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Delticom: Scrapping bonus - winter tires quo vadis?

Delticom AG, Hanover - 30.09.2009 Many people have scrapped their cars. The old vehicle was scrapped at a profit and a new one is now in its place - with summer tires. In the automotive industry, the winners of the scrapping premium were mainly small and mini cars¹*. Insiders now fear that many tire dealers have not reacted flexibly and quickly enough to this new situation by stocking up on sufficient supplies of the respective tire sizes for the approaching winter season. As a consequence, many tire sizes may not be available for consumers.

If the winter turns out to be severe, many customers will be left out in the cold - with no winter tires. This affects the most frequently sold M+S car tire sizes: 195/65 R15 T, 205/55 R16 H, 175/65 R14 T, 185/65 R15 T and 205/55 R16 T as well as in particular the small and mini models with the highest percentage increases in new registrations for the following possible winter tires²*: 165/60 R14, 155/70 R13, 155/70 R13, 165/70 R14, 185/60 R15, 155/80 R13, 165/70 R13 and 185/65 R15. Drivers of so-called niche tire sizes, of which there are also many, could possibly be even more at a disadvantage this winter.

At the start of the winter tire season the situation may yet be unproblematic for tire buyers. But when the weather begins its typical winter antics with heavy rainfall, snow, or ice, it could lead to logistical problems for dealers, say experts. Then the advantage of large Internet tire dealers will be apparent. Delticom, Europe's leading online tire specialist, has more than 100 tire brands and over 25,000 models available in its online shops. The company took precautions and stocked up, especially on smaller and niche tire sizes in the German online shop ReifenDirekt.de. "No matter if it storms or snows - let winter come! We have millions of tires available and are prepared for any events," says Rainer Binder, CEO of Delticom AG. Experts recommend - take advantage of savings and availability and buy your winter tires soon.

Expanded storage capacity gives the market leader utmost flexibility. After all, they need to have tires available for customers of more than 102 online shops in 35 countries. More than 3 million people buy at Delticom web shops.

More information about the company: www.delti.com
Online shops: http://www.delti.com/english/reifen.html

¹* Source: ERMC (European Rubber Manufacturing Conference), 2008
²* Source: KBA, Continental AG, Jan-Mar 2009