Bridgestone India has made a strategic investment in a tyre management services startup, Fleeca India Pvt Ltd, to strengthen the company’s customer servicing initiatives in truck & bus radials segment.

The details on the investment have not been specified.

Fleeca India Private Limited is a Jaipur based company founded in 2016 by  Tikam Chand Jain with the objective to provides India's best tyre management & fleet care services to Indian transportation and logistics businesses and helping fleet owners to leverage the merits of advanced technology in making their businesses more manageable and profitable in the terms of efficiency and affordable Tyre Management services.

The Indian market is fast evolving and witnessing deeper penetration of Digital technologies. Digital-based mobility solutions find greater significance in the context of the rapidly changing consumer preferences. This partnership further strengthens Bridgestone’s India position in this space.

Tyre Management as a service based on digital applications assumes importance as more and more fleet operators are seeking options like “Pay per KM” models when it comes to the procurement of tyres. This helps the fleet owners to maximise the total cost of ownership of their operations. Fleeca India has expertise in offering such solutions to its customers.

“Tyre management as a service is still in its nascent stage in India; however, customer preferences are changing. Traditional business models are being disrupted and overall the Mobility segment is undergoing a rapid change. We at Bridgestone India are focussed on pioneering new business models and strengthening our solutions business to accelerate our growth plans. This investment will enable us to create higher value for our customers in India and help them improve the return on investments”, said Parag Satpute Managing Director, Bridgestone India. 

These Tyre Management services enable monitoring the entire lifecycle of the tyre from fitment to scrap with required interventions to increase tyre life and efficiencies leading to greater savings by fleet owners.

“It is indeed a matter of honour to have Bridgestone India, a global leader in sustainable mobility and advanced solutions are investing in Fleeca India. It is a reflection of the confidence that Bridgestone India has in our product offerings,” said Tikam Jain, Founder and CEO Fleeca India.

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Nokian Tyres has been named an Official Sponsor for the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, connecting its brand with a premier winter sports spectacle. The sponsorship covers the upcoming tournaments in Switzerland and Germany, which captivate a global audience of millions.

According to Tiina Frazer, VP of Brand, Marketing and Communications at Nokian Tyres, the partnership is a natural alignment. She notes that ice hockey is a sport defined by extreme conditions, where success hinges on control, precision, and grip. This directly parallels the core mission of Nokian Tyres, which is to engineer products that provide drivers with reliable safety and confident performance on the road, regardless of the weather. The collaboration reinforces the company's dedication to excellence in demanding environments.

Frazer said, “We’re proud to support an event that brings together millions of passionate hockey fans – whether they’re cheering at the ice rink or following the excitement from their screens. It’s a privilege to be part of the special moments viewers enjoy around the globe, especially as awareness of our heritage as inventor of the winter tyre is growing globally. We are looking forward to our partnership and wish all the teams and players success for the upcoming tournament.”

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The World Brand Lab unveiled its ‘Asia's 500 Most Influential Brands’ list at the Asia Brand Congress in Hong Kong on 24 September 2025, featuring both Kumho Tires and Doublestar Tires for their significant brand impact.

Kumho Tires achieved a comprehensive ranking of 209th, rising six places from the previous year and positioning it as the second-highest ranked tyre brand. Meanwhile, Doublestar Tires climbed five spots to 305th overall, earning the distinction of being the top-ranked brand within China's domestic tyre industry.

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Michelin North America, Inc. is enhancing retailer access to its bicycle tyres through a new distribution partnership with J&B Importers, effective 1 October 2025. With this development, retailers will be able to order Michelin products directly through J&B Importers, starting with an initial selection of popular models.

A major expansion of the tyre lineup is scheduled for 1 January 2026, which will introduce a comprehensive portfolio. This collaboration is designed for a seamless integration, providing efficient access to Michelin's premium range. The 2026 expansion will include a wide array of new SKUs, encompassing tyres for road, mountain, gravel and city cycling to meet diverse market demands.

Justin Brock, Vice President – Sales, Recreational Products, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Partnering with J&B Importers, Inc. allows us to better serve independent bike dealers with faster access to Michelin’s trusted tyre technologies. This is a key step in expanding our footprint and supporting the cycling community with products that deliver performance and durability.”

Phil Sweet, General Manager, J&B Importers, Inc., said, “We’re proud to welcome Michelin to our distribution portfolio. Michelin is a globally respected brand known for innovation and performance. This partnership allows us to offer our dealers access to premium bicycle tyres backed by a legacy of excellence, and we’re excited to grow the assortment in the months ahead.”

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Pirelli has introduced the Cinturato Winter 3, a winter tyre engineered for sedans and crossovers to deliver safety and control in cold conditions. The tyre’s development prioritised balanced performance across snow, wet roads and dry pavement, achieved through advanced virtual engineering techniques that reduced the need for physical prototypes and accelerated the design process.

Independent testing by Dekra and TÜV confirmed the tyre’s leading capabilities. It ranked first on snow for braking, traction and handling, earning the TÜV Premium Quality Mark. On wet surfaces, it demonstrated top-tier aquaplaning resistance and handling, with a European wet grip rating of A-B across its entire range. The tyre also provides acoustic comfort, with low rolling noise emissions as indicated on its European label.

Key technical updates contribute to this performance. The tread pattern features a central zig-zag channel for improved water evacuation, while optimised sipes and Snow Keeper Teeth on the tread blocks trap snow to enhance snow-on-snow grip without sacrificing wet performance. The compound technology benefits from Pirelli's experience with the high-performance P Zero Winter 2. It uses a Dual-Core Polymer with a structure that provides high grip at low temperatures for snow adhesion while maintaining grip on wet and dry surfaces, coupled with excellent wear resistance for higher mileage.

Material development was streamlined using a generative AI tool called the Virtual Compounder, which identified optimal material combinations for the new compound with greater precision and efficiency. The tyre was validated at Pirelli’s proving grounds, including the Sottozero Centre in Swedish Lapland, a 125-hectare facility with 19 tracks for testing on snow, ice and asphalt. A recent indoor facility at this centre allowed for year-round winter condition testing. The Cinturato Winter 3 was tested on over 10 car models to ensure compatibility.

Available now on the replacement market in over 35 sizes from 16 to 20 inches, the range includes specific technologies. The Elect marking denotes versions that can increase the range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by up to 10 percent through solutions tailored to their powertrains. An optional Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) uses a sound-absorbing material to reduce cabin noise.

The Cinturato Winter 3 joins other recent Pirelli winter products, including the P Zero Winter 2 for high-performance cars and the Scorpion Winter 2 for SUVs. This expanding portfolio addresses the growing market demand for specialised winter tyres, particularly in larger sizes for premium vehicle segments.

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