By Denna Bowman

Bridgestone Europe is set to increase the price of its consumer, commercial and specialty tyres, starting from October 2010.

Prices will rise by three to six per cent depending on the market and product category, according to the Japanese tyres manufacturer.

Makio Ohashi, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe, said: “The increase in the cost in raw materials has continued and reached a historically high level. We have to recover some of those costs by this price increase and most probably further increases will be necessary in the coming year.”

He continued: “Having encouraging signs of demand recovery trend in many tyre segments, we have already been operating all of our European tyre plants at full production and the production expansion of new East European plants is in progress as planned.

“In order to continue fulfilling our commitment to European market, we have to make this sensible decision to increase prices and maintain a sound and solid business foundation.”

RoadSafe is the latest organisation to back a major tyres groups calls on the government not to reduce the frequency of the MOT in the UK.

The Tyre Industry Federation says 12% of tyres are illegal on replacement and this number is increasing as the economic downturn continue.

In the UK, vehicles must have their first test within three years of registration, and annual tests thereafter. As a minimum, EU law requires vehicles to have their first test when they are four years old and subsequent tests every two years.

Most European countries follow the EU minimum requirement and there is pressure on the UK to do the same. RoadSafe is warning that this will lead to more crashes, caused by poorly maintained vehicles.

Testers in the UK identify 8.5 million cars with defects every year. In its own review of the MOT in 2008, the Department of Transport said reducing the test’s frequency would significantly increase the number of unroadworthy cars and casualties.

Now RoadSafe has added its voice to the TIF campaign.

Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe, said: “Many owners just don’t realise that tyres are a vital part of the braking system. They are one of several essential safety features that drivers seldom check.

“An annual MOT is vital for picking up these problems. RoadSafe joins the Tyre Industry Federation, and other campaigners, with a warning to government, that extending the period between MOT tests will put lives at risk.”

When it comes to ordering new tyres many of our customers tell us they chose etyres not just because our prices were so low, but because they were drawn to our convenient free mobile tyres fitting service.

But out tyres fitting service goes beyond low prices and hassle-free fitting at your home or work - our fitters are happy to go the extra mile to give customer satisfaction, as Mr A Virk from Twickenham found out when he called on our Kingston branch for four new Firestone tyres.

This is what he had to say in an email: “Adam came earlier to fit my tyres. I’d just like to comment on how helpful and professional he was, going above and beyond his duties to fit my spare tyre under my car as well.

“This was my first time using etyres. I will definitely use you again when I next replace my tyres.
Many thanks.”

It is precisely because etyres operates a mobile fitting service that our prices are so low - we don’t have to over-inflate our prices to cover expensive overheads.

Robin, National Sales Team

By Alex Kapadia

Pirelli wants to contribute to the excitement of the Formula One “show” as the new tyres supplier, but admits it needs to be “more conservative” at some circuits.

The Italian tyres manufacturer warns F1 fans that it will be a learning year after it takes over from Bridgestone.

So far this year, the outgoing tyre supplier has spiced up the track action at several meetings with its tyre allocations.

And Pirelli has vowed to attempt to contribute to the “show” in the design and supply of its products.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s racing chief, said: “We will seek to do this, alongside the needs of the teams.

“To produce durable and high performance tyres is not a problem,” he added. “The challenge is to find the right compromise between lifespan and durability, with regards to the show.”

Pirelli has already begun its on-track 2011 tyre development programme, with a schedule through to November including Mugello, Paul Ricard, Jerez, Monza and Abu Dhabi.

However, Hembery said: “It could be that because we cannot test at all the (Grand Prix) circuits that we need to be more conservative at some places, so that the tyres can survive but the show doesn’t benefit as everyone would want.

“It must be understood that 2011 is our first year,” he added.

By Alex Kapadia

Bridgestone admitted its tyres faced one of the toughest challenges of the Formula One season during the Belgian Grand Prix yesterday.

Hirohide Hamashima, director of motorsport tyre development for the Japanese tyres manufacturer which is leaving the sport at the end of the season, said: “The Spa weather gave us a very difficult situation, even for our last visit here.

“This was a very tough day for those on track and those on the pit wall. Spa has such a long lap that you cannot be on the correct tyre for an entire lap as the conditions can vary from very wet to damp to dry over the undulating 7km of this fabulous track.

“Judging the level of grip, even when you are not on the correct tyre, is a very important aspect of the art of driving a racing car, so it was a pleasure to watch this art in practice. Even the very best drivers in the world can make mistakes in conditions like we had today, and those who were able to minimise their mistakes were able to achieve good results.”

He added: “Making a perfect tyre is a very difficult challenge, however the four tyres we had here today covered the range of conditions we experienced admirably and we thank our technicians in Tokyo for their fine efforts to develop such good tyres.”

Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton - he got the tyres strategy right for the Belgian Grand Prix and stormed home to victory and back to the top of the championship.

The McLaren racer triumphed during the chaotic race, which even saw him escape from the gravel trap and avoid slamming into the tyres wall.

Having beaten polesitter Webber off the line into the first corner, Hamilton confessed he had hoped for a straightforward dry race and admits the changing grip levels had been a big challenge.

“It was a great weekend,” he said after reclaiming the championship lead from Webber.

“[It was] Very, very tough race for me, [although it was the] same for everyone.

“[I was] Praying for just a race that went smoothly but obviously with the conditions when it started to rain, losing temperature in the tyres and not really knowing how much you could push in each corner.”

Prior to the late onset of wet weather Hamilton had been told over the radio on several occasions by his race engineer that McLaren would wait until it became clear a switch to intermediate tyres was definitely necessary before they brought him into the pits.

It meant he, along with the top runners, had to carry on for an extra lap in the increasingly slippery conditions – something Hamilton admits was difficult to manage, but the only sensible strategy.

“It’s a difficult call because the team are telling you there’s rain coming and the previous times it was just a little light shower and it dries up very quickly, but you didn’t know what to expect,” he said.

“Although there was very dark clouds above us, it begun to rain quite heavily and you’re praying you wish you can come in – but it’s too late once you’ve gone past the pit lane.

“But fortunately I got round and changed the tyres. They had a fantastic pit stop – probably the best one I’ve had this year – and I guess that’s what helped get us out there.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

If you need to get your new tyres fitted, but don’t want to take valuable time out of work to get the job done, etyres is the perfect choice.

Our free mobile fitting service means we fit our customers tyres at a location of their choice - at home or the workplace.

And our Middlesbrough branch were delighted to save Dr H Turner’s day from turning into a washout for several reasons when she called on their services.

This is what she had to say in an email: “I would like to commend the service that I have received from yourselves. From arranging fitting on the website, to eventual completion, all of your staff and correspondence has been timely, efficient and extremely user friendly.

“I would particulaly like to mention Chris, the gentleman who fitted my tyres. He was very friendly and polite and extremely efficient and understanding of the fact I was at my place of work. He even let me sit in his van because it was pouring down with rain!

“I shall be actively recommending you to both friends and family. Thank you for an excellent service.”

Alex, National Sales Team

By Alex Kapadia

Red Bull racing driver Mark Webber powered to his fifth pole of the season using Bridgestone’s soft tyres ahead of tomorrows Belgian Grand Prix.

With mixed weather conditions at the Spa Francorchamps circuit the full complement of tyres were used today, with wet and intermediate as well as hard and soft dry slick tyres.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton joins Webber at the front of the grid, after setting the second fastest time late in the qualifying session despite rainfall on sections of the track.

Hirohide Hamashima, director of motorsport tyre development for Bridgestone, said: “Today was all about timing. The challenge for teams and drivers was ensuring they were on the right tyre at the right time.

“Mark timed his pole lap to perfection, but Lewis drove exceptionally well to set the second fastest lap despite the rain falling once more.

“Again, it was a difficult day for everyone with numerous rain showers. We saw use of our full range of tyres here today. The qualifying sessions were particularly difficult, leaving us with an interesting grid for tomorrow’s race.”

He added that teams will have to take several factors into consideration ahead of tomorrow’s race. “The first consideration is the weather. If there is any rain tomorrow, teams will have to evaluate the usable wet and intermediate tyres they have left from their allocations for the weekend and decide which will be best for the conditions.

“If there are many rain showers in the race it will be difficult in terms of tyre management because a drying track wears the wet and intermediate tyres very quickly.

“If the track is damp, a set of previously used intermediate tyres could be the best solution for the conditions.

“With such a long lap here, it is very difficult for everyone to make the correct choice, and the penalty for being on the wrong tyre is amplified by the length of the lap.

“If it is dry tomorrow, there will be the interest of which dry compound performs best. As we have had so little dry running so far there is little performance data so teams will have to be very reactive in their strategies.

“I will be very surprised if we have a dull race tomorrow.”

By Denna Bowman

The experts at Which? Car have just released the results of their latest car tyre tests, revealing an alarming disparity between the best and worst products.

Of the 119 different car tyres on test, 38 were awarded Best Buy status for their good grip, low rolling resistance and lack of annoying road noise. However, 13 had such poor grip, handling or braking that our experts were forced to brand them Don’t Buys.

One of the tyres Which? Car put through its paces was so bad at braking in the wet that it travelled nearly 20m further than the best tyre on test. That could be the difference between stopping safely and ploughing into a high-speed accident.

Claire Evans, deputy editor of Which? Car, said: “All the car tyres we tested meet the minimum legal standards for safety, but the difference between the best and worst products is incredible - and could make the difference between crashing and staying safe.

‘For this reason, we always suggest drivers research what’s available before handing over the cash for a new set of tyres.’

The Which? Car guide to car tyres features detailed reviews of individual tyres (including guide prices) and a list of our top six car tyre brands.

It rated 18 tyre makers and considered the factors most crucial to every user - grip and handling in the most extreme of wet conditions and on dry tarmac and concrete. The tests also investigated what happened on the straight and in a series of severe bends.

The top six brands were Continental in first place, followed by Michelin, Bridgestone, Uniroyal, Goodyear and Pirelli.

Variable weather meant F1 teams had plenty of issues to get to grips with during the first practice sessions for the Belgian Grand Prix

Hirohide Hamashima, director of motorsport tyre development for the Japanese tyres manufacturer, said: “Today we were able to evaluate our full range of tyres that we have here in Spa, so this gives us and the teams useful data when looking to the rest of the weekend.

“Over the years we have seen a lot of rain here at Spa, but today it has been very wet indeed. Despite this, we were still able to have some dry running between the showers.

“The teams will be able to determine the crossover point for when is best to change from the wet to the intermediate or to the dry tyres and this could prove vital if we have a wet qualifying session tomorrow, or wet race on Sunday.

“When we have variable weather conditions, the challenge is being on the right tyre at the right time. This challenge is made even more difficult when you have a long lap like here in Spa. As we saw today, one part of the track can be nearly dry, whilst another very wet. A wet tyre wears very quickly when used on a dry track and a dry tyre is not very good when the track is very wet, so the drivers and teams have a lot of work to do in these conditions.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team