By Alex Kapadia

A motorist who went to his local police station to report his car tyres had been slashed was told he had to make his complaint by phone instead.

After his tyres were slashed, retired industrial chemist Andy Bevan wanted to alert the police as soon as possible so that the culprit could be caught.

But to his utter amazement a community support officer told Mr Bevan 57, he could not report the crime in person, instead he was handed a card and asked to telephone the number on it.

The matter took another bizarre twist when Mr Bevan stepped outside Hessle police station, near Hull, to use his mobile phone and an officer came out to tell him he could use a phone inside the station to contact the command centre.

Mr Bevan was understandably left dumbfounded by his treatment at the hands of Humberside Police and labelled the force’s attitude as ‘ridiculous’, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

He said he only visited the station in person after his tyres were damaged because he wanted the culprits caught and wasn’t concerned about getting a crime number to claim on insurance.

Mr Bevan said: “I told the PCSO at the counter my car was vandalised last night. He said the words to the effect: “Have you rung?”

“I said I’d just popped in to report it, and he said, “You can’t just pop in, you have to ring.”

“I said it was absolutely outrageous and if I saw bank robbers going into a bank couldn’t I come in and tell them that it was happening? They said that was different as it was a crime in progress.

“He said you have to ring in and gave me a card and that was it. He wasn’t being officious - in fact I’d give him 10 out of 10 for bedside manner.

“But I just think it’s ridiculous that you can’t report a crime in a police station - end of story.”

By Oliver Hall

Illegally dumped tyres have become an increasing environmental hazard across the globe.

Now a US city has come up with the idea of inviting dealers to stamp their tyres with a unique code, creating a way of tracing where tyres come from.

Dr. Ray Shanaa, the Killeen city planner, said: “It’s a serious problem, and it’s increasing - maybe because the cost of transportation is increasing; maybe because whoever’s dumping the tyres doesn’t want to pay for disposal fees.”

Tyres left sitting around can be a fire hazard and breeding ground for rats and snakes, not to mention the eyesore, according to Dr Shanaa. It normally costs two or three dollars for one tyre to be disposed of correctly.

Dr Shanaa will put the stamp idea to the city council next week in the hope it will deter illegal dumping.

The plan would be for the dealer to mark each tyre with a coded number and then log the sale so there would be a record of who had possession of the tyre.

There’s still time to win an amazing trip to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with Continental tyres.

As an official sponsor the tyres giant is giving away 30 premium tickets as prizes in their ContiTireKick online game.

With over 200 prizes in total to be won, including tickets for group matches, quarter-finals and the final itself, footie fans should get online to take part before the closing date at the end of the month.

Continental intentionally integrated the game completely in Facebook in recognition of the increasing significance that this popular social media platform is gaining.

To find out more about the prizes and how to enter, head over to http://www.contitirekick.com where users registered on Facebook can compete against one another and determine the best “online kickers” and “level designers” until April 30, 2010 without further registration requirements.

There are 200 prizes to be won. The most attractive prizes are definitely the 15 pairs of tickets for a group match, quarter-final match or even the final together with a three-day trip to South Africa including flights, accommodation, transfers and an attractive side program.

The two best players will receive two Conti premium tickets each for the final on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg.

If you are planning on heading out on the roads this Bank Holiday weekend you could enjoy a safer, cheaper and greener journey just by checking the air pressure in your tyres.

Making sure your car tyres are properly inflated only takes a few minutes and yet it could reduce the chances of a blow-out or puncture, cut the cost of filling up at the pumps and reduce your carbon emissions.

So, here’s our simple guide to checking your tyres pressure.

1. First check your vehicle handbook to find out what the recommended pressure is for your vehicle.

2. Unscrew the tyre valve cap – these are usually place and twist off by hand.

3. Insert the gauge into the valve and check the pressure on the gauge display. If it’s above or below the recommended pressure, it needs adjusting.

4. Use an electric tyre pump to fill to the correct level. These can be found at most petrol stations.

Finally, another tip to ensure you get the most out of your tank of fuel and reduce your CO2 emissions is to de-clutter your car. If you don’t need it, take it off the roof and out of the boot, because extra weight means more fuel consumption.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

Just four Grand Prix’s into the 2010 Formula One season and the new rules are forcing drivers to race in an ‘intelligent way’ and look after their tyres.

This is the verdict of Renault racer Robert Kubica who believes the ban on refuelling this year has led drivers to nurse their tyres for much longer stints in races - especially with the need for just a single pitstop in dry weather events.

Kubica, who has helped his team emerge as one of the surprises of the season, believes the lessons learned so far this season show that drivers now need to think their way through races, rather than simply go for the quickest laps.

He said: “This year the trends have been different.

“This year it is very important to take care of the tyres and somehow drive in the clever way - not just push for two or three laps because then the tyres degrade.

“Now we need to think about bringing the car as quickly as possible to the finish line at the end of the race - not as quickly as possible for one or two laps.

“So somehow you have to anticipate some balance changes, or pressure or differential settings to help the tyres in order to give you a better race time distance.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

More than a third of drivers in the UK are needlessly increasing their fuel bills and taking extra safety risks by failing to keep their tyres properly inflated, according to a new study.

And TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyres safety organisation, estimates that £0.7 billion of a fuel is being wasted each year as a result of under-inflation.

The organisation announced the results of its study in the month that average petrol prices reached a new all time high of 119.9p a litre.

It claims that by keeping tyres inflated to their correct pressure motorists benefit from lower fuel bills, longer tyre life, increased safety and reduced CO2 emissions.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: “The recent rises in petrol prices are hitting drivers hard, yet many are failing to make one very simple check and adjustment that could save them hundreds of pounds over the year.

“By taking just a few minutes once a month to ensure that their tyres are inflated to the recommended levels, many drivers will notice a reduction in their fuel bills, helping to make their motoring safer and more affordable again.”

In an extensive survey carried out by one TyreSafe member last year, more than 4,500 cars had their tyre pressures checked during a three-month period. An alarming 36 percent were found to be driving with tyres considered to be dangerous as they were under-inflated by more than 8psi.

When tyres run under-inflated their rolling resistance, or the force needed to make them turn, increases. This means that the engine has to work harder and more fuel is used, making the car less economical.

Calculations from another TyreSafe member show that when tyres are under-inflated by just 20 percent or around 6psi, 3 percent more fuel is used.

In addition to the extra running costs caused by under-inflation, vehicle safety is also significantly compromised. Tyres run in this state are much more likely to suffer from a blowout, typically on motorways at high speeds, as excessive heat builds up within the tyre. Handling and grip are also affected, potentially causing irregular or unpredictable vehicle behaviour.

How to check your tyre pressures correctly:

1. Check your tyre pressures at least once a month.
2. Tyre pressures should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level which can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler cap or on the driver’s door sill.
3. Check the pressure when tyres are cold (i.e. when you have travelled less than two miles).
4. If you are carrying a full load of passengers or luggage or will be towing a trailer or caravan, pressures should be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
5. Ensure a reliable and accurate gauge is used.
6. Check the pressure in all four tyres not forgetting the spare as well.
7. When checking pressures, give the rest of the tyre a visual inspection. Remove any stone or other objects embedded in the tread. Look out for any bulges, lumps or cuts.

Forget solar panels and multi-coloured rubbish bins, the ultimate must have for the eco-friendly home is a carpet made from old car tyres.

It’s one of the top-ten tips and products to help people “green” their homes suggested by Kevin McCloud, the presenter of the hit TV series Grand Designs.

The tyres carpet is “beautiful” and “amazingly durable”, according to McCloud, and should be used in all offices and in the home to tackle the 486,000 tonnes of old tyres thrown away each year.

He also sings the praises of fabric made from stinging nettles which can be used as a durable furnishing fabric, for example for covering sofas.

The Kevin’s Green Heroes initiative highlights innovative technology and ideas, and products new to this county or made by small companies or artisans.

The chosen products include solar panels which generate hot water and electricity at the same time and are more efficient as a result; products such as cloths and sponges made from recycled plastic; and wool insulation made from UK hill farm sheep.

McCloud said: “The salvation of humanity is going to depend on getting out of the carbon and resources hole by recycling, by being frugal and careful with resources, but also innovations in technology.

“These products represent the full gamut of solutions, from stuff which is cleverly recycled or ‘up-cycled’ to new technologies and hi-tech solutions.”

He said technology would have a “really significant role to play” in making living greener.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Denna Bowman

Hankook tyres have announced a surge in first-quarter net profit in the wake of strong sales due to an upturn in the global auto market.

South Korea’s largest tyres manufacturer posted a net profit of 138.1 billion won (£780 million) in the three months ended March 31, compared with a profit of 2.8 billion won for the same period a year earlier.

Seo Seung-hwa, chief executive of Hankook, said: “Last year, Hankook Tyre has amazed its competitors with an unprecedented business achievement despite economic difficulties.”

He added: “The result is a good sign suggesting we will see sustainable growth this year.”

First-quarter operating profit also jumped to 119.9 billion won from 43.5 billion won a year ago, according to the filing.

Sales rose 25.6 percent from a year ago to 778.5 billion won.

The news coincides with reports that Hankook is also set to build a new plant in China.

Heo Ki-yeol, head of Hankook Tyre China, told South Korean press that “Expansion of production capacity is a must to increase our share in the fast-growing market.

“To meet the growing demand here, we started to equip one of our existing factories with additional facilities, and are now considering building a new one.”

Goodyear tyres has been recognised as one of America’s most reputable companies by Forbes magazine.

The US tyres manufacturer was ranked 40th on the mags fifth annual listing of companies with the best reputations in the United States.

The list is based on the results the Reputation Institute’s US Reputation Pulse consumer opinion survey, which measures the overall respect, trust, esteem, admiration and good feelings consumers hold toward the country’s 150 largest companies.

Scores are based on RI’s seven dimensions of reputation: products/services, innovation, governance, workplace, citizenship, leadership and performance.

RI said the 2010 survey indicates that products/services, followed by governance and citizenship are the most influential dimensions.

Goodyear’s score of 74.24, represented a 0.79 point increase over 2009. Goodyear is the only tyre maker on the list and the highest-ranked company in the automotive industry.

Richard J. Kramer, president and chief executive officer of Goodyear, said: “This recognition is very meaningful as Goodyear’s reputation rides with consumers every time they get behind the wheel.

“It demonstrates that our high-quality, innovative tyres with fuel-saving technology are valued by American drivers.”

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tyre companies. It employs approximately 69,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

​By Denna Bowman

Alcohol, speed and bald tyres have all been highlighted as possibly contributing to the death of three youngsters in a car accident, an inquest heard.

Driver Jamie Baker, 18, Tomas Capewell, and nine-year-old Noah Amato, died after the car they were in veered out of control off the A379 and ploughed into a wall in Aveton Gifford, near Kingsbridge, last July.

All three died of multiple injuries at the scene of the accident and South Devon Coroner Ian Arrow said the tragic case should act as a reminder to all drivers.

The inquest heart that blood readings of the driver Jamie showed he had 140mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood when the legal limit is 80mg.

Motor patrol officer Darren Philp told the inquest he calculated the car had probably been travelling in the region of 69mph - the speed limit was 40mph.

He said: “The Corsa was travelling along the road from Kingsbridge to Aveton and as it entered a sweeping bend at high speed, the driver braked and steered harshly.”

The inquest heard that the front of the vehicle entered the verge and hit gateposts before becoming airborne and rolling into a stone wall.

He added that one of the back tyres had inadequate tyre tread, which could have been a contributing factor.

“It is possible the driver could have been distracted.

“The alcohol limit was in excess of the legal limit.

“I believe the collision was the result of human error,” he said.

Coroner Mr Arrow added: “I do hope the media coverage around this case will help drivers to think about their actions before they commence on their journeys.”

He recorded a verdict of unnatural accidental death.