Bridgestone Americas has concluded its annual ‘United by What Really Matters’ campaign, generating more than USD 2.4 million for United Way chapters in Nashville, Greater Cleveland and Summit & Medina. These critical funds will directly support essential local services in communities where Bridgestone operates.

Beyond the financial contribution, the campaign demonstrated a profound commitment to volunteerism. During a dedicated week last November, 61 percent of employees from the company’s key operational sites engaged in hands-on support. Their efforts included organising blood drives for the Red Cross, assembling food donations for local pantries and preparing hygiene kits for public school students.

This recent donation marks a significant milestone, as Bridgestone’s decade-long partnership with United Way has now surpassed USD 17 million in total contributions. This sustained support is made possible through multiple channels: direct employee donations, contributions from the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund and proceeds from the company’s annual charitable golf tournament. That tournament alone, a premier fundraising event for United Way, raised USD 1.35 million in 2025, underscoring the ongoing generosity of Bridgestone’s team and its partners.

Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer, Bridgestone Americas, said, “With this campaign, Bridgestone and our teammates can play a critical role in what really matters – making a lasting impact in the communities where we move, live, work and play. Our longstanding partnership with United Way continues to be a powerful tool for us to drive meaningful impact and build a better future together. Thank you to our teammates and partners for your generosity, which will help this holiday season bring joy and connection to all.”

Erica Mitchell, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Nashville, said, “Bridgestone’s generosity through its annual golf tournament and employee giving campaign is more than a donation – it’s an investment in people. Their commitment helps families access education, meet basic needs and build financial stability. Together, we’re proving that lasting change happens when we unite for what really matters.”

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Hankook Tire has strengthened its commitment to sustainable community development in Indonesia with the recent completion of a vital water infrastructure project. The company finalised and celebrated the installation of a modern water pump and storage tank system in Naga cipta Village, Bekasi, on 5 December. This initiative directly addresses severe local water shortages exacerbated by El Niño climate patterns, which have historically caused extreme drought, particularly impacting over 50 households in the village reliant on rainwater for daily needs. The project supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, aiming to secure reliable access to clean and safe water for communities surrounding Hankook’s Indonesia Plant.

The new infrastructure is poised to substantially elevate living standards for residents, including many Hankook employees, by eliminating costs previously associated with buying water and improving overall sanitary conditions. This follows another successful water project in Pasirranji Village, which has supplied roughly 2.8 million litres of clean water to more than 1,100 residents since August. Hankook’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy in Indonesia is deeply aligned with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. Recent activities include enhancing public safety through LED streetlight installations for sustainable communities and supporting ecological balance by planting over 5,000 mangrove trees for forest restoration.

Beyond infrastructure, Hankook Tire fosters shared growth through ongoing local engagement. This includes annual tyre donations to public and private organisations to promote safer transport, alongside targeted support for education, healthcare services for vulnerable groups and direct charitable contributions. Through these multifaceted efforts, Hankook Tire continues to act as an active global corporate citizen, dedicated to fostering long-term wellbeing and resilience within Indonesian communities.

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Bridgestone India has inaugurated a new Bridgestone Select Store in Sector 101, Noida, strengthening its presence in Uttar Pradesh and North India. Operated by Tyre Shoppe India Pvt Ltd, this premium retail outlet was opened by Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director of Integrated Consumer Business at Bridgestone India. The store represents the company’s modern retail approach, moving beyond mere sales to provide comprehensive tyre and mobility solutions through advanced technology, expert advisory services and high-quality infrastructure.

Strategically situated near the Sector 101 Metro Station, this expansion highlights Bridgestone’s focus on enhancing its network in key growth markets. Customers will have access to the latest premium tyre offerings, including the Turanza 6i and the Dueler All-Terrain A/T002. The Turanza 6i incorporates Bridgestone’s ENLITEN technology, providing improved comfort, fuel efficiency, braking performance and longevity for both traditional and electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the Dueler All-Terrain A/T002 is built for diverse driving conditions, offering durability, strong traction and reliable control on various surfaces.

This launch underscores Bridgestone India’s ongoing commitment to broadening its customer reach and solidifying its role as a leader in safe and sustainable mobility solutions. By investing in such flagship stores, the company aims to deliver an elevated, customer-focused experience that prioritises safety, performance and driving comfort.

Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director – Integrated Consumer Business, Bridgestone India, said, “Uttar Pradesh is an important and fast-growing market for Bridgestone. The inauguration of our new Select Store in Noida is a significant step in strengthening our presence in North India and bringing our premium retail experience closer to customers. Through our Select Store format, we aim to deliver not only high-quality, technologically advanced tyres, but also a superior, end-to-end customer experience built on trust, safety and performance.”

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The Goodyear Highway Hero Award is actively seeking nominations to honour the exceptional bravery of commercial truck drivers. The programme, now in its 42nd year, recognises those who perform courageous acts that extend far beyond their typical job responsibilities to aid others and enhance public safety on North American highways.

To qualify for consideration, a nominee must hold a current Commercial Driver's License and drive an eligible vehicle, which includes long-haul trucks, vocational and infrastructure trucks and non-lifesaving emergency vehicles with rim sizes exceeding 19 inches. The incident must have taken place within the United States or Canada during the 2025 calendar year while the driver was officially on duty.

The nomination period remains open until 31 January 2026. Submissions require a detailed account of the event and are made through Goodyear’s dedicated online portal. Following a review of all entries, a panel of judges will evaluate the approved nominations to select one winner and up to two finalists. The grand prize winner will receive a cash award and a ride aboard the Goodyear Blimp, while the finalists will also be granted monetary prizes. The recipient of the award will be officially announced in early 2026.

Joe Stuglis, Vice President, Commercial Sales North America, Goodyear, said, "Truck drivers are the unsung heroes of our roads and communities. For more than four decades, the Highway Hero Award has celebrated those who step up in critical moments to protect others. We're proud to continue this tradition and shine a spotlight on their inspiring stories."

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The Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) has made a proposal to Tyre Retreaders Education Association (TREA) for mandating certain standards that will improve the quality of retreads.

Speaking to Tyre Trends about the move, a source privy to the developments explained, “We have sought TREA’s views on mandating the retread standards and we are currently awaiting their formal response on the subject. Once an agreement is reached with TREA, a formal proposal will be submitted to BIS for consideration. At present, the retread sector is largely unorganised with more than 10,000 retreaders operating. Once the applicable standards are mandated, all retreaders will be required to comply with the relevant BIS standards and mark their products with the BIS certification marks.”

“Considering the large number of retreaders operating in the market, enforcing retread standards will be a significant challenge for BIS,” he added.

As per an ICRA report, the Indian retreaded market was valued between INR 580 billion and INR 600 billion with a cumulative annual growth rate of 7–9 percent between FY23-26. As the market continues its projected trajectory, quality and efficacy become paramount not only to bolster recognition and usage but also to make a name at the global level.

The documents that were accessed by Tyre Trends signal a major restructuring of test procedures and physical property norms across key retreading standards.

At the centre of the exercise is remarks from Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), supplemented by inputs from a major tread maker, covering four foundational BIS retread standards, namely IS 15725, IS 15753, IS 15524 and IS 9168.

TREA members are yet to assess proposed updates to the physical-property criteria for uncured rubber including tread, belt, undertread, base and cushion gum compounds.

The technical work on retread-casing standard IS 15704 represents the most sensitive part of the proposal. Furthermore, ITTAC has partially aligned Indian requirements with ECE R109, the European regulatory benchmark.

Key alignments include widening allowable outer-diameter growth for tyres with section widths above 305 millimetre, raising permissible deviation from two percent to 3.5 percent for high-aspect-ratio radial tyres and four percent for bias-ply constructions.

ITTAC also endorsed the addition of a one percent deviation allowance for snow tyres, consistent with R109 clause 7.1.5.2.

The recommendations in the proposal also contains inputs from Michelin Tyres. The company had proposed a full R109-based clause on minimum material thickness above the breaker for diagonal-ply casings.

ITTAC did not accept the full wording, arguing that IS 15704 already covers requirements for both radial and bias tyres, but acknowledged that the minimum 0.80 millimetre non-repair spot thickness must be explicitly stated to prevent accidental exposure of the belt package during buffing operations, informed the source.

Alluding to how these changes will be incorporated, he noted, “As far as process is concerned, like in case of new tyres, retreader will apply to BIS for getting the license. After reviewing the application, a BIS auditor will visit the retreading facility and collect samples for testing at BIS-authorised laboratories. The laboratories will conduct tests as specified in the standard and submit their reports to BIS. If the sample successfully meets all requirements, a license is issued to the retreader, allowing them to mark their retreaded tyres with the applicable ISI mark.”

India’s retreading sector now stands at a defining crossroads. The push by ITTAC to formalise and mandate BIS standards marks a decisive shift from a largely fragmented landscape to one governed by measurable, certifiable quality benchmarks.

For more than 10,000 retreaders, the transition will not be easy as compliance, auditing and testing will demand new investments, capabilities and mindsets.

Yet, this transformation also presents an unprecedented opportunity. Standardisation could elevate Indian retreads from a cost-driven alternative to a globally credible, technically assured product category.

As TREA prepares its response and BIS gears up for the next drafting phase, the onus now lies on industry players to embrace this moment. If executed well, the reforms could not only improve safety and performance but also position India as a competitive force in the international retreading arena.

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