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.

Bridgestone is supplying Custom-engineered Alenza A/S tyre with ENLITEN Technology to select models of the 2021 Nissan Rogue as an OE supplier.

The Nissan Rogue is the first vehicle in the U.S. and Canada to feature tyre with Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Technology.

Bridgestone is supplying the Alenza Sport A/S tire with ENLITEN Technology in sizes 235/65R17, 235/60R18 and 235/55R19 for the 2021 Nissan Rogue in North America.

ENLITEN Technology contributes to improved fuel efficiency by reducing tyre weight and delivering low rolling resistance. Tyres with ENLITEN Technology also require fewer raw materials to be produced, helping to deliver environmental benefits. In addition to its sustainable advantages, ENLITEN Technology is designed for enhanced vehicle handling.

“We are continuously working to advance our products, services and solutions to deliver new value for our customers and society,” said Shannon Quinn, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas. “Supplying the 2021 Nissan Rogue with our Alenza Sport A/S tyre with ENLITEN technology is a testament to our commitment to these efforts and our longstanding relationship with Nissan.”

Hankook Tire has launched the Dynapro HPX, a summer tyre designed for SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles. Compared to its predecessor, the Dynapro HP2, the Dynapro HPX boasts improved safety, comfort, and durability. 

The Dynapro HPX features a new material compound and an enlarged contact patch to deliver even wear and longer life. Thanks to new 3D GripControl sipes, the tyre also offers enhanced wet braking and handling. Hankook says the model brakes 15 percent faster and handles seven percent better in wet conditions than its predecessor.   

The tyremaker also focused on comfort, using knurling technology to reduce road noise. The Dynapro HPX is available in sizes ranging from 16 to 19 inches.

“With the Dynapro HPX, we are presenting the newest member of our tyre family, which is specifically designed for the different requirements of SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles,” says Sanghoon Lee, President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe. “We are proud to be able to offer our customers a tyre with very high mileage without any compromise on comfort and safety.”

Yokohama has started delivering tyres to the new Impreza as original equipment (OE) in North America. 
The new Impreza cars will have AVID S34 tyres (size P225/40R18 88V).

The AVID S34 belongs to the AVID series of all-season tyres for passenger cars sold in the North American market, and it features the “M+S” (mud & snow) marking on its sidewall.

The AVID S34 tyres’ wide tread ensures a larger contact area, providing stable driving performance not only on dry roads but also on snow. In addition, the tread pattern design features a large number of grooves that effectively grip the surface of snowy roads and improve the vehicle’s safety and performance in snowy conditions. The tyres’ structure also has been enhanced to reduce vehicle wobble during lane changes.

Frog Bikes, a UK-based manufacturer of premium children’s bicycles, has unveiled an innovative partnership with Norwegian tyre company reTyre. This pioneering collaboration will see Frog Bikes equipping its bikes with sustainable tyres from 2025, marking a significant step in the cycling industry's journey towards sustainability.

Jerry Lawson, Co-founder of Frog Bikes, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, “We are thrilled to collaborate with reTyre, a brand that shares our passion for innovation and sustainability. This partnership allows us to further our commitment to the environment while providing our young riders with the best possible cycling experience.”

The collaboration is a testament to Frog Bikes' unwavering commitment to sustainability. It focuses on transitioning Frog Bikes’ entire range to reTyre’s fully recyclable, bio-based pneumatic tyres, ensuring a greener future for the cycling industry.

reTyre, known for its groundbreaking approach to sustainable tyre production, utilizes recyclable bio-based materials and innovative manufacturing methods to achieve lower emissions. The company claims its tyres deliver exceptional performance while minimizing environmental impact.

Frog Bikes aims to complete the full transition to reTyre tyres across its entire product line by the end of 2025. This move aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products, particularly within the children’s goods market.

“Our tyres are made with renewable and bio-based materials that do not need to be vulcanized, meaning that we can easily reuse the material at end-of-life. Our verified Life Cycle Assessments show that we are then able to reduce emissions by 68-82 percent compared to conventional tyres”, says Ben Evans, Commercial Officer at reTyre. “It’s great to work with a brand like Frog Bikes, who embraces changes for the planet’s benefit.”

 Towards Net Zero Since embarking on their sustainability journey in 2019, Frog Bikes has cut emissions per bike by 25 percent. “We’ve achieved this by transitioning to renewable energy, redesigning our bikes to use less material, virtually eliminating plastic packaging, and moving away from air freight”, explains Anna Drew, Head of Sustainability at Frog Bikes.

 “Exploring sustainable materials, like post-consumer recycled aluminium for our frames and partnering with reTyre for lower-emitting tyres, are crucial to our commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.” “We are excited to present the Frog bike equipped with sustainable tyres alongside our full range of sustainable tyre products at this year’s event,” Evans concludes.