Ferrari unveiled their new car the F10 for the 2010 Formula 1 season and talked for the first time about technical details and fresh challenges - including new rules for tyres.

The team’s technical team talked openly about the tyres, which will be one of the key unknown factors this season.

Aldo Costa, the team’s technical director, said: “As far as the tyres are concerned it hasn’t happened very often that we come to the first test with a new car with tyres we’ve never seen before, never used and never tested.

“This year we’re racing after only four tests. We’re confident that Bridgestone has done some excellent work, but with changing the compound four tests might not be enough.”

Nikolas Tombazis, chief designer with Ferrari, added: “We also worked to speed up the change of tyres.

“In recent years the refuelling limited us, but this year this is different, so we worked, regarding the pit stop, on the change of tyres.”

Later, there were questions regarding safety, still referring to the tyres, which are now different in size and with different compounds. An Italian journalist asked: If there was a safety problem, would you ask the FIA for more test sessions?

“Bridgestone is very interested in the tyre tests and they will analyse their behaviour after the long runs,” said Costa. “More weight on the tyres has changed the single-seaters structure and it’s very unusual to start in that sense.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

Congratulations to Hankook for rolling the 10 millionth tyre off the production line at its Hungarian factory.

The South Korean tyres manufacturer has ambitious plans for the future and has set its sights on establishing itself as a world leader in the tyres industry.

It has already calculated it is now the seventh largest tyres manufacturer in the world and the sixth largest in Europe in terms of unit sales.

The ‘Anniversary” tyre, the Ventus V12 evo, the 10 millionth tyre to come out of the heating mould at the Rácalmás plant, was particularly apt because the market for UHP and environmentally friendly tyres have reportedly shown particularly strong growth in Europe.

Jin-Wook Choi, executive vice-president and COO of Hankook in Europe, said: “The demand for our tyres has been growing steadily and dynamically all over Europe.

“This has allowed our European plant to roll its 10 millionth tyre off the production earlier than expected. Consequently, we are investing further 230 million euros into the expansion of the plant to enable the production of 10 million tyres a year or more than 30,000 tyres a day from 2012.”

Hankook is already committed to researching and developing tyres specifically to meet future needs of the European markets.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Oliver Hall

Pirelli has tightened its grip on the tyres industry sustainability crown after increasing its awards in the prestigious The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI).

The Italian tyres manufacturer was given three titles in the ‘Autoparts and Tyres’ sector of the Sustainability Yearbook 2010, published by SAM and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Pirelli scooped the ‘Sector Leader’ and ‘Gold Class Company’ titles for the third year in row, but this year it was also honoured with the new accolade of ‘Sector Mover’, due to its further significant growth in terms of sustainable performance.

Obtaining all three awards offered by the Yearbook confirms the company’s global leadership in sustainability in its industry, according to Pirelli.

The Yearbook, which probes into 58 sectors, stands out as a complete, worldwide publication on sustainability and corporate performance trends, and represents an authoritative tool for sustainable finance professionals.

Last month Pirelli also entered the prestigious ECPR Ethical Index EMU, which the company claimed also reinforced its credentials as a socially responsible firm for investors.

By Denna Bowman

The Pirelli tyres plant in Carlisle has been singled out for praise by a leading industry expert due to its handling of the recession.

While the UK was finally declared to be out of the recession earlier this week, the tyres company was credited with easing the pain of the global downturn in the Cumbrian region.

The British economy grew by 0.1 per cent and unemployment appears to have peaked at around 2.5 million - far less than most economists feared.

However, the pain experienced across most of the UK was not as keenly felt in Cumbria, according to Rob Johnston, chief executive of the regions Chamber of Commerce.

And he believes that is partly down to the flexibility of companies like Pirelli, which cut production and changed working patterns in a bid to stay viable.

Mr Johnston said: “We’ve seen good business management throughout the county, with businesses quick to react to the downturn. Those who have reacted are emerging stronger and looking good for the future.

“Take Pirelli, which looked at working patterns and staff utilisation.

“They were able to minimise the impact with this sector now improving.”

A man who dumped hundreds of tyres has narrowly avoided jail - but has been handed a very apt sentence carrying out environmental improvement work!

Michael Gibbons faces weeks of community service after he dodged the police with his tyres-dumping crimes for several years.

A Liverpool Crown Court judge ordered 34-year-old Gibbons to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and warned he had come “perilously close” to being jailed. He was warned that if he breaches the community order he will lose his liberty.

The court heard that tyres were dumped from his vehicle at Spring Bank Industrial Park, Platt Bridge on March 1, 2006 and on three occasions in September that year at Westwood Lane, Ince. On one of the occasions 800 tyres were dropped off.

Gibbons had initially denied the offences and faced a trial, but this was aborted part way through and before a re-trial could be held he changed his pleas. He eventually pleaded guilty to four offences of knowingly causing the deposit of controlled waste.

The court heard that the prosecution costs of the case totalled £10,000 but because of Gibbons’s limited means Judge Robert Warnock ordered him to pay £500 compensation and £700 costs at £100 a month.

Oliver Hall, Operations Team

Michelin and Cooper are the latest two tyres companies to donate much-needed financial support to the Haiti relief fund.

Following the devastating earthquake earlier this month, Michelin tyres has pledged a £62,000 donation to the American Red Cross to help Haiti, but also will match employee contributions up to £62,000.

Michelin stated: “We have all been moved by the devastation that has taken place in Haiti and the grief they have suffered over the past two weeks.”

Cooper is also pledging up to £15,500 in donations. The company will match up to £15,500 in employee donations through a special Haiti disaster-relief matching gift programme.

Roy Armes, chairman, CEO and president of the company, said: “Cooper Tyre and its employees have a long tradition of assisting communities and people in need.

“We are saddened by this tragedy, one of the worst natural disasters of our lifetime, and genuinely concerned for the health and safety of the people of Haiti.

“In an effort to provide much needed assistance, the company, on behalf of its employees around the world, will join in the united effort to save lives and rebuild this demolished country.”

Bridgestone has also donated funds to the cause.

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

A leading US tyres group has welcomed calls for the Obama Administration to confirm it is monitoring the impact of the steep tariffs it has imposed on tyres imported from China.

The Tyre Industry Association (TIA) has applauded a letter sent to US Trade (USTR) Ron Kirk about the possible effects of Chinese tyre tariffs.

The letter, written by US Representatives Dan Boren and Kevin Brady, calls on Kirk to confirm “that the Obama Administration has established a system to monitor the effects of the special tariffs on imports of consumer tyres from China.”

Pal Fiore, director of government and business relations for the TIA, said: “This brings some sunshine to an as-yet unknown process.

“The United Steelworkers made some very far-reaching claims concerning this tariff, and the Office of the USTR should be diligent in setting up a comprehensive, verifiable system for quantifying the effects of this tariff.”

Roy Littlefield, TIA’s executive vice president, says the tyre industry “deserves a full and accurate accounting of the effects of the tariff on the entire supply chain, right down to our retailer members.”

It’s always great to have feedback from our customers - and even better when we find that they have been spreading the word about our mobile tyres fitting service.

One happy customer has just heaped praise on Phil from our tyres team in Birmingham, this is what he had to say on the MBClub.co.uk forum:

“I thought I’d share my experience of E-Tyres in Birmingham.

“Found them on Blackberry whilst being low-loadered home yesterday afternoon, following front n/s blow-out on M6 at Knutsford (missing tube from tyre-weld kit - Doh!). Thought I’d give them a go as I could not drive the car anyway so needed a home-type-service without a £90 call-out fee!

“The chap came round today, very professional and knowledgeable - even asked me to check the manual for the correct wheel nut torque? when was the last time they did that at Kwik-fit?

“OK so the price; my tyre of choice was the Toyo TR1; I have them on the rear of my C32 AMG and I am very impressed so I thought I’d match both the fronts (due for replacement anyway). 2 x 225/40 18Y (186 mph rating!) £232 inc VAT all fitted. Excellent value and about as cheap as you can get them.

“Had never of dreamed of using a call-out tyre service (don’t know why not to be honest?) until needing a home service, but now I shall not hesitate to use them and certainly would recommend Philip who fitted my front rubber; credit where credit is due I say.”

Denna Bowman, Head Office

It’s is worrying to hear that a quarter of the taxis pulled over for random spot checks in Bristol were found to be unsafe - many due to bald tyres.

The vehicles were suspended from operating until the tyres and other faults were put right, but the operation last week has highlighted a serious issue.

We are all responsible for making sure our own vehicles are safe and legal to take out on the roads, but when we jump into a cab late - often late at night - we have to put our trust in others.

Time is precious for cab drivers and that is why many taxi firms use etyres, because our prices are up to 40% cheaper than the leading high street tyre depots and our convenient mobile tyre fitting service means we turn up at their home or work and carry out the job.

Back to Bristol and of the 44 vehicles checked during the first spot check session, 11 were found to be unsafe and the licences were suspended with immediate effect until repair work was carried out.

And on the second session, checks on 13 vehicles led to four being suspended with immediate effect.
The majority of problems identified concerned tyres, usually with a depth of tread below the legal limit.

Cllr Ron Stone, Chair of the Public Safety Protection Committee responsible for licensing taxis, said it was important for the authorities to remain vigilant to protect the public.

“We were pleased that in most cases the vehicles examined were in good condition, as no prior announcement of the checks had been made. However, the amount of defects showed that we must be vigilant to make sure passengers are travelling in safe vehicles.”

Oliver Hall, Operations Team

Formula 1 teams have given their approval to a new rule for 2010 forcing leading drivers to start races on the same tyres that they qualified on, according to an Autosport exclusive.

The new tyres rule will add an extra strategic element to the season, which will see several dramatic changes to the regulations, all in an effort to increase the entertainment of the sport.

Other changes include no re-fuelling, smaller front tyres, a new points system and now the prospect of drivers gambling on which tyre to use in qualifying to benefit them at the start of the race.

This is what Autosport revealed in its exclusive report: “With the ban on refuelling for 2010 already forcing a big change in tactics compared to how grands prix have run in recent years, the new rule looks set to have an impact on how teams approach qualifying as well.

“Although the tweak has not yet been committed to the regulations, sources have revealed that last week’s meeting of the Sporting Working Group agreed to the change as a way of improving the show.

“It is understood that the majority of teams present voted in favour of a rule that will require the top 10 cars that make it through to the final session of qualifying to start the race on the same tyres that they set their fastest Q3 time on.

“This will open up the possibility of teams gambling on sacrificing the best possible time in Q3 by running a more consistent but less quick tyre so as to have a better chance in the race. Alternatively, teams may choose a tyre that is better over a single lap to secure a good grid position, even if it runs the risk of compromising race performance.

“The teams hope that the rule tweak will serve to mix up the tactics throughout the grid and therefore lead to more exciting races.

“The change still needs to be voted on by the Formula 1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council next week before passing into the regulations, but this is likely to be a formality.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team