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CV SHOW REVIEW
Bridgestone Excited by CV Show Possibilities
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mixed service and on/off road.
The Cordiant range has been widely tested across Europe. In 2014 DEKRA tested the company’s truck tyres at the DEKRA Automobile Test centre in Mireval, France. The agency found that “In severe operating conditions, the tyres demonstrate tyre life equivalent to the product lines of the world’s leading brands.
Meanwhile in 2012-13 the tyres were tested by IDIADA in Spain who awarded the tyres a B rating in wet braking.
UK distributors for Cordiant is the Cardiff based Global Products Agency. Pictured here are Salvatore Erri and Tyge Byrne with the Cordiant range.
Giti Registers Record Visitor Numbers at CV Show
Giti Tire registered record visitor numbers to its new look stand at CV Show 2015, with the new GT Radial GDR638 drive axle tyre commanding immediate interest. For the first time the manufacturer’s logo and corporate colours were used alongside GT Radial as part of the company’s plan to raise its profile worldwide in support of global infrastructure projects, such as
the new $560m manufacturing and distribution plant in Chester County, South Carolina.
Tony McHugh,
TBR Sales and
Marketing
Director UK at
Giti Tire, said:
“Visitors were
very interested
in the new look, and when you explain that Giti is one of the top 10 largest tyre companies in the world, and fourth in radial truck tyre production, they immediately understand the status it brings to the GT Radial brand.”
The manufacturer used the CV Show to launch the GT Radial GDR638 high-performance, next generation drive axle tyre, which is specifically designed for medium-sized trucks and buses. It is initially available in 245/70R17.5 and 235/75R17.5, with seven further 17.5” and 19.5” sizes due before the end of the year.
The new pattern features four longitudinal grooves to provide good traction and braking with improved vehicle stability and driver comfort, while a new casing and footprint design delivers regular wear with high-mileage potential.
“The GDR638 received several strong expressions of interest,” continued McHugh. “The fact that the product has been rigorously tested throughout
Europe, and has already achieved excellent results from a leading UK business, gives it a solid foundation for growth. We expect our first sales quite soon.
“The quality of our 22.5” tyres has been proven over time, and the market is now seeing a new range of 17.5” and 19.5” GT Radial products which are similarly nothing short of
exceptional. Within our position in the mid-tier sector of the market our overall fleet proposition grows stronger and stronger.”
The GSW226 high traction steer axle tyre also made its CV Show debut. GT Radial’s first specific ‘winter’ marked tyre, it carries the three peak mountain snow flake (3PMSF) symbol denoting all season capabilities and exceptional performance in severe winter conditions including snowy, icy and wet roads. Designed with a wide shoulder groove to deliver optimum handling and stability and a new advanced compound for high mileage potential, the tyre is available immediately in size 385/65R22.5 and carries a index one of 158L, and an index two of 160J.
Overall 22 GT Radial patterns were on show from a range consisting of 28, split into road, combi, urban, mixed usage, winter and retread.
Bridgestone believes its decision to create a high profile presence at this year’s CV Show will result in a significant return on investment, with a number of new business opportunities presenting themselves at the NEC.
The company said the annual event reaped a number of quantifiable rewards with several new relationships forged, while pen was put to paper on a significant fleet extension with Axis Fleet Management Ltd.
Visitor numbers to the eye-catching stand were up on 2014 figures, owing to a number of new themes including the Bridgestone Partner network, which promises greater support to dealers and increased reductions in fleet operating costs. The show was the venue for the European launch of Bridgestone Partner, which will consist of over 350 truck tyre specialists across the UK and Ireland who embrace Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Care
approach.
Meanwhile, Bridgestone and CAM International shared details of a new digital tablet based work management system, designed to reduce back-office issues, save time, improve data and more critically, provide a complete breakdown of the life of each and every tyre fitted.
All of this was underpinned by Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Care package, where businesses were told about a variety of ways to keep tight control over tyre-related costs. Bridgestone’s commercial sales director Greg Ward said: “The CV Show always represents a huge opportunity for us, which is why we put so much work into making it a success. We’ve signed a hugely significant fleet deal during the show, have reacquainted with some close existing contacts and forged some new ones too.”
Cordiant Brand Makes UK Debut
Making its debut at the CV Show was the Russian manufactured Cordiant brand of truck and bus tyres. New to the UK market
Cordiant is a range of truck and bus tyres covering a wide range of applications including long-distance haulage, regional, coach, urban bus,
Commercial Tyre Business 19
