Hankook Tire has entered a new chapter in its longstanding partnership with Porsche by securing original equipment status for the iconic 911 Carrera. This marks the first time the South Korean manufacturer’s rubber will be mounted on the production line of the legendary rear-engine sports car, following nearly 10 years of supplying Porsche with tyres for other models. The bespoke fitment features a staggered setup, with 235/40 ZR19 tyres up front and wider 295/35 ZR20 tyres at the rear, both carrying a distinct ‘NA2’ sidewall designation that signifies their factory-approved specification.

The engineering effort behind this achievement was substantial, with Hankook’s specialists spending several years refining the product to satisfy Porsche’s exacting standards. The primary technical hurdle centred on harmonising contradictory performance demands – superb dry-road agility and lane-change precision versus reliable wet-weather traction. This balancing act proved especially delicate given the 911’s hallmark weight bias towards the back axle and its rear-wheel-drive configuration, which place unique stresses on tyre behaviour during aggressive cornering and acceleration.

To conquer these challenges, the development team crafted axle-specific tread patterns and geometries, each tailored to the distinct roles of front steering response and rear propulsion. A newly formulated compound was also introduced, incorporating advanced resins, silica and a specialised mixing technique to sustain peak grip across diverse road conditions. The material composition is engineered to maximise surface contact and reactivity, ensuring the tyre remains effective even on rain-slicked pavement where hydroplaning risks are heightened.

Validation of the new tyres involved an exceptionally rigorous testing schedule that stretched across multiple continents and facilities. Unlike conventional programmes that rely on a single location, Hankook deployed the 911 Carrera to Germany’s Papenburg track and Spain’s IDIADA circuit for handling assessments, while high-speed dry performance was scrutinised at Italy’s Nardò ring. Wet-weather tuning took place at Pferdsfeld in Germany and other test sites, with Porsche AG engineers working alongside Hankook’s team throughout the vehicle dynamics calibration process to ensure seamless integration.

Aleix Alcaraz, subjective test driver at Hankook, said, “Our goal was to deliver precise steering precision, stability at high speeds and reliable grip under all conditions. Striking a balance between track performance and everyday usability made this project particularly demanding. Pushing the 911 Carrera to its limits on test tracks like Nardò and applying the lessons learned to the road was both challenging and a special experience.”

Yong Chul Choi, Vice President and Head of the Hankook Europe Technical Center, said, “Becoming original equipment for the Porsche 911 Carrera – one of the world’s most renowned and iconic sports cars – is an extraordinary milestone for Hankook. This premiere is the result of many years of technical development work and reflects our continuously growing expertise in driving dynamics. It marks an important step for our commitment to the super sports car segment.”

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Continental has secured original-equipment approval for the fully electric Volvo EX60, with its EcoContact 7 S tyre line homologated across numerous countries worldwide. Approval covers the sporty summer tyre for the electric SUV. Two fitments were sanctioned: 235/55 R20 for the front axle and 255/50 R20 for the rear axle.

Both approved versions carry an integrated rim protector, a reinforced sidewall area that lowers the risk of rim damage from accidental curb contact. This protective feature strengthens the sidewall zone, guarding the wheel rim against unintended impacts during everyday driving situations.

A sporty summer tyre, the EcoContact 7 S targets low rolling resistance, high mileage and minimal rolling noise. Its optimised compound and construction cut energy consumption, and the sportier S variant of the EcoContact 7 also stresses wet grip and handling for a direct, responsive feel, bearing an EV-compatible sidewall logo identifying electric vehicle suitability.

A golf-inspired principle boosts efficiency: Aerodimples, tiny sidewall indentations mimicking a golf ball's surface, reduce air turbulence behind the tyres, so less energy keeps the vehicle moving. A specially tuned tread pattern also curbs rolling noise, especially at low urban speeds, cutting noise pollution for pedestrians and nearby residents.

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The Alliance Future Tyres (AZuR) will hold the first European Tyre Pressure Day on 3^rd  June 2027, calling on motorists, businesses and public institutions across Europe to check their vehicles’ tyre pressure to reduce waste and extend tyre life.

More than 90 AZuR partners will take part, with garages, car washes, fleet operators, universities and municipalities also invited to join the initiative. Registration is open, according to the organisation’s announcement on 13 October 2026.

The campaign highlights the role of tyre pressure in preserving the casing, the structural part of a tyre that can remain suitable for reuse or retreading even when the original tyre is no longer in service.

An analysis by REGOM, using automated identification and sorting technology at an industrial used-tyre collection site in France, examined 59,349 tyres in June 2026 with at least 3mm of remaining tread. Of these, 12,738 were considered suitable for reuse. The other four-fifths were rejected despite having sufficient tread, with the condition of the casing determining whether they could be reused.

“We have spent years working to make sure a new cycle begins at the end of a tyre’s life. But the most effective lever comes before that — and it lies with every single one of us,” says Anna-Maria Guth, Network Coordinator of AZuR. “That is why we are starting with ourselves. On 3 June our partners will check the pressure on their own vehicles, in their own yards and staff car parks. If you take part yourself, you do not have to persuade anyone,” adds Guth.

“Every tyre contains valuable raw materials whose production requires energy, know-how and resources. From a circular economy perspective, we should therefore value this material and energy effort for as long as is technically and safely possible,” said Marjolein Groeneweg, Global Marketing And Sustainability Director For Synthetic Rubber at Synthos and a Member of AZuR’s Reduce & Reuse project group.

Low tyre pressure can also increase fuel consumption. The German motoring organisation ADAC estimates that it can raise consumption by as much as 0.3 litres per 100km. At an annual mileage of 15,000km, that would amount to about 45 litres of additional fuel.

The campaign will cover cars, vans, lorries, trailers, buses, agricultural machinery and bicycles. Participants can register their locations on a European campaign map, while schools, clubs and municipalities can apply for free campaign materials.

AZuR has worked since 2020 to promote a circular economy for tyres, bringing together more than 90 partners across manufacturing, repair, retreading, collection and materials recovery.

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Pirelli has introduced the P Zero R, an ultra-high-performance tyre created specifically for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, unveiled as the first Official FIA F1 Safety Car fitted with fully variable all-wheel drive. The tyre blends qualifying-level dry performance with precise steering response while maintaining safe wet handling and was engineered to deliver consistent performance during Formula 1 Safety Car deployments, where precision, reliability and control are essential.

The dual-compound tread and tread pattern details, developed through virtualisation, allow high performance in both dry and wet conditions. Co-developed with Mercedes-AMG engineers in Affalterbach and refined using virtual simulation models central to Pirelli's development process, the compounds, land-to-groove ratio and tread channel widths work in synergy with the vehicle's suspension geometry and camber. This optimises the contact patch, maximising grip and steering precision while enhancing high-speed stability without sacrificing wet performance.

The project forms part of Pirelli's role as Formula 1's sole tyre supplier since 2011, a position recently confirmed by the FIA and Formula 1 and extended through to 2028. The relationship stretches back to the inaugural race in 1950, and Pirelli has accompanied the championship's technical evolution, reaching 500 Grands Prix in 2025. Experience gained on track, including in extreme conditions, gives Pirelli a laboratory for innovation whose findings also feed into road tyre development.

Designed to put the power of its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine onto the road, the 21-inch P Zero R supports an engine producing 450 kW (612 hp) and 850 Nm of maximum torque. The car offers high performance and drivability thanks to the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system, which demands tyres capable of coping with rapid load transfers while letting the car exploit its dynamic potential.

Extensive testing at the Nürburgring and Nardò involved AMG brand ambassador and Official FIA F1 Safety Car Driver Bernd Mayländer and other experienced Safety Car drivers, who praised the tyre's consistency and grip across a wide range of conditions. The first P Zero R developed specifically for a Mercedes-AMG, it confirms a longstanding collaboration built on co-development from the earliest stages of vehicle development, resulting in more than 150 fitments. The tyre carries the MO1 sidewall marking, identifying it as specifically developed for this model.

The previous Official FIA F1 Safety Car from the Affalterbach performance and sports car brand, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, which served from 2022 to 2026, also ran on Pirelli P Zero tyres. The latest milestone in the partnership came at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres set a record of 7:32.070 minutes, claiming the title of fastest vehicle in its segment on the legendary German circuit.

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Continental has secured two fresh original-equipment approvals from Porsche. Both the SportContact 7 and the newly introduced SportContact 7 Force have been sanctioned for the Panamera G3 II, while the WinterContact TS 860 S is recommended by Porsche for the Cayenne E4 in colder conditions. The approvals cover 21- and 22-inch sizes bearing XL markings that denote greater load capacity.

The SportContact 7 serves as a summer tyre engineered for highly responsive and precise handling. Its tread design and rubber formulation deliver strong grip and brief braking distances on dry and wet surfaces alike, ensuring notable stability at elevated speeds. The SportContact 7 Force, meanwhile, represents a high-performance extension of Continental's summer range.

Developed as a specialised variant of the SportContact 7, the Force version addresses elevated performance and stability requirements. An adaptive tread pattern paired with a refined rubber compound allows for more accurate handling and efficient power transfer under extreme conditions. It blends track-derived capability with suitability for daily driving.

For the Cayenne E4, the WinterContact TS 860 S has been tailored to high-powered, handling-oriented SUVs. It offers short braking distances and precise dry-road handling, alongside solid snow performance for dependable control and stability. Its low rolling resistance may also help extend electric vehicle range.

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