It has been a childhood dream for her to drive a car. “No one had approved of my dream to drive a car but still I went for it,” she told Tyre Trends. Her parents were worried and didn’t let her drive as it was physically challenging for her, she proved them wrong. It was only after her father saw the way she drove the car his mind was at peace. There were people who gave both negative and positive comments on her passion for driving but she was determined in learning to drive a car.
“My father is now fully supportive of my passion to drive. He accompanies me to the court whenever there is a need for it. He has been the pillar of support throughout my fight.”
Jilumol, already a star in national media, learned to drive inside her hostel grounds of Mercy Nursing Home, where she grew up after the death of her mother. She practices in her car daily on the very same ground. Unfortunately, she has to satisfy her passion for driving inside the confined walls of the hostel itself.
She has been struggling her way to get her learner’s licence passed. She at first learned to get her steering balance in a normal unaltered car. She didn’t feel the usual sense of fear any girl would have they first sit behind the wheels but instead Jilumol’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
She became more and more eager to get her licence but didn’t know what to do. She had tried to contact Vikram Agnihotri, a similarly handicapped man from Indore, India, who drives his car on the road with his legs. She just wanted to know how he got his licence passed but when she asked about the same to him, he didn’t respond.
It was when she went to take a seminar in a school in Kumily, Kerala, she met Adv. Shine Varghese. It was him who informed her about the possibility of getting her licence through the High Court. Adv. Shine Varghese along with Adv. Hariharan had helped her throughout the process.
In the year 2018, February, she had approached the court for her licence and by July last of the same year, she got a positive judgment from the court. The court had asked the Thodupuzha RTO to accept her learner licence and also asked Jilumol to get a car altered according to her needs.
She got a custom-built Maruti Celerio Automatic car, which she got altered with the help of Biju Varghese from Erumeli, a physically challenged man who had altered his car according to his necessity. The only alteration Jilumol needed was to get the accelerator and brake pedals risen to her height. After she got her car altered, she learned to drive it all by herself using her feet.
When she went to get her car registered, the vehicle inspector insulted her by saying that he won’t register a car for a person who doesn’t have any arms to drive it. Till date, she has not been able to register her car, and since her car is not registered, she has not been able to attempt the learner’s exam.
Caring the tyres
She takes care of her car like it is her own baby and sees that she keeps takes good care of it. “Air pressure of the tyre of a car is the most important thing that needs to be checked every now and then. As of now, I drive my car every day inside the hostel compound. If there is any problem with the tyre pressure, we would automatically know it. For those who drive their car on the road only will easily be able to understand the fault in the tyre pressure,” she said.
When asked about her dream car, she pointed at her own. She longs for the day when she can drive it on busy roads of her native place. She is still on the fight to get her car registered and get a driving licence.
The artist
Jilumol is a foot artist under the Mouth and Foot Association, an association of about 700 artists that promotes mouth and foot artists around the world. She is also a graphic art designer professionally, currently working at Viani Printings in Ernakulam. No matter how hard things can get for her, she will never stop fighting for what she longs for.
“I started from where you stopped. If I can go this far, you can do much more’, says Jilumol Mariet Thomas.
Pirelli Develops Bespoke P Zero R Tyre For New Official FIA F1 Safety Car
- By TT News
- October 05, 2026
Pirelli has introduced the P Zero R, an ultra-high-performance tyre created specifically for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, unveiled as the first Official FIA F1 Safety Car fitted with fully variable all-wheel drive. The tyre blends qualifying-level dry performance with precise steering response while maintaining safe wet handling and was engineered to deliver consistent performance during Formula 1 Safety Car deployments, where precision, reliability and control are essential.
The dual-compound tread and tread pattern details, developed through virtualisation, allow high performance in both dry and wet conditions. Co-developed with Mercedes-AMG engineers in Affalterbach and refined using virtual simulation models central to Pirelli's development process, the compounds, land-to-groove ratio and tread channel widths work in synergy with the vehicle's suspension geometry and camber. This optimises the contact patch, maximising grip and steering precision while enhancing high-speed stability without sacrificing wet performance.
The project forms part of Pirelli's role as Formula 1's sole tyre supplier since 2011, a position recently confirmed by the FIA and Formula 1 and extended through to 2028. The relationship stretches back to the inaugural race in 1950, and Pirelli has accompanied the championship's technical evolution, reaching 500 Grands Prix in 2025. Experience gained on track, including in extreme conditions, gives Pirelli a laboratory for innovation whose findings also feed into road tyre development.
Designed to put the power of its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine onto the road, the 21-inch P Zero R supports an engine producing 450 kW (612 hp) and 850 Nm of maximum torque. The car offers high performance and drivability thanks to the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system, which demands tyres capable of coping with rapid load transfers while letting the car exploit its dynamic potential.
Extensive testing at the Nürburgring and Nardò involved AMG brand ambassador and Official FIA F1 Safety Car Driver Bernd Mayländer and other experienced Safety Car drivers, who praised the tyre's consistency and grip across a wide range of conditions. The first P Zero R developed specifically for a Mercedes-AMG, it confirms a longstanding collaboration built on co-development from the earliest stages of vehicle development, resulting in more than 150 fitments. The tyre carries the MO1 sidewall marking, identifying it as specifically developed for this model.
The previous Official FIA F1 Safety Car from the Affalterbach performance and sports car brand, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, which served from 2022 to 2026, also ran on Pirelli P Zero tyres. The latest milestone in the partnership came at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres set a record of 7:32.070 minutes, claiming the title of fastest vehicle in its segment on the legendary German circuit.
Continental Secures Two Porsche OE Approvals for Panamera, Cayenne
- By TT News
- September 29, 2026
Continental has secured two fresh original-equipment approvals from Porsche. Both the SportContact 7 and the newly introduced SportContact 7 Force have been sanctioned for the Panamera G3 II, while the WinterContact TS 860 S is recommended by Porsche for the Cayenne E4 in colder conditions. The approvals cover 21- and 22-inch sizes bearing XL markings that denote greater load capacity.
The SportContact 7 serves as a summer tyre engineered for highly responsive and precise handling. Its tread design and rubber formulation deliver strong grip and brief braking distances on dry and wet surfaces alike, ensuring notable stability at elevated speeds. The SportContact 7 Force, meanwhile, represents a high-performance extension of Continental's summer range.
Developed as a specialised variant of the SportContact 7, the Force version addresses elevated performance and stability requirements. An adaptive tread pattern paired with a refined rubber compound allows for more accurate handling and efficient power transfer under extreme conditions. It blends track-derived capability with suitability for daily driving.
For the Cayenne E4, the WinterContact TS 860 S has been tailored to high-powered, handling-oriented SUVs. It offers short braking distances and precise dry-road handling, alongside solid snow performance for dependable control and stability. Its low rolling resistance may also help extend electric vehicle range.
Pirelli Develops Bespoke P Zero For BRABUS BODO CABRIOLET
- By TT News
- September 28, 2026
Pirelli has been selected as the exclusive supplier of 22-inch tyres for the new BRABUS BODO CABRIOLET, developing a bespoke P Zero for the open-top Gran Turismo. The same tyre is also available for the Coupé variant. The German luxury brand required a solution balancing grip at high speeds with comfort and precision.
BRABUS collaborated closely with Pirelli engineers throughout development, tailoring the tyre to the supercar’s chassis, wheel dimensions and V12 engine, which propels the 2+2-seater to 360 kmph. Attention centred on construction, tread pattern and compound to achieve high-speed performance, steering precision, stability and comfort.
Advanced virtualisation and simulation techniques allowed Pirelli to optimise the tyre’s characteristics before an intensive joint testing programme at Germany’s Papenburg track, where handling and high-speed behaviour were evaluated and fine-tuned for the BODO CABRIOLET.
Aesthetic details also mattered: a high-contrast sidewall reinforces the car’s bold character. The P Zero carries a ‘BB’ marking denoting bespoke development and is offered in 285/30 ZR22 XL front and 335/25 ZR22 XL rear sizes, delivering power and torque without sacrificing Grand Tourer comfort.
Joern Gander, CTO, BRABUS, “The successful development of this 22-inch tyre combination, created together with Pirelli, underlines our ambition to perfectly harmonise maximum performance, precision and driving dynamics with the BRABUS BODO, right down to the smallest detail.”
Nexen Tire To Supply ROADIAN GTX Tyres For 2027 Kia Sorento Hybrid
- By TT News
- September 28, 2026
NEXEN TIRE will supply its ROADIAN GTX tyres as original equipment for the hybrid version of Kia’s mid-size SUV, the Sorento, following the vehicle’s 2027 model-year update. The refreshed model introduces a new 20-inch ROADIAN GTX lineup alongside the existing 17-inch size.
Both sizes will be offered on the Sorento Hybrid. The 17-inch fitment is designated for vehicles sold in Korea and North America, while the 20-inch version will be available for those sold in Korea. The ROADIAN GTX is an SUV-specific tyre engineered for strong braking, long tread life, quiet operation and ride comfort.
A specialised compound supports consistent performance across diverse temperatures, while a zigzag tread pattern promotes even pressure distribution and reduces vehicle pull. Enhanced mileage extends replacement intervals, addressing hybrid SUV durability and efficiency needs. The tyre has earned OE fitments on global SUV models including the Kia EV5 and EV6, Renault Filante and Jeep Cherokee. NEXEN TIRE plans to deepen partnerships with automakers across Korean and North American markets, expanding worldwide OE supply using technology proven with European premium automakers.
John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, "This expanded OE supply demonstrates that our technological excellence and product quality continue to earn recognition in the global market. We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with global automakers and expand our OE tyre supply going forward."
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