By Lennard Kwek

Over the last century, the world population has more than quadrupled. [1] Most of this growth is centred around the Asia-Pacific region, which is estimated to drive 40 per cent of the world’s consumption of goods and services by 2040. [2] In the last 30 years alone, countries such as China and Vietnam have experienced rapid urbanisation, fuelling economic growth and opening doors to infrastructure and public services to address the needs of the ever-rising middle-class population.

As people move up the economic ladder, their desire to lead a more comfortable life has a significant impact on many industries, including the automotive sector. The region’s economic potential and growing appetite for luxury and environmentally friendly products have led to innovations in the areas of Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric (CASE).

Vehicles, which play a huge role in the mobility of people and goods in this part of the world. And as critical components of automobiles, the tyre industry must keep pace with the changes brought about by CASE. The future of tyre will need to bring continued reliability, safety, and enhanced performance yet have the ability to integrate emerging technologies such as sensors, smart diagnostics and advanced safety systems. Such changes are also driving tire companies to innovate and develop diversified products and solutions as we move towards the concept of Mobilityas-a-Service (MaaS). 

EV tyres 
For instance, electric vehicles tend to be heavier due to the extra weight of the battery pack. Tyres for electric cars thus need to be structurally reinforced to withstand this increased load while maintaining low rolling resistance to maximise fuel efficiency. Conscious of consumer’s changing preferences and the associated environmental benefits of electric vehicles, Bridgestone specially designed custom-built tyres i.e. the ECOPIA ologic series for the BMW i3 electric vehicles. The tyres feature narrow tyre width to realise low rolling resistance and to reduce aero-dynamic resistance which are important factors in the improvement of a vehicle’s fuel efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions.
 Another trend in the automotive industry that has influenced the design of tyre is the rise of “shared mobility” services, such as ride-sharing. In the last few years, we have witnessed the massive popularity of ride-sharing platforms, and this growth is only projected to increase. A recent report by Bizwit Research estimates that the ride-sharing industry will grow by more than 20% between the years 2019 to 2025 [3].

 Run-Flat Technology 
On this front, Bridgestone’s tyres are engineered to offer enhanced performance and durability as the road-life of the tyres need to withstand the high-frequency usage demand of these vehicles. Solutions such as the recently launched DriveGuard RunFlat Technology (RFT) enable drivers to remain in control and continue driving up to a maximum distance of 80 kilometres at a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour after a puncture or complete loss of pressure. In addition to this, Bridgestone’s automatic sealant technology called B-Seal also guarantees air retention when nails, stones or other objects are embedded at up to 5mm in diameter in the tyre tread. These tyre solutions focus on extending tyre endurance and mobility - ideal for vehicles used very frequently in the ride sharing scenario. The rise of IoT and AI technologies is also powering the evolution of connected and autonomous selfdriving vehicles. Selfdriving opens up a world of possibilities - from increased personal safety to time efficiency and mobility for non drivers. In Asia, China seems to be taking the lead in readying self-driving vehicles for production, expecting fully autonomous vehicles to account for 10 per cent of car sales by 2030.[4] This accelerating transformation towards autonomous operations has a significant impact on the tyre industry. Tyre manufacturers will need to work towards creating tyres that can communicate with these autonomous vehicles, involving the integration of advanced sensor technologies, smart diagnostics and data analytics. 
Having identified these needs at an early stage, Bridgestone is transforming its business operations to focus on solutions and integrating these technologies to meet the needs and expectations of the next generation of drivers. At its foundation is the newly introduced global mobility solutions strategy called Bridgestone Tires & Diversified Products as a Solution (Bridgestone T&DPaaS). The strategy is a combination of products, services such as Bridgestone’s Global Service Network and digital technologies.

Smart Strain Sensor
Under the digital techniques branch, Bridgestone has developed a new type of tyre sensor, called the Smart Strain Sensor. A first-of-its-kind, the Smart Strain Sensor technology incorporates Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to help measure the strain that occurs when a tire makes contact with the road while in motion. Furthermore, unlike accelerometer sensors, the Smart Strain Sensor can record data even at low speeds, which makes it an important differentiator for autonomous vehicles which are expected to operate at lower speeds for enhanced safety. Last year, Bridgestone also acquired TomTom Telematics, now renamed as Webfleet Solutions, which offers 
data-based solutions that make fleet operations more effective and efficient. Through this, Bridgestone gains valuable insights into vehicle and tire operating conditions from a user base of 860,000 vehicles communicating 200 million data points per day, thus accelerating its tire solutions offerings and paving the road towards autonomous driving. As the automotive industry continues to transform with the ongoing implementation of CASE, it is evident that tires will continue to play a key role in this revolution. However, in order to overcome the challenges and benefit from the opportunities arising from these trends, the tire industry will need to “reinvent the wheel” to stay on track and meet the evolving needs of the wider automotive industry. 

REF: [1] https://hbr.org/2016/04/globaldemand-for-food-is-rising-can-we-meetit
 [2] https://www.mckinsey.com/featuredinsights/asia-pacific/asias-future-is-now
 [3] https://www.reuters.com/ brandfeatures/venture-capital/ article?id=83120
[4] https://publicaffairsasia.com/drivinggrowth-the-mechanics-of-auto

Lennard Kwek is Head of Marketing at Bridgestone China & Asia Pacific.

Apollo Tyres’ Vredestein Traxion tyres have been selected by agricultural equipment manufacturer SDF Group as original equipment (OE) for its range of DEUTZ-FAHR Series 6 tractors. The new Vredestein OE partnership was announced during the 2024 EIMA trade fair, held in Bologna, Italy.

All DEUTZ-FAHR Series 6 vehicles, including the 6-160, 6170, 6180, 6190, 6210, 6230 and 6230HD models, as well as the 4-cylinder models 6160.4 and 6170.4, will be able to use four distinct Vredestein Traxion combinations starting in the first quarter of 2025. The tyres will be offered to customers as an option for all Series 6 vehicles with power outputs between 160 and 230 horsepower and transmissions like as Powershift, RCshift and TTV. For maximum on-road comfort and superior wear resistance, the Vredestein Traxion has a curved lug design with more rubber in the middle. In the field, the distinctive non-parallel lugs offer superior self-cleaning capabilities and more traction as they diverge towards the tread's shoulder.

Laurence Bennett, Head – Off-Highway Tyres, Apollo Tyres, said, “We are honoured that DEUTZ-FAHR has selected our Traxion tyres for its Series 6 tractors. This decision comes in response to the increased demand from contractors and farmers operating DEUTZ-FAHR tractors, who appreciate the value of Vredestein tyres. Our Traxion technology is designed to deliver superior performance, with enhanced traction, comfort and extended tyre life – all crucial factors for demanding agricultural work. This partnership reflects the strong reputation we’ve built in the market.”

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has started the delivery of its ADVAN Sport EV tyres in size 245/50R19 105W to be used as original equipment for the new Lynk & Co Z10 sedan launched by Lynk & Co, a joint venture between China’s Geely Auto Group and Sweden’s Volvo Car Group, in China in September 2024.

In order to satisfy the demands of high-end EV users, the ADVAN Sport EV was created based on Yokohama Rubber's ADVAN Sport V107 tyre for high-performance vehicles. With a tread design that improves drainage and a compound that has been shown to lower tyre rolling resistance, Yokohama Rubber has attained a level of low power consumption and wet performance suitable for high-end EVs. The exclusive ‘E+’ label from Yokohama Rubber is shown on the sidewall of the ADVAN Sport EV to signify that it possesses unique properties appropriate for electric vehicles.

The Z10 is Lynk & Co’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV). It has a maximum range of more than 800 km and can be charged quickly, increasing the range by 573 km in around 15 minutes. The Lynk & Co Z10 achieves a high degree of harmony between driving enjoyment and passenger comfort by utilising cutting-edge technology and skilled tuning to give remarkable acceleration and safety.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC), a US subsidiary, will provide ADVAN racing tyres as the control tyre for the new Mustang Cup series that has been approved by the United States Auto Club (USAC). Beginning in April, the series will take place in the US. YTC will provide ADVAN A005 tyres for dry weather and ADVAN A006 tyres for wet conditions.

Ford Performance, the racing subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, is launching a new series of entry-level events for beginner racers and amateur racing enthusiasts called the Mustang Cup. Participants will have the chance to improve their racing abilities through the Mustang Cup series, which also offers progression into Mustang Challenge, Mustang GT4 and the higher level Mustang GT3. The Ford Performance-engineered Mustang Dark Horse R will compete in the Mustang Cup series. Louisiana will host the first event in the series, which will feature six races spread across six US states.

Together with Ford Performance, Yokohama Rubber will assist the Ford Mustang GT3 vehicles of the German racing team Haupt Racing Team in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race (ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring), one of the world's premier endurance events, in addition to providing the control tyre for the Mustang Cup. This will be the first time Ford Performance has competed in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race since 2019 and the first time Yokohama Rubber and Ford Performance have worked together since 2012.

In order to increase awareness and fortify the brand power of its ADVAN tyres in the North American market, Yokohama Rubber is supporting high-end sports vehicle one-make racing series. The Porsche Carrera Cup North America, which is regarded as one of the quickest one-make races in the world, is one of the other one-make racing series to which Yokohama Rubber is supplying its ADVAN racing tyres in addition to the new Mustang Cup series.

Hyundai has selected Nexen Tire’s N’FERA Supreme S all-season as original equipment (OE) tyres for its flagship SUV, the Palisade.

The AI-driven big data noise reduction tread pattern design of the N'FERA Supreme S tyre effectively lowers road noise and vibrations to provide a comfortable driving experience. The tyre is optimised for high-performance and heavy-duty vehicles using a 4D compound and load distribution technologies to maximise grip. This reduces driver fatigue and improves driving performance by providing excellent stability over long distances and at high speeds. Pattern shape retention technology has been used to provide even better performance even when the tyre is 50 percent worn. Additionally, to lower air resistance and boost fuel efficiency, an aerodynamic sidewall design has been used.

Travis Kang, Global CEO of NEXEN TIRE, said, “Being chosen as the OE tyre supplier for the Palisade, overcoming competition with leading global tyre manufacturers, is an encouraging milestone. We will increase our global competitiveness through strategic relationships with Hyundai Motor Company and other automakers.”