Avon tyres achieved an impressive endorsement from a pair of adventurers who crossed a third of the world on a single set of CR322 rubber.

Ross Smallcombe and Seb Cnossen, who formed Team Mighty Wight, travelled 8,230 miles on the Mongolian Rally and did not encounter a single problem with their tyres.

The trip took in some of the world’s toughest terrains, including potholed, unmade roads, waterways and off-road areas

But the CR322 tyres offered unfailing performance. Ross said: They’re amazing tyres.

“So many tyres were supposedly better suited to the terrain, but by the end of the trip everyone wanted Avon tyres.

“Teams paid hundreds of pounds for specialist tyres, rally tyres, desert tyres and off-road tyres. People couldn’t believe we didn’t even get a puncture, when their tyres were getting ripped to shreds.

“We travelled over mountains with no roads, deserts in 50C heat, crossed rivers that were as deep as our bonnet, and even jumped ditches when necessary.

“The tyres barely looked worn when we crossed the finish line.”

The Avon CR322 tyre is a traditional tyre aimed at the small to mid-sized family car or light van, billed as a “fuel saver”. It uses a unique compound that aids economy and prolongs tyre life.

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Alex Kapadia

Yokohama tyres have been lined up to star in a brand new TV series on the popular MTV channel Slips.

The tyres will be part of a tuning package for the show where modified car owners race to win each others’ cars.

Yokohama tyres and a range of aftermarket alloy wheels from the UK distributor Yokohama HPT feature in many of the episodes, hosted by Fun Lovin’ Criminals front-man Huey Morgan.

The show challenges two car owners to chosse a range of modifications to add to their everyday cars with the aim of beating the other in a race round a specially designed track.

The winner takes both cars home. The loser walks away with nothing.

Products from several of the Japanese marque’s ranges are up for grabs, including the S.drive, Parada and the ultimate road/track tyre, the ADVAN A048.

David Seward, managing director of Yokohama HPT, said: “I’m delighted that Yokohama products have been selected b the producers of Slips as the exclusive performance tyres.

“The various ranges available mean that there is something for everyone, whether they are looking for the ultimate in grip from the A048 or a combination of factors, as you’d find in the S.drive.”

Slips can be seen at 10pm on Thursday evenings on Viva.

By Oliver Hall

Safety crackdown campaigns surrounding taxis have revealed some alarming statistics during the festive season.

Spot checks have highlighted how many are being driven with illegal tyres and defective brakes and are not safe to be on the road.

In a crackdown by Coventry police a total of 23 private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriage taxis travelling along Foleshill Road were stopped during the blitz .

Officers, along with taxi licensing officers, benefit investigators and officers from the Vehicle Operator Services Agency were on hand to conduct checks during a three-hour operation.

Of those stopped and checked, 15 were found to have defects and their drivers were stopped from using them as taxis until the faults were corrected.

Among the defects discovered were illegal tyres, defective suspension, steering and brakes and meters not giving an accurate time, which could lead passengers to be overcharged.

Pc Dean Wainwright said: “The operation - particularly with such bad weather at the moment - is very worrying, as most of the defects are down to routine maintenance.

“There is no excuse for having a taxi with bald tyres, even if the “All it takes is five to ten minutes to check all the lights are working, the tyres are in order, and just general checks of the vehicle.”

Snow, ice and rain are expected to cause treacherous driving conditions around the UK over the next few days.

So if you are planning a long car journey during the New Year holidy you must make sure your tyres can cope with the hazards the roads throw at them.

Your tyres must have at least the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, so that they can offer plenty of grip on slippery or wet roads.

Also make sure they are properly inflated. Many vehicle manufacturers specify that tyre pressures should be increased when the car is fully laden with passengers and luggage.

If the pressures are not adjusted accordingly and the tyres run under-inflated, excessive heats builds up inside the tyre. This significantly increases the risk of a tyre blowout which can have catastrophic effects, particularly at high speeds on motorways and main roads.

Details of the vehicle manufacturers recommended pressures can be found either in the vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler cap or on the driver’s door sill.

Also, give your lights a clean so that they give you full visibility and don’t forget to check the fluid levels of your vehicle.

Safe driving and enjoy your New Year’s Eve!

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Oliver Hall

A fisherman has won a landmark legal battle after a fly-tipping charge against him was cast out of court when he proved he was using old tyres to catch crabs.

For more than 60 years the fishing fraternity has been using rubber tyres as a traditional method of trapping crabs to use as bait, which is not illegal.

However, angler Gavin Hall was brought before South Tyneside Magistrates Court charged with fly-tipping and littering after an off-duty policeman saw him placing tyres in Jarrow’s River Don earlier this year.

The 22-year-old’s case attracted interest from fishing enthusiasts nationwide – as it would have had made the age-old tradition illegal, had he been found guilty.

But following a day-long trial, Mr Hall was cleared of all charges after magistrates ruled he did nothing wrong.

Delighted with the verdict, Mr Hall said: “I’m so relieved because it would have had severe consequences for our sport.

“It should never have been brought to court.”

By Denna Bowman

An angry van owner has put up a £1,000 reward after vandals slashed the tyres on his vehicle this Christmas.

Andy Gardiner, 40, from Babbacombe, awoke on Christmas Eve to find all four tyres on his work van had been slashed, according to the news report.

Mr Gardiner and his neighbours have been targeted by vandals many times this year and he is so fdesperte to end the spree that he is now prepared to put up a reward for information which will lead to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

He had to fork out almost £200 to replace the tyres which were damaged on his truck and a neighbour was also hit for the sixth time this year while her car was parked nearby on the night of December 23.

He said: “We have had major problems with tyre slashing round here.

“They know what they are doing because they spike the top of the tyre.

“My neighbour is devastated. It is almost always done on the same spot in the same road. So someone has got some issues.

“I am just worried what might happen. All sorts of people have been done and next time it might be a mother with children in the car who drives away and doesn’t realise. There could be an accident or even a death.

“It needs to be addressed.”

The neighbour, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said: “I am absolutely in bits.

“I just had all four tyres repaired when this happened a month ago, and to wake up and find it has happened on Christmas Eve is really upsetting. I can’t sleep and I feel sick with worry that it is going to happen again.”

Demand for our mobile tyres service soared by a record breaking 50 per cent yesterday!

It proves that more consumers are getting the message that our tyres prices are up to 40 per cent cheaper than the leading high street tyre depots.

And our convenient mobile service means they get the added bonus of not having to drive to a garage to get their tyres replaced - our fitters go to a location of our customers choice, at their home or work.

The recession has focused consumers sights on prudent spending and searching out bargains on the internet, which has led vehicle owners to etyres.

Because our service is mobile, we don’t have expensive garages to run so our overheads are low and this enables us to pass big savings on to our customers.

So it’s a no brainer - pay less to have your tyres fitted at a time and location of your choice - we’ll save you time, hassle and money!

Denna Bowman, Head Office

A worthwhile recycling education scheme revolving round tyres for schools which looks set to be rolled out nationwide.

David Bavaird, director of North Shields-based Scrap Tyre Exchange, has created a programme called TEFORS (Tyre Education for Schools).

It is aimed at educating primary school pupils using tyres as a product which teaches children how a tyre works, the importance of tyre safety and the benefits of tyre recycling.

The TEFORS package hopes to allow businesses to develop links with schools by sponsoring the programme which is supplied free to the sponsor’s local school.

It was launched at Battle Hill Primary School in North Tyneside, before being rolled out nationally early next year.

David, who developed the idea with North Shields education specialists, Learning Days, said: “The initial response from those in the tyre industry and businesses across the UK has exceeded our expectations, so it’s a real thrill for me to be launching the scheme right on our doorstep.”

TEFORS is targeted at 10 and 11 year olds and aims to make them more aware of science, safety and recycling issues relating to tyres through a series of pre-prepared teaching materials and lesson plans which teach pupils subjects covered by the national curriculum including English, maths, science and citizenship and has been tested extensively with the target audience.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Oliver Hall

Kumho tyres has reportedly delayed December salary payments to its its staff, claiming a temporary cash shortage, according to news reports.

The tyres company blamed the problem on the fact that it was making a large debt payment at the end of the year, resulting in a short-term cash crisis.

However, news of the salary delay sent shares in the tyres company tumbling by 12.7 per cent.

“The delayed salaries worth about $9 million will be paid to all employees in early January, when the company will receive payments from its clients,” a company spokesman told South Korean media.

The move, though, has caused concern among investment analysts about the liquidity of Kumho Asiana Group, the tyre company’s parent.

Kumho Asiana faces a large payment connected to its Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. unit and has reportedly had trouble raising money and has resorted to selling stakes in the construction company and other subsidiaries.

“If the parent group’s process to sell the construction unit suffers a delay next year, it may make Kumho Tyre’s liquidity condition worse,” an analyst told financial media.

Girlracer magazine is predicting that tyres will play a key role in the 2010 Formula One season.

Writer Kate Walker believes the refuelling ban is going to lead to a massive impact on tyres.

She wrote: “The FIA seems to think that the refuelling ban is going to lead to boring races. I’ve already made my feelings clear on the proposed mandatory second pit stop, and I’m not going to repeat them here.

“Suffice it to say that I think the refuelling ban is going to add excitement to races, not make them formulaic processions.

“The first few races of the season will be most affected, as drivers learn how to handle these heavier machines. Rubens Barrichello is likely to have an initial advantage, as he is the only of the grids drivers to have been in Formula 1 when in-race refuelling was last banned.

“Once the drivers have all become adept at the handling changes over the course of the race, it will become a battle won or lost on tyres.

“Poor tyre management in the early stages could mean retirement for aggressive drivers, while smoother drivers will have problems getting heat in to their tyres if they pit for a change on low fuel.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team