Pirelli is on the hunt for a suitable car to help it test the new tyres it is developing for the 2013 Formula 1 season.

The Italian tyres manufacturer has been in talks with the teams over a suitable machine for its test programme to succeed the 2009 Toyota TF109 that it has previously used, according to the AUTOSPORT report.

However, Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director, claims that teams are reluctant to run the risk of any squad gaining an advantage by having its 2011 machine used for testing.

This is despite all data being shared openly between the teams and Pirelli using its own test driver to conduct the work.

“There has been a suggestion that we could modify the 2009 Toyota, but the car is now in a museum and it is not a realistic proposition,” Hembery told AUTOSPORT. “We’ve not yet been given what we think is a suitable option.

“We would like a 2011 car from somebody, but we don’t really care who it is from. We want to do our testing with precision and feel that the older the car gets, the further away it is from a state of the art car.

“We understand the teams’ point of view that they don’t want to give an advantage to anybody, but at a certain point we will have to make our own decision to achieve what we have to because nobody will give us any credit for not using a suitable car if things go wrong.”

Discussions with the teams are ongoing and Pirelli is keen to come to a consensus solution. But Hembery admitted that it was possible that the company could opt to do a deal with an individual team directly if no acceptable car is agreed upon.

“It’s quite possible, yes,” said Hembery when asked if Pirelli could buy a car from a team. “We are not interested in assisting one particular team and we need to do our job. We have some interesting ideas for 2013, but need to do work on them.

“We are going to do a lot on the simulator and probably we will do work with the teams in simulation by giving them all a black box with 20 specifications and ask them to drive on them. That I certainly don’t exclude and I’m sure they will agree.

“But In terms of finalising the tyres, particularly the compound work, we do need a number of sessions. No more than three probably, just to finalise the work. We will get there, I’m sure.”

Alex Kapadia, Operations Team

By Denna Bowman

Continental has taken the coveted top spot in evo magazine’s third annual tyres test.

The ContiSportContact3 was lavished with praise in the monthly car mag’s performance tyres test, featured in February’s issue.

The test highlights exceptional performance across areas such as wet and dry handling, aquaplaning and braking.

Seen within the motoring industry as a stamp of approval for the best performance tyre, evo described Continental’s win as “an impressively complete performance”.

Fitted across a wide range of models throughout the market, evo tested the 225/40 R18 from a range of competitor brands, with the majority of testing taking place at the extensive facilities of the MIRA proving ground.

The title praised the Continental’s abilities across areas such as wet handling and braking, taking top spot in both categories. On Continental’s wet handling evo commented: “‘Masterful’, we said of the Continental. There were some great performances on the wet circuit but the Conti still stood out, setting the fastest lap time, recording the highest lateral G, and scoring the highest subjective mark, too-it wasn’t bettered.”

The title went on to heap further praise on the ContiSportContact3 and its breadth of abilities, adding: “Especially impressive was its stability-It barely acknowledged puddles that were registered by its closest rivals, and its traction was superb. ‘Amazingly surefooted and grippy; the limit is your nerve.’”

Jonathan Hayter, product manager at Continental, said; “This additional win for the ContiSportContact3 is an excellent endorsement for our product range. The ultra high performance tyre has proven its worth yet again next to competitor products and has displayed its prowess in a number of disciplines including wet handling and braking.”

At etyres the protection of the environment is a major concern and we dispose of your old rubber in the most ecologically friendly way possible.

We use carefully selected disposal companies and the tyres are sent to remould manufacturers or used in road construction, as fuel in power stations or even sometimes used for sea defences.

However, illegal tyre dumping is becoming an increasingly serious threat to the environment as unscrupulous traders use the business to make easy money.

The scam has prompted one of the latest victims to issue a warning to other landowners.

The landowner from Towyn, near Abergele, Conwy, was approached by a man who wanted to store tyres on the plot which he said he intended to recycle.

Initially more than 20,000 were initially stored on land at Towyn near Abergele, Conwy.

She said: “It sounded a good idea. He did have some licences to transport the tyres and I just thought, ‘yes, this looks a good deal’.”

Several weeks later the man said he had got some money available to buy a machine to “crumb” the tyres, she said.

“The machine never arrived and by this time he’d filled the unit up with more and more tyres, and the Environment Agency got involved.”

Initially Ms Burt said she did not think the situation was too bad, then she realised the cost of removing the tyres would approach £30,000.

Now she has warned landlords approached to thoroughly vet potential tenants, even visiting places where they had been before.

“I don’t think the idea they had initially was what they wanted to do. They did want to con me,” she added.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Denna Bowman

A survey by Continental tyres has revealed that 14 per cent of UK commuters car-share.

According to the study carried out for the tyres manufacturer, the environmental impact of motoring is the fourth most important consideration when commuters plan their journey to work.

The biggest concern that prompted people to find an alternative was the volume of traffic and the lack of available parking.

Half of all Brits say they will leave their car at home if fuel costs rise further, however 45 per cent of those using public transport now would switch to their car if petrol prices drop.

Tim Bailey, head of safety at Continental tyres, said: “What is clear is that people still appreciate the freedom and flexibility of driving and that sets a challenge and an opportunity for manufacturers.

“Three-quarters of us want more fuel efficient cars and nearly half would consider buying a hybrid motor.

“Car makers have invested considerable time and effort into technologies for bio-diesel engines and electric powered vehicles and as a result these are becoming a more popular consideration.

“Continental is also making significant investment in fuel efficient tyres for cars and is now developing new designs specifically for electric vehicles”.

The study of 2,000 motorists for established the routine and habits of commuters as well as their preferences.

It revealed that commuters will spend 58 working weeks - more than a year of their lives - sitting in traffic as part of their daily journey to work.

The survey also claimed that just over half, 51 per cent, of the respondents identified negative ways in which their commute affected their performance at work citing issues like feeling stressed and lacking energy due to delays.

Continental describe it as an ‘honour’ that its winter tyres have been awarded Best Buy status by consumer champion Which?

The ContiWinterContact TS830 and TS800 tyres made their mark in the Which? winter tyre test which put a wide range of tyre brands across six of the most popular sizes on the market through their paces.

Fitted to popular models such as the VW Golf, Renault Laguna and Vauxhall Zafira, the ContiWinterContact TS830 in size 205/55 R16 was praised across a range of areas, beating its competitors with an overall rating of 72%. Its grip on ice and performance in dry conditions was also praised.

Which? Car commented: “The ContiWinterContact TS830 offers first-rate grip on snow and is class leader for grip and handling in wet conditions too.”

The consumer title also recognised the ContiWinterContact TS800 in size 175/65 R14T. Commonly fitted to popular superminis such as the Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, Which? Car awarded a test score of 75%. The TS800 was praised for its performance in conventional wet and dry conditions, as well as its wear rate.

Which? Car added: “This Continental is a class-leading tyre, with its grip on snow second to none, it is also the most fuel efficient tyre in the batch.”

Peter Robb, brand manager at Continental, said; “Although widely fitted across Europe, there is a huge lack of awareness in the UK about winter tyres. These latest accolades are testimony to the overall high performance and safety of both the TS830 and TS800.

“It’s a real honour to be recognised in these independent tests by a leading consumer magazine.”

Which? also directed motorists to etyres when they need to buy new tyres.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Denna Bowman

Commuters will waste more than a year of their lives stuck in traffic jams, according to a new study by a leading tyres manufacturer.

Continental Tyres claims that the 18 million workers who commute by car will spend 58 working weeks sitting in traffic on their daily journey - which adds up to more than 100 million lost working days every year.

The study of 2,000 motorists concluded that the average daily commute covered 28 miles and took 41 minutes, with 12 minutes lost every day in jams and delays.

Tim Bailey, head of safety at Continental Tyres, said: “People are clearly concerned about congestion and rising fuel costs, but using the car remains the preferred option for most.

“With 63 per cent of workers using their car on at least four of five days in the working week, planners and government need to recognise that the morning and evening rush-hour is going to be a feature of life in Britain for some time to come.

“For individuals it means frustration but for the economy as a whole it means lost productivity and increased emissions, so it remains a key issue to tackle.”

If you’re not one of the special, chosen few who are on the mailing list to receive the coveted Pirelli calendar, you can get a little peak by going onto the Italian tyres manufacturers website.

British models Kate Moss and Lara Stone grace the glossy pages of the 2012 edition of ‘The Cal’ which was shot by Mario Sorrenti, the first Italian photographer in the history of a calendar that has become a cult.

Sorrenti chose the island of Corsica and its rugged landscape to create his ‘swoon’: ecstasy captured by images.

“The intense relationship between a photographer and his Muse is the very essence of the creation of a strong aesthetic dialogue which leads to the sublimation of natural beauty,” he explained.

“In making “The Cal™”, I approached the subjects of my pictures by building a straightforward, intimate and real relationship which made it possible for me to instill the images with purity.

“In “swoon”, I put the bodies in direct contact with Nature, which harbors them as if they were its extension, in a set of images where rocks, land, tree trunks, sky and sea are all turned into a backdrop for the bodies.”

The 25 pictures of the 2012 “Calendario Pirelli” eighteen black and white and seven colour – are presented in a refined, canvas-lined portfolio, a format that has never been used before.

For a closer look go to http://www.pirelli.com/corporate/en/company/brand/calendar/cal-12/default.html.

Denna Bowman, Head Office

By Denna Bowman

Michelin is anticipating a substantial rise in the sales of cold weather tyres this winter, despite the unusually mild weather enjoyed by most parts of the UK during the past three months.

The French tyres manufacturer has estimated that around half a million winter tyres were sold by the end of December 2011, about 50% more than by the same time last winter.

The figures is also about three or four times as many as a few years ago and is regarded as even more impressive given that the tough economic climate has meant motorists have less cash to spare.

Jianni Geras, head of car marketing at Michelin Tyre PLC, said: “This increase in the sales of cold weather tyres marks a real change in motorists’ behaviour, as drivers appear determined to avoid the chaos of losing grip on icy or snow covered winter roads.

“This is also being taken on board by tyre retailers.”

Cold weather tyres, which are effective in all conditions when temperatures are below about 7 degrees Celsius, and not just when it is snowy, are routinely fitted by drivers in many continental countries but British car-owners only started taking a real interest in them after recent severe winters.

The tyres rely for their improved grip in winter conditions on rubber compounds that differ from those used in summer tyres, and tread patterns designed to disperse water or slush effectively and key into snowy surfaces.

By Denna Bowman

Bridgestone has announced it has developed a revolutionary new printing technology which it is planning on bringing to market as soon as possible.

Until now, white rubber has been used on the sidewalls of tyres to manufacture white ribbon and white letter tyres. This process requires the use of large amounts of white rubber to prevent discoloration and to also maintain durability.

This conventional manufacturing process can also add additional weight to the tyre.

Bridgestone’s advanced tyre printing technology consists of the layer to protect from discoloration as the base, inks newly developed for this technology, and the layer to protect from external damages on the surface.

Through this new technology, Bridgestone can realise the more creative showcase of tyres while also considering environmental concerns such as fuel efficiency, without any additional weight to the tyre.

Bridgestone will continue to explore the many opportunities associated with this new tyre printing technology, including the concept of printing original customer designs or photographs on the sidewalls.

Bridgestone plans to quickly bring this tyre printing technology to market.

If you are planning on driving off on a skiing holiday, make sure heed the advice of Daily Mail skiing expert Neil English and don’t make the same mistake he did regarding his tyres.

Not having winter tyres fitted before he left the UK turned his routine road trip to Switzerland into a ‘nightmare, according to his article in the newspaper today.

English wrote: “I should have bought new winter tyres for my 4×4 last September but I put it off, gambling that I could probably still make my trip to the Alps on summer tyres. I planned to find somebody to fit the new ones in Switzerland just before I tackled the most difficult part of the journey - up the mountain road to the resort of Villars-sur-Ollon.

“After researching online, I discovered I could get the tyres at a great price from a garage outside Lausanne. I just had to make sure I reached the garage before it closed at 5.30pm.

“I like to cross the Channel from Dover by ferry, meaning I roll on to the motorway at Calais at about 9am. That gives me nine hours to reach Alpine resorts without breaking the strict speed limits on toll roads. However, it poured with rain all the way through France, meaning my progress was slow.

“I suffered another setback when my usual route over the Jura mountain pass - which climbs to 3,280ft and provides a short cut from Besancon in France down towards Lausanne in Switzerland - was closed to all vehicles without chains due to heavy snow.

“The diversion via Geneva added a further 90 minutes to my journey - and by now, snow was falling heavily. I made it to Lausanne at about 6pm, and was relieved to find the garage was still open and willing to switch my tyres. Phew!

“There’s no way I would have made it up the mountain without them. I saw countless vehicles stranded or pulled over at the side of the road, with people battling to attach chains to their tyres in a violent snowstorm.

“The moral of the story is either have chains and be prepared to put them on and take them off when the conditions change, or invest in snow tyres as early as you can.”

To read the full article go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2086955/Ski-holidays-Dont-gamble-safety-drive-slopes.html#ixzz1jdfHpnUr

Denna Bowman, Head Office