Bridgestone launched a new flagship summer touring tyre – the Bridgestone Turanza 6 – targeting  safety, mileage and sustainability. 

Developed and manufactured in Europe, the Bridgestone Turanza 6 will be available across the region from January 2023 in a comprehensive coverage – 136 sizes from 16” to 22” in the replacement summer line-up – for both passenger cars and on-road SUVs. This increases coverage in demand with 34 new sizes, focusing on the high-rim diameter segment.

Citing the tests carried out by independent TÜV SÜD, Bridgestone claims the new tyre outperforms its competitors in the segment with best-in-class wet performance. This includes being the best in cornering manoeuvres and outstanding straight-line performance. The Bridgestone Turanza 6 also achieves best-in-class EU label A-grade in the wet grip for the full line-up.

The Bridgestone Turanza 6 delivers superior mileage, with a 22 percent improvement and reduction of four percent in rolling resistance compared to its predecessor, the Turanza T005, which remains a test-winning product. The newly launched tyre comes with various ground-breaking innovations in the tread pattern, compound and construction that amplify its performance capabilities. These include the cutting-edge and sustainable TECHSYN and ENLITEN - a set of technologies providing best-in-class tyre performance with a step change towards sustainability compared with previous generations, which are featured for the first time on a Bridgestone replacement tyre.

On the sustainability front, the new Bridgestone Turanza 6 was developed using Bridgestone’s ground-breaking Virtual Tyre Development technology. This enables a digital version of an in-development tyre to be created and tested, helping Bridgestone to predict how a tyre will perform in different conditions before physically building prototypes. In the development phase, this sustainable approach saves 21 percent of raw materials and CO2 emissions while cutting 60,000 kilometres and 7.7 tonnes of CO2 from outdoor testing.

The new Bridgestone Turanza 6 is also perfectly suited to hybrid and electric vehicles, helping to optimise their performance. This includes low rolling resistance to save battery life and address range anxiety concerns, excellent control to address EV-specific driving-related issues, higher wear tolerance to combat tyre wear due to the increased weight and higher torque, and decreased noise for driver comfort to the near non-existent engine noise of EVs. The Bridgestone Turanza 6 reduces 2db in pass-by noise compared to its predecessor.

Emilio Tiberio, COO & CTO of Bridgestone EMIA, said, “We’re delighted to introduce our latest class-leading tyre, the Bridgestone Turanza 6, which was developed using ground-breaking technologies to provide our customers with a safe, sustainable and efficient tyre that performs when they need it most. We’re particularly proud of the Bridgestone Turanza 6’s wet-weather performance, giving drivers control and confidence in the most demanding conditions, even on the rainiest days.”

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Continental has secured original equipment approval for the new all-electric Volkswagen ID. Polo, marking a significant supply agreement with the Wolfsburg-based automaker. The compact model will come factory-fitted with the German manufacturer’s EcoContact 7 summer tyre, with Volkswagen officially sanctioning the 17-inch and 18-inch sizes for standard production.

The EcoContact 7 summer tyre prioritises energy efficiency through a specialised material blend that minimises internal friction, thereby lowering rolling resistance and reducing electricity consumption. Its Aerodimple sidewall technology, modelled after golf ball surface textures, cuts air turbulence to further decrease drag, while the Silent Pattern tread design optimises block spacing and angles to suppress urban driving noise frequencies.

For cold-weather performance, Volkswagen has endorsed the WinterContact TS 870 P, whose tread layout and advanced sipe structure deliver dependable traction on snow and ice. The compound stays pliable in freezing temperatures to ensure short stopping distances and secure handling on wet, frigid or slippery roads.

As a year-round alternative, the AllSeasonContact 2 has been recommended by the automaker in 18-inch dimensions. This Continental tire provides balanced capability across warm summer conditions and wet winter environments, offering drivers a single-set solution without compromising seasonal safety or performance.

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Dunlop’s Blue Response TG has been named ‘Tyre of the Year’ for 2026–27 by WhatTyre, a European tyre news and comparison site, marking a strong debut for the company’s latest premium product line.

The tyre also secured two category awards, being named ‘Summer Tyre of the Year’ and ‘SUV Tyre of the Year’. Dunlop received a further two awards, with the Dunlop All Season 2 winning ‘All Season Tyre of the Year’ and the Dunlop Winter range taking the ‘Winter Tyre of the Year’ accolade.

The Blue Response TG, launched earlier this year, is the first tyre developed independently by Dunlop since its acquisition by Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2025.

Andrew Bogie, editor at WhatTyre, comments: “The DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG represents the triumphant rejuvenation of a premium brand. Targeting the mass market, it combines low noise, increased tread life, dynamic handling, superb safety characteristics and reasonable fuel and energy-efficiency, including extended range for EVs. These capabilities were achieved in a very tight 12-month development cycle using a suite of new technologies. SRI wants the tyre to capture significant market share quickly to re-establish the brand, and the BLUE RESPONSE TG could scarcely have made a more convincing entrance.”

The award follows a series of positive assessments since the tyre’s launch. In March 2026, it received an ‘Outstanding’ rating in a comparison test by Auto Motor und Sport, one of Germany’s leading automotive publications. It was only the fourth tyre in 10 years to achieve that rating. The product has also received favourable reviews from other independent testers and automotive media.

Markus Bögner, managing director and president of Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said: “As we look to re-establish the DUNLOP brand in Europe, we’re proud to see the first tyre of our own design leaving such a positive mark. We have strong ambitions for DUNLOP in Europe as we return to the premium segment, and this success in the WhatTyre awards highlights that our strategy is already bearing fruit.”

The Blue Response TG is positioned as a premium summer tyre designed to balance performance, comfort and braking in both wet and dry conditions. Developed for passenger cars and SUVs, including electric vehicles, it focuses on mileage and ride comfort across a broad range of driving conditions.

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Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has introduced the new Bridgestone Potenza Race R, a semi-slick track tyre engineered for extreme dry performance. The tyre made its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2026, mounted on the newly unveiled 2026 Lamborghini Revuelto SV (Super Veloce). This particular variant was developed as a bespoke fitment specifically for the Italian marque’s latest supercar.

Engineered as an evolution of the standard Potenza Race, the Race R variant incorporates a motorsport-derived compound and an aggressive new tread pattern to maximise dry grip and handling. The tyre is designed for rapid warm-up and consistent lap times from the first circuit to the last, fully complementing the Revuelto SV’s high-performance capabilities. Despite its track-focused nature, the Potenza Race R remains fully homologated for legal road use.

As Lamborghini’s Official Technical Partner and exclusive tyre supplier, Bridgestone has crafted a comprehensive tyre lineup for the V12 hybrid Revuelto SV, which boasts a top speed exceeding 215 mph and a 0–60 mph time of just 2.4 seconds. Beyond the track-focused Potenza Race R, the package includes the ultra-high-performance Potenza Sport for road driving, available with Run Flat Technology for post-puncture safety. A bespoke Blizzak LM005 winter fitment completes the range, ensuring year-round capability.

All four custom fitments feature the exclusive Lamborghini marking and are offered in 20-inch front and 21-inch rear sizes. Developed and manufactured in Italy, the tyres were created using Bridgestone’s proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology. This digital approach significantly enhances efficiency and sustainability, potentially reducing raw material usage and CO2 emissions during the development phase by up to 60 percent.

The Revuelto SV represents the second Bridgestone-Lamborghini collaboration announced in 2026, following the historic Fenomeno Roadster. This latest milestone extends a six-year partnership that began with the Huracán STO in 2021 and has since encompassed flagship models including the Revuelto, Temerario, and Fenomeno, solidifying the alliance between the tyre manufacturer and the supercar brand.

Adrien Thormann, Director of OE Sales at Bridgestone EMEA, said, “The Lamborghini Revuelto SV is the perfect vehicle to introduce our new, bespoke Bridgestone Potenza Race R and showcase what it can do. And Lamborghini has been a brilliant partner in helping bring our vision to life. In 2023, Lamborghini chose Bridgestone as the exclusive tyre partner for the Revuelto, its first-ever super sports V12 HPEV. Three years later, the incredible Revuelto SV launches with Bridgestone as sole tyre partner once again.”

Alessandro Farmeschi, Automobili Lamborghini Revuelto Product Line Director, said, “At Lamborghini, Super Veloce signifies extreme performance, which is perfectly embodied by the new Revuelto SV. Every detail has been optimised – from aerodynamics and power delivery to the bespoke Bridgestone tyre lineup that matches the vehicle’s extraordinary capabilities. The pairing of the Revuelto SV and the new Bridgestone Potenza Race R reflects our shared commitment to engineering for cutting edge performance.”

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Westlake will present a new range of commercial truck tyres at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, as it expands its Gen II portfolio for European fleets.

The company said it would introduce new products developed to improve rolling resistance, fuel efficiency and mileage performance, in collaboration with Interpneu and Pneuhage Fleet Solution .

The latest developments focus on two product lines: the Long Run series, designed to reduce rolling resistance, and the PRO series, aimed at high-mileage applications.

The Long Run range includes the WSL2 steer tyre, WDL2+ drive tyre and WTL2 trailer tyre. Westlake said the WSL2 and WDL2+ achieve EU Tyre Label Class A for rolling resistance. The tyres are designed for long-haul operations, with an emphasis on fuel efficiency and extended service life.

The WSL2 steer tyre is designed to support stable handling and high mileage, using a tread design and compound aimed at reducing heat generation and rolling resistance. The WDL2+ drive tyre focuses on mileage, traction and efficiency, incorporating a wider tread design and low rolling resistance compound.

The WTL2 trailer tyre is intended to provide durability and stability in trailer applications, combining a low rolling resistance compound with a tread design aimed at extending service life.

Alongside the Long Run series, Westlake will showcase its PRO series, developed for fleet operations where durability and mileage are priorities. The WTR PRO trailer tyre features a wider tread design and wear-resistant compound, aimed at improving mileage and ensuring consistent wear.

The four new tyres — WSL2, WDL2+, WTL2 and WTR PRO — will be available for order during the event.

Westlake said it would also present selected Gen II commercial tyres as part of its broader portfolio for European fleet applications.

IAA Transportation 2026 will be held from 15 to 20 September in Hannover, Germany.

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