I do 12 hour shifts and all I’m doing is to pay for a tyre that has been vandalised,” he said.

Unfortunately, we see a lot of instances where motorists are forced to buy new tyres because they have been the victim of vandals.

However, by turning to etyres we can ease the pain inflicted on their wallets, because our prices are up to 40% cheaper than the leading high street depots.

And because we offer a mobile tyre fitting service, our customers don’t have to worry about getting their vehicle to a garage or depot – we fit the tyres at a location of their choice, whether it’s their home or workplace.

Alex, National Call Centre

By Katherine Clarkson

A new initiative has been launched to support tyres manufacturers who are facing a raft of new directives and regulations.

The Imported Tyres Manufacturers’ Association has launched a European Technical Group, aimed at guiding and advising its member companies across the 27 member states of the EU.

Peter Taylor, ITMA director, said: “The tyre industry is facing a deluge of new Directives and Regulations and we must organise ourselves better in order to prepare to deal with them.

“By sharing our individual resources in this way we can have a big impact.

“Across the Union, our members account for up to 40 million units annually and we must not allow ourselves to be marginalised or seen wanting.

“The formation of this group will help us to serve our members better, encourage others to join and give us a unique, new voice.”

The group, which has already held its first meeting, is made up of tyre engineers and other specialists nominated by ITMA member companies from around the world.