Bridgestone has been designated the sole tyre supplier for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting in the 2026-2027 season. This agreement, covering seasons 2026-2027 through 2029-2030, is a pivotal move in the company’s global motorsports strategy, emphasising sustainability.

Chosen by the FIA, Bridgestone’s role as the exclusive tyre provider for Formula E underscores the company’s commitment to driving sustainable technology and fostering innovation. This partnership will enable Bridgestone to refine and develop technologies that contribute to sustainability, from the production and usage of tyres to their renewal into raw materials.

The Formula E collaboration marks a crucial step for Bridgestone, aligning its motorsports efforts with a sustainable vision for the future. 

“Motorsports is Bridgestone’s passion. Always has been and always will be. I am delighted to be able to announce our return to an FIA World Championship this year as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our motorsports activities. Carrying on our 60-year legacy in motorsports, we are very excited about being the FIA’s sole tire supplier for Formula E from the 2026 -2027 season. Sharing the passion to race and the passion to win, Bridgestone has empowered the best performance of cars, drivers and teams in racing conditions by repeatedly taking on the ultimate challenges while ensuring safety and peace of mind based on our fundamental principle, ’ tyres carry life’. This ‘ultimate challenge’, as we call “challenge for excellence”, is our origin as a tire manufacturer and shaped the foundation of our premium tire business. As we face our next stage, Bridgestone aims to evolve sustainable global premium motorsports products with our enduring passion to embrace the ultimate challenge and to pursue excellence in every moment. The core of our supply arrangement with the FIA will be the expansion and enhancement of ‘ENLITEN’ tyre product technology, enabling ‘ultimate customisation’ that we define as our ‘new premium in the EV era’. I am looking forward to starting our activities in Formula E from the 2026 – 2027 season.” said Shu Ishibashi, Global CEO and Representative Executive Officer of Bridgestone Corporation.  

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is now providing its GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres as original equipment for the newly redesigned Lexus RZ battery electric vehicle (BEV) in North America. This highway terrain tyre, sized 235/50R20 100V, is engineered to deliver high-speed capability and drivability without compromising on safety, comfort, durability or energy efficiency, and it carries the M+S mud and snow rating. For the Japanese-market RZ, the company continues to fit the ADVAN V61 model in specific front and rear sizes, as it did for the prior version.

These GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres feature Yokohama’s proprietary ‘E+’ sidewall engraving, denoting technologies tailored for electrified vehicles, which prioritise durability, quiet operation and improved energy consumption. Their development was supported by HAICoLab, Yokohama’s AI-driven innovation framework that combines human creativity with artificial intelligence to accelerate design and discovery.

This selection by Lexus for the RZ follows recent adoptions of the GEOLANDAR X-CV on other Lexus models, including the LX and GX550. The partnership aligns with Yokohama Rubber’s strategic medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026. A central pillar of this plan is for the consumer tyre division to increase its sales of high-value-added products, actively promoting both the global flagship ADVAN brand and the SUV-focused GEOLANDAR brand for original equipment placement on new vehicles worldwide.

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Hoosier Racing Tire has launched the TrackAttack Race, a new competition tyre designed exclusively for track use, expanding its TrackAttack product family.

The tyre was unveiled at the PRI Show in Indianapolis on 12 December and is positioned as a pure racing option aimed at drivers seeking faster lap times and greater consistency under high-performance conditions.

According to the company, the TrackAttack Race has been engineered to deliver quicker lap times than Hoosier’s previous A7 and R7 models, while maintaining stability and minimal performance fall-off over extended use. It is available in two compounds: A8, a medium compound focused on maximum race traction, and R8, a harder compound designed for higher heat tolerance and durability.

The TrackAttack Race is the second product under the TrackAttack name, following the launch of the TrackAttack Pro in September 2024.

The Pro version is intended for dual street and track use, while the TrackAttack Race is explicitly built for competition environments and is not recommended for highway use. Both tyres are DOT-approved, though their applications differ.

“Hoosier has traditionally named tyres after compounds or internal codes, which wasn’t always easy for consumers to navigate. Our new family naming makes it easier to understand each product’s core purpose,” said Joerg Burfien, president and chief executive of Hoosier Racing Tire. “Last year, we introduced the TrackAttack Pro, a streetable track tyre suitable for highway use. Now we’re adding a pure competition option with the TrackAttack Race.”

Mike Edmiston, head of research and development at Hoosier Racing Tire, said the new product reflects lessons learned from previous generations and extensive real-world testing. “Each previous generation tyre has taught us something new, and we’ve applied those lessons to deliver the consistency and performance that drivers demand,” he said.

The TrackAttack Race incorporates Hoosier’s H-DNA technology and is available in 51 sizes, covering rim diameters from 13 inches to 21 inches. The tyre is intended for dedicated track applications and is aimed at drivers competing in high-intensity racing environments.

Hoosier Racing Tire is a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental AG.

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Pirelli has introduced two new versions of its P Zero tyre for the latest Porsche 911 GT3, extending its supply across the entire 911 range. The P Zero R and the P Zero Trofeo RS have been developed to meet specific performance needs, using experience gained from tyres created for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

The P Zero R is designed for daily use on high-performance cars. Its compound, developed for the new GT3, is intended to deliver strong grip on varied surfaces, including in wet conditions. Pirelli says the tyre operates across a wide temperature range and maintains performance even in less favourable situations. The structure differs between the front and rear tyres to balance steering precision, sensitivity and control, especially under high loads.

The P Zero Trofeo RS sits at the top of the P Zero range and targets track driving. The tyre is designed to sustain grip and precision over long sessions, even under demanding conditions. Pirelli reports that expertise from its work on the Trofeo RS for the 911 GT3 RS has been applied to the version now created for the latest 911 GT3.

Tailor-made versions of the Trofeo RS have also been produced for other models, including the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. Both new tyres for the GT3 feature Pirelli’s Perfect Fit strategy, which focuses on bespoke development for each vehicle model. Each tyre carries an “N” marking on the sidewall to reflect its dedicated development for the 911 GT3.

Development took place using virtual techniques at Pirelli’s research centres in Milan and Breuberg, reducing both development time and the number of physical prototypes by 30 per cent.

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The new Renault Clio will feature Continental's EcoContact 7 tyre as original equipment for its global launch. Approved in numerous countries, the compact car will be fitted with this model in two specific sizes: 195/60 R16 and 205/45 R18. Both variants have earned the highest possible ratings on the EU tyre label for fuel efficiency and low rolling noise, underscoring their performance credentials.

This high performance stems from several integrated technological advancements. A newly formulated rubber compound works in concert with Continental’s Smart Energy Casing, which employs innovative materials in the tyre’s internal structure to minimise friction and rolling resistance. Further efficiency gains are achieved through an aerodynamically refined sidewall. This design incorporates a dimpled texture, inspired by the surface of a golf ball, to smooth airflow and reduce the energy required to keep the tyre in motion.

Alongside its energy-saving properties, the tyre is engineered for refined acoustics. A specifically designed Silent Pattern tread layout alters the arrangement and angles of the tread blocks to target and dampen the frequency of noise typically produced during low-speed urban driving. This focus results in a reduction of rolling noise, enhancing comfort for those inside the vehicle and contributing to a quieter environment for pedestrians and city residents alike.

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