The second-generation...
The second-generation Super Aguri SA06 has turned a wheel for the first time at Silverstone. Although it’s still based on an ageing Arrows chassis, the new Honda-powered machine (right) features many technical updates, as well as a revised red livery.
The cost of rubber has...
The cost of rubber has nearly doubled in the past 12 months, shredding many tyre makers" yearly profits. The rises are expected to bite consumers later this year, and are being blamed on a combination of factors, including a poor rubber harvest in Asia plus an increase in the cost of oil-derived chemicals used in the production process. Additional demand from emerging markets, such as China, is also making a substantial difference.
One tyre industry insider told us: "When raw materials go up, so does the price of the final product. Sometimes it"s possible for manufacturersto absorb this, but when there"s been a sustained period of increases, the likes of which we are currently seeing, the companies do have to start passing them on to consumers." It means that the cost of replacing all the tyres on an average family car will climb by as much as ÷£50, while some high-performance sports models could cost ÷£300 more than at present.
However, while many motorists will be prepared to shell out the extra cash for safety"s sake, there are also some concerns that the rising prices could prompt drivers to delay renewing their rubber and put lives in danger.
Many people already wait until the tread is worn down to the legal 1.6mm depth limit. But, as our Inside Story in Issue 917 showed, this can increase stopping distances significantly.
Meanwhile, workers at Pirelli Tyres in Carlisle, Cumbria and Burton upon Trent, Staffs, were balloted over strike action on Monday in a dispute over pay. The result will be announced on 3 August.