sa treads june 2016

Vol 2

2 J

une

2016

Tyrexpo Africa future hangs in the balance

Fight to restrict sub-standard imports continues

Continental unveils the new SportContact 6

How to sell up while cutting costs

Continental Vision Zero aims for accident-free future

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EMERGENCY TYRE ASSISTANCE DOWN TO AN ART

Tel: +27 11 439 6000, Fax: +27 86 682 7027, e-mail: info@bandag.co.za or visit www.bandag.co.za

Breakdowns can leave you dead in the water, but you neednt be left to the sharks. With Bandags Emergency Tyre Assistance (ETA) programme you can be covered throughout South Africa 24/7, 365 days of the year. ETA has one easy to remember toll free number, efficient service, consistent on-road pricing and comprehensive reports. Thats what we do.

10715 - ETA ad - Tread S.A.indd 1 2011/11/08 1:45 PM

Half way through the year and talk turns

to shows and exhibitions. The final

instalment of the Reifen show as we know

it concluded in Essen last week. Closer to

home, Tyrexpo Africa graced our shores

for the sixth time in March of this year.

Suffice it to say that the importance and support for an international show such as Reifen speaks for itself. The global tyre

industry and the tyre manufacturing companies in particular, utilise the platform to launch new designs, compounds and technology, whereas visitors from across the world converge on this tiny town in Germany to keep abreast of new products and developments and to network with key people from different parts of the world. The venue for this popular be-ennial show might be set to change, but its future in terms of the value it is seen to provide is well secured.

Regrettably the same cannot necessarily be said for our own local show currently the only tyre expo on the continent. With apparent support from the local industry steadily declining, as can be seen from this years exhibitor and visitor numbers, we take a microscopic view of the event in this issue, by way of a post-show review on page 7.

And as the primary reason behind the local industrys reluctance to back the show allegedly is the number of Chinese trading companies that are regularly exhibiting, we pinned down two of TIASAs key executives to ascertain the extent of the problem these exhibitors are seen to be posing, not only to local tyre producers, but to well established imported brands too. Turn to page 2 for this interview.

The second quarter has been a busy time for Continental Tyre SA. The company has just launched the brand new SportContact 6 which boasts Black Chilli technology for maximum grip in all directions, Force Vectoring for maximum control (a new era in tread pattern development) as well as Aralon350 new Adaptive Hybrid Cape Ply for maximum stability at high speeds of up to 350km/h.

And thats not all. CTSA is also adopting an innovative and comprehensive approach to automotive safety under the Vision Zero banner, in a bid to reduce and ultimately eliminate vehicle accidents, injuries and fatalities; a global initiative, but one that is especially welcomed in South Africa given the high death toll on our roads.

All this and much more in this, our winter edition. Wrap up warm and happy reading. Until we meet again in the spring.

editor Liana Shawreproduction Diane van Noortprinting TYPO Colour Printing SpecialistsAdvertising sA Liana Shaw satreads@mweb.co.zaAdvertising eu John Stone john.stone@sapphire-media.co.uk Distribution Media Support

Prosource

Contents A note fromthe editor

I n t r o d u c t i o n 1

publishers Sky Publications cc PO Box 702, Douglasdale, 2165Tel: 011 658 0011 Fax: 011 658 0010 Cell: 082 851 6777

E-mail: satreads@mweb.co.zaWebsite: www.satreads.co.za www.satreads.com

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EMERGENCY TYRE ASSISTANCE DOWN TO AN ART

Tel: +27 11 439 6000, Fax: +27 86 682 7027, e-mail: info@bandag.co.za or visit www.bandag.co.za

Breakdowns can leave you dead in the water, but you neednt be left to the sharks. With Bandags Emergency Tyre Assistance (ETA) programme you can be covered throughout South Africa 24/7, 365 days of the year. ETA has one easy to remember toll free number, efficient service, consistent on-road pricing and comprehensive reports. Thats what we do.

10715 - ETA ad - Tread S.A.indd 1 2011/11/08 1:45 PM

one-on-one with TIASA ...........................................................................................2

Focus on Tyrexpo Africa _ Future hangs in the balance ......................................7

industry news Revolutionary technologies sets the trend-setting Continental SportContact 6 apart from the rest ............................... 16 Continental Vision Zero aiming for an accident-free future ........... 20 New Sava Avant 4Plus and Orjak 4Plus Truck Tyres ......................... 22 A new South African horizon for Van den Ban ................................. 26

Talking Tyres Tyre Forum: Going a step further ..................................................... 29

Distribution news More new stores for Tiger Wheel & Tyre .......................................... 32 More Growth Planned As Supa Quick Turns 30 ............................... 33

World news Record breaking farewell from the Reifen Essen show ..................... 35 Pirelli introduces its new Triathlon TBR range at Reifen 2016 .......... 35 New high speed OTR tyre from Michelin.......................................... 36 Bridgestone wins Infringement Lawsuit ............................................ 36 Marangoni Retread turns 40 ............................................................. 36 A glittering show-stopper from Zenises .......................................... 36

Visitwww.satrea

ds.comto see our

past issues

FIGHT AGAINST SUB-STANDARD

IMPORTS CONTINUESONE ON ONE WITH TIASA

Our feature story on Tyrexpo Africa raises some important concerns around the topic of sub-standard tyres, otherwise known as cheapies, being circulated in the market. According to current statistics imported tyres account for more than 50% of total sales in South Africa, but how many of these tyres undergo the right checks and balances befoer entering the country? And what assurance does the consumer have that these tyres are in fact roadworthy?

We caught up with TIASA (Tyre Importers Association of South Africa), executives Pieter Kruger (Chairman) and Alida Mouton for their thoughts on this highly controversial issue.

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What is the status quo currently of sub-standard

tyres being imported, especially those coming in

from China?

PK: It is difficult to say as all tyres need to go through a

homologation process.

How do you believe tyres of dubious quality are

able to infiltrate our market given the homologation

requirement?

PK: It is my opinion that many of these tyres are

homologated with the paperwork already supplied. But that does not

necessarily mean that the tyres arriving are of the same quality as those

tested and furnished with an E mark of approval. More worrying still,

scores of tyres arrive in South Africa marked as something else, in order

to avoid paying the import duty.

Do you believe there are sufficient measures in place to limit their

entry into the country?

PK: No, not when tyres are being declared as something completely

different. Which begs the question; how does one control this? The

only way would be to scan each and every container at the arrival port,

but resources are scarce.

AM: Thankfully, the NRCS is working hard to structure and put in place

the necessary procedures in order to protect the brands that do follow

the rules and regulations.

What would you like to see being done to combat this problem?

PK: I strongly believe we need an Independent Testing Facility to conduct

the relevant tests on random tyre samples, as opposed to checking

the samples ahead of arrival. Only then, will you have a real chance of

identifying and catching offending plants and unscrupulous importers.

Would you say that the number of imported cheapies has grown in

recent years?

PK: Yes, up until twelve months ago this was definitely the case.

Currently there are around 449 tyre importers in South Africa (this

number includes the local manufacturers who also import product to

supplement their range), but the past few months have seen a sizeable

decrease in the numbers of tyres being imported, mainly due to the

exchange rate, which at this point, greatly favours the local producers

and makes it extremely difficult for imported products to compete.

But the biggest challenge in my opinion, remains the downward trend in

sales worldwide. In a bid to remain sustainable, this has forced factories

to cut prices in order to dispose of surplus stock.

How big a threat do tyres of inferior quality pose

to local manufacturers and importers of reputable

products alike?

PK: I believe that the dealer trade should be taking

greater responsibility for the products it is selling.

Granted, a lot of this is being driven by the consumer

asking for the cheapest product, but that said, the

dealer should be educating their customers on the

perils of bu