Michelin India Technology Centre has been operating for over five years. Could you highlight how the centre has been playing its role in research and development for Michelin's domestic and international markets?

The centre has grown over the years in terms of developing competencies and delivering products and solutions to businesses in the local market, region and globally. The agility and flexibility in delivery of solutions to sustainable mobility is one of our key strengths. The product solutions that are developed in conjunction with other regional teams have the cutting edge, keeping Michelin ahead of the curve. The gender and domain diverse team at the centre has brought unique dimensions to meet customer aspirations specific to different vehicle platforms. There are forward looking concepts and products that are being developed in different life cycle stages by the team in India that have upgraded their skills due to their world class training. Our teams are also exposed to global norms and developments in mature markets, thus enabling them to bring in such perspectives while developing products in the domestic market. 

What will drive the Indian truck and bus tyre market in future?

This is very interesting and all of us have seen a reset of a new normal due to Covid-19 in ways we are conducting the different facets of our businesses. The Indian market is smart, agile and ahead in their thought process compared to some of the other markets. The digital solutions, smarts, AI and services will drive the Indian truck and bus tyre market. Customers, whether they own transportation fleets or personal vehicles, want the worry-free ‘fit and forget’ tyre solutions. At Michelin, we have many such services, charging cost per kilometre to customers, which have been deployed in mature markets as well as in India, allowing our customers to focus on other aspects of their business models or personal routines.

The other driving factor will be ‘smarts’ in the tyre industry. The embedded chips in tyres for V2X interfaces are a huge opportunity for the mobility ecosystem with a vast application playfield that includes monitoring tear wear, tyre rotation periods, driver behaviour, inputs fed to active integrated suspensions for ride comfort, adjusting speed depending on terrain for safety and ergonomics of driver comfort as well as cargo movement.

Advanced materials will change the game with growing percentages of recycled rubber in tyre design and manufacturing. These will be an enabler in reducing carbon footprint of a vehicle and the holistic ecosystem including tyre dust. Faster curing materials, self-sealing tyres are around the corner in India. There are pilots and that will be the real ‘aah-ha’ moment for the industry and consumers. 

The centre also has a material testing lab. Sustainable raw materials are growing focus of tyre companies. What are the activities of the centre in the material testing space?

Materials, we believe, will be the strategic edge of our products and solutions as mentioned earlier. The centre does leverage material testing, monitoring various aspects of product development. The automation of test data for faster evaluation and upstream design actions is an important aspect with regard to speed to market. This is something that our teams are good at creatively innovating at the centre and the lab downstream.  

How do you distinguish the product requirements for developed and developing countries?

It is not the product but the solutions and services that are adapted for different regions. This is decided based on local regulations and norms, and the ecosystem and the infrastructure available there to support it. Product development also considers the tech savviness in the totem poles of the customers. The smartness in deploying the right solutions at the right price, at the right time will continue to be a distinguishing and winning factor for us across the globe.

MITC joined hands with IIT Bombay and ARAI. According to you, how will the new mobility shape in India, and how are you preparing, through R&D work, to offer the customised products in India?

This is one amazing aspect of India that we believe can be leveraged to the advantage of the Indian ecosystem. The Indian competitiveness for delivering ‘more customer value with lesser resources’ will help Michelin progress with these engagements. We will have students exposed to mature markets, working with global academia and experienced Michelin engineers to straight-on take the lead in their careers and solution mindset. We are confident that these and such partnerships are the diving boards to our collective growth. To use the cricket analogies, we are here to play well, in both the T20 and the test matches, and we are building teams that can switch on and off the pace between such situations due to their exposure, mentoring and talent acceleration.    

Will you be open to more partnerships in India?

The power of Collective Intelligence is second to none when it comes to delivering smarts to our customers through such valuable partnerships. The centre is already working with few of the academic institutions in India and is in discussions with the right-minded players that are on the same page. We have a clear understanding of ‘where to play’ as it forms our evaluation matrix when we are exploring start-ups, incubation parks and innovation accelerators. We will continue this journey as it helps with the step-change in the Indian ecosystem on many aspects of mobility and related solutions that are beneficial to all stakeholders.

According to you, what are the more significant challenges for scientists and engineers in the tyre industry?

Challenges are to find, train and retain individuals with the right kind of skill-sets. The gestation period to train and get an engineer to deliver high quality smart solutions requires patience and commitment. The more experienced scientists and engineers are at cross roads to delegate to the pipeline of talent that graduates out of our engineering institutions in their early professional journey. The infra and technical power needs to grow in India since the AI solutions and digitalisation can be catapulted very well in an existing innovation mindset for deployment. The race to get to the senior positions without developing a depth in domains is a challenge and not sustainable for growth in the long term. Talent in AI and data analytics tied to tyre and mobility domains is growing, but this talent is enticed by other non-mobility industries, creating a churn and dampening the speed to market and ability to provide attractive solutions and products to our customers. (TT)

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Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber), the official global tyre partner of Arsenal Football Club, has extended its congratulations to the team for securing the Premier League title for the 2025/26 season. The Chinese tyre manufacturing giant, recognised as one of the world’s leading industry players, commemorated the club’s first Premier League title since the legendary unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ run of 2003/04. This victory represents Arsenal’s 14th English top-flight title, reaffirming its status among the most successful clubs in the history of English football.

Since forming the global partnership with Arsenal in 2023, ZC Rubber has leveraged the collaboration to promote its diverse tyre brand portfolio, which includes WESTLAKE, GOODRIDE, CHAOYANG, ARISUN, TRAZANO, YARTU, TIANLI and YONGGU. The company has enhanced its international brand visibility through matchday LED advertising at Emirates Stadium, integration with Arsenal’s official channels and various fan engagement initiatives. These efforts connect the excitement of elite football with the reliability and performance of ZC Rubber’s tyre products.

This championship victory also represents a significant milestone in ZC Rubber’s sports marketing strategy. As the company continues to expand its global footprint, the Arsenal partnership serves as a dynamic platform to reach consumers, distributors and business partners through a shared passion for football. ZC Rubber has expressed pride in celebrating the season’s success alongside Arsenal and its worldwide fanbase.

Henry Shen, Senior Vice President, Zhongce Rubber Group, said, “On behalf of ZC Rubber, I would like to offer our sincere congratulations to Arsenal Football Club, the players, coaching staff and supporters on this remarkable Premier League victory. It has been inspiring to see the team’s focus, determination and unity throughout the season. Arsenal’s pursuit of greatness strongly resonates with ZC Rubber’s own commitment to delivering safe, reliable and high-performance tyre solutions for customers around the world.”

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) is showcasing its latest agricultural tyre technologies at Agritechnica Asia in Bangkok, where more than 15,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the exhibition over three days.

The off-highway tyre manufacturer is exhibiting at booth F17 alongside Chavakit Ruam Yang Co Ltd., its distributor in Thailand for more than 20 years.

BKT said the products on display are designed to address the evolving requirements of the Asian agricultural sector, with a focus on soil protection, durability and load-carrying capacity.

Among the products featured at the exhibition is HARVESTER SPECIAL, a heavy-duty tyre developed for sugarcane harvesters in Thailand. The company said the tyre’s dual-angle lug design is intended to improve traction in field conditions while maintaining road comfort.

The company is also presenting several products from its AGRIMAX range, including AGRIMAX RT 657, AGRIMAX RT 855 and AGRIMAX RT 955, which are designed for soil tillage, road use and row crop applications.

In addition, BKT is displaying tyres from its TR range, including TR 135, which is aimed at demanding tillage operations.

The exhibition is being held at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) through 22 May.

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Continental has deepened its longstanding alliance with BRABUS by engineering a bespoke ultra‑ultra‑high‑performance (UUHP) summer tyre for the new BODO supercar. The SportContact 7 Force joins the award-winning family as an exclusive derivative, marked by a special BB sidewall identification. This launch extends a technical partnership rooted in performance and precision for more than 25 years.

Developed from the tread concept of its predecessor, the new tyre focuses on maintaining maximum control at high speeds on both roads and racetracks. It provides quick responses to shifting loads, ensuring predictable lane changes and stable motorway running. The compound also delivers repeatable grip during successive braking and acceleration on a circuit.

This model-specific fitment, sized at 275/35 ZR 21 for the front and 325/30 ZR 21 for the rear, aligns tyre construction with the supercar’s axle-load realities. The collaboration ensures that the BODO’s engine power is transmitted effectively to the asphalt without sacrificing steering precision. Continental and BRABUS have consistently aligned aerodynamics and compound for very powerful vehicles.

The SportContact 7 Force serves as the enabling interface between driver intent and the road, turning bold ideas into confident handling. By pairing a sentimental heritage with a modern performance brief, the tyre translates raw power into high-speed stability. This launch marks another chapter in a decades-long technical story focused on delivering everyday performance.

Dr Marian Graßmann, Senior Tyre Developer, Continental Germany, said, "With the SportContact 7 Force, we are taking the performance of our most successful UUHP tyre to an even sportier level. The combination of adaptive tread pattern, advanced Harmonised BlackChili compound and vehicle-specific design enables handling that remains precise, stable and controllable under extreme conditions. Balancing everyday use with racetrack competence was our development target. Our tyres are the first with specification marking for BRABUS, showing that not only is the vehicle tailored made but the tyres are special too.”

Dipl.-Ing. Jörn Gander, Chief Technology Officer, BRABUS, said, “The BRABUS BODO embodies modern coachbuilding at the highest level – down to the very last detail. Together with Continental, we created a bespoke tyre technology that perfectly combines performance, control and character. The BB signature on the sidewall makes visible what sets this project apart: genuine individual development rather than compromise.”

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TyreSafe has issued an urgent appeal to UK’s equine and equestrian community following new national data that reveals a sharp rise in preventable tyre-related breakdowns involving horseboxes and trailers. The warning is based on a four-year analysis of Strategic Road Network data from 2022 to 2025, which exposes a growing maintenance gap across the towing sector. According to the findings, this neglect endangers not only road users but also the welfare of horses during transit.

The analysis shows that towing-related breakdowns have reached 4,830 incidents per year, with tyre failures accounting for 25 to 28 percent of all cases, meaning roughly one in four such breakdowns is avoidable. Since 2022, tyre failures in horseboxes have increased by 21.5 percent, while trailers now represent nearly half of all tyre-related incidents nationally. Alarmingly, there are almost as many trailer tyre failures as caravan and horsebox incidents combined, a trend linked to vehicles standing idle for long periods, which accelerates tyre degradation even when tread depth appears legal.

TyreSafe stresses that horses are often transported infrequently but carry heavy, live loads, making tyre age, condition and pressure critical. Tyres naturally deteriorate due to sunlight, weathering and prolonged static loads, leading to cracking and structural weakening. UK law already bans tyres over 10 years old on front steering axles of goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes, including many horseboxes. TyreSafe urges road users to embrace the simple ACT protocol: regular checks of air pressure, condition and tread depth. Owners must also ensure correct load and speed ratings, avoid mixing tyre types on the same axle, check cold pressures before every journey and distribute weight evenly.

Failure to meet legal standards can result in fines and penalty points, but the greater risk is tyre failure during transit, causing dangerous roadside stops and increased stress or injury for horses. TyreSafe continues to offer free guidance and dedicated resources for the equine community, reinforcing that proper tyre maintenance directly improves animal welfare, vehicle stability and overall journey safety.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “When transporting horses, a tyre failure is not just an inconvenience – it’s a serious animal welfare issue. Horses are particularly vulnerable during breakdown situations, especially on high-speed roads. The fact that one in four incidents is tyre-related shows how much of this risk is preventable. We want tyre checks to become as routine as checking tack or loading equipment. It’s a simple step that protects not just the vehicle but the horse inside it. Safer tyres mean safer journeys – for everyone.”

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