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November 9, 2011
Audi and Pirelli Team Up to Offer Drivers a Most Memorable Day at the Track
Video
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Pirelli was one of the main sponsors of this year’s Audi Driving Experience, held in select markets across Canada. All the vehicles Audi brought to the event - from the luxurious A6 to the seductive R8 - were shod with premium Pirelli... [Full Story]
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August 31, 2011
André Roberge, Guy Girard and Michel Brulé Honored
Pictorial
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On Wednesday, August 31, Quebec’s tire industry came together to inaugurate three of its pioneers into the Tire Hall of Fame. The event, organized by the ASPMQ, was held at the Marcel-Dulude Centre in St-Bruno. In case you missed it, here’s an overview of the Gala’s 5th edition, which was attended by 200 dedicated ‘Hall-of-Famer’ colleagues, family and friends. [Full Story]
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April 5, 2011
Impressive inauguration of the retread plant and warehouse Pneus Lavoie
Pictorial
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A thousand people had a wonderful evening, last Tuesday, April 5th, when they attended the inauguration of new facilities Pneus Lavoie in Gatineau. Indeed, the building has an area of 6039 square meters has a huge warehouse and a factory of retreading truck tires, Bandag, on the cutting edge of technology... [Full Story]
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January 10, 2011
Tires at the North American International Auto Show
Pictorial
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There used to be a time when the North American International Auto Show held every January in Detroit was the showcase for some of the most incredible concept vehicles. In those days, even the tires were almost “imaginary” showing off incredible design. But those days are gone. Today, there are less concept cars at the NAIAS but each and ever car has to have tires... [Full Story]
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November 10, 2010
Pirelli preferred tire supplier to Pfaff Tuning
Pictorial
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Pirelli Tires inc. Canada, Pfaff Tuning and Atlas Tire Wholesales Inc. celebrated a new partnership to be known as the Pfaff Tuning Pirelli branding program. Effective October 2010, Pirelli became Pfaff Tuning’s preferred tire supplier. [Full Story]
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September 14, 2010
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT
Pictorial
Jil McIntosh
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When it’s 35C outside, the sun is beating down and you’re in Florida, what do you do? Why, try out some winter tires, of course! Faced with the upcoming release of its new Ultra Grip Ice WRT, and without any white stuff available locally, Goodyear Canada took several dealers and media to Eglin Air Force Base and its McKinley Climatic Laboratory, which has a testing centre that was able to drastically drop the temperature, and produce more than enough ice and snow to demonstrate the superior sticking power of this all-new winter offering. [View photos]
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June 17, 2010
Bridgestone-F1 Career Day
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On June 9 at Pierre-Dupuy High School, the Bridgestone-F1 Career Day was held. Students of 3rd and 4th year gathered to hear about their trade from five contributors of the F1 racing circuit: Silvia Hoffer Frangipane, PR agent, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes; Laurent Mekies, engineer, Scuderia Toro Rosso; Stéphane Rigoux, head cook, Renault F1 team; Nico Rosberg, driver, Mercedes GP Petronas; and Philippe Tardivel, in charge of business development, Scuderia Ferrari. The goal of the event was to promote the importance of studies and to encourage young people to choose a challenging career in the automotive world, but also to underline the generosity and social involvement of Bridgestone, which took the opportunity to donate $3,000 to the Montreal educational institution.
[View photos]
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June 8, 2010
Hankook Tire
Photos:
Jil McIntosh
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Founded in 1941 as Korea’s first tire manufacturer, Hankook’s mid-term goal is to move from seventh-largest to fifth-largest worldwide. Over the last decade, its average growth rate has been four times the industry average.
The company produces passenger car, light truck, bus and heavy-duty truck tires, including the Optimo 4S all-weather tire exclusive to OK Tire. It recently opened its doors to Autosphere, including a tour of the world’s second-largest tire plant by volume, the company’s main R&D facility, the only wet test track in Korea, and its flagship T Station tire store, an exclusive marketing initiative in Korea and China.
[View photos]
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May 26, 2010
Michelin Primacy MXM4 Luxury Performance Launch
Photos:
Lesley Wimbush
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To showcase their new Primacy MXM4 luxury performance tire, Michelin chose the lush and welcoming "Low Country" of South Carolina as a testing ground. Journalists arrived in Charleston and piloted premium sedans fitted with the new tires through dense groves of spanish moss-draped cypress trees to reach their destination of Kiawah Island. There, they were treated to a multi-course, outdoor tasting session with renowned Michelin Chef Jeremy Bearman, whose creations shared a significant ingredient with the new tire. [View photos]
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May 12, 2010
New, an Assurance ComforTred Touring
Photos:
Éric Descarries
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Goodyear, renowned tire manufacturer, launched a brand new tire in Monterey, California at the beginning of May, the Assurance ComforTred Touring, a product which combines comfort, quietness and performance for sedans, crossovers, minivans and even luxury cars. To get to the bottom of things, journalists were invited to drive BMW 3 Series and Lexus ES 350 similarly equipped on the Pacific Coast Highway in order to confirm how comfortable and quiet this tire really is. They then drove to a parking lot specially prepared by Goodyear technicians to resemble a part of the company’s test track in Akron, Ohio. Here’s a summary of the event. [View photos]
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May 29, 2010
The Continental Extreme Ride and Learn Tour
Photos:
Éric Descarries
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Tire manufacturer Continental has been doing its Extreme Tour all across Canada during the month of March in order to get tire dealers, car dealers and a few selected media to know more about its latest ExtremeContact DW and DWS performance tires. It all began in Vancouver, then went to Alberta, stopped in Montreal for three days and was headed for Toronto. Autosphere caught up with the Tour in the Montreal area as the event was going on during a rainy day at the ICAR handling course. (ED) [View photos]
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January 11, 2010
Tires are stars too!
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The North American International Auto Show held in Detroit in early January was the very first major automotive event of the year on the international scene. As the economy is picking up, auto manufacturers are beginning to bring out many more interesting cars. In the past, the Detroit Auto Show used to be the scene of many concept car unveilings. In those days, concept tires were also very popular. This year, there were not as many concept cars. But many vehicles sported tires worth mentioning as most brands were represented... [View photos]
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December 1, 2009
Tire Trends at SEMA
Tools That Earn Their Keep
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While it’s still the biggest shindig in town, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, held November 3 to 6 in Las Vegas, definitely felt the impact of the financial meltdown in the U.S. It was cut by about a quarter of its usual size, with large empty areas curtained off in each of the four halls that spread over three buildings... [View photos]
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November 2, 2009
First Day at SEMA
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Photos :
Éric Descarries
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www.autosphere.ca is at SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) for the next few days. This is one of the most important shows of the aftermarket industry. Among the many pavilions showing new products is one dedicated to the wheel and tire industry. [View photos]
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September 24, 2009
New Hall of Fame Honourees
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Photos :
Marie-Josée Rousseau
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September ended in pomp and ceremony with the induction of three more members to the Quebec tire industry Hall of Fame. Now in its fourth edition, the event, held by the ASPMQ (Quebec Association of tire and mechanic specialists) with the collaboration of Rousseau Automotive Communication, paid tribute to Robert Vetter, Gaétan Métivier and Raymond Guay. The above-mentioned join the ranks of Paul-Émile Lessard, Antoine Picard, Maurice Sauvé, Léon Bourgeois, Lucien Bourque, Fernand Desharnais, Jacques Gibeault, Mario Marvento and Claude Ratté. In an era when it is essential to attract successors, highlighting their way of doing and their values is all-important, declared André Sansregret, ASPMQ president.
[View photos]
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September 16, 2009
Continental’s New Oshawa Warehouse
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Photos :
Jil McIntosh
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Continental Tire celebrated the official grand opening of its newest warehouse in Oshawa, Ontario, operated by Pival International, on September 16. The warehouse consolidates three of Continental’s previous locations and will give the company the ability to reach its customers quickly, backed by Pival’s exceptional record of fast and efficient service to the industry. The 400,000-square-foot warehouse is Pival’s fourth; it will open a new facility in Vancouver next year. “We understand getting seasonal products to market,” says president Mario La Barbera. “Continental has high standards and they felt we measured up to it.” (JM) [View photos]
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August 29-30, 2009
Tires played an incredible role at the NAPA Auto Parts 200
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Photos :
Éric Descarries
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Once again, the NAPA Auto Parts 200 racing event held at Le Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal during the last days of August was an incredible success. But, as it was the case last year, rain came to spoil the party. Spoil? Not necessarily since tire manufacturers were ready to face Mother Nature. As a matter of fact, NASCAR wrote another page of history in Montreal as it decided the very first ever Qualifying with rain tires for the Nationwide series. There were three major players during that weekend, Goodyear with the NASCAR Nationwide and Canadian Tire series, Pirelli with the Rolex Grand Am series and Dunlop with the Formula Ford 1600 series. (ED) [View photos]
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August 24, 2009
B-Line Tire & Auto Supply: Staying Ahead by Offering More
Training and Support Are as Important as Product Sales
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When your company faces serious competition, the way to stay ahead is to offer your customers something extra. Mike Bolduc, president of B-Line Tire & Auto Supply Limited, takes advantage of his extensive network of distributors to ensure that shops receive parts, supplies, and training whenever they’re in need... [Full story]
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June 1, 2009
Tirecraft: Stronger Than Ever and Growing Quickly
Unwavering Entrepreneurial SpiritDrives the Brand to Success
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You have no doubt heard of the phoenix, a mythical bird that burned in a fire, but rose from the ashes stronger than before. It’s certainly an apt metaphor for Tirecraft, a well-known and well-respected company that went through an ownership change... [Full story]
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March 18,2009
Tires and Wheels were at the forefront during the 2009 Grand Forum
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Photos :
Marie-Josée Rousseau
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It’s unthinkable to hold an event as important as the Grand Forum without considering wheels and tires. Thankfully, a few of the speakers at the Grand Forum, which was held at the Hôtel des Seigneurs in St-Hyacinthe in mid-march, were knowledgeable people of the industry. Among them, let’s mention Jean-Luc Sauriol who covered TPMS and René Gélinas who addressed the topic of the tire industry. (ED)
[View photos]
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January 7, 2009
2008 Tire Association of Canada (TDAC) Conference
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Photos :
Marie-Josée Rousseau
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The 2008 Tire Association of Canada (TDAC) Conference was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia between July 16 - 20, 2008. It was an opportunity to meet with other industry professionals and supplier representatives. Special functions, speakers, and seminars featuring various leaders of the industry were made available.
[View photos]
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November 20, 2008
Carlisle Tire: A Market Leader in OTR Tires
Doubling Sales in Only Ten Years
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From a simple start supplying tires to Mennonite wagon-makers, Carlisle Canada has grown to manufacturing and supplying OE and replacement OTR tires and wheels to customers from coast to coast... [Full story]
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November 5, 2008
ASPQ's General Assembly and Golf Tournament
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Photos :
Marie-Josée Rousseau
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The ASPQ President Golf Tournament took place at the Laurier Golf Club in Victoriaville, Quebec on Friday August 22 2008. It was an opportunity for Québec tire specialists to convene and welcome André Sansregret, ASPQ’s new president... [View photos]
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November 5, 2008
Keeping Track: the Secret to Success
ASA Tire Systems
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As a business owner, you know the secrets to success: time is money, satisfy the customer, and control your expenses. What can be difficult is staying on top of everything... [Full story]
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