Goodyear has announced that it would be the title sponsor of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship. From this year, the series will be formally known as the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship, or Goodyear FIA ETRC, the company said in a release. 

The championship provides a platform for the transport industry to demonstrate the performance and durability of vehicles and components, introduce ground-breaking technologies and showcase developments towards a sustainable future. With eight rounds making up the 2022 calendar, the teams will visit many of Europe’s top circuits proving Goodyear’s tyre technology not only on track but also within daily transport fleet operations. 

In 2021, FIA ETRC introduced 100 per cent renewable HVO biodiesel and became the first FIA-regulated championship to run on sustainable biofuel. Goodyear said it would work closely with ETRA to introduce new technologies in the years to come.  

Maciej Szymanski, Marketing Director for Commercial Europe at Goodyear said: “We are excited to reinforce our commitment to the European Truck Racing Championship by becoming the official title sponsor. Being the most successful tyre brand in Formula 1 history and official tyre supplier to many leading championships in the world, including World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Nascar, we have a strong legacy in motorsport. This now further strengthened with this first FIA-regulated championship under Goodyear name. We look forward to work closely with the European Truck Racing Association towards a greener future. Extreme conditions like in racing are the ultimate testbed enabling us to gain added value insights on tyre deformation, tyre temperature management and rolling resistance. We like to push the innovation envelop to maximize results for the teams and transportation companies and we will keep doing this in our quest to more sustainable materials and efficient tyre management systems to connect the dots.” 

Georg Fuchs, ETRA managing director said: The FIA ETRC strives to become a leading platform for sustainable technologies in the road haulage industry and at the same time making truck racing a relevant research and development platform for manufacturers. Both Goodyear and the FIA ETRC share the same objectives, where more sustainable solutions are being introduced in the industry and we are excited to intensify our commitment and to have Goodyear as partner onboard on our journey to a more sustainable future of truck racing.” 

Goodyear is also an official tyre partner to other series that will introduce biofuel - the FIA World Endurance Championship (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans) and European Le Mans Series - and the founding partner of the all-electric FIA ETCR - eTouring Car World Cup, the release added. (TT)

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.