BMW driver Nick Heidfeld has lashed out at the performance tyres supplied within the Formula One sport by Bridgestone.

Heidfield says the tyres could be “ten times better” if there was more than one supplier in the paddock.

Bridgestone currently supplies the whole field after Michelin pulled out of the tender process ahead of the 2008 season.

Although the Japanese company has taken two different compounds to each Grand Prix this season, there have been tyre issues in several races, as drivers are forced to use both types during races.

Heidfeld reckons the regulation creates “artificial” racing, and he feels the tyres could be much better.
“For me, on the long runs, they lasted OK but for some other guys they went away a lot quicker,” Heidfeld said in Singapore.

“We have the prime tyre which is possible to do the race, obviously better, it maybe doesn’t help things but the tyre is not too soft.

“As there is no competition, they could be ten times better, we could have tyres that are softer, offer more grip and last the distance.

“On top of that, the idea of having to use both compounds is artificial to create something that is not sport.”

He added: “There is no tyre testing, we have the same tyres for the whole year. What is really surprising is that even now so late in the season sometimes things happen that you didn’t expect. It’s not just for the team, it’s for the whole paddock.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Alex Kapadia

Nexen tyres are set to invest more than £500 million on a new domestic plant after anticipating growing demand in the wake of the US decision to slap steep tariffs on imported tyres from China.

The South Korean tyres manufacturer will make the £525 million investment by 2017 and predicts it will place them among the world’s top 10 tyre makers.

Nexen plans to double its annual output from its factories in South Korea and China to 60 million units, the company has announced.

The manufacturer said in a filing to the Korea Exchange: “Facing a shortage of production capacity and a rapid change in the market environment towards pro-environmental and low-fuel (cars), we have decided to build a new plant.”

It expects US duties against China-produced tyres will raise demand for South Korean products, with the new plant set to produce low-fuel vehicle tyres.

The factory, to be located in Gyeongnam Province, southeast of Seoul, would be the world’s largest to produce tyres for passenger vehicles and light trucks, according to the company.

Nexen competes in the global and home market with its bigger domestic rivals, Hankook and Kumho.

Lewis Hamilton eased to victory at the Singapore Grand Prix today after looking after his tyres during a “straightforward” race.

The McLaren driver, who controlled the race from the start, said: “Generally the race was pretty straight forward. I was never really under any great pressure and I was looking after the tyres.”

The 24-year-old Briton said that the victory was very important to him as he wanted to redeem himself after crashing in Monza two weeks ago.

Hamilton said: “I wanted to have a good result and I think I did that.”

He added: “It was a very tough race – conditions made it very tough – but generally the race was pretty straightforward for me.

“I had a good start and I managed to build a big enough gap.

“I knew that I was running longer than the guys behind me, so I was never really under any pressure.”

Hamilton said: “I looked after my tyres and I think it paid dividends in the end.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Oliver Hall

Redundancies will start taking effect at a Michelin tyres plant this week as a result of the economic downturn.

The tyres company will lay off 350 employees at its Opelika plant in Alabama on 2nd October. The plant will be shut down completely on 31st October.

The job losses are part of “ramp-down activities” at the factory, according to Michelin officials.

Michelin announced the closure of the Opelika plant, which builds BF Goodrich brand passenger and light truck tyres, in April.

The tyres company explained: “The decision comes in the wake of the continuing economic crisis as consumers are driving fewer miles, purchasing fewer vehicles and delaying tire replacement purchases.

“The dramatic drop in market demand has created significant overcapacity in the North American tyre markets that Michelin does not expect to rebound in the near term.”

Michelin plans to consolidate production at its BFGoodrich plants in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Opelika plant was an example cited in the battle to stop the flood of imported Chinese tyres from harming the domestic industry, which resulted in the 35% tariff imposed on products from China.

The United Steelworkers (USW) union claimed that domestic production of consumer tyres had dropped by more than 25 per cent. The closure of Opelika is expected to cost 1,000 workers their jobs.

For the first time ever, Michelin’ tyres Ladoux Technology Centre near Clermont-Ferrand is throwing open its doors to the public – well virtually anyway.

The tyres research centre, created in 1965, has always been off limits to the public, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology all can be revealed.

And there’s no need to book your flight to France, all you have to do is sit down, log on to www.michelin.com/ladoux and settle back to enjoy the virtual tour of the 450-hectare site.

Visitors to the site will gain an insight into the activities undertaken by the centre’s 3,600 employees and see how tyres are made and tested.

The testers test the tyres developed by the Research Centre directly on the track. Their objective is to guarantee the reliability and quality of each product in actual conditions of use.

Designed by the Lyon-based agency SQLI, the interactive tour is divided into two parts.

Oliver Hall, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

China-based tyres manufacturers are being urged to consider setting up plants in Malaysia to avoid the newly imposed US import tariffs.

Ir. Liew Choon Kong, deputy chairman of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, said: “China buys a lot of rubber from Malaysia as raw material to produce tyres there. If manufacturers set up factories and export from Malaysia, they would avoid the impact of the increased tax.”

The decision by the United States to impose an extra 35% duty on Chinese-made tyres has triggered strong complaints from local tyre companies in the country.

It has also led to China strongly opposing the act of trade protectionism by the United States.

According to Liew, if tyres are produced in Malaysia by China-based manufacturers, the specifications would not be categorised as being “Chinese,” which would enable the product to enter the US market.

“In this way, it would be cost effective as well, while steering away from the impact of the new US tariffs on Chinese tyres,” he said.

Liew said the move would also indirecty open up more business opportunities for Malaysian and Chinese companies to work hand in hand, in view of the current economic environment.

He also urged local food and beverage producers to penetrate the Chinese market as there was more untapped opportunities due to the growing population.

“The Chinese have difficulty getting coffee suplies. So, this is an example of a market Malaysian producers can look at,” he said.

Jenson Button starts the Singapore Grand Prix way back in 12th position tomorrow after locking both front tyres on Turn 7 during qualifying.

The championship leader has it all to drive for tomorrow as he races to keep his 14 point lead.

“I locked both front tyres up and I ran wide,” the Brawn GP driver explained, “and front then on I had such a big flat spot that I wasn’t going to gain any time.”

With the Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel – his closest rivals behind team mate Rubens Barichillo – starting ahead, it will make it a challenging race.

Button said: “The Red Bulls are at the front. They still have a chance of challenging us in the championship, so we’ve made it very difficult for ourselves. That is all I have to say.”

He added: “We have got to have a good first lap, otherwise we will be stuck behind slower cars - and I think our race will be very good. When you are stuck behind cars going very long it can be very difficult.”

“But this is a circuit where we thought we would be very quick and so far in qualifying we haven’t shown that.

“It is weird how things go and how races seem. Some races we are very quick and some circuits we struggle more, especially when we get to qualifying.

“It is the same with the Red Bulls. Mark has not scored in the last three races and while Vettel has, it is a lot less than he would have hoped. And they are now back strong. It is very up and down and a unique season for sure.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Alex Kapadia

The US and China are both keen to avoid trade war on the back of the tyres tariff dispute.

US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg has said that the two countries do not want the tyres disagreement to erupt into a full-scale trade war.

Reuters reported that in a speech to the Centre for a New American Security, Steinberg, who will visit China next week as part of an Asian tour, said the US decision to impose a tariff on tyre imports from China had been taken under terms of a World Trade Organisation framework accepted by both countries.

Steinberg said both countries wanted to make sure “that this particular disagreement does not spark a trade war.”

The report added that US President Barack Obama sought to ease friction in a meeting with China’s President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week.

The Obama administration has said it will impose duties of 35% in the first year on Chinese passenger and light truck tyres, provoking an angry response from the Chinese government earlier this month.

Bridgestone tyres hosted an event during which eight disadvantaged children met up with 2008 Formula One World Champion World champion Lewis Hamilton.

The McLaren driver was delighted to share his first hand account of the thrilling world of motorsports sports racing with the children.

Bridgestone, the official tyres supplier for F1, hosted the event for the children of Singapore’s Club Rainbow, during the run up to this weekends 14th Grand Prix of the season.

Club Rainbow (Singapore) is a registered charity committed to helping children and youths suffering from a range of chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Established in 1992, the charity currently supports more than 470 beneficiaries and their families.

The beneficiaries, aged 12 to 19, were given a tour at the McLaren team garage and given an insight into the intricate preparation for the race vehicles.

But the highlight of their visit was undoubtedly the exclusive meeting with Hamilton where he chatted about the sport with them.

The beneficiaries then presented a hand-made gift to Hamilton and had pictures taken with him to mark the memorable visit.

Kunihiko Umemoto, president of Bridgestone Asia Pacific said, “The buzzing excitement of the Formula One race is best experienced ‘live’ in person – with the sights, sounds and adrenalin rush.

“We are glad to bring the children and youths from Club Rainbow out for a remarkable time at the Singapore Grand Prix and to give them a rare glimpse of the workings behind the scenes.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Oliver Hall

The economic downturn has led to up to a dozen prominent tyres manufacturers have opted out of a key motor industry show scheduled for later this year.

Big name tyres makers from around the world who usually exhibited at the Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Shows are not turning up for the 2009 event.
Most cited the down economy as their reason.

Among those 2008 exhibitors not on the list for 2009 are: Continental Tyre North America, Goodyear/Dunlop, East Bay Tyre Co, Federal Corp, GITI Tyre USA, Tyre Kingdom International, Titan International Inc, Toyo Tyre USA and Yokohama Tyre Corp.

They join Kumho Tyre USA Inc. and Michelin North America Inc. — which opted out last year — and Bridgestone Americas which hasn’t exhibited in several years, as leading tyre maker/marketers not present at the show this year.

The exodus leaves Cooper, Falken, Hankook, American Maxxis International, Nexen and Pirelli North America as the largest tyre makers exhibiting this year, based on booth size.

Cooper has two booths covering 2,500 square feet each — one for Cooper-brand products and one for its Mickey Thompson business unit — while Hankook and Pirelli have 4,500-sq.-ft. booths, Falken has reserved 3,000 square feet and Maxxis and Nexen will occupy 2,500-sq.-ft. booths.

In all, SEMA lists 78 companies offering tyres and/or tubes, down from about 90 last year.