Heels & Horsepower Magazine

New BMW M4 – Factory-fitted with Tyres from Continental

BMW is relying on SportContact 6 tyres from Continental as original equipment for the new M4. The new BMW M4 Competition Convertible with M xDrive will be available in South Africa from the fourth quarter of 2021.

BMW is relying on SportContact 6 tyres from Continental as original equipment for the new M4.

The SportContact 6 has been developed in particular for sporty vehicles and is especially designed for handling, precision and driving stability at high speeds.

As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres play an essential role in providing an optimal driving experience without compromise.

– Dr Holger Lange, head of tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business
 

In addition, it has been rated best in the EU tyre label in the wet grip category, meaning that it is particularly convincing in terms of braking performance on wet roads. Continental received global approvals for the dimensions 275/40 ZR18 (103Y) XL and 285/35 ZR19 (103Y) XL.

“As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres play an essential role in providing an optimal driving experience without compromise,” said Dr Holger Lange, head of tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business. “Our engineers develop OE tyres that perfectly match the respective vehicle model and thus optimally support the car’s performance. To capture the specific requirements, Continental works closely with vehicle manufacturers on tyre development.”

Ramoabi Moeng promoted to Deputy Plant Manager : Continental Tyre South Africa

Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has appointed a new senior management team for its tyre manufacturing plant in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Continental’s only tyre production facility on the African continent.

As the new Deputy Plant Manager, Ramoabi Moeng has gained vast experience in the manufacturing sector since 1997. He spent 11 years in vehicle production, including a one-year training stint in Germany, before joining a pharmaceutical company in 2008 where he headed up the Engineering, Production and Operational Projects portfolios over the ensuing seven years.

I am looking forward to learning more about the tyre manufacturing operations under the leadership of Ahmed and the rest of the CTSA Exco team.

– Ramoabi Moeng, Deputy Plant Manager : Continental Tyre South Africa

Moeng joined Continental Tyre SA in 2016 as Maintenance Manager, and was selected to lead the Manufacturing Engineering Technologies team in 2018, a position he held until his appointment as Deputy Plant Manager in August 2021.

“I am looking forward to learning more about the tyre manufacturing operations under the leadership of Ahmed and the rest of the CTSA Exco team, while ensuring that we produce quality tyres on time and at competitive costs for our local and international customers,” Moeng says.

“Part of my responsibilities includes the role of regional coordinator for Continental’s Sustainable Production of Quality Products initiative for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). This involves ensuring that our local plant is fully integrated into Continental’s global quality structures, and that we consistently produce tyres of the highest quality for our customers around the world,” he says.

Moeng has a National Diploma in Electrical Engineering, a Diploma in Business Management and a qualification in Advanced Maintenance Management – the latter from the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He completed a Management Development programme in 2006, and followed this up with a Master of Business Administration degree from Nelson Mandela University in 2012.

Continental Appoints Ahmed Boualam as new General Manager : Manufacturing

Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has appointed a new senior management team for its tyre manufacturing plant in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Continental’s only tyre production facility on the African continent.

Ahmed Boualam is the new General Manager for Manufacturing with responsibility for overall management of the plant operations. Ramoabi Moeng has been appointed Deputy Plant Manager, supporting Boualam with the running of the facility – both of whom have extensive experience in both the manufacturing and tyre industries.

Boualam was seconded from Continental’s South Carolina Sumter tyre plant in the United States, where he served as Plant Manager for the past two years.

Continental Tyre SA’s outgoing GM for Manufacturing, JJ Dowling, has relocated to the US to take up the position of Production Manager for the Sumer plant.

“I want to thank JJ Dowling for all of his hard work and commitment to CTSA over the past five years he was with us, and wish him all the best for his new role at our sister plant in Sumter,” says Martin Buday, MD of Continental Tyre SA. “We extend a warm welcome back to Ahmed who takes over the reins as our new GM for Manufacturing.

“Our Gqeberha plant in South Africa is not new to Ahmed as worked here for three years prior to his move to the US. I am certain that he, along with our newly appointed Deputy Plant Manager Ramoabi Moeng, will be a force to be reckoned with as they use their combined experience and expertise to successfully steer the manufacturing side of our business,” Buday says.

It is fantastic to be back in South Africa, and I look forward to working with the local management team to continue increasing the production of light truck tyres.

Ahmed Boualam, new General Manager for Manufacturing, continental tyres South Africa
Ahmed Boualam is the new General Manager for Manufacturing

Boualam has been involved in the tyre industry since 2007, starting in his native France as a production management engineer before moving up to Production Manager in the curing and final finishing areas. He joined Continental in France in 2011, initially as Area Manager in the Curing and Mold Shop, and later in the hot preparation and mixing room.

A three-year stint as Production Manager for the Continental Tyre plant in South Africa followed in 2016 before he was selected to head up the Sumter plant in 2019.

“It is fantastic to be back in South Africa, and I look forward to working with the local management team to continue the transformation of our facility as we work towards increasing the production of light truck tyres,” Boualam says. “While optimising the output of our current assets, we are working closely with our colleagues in Hanover and will be making further investments in our factory to expand our production capacity for this important sector.

“The goal is to make Continental Tyre SA a major producer of light commercial vehicle tyres within Continental globally, and supply tyres of the highest quality to more markets around the world,” Boualam says. He is a qualified mechanical and production engineer, and has a Master’s degree in Business Management which he completed in 2005.

Continental Tyre SA welcomes Martin Buday as new Managing Director

Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) is proud to announce that Martin Buday has officially taken over the reins as managing director, bringing with him, almost two decades of experience in the tyre industry with Continental in various roles in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Martin Buday has stepped into the position of Managing Director, replacing Shaun Uys who took up a new assignment with Continental Tire in the United States. Previously, Buday served as General Market Manager and MD for the Czech and Slovak markets.

Now on South African soil, Buday is ready to lead the South African operation, which includes Continental’s only tyre manufacturing facility on the African continent, producing world-class tyres for domestic sales – supplying the original equipment and replacement sectors – along with exports to the Americas, the Asia Pacific region, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Despite the products being the same around the world, this is a new market for me.

– MARTIN BUDAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINENTAL TYRE SOUTH AFRICA

As the only tyre company that supplies seven of the major vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, Continental Tyre SA plays an important role in the local automotive industry.

“Last year was very difficult for all of us, but I am looking forward to this exciting new opportunity to be a part of the Continental team in South Africa,” Buday says.

“For 2021, one of the key objectives for the management team is for CTSA to get onto a growth path again and improve our financial results.

“We need to reignite our winning mindset, motivation, energy and focus on achieving our short and medium-term goals, and at the same time show a high level of flexibility and agility to be able to adapt to the changing market environment. The implementation of Continental’s Vision 2030 strategic program for the tyre business will ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build,” he adds.

Buday has spent his entire working career in the tyre industry. His association with Continental started in 2007 when the tyre manufacturing giant took over Matador, one of the last independent tyre producers in Europe. Buday had been employed by Matador since his graduation in 2002, having held several positions in marketing and sales over the years.

Buday’s decision to join the South African entity was made in February 2020, mere weeks before the pandemic effectively brought the world to a standstill.

“I’m very happy to finally be in South Africa, and I want to use this opportunity to thank to my colleagues from the executive management team for steering the organisation.”

Buday states. “Despite the products being the same around the world, this is a new market for me, and I have to admit that still I need to gain a better understanding of the market environment.

However, it’s already clear that the South African team is committed and has established a strong presence in the original equipment market and the replacement market.

“Now we need to focus on the long-term sustainability of our business and operations in South Africa, capitalising on our strengths, improving where and how we can, and exploiting all growth opportunities. We need to ensure that we make full use of the opportunities provided by Continental’s Vision 2030 strategy.”

Vision 2030 is focused on the systematic customer-centric alignment of the Continental Tires business area and related activities. In addition, the Tires business area is targeting further profitable growth and, in a fast-changing market environment, aiming to set itself apart from the competition in respect of sustainability, and through digital solutions.

What you should know about wheel balancing

The goal of tyre balance is to distribute weight equally around the entire circumference of the tyre. Wheels that are out-of-balance can cause uncomfortable vibrations while driving. It also results in premature wear of suspension and steering components, rotating parts, and tyres.

As part of routine vehicle maintenance, drivers should seek to balance the tyres on their vehicle after every 5,000-10,000 km travelled, or after 1-2 years (whichever comes first).

Also, it’s worth balancing the tyres and wheels when:

  • Buying new tyres, rims, or wheels;
  • Rotating the tyres;
  • Repairing the tyres;
  • The car hits a large pothole.

Another thing to remember; tyre balance is entirely different to wheel alignment, though the two concepts are sometimes confused. Aligning a set of wheels entails adjusting their angles so that they’re parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.

Knowing the signs of imbalance

Tyre imbalance can develop over time as the tyre tread wears down through regular use and the distribution of weight changes.  Subjecting the tyres to excessive stress by driving on poor roads, hard braking and cornering may hasten matters further.

When one or more tyres are out-of-balance on your vehicle, there are several common indicators:

  • The car experiences vibration at high speeds;
  • There’s uneven wear on the tread;
  • There’s an increase in fuel consumption;
  • There are issues with the suspension.

If you notice one or more of these symptoms – even if the tyres are relatively new – then it’s possible your car has an imbalanced tyre.

Source: Continental Tyres South Africa

Types of tyre damage all motorists should know about

Tyre damage can happen for a variety of reasons and without the driver being immediately aware there’s a problem.

The most common types of damage are punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, bulges and irregular wear. Here are some common signs and symptoms aimed at helping you diagnose the issue as well as some useful tips on how to prevent them.

Identifying irregular wear

There are several types of irregular wear, the most typical variations being heel and toe wear, one-sided wear, and centre wear. Here we explain how and why they occur.

a. Heel and toe wear – Heel and toe wear is a pattern caused by normal usage and suspension settings. It’s the outwardly visible (and audible) manifestation of various distortional forces at work on the tread. To explain further, let’s dive a little deeper into the design of the tread.

Tread grooves are essential in ensuring safety on wet and flooded roads. With low-profile tyres in particular, a higher percentage of tread void is necessary to displace the water and to improve protection against aquaplaning. Cross-grooves for water drainage take the form of freestanding blocks in the shoulder area. These shoulder blocks can wear into a heel and toe pattern as a result of a rolling movement under certain operating conditions. These operating conditions include:

  1. Long journeys at a steady speed on straight roads
  2. A moderate driving style
  3. The alignment and camber of the suspension geometry

As the tyre rolls along the road, the freestanding blocks deform as they get closer to the contact patch of the tyre, and they compress as they touch the tarmac. After they lose road contact, however, the blocks snap back into their original shape, rubbing the surface of the road as they do so. The result is wear on the block run-out edge and is more likely to appear on non-driven wheels.

A minor amount of heel and toe wear is reasonable and has no discernible effect on driving comfort. But if the wear is more extensive, more specific issues could be to blame, including improper inflation, excessive toe-in and low-wear applications. 

b. Centre wear – You will find this wear pattern on the driven wheels of high-power cars. High torque levels generated during strong acceleration, in stop-start urban traffic or when accelerating away from traffic lights can quickly increase wear of the tread in the centre of the tyre. Even today’s mid-range vehicles have modern engines that can generate high levels of torque and are capable of producing high degrees of slip.

c. One-sided wear – The biggest cause of one-sided wear is incorrect axle geometry. Deviations from the standard specification can develop over time and are the result of, for example, mounting a kerb.

Lowering the height of a vehicle in conjunction with low-profile tyres can also negatively affect wheel alignment. During driving, modified suspension arms tend to cause the alignment of the wheels to deviate from the specified position. The problem can catch drivers unaware, because wheel alignment values can still be found to be within tolerance limits when measured in a static position on an axle measurement bench. But the manufacturer’s alignment data applies to vehicles as delivered and may not necessarily apply to customised cars. Thus, the result may be an increase in non-uniform tread wear.

If a vehicle’s wheels are misaligned, a qualified specialist can correct the deviation by realigning them.

Identifying an impact break or bulge

An impact break is damage inflicted on the carcass (the casing of the tyre) after the tyre comes into contact with certain obstacles. A pronounced external bulge on the sidewall of the tyre indicates destroyed cords inside the carcass.

Damage of this kind is usually caused by driving over objects – like kerbs or speed bumps – at excessive speed or at the wrong angle, overstressing the carcass and causing individual cords to break. The exact extent of the damage will depend on the speed and angle of impact, and the size of the obstacle. Careful motorists are usually able to avoid this type of damage, unless an obstacle suddenly appears in front of them and they can’t steer around it.

Ignoring such damage increases the risk of tyre failure at some point in the future, either delamination of the tread and plies or disintegration of the tyre sidewall.

An impact break is sometimes confused with a sidewall indentation, but they are not the same thing. As we explain below, dimples or indentations in the sidewall are not cause for alarm. 

Identifying a sidewall indentation

A tyre sidewall is not always perfectly even; sometimes there will be dimples and indentations that may require a more detailed inspection to determine their cause. The essential thing to know is that indentations are harmless and aren’t detrimental to either driving or safety characteristics. The dimples are superficial.

Indentations in the tyre are best illustrated if you imagine tying a string around an inflated balloon and then gently pulling the string tighter. If the balloon is the tyre, the string is the embedded carcass cords, which are concealed by the rubber. These cords provide the tyre with its strength and stability, and transfer steering and braking forces while driving.

During manufacture of a tyre – or rather when constructing the carcass, to which the steel belt and the tread are attached – there are often one or two overlaps in the carcass. It’s this overlap that is sometimes visible as an indentation after the tyre is fitted and inflated.

But if you’re in any doubt, have the sidewall indentations checked by a qualified tyre specialist. 

Identifying a cut

Cuts are the result of external influences like bad road conditions, protruding bodywork parts or sharp, foreign objects such as stones or glass. If you discover damage in the form of a cut on the tyre surface, you should visit your local tyre retailer and have your tyres immediately checked by a professional.

Punctures explained

Punctures are the consequence of sharp objects on the road – for example, nails, screws or broken glass – that pierce through the surface of the tyre. If the puncture is deep enough, the tyre could begin to lose air pressure. If you find that one or more of your tyres are continuously losing pressure, or if you discover a nail or screw embedded in the tread, then visit your local tyre specialist as soon as possible to have them repaired.

How to prevent damages

Change the position of the tyres on the car at regular intervals (unless otherwise recommended by the vehicle manufacturer) to promote even tyre wear. The position of the tyres should be rotated, for example, when making the seasonal transition between summer and winter tyres.

By swapping the wheels from the driven to the non-driven axle on a regular basis, drivers can expect to have a uniform pattern of wear on all tyres. But as always, please observe the recommendations provided by the vehicle manufacturer.

If you find yourself in a situation where you have to drive over an obstacle in the road, approach it slowly and as close to perpendicular as possible. Afterwards, check your tyres for exterior damage such as cuts, cracks or bulges. Also, avoid driving aggressively on unpaved roads.

Article and images courtesy of Continental Tyres South Africa