Pirelli began its second Formula One tyre testing session of 2025 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Tuesday. Ferrari joined McLaren in the development programme for 2026-spec tyres.

McLaren, fresh from participating in earlier tests at Paul Ricard, shared the track with Ferrari as three current F1 drivers put the experimental tires through their paces.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc alternated in a modified Ferrari SF-24, while Lando Norris handled testing duties in McLaren's adapted MCL60. The session shifted from last week's wet-weather tyre testing to focus on slick tyre development, specifically testing compounds ranging from C1 to C3.

Norris led the lap count with 159 circuits and posted the day's fastest time of 1 minute, 15.215 seconds. Hamilton completed 87 laps with a best time of 1:15.930, while Leclerc logged 86 laps and a 1:16.060. The combined effort totaled 332 laps around the demanding Spanish circuit.

Testing continues Wednesday with Oscar Piastri stepping in for McLaren. Ferrari will maintain its driver rotation, with Leclerc scheduled for the morning session before Hamilton takes over in the afternoon.

The Barcelona circuit, known for its high tyre wear, was specifically chosen to evaluate the harder compound tyres in Pirelli's range.

Michelin has introduced the e.Primacy All Season tyre, designed to enhance efficiency and longevity for drivers of internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles.

The new tyre is up to 25 percent more efficient than leading competitors, extending battery range by up to 20 miles and potentially saving a full tank of fuel annually, according to Michelin. The tyre is built with GreenPower Compound technology to reduce energy consumption and extend mileage.

“As the market continues to change with the development of more hybrids and EVs, Michelin continues to be an industry leader for confident and lasting performance,” said Omer Waysman, Vice President of Marketing for Michelin North America Inc.’s business-to-consumer products. “When fuel efficiency and extended range matter, consumers can trust the e.Primacy All Season tyre to take them further on every journey.”

Michelin said extensive testing showed the tyre could last up to 13,000 miles longer than two leading competitors, potentially adding an extra year of driving.

The e.Primacy All Season tyre also features Cushion Guard, a layer of soft rubber between the tread and steel belts to absorb road impacts, and Piano Acoustic Technology, an optimised tread pattern designed to reduce road noise over the tyre’s lifespan.

Ford has selected Continental’s EcoContact 6 Q summer tyres in 19-, 20- and 21-inch sizes as original equipment for its new Explorer and Capri electric SUVs. Ford has also approved the AllSeasonContact all-weather tyre in 19-inch size for use in all seasons.

EcoContact 6 Q tyres are made for energy-efficient and silent driving, and they work especially well with electric vehicles (EVs) like the Ford Capri and Explorer. The carefully created rubber compound lowers rolling resistance, material friction and energy absorption when the vehicle is moving. The tread of the tyre has also been optimised by Continental's engineers. With its redesigned blocks, sipes and side grooves, the EcoContact 6 Q provides exceptional handling, braking and mileage. In addition to short stopping distances, the high-end tyre offers exceptional turning stability, even at high speeds, and dependable traction on both dry and wet roads.

The AllSeasonContact is the ideal all-weather tyre for EVs since it has class A rolling resistance and an XL marking for improved load capacity. Using a new type of rubber composition and a very energy-efficient tyre design, Continental's researchers greatly decreased the rolling resistance. This increases the range of EVs like the Ford Capri and Explorer. The AllSeasonContact provides a high degree of aquaplaning safety thanks to its unique tread profile and robust profile construction. In all weather situations, the tyre's silica substance allows for short stopping distances and outstanding traction.

Bridgestone’s BATTLAX SPORT TOURING T32 premium motorcycle tyres have been selected as original equipment for the new sport touring models by Yamaha Motor., Ltd. – TRACER9, TRACER9 GT, and TRACER9 GT+.

The TRACER9, TRACER9 GT and TRACER9 GT+ blend excellent athletic performance with useful features. Notably, Yamaha Motor's flagship touring model, the TRACER9 GT+, now comes with an automated gearbox called Y-AMT (Yamaha Automated gearbox), which does away with the necessity for shift pedal and clutch lever movements. As a sports tourer, it also has ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), which makes it possible to follow the car in front of you. This function greatly lessens the operating load and improves ride comfort.

The BATTLAX SPORT TOURING T32 are Dan-Totsu products that enhance the Tracer9 lineup's performance. They guarantee dependable grip by expanding the adhesive area over the whole contact surface. Adopting ‘Pulse Groove’ also improves wet traction performance by stabilising the contact area and enhancing water drainage. Additionally, the model's grip on a variety of road conditions has been increased, both wet and dry, by optimising the internal structure. This has improved the stability and wear resistance needed for extended travel and helped the model perform better while cornering.

Giti Tire’s GitiCompete GTR1 race tyres have been selected as the official race tyres for the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) and the Formula 4 Middle East (F4ME) for 2025 motorsport season. These tyres are claimed to be the most advanced competition tyres developed for top performance, excellent road grip and stability.

The 2025 season opened with British talent Freddie Slater from the Mumbai Falcons taking home the FRMEC win and Emanuele Olivieri clinching the win in the F4ME. The season brings 55 young faces to the Yas Marina Circuit and the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates, with an added challenge as the race ventures into Doha, Qatar, at the 5.4-kilometre Lusail International Circuit with predominantly straight, medium- and high-speed corners.

Mark Zhu, Motorsport Manager, Giti Tire, said, “The GitiCompete GTR1 tyres used in the races have excellent road grip, are stable and easy to control, allowing drivers to go faster around corners and even faster on straights. The FRMEC and F4ME competitions bring together the world's top young drivers. This combination of talent and challenges of the tracks push the limits of man and machine, making these races the best testing ground for these ultimate-performance tyres. The accumulative experiences and data from these races will help us further develop our technologies and improve our range of civilian tires.”

Shiroo Chia, Deputy General Manager, Rest of World – Marketing, Giti Tire, said, “It is an honour for Giti to contribute to and witness the growth of the young racers at the 2025 FRMEC and F4ME. As these racers climb the ranks to higher levels of races, Giti is also driven to improve our performance and join them at realising higher levels of motorsport excellence.”