Falken has announced that its AZENIS FK510 received an “exemplary” rating from German sportscar magazine AUTOBILD in its summer tyre test, after placing third in the overall rankings. The company said its AZENIS FK510s were found to have performed particularly well in the most important area for high-performance tyres: safety, finishing high up the order in both the wet and dry braking tests. 

In the April issue, a total of eleven summer tyres, (the majority with a Y speed index) were examined by the testers. The 225/45R18 tyres were fitted to a BMW 3 series sports car and put to the test on a variety of surfaces, the release pointed out. 

On wet asphalt, the braking distance achieved was approximately 48 metres (47.9 m) in an emergency stop at 100 km/h, around two metres behind the best-placed car in the category. The tyres from Falken proved effective on the wet circular track too, the tyre finishing less than a second off the winner in the category. 

When it comes to safety, aquaplaning is always a key factor. This is an area in which the Falken tyres demonstrated their strengths: with a float speed of 98 km/h when measured on the rain-soaked surface, the FK510 was more than a match for several competitors, it said. The same goes for the aquaplaning around corners: with a lateral acceleration of 3.54 m/s2, the Falken AZENIS FK510 finished fourth. In addition to these results, the FK510 also made it into the first half of the table in the category for handling in dry conditions. 

Overall, the independent testers drew a positive balance and considered the Falken premium tyre to have “a good performance potential, very good safety reserves when aquaplaning, stable driving behaviour on wet roads, sporty and dynamic handling in dry conditions, short braking distances on wet and dry surfaces, and good driving comfort”. They awarded it third place overall with a rating of “exemplary”. 

Velizara Lilova, Team Leader Product Planning at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “We can be very proud of our third place. To do so well here, especially in such a hard-fought environment, proves that our premium tyres don’t shy away from the competition and that by focusing on driving enjoyment and safety, we are getting a lot of things right.” (TT)

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South Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen Tire has opened a new flagship brand shop in Bangkok, marking a key milestone in the company’s strategic expansion across Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing automotive market.

The newly renovated store was developed in partnership with a leading Thai tyre distributor that has maintained a decade-long relationship with Nexen Tire and operates more than 800 retail outlets throughout Thailand. The flagship location features a modernised environment designed to showcase Nexen Tire’s global brand identity, with every aspect from layout to customer service aligned with the company’s visual standards and brand philosophy.

The move comes as Southeast Asia’s tyre market shows robust growth potential, with annual demand reaching approximately 90 million units for passenger car radial (PCR) and light truck radial (LTR) tyres and projected annual growth of 3.7%.

Nexen Tire is responding to this opportunity by accelerating its regional investment, particularly in high-growth markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The company plans to renew over 80 key retail locations across Southeast Asia by the end of 2025, creating a unified brand presence to support localised sales campaigns.

Recognising the region’s high digital engagement levels, Nexen Tire is also utilising influencer partnerships and digital media to reach younger, mobile-first consumers.

The company’s regional product strategy emphasises high-performance summer tyres and all-terrain models specifically designed for Southeast Asia’s hot, humid, and challenging driving conditions. Key products, including the N’FERA SU4 and ROADIAN ATX, are gaining traction among local motorists seeking durability and performance.

“Our expansion in Southeast Asia represents a pivotal step in NEXEN TIRE’s global growth journey,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, chief executive of Nexen Tire. “While we’ve followed a carefully phased strategy aligned with production capacity and long-term vision, we are now entering a phase of acceleration. Our goal is to solidify our premium brand position not only in Europe and North America but across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Australia through strong local partnerships and a unified brand experience.”

The investment demonstrates Nexen Tire’s long-term confidence in Southeast Asia as the company works towards becoming one of the world’s most recognised and trusted tyre brands.

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Pirelli has unveiled a limited-edition reissue of its first-ever P Zero tyre to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the iconic brand. Originally launched in 1985 for the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale, the tyre has now been faithfully recreated in a run of just 40 sets.

The re-edition mirrors the original 205/55 R16 specification developed for the road-going version of the Group B rally car. It forms part of the Pirelli Collezione line, which caters to classic vehicles from 1930 to 2000. While the tyre retains its period-correct design, it incorporates modern materials and technology to enhance safety and performance.

Derived from Pirelli’s motorsport expertise, the original P Zero was notable for its asymmetric tread pattern—a distinctive mix of features for wet, dry, and mixed conditions. “The inner shoulder, with grooves like wet-weather tyres, ensured grip on wet roads. The outer shoulder, inspired by slick tyres, provided traction in dry conditions. The central part of the tread adopted some of the hallmarks of intermediate tyres, balancing the two extremes,” Pirelli noted.

In parallel with the anniversary edition, Pirelli also highlighted the launch of the fifth-generation P Zero, tailored to meet the demands of modern high-performance and electric vehicles. Developed using artificial intelligence and virtual modelling, the latest iteration boasts improved handling and shorter braking distances.

Available in sizes ranging from 18 to 23 inches, the fifth-generation P Zero already includes over 50 variants and continues to serve as a benchmark across the premium and prestige automotive segments.

The P Zero brand has evolved into a cornerstone of Pirelli’s high-performance offering over the past four decades, adapting to key industry trends including electrification and digital integration, while maintaining its commitment to performance and safety.

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Toyo Tire has created a new corporate film featuring the key message “Blaze BLUE” to capture the world perspective and values the company’s TOYO TIRES brand seeks to convey.

The film showcases a Ford F-150 Raptor equipped with the company’s OPEN COUNTRY R/T Pro tyres for pickup trucks and SUVs driving across rugged terrain in the United States, Toyo Tire’s core market.

The message “Blaze BLUE” evokes the image of fearless challengers taking on daunting terrain, roads and new endeavours with determination, the company said. The film incorporates Toyo Tire’s blue corporate colour throughout its aesthetic.

The dynamic footage of the truck crossing dramatic landscapes aims to capture what Toyo Tire describes as the frontier spirit at the heart of the company, embodied in the group’s brand statement, “Open Roads Await.”

The new corporate film will be featured on a special Blaze BLUE page on Toyo Tire’s corporate website and the company’s official social media channels.

Toyo Tire, based in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, is led by president and chief executive Takashi Shimizu. The company said it will continue to support those who pursue their chosen path while developing innovative tyres.

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The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has confirmed that Pirelli will serve as the exclusive tyre supplier for all FIA-certified Formula Regional championships from 2026, aligning the series under a unified technical and sporting framework as it introduces a new generation of race cars.

Already the sole tyre supplier for Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3, Pirelli’s expanded remit underscores its pivotal role across the FIA’s global single-seater development ladder. The Italian tyre manufacturer will also provide tyres for both the Formula Regional and the inaugural Formula 4 World Cups at the 2025 Macau Grand Prix, further cementing its presence in top-tier motorsport events.

“We are delighted to have been appointed sole tyre supplier for the FIA-certified Formula Regional championships,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director. “It is a significant endorsement of the worth of our technology, and the quality and reliability of our tyres... It recognises our ability to deliver specific products for every level of driver development.”

Pirelli has supplied Formula Regional tyres since the series debut in 2019. The competition evolved into the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) following a merger with Formula Renault in 2021. From 2026, the championship will see a significant transformation with the introduction of a new car featuring bespoke 15-inch tyres developed by Pirelli to ensure improved performance and parity across all global championships.

“With Pirelli on board as an exclusive tyre partner, Formula Regional is set to thrive and deliver incredible racing and greater sporting parity across our different championships so that we offer young drivers an equal opportunity to show their skill,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “This next phase... reflects our ambition to create a truly modern, competitive, and accessible platform for developing drivers.”

At the 2025 Macau Grand Prix, Pirelli will also supply tyres to the FIA GT World Cup, continuing a long-standing relationship with the prestigious street circuit event, which has served as a proving ground for numerous future Formula 1 stars.

Pirelli’s commitment to developing tailored products for all levels of single-seater racing reinforces its role as a key stakeholder in shaping the future of global motorsport.

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