PM 40014105 Atlas Wholesale Inc. TireAtlas Wholesale Made in China Rakla proudly stands behind their suppliers er 2010 / 4,95 / 2010 NOVEMBer / 4 Number / 7 volume President, Rakla Tires www.autosphere.ca Aziz Rakla $ EXPERIENCE CORGHI’S TECHNOLOGY. ASK FOR A DEMONSTRATION, IT WILL CONVINCE YOU.

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WWW.CORGHIONTARIO.COM ONTARIO Contents November 2010

14 C O V E R S TORY 8

features

8 NASCAR, it’s mechanical! 25 A customer retention solution Not sophisticated? Think twice Tire storage

10 Tire testing 26 Winter testing in Florida’s heat Winter and All Weather offerings Air force base provides snow from Hankook indoors for tire testing

12 Updating the business 27 1 million wide-base tires News from the OTR X-One and AG tire segments 30 Supplier spotlight 14 Rakla Tires stands behind their suppliers Focus on the future Made in China... Proudly!

16 Lead issues R E G U LAR S Part 1: Why get rid of it?

18 Managing tires 4 ...... Editorial The right software is your best friend 22, 28 ...... Industry events 19 Could it be tomorrow’s tire? Optima introduces the ...... New products Camber Tire technology 6, 7

20 For three years minimum 29 ...... Advertisers Pirelli: back in Formula One

24 Recycling regulations Leveling the playing field

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 3 editorial

Founding President Rémy L. Rousseau Contributing Editors Shirley Brown, Claude Boucher, Philippe Crowe, Éric Descarries, Simon Dion-Viens, Jack Kazmierski, Jil McIntosh and Daniel Rufiange Revisor and Translator Shirley Brown and François Charron Photographer Marie-josée Rousseau Graphic designer Kevin Foster Circulation Manager Nancy Belleville Administrative Assistant Françoise Poynee Sales Assistant Marie-Hélène Côté Tire Pricing? Business Developement Managers Nathalie Plouffe 416-925-5665 Price doesn’t always [email protected] Luc Champagne 514-945-1299 equal dollars [email protected] Réjean A . Rousseau 450-649-9007 Well, it’s that time of year again… the time when consumers ‘shop’ [email protected] for pricing! Sell more than tire and services; sell added value. Subscription 1 year: $19.95 2 years: $34.95 3 years: $49.95 hen consumers come to your tire but there will likely be some problems with Printer store, they really don’t just come the purchase… are the tires the correct size, Publications 9417 are they the correct tire for that particular for a price… but to purchase a Published by W vehicle. Consumers don’t always know what product and service at a price! It’s up to they’re buying on the Internet… other than you as the tire store owner or the service price! advisor to explain in detail what you are 455, rue Notre-Dame est, suite 311, offering at your store… for a price! You have the answers Montréal QC, H2Y 1C9 When the consumer comes to your particular T : 514-289-0888 / 1-877-989-0888 tire store, you should have all the answers F : 514-289-5151 Yes, you need to sell tires… but how about E: administration@autosphere .ca all the rest of the products that are part of and all the products and services available. It’s not just ‘price’, it’s what goes with it Tire News Magazine is dedicated to serving the business the tires—they too, need to be checked. interests of the Canadian tire industry. It is published four How about the valve stems, the wheel that’s even more important for you and your times a year by Rousseau Automotive Communication, a member of AIA Canada. weights (not lead, I hope), cleaning the rims customer. You are the expert… you can tell them what type, quality they need and if the Material in Tire News Magazine may not be reproduced in properly, TPMS, tread depth of the tires, the any form without written consent from the publisher. The wheels, the tire pressure, storage for their tire is the correct one for their vehicle in or- publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and der for your client’s safety and for the kind of disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by ‘summer’ tires, etc. its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions driving they are doing. and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to Internet shopping be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by Remember it’s not always about price… Rousseau Automotive Communication. Some people will go to the Internet to source it’s about the services and product that go Publications Mail Agreement 40014105. Return undelivrable pricing… and they will discover all kinds of together for safe driving. Canadian addresses to prices from all kinds of places for the same Rousseau Automotive Communication / Circulation Department, 455, rue Notre-Dame est, suite 311, product. But, you need to explain the value We have all kinds of article and photo fea- Montréal QC, H2Y 1C9 of what you’re selling and the Internet can’t tures about products and services on our do that. Consumers also forget that if they website autosphere.ca. Check it out, you’ll do purchase on the Internet, they must pay be surprised. (usually) for the shipping and be there when the package arrives. And how about instal- lation… they have to go somewhere else for that. Buying through the Internet may be OK, Rémy L. Rousseau [email protected]

4 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | **BINDING EDGE**BINDING EDGE* *BINDING EDGE**

NEW!

The ESPIA EPZ, Falken’s latest addition to the winter tire line up. It provides superb traction even in the harshest weather conditions. Specially designed canyon sipes and a fiberglass-reinforced rubber compound allow the EPZ to “claw” the roughness of ice and stubbornness of snow in a non-studded alternative to the traditional winter tire. With 10 sizes available August 1st, 2010 the new ESPIA EPZ is the perfect choice capable of conquering mother nature at her worst.

NEW TECHNOLOGy CANyON SIPES SELF-mAINTENANCE mECHANISm Siping inside the block is composed of complex An anti-aging agent maintains fundamental functions zigzag bodies improving overall grip on snow and ice

DUAL-PURPOSE TREAD PATTERN CIRCUmFERENTIAL GROOVES “ICE FACE” maximize hydroplane resistance by provides for a wider center tread and expanded channeling water away from the contact lateral shoulder area grooves patch in wet weather conditions

DUAL-PURPOSE TREAD PATTERN NyLON REINFORCED SHOULDERS “SNOW FACE” improved high speed stability and handling expanded lateral shoulder area grooves takes on snow-packed roads STEEL bELTS stiffer wide steel belts offer greater tread rigidity, SHOULDER-EDGE WAVE SIPE superior grip and high speed stability provides a stronger resistance to wandering HIGH TENSION CARCASS increase handling response and high speed stability

Follow us: Become a Falken Fanatic at wegetyougoing.com www.falkentire.com 13649 Valley Blvd. / Fontana, CA 92335 / Tel: 800.723.2553 Fax: 909.466.1169

TIRE 800.723.2553 | FALKEN | Tire News_Canada | *RIGHT HAND Full Page Ad* | AUG 2010 | 10.875”H x 8.125”W New products

New Muscle Car Toyo Tire Bridgestone Ecopia EP150 Toyo’s Proxes TQ is a street legal Bridgestone Corp. has launched a line of eco-friendly tires, drag radial designed specifically the Ecopia EP150. for high-horsepower muscle cars and street machines The products were displayed at the International Motor Show (IAA) in to deliver power to the Frankfurt, Germany. Compared with current Bridgestone products in the track, the company reports. same dimensions, the company claims its new Ecopia EP150 has a 15 Featuring a dual-purpose percent improved — making it, on average, about 3

low-void asymmetric tread percent more fuel-efficient while achieving a reduction in CO2 output of design, it has a semi-slick around 3 %. inner area to improve trac- tion. On the street, a vari- The Ecopia EP150 will be introduced as an integrated replacement and able pitch outer area of the original equipment product, targeting tread reduces pattern noise. compacts and mid-sized passen- Combined with the company’s ger cars with 14- to 16-inch Tmode design ­technology, drag ra- rim sizes in 55 to 65 series. dial tread compound and special drag-race radial ­construction, the tire delivers a smooth, quiet ride on the street and quicker No release date for the 60-foot times at the track. Canadian market has been unveiled. TRW Continues to Drive Affordable Safety with Low-Cost TPMS Yokohama’s new BluEarth AE-01 TRW Automotive announced the launch of its LCCI (Low Cost wins Good Design Award Clamp-In) sensor for Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd’s new applications in 2011 model year vehicles. BluEarth AE-01 passenger tire has won the Good Design Award from the The new design, which TRW says results in significantly lowered Japan Industrial Design Promotion costs for the system, features a valve that screws directly into the Organization. housing, allowing for a single housing with multiple valve design capability. This results in fewer parts and higher reliability The eco-friendly BluEarth was than using a screw and nut, according to the company. introduced this past July. “Under the new BluEarth concept... Yokohama endeavors to be ­environmentally friendly through The new design also features laser welding of the excellent fuel efficiency,” say com- cover to the housing, a compliant pin battery and valve pany officials. connection, and a heat-resistant, long-life battery capable of operating within a range of -40 to 120 degrees Celsius. This marks the third time that Yokohama has won the Good Design Contact your local TRW representative or visit www.trw.com. Award.

Dunlop Rover H/T all-season Key features of the new tire include the company’s V-Lock Goodyear has launched the Dunlop Rover H/T all-season tire Grooves, which are designed to deliver enhanced grip through for SUV and light truck fitments, replacing the more dated the use of aggressively styled biting edges. The tire also includes GrandTrek AT20 and Rover A/T. dimensionally stable polyester to help maintain ; Versaload Technology to maxi- Goodyear is offering the Dunlop Rover H/T in 25 P-metric SUV mize the tire’s contact footprint; and 5-Pitch sizes backed by a 60,000-mile limited tread life warranty and Technology, which the company said aids in eight light truck sizes backed by a 45,000-mile warranty. Each noise reduction. tire is also backed by Dunlop’s 30-Day Pledge, which allows customers to bring back a set of tires within the first 30 days of The entire line will be available on the ­market purchase and exchange them for another set. by January.

6 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | More on autosphere.ca

A Green Recylable Tire Bag Goodyear standard Eco-logik, a Montérégie-based company, has developed the most fitment on 2011 eco-friendly recyclable tire bag on the market today. With much Ford Explorer respect for the environment, this robust and well-designed product Ford Motor Co. has is the first reusable tire bag. selected Goodyear’s Fortera HL all-season Made out of flexible polypropylene, this bag is washable, durable, SUV tire as an OE recyclable and folds up easily. Its porous material means that the fitment for the 2011 tire can breathe, ideally suited to ensure the longevity of your Ford Explorer. investment. The Eco-logik tire bag is equipped with heavy-duty drawstrings to protect your clothes and your vehicle from dirt and The Fortera HL in size grime. Its handle-free design offers a more ergonomic grip by the P 2 4 5 / 6 5 R 1 7 w i l l b e rim (of single tires) or by standard fitment for the SE the middle of the tire. version of the Explorer, which No more heavy-lifting or has been completely redesigned bags that drag behind and is expected to hit dealer showrooms this winter. The on the ground. vehicle features a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of generating 290 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, and also is available in a Available in both black 2-liter EcoBoost engine that generates 237 hp at 5,500 rpm. and blue, Eco-logik tire bags are designed Goodyear’s Fortera HL features staggered circumferential and manufactured in grooves, curvilinear blades and see-through grooves for Canada. enhanced forward and lateral traction, according to the tire maker’s website. It includes a 60,000-mile tread wear For more information, warranty and is available in 16 sizes ranging from 17 to 20 visit www.e-logik.ca. inches in diameter.

UNIMAX TIRE INFLATES CONSIDERABLY. WITH OUR NEWWit WAREHOUSEH our NeW W areIN HMONCTON,ouSe iN MoN WEcto NNOW, We N oCOVERW cover ALL all ATLANTIC of atlaNtic CANADA. caNada.

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Heather Burgwin | 902.468.1179 | 1 877 779.3484 | [email protected]

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 7 NASCAR, it’s mechanical! Éric Descarries Not sophisticated? [email protected] Think twice

n many peoples’ mind, NASCAR race cars are not highly sophisticated Ipieces of equipment. Granted, com- pared to a Formula One, a NASCAR race car shows a lot less technology. But yet, NASCAR rules are so tight, racing teams 1 2 have to develop competition parts that will not only be fast, but also reliable.

Recently, NASCAR had a Nationwide race in Montreal. Nationwide cars are very close to Sprint Cup cars. So, many of their mechanical components do look alike. But the Montreal event is a road 3 4 course race. Consequently, NASCAR teams have to use their race cars spe- cifically built for such courses (most NASCAR teams have almost a dozen identical race car, each one designed for a specific type of track). Road courses are demanding. The cars must then be 5 6 completely symmetrical. Race prepara- tion is done 90% at the race shop. Yet, there is still a lot to do at the track before the race, mostly preparing the cars (most teams show up with two cars, the second being a back-up vehicle) first for the NASCAR inspection. And that is 7 8 serious business!

1: NASCAR Nationwide cars designed for road courses are equipped with very beefy brakes. Still, NASCAR has limited their capacity, forcing the race teams to come up with even better preparation.

2: The overhead valve 358 cubic inch (5.9 litre) V-8 engines used in NASCAR Nationwide races are based on original production engines. Yet, they are strictly designed for racing. They develop more than 600 horsepower.

3: NASCAR Nationwide engines must have restriction plates under the carburetor. In Montreal, the holes had to be 1 1/8-inch in diameter.

4: Carburetors are restricted to 390 cfm in the Nationwide series (830 cfm in the Sprint Cup series) and must be inspected by NASCAR officials before the race.

5: Working on a 3400 lbs race car is not always as easy as it seems.

6: Goodyear is the sole supplier of tires for NASCAR’s most important series. The manufacturer usually posts the tire pressure it recommends for the specific track.

7: NASCAR also has lighter classes such as the local Canadian Tire series. The cars weigh only 3000 lbs including driver. But they are allowed to use almost only stock parts such as these brakes, smaller than the Nationwide brakes seen elsewhere on this page.

8: In the lower Canadian Tire series, the engines are less powerful since they usually come from the manufacturer. Consequently, drivers like Don Thomson Jr. with smaller teams (and budget) can work on their engine!

8 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | Features & Benefits Features & Benefits improved tread pattern: improvedParallel ctreadentra lpattern: ribs to improve vehicle handling SPtaarballele sl hceonutldraelr r biblos ctkos i mwpitrho Fveo rvceeh Ticralen hsmanisdsliinogn Links to increase performance CStiracbulem sfehroeunltdiaelr cbelonctrkasl gwriotho vFeo rfocer fTarsatn dsrmaiinsasgioen, Lsliunskhs teox pinuclrseioans ea npde rbfoertmtear nsceelf cleaning Circumferential central groove for fast drainage, slush expulsion and better self cleaning increased sipe density and 3D Drop sipes: increasedMore gri psipe edg edensitys for be tandter s 3Dnow Drop hand sipes:ling performance More grip edges for better snow handling performance nordic silica compound: nordicInnov silicaative w compound:inter grip polymer for improved snow traction, performance and ice grip Innovative winter grip polymer for improved snow traction, performance and ice grip

NORD*FROST 5 Takes traction on winter* roads to a new dimension. Takes traction on winter roads to a new dimension.

NORD FROST 5 13 inch * 16 inch 155/8103R 1in3c 7h9T* SL 225/751R61 i6n c1h04T SL 1755/780R13 8729T SL 2125/705R16 1004T SL 175/7104R i1n3c h82T SL 2215/70R16 1020T SL 175/701R41 in4c 8h4T SL 2215/7605R16 102T SLXL 1875/70R14 884T SL 2105/650R16 1 9062T XL 1985/70R14 9818T SL 221055//6600RR1166 9956TT SLXL 1795/6750R14 8921T SL 2215/60R16 1 9052T SLXL 1875/65R14 862T SL 2205/6505R16 1 9042T XL 185/605R14 826T SL 2105/55R16 974T XL 185/601R5 1in4c 8h2T SL 2215/55R16 997T XL 205/701R51 in5c 9h6T SL 225/551R7 1in6c h 99T XL 2105/70R15 986T SL 225/651R71 i7n c1h02T SL 21185/7605R15 988T SL 222355//6655R1177 110028T SLXL 1985/65R15 9818T SL 235/565R17 1038T XL 21095/65R15 941T SL 2305/550R17 1 903T XL 21085/650R15 9848T SLXL 2205/50R17 983T XL 119855//6600RR1155 8888TT SLXL 225/4550R17 948T XL 195/6505R15 889T SLXL 225/451R8 1in7c h 94T XL 195/55R15 89T XL 245/401R8 1in8c h 97T XL 245/40R18 97T XL

ATLAS TIRE WHOLESALE INC. A20TLAS Years TIRE of Service WHOLESALE to the Trade INC. 20 YearsExclusive Gislavedof Service Distributor to forthe Ontario Trade Exclusive Gislaved Distributor for Ontario Dealer Enquiries Welcome Dealer Enquiries Welcome The Swedish Winter Tire Experts. Call (905) 670-7354 Ext. 270 The Swedish Winter Tire Experts. Call (905)TOLL FREE 670-7354 NUMBERS AVAILABLE Ext. 270 e-mail: [email protected] FREE NUMBERS AVwwwAILABLE.gislavedontario.ca e-mail: [email protected] www.gislavedontario.ca Tire testing Philippe Crowe [email protected] Winter and bAll Weather offerings from Hankook Hankook invited a selected group of journalists to sample, on an ice rink,

a couple of their tires worthy of the snowflake logo. The all weather Optimo 4S

he first tire tested is Hankook The Hankook Winter i*cept evo bWinter i*cept evo. This tire, though will be available in 40-plus Tnow available in Europe and in very sizes ranging from 16 to limited sizes in the U.S., will be available 18 inches. Being a tire up here for the 2011/2012 winter. The aimed at high-per- Winter i*cept evo, codenamed W310, formance vehicles, is a winter tire with a focus on high- most sizes will performance. 3D sipes andb large lateral be v-rated. We grooves have been integrated in the look forward to design to offer good control in snowy spending more conditions. The rubber compound com- time with this bbined with the tread design allowed for new tire which impressive initial bite as well as good seemed impres- braking distances on the ice. sive in this limited initial contact.

The Hankook Winter i*cept evo All weather, more than all season… The other Hankook tire on hand was the all weather Optimo 4S. Codenamed H730, The Optimo 4S is currently available in this tire is presently available 28 sizes, ranging from 14 to 18 inches. in Canada through the OK Tire These sizes are only for passenger cars. network and offers true winter Price-wise, the Optimo 4S is now of- driving capabilities in a pack- fered between 15 to 20% less than the age that can be kept on the Nokian equivalent. car all year long. The asym- metric tread design offers a William R. Hume, vice president of good balance between win- Hankook Tire Canada, strongly believes ter and summer performance in the all weather segment. “It is a niche needs, with the inside offer- in which we see a lot of growth,” said ing additional kerfs for good Hume. “All weather tires will never re- snow and ice performance. place a dedicated winter tire, but the The short loops, slalom and concept of having only one set of tires all brake tests around the ice year long, with true winter capabilities, rink showed this tire truly has fills the need of a certain segment of the winter capabilities. population. People who live in condos and have storage space issues, people As opposed to the widely known who use their car sparingly during the all season tire, the all weather tire winter, or who simply can’t afford two is competent enough in the snow sets of tires will find the all weather op- to earn the snowflake logo. tion suits their needs.”

10 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | On behalf of Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS), I would like to thank you for helping to make the program a resounding success. As we pass the one year mark, OTS has helped recycle over 11 million tires, help Ontario businesses grow and invest in innovations and eliminate illegal tire dumping. This success has come through cooperation and collaboration between OTS and businesses like yours – thank you for making Ontario a greener and more prosperous place to live and work.

Andrew Horsman Executive Director Ontario Tire Stewardship Updating the business News from the OTR and AG tire segments While many of us were busy studying how OTR tire manufacturers were doing to answer the ever growing demand in mining tires around the world (mostly Asia), the whole segment has been pretty much alive and active. Here’s some recent news of happenings within that part of the industry and the AG tire segment around the world.

Alliance’s new forestry tire Camoplast For example, Alliance Tire Group just an- and Solideal nounced it was introducing a new forestry Closer to us, we hear tire for tractors and forestry equipment, reports that Canadian the Alliance Forestar 342. Wider than rubber track maker the well-known 540/65R28, it replaces Camoplast Inc. an- the new Forestar 342 available in size nounced it would buy 600/60R28 but keeps the same rolling industrial tire maker circumference. Weighing 208 kg (457 lbs), Solideal Group. The deal this forestry tire contains several lug ele- should be closed by the ments (18 x 2) with inter-lug reinforce- time you read these lines. Camoplast and Solideal will PHOTO : CARLI S L E PHOTO : TITAN INTERNATIONAL continue operating under their own identity and be man- Did you know that Carlisle aged independently. Sherbrooke, also made agricultural tires? Quebec-based Camoplast will team up with Luxembourg-based Solideal, a company Trelleborg introduces an updated specialized in making tires, wheels and rubber tread design for its TM900 High tracks for material-handling and construction Power AG tire needs. Its R & D facilities are in Europe and Asia, Scandinavian tire maker Trelleborg Wheel but its manufacturing facilities are in Europe, Systems has just introduced a new tread North America and Asia. Camoplast Tracks and design for its TM900 High Power agricultural Systems has its own R & D facilities in Canada tire. The new 710/70R42 TM900 High Power and South Korea with manufacturing plants in has a new design to optimize field perform- the U.S., Canada, Korea and Europe. ance, offering 9% more traction than its previ- ous version and better results on the road Titan International just released Titan has a new deep lug mining tire with 25% increase in wear resistance and this deep lug DTE4 mining tire. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, 5% improvement in handling and comfort mining tires have grown more popular than according to its manufacturer. The TM900 ment to help protect the tire from rocks ever around the world, especially in Asia. So it High Power is intended to fit on high-power and branches. Alliance also specifies that comes as no surprise to learn that Titan Tire agricultural vehicles and tractors. there’s a central lug bridge to reinforce the Corp. has added a new deep lug mining tire to tread and an optimum lug angle for excel- its list, a 27.00R49 radial haul truck tire better At the same time, Trelleborg announced it lent traction and long service life, added known as the DTE4. Obviously, the 27.00R49 would expand its capacity for forestry tire to sharp shoulders for better traction and remains the most popular truck tire size in the manufacturing at its plant in Tivoli, Italy. As steel-belted tread and reinforced sidewall mining and quarry industries. Its deep lugs will industrial tire management says, there should for better stability and more resistance to help traction but the open tread pattern will be an increase in demand for such tires in the cuts and punctures. help self-cleaning. next few months.

12 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | Éric Descarries [email protected]

Carlisle speeding up Ag tire delivery

Production of Carlisle Tire & Wheel Co.’s new plant in Jackson, Tennessee began in March and Carlisle has begun delivery of its semi-pneumatic soil-compacting tires to farm equipment makers like John Deere. It also started making pneumatic products in June. Carlisle is now using the former Whirlpool-Jackson Dishwashing Products plant and has phased out production at its Carlisle, PA plant.

By the way, Carlisle will sponsor Roger LOVE THE BUSINESS YOU’RE IN. Penske’s No. 2 Dodge Charger driven by Brad Keselowski starting next season in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup. Actually an associate sponsor, Carlisle will feature many of its brands on the car’s sides. HONESTLY. Double Coin began testing giant OTR tires According to Double Coin Holdings executives, the Chinese manufacturer’s 49- and 57-inch PHOTO : CARLI S L E OTR radial tires are being field tested before being launched later this year or early 2011. Other than for testing, Double Coin has also invested in X-Ray and shearography inspection capacity being cautious to make these tires right before going on the market.

Trelleborg’s TM 900 High Power has a newly redesigned tread pattern.

Satisfied dealers is one of the reasons we’re now Canada’s largest independent tire retailer. Our owners are shareholders, which means they not only benefit from a large buying network but they also get support, business training and an inventory tailored to their needs. Not to mention the shared profits in a multi-million dollar business with 270 stores coast-to-coast. What’s not to love?

To find out if O.K. Tire is right for you, call the Franchise Department at 1-800-663-1749 or visit oktire.com

TM The O.K. Tire mark is a trademark of O.K. Tire Stores Inc. PHOTO : TR E LL BORG

OKT-09-321 Honestly.indd 1 2/1/10 8:42 AM | www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 13 COVER STORY Rakla Tires stands behind their suppliers Jack Kazmierski Made in China...Proudly! [email protected] While some manufacturers choose to hide the fact that their goods are made in China, Rakla is proud to acknowledge their suppliers while eagerly standing behind every tire they sell in Canada.

n November 23rd, 2007, The New by demanding consumers in the West begs Chinese tires York Times ran a story entitled, the question: Are these consumers paying If companies like Prada and Gucci can O “Made in China on the Sly.” The top dollar for an item that’s inferior in qual- make leather handbags, wallets, and newspaper revealed a dirty little secret ity to something made in Canada, the USA other goods in China, and then sell these about the brands we all covet: Although or in some part of Europe? Likely not, since goods abroad to a demanding clientele, many quality products are made in China, consumers of luxury goods who are willing why do some people get twisted out of manufacturers are doing all they can to to pay big bucks for a brand name, expect shape when the topic of Chinese tires keep that truth from the public. those goods to live up to the reputation of comes up? the brand behind the product. The Times explained how even luxury “Almost all of the major tire brands brands like Gucci and Prada manufacture How do companies like Prada and Gucci have factories in China, they just products in China, but prefer to conceal make sure their clients are never unsatis- don’t go out of their way to that fact from consumers by, “hiding the fied or that they never spend top dollar tell you about it.” ‘Made in China’ label in the bottom of an on what might be an inferior product? The – Aziz Rakla inside pocket or stamping black on black answer is quite simple: Quality control. As on the back side of a tiny logo flap.” long as the company oversees the qual- ity of the manufacturing process and of Part of the problem lies with the media The fact that luxury goods are being made the raw materials, it really doesn’t matter who are eager to jump on a story about in China, and then exported and purchased where that product is being made. anything made in China that may be defective, while ignoring good news stor- ies about products from China that work exactly as promised.

The bottom line is that tires, like any other product manufactured anywhere in the world, must be made to strict quality control standards. If those standards are respected, then the location of the factory should not matter.

Global view While many of us have a Canadian or North American view of the tire market, Aziz Rakla, President of Toronto-based Rakla Tires, has had the opportunity to explore the tire industry on a global scale.

An accountant by trade, Rakla got his start in the tire business in 1979 when he began importing tires into Saudi Arabia from manufacturers in Korea, Brazil, Austria, and many of the Eastern European countries like Poland, Romania Ali Rakla, General Manager of Rakla Tires and Hungary. As his business grew, Rakla

14 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | knew he needed to look for a more plen- tiful supply of tires, and that’s when he started looking at China as a possibility.

Rakla immigrated to Canada in 1991, bringing his tire expertise with him. A few months after landing on Canadian soil, Rakla founded Rakla Tire Inc., importing tires from the same trusted Chinese sup- pliers he had been working with for years while in Saudi Arabia, and wholesaling them to companies throughout Canada.

“We started with industrial tires, and then expanded into OTR, passenger tires, light truck radials, TBR, and agricultural tires,” Rakla says. “Now we supply everything but tires for airplanes.”

Today, Rakla moves roughly hundreds of thousands of tires a year, selling to major distributors across Canada as Rakla’s customer service team works around the clock. well as a number of smaller players. His biggest brand names are Westlake quality expert he has trusted for years. Rakla offers customer service in a and Goodride. Rakla’s tires have also been tested by ­package deal that includes a quality officials at Transport Canada who con- product, a competitive price, and a mix “Many people think of Chinese tires cluded, “the results received from our test- of product that’s available a la carte. as entry-level,” says Rakla. “But our ing laboratory indicate each of the tires “Our customers are not restricted to Chinese suppliers make tires for many completed the testing with no failures,” ordering only passenger tires, only truck other major brands. More importantly, and, “these tires comply with the testing tires or only OTR tires,” Rakla explains. almost all of the major tire brands requirements...” “In one container, our customers can have factories in China, they just don’t have a mix of passenger tires, light truck go out of their way to tell you about it.” Not only have Rakla’s tires been tested tires, OTR, agriculture tire, etc. Whatever by independent laboratories, and by the they would like, they can have.” “Our Chinese suppliers Canadian government, but they’ve been make tires for many other put to real-life testing by race car driv- The latest chapter in Rakla’s quest for major brands.” ers who need the best rubber money can top-notch customer service includes a – Aziz Rakla buy. One of the drivers in the Drift Mania few paragraphs on marketing. Expect Canadian Championship Series (DMCC) to see ads for Westlake and Goodride Quality goods sent Rakla a letter stating; “I have used coming to a radio, TV, magazine or Rakla stands behind every tire he your tires for almost a year now and really newspaper near you. It’s all part of imports into Canada. “Our tires have love them. They have outperformed tires Rakla’s plan to make these brands more been tested time and time again, like BFG, Toyo and Nitto.” recognizable in the market. and they always live up to the most stringent of standards,” Rakla says. Customer service Proudly supplying Canadians with “That’s why our wholesale customers Besides offering a quality product, quality tires from China, Rakla offers a have stuck with us over the years. Rakla and his staff go out of their way mix of product and service that’s hard Once we have a customer, we keep to keep customers happy. “Our staff to beat. “We offer a quality tire, at the them for life.” works around the clock,” Rakla says, “so right price, with the right combination even when we get emails from clients in each container,” he says, “and we Rakla regularly visits his suppliers to at 10 pm, we’re able to address their offer customer service that’s second assure quality control, bringing along a concerns immediately.” to none.”

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 15 Lead issues Philippe Crowe [email protected] Part 1: Why get rid of it?

ead has been used for many years as low a density which means the mass of having any known eco issues and can be the main material for effective wheel the wheel weight is not concentrated easily recycled. It is also human-friendly L weights when balancing a tire. Its in- on a single area as it can be with lead. and any shop is used to working with herent proprieties made it the ideal metal This leads to marginalizing its use for items made of steel. It does carry the for such an application. Being malleable, it this application. stigma of corrosion. Azuma, based in could and still can easily be shaped to fit Japan has pioneered the development of the contour of the rim it is being applied Bismuth and ecomass materials offer an steel wheel weights. Steel wheel weights on with a few taps of a rubber hammer. ideal density, but is too expensive to be have been in production since June of Being a metal with a high density, lead al- considered a mass-market option like lead 1998, when Azuma began manufactur- lowed precise placement of weight exactly has been. Bismuth and ecomass materials ing adhesive steel weights. Clip-on steel where needed. And though it’s price has will have some appeal for manufacturers weights have been available since April climbed rapidly in the last decade, it has of supercars or high-budget race cars, of 2001. Canadian-based Plombco, of always been a rather cheap metal. where an ultra-precise weight placement Valleyfield, Quebec, is one of the many is more important than the cost associ- companies producing steel weights. Unfortunately, lead is not the friendli- ated with the material uses. Bada, out of the U.S., is another strong est metal for either the environment proponent of this material. Many steel or humans. Zinc is one of the two materials that is weights will come coated to counter the gaining ground as a proper replacement corrosion downside of steel. According to Health Canada, “ongoing ex- for lead. It offers a high resistance to posure to even very small amounts of lead corrosion and can be an almost perfect can be harmful. match to the trad- Aspects to consider when selecting a sys- Anaemia is com- “Every vehicle coming out of US and EU itional lead wheel tem for your shop, aside from the impact mon and lead can car manufacturer’s factories has wheels weight look, but on the environment and on employees also damage the balanced with a lead-free alternative.” is hard to recycle manipulating these wheel weights, are brain and nerv- and still has chal- the fit and sizes available, as steel or zinc ous system. Other symptoms are: ap- lenges density-wise. Canadian-based J. M. cannot be malleable as lead is. Corrosion petite loss, abdominal pain, constipa- Nault, of Delson, Quebec, is one of the resistance is also a factor to keep in tion, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability, companies producing zinc wheel weights. mind, as is the price volatility of the ma- headache. If you are continually exposed terial you choose as this will give you an to lead, as in an industrial setting, it can Steel is the other alternative gaining idea of the price stability, or lack thereof, affect your kidneys. popularity. It has the benefit of not over the years.

This has led many governments to ban the use of lead. That is the case in California and also in the European Union where lead has been banned since 2005. Leading to the need to find lead-free alternatives.

As of today, every US and EU based manu- facturer has done the switch to a lead-free wheel weight and every vehicle coming out of their factories has wheels balanced with a lead-free alternative.

The solutions Four options are worthy of mention: tin, bismuth and ecomass, zinc, steel. Tin, while relatively malleable, has too

16 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | ca.pirelli.com UP TO $ S E 50REBAT

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[email protected] www.tiredistribution.com Managing tires Daniel Rufiange [email protected] The right software is Translator: Philippe Crowe your best friend Given that the number of car registration is growing exponentially, retailers have been dealing with a real puzzle – how to keep enough tires in stock and in the right sizes. With this comes the need to properly keep track of what is in stock.

etween retailers, wholesalers and and their customers. For example, when and be well-informed. It’s difficult to distributors, there’s a whole spec- a customer stores his tires at a retail tire be clued in without this. It’s important, B trum of customer demands need- outlet, the software automatically prints because your customer is also online,” ing to be fulfilled. Each type of service out a reference code for his tires, which adds Denis Messier. requires different kinds of resources. Some are then tagged with the very same code. software may offer very specific tools while When the customer returns to reclaim his As it happens, Messier believes that the others provide a multitude of uses that tires, the retailer knows for sure where to software itself has changed the speed can cover everyone’s needs. Rather than find them.” at which things are done in the industry. opting for the most sophisticated software “Before, most retailers only did business on the market, it’s important to get the Well-Informed Customers with a handful of tire companies, and only software that corresponds to your own Today’s clientele is much different than that offered twenty or so different sizes. Today, particular needs. of 20 years ago, which is yet another reason new companies appear on the tire market why management software is essential for each year and, more and more, vehicles now Companies Specializing retailers. “Back then,” notes Messier, “the offer the option of a wider range of sizes. To in Services customer just asked for tires for his car. keep on top of all of this, you need a soft- Denis Messier from COSTAR, a company Today, the same customer will specify that ware that’s well-adapted to your business.” that specializes in inventory management he wants this specific tire brand, this tire logistics, confirms this. COSTAR’s software size, etc. Moreover, he’s done his research Going forward is designed to im- on the Internet be- According to Messier, we’ll be seeing more prove auto mainten- “It’s unthinkable to be able to serve forehand, so he’s up important changes in the industry in the ance and tire retail a customer well without tools that to speed with the next few years, especially when it comes service management tell us exactly what we have in stock, prices. As a result, to the number of players in the field. and operations, as what sizes and at what price.” it’s unthinkable to be Those who want to stay in the game will well as handling all able to serve a cus- have no other choice but to use a software kinds of distribution needs. tomer well without tools that tell us exactly that will help them keep current with all what we have in stock, what sizes and at the information they need to run their “Our software helps retailers, but also what price.” management system well. helps accountants, wholesalers and dis- tributors,” said Messier. “This software is a “Through our software, users can fully In the long term, a company’s survival reassuring intermediary between retailers access all catalogues available online depends on it.

18 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | Could it be tomorrow’s tire? Éric Descarries [email protected] Optima introduces the Camber Tire technology You’ve probably never heard about Optima Sports LLC as a tire manufacturer simply because Optima is, at the moment, an automotive and sports technology company based in Wisconsin that works on research and development of new products. Among those is its recently announced newly patented Camber Tire invention.

What’s a “Camber Tire”? A camber tire has a trapezoidal profile will be able to be used and fit in the same by more than 4%. These first tires passed and asymmetrical sidewalls integrated to wheel well. Optima is even confident DOT testing and even met V speed rat- a regular tire design. Actually, the inner that such technology will enable more ings even surpassing Z ratings. sidewall has a slightly smaller diameter possibilities for oval track racing where than the outer sidewall. According to camber adjustment have been intensively As Optima’s John Scott is hoping (and Optima’s John Scott, who in the past was tested over the years. expecting) that major tire manufactur- a successful car dealer and mortgage ers are having a serious look at his broker, this technology will provide great Already, private tests by well-known pub- convincing invention, he still plans to benefits including better handling and lications, have shown that the two-degree market some Camber Tires to Solo braking, more safety and, obviously, bet- Camber Tire prototypes made by M & H event drivers, week-end racers and even ter fuel economy. Optima has begun mak- Racemaster, a division of L.A.’s Interco fanatic street car owners. ing prototypes that can be utilized on any Tire Corporation, provided much short- on- and off-road vehicles with independent ened stopping distance in emergency Could this be the beginning of a new suspension or vehicles with non-driven braking and an increased cornering grip tire revolution? solid axle(s). What’s more, Optima also believes that this type of tire can be built by almost any tire producer with only a few mold alterations and adjustments to alignment settings. Applicable to just about any type of tire or vehicle (includ- ing heavy-duty trucks and trailers), the Camber Tire provides maximum contact area when running straight and in light turns. It will also provide, according to its inventor, full contact during high steering conditions in corners especially when the vehicle is heavily loaded.

Advantages? Optima says that its Camber Tire tech- nology will improve tire wear thanks to a more even footprint distribution with a negative vehicle suspension camber set- ting; it will reduce tread noise and even the tendency that some vehicles, like SUVs, have to roll over. Steering angle input will also be decreased, contributing Optima wants to market a new tire concept, the Camber Tire with slightly smaller inner diameter.

to improved tread wear. Even wider tires PHOTO : OPTIMA

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 19 For three years minimum Éric Descarries [email protected] Pirelli: Back in Formula One As expected by racing fans, Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli announced in June it would replace Japanese maker Bridgestone as sole supplier of racing tires for at least three years in the Formula One championship.

or many people, this might look in Formula One starting in 2011, the to match with the various dry pavement like a new venture for Pirelli but company indicated it was creating a surfaces, one of them is to be used if F it isn’t. Pirelli was in Formula One dedicated team for the development it rains heavily and the last one being in the early Fifties when it was called and production of Formula One tires. the so-called intermediate tire for damp World Drivers’ Championship! More While tires are being developed at pavement or light rain. Pirelli will also recently, Pirelli was also in Formula Pirelli’s Research Center in Milan, have to work with racing teams to de- One twenty years ago when there they’ll be produced at the company’s velop technical evolutions of the current was a battle between tire makers Izmit Factory in Turkey where other tires for the future. There are rumours i.e. Goodyear, Michelin, Avon, Pirelli. Pirelli competition tires are currently that wheel size might change during Consequently, Pirelli is quite familiar made. Pirelli will make good use of the 2011-2013 time period Pirelli has with Grand Prix racing having partici- some 1,000 research engineers work- agreed to make Formula One tires. pated in over 200 events in its history ing in five development centres around including 43 victories. the world to achieve its goals. What’s in it for Pirelli? The first question that might come to your mind is: What’s in it for Pirelli? First of all, it has to be the incredible exposure it will get from TV coverage (expected to attract some two billion viewers per season). But one thing’s for sure, management says Pirelli’s Formula One project will have no impact on the com- pany’s existing financial strategy. Currently, the Italian manufacturer al- locates between 3-4% of its revenues to research, the highest level in the tire industry according to official press releases. The Formula One Project

PHOTO : PIRELLI PHOTO : Pirelli is now testing its F-One tires. falls within that part of the budget. Incidentally, Lots to do Other than having to meet the sport’s Pirelli North America has also been In past years, Pirelli was involved requirements in terms of reliability, safe- chosen as the official tire supplier for the in the Superbike series, the Rolex ty and performance, Pirelli engineers World Challenge Championship for the Sports Car Series (Grand Am) in North must come up with six types of Formula next five years. Expect to see the Pirelli America and a few one-make series. One tires for the complete season: Four P Zero brand name more often in auto When they announced they’d be back of them slicks with different compounds racing in the next few years!

20 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | GO THROUGH SLEET, ICE AND SNOW WITH BLIZZAK

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Atlas Tire Wholesale Inc. YOUR SOURCE FOR BRIDGESTONE TIRES 20 Years of Service to the Trade WEST EAST 6290 SHAWSON DRIVE 140 McLEVIN AVE., # 6 & 7 MISSISSAUGA, ON L5T 1H5 SCARBOROUGH, ON M1B 3V1 TEL (905) 670-9791 TEL (416) 292-8202 FAX (905) 670-0581 FAX (416) 292-8177 [email protected] www.tiredistribution.com inévduénstemreynt EV deENT l’sindustrie Paris International Motor Show

uring a recent tour of the Paris International Motor Show, we D visited all the stands on site with a special interest for the upcom- ing automobile season. Of course, Porsche displays no bias: the new Speedster 911 we also looked at an often neglected is equipped with Michelin tires. feature during these car shows: Tire trends. We were curious about any pos- sible patriotic favouritism backed by the car manufacturers. Our conclusion: Although no official exclusive agreement was reached, some interesting trends could be observed. Take a look...

As to racing this Focus, Pirelli tires got a vote of confidence; could this be sponsorship-related?

Citroën’s dazzling Survolt concept car is also mounted with Michelin tires. The Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone was displaying the Ecopia series of green tires.

Mounting the rims of the Citroën C3 Picasso is the French Michelin tire. Peugeot is playing out the patriotic card to the max. Among all of its vehicles displayed at the Show, 90% were fitted with Michelin tires as shown on this superb SR1 concept model.

22 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | industry EVENTs

Daniel Rufiange [email protected] Translator: François Charron

The sporty Suzuki Swift comes with Pirelli tires known for their excellent performance.

Porsche displays no bias: the new Speedster 911 is equipped with Michelin tires.

Ford’s preference for its Focus RT version The British Bentley, owned by Volkswagen of Germany, calls on the goes to Continental, a German tire. Italian tire maker Pirelli to fit its most recent Continental GT.

The Lamborghini’s Sesto Elemento is fitted with Pirelli tires, an Italian brand. Patriotism or a perfect match?

The Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone was displaying the Ecopia series of green tires.

Tires used in other sectors of transportation were also featured, such as these customized Continental tires designed for the smart e-bike.

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 23 Recycling regulations Jack Kazmierski Leveling the playing field [email protected] The Ontario Scrap Tire Stewardship Program is now looking after for Ontario, and the Rules governing who has to pay are not as straight-forward as many would like them to be.

f you’re running a tire business in the Steward of those tires in our Program,” Penalties province of Ontario, you have to ask says Horsman. Ignoring your obligations could be I yourself an important question: “Does ­expensive. OTS has an audit program in the Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) pro- Next are the First Importers - any com- place, and penalties for late remittances gram consider me a Steward? If so, what pany that supplies a tire into Ontario, (all the way from September 1, 2009) are am I legally obliged to do?” whether for sale or use. These tires can substantial - 10% of the amount owing as be on a piece of equipment, or sold as a a penalty, and interest at a rate of prime OTS Executive Director, Andrew Horsman, replacement tire for which there is not a plus 3%. admits that the program Rules for registered Steward already. Stewards can be confusing. “We under- “It can be confusing and that’s why we stand the challenges of deciphering the “If a distributor brings in a container of want to work with companies to under- Rules for some organizations, and that Chinese tires, and the Brand Owner of that stand their obligations and ensure a some companies may make honest mis- brand of tires is not registered with OTS, level playing-field for the industry.” takes regarding their obligations,” he says. then that distributor is the First Importer – Andrew Horsman “They simply don’t understand where they of those tires,” Horsman explains. “Also, fit in and whether the law considers them if a retailer brings in Michelin tires from a Steward.” a distributor in Quebec, Michelin is not If you’re not sure if you should be remit- responsible for those tires. The retailer is, ting to OTS, you’re better off finding out Am I a Steward? because he brought those tires into the before you’re caught in an audit dragnet. A Steward is the party that is legally Ontario market.” responsible for reporting and remitting Contact OTS directly at 1-888-687-2202, to OTS on every tire they supply into Tire distributors and retailers should or via email at [email protected]. Ontario. There are three different defin- confirm whether their suppliers are itions (or levels) of Stewards. registered as Stewards for the tires they Andrew Horsman and his team are ready are supplying. to help you out. The first level is an OEM like Ford, Kenworth or JDJ Trailer Manufacturers, for example. They are Stewards of new tires on the new vehicles and equipment they sell into Ontario. That means they’re responsible for registering with OTS, com- pleting a monthly report that tells OTS how many tires were supplied into Ontario on new vehicles, as well as making a monthly remittance - $5.84 for every pas- senger tire and $14.65 for every medium truck tire.

The next level is the Brand Owner, and includes tire manufacturers like Michelin and Goodyear, but also companies that don’t manufacture tires, but own or li- cense a Brand name. “For example, the

Motomaster brand is owned by Canadian Glenn Maidment, President of the Rubber Association (L) with OTS Executive Director, Andrew Horsman Tire, making them the Brand Owner

24 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | A customer retention solution Claude Boucher [email protected] Tire storage Translator: Philippe Crowe Automotive dealerships and major tire retailers are now offering this service, considered essential by many. CLEAN YOUR CUSTOMER’S TIRES AND WHEELS ith the raise in popularity of warehouse, tracking what goes where, condos and mess linked to sto- the software, insurance, handling, deliv- ring, cleaning and carrying two ery to our branches. We have no choice W • ADD REVENUES sets of tires, tire storage has been gaining but to charge for storage because of • SATISFIED CUSTOMER in popularity. Automotive dealerships and these costs.” • CLEANER SHOP major tire retailers are now offering this • MORE ACCURATE service, considered essential by many. In the Montreal region, customers are WHEEL While offering tire storage helps a bu- billed between $6 and $12 per tire, per BALANCING siness help their clients, there is also a season. In the greater Toronto area, the strong business case behind it for whom range is between $6 and $25 per tire per can properly manage it. season. In Vancouver the same service can go up to $300 per year for a set. Expense or investment? These fees may simply cover your costs, WHEEL WASHER # MWW-550 Offering tire storage is a business deci- or may allow you to make a profit, but PASSENGER & SUV SEMI-AUTOMATIC sion with major implications. Cost of storing tires is first and foremost a client such a venture can be high, especially retention measure. when doing business in major cities where land is costly. This is because Managing storing tires means having proper space Properly managing tire storage can also for a huge amount of tires, adequate show customers how much you care about racks, software to keep track of inven- the general state of their tires. Services tory, heating bills, handling and some- like balancing, fixing a leak, cleaning rims times shipping costs, insurance, … and tires, filling tires with nitrogen or simply adjusting pressure… Through good WHEEL WASHER # MWW-750 PASSENGER & SUV FULL-AUTOMATIC Pneus SP of Ville d’Anjou, Quebec, stores management of tire storage operations, more than 10,000 tires in its warehouse. everything can be ready for when the cus- “Tires stored for our clients have been tomer shows up in the spring or autumn, TIRE CONVEYOR 15’ & 18’ eating up a lot of space usually dedicated making the customer’s visit even quicker MODEL # TC-15 & TC-18 to our new tires,” said Sylvain Marois, as all there is left to do is switch tires. It vice-president of Pneus SP. “We’ve had also allows maximization of employees’ to find creative solutions as demand is presence during slow season by having strong and it can be costly. We have to them handle these tasks when they have keep track of everything: space in the time to do it.

1-866-409-7225 Ontario: Lorenzo Valotta East: Yannick Lejour Western: Julien Depelteau WWW.MARTINSINDUSTRIES.COM

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 25 Martins Industries.indd 1 10-08-06 12:07 PM Winter testing in Florida’s heat Jil McIntosh [email protected] Air force base provides snow indoors for tire testing It’s Florida. It’s 35 ˚C outside, and the sun is relentless. So what do you do? Why, put on a parka and gloves, and check out winter tires in the snow.

t’s all in a day’s work at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory, located on Eglin I Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach on Florida’s panhandle. I was there as a guest of Goodyear Canada, which was debuting its Ultra Grip Ice WRT tires. Along with the military, many private companies use the test faci- lity, including tire manufacturers and automakers.

Consistency is the key It may seem odd to rent such a place when there’s more than enough of the white stuff here in winter, but it’s all about consistency. No matter what’s The main building at McKinley is the world’s outside, the giant facility can produce largest environmental testing chamber. steady temperatures, humidity and precipitation, necessary when deter- sub-zero weather during the war, winter sand and dust storms, and even vor- mining a tire’s performance. It’s also equipment testing became essential, texes. These mini-tornadoes can form much easier and cheaper for North but getting planes and personnel to on wet runways as a jet engine passes Americans to get to Florida, versus the Alaska proved difficult. In 1943, Eglin by, pulling water into the engine with expensive, multi-connection flights to was assigned the task of winter testing. potential for catastrophic failure. outdoor Scandinavian proving grounds. It fell to Lt. Col. Ashley McKinley, an ex- pert in cold-weather testing, to develop The facility is used to test a broad range Walking into the main building takes the idea of a refrigerated hangar that of items, including vehicles, tanks, heli- your breath away, and not only because could produce consistent conditions. copters, jets, and even shelters, which it’s minus 9°C. This is the largest cli- The giant building, still used today, must be able to shield soldiers from matic environmental testing chamber in opened for testing in 1947. burning heat or killing cold. The base the world, capable of accommodating produces its own electricity, fabricates fighter jets and even the largest com- Today, the range of conditions that the hardware for testing, and pumps mercial aircraft. There are also smaller, can be accurately reproduced is mind- water for high-pressure testing. specialized environmental chambers boggling. It’s possible to go from minus alongside. 54°C to plus 65°C, while a special bank It’s quite a shock to step outside of the of lights can simulate solar radiation snowy interior into the noonday Florida Testing since 1947 up to 93˚C to test high-altitude aircraft. sun; it takes several minutes before The equipment is modern, but the fa- eyeglasses and camera lenses defrost. cility has a long history. In 1934, it In all kinds of weather But whether it’s bathing-suit weather or was recommended that tactical units Weather also plays a major role, and time for a jacket, the interior stays at train under winter conditions, and so the chambers are able to reproduce the temperature required, putting the in 1942, a facility was set up in Alaska. rain, hurricane-force winds, freezing quality into quality control no matter When aircraft were grounded during rain, fog, snow, ice build-up, salt fog, what’s being tested.

26 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | 1 million wide-base tires Simon Dion-Viens [email protected] Michelin X-One Translator: François Charron Since its North American launch in 2000, the Michelin X-One wide-base tire has set the standard for all heavy-duty vehicle tires.

n September 30, a full ten years still provide great stability. After almost can save between 4-10% on gas costs. after the X-One’s launch, Michelin’s 10 years of R & D, the very first X-One With numbers like this, Michelin has ONorth America team announced wide-base single tire was ready for the helped its customers save about 238 mil- the production of the 1-millionth X-One road. This tire was launched in November lion litres of fuel so far… an impressive tire in their US-3 plant. I had the pleasure 2000 at The Great American Trucking eco-friendly achievement. Many truck of taking part in this exceptional event. Show. drivers can testify the X-One offers more rolling stability and comfort than a trad- The X-One’s Beginnings This latest Michelin product was a real itional tire. It’s approved throughout the In the early 90s, Michelin’s engineers breakthrough. With the X-One, they U.S., Canada and Mexico. started playing with the idea of design- were the first to offer a wide-base tire. ing a tire with less rolling resistance and With 12% less rolling resistance than a An Undeniable Success traditional tire, the X-One is The Michelin team developed a high an extremely fuel efficient quality tire thanks to plenty of sup- choice. port and feedback from N.A. truck fleet owners. Some well-known companies Considerable Benefits (Freightliner, Alcoa Wheels) developed X-One tires provide a multi- several of their products to get the most CARStude AD of SERIESuser benefits 2010 and out of X-One tires. we’re seeing more and HORIZONTALmore of them FORMAT on North Michelin is an ultra visionary company. A m e r i c a n h e a v y - d u t y Despite their success, their engineers still vehicles.1/3 PAGEOutfitting a truck work non-stop to improve their products or tow vehicle with X-One for customers. Ten years after its market tires slims down convoy debut, the X-One’s success is undeni- weight by 700 lbs, so you can able. By helping to lower usage cost, load more. With the X-One, Michelin created a winning solution for Michelin says truck drivers drivers and truck operators alike.

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Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 27 industry EVENTs Leading the World 2010 Rubber Recycling Symposium Canada’s tire recycling efforts are second to none. We’re setting a fine example, and the world is paying attention.

elegates from all over the world Andrew Horsman, Executive Director of Old tires are also being turned into prod- flocked to Toronto at the end of Ontario Tire Stewardship. “What we’re ucts like rubberized sidewalks and as- D September in order to attend the talking about now is how valuable old phalt. “These are applications where you 2010 Rubber Recycling Symposium. The tires are as a raw material that can go are reducing the use of virgin materials, 3-day event attracted delegates from all into high-performance products.” and reducing the carbon footprint of the over Canada, the USA, Europe, Australia product you are making while improving and even China. Some companies have devised ways to the longevity and performance of the turn old tires into ultra-fine rubber pow- infrastructure,” Horsman explains. “There’s no question that Canada is a der in order to blend the recycled ma- leader,” says Glenn Maidment, President terial back into applications that would Promising future of the Rubber Association. “What makes historically require virgin rubber. “The The fact that Canada is serious about us a leader is the fact that you have stew- holy grail or tire recycling is the ability tire recycling and the fact that com- ardship bodies in virtually every province. to turn a tire back into a tire,” Horsman panies and governments are investing There’s an obligation on the provincial admits. “I’m not saying that we’re there ­heavily into finding innovative solutions level to not only collect and recycle tires, yet, but the industry is closer now than to this age old problem gives everyone a but to invest in the industry. As a result, they have ever been.” reason to get excited about the future. there’s way more activity going on here in Canada than in many other jurisdictions.”

“There’s no question that Canada is a leader.” – Glenn Maidment

The tire recycling industry has now reached what Maidment calls a critical mass. “Our industry has moved to a high- er level of sophistication,” he says. “It is no longer a fledgling industry, uncertain of itself or even if it could continue to grow. In my opinion, we have reached its tipping point, wherein we have a number of large players, with better ‘know how,’ improved technology, more and better markets and stronger commitment to invest in the future.”

Innovation Canadians are coming up with some innovative solutions to the age-old tire problem. “The old mindset of ‘tires are dirty, so let’s just grind them up and (L-R) Lucy Vieira, Ralph Warner and Helen Theodorou make them go away’ is gone,” explains

28 | Tire News | November 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | industry EVENTs

Jack Kazmierski [email protected]

ADVERTISERS

Atlas Tire Wholesale Inc. www.atlastire.com 9, 17, 21

CARS Council www.cars-council.ca 27

Bridgestone www.bridgestonetire.ca 32 Gilles Paquette, Rubber Association of Canada

Duret & Landry www.duretlandry.com 2 “I think this Symposium was the first time there was so much excitement Falken Tire www.falkentire.com 5 about the innovations and the invest- ment,” Horsman concludes. “I think Kumho Tire Canada Inc. www.kumhotire.ca 31 we’re going to see more of that in the years to come.” Martins Industries www.martinsindustries.com 25

O.K. Tire www.oktire.com 13

Pneus Unimax ltée. www.unimax.ca 7

Rakla Tires www.rakla.com 14-15

Ontario Tire Stewardship www.ontariots.ca 11

| www.autosphere.ca | November 2010 | Tire News | 29

30 Tire News News Tire 2010 November www.autosphere.ca

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of innovative products in recent years,” he he years,” recent in products innovative of to look after our Canadian market.” Canadian our after look to existing dealer base.” dealer existing

great, and we have introduced a number number a introduced have we and great, and talented team and we’re really going going really we’re and team talented and of sale. We’re having trouble supplying our our supplying trouble having We’re sale. of

be addressed. “Our product portfolio is is portfolio product “Our addressed. be fers a great portfolio of products, a young young a products, of portfolio great a fers expand at this stage with too many points points many too with stage this at expand

well as the challenges that still need to to need still that challenges the as well - of Yokohama sales. and people of terms more dealers,” he says. “We don’t want to to want don’t “We says. he dealers,” more

both the strengths of his company, as as company, his of strengths the both other hand, are looking at expansion in in expansion at looking are hand, other realistic in his views. “We’re not looking for for looking not “We’re views. his in realistic

Dedoyard has a clear understanding of of understanding clear a has Dedoyard shutting down operations. We, on the the on We, operations. down shutting pansion plans and lofty goals, Dedoyard is is Dedoyard goals, lofty and plans pansion

mature market and that’s why they’re they’re why that’s and market mature - ex about talk presidents new most While

Company focus Company

tors that they consider Canada a very very a Canada consider they that tors

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and we are committed to the Canadian Canadian the to committed are we and implement business solutions. “Human “Human solutions. business implement – Eric Dedoyard Eric –

says. “We’re really focused on the future future the on focused really “We’re says. and know-how needed to help tire dealers dealers tire help to needed know-how and our Canadian market.” Canadian our

executives in this company,” Dedoyard Dedoyard company,” this in executives own people who in turn will have the skills skills the have will turn in who people own after look to going really we’re and

ness to new heights. “We have some young young some have “We heights. new to ness Yokohama also plans on investing in their their in investing on plans also Yokohama of products, a young and talented team team talented and young a products, of

- busi the take to ability the and spirit the portfolio great a offers “Yokohama

utives running the show, Yokohama has has Yokohama show, the running utives right time is going to be our focus.” our be to going is time right

- exec energetic and youthful of core a With decisions. plier - getting the right product at the the at product right the getting - plier

here in our country who can make critical critical make can who country our in here - sup reliable more much a becoming on

Youthful & energetic & Youthful

users - they need people on the ground ground the on people need they - users in this market. Our energy will be focused focused be will energy Our market. this in

as close to their dealer network and end end and network dealer their to close as in order for us to thrive thrive to us for order in

remain competitive in this market - as well well as - market this in competitive remain the supply chain is key key is chain supply the

ric Dedoyard, the new President of Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. (Canada) Tire Yokohama of President new the Dedoyard, ric E

ations, Yokohama believes that in order to to order in that believes Yokohama ations, tomers. Reliability in in Reliability tomers.

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: M :

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o “bring to is priority his see R see

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sions here in Canada along with a focus on on focus a with along Canada in here sions

a picture, overall the u

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says. “The Yokohama Corporation is living living is Corporation Yokohama “The says. - prod new to market

clear message to our dealers,” Dedoyard Dedoyard dealers,” our to message clear While introducing the the introducing While

over as president in Canada is sending a a sending is Canada in president as over

“I think the fact that a Canadian is taking taking is Canadian a that fact the think “I the future.” the

avoid supply issues in in issues supply avoid

president. ing so that we can can we that so ing

On July 1st of this year, he was appointed appointed was he year, this of 1st July On - forecast collaborative

vice-president, and chief operating officer. officer. operating chief and vice-president, dealers and work on on work and dealers

of zone manager, then director of sales, sales, of director then manager, zone of grams with our key key our with grams

count manager, moved up to the position position the to up moved manager, count - pro create to is now

- ac an as off started He ago. years 17 over backorder. Our focus focus Our backorder.

Dedoyard’s career with Yokohama began began Yokohama with career Dedoyard’s some of our stock on on stock our of some

short on supply with with supply on short

tunities that lie ahead. lie that tunities sometimes we were were we sometimes

- oppor and challenges the tackles he as on own success in that that in success own

years of tire business experience to draw draw to experience business tire of years became victims of our our of victims became

R

(Canada) Inc., Eric Dedoyard has has Dedoyard Eric Inc., (Canada) ness and I think we we think I and ness

of president of Yokohama Tire Tire Yokohama of president of - busi our grow to able

ecently appointed to the position position the to appointed ecently says. “We have been been have “We says.

for the company and for Canadian tire dealers. tire Canadian for and company the for

Yokohama’s new president discusses his plans plans his discusses president new Yokohama’s

Focus on the future the on Focus

[email protected]

Kazmierski Jack upplier spotlight upplier  S KUMHO TIRES KUMHO P hoto : M : ari e-J o see R see o usse a u Jack Kazmierski [email protected]

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