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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Plaza Tire Service, a brand within the Sun Auto Network, has expanded its Missouri footprint by opening a new location strategically serving drivers along the Highway 65 corridor. The expansion now reaches motorists across Ozark, Nixa and the greater Springfield area, reinforcing the company’s presence in Christian County, recognised as one of the fastest-growing regions south of Springfield.

Operating under the Plaza Tire Service name, the newest storefront upholds the brand’s Driver Commitment, which emphasises clarity, confidence and attentive customer care. To enhance the service experience, the facility offers 24/7 online appointment scheduling, digital vehicle inspections, nationwide warranties and immediate access to leading tyre brands. Same-day service is available alongside a full range of automotive maintenance and repair work, including alignments, brake service, oil changes, battery replacements and preventative maintenance.

Michael Loa, Regional Vice President, said, "Missouri continues to be an important market for us. This location allows us to strengthen our presence in the Springfield area while continuing to deliver the consistent, expert know-how our customers expect."

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), successfully completed the sixth round of the 2026 season, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, where its Dynapro R213 rally tyre played a central role in managing the event’s punishing conditions. The tyre was engineered to absorb impacts from rough gravel and rocky terrain while delivering consistent grip and durability across the rally’s demanding stages.

Held from 7 to 10 May around Matosinhos in northern Portugal, the competition covered 23 Special Stages totalling approximately 345 kilometres. The surface began as soft, sandy gravel but progressively turned into sharp rocks and deeply rutted terrain due to repeated passes, making tyre durability and stability essential for performance. Hankook provided the Dynapro R213 in Hard and Soft compounds, allowing teams to balance high grip from the soft version with the hard compound’s resilience on changing surfaces.

After a fierce battle, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver Thierry Neuville secured overall victory, marking his team’s first win of the 2026 season. He took the lead in the closing stages and delivered a commanding performance to finish on the top step of the podium. In the Drivers’ Championship standings, Toyota GAZOO Racing’s Elfyn Evans leads with 123 points, followed closely by teammate Takamoto Katsuta on 111 points.

Throughout the event, Hankook operated a Brand World booth in the service park, featuring a motorsport heritage exhibition, racing simulators, branded merchandise and photo zones to enhance its premium global image. The 2026 WRC season now moves to Round 7, the FORUM8 Rally Japan on 28–31 May, a tarmac event on narrow mountain roads requiring precise steering and high-speed stability. Hankook continues to integrate WRC driving data into its R&D, advancing high-performance tyre technology as the exclusive supplier for all WRC classes since 2025.

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DUNLOP Motorsport is all geared up for the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, scheduled to be held from 14 to 17 May 2026. At the legendary Nordschleife, the team will debut a Porsche 911 GT3 R bearing start number 17, marking the black-and-yellow car’s first appearance at the Eifel classic. A quartet of experienced drivers has been assembled to share the cockpit, including Frenchmen Julien Andlauer and Dorian Boccolacci, Belgian Alessio Picariello and Nordschleife specialist Nico Menzel.

A series of preparatory runs within the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series allowed the team to gather vital operational intelligence. Despite a rain‑affected delay to the opening round, the group managed to cross the line inside the top ten overall during its very first race. That outcome, combined with methodical calibration of the Porsche's suspension and aerodynamics, improved the squad's command of DUNLOP tyre behaviour under race conditions.

Unpredictable factors such as sudden showers, evolving asphalt grip and heavy lapped traffic frequently decide outcomes at the Nürburgring. Success therefore hinges on error‑free driving and disciplined strategic calls. The selected drivers bring precisely those attributes: Andlauer from his tenure in elite GT and prototype series, Boccolacci and Picariello from repeated Nordschleife campaigns, and Menzel from years of local expertise.

Several other entrants have also chosen DUNLOP rubber. Saugmotoren Motorsport will run the distinctive BMW Z4 E89, steered by Nordschleife veterans Ralf Schall and Christian Scherer. BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC, collaborating with Gran Turismo, enters a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup whose cockpit will be shared by Manuel Metzger, online personality Misha Charoudin and sim racers Steve Brown and Jimmy Broadbent. For spectators, the Boulevard area presents an interactive zone where Gran Turismo simulators offer virtual Nordschleife laps. A Porsche 962 C on loan from the Porsche Museum, winner of all five Supercup races in 1987 and that year's champion, will also be exhibited.

The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring starts Saturday 16 May at 3:00 pm. Fans unable to attend can watch live via the official stream or on RTL Nitro. DUNLOP Motorsport also shares regular updates and content from the Eifel region through its social media channels.

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Pirelli has developed a new rear tyre solution for the fifth FIM Superbike World Championship round at the Czech Republic’s Most circuit. The track is known for unusually high mechanical strain on rubber, particularly at the rear axle. To address this, Pirelli created the F0468 medium compound rear specification. Its compound matches the D0922, a tyre used at Most in 2025 and at Phillip Island across the previous two seasons. However, the F0468 features an entirely new internal structure for better race-long consistency and improved stability.

This newcomer evolves the E0829 specification, which shared the same compound and appeared at Phillip Island earlier this year. Riders who dislike the F0468 can still choose the D0922 development rear tyre. That option has already proven itself at the unique Czech layout and at Phillip Island, another tyre‑killing circuit. For qualifying and the Superpole Race, Pirelli has designated the standard soft SC0 as the reference rear tyre.

Beyond the premier class, Supersport and SportBike World Championship competitors will also race at Most. Supersport riders receive the same front choices as Superbike: soft SC1 and medium SC2. At the rear, Supersport entries can pick the soft SC0 or the medium SC1. SportBike competitors have used that same medium SC1 on both axles all season.

The tyre lineup thus gives every category familiar options alongside the new F0468. By blending a proven compound with a revised structure, Pirelli targets greater performance consistency without forcing riders to abandon the trusted D0922. Most’s punishing layout will serve as the ultimate test for both solutions.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, said, “Over more than two decades as supplier to the Superbike World Championship, Pirelli has built an extremely solid and versatile tyre range. The SCX supersoft rear solution now represents an absolute benchmark for riders and is used in most races on the calendar, with the soft SC0 becoming a valid alternative on some occasions. There are, however, some circuits that are particularly demanding on tyres, such as Phillip Island and Most, which by virtue of their layout and intrinsic characteristics require more specific solutions and more durable compounds, typically medium options.

“In these cases, development work focuses on improving key parameters such as performance and consistency over race distance: objectives that guided the design of the new rear solution in F0468 specification. To complete the allocation, riders will in any case also have the well-proven D0922 option available, which has shown that it can effectively handle the particular stresses imposed by this circuit. It will be interesting to assess whether the new F0468 medium will be able to raise the performance level beyond that of the D0922 further still.”

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