By Denna Bowman

Mercedes-Benz has become the latest vehicle manufacturer group to join the UKs leading tyres safety organisation, TyreSafe.

The company will run a series of tyre safety initiatives across its retailer network and fleet customers, highlighting the important role that tyres play in road safety, which will include a cold weather tyre programme for this winter.

As well as supporting and participating in TyreSafe’s national campaigns, Mercedes-Benz will provide valuable experience and input into the organisation, helping it develop further and reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by defective tyres.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: “We are delighted that Mercedes-Benz has taken the decision to join to TyreSafe.

“The companies bring a wealth of experience in the passenger car, fleet and commercial vehicle sectors. This level of insight and understanding will help us enormously as we continue to grow and communicate tyre safety messages to an increasingly wide audience.”

As well as helping to educate drivers and fleet managers about tyre safety, Mercedes-Benz will work with TyreSafe to investigate education programmes for individuals new to the garage trade through the Mercedes-Benz Training School and Apprentice Training Academy.

The academy provides professionally delivered and recognised training for retailer staff, students, young technicians and trainee parts advisors.

Chris Cromey, national sales and marketing manager for Mercedes-Benz, said: “We fully support the aims of TyreSafe and the excellent work they are carrying out to raise awareness of the issues associated with driving on defective tyres.

“By taking an active role in the organisation we will be able to help promote these critical safety messages to our own customers and staff, helping to keep them both safe and legal.”

By Alex Kapadia

Formula 1 champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will have equal chances of success when they are team-mates next season, according to McLaren.

There has been speculation that their differing driving styles – particularly in relation to tyres – will lead to one driver having an advantage over the other.

New rules relating to tyres size and a re-fuelling ban could also favour one driver over the other.

However, McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale, insisted: “People have suggested that tyre degradation will be the next most important performance-limiting factor during a race, but we don’t think that’s likely to be the case.

“If you look at previous examples of a guy who’s kind to his tyres, and a guy who isn’t, it’s rare for the guy who pushes his tyres to slip backwards in a race.

“I think what you see is that a driver’s speed comes from a broad range of variables - and it’s invariably the characteristics of the car that create a degradation issue, rather than the drivers.”

He added: “I’m absolutely convinced that they’ll be a fantastic and competitive partnership,” Neale said.

“The reality is that they’ll both bring different skill-sets to the table, and from January onwards [when Button officially joins the team] we’ll be able to very rapidly bring their wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on a number of issues - particularly during pre-season testing.

“In some ways, it multiplies our opportunities in a grand prix too: there could well be tracks where Jenson’s skill-set is better-suited to the challenge, and equally, tracks where Lewis could excel.

With temperatures set to plummet to well below zero in parts of the UK over the coming two days, motorists should spare a thought for their car batteries.

Etyres, the leading online tyres company, is not just here to provide you with cheap car tyres – we also offer great deals on batteries.

And our free mobile service means we come to your home or work to fit your new battery - which is just as well if your car won’t start!

Charge It: Use a battery charger to maintain charge levels and keep the battery in good condition.

Check It: The cold weather can dramatically reduce a battery’s available starting power, so have your car’s starting and charging system tested every three months.

Maintain It: Inspect your battery cables, posts, and fasteners. Make sure your cables are in good shape and are secured firmly to the battery, and promptly address issues before they leave you stranded.

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

Global tyres giant Hankook has announced it is renewing its sponsorship of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship for 2010.

The Korean tyres manufacturer made the commitment folloiwng a highly successful inaugural season as title sponsor, with consistently high entry numbers across the eight rounds of the SRC, as well as a record number of registered competitors.

Announcing the sponsorship deal, Hankook Motorsports Manager Mike Patterson said the SRC had provided the tyre manufacturer with a “tremendous opportunity” to reach new audiences.

He said: “The mix of events has provided us with the chance to demonstrate the performance and durability of its tyres in various conditions”.

“The organisers have fully embraced our aims as title sponsor, the crews have welcomed our commitment to affordable motorsport, we have been able to nurture up and coming drivers, and we have made many new friends north of the border.”

Mike added: “For 2010 we look to build on these very firm foundations and can’t wait for another exciting season to get underway”.

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

Continental have released a series of short online videos offering motorists simple and straightforward advice on ensuring their tyres are safe and legal.

And as road conditions deteriorate with the onset of winter, they have enlisted the help of British Touring Car Championship racer Fiona Leggate to drive home their message about tyres safety.

“I m in the unusual position of not only being a racing car driver, but also a mother” says Fiona.

“Being a mother means that - now more than ever – I’m equally concerned about the performance of tyres off-track, as I am on it. That’s why I’m making these videos for Continental.”

The four short videos deal with:

* Tread Depth The tread depth of your car tyres can affect driving in adverse weather conditions. In this video, easy ways to check tread depth are demonstrated, even using something as simple as a 20p piece.

* Tyre Pressures - Having the right pressures in your car tyres and knowing how to check these is vital. With handy tips and sound advice, this video has everything drivers need to know about tyre pressures this winter.

* Tyre Damage - Damaged car tyres can be extremely dangerous. By following the advice in this video, drivers can check their own tyres for damage easily and quickly.

* Tyre Sealant Kits - Car tyre sealant kits are an easy and fast way to quickly get back on the road in the event of a puncture, as the final video in this series demonstrates.

Etyres, the UKs leading online tyres company, was delighted to have been able to assist Continental during the filming of the videos with tyre changes.

Go to http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/continental/tyres_for_life/general/home/index_en.html to view the films.

By Alex Kapadia

Dunlop will return as title sponsor of the MSA British Touring Car Championship from 2010 in a new four-year agreement with the UKs premier motor racing series.

The tyres company has been the exclusive tyres supplier to the BTCC since 2003.

Through this new long-term partnership, Dunlop will continue to provide the BTCC’s teams with tyres manufactured at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham - home to the company’s European Motorsport Operations.

The UK plant produces over 200,000 high technology racing tyres each year for the World Moto2 Motorcycle Championships, International GT and Endurance racing in addition to the BTCC.

The Dunlop name has become synonymous with racing and thrives on its motorsports heritage. The company endeavours to incorporate lessons learned on the tracks into tyres for everyday drivers.

The first round of the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take place at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on Sunday 4 April. All rounds will be televised live on ITV4 with highlights on ITV1, ITV4 and Men & Motors.

By Oliver Hall

Twelve stunning photographs capturing the most stunning scenes in the UK have been chosen to appear in an exclusive calendar to raise funds for mountain rescue teams.

The calendar is the result of an appeal by Goodyear tyres for people who love the great outdoors to send in their best snaps.

The US tyres giant, which also supports Mountain Rescue England & Wales by funding the roll out of
GPS navigational equipment, was delighted with the response to their calendar competition.

Brand manager Michelle Fisher said: “We have been overwhelmed at the standard and number of entries received for this competition.

“It’s great to see so many people wanting to show their support for this lifesaving charity.”
Cumbria and the Lakes’ mountain rescue teams, which cover various parts of the region, are to benefit from the Mountain Rescue 2010 calendar which features snapshots from across England and Wales, as seen through the eyes of outdoor enthusiasts.

The calendar will be sold in aid of the charity which relies entirely on a network of volunteers and donated funds.

Andy Simpson, spokesman for the mountain rescue teams, said: “This calendar is a fantastic way to draw people’s attention to our organisation and raise the funds necessary for us to continue providing top level assistance to those that find themselves in difficulty.”

The mountain rescue calendar features landscape scenes ranging from the Lake District and Snowdonia through to views of lowland areas such as Dartmoor.

It will be available with a recommended donation of £5 (plus p&p) and will be available at www.mountain.rescue.org.uk as well as through individual mountain rescue teams.

Etyres are delighted to have been able to help Continental put together a series of videos to guide motorists through keeping their tyres safe during the winter.

The videos are presented by BTCC racer Fiona Leggate and cover four key areas of tyres safety – tread depth, pressure, damage and sealants.

Our team were on hand to change the tyres during filming and are delighted to have been of assistance because like Continental we want to help keep motorists safe on the roads.

We all know that driving in the winter can be a challenging experience at the very best of times, but if your car tyres aren’t in the best condition, it can become extremely dangerous too.

So, Continental tyres recruited an expert to help with their new winter tyre safety campaign, someone who is no stranger to throwing a car around the tarmac in extreme conditions: British Touring Car Championship racer Fiona Leggate.

Go to http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/continental/tyres_for_life/general/home/index_en.html to see the videos.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

The Irish President has appealed to drivers to “give each other the gift of a safe Christmas” by driving safely and making sure their tyres are in good condition.

Mary McAleese, who was launching a Christmas road safety campaign, said: “No one has to drive without a seat belt, or with bald or under-pressured tyres.

“No one has to speed, no one has to answer the mobile phone while driving, or check their lipstick or root around for a new CD or light up a cigarette.”

Mrs McAleese was speaking as she launched a Christmas road safety campaign in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire.

The hospital has treated 200 serious brain injuries, 100 spinal injury cases and 26 amputees during the last five years and is the Republic’s main centre for rehabilitating crash victims.

The President said driving while under the influence of drink or drugs was “selfish, dangerous, inexcusable and downright bad”.

Oliver Hall, Operations Team

Workers at a Bridgestone tyres plant have spent the past decade caring for injured and disabled animals - including six kangaroos - in a little-known wildlife sanctuary in Australia.

But with the tyres plant set to close in April the workers are preparing to hand the area, which is also home to turtles, lizards, ducks and a colony of ring-tailed possums, to Salisbury Council for the community use.

Stephen Hains, Salisbury chief executive, said the company outlined its offer to gift the sanctuary, and an adjoining staff oval, to the public during discussions earlier this month.

He said: “They’ve indicated they will give us this portion of land. But they’ve not indicated clearly the conditions of the handover.

“We are currently putting our own offer together to take back to Bridgestone.”

Bridgestone supervisor Adrian Martin, a long time wildlife carer, approached his employer to build the sanctuary in 2001.

The company jumped at the idea and converted a piece of land on the northwest corner of the plant into a wildlife sanctuary, which included a large man-made lake to house turtles and provide water for animals.

Denna Bowman, Head Office