Monthly Archives: December 2023

General tyres Stuff

Honda Civic Winter Tyres

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Honda Civic Winter Tyres

Honda Civic Winter Tyres

Honda Civic Winter Tyres
Honda Civic Winter Tyres

2024, General tyre update

Unfortunately, General tyres have become unavailable on the European tyre market. In a commercial decision, Continental, the mother company, has decided to withdraw the product from the European and UK tyre markets.

Some products will be available. Including their range of 4×4 tyres.

Here at Pellon Tyres in Halifax, UK, we first became General tyre retailers earlier in 2016. For this reason, I became disenfranchised with some of the other tyre companies.

If we promote and sell a product, then we require a little loyalty. In my 40 odd years in the tyre business, I have been let down by many tyre companies. However, this is an unusual way to break up a business pact between companies.

I can only suspect. Honda Civic Winter Tyres

Continental had too large a product range and so decided to ditch the General Tyre brand.

Normally, tyre companies suck us in by making promises of special discounts and pricing schemes. When they have sucked you onboard, they then offer your competitors the same deals in your local area. Apollo tyres were a good example of this.

However, if you have your finger on the ball, then these broken promises are easily found and action can be taken.

They seem to accept that when you build their product base in a certain area. They then flood their tyres into your area. Its as old as the hills!

The latest tyre company to do this was Yokohama Tyres. Honda Civic Winter Tyres

We became dealers in the Halifax area. Accordingly, we sold thousands of their tyre products, including many winter tyres. The next thing we knew. Yokohama was selling their tyres online at a highly discounted price.

I was not worried about being let down by Yokohama Tyres because we were able to buy them from a large tyre wholesaler at the same price!

To bring things up to date in 2024, we now have a good working relationship with Falken Eurowinter HS01 Tyres. Honda Civic owners wanting good winter tyres can be confident with this product.

https://www.pellontyres.co.uk/TyreSearch/Details/107138/General+Altimax+One+S
Eric Roberts is a keen blogger about all tyre subjects

Having some fun in my ’07 Civic LX riding on Falken snow tyres. Awesome tyres, awesome price.
Let it snow!

All Continental Tyres Stuff

Continental Winter TS850 Tyres

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Continental Winter TS850 Tyres

Continental Winter TS850 Tyres

I have made extensive inroads into the perfect winter tyre. Of course, I mean that they are most suitable for larger and sportier cars. Hence, such as BMW’s and Mercedes.

Continental is, of course, a German company.

Thus, they are interlinked with the German tyre manufacturers. This is, of course, a natural thing to do. Mainly because of their close proximity to each other.

Therefore, it makes sense to cooperate with each other. Naturally, in the compatibility of interlinking products,. Of course, this could be just seen as progress. Indeed, it probably is.

Car design and manufacturing are fast-moving sciences. Therefore, tyres have to keep up with the pace. The tyres of yesteryear would be no good for the modern fast coupe. Of course, that is produced in Germany.

Tyre buffs, only have to look

At the Conti Contact range of tyres. Each new car that is developed now requires a tyre to match. Continental has always been at the forefront of tyre development. This meets all the qualities of the large German car manufacturers.

This tyre development also includes winter tyres.

Germans and other Europeans have an urge to head to ski resorts during the winter.. This means that these large cars require tyres that will go down the Autobahn at over 100 MPH and then drive up mountains to reach the snow slopes.

This is where the Continental Winter TS850 tyres come into their own. These tyres were tested by the German car magazine Auto Zeitung The ContiWinterContact TS 850 defended its title and again finished best in the test.

The Continental Winter TS850 tyres offer exceptional traction on snow and ice due to their distinctive tread pattern and compound, providing a stable and safe driving experience at snowy ski resorts.

Superior Braking Performance:

These vehicles possess outstanding braking capabilities on wet and slippery ground, which is a vital attribute for safely manoeuvring over winding and potentially treacherous mountain roads.

Enhanced Fuel Efficiency: These tyres are designed to minimise rolling resistance, reducing the workload on your engine and resulting in fuel savings over your extensive journey across Europe.

Minimised Aquaplaning Risk:

The tread design efficiently disperses water and slush, decreasing the likelihood of losing control on wet roads (aquaplaning) and ensuring your safety in unforeseen heavy rain.

Extended Lifespan: Renowned for their robustness, the TS850s exhibit superior resistance to harsh winter circumstances compared to numerous other tyres, rendering them a prudent and enduring option for frequent winter travellers.

The tyres are specifically engineered to minimise road noise

providing a serene and pleasant driving experience. This allows you to fully appreciate the picturesque European landscapes without any bothersome tyre noise.

http://www.pellontyres.co.uk/Tyre/Details/Continental/Winter+Contact+TS+850+P

All Michelin Tyres Stuff

Michelin Formula One Bid

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Michelin Formula One Bid

Michelin race tyres
Michelin race tyres

Michelin Formula One Bid

Michelin put forward their bid to be the sole tyre supply starting 2017. Read more about it

Michelin Formula One Bid looks to be on the cards

Pascal Couasnon. Has hinted on many occasions about the Michelin F1 bid. For this reason, their interest in making a bid. Hence, for the coveted supplier of tyres to the F1 racing series.

He does, however. I want to make changes to the tyre sizes. also to the method by which the various F1 teams choose the tyres. it is very strongly rumoured. That is the giant French tyre maker. Michelin has been testing F1-type tyres.

Consequently, in the Le Mans race series,

Thus, an event that comes very close to F1. The Le Mans series operates with similar cars and speeds, making it easy to test similar tyres in real-time racing conditions.

A Michelin F1 bid does look likely to be on the cards. Almost all other types of motorsport vehicles use Michelin race tyres, but at the moment, the Pirelli tyre company does not supply the F1.

Pirelli does seem to be fully committed

and after a bumpy start with differing compound problems, they appear to have come up with the correct formula.

In my opinion, Pirelli will not want to give up this prestigious position. I believe that the Michelin F1 bid will have a battle on their hands when the competition for tyre suppliers begins.

Michelin Formula One Bid: What will Michelin do with BlackCircles?

We at Pellon Tyres here in Halifax are at the moment a BlackCircles fitting station. We will shortly be reviewing the situation? The first point is that we are not getting the correct fitting charge for some of the vehicles that we are now getting in for their tyres fitting. To do a good and proper job we have to spend too much time for the fee that we are now getting, this is putting strain on our own customers, who are having to wait longer.

Also, we believe that Michelin will be diverting

the fitting jobs to ATS, their own retail tyre network. This would be a perfect and natural thing for them to do, but I feel that it would be time for the independent retailers to pull out before they remove the plug and perhaps leave gaps in your business plan. These are just my own opinions, but I feel that we should react to them.

Eric Roberts

Michelin Porsche-A look at Michelin Involvement in Motorsport- Motorsport on Twitter

Sourced through Scoop.it from: essentiallysports.com

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Tyre Industry Responsible for Poor Tyre Knowledge-Tread Reader on Twitter

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Tyre Industry Responsible

tyre industry

Michelin survey: 36% of respondents unsure of legal min. tread depth; 62% don’t know the penalty for illegal tyres. pic.twitter.com/FceWAbI36i

This Tyre Industry Responsible survey does not surprise me at all?

Tyre are the last thing on most drivers minds, as drivers are still under financial pressures and the young drivers would rather buy expensive clothes or spend their money on a good night out.

Sometimes I think that we in the tyre industry moan too much about what the customer knows and should know?
I think it is a good idea to carry out tyre research and we all have to thank Michelin in this instance, but are the results really so surprising?
Many of us in the trade (and that includes me).

 Are to blame for this. Over the years,. We have constantly launched tyres at the public. Hence, most motorists today just see tyres as a consumer product that they buy when they are told that they need one.

Many people who read my blogs are in the tyre retail industry and this means that we can all relate to the same or similar problems. For some reason, the tyre industry have failed to educate the public in the safety aspect of their tyre products.


Each manufacturer brings out a new tyre and promotes it the same as skin cream or perfume, but never really explains exactly what a tyre is all about. Take a recent innovation: run-flat tyres. As far as I know, they were just brought out and fitted to cars as original equipment. Nothing was explained what the tyre safety features were?

Tyre Industry Responsible

I remember the days when “features and benefits” were a buzz word in the tyre industry, but now it is more about market share. Would it have hurt the industry to put out informational facts in the press or on TV,

Even such programmes as “Top Gear”, could have done a piece about run-flat tyres. The majority of tyre manufacturers will be producing new styles of safety tyres, and some new car models will come with them. Things like this would have educated the public as to why these tyres were so expensive.


We, as tyre retailers, have all this to put up with?
To be truthful, we don’t really mind. Consequently, I do think that the tyre industry. Particularly the manufacturers. Hence, it should play a bigger part in helping to educate motorists. what tyres are really about. Therefore, they should be looked after more carefully. I am thinking about tyre pressures and how to check their tread depth.

tyre industry
Bald tyres like these that were changed on a very nice BMW really make me angry, but are now commonplace

We here at Pellon Tyres experience these problems on a daily occurrence.

Drivers have very busy lives and should be made more aware. Thus the importance of their tyres. Cars are getting bigger?

I am thinking about SUV’s here; more and more young drivers, including many ladies, are now drivers.
Should we be targeting this age group and gender group? Who are the drivers of the future?

Tyre Industry Responsible

It does concern me about the number of our customers who do not even know their tyre size. But worse of all the large number of tyres that we are removing that are worn down to the steel cords,.


I do appreciate that we have now got Tyresafe working on this problem, but the tyre manufacturers are leaving all the hard work to the tyre retailers, and most of them have staff that are not trained and, in some cases, know practically nothing about tyres except how to fit them?
But that’s another story.
www.pellonautocentre.com/blog

All Goodyear/Dunlop Tyres Stuff

Goodyear Innovations

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Goodyear Innovations

Goodyear Innovations

Goodyear Innovations

At Goodyear we’ve been driven by innovations since 1898. Find out more about our work at the leading edge of research and development.

Goodyear Innovations have always been at the leading edge of tyre technology, including the development of the futuristic tyre, the “Biolsoprene” concept tyres.

Goodyear Tyres have always been a favourite of mine, mainly because I worked for them for a number of years, managing some of their retail tyre depots.

“We’re also working hard on more environmentally-friendly products, with the BioIsopreneTM concept tyre—a tyre made of renewable biomass”—unveiled at the 2012 Climate Conference in Copenhagen.
Goodyear innovations. Have always kept the giant tyre company in the world’s leading positions.

Goodyear Rubber Company history.

So, it shows that they were there right at the beginning. Thus, when tyres and the vulcanization of rubber were in there early stages,. Consequently, in 1839, Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered how to vulcanize rubber. Which could be later made into tyres. Of course, and other rubber products.
In more recent times,.  Goodyear introduces two notable advances in tyre design. Hence,Tiempo. The first all-season tyre and the revolutionary fuel-saving.  Elliptic tyre.

Goodyear Innovations

Goodyear Ultragrips were developed from their involvement with the rally car scene and in the 1970’s they came out with the Goodyear Grand Prix X tyres, famous for the new word out at the time “aquaplaning”.

This made drivers aware of the dangers of driving on wet roads and the need for their tyres to be able to get rid of the surface water to allow the tyre tread to grip the road. In 1992, Goodyear introduced the first run-on-flat tyre for the Chevrolet Corvette.

allowing the driver to continue the journey after a puncture or other tyre deflation.
In 2004, assurance tyres featuring TripleTred and ComforTred technology were introduced. These are just a few of the Goodyear innovations over the years.

http://www.pellontyres.co.uk/Tyre/Brand/1258/GOODYEAR

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.goodyear.eu

All Goodyear/Dunlop Tyres Stuff

Goodyear Ultragrips-Barry Allman-Photos

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Goodyear Ultragrips

Goodyear Ultragrips

Goodyear Ultragrips
Goodyear Ultragrips

Last rally in our (Barry Musker’s and mine) Anglia . it was all working by now and even NEW tyres Goodyear Ultragrips . we are car 72 now!! a very icy…

Wow, this image and the words of Goodyear Ultra-Grips take me back to the seventies, when I used to fit tyres on some of the Yorkshire stages for Goodyear. The company that I worked for in those days was Tyreservices.

I was manager at their Huddersfield branch and later at their Halifax branch here in Yorkshire. I have told this story many times. We sponsored a lady rally driver by the name of Krissy Ashford. She drove a Ford Escort Mk2 in the blue and white colours of TyreServices, which were owned by Goodyear tyres.

The tyres she used were

Goodyear Ultra-grip performance. Consequently, these tyres came in a slick and gravel tread pattern (as far as I can remember). Hence, this was also the time of the Mini’s involvement in rallying. She may have been driving on 13-inch Goodyear rally specials that Goodyear provided, and we would fit them for her and swap out the wheels as needed.

Goodyear Ultragrips

We worked from a massive Goodyear truck that was equipped with tyre fitting machines and compressors. We would change the wheels with tyres already built up at our tyre depot in Huddersfield. It was always in winter and freezing cold, but we loved to do this. It was very exciting with all the noise and smells coming from the different rally cars.

I loved the Minis? They were kitted out on 145×10 Goodyear Ultra-grips and were tops either in the forests or on tarmac. One driver told me that he preferred these tires to the 165/70×10 Goodyear Rally Specials.

The Goodyear’s were great.

The Ultra-Grip in 145 x 10 were tops in the forests and on tarmac, it was not much better than the 165 x 10 Rally Special.

Other tyre brands that wee about in those days were the Dunlop SP 3’s and a bit later Avon tyres used their Arctic Steel radials. The SP3 and the SP Sports were also very popular for rallying in Minis.

Happy days!!!

Eris Roberts

http://www.pellontyres.co.uk/Tyre/Details/Goodyear/Ultragrip+GW+3

General tyres Stuff

Testing General Grabber-ATs on Land Rover Freelander 2 in the Snow of Scotland

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Testing General Grabber

Testing new General Grabbers- ATs on Freelander 2, Eastern Highlands, Scotland.

Scotland is probably one of the best tyre testing areas of the UK. Hence, you can guarantee that snow will fall on the upper regions of the mountain ranges.

The General Grabber is famous for its many attributes. As expected, the first thing is that the tyres are not noisy on normal tarmac roads. This has surprised many drivers in the past.

This is because the grabbers have a chunky tread pattern, then our customers think that there will be a noise build up, say in summer when the roads are dry. However, this is not so?

Testing General Grabber

On road tests the General Grabber’s  have compared favourably with many of the”so called” road only tyres. Of course, these tyres are a little noisier. However, the sound difference is negligible. The Pirelli Scorpion verde, which is a road tyre comes it at 71DB. Compared to the grabber coming in at 74 DB. As a result, not much difference.

The reason behind the low noise level. Is the Highly-engineered acoustic tread pattern, designed by General tyres. This and the incredible gripping power in extreme weather conditions is why the Grabber is very popular. hence, amongst the SUV and 4X4 tyre fraternity.

Finally these tyres are suitable for fitting on the Range Rover car models.

The original video text is

Video shows the tread self-cleaning, with snow been thrown from the tread. The side profile of the tyre gives it superiority over other similar tyres, especially when on a steering wheel lock.

*New 235/65/R17 General Grabber AT tyres bought/fitted for £125 per tyre.

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

Yokohama run-flat sports tyres

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Yokohama run-flat sports tyres

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.plugsinetminex.cu.cc

Yokohama tyres. Are one of the world’s most up and coming tyre companies. Hence, they have achieved this by developing an excellent tyre range available to the public. As a result, this tyre range has been developed. Together,  with the aid of research and development. So, through their involvement in motorsport.

Yokohama once only appealed to the younger, sportier driver.

But it is now acclaimed as one of the best car tyres available. hence, for all classes of driver. naturally, from the sports hatch to the lucrative SUV market.

The news is now out. Yokohama having brought out a new run-flat tyre. Thereby, the Yokohama Advan Sport ZPS run-flat tyres. Like all run-flat tyres that are made. Thus, the Yokohama will have much strengthened sidewalls. Of course, that will allow the car to run on . After a rapid tyre deflation. This enables the driver to drive their car at 50 mph. Thus, for up to 50 miles to get the tyre changed.

Yokohama run-flat sports tyres

Many drivers did not like the idea at first. But they can be a real lifesaver. I especially think that they are now more appreciated. The Yokohama run-flat sports tyres. Therefore, it will run alongside the Yokohama Advan Sport tyres. Which also comes on many German car models. Such as Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi, and now including Bentley cars. Yokohama run-flat sports tyres
The Yokohama run-flats will be fitted on BMW’s in the factory, including the Mini’s, and will be available from Yokohama stockists such as Pellon Tyres in Halifax, Yorkshire, UK.
The new run-flat tyre is manufactured using Yokohama’s latest compound technology, enabling excellent grip and safety to be maintained at all times.

The new tyres will also have specially designed

bead wire on Yokohama Advan Sport ZPS run-flat tyres from Yokohama Tyres ensures that the tyre remains in good contact with the alloy wheel rim when in use. This bead wire, along with the bead filler, ensures that the tyre gives the car a rigid and comfortable ride all the time.
The new Yokohama run-flat sports tyres will just slot in the already impressive range of tyres from this exceptional Japanese tyre manufacturer.
Eric Roberts

General tyres Stuff

Land Rover Freelander-General Grabber Tyres-Tyres off road with the General Grabber AT

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Land Rover Freelander-General Grabber Tyres

Land Rover Freelander-General Grabber Tyres

The General Grabber , is a tyre that i can’t stop enthusing about. Hence, it is one of those products, that sells themselves. of course, just like we have Michelin guys, who only want to buy Michelin tyres. So we have the General grabber guys.

Of course, I keep writing about them. Because I want all the Drivers of SUV’s and 4X4’s. Thus, in the Halifax area of the UK that we are the place to buy them from.

General tyres sell themselves. As expected, because of the hilly terrain of Halifax UK. Naturally, we have a large number of drivers owning the Land Rover range of vehicles. The general grabber is well known amongst the drivers of these vehicles.

Land Rover drivers are always well informed about their vehicles. They know about a tyres qualities. of course whether driving in summer or winter, from sunshine through to extreme weather conditions.

The general Grabber in all its forms and modifications, can cope with everything the climate has to throw at them. The land Rover Freelander in the video shows haw diverse these tyres are. So they are seen to cope with the mud and water that is in their path.

The original video text from the video is listed bellow.

Testing my new General Grabber AT 255/60/18 on the Land Rover Freelander 2
It`s not the real off road thing,, but I was alone on a Sunday afternoon in my good clothing. But it looks very promising. On Road it`s perfect. Only a little more road noise as my  Pirelli Scorpions. (100% road tire)

All Michelin Tyres Stuff

MICHELINS Experience Puts the CrossClimate tyre through its Paces a great Video

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 Michelins experience;Nothing is as unpredictable as the weather. Now it’s your turn to change the game.Put the new, innovative MICHELIN CrossClimate tyres to the weather test.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: crossclimate.michelin.co.uk

Michelin CrossClimate tyres are no doubt one of the tyres to watch out for this coming autumn. Michelin have now released stocks of the CrossClimate and we are now getting our own stocks in here at Pellon Tyres in Halifax, Yorkshire UK.

it would be impossible to keep all the sizes in stock and so we just stick to the top ten sizes.

Other tyre  manufacturers also make similar products, what we call “all-weather tyres”.

Apollo vredestein have just brought out another tyre from the long line of the The new Vredestein Quatrac 5 is characterised by the sleek, asymmetrical design of the tread.

Michelins experience in designing and making tyres that are suitable for driving in winter conditions. Stems back to the early days of rallying. Michelins experience in rally tyres is second to none>Of course, with Pirelli and Goodyear probably coming a close second.

In my opinion the CrossClimate tyre is a culmination of all this experience. The video shows the extreme conditions and driving that these tyres are put through on testing. This is something that was only available to the tyre trade at one time. Now though we have advanced visual aids for all to see and thanks to YouTube, these tyre companies can show the public exactly how their tyres can perform.

A couple of interesting points that i think about when looking at the CrossClimate. So, is the use of a directional tread pattern. The modern trend is for the development of the asymmetric tread pattern design. Which has the “holding the road on all four corners effect”. Another

point is that Michelin show “snow flake emblem” on the Cross-climates side wall. This is a good point and means that the tyre has been thoroughly tested in snow conditions, as the video shows.