SUPERBIKE:

The minimum assortment available to each rider to be as follows:

Dry front: three different solutions (A–B–C) for a minimum of six each

Tyre manufacturer Pirelli will soon begin its role as single supplier to the World Rally Championship for the next three years, beginning with the 2008 season. Following that nomination, the FIA decided upon rule changes affecting the use of tyres.

The teams will be supplied with three particular brands of tyres by the Italian manufacturer, one for each type of surface to be raced upon during a championship.

Manitoba says more people than ever are purchasing winter tires, but the province has no plans to make using them mandatory, despite Quebec's move to do so.

Quebec recently announced it will make winter tires mandatory, starting next November. It's the first province to order drivers to do so. Driving without the tires will net drivers a fine of up to $300 when the new law kicks in.

While the Manitoba government told CBC News it has no plans to follow Quebec's lead, snow tires are flying off the shelves nonetheless.

A Fountain Tire outlet manager in Winnipeg said his sales have jumped three-fold this season over previous years. Winter tires range in price from $90 to $150.

"I believe it's the weather…but also the consumer. We, as a consumer, are getting smarter by the year," said Jose Ferreira.

"We're reading, we're watching more news, we're hearing about this stuff, and we're realizing … that is does make a difference; [people are saying], 'This is a safety factor for my family.'"
Continue Article

The Japanese manufacturer had been the only supplier since Michelin left Formula One at the end of the 2006 season.

CHENNAI: Tyre maker MRF Ltd expects to get possession of 500 acre land at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu by next month where it plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore to set up a new facility.

The company will be investing Rs 500 crores initially in the facility which wil then be scaled upto Rs 1,000 crores later, MRF Ltd Chairman and Managing Director KM Mammen told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of MRF Formula-1600 car here last night. 

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Apollo Tyres Ltd is close to acquiring a south east Asian tyre maker, television news channel CNBC TV-18 said on Thursday.

The acquisition would be finalised early next year, the channel said without naming the target firm or likely deal value.

"We cannot comment on speculation that is not attributed to anyone. We have said we will continously keep looking at opportunities and there is no change in our stance," Sunam Sarkar, chief of corporate strategy and marketing at Apollo Tyres, told Reuters.

In early 2006 Apollo had bought Dunlop South Africa for about 2.9 billion rupees.