Thousands of tonnes of burning tyres could continue to smoulder for weeks, fire chiefs have warned.

The blaze broke out when a pile of shredded tyres at the EnviroTyres recycling unit in Langley Moor, near Durham City, broke out last week.

The spectacular blaze produced a plume of thick, black smoke which hung over the city and could be seen from as far afield as Morpeth and Teesside.

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said today: “Firefighters are at the scene and the fire is under control, but it has become clear it will take some weeks to fully extinguish.”

Over the next few days, leaflets will be distributed to all households and business near the fire advising them of the situation and answering some of the questions which have been raised by members of the public.

Copies will also be left in local libraries, leisure facilities, GP surgeries and council offices.

The spokesman added: “We believe it is important that residents are kept informed about the ongoing situation and we are doing our best to do that.”

He said: “Experts from the Environment Agency and Health Protection Agency and Durham County Council are monitoring the air quality and as things stand there is no immediate danger to people’s health.

“We want people to understand we are doing all we can to deal with this fire, which is a challenge for everyone involved.”

An advice line has been set up to answer queries on 0191-370 6000.

Drivers should check their tyres and carry out basic routine maintenance on their cars before hitting the road for the May bank holiday weekend.

Last year around 11 million Britons made car journeys over the same weekend, so it’s got to be worth spending a few minutes giving your tyres the once over to avoid breakdown misery on the packed roads.

Tyres which are improperly inflated or have cracks or signs of other damage are more prone to blow outs and punctures and of course bald tyres are not just a safety hazard, but can also lead to fines, points on your license and increased insurance premiums.

But if you spot any potential problems early, you can avoid problems down the road.

Hopefully, a bit of air might be all you need, but if you do need a new tyre, remember etyres operate a free mobile fitting service and our prices are up to 40% cheaper than the leading high street depots.

And if you’ve got a puncture and you’re an existing etyres customer, it won’t cost you a penny for us to come out and repair it!

Denna Bowman, Head Office

Ordering tyres online can be quick and easy, but there are times when you need to speak to a real person to ask for advice or give special instructions.

That’s why so many of our tyres customers appreciate the personal service we offer with a helpful sales team at the end of the phone.

So when customers, like Mr D Jackson, from Bourne, have specific requests, we can make sure they are catered for.

Mr Jackson needed to get his tyres fitted before 11.15 am, because he needed his car for work. We liaised with his local branch and made sure they could carry out the job the next morning.

After the tyres were fitted Mr Jackson sent this email: “Thank you for the fast response I am very happy with the service and have been kept fully informed I received communication from the branch and found the fitter was very polite. Kindest Regards.”

Harriet, National Call Centre

By Alex Kapadia

Formula One teams are focusing on price as they edge closer to a decision on a new tyres supplier for next season.

Sam Michael, technical director for Williams, said after a meeting of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) yesterday: “The conversations really, at this point, are between Michelin and Avon.

“Avon’s a lot cheaper than Michelin but it’s a less proven product although they’ve done plenty of highly competitive tyres.

“They are a bigger unknown than Michelin because Michelin did it very recently,” he told Reuters. “But there is a significant difference in cost and you are probably talking over three times the difference in cost to the teams. So that’s what’s being debated at the moment.”

Current tyre supplier Bridgestone are withdrawing from the sport at the end of the season, and there are concerns at the safety implications of leaving it this late in finding a new supplier.

Michael also dismissed reports that a decision could be made before the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona next week.

“I think the discussion in FOTA is just acknowledgement that you’ve got to take into account a lot of different factors,” he said.

“It’s not a straight financial decision and it’s not a straight technical decision.”

By Denna Bowman

Michelin is the latest tyres manufacturer to hike prices in the US on the back of the rising cost of raw materials.

The French tyres manufacturer will increase prices on its Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, private and associate brand passenger, light truck and motorcycle tyres up to 6% on June 1.

The price hike will only apply to the replacement market.

Earlier this month, Michelin announced that it will raise prices on replacement truck tyres sold in the US by 3% to 7%, effective May 1. The same day, Michelin also will hike its US and Canada ag tyre prices by an average of 4.5%.

Industry analysts predicted Michelin would raise its prices after Bridgestone, Continental and Goodyear, three of the largest tyres manufacturers in the world, announced similar rises earlier this month due to the rising cost of materials.

Continental blamed the price hikes on the rising cost oil and natural rubber, which has doubled, and comprises 40 percent of the raw materials in a tyre.

It said oil prices rose 80 percent over last year’s period, increasing by extension the costs for a petroleum by-product used in tyres called carbon black.

When you order your replacement tyres or a new car battery you want to be certain you are getting the best price and service whether you are ordering online or on the phone.

That is what Steve Gamble found when he placed an order which was carried out by our Tunbridge Wells etyres team.

This is what he had to say: “Just wanted to say Thanks for the Awesome service. I Spoke to Lucy on the phone who was extremely helpful and cheerful, an absolute pleasure to talk to.

“Your fitter John was excellent too, he called me a couple of times to ensure we had the right part, turned up on time, was very polite and helpful and was finished in ten minutes.

“Excellent service will definitely use you again and recommend you to everyone.”

Because etyres operates a mobile tyre fitting service, our overheads are low and so are our prices - up to 40% cheaper than the leading high street tyre depots.

Harriet, National Call Centre

Michelin are delighted that Porsche has selected several of its tyres for the luxury Cayenne sports utility vehicle.

The French tyres manufacturer announced “The Michelin line-ups for Porsche’s new SUV are organised around three tyre models.”

The Michelin Latitude Tour HP, Michelin Latitude Sport and Michelin Latitude Alpin have all been chosen as original equipment for the model.

Michelin officials said: “These line-ups ensure that in summer and winter, the new Porsche Cayenne will be equipped with tyres that enhance safety performance, reduce its environmental footprint, and last longer.

The latest Porsche Cayenne, which unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2, comes with a lighter and more agile body with full sporty characters.

To support its sporty features is an 18-inch alloy wheel, and a 19“ alloy wheels for its turbo model.

The Tour HP will be available to the Cayenne in two sizes, 255/55R18 109V and 265/50R19 110 V, while the Latitude Sport will be available in three sizes: 255/55R18 109Y, 275/45R20 110Y and 295/35R21 107Y. The Latitude Alpin will be available in size 255/55R18 109V.

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

Goodyear tyres saw sales rise and losses narrow in the first quarter of the year amid growing car sales.

Losses at the Ohio-based tyres manufacturer were $47 million, an improvement over $333 million for the same period in 2009.

Revenue also rose 21 per cent in the period to $4.33 billion on stronger sales of tyres in all regions.

Richard Kramer, the new chief executive of Goodyear, said: “We are very pleased with our strong first quarter performance.”

Kramer, who took over the post from Robert Keegan two weeks ago, pointed to cost cutting measures that put Goodyear’s operating numbers in the black.

“As markets around the world continue to improve, we are starting to see the benefits of the strategic actions we took last year, including our commitment to launch innovative new products during an economic downturn.

“The strategic actions contributed to strong growth in both sales and earnings, positioning us well as the global economy continues its recovery.”

Last year Goodyear cut 5,700 jobs in a bid to trim costs during the economic downturn.

By Oliver Hall

‘Cyber’ tyres capable of monitoring themselves, road conditions and ‘talking’ with a vehicle’s electronic systems could be hitting the roads within three years.

Schrader Electronics, the automotive sensor developer, is working in conjunction with Pirelli tyres to create a sensor that is mounted on the inside of a tyre instead of on the valve or wheel rim, as is the case with currently available direct TPMS set ups.

This sensor then transmits information wirelessly to receivers mounted in the vehicle’s wheel housing and via the car’s ECU to the driver.

This enables a raft of previously unobtainable data to be relayed to the vehicle’s ABS, ESP and other electronic systems, says Schrader.

Information about the tyre’s tread depth, pressure and temperature, along with the shape of its footprint and the amount of load it is under, will be combined with precise readings of road conditions, such as the amount of grip available, to optimise control of the vehicle’s dynamics.

The company has partnered with Pirelli to deliver this technology, the first phase of which, the Cyber Tyre Lean, is anticipated to be released in Europe this year.

This product measures pressure, temperature, average load and the number of revolutions and feeds the obtained data into the vehicle’s electronic systems.

The fully intelligent tyre, to be called the ‘Cyber Tyre’, is expected in the marketplace during 2013.

Alfonso Di Pasquale, vice president of business development at Schrader Electronics, said: “Schrader is the market leader in tyre sensors and this new development continues our commitment to pushing back the boundaries of technology which can enhance a vehicle’s safety and the driving experience.”

The words “gorgeous”, “fashion” and “old tyres” are not usually found in the same sentence, but just wait until you see the latest limited edition de la Rue sandals.

They are the hottest item on the Bourgeois Boheme website and with each sole cut from recylced car tyres, every pair is unique.

The company, who strive to offer ‘fashion with compassion’ and whose mantra is ‘We believe that one
should not trade ethics for fashion, nor sacrifice style for conscience’, is already inundated with orders.

Bourgeois Boheme says: “The tyres have been hand‐cut to make the sole for each pair, making them unique, just like the sassy ladies wearing them.

“They are limited edition and in demand! Be one of the exclusives to get your hands on a pair!”

At £85 a pair they are not cheap - but they are certain to be a hit with style-conscious customers who want to do their bit for the environment.

If they sound up your street, go to www.bboheme.com.

Denna Bowman, Head Office