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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Tegeta Green Planet, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organised an information and practical campaign titled ‘Don’t Throw It Away, Hand It In’ in Poti. Held on 29 October at a Tegeta Motors branch, the initiative sought to strengthen environmental responsibility and promote proper management of specific waste streams.

The campaign targeted local residents, vehicle owners, drivers and private sector representatives, encouraging their active involvement in waste management. Attendees learned about the environmental impact of automotive waste and correct disposal methods. A dedicated collection point at the branch allowed residents to hand in end-of-life tyres, used batteries and waste oils, offering a practical way to contribute to environmental protection through everyday actions.

A significant focus was placed on raising awareness about the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, including the role of EPR organisations, collection and subsequent management of specific waste streams and importers’ legally established obligations. Symbolic gifts encouraged participation. Tegeta Green Planet and UNDP continue to implement regional environmental campaigns and educational initiatives aimed at raising public awareness, fostering responsible waste management and promoting circular economy principles.

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Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport EVO has earned two independent test accolades, strengthening the tyre maker’s standing in the ultra-high-performance segment. The double success spans a victory in What Car?’s summer tyre test and a Recommended award from evo.

In What Car?’s evaluation of 11 summer tyres, the Potenza Sport EVO ranked first. Fitted to a Volvo XC60, it drew praise for predictable handling and secure performance in wet and dry conditions, along with communicative steering suited to a premium performance tyre.

The What Car? results also underscored tyre choice’s safety implications. In wet braking, the Bridgestone stopped 7.3 metres shorter than the Goodride competitor. The publication concluded that the Potenza Sport EVO justified its higher price, highlighting the value of investing in quality tyres.

The evo test delivered further recognition. The Potenza Sport EVO finished second overall but secured the Recommended award and was arguably the standout performer across individual disciplines, taking five first-place finishes. It earned top subjective ratings for polished, effortless behaviour, excelled in wet grip, traction and stability and set the fastest handling-course time, becoming the only tyre to break 51 seconds.

Drew Chapman, Consumer Sales Director, Bridgestone UK, said, "To achieve such outstanding results in two highly respected independent tyre tests is a fantastic endorsement of the Potenza Sport EVO and the engineering that has gone into its development. Winning the What Car? test against 10 other competitors, while also securing evo's Recommended Award and five individual test victories, demonstrates the tyre's exceptional breadth of capability. These results reflect exactly what we set out to achieve with the Potenza Sport EVO; delivering outstanding performance, control and confidence in a wide range of driving conditions. It's hugely rewarding to see that recognised by independent experts."

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Citira, a Sweden-based company specialising in circular tyre management, has expanded its UK commercial service network by acquiring G & S Tyres Ltd, a move that also brings a modern retreading facility in the London metropolitan area into the group. The deal advances Citira's push towards a national UK footprint, building on its recent purchase of Redpath Tyres in Scotland and its entry into UK market earlier this year via Tyrefix Group.

G&S's local knowledge, solid reputation and retreading strengths align closely with Citira's circular tyre management model, which covers retreading, rim refurbishment and fleet logistics and is already well established across the Nordics and Poland. The East London site is strategically positioned and employs around 45 people.

A two-generation family firm with more than four decades of service to UK customers, G&S will keep trading under its own name with its existing team. Gary, James and Billy Short will stay involved in the business and take shareholdings in the Citira Group.

Oliver Johnson, Head of UK at Citira, said, “G&S Tyres has earned a strong reputation across the UK through its reliability, service quality and close relationships with the fleets and customers it supports. That reputation provides an excellent foundation for the next stage of growth. Following our acquisition of Redpath Tyres in Scotland, G&S is a further step in our ambition to build a national commercial tyre service network with the best people and businesses in the UK.”

Gary Short, speaking on behalf of the Short family, said, “We are very happy to join a group whose ambitions for the UK align so well with our own. Citira is a great home for G&S and gives us the right platform to support the next generation, spearheaded by James and Billy, as they continue to grow and improve the business.”

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Hankook Tyre UK will exhibit on Stand B40 at RTX Scotland, which returns to Glasgow's SEC on 18–19 November 2026 after a successful 2025 debut. The two-day event brings the road transport industry together for innovation, expertise and networking, and Hankook will showcase its extensive portfolio of Hankook and Laufenn commercial vehicle tyres, designed to meet the evolving demands of today's transport operators.

Bigger than last year, the Glasgow show completes a three-market line-up alongside RTX's flagship Stoneleigh event and its Irish show, bringing the same truck-focused approach to audiences across the UK and Ireland. More than 80 exhibitors, from major truck manufacturers and trailer producers to tyre specialists and workshop suppliers, will take part, with over 7,000 visitors expected to explore developments, attend expert-led seminars, workshops and tech talks, and connect with key professionals.

At the heart of the stand, the SmartFlex range addresses regional and long-distance transport. The AL51 for steering and all-position duties and the DL51 for drive axles deliver up to 20 percent lower rolling resistance on long-haul routes than their predecessors, with consistent performance throughout service life, while the AH51 and DH51 offer dependable grip and braking for regional haulage. All can be regrooved and retreaded to maximise tyre life and cost efficiency. Hankook will also present the 315/80R22.5 Smart Work AM11+ for on- and off-road front-steer operations, the AM15+ all-position tyre, the TH31 all-season trailer tyre, the TH51 with Hidden Groove technology and the Vantra ST AS2 van tyre.

Laufenn, Hankook's associated brand, will display its growing commercial vehicle portfolio, including the Laufenn365 initiative, the LR01 and LR02 for on- and off-road applications, the LR53 drive tyre and the X Fit Van 4S. Drawing on Hankook's development expertise, Laufenn combines value, performance and full retreadability to help cost-conscious fleets manage operating costs and environmental impact. With solutions spanning heavy-duty regional haulage, long-distance transport, mixed-service operations and light commercial vehicles, Hankook's presence lets visitors explore products tailored to their needs and connect directly with the team.

James Misselbrook, UK Truck & Bus National Sales Manager, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “RTX Scotland provides an excellent opportunity to connect with fleets, operators and industry partners, and we're excited to be returning for a second year. The event comes at a significant time for Hankook, as we showcase some of the first 385/65R22.5 trailer tyres produced at our new European TBR manufacturing facility in Rácalmás, Hungary. This major investment underlines our long-term commitment to the European market and reinforces our ability to deliver innovative, high-performance tyre solutions that help fleets maximise efficiency and profitability."

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