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.
Hoosier Racing Tire Launches Trackattack Race Competition Tyre
- By TT News
- December 17, 2025
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.
Pirelli Develops New P Zero Tyres For Latest Porsche 911 GT3
- By TT News
- December 11, 2025
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.
New Renault Clio To Run On Continental EcoContact 7 Tyres
- By TT News
- December 05, 2025
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.
Giti Tire Adds First Winter Tyre to Its EV Ready Range Ahead of 2025/26 Season
- By TT News
- December 02, 2025
Giti Tire has expanded its AdvanZtech EV Ready line with the launch of the GitiWinterW2, its first winter tyre designed for electric, hybrid and conventional vehicles. The company said the new model is now available for ordering for the 2025/26 winter season.
The GitiWinterW2 will be offered in 17 sizes ranging from 15- to 20-inch rims. All products carry the AdvanZtech EV Ready sidewall mark, indicating suitability for internal combustion vehicles as well as mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models.
The range is intended to cover a wide span of the European car parc, from small cars such as the Fiat 500e to larger vehicles including the Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo XC60 PHEV. Giti said each tyre has been tuned for EV-specific demands such as torque management, while maintaining low rolling resistance and strong performance on snow and wet roads.
The manufacturer highlighted three core attributes for the GitiWinterW2: a quiet and comfortable ride, strong safety characteristics and precise control in winter conditions.
The winter tyre joins the GitiSportS2 and GitiSynergyH2 summer patterns in the EV Ready strategy first announced in August 2024. All three products were developed using Giti’s AdvanZtech R&D framework at its European Research & Development Centre in Hannover, Germany.
Fabio Pecci-Boriani, Deputy General Manager for Product Planning PCR and LTR at Giti Tire’s European R&D Centre, said the company aimed to give both drivers and dealers greater clarity as electrification reshapes the market. “The Giti brand was among the first in the mid-market to introduce an EV ready concept, ensuring maximum flexibility and product clarity for dealers and peace of mind for drivers.”
He added that winter conditions pose specific challenges for electrified cars. “As is proven winter can have an impact on the performance of part-electric and electric vehicles with lower temperatures reducing battery range and immediate torque levels being tricky on slippery roads, the Giti AdvanZtech EV ready GitiWinterW2 goes a long way to addressing these issues.”
Giti said its EV Ready strategy remains a central pillar of its European product plans as the shift towards hybrid and battery-electric vehicles accelerates.
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