In a keynote address at the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) annual conference in Warwickshire, environmental campaigner Georgia Elliott-Smith issued a compelling call for the UK government to collaborate with the industry to enact urgent regulatory reforms. The CEO of Fighting Dirty emphasised that such partnership is essential for realising a genuine circular economy and effectively addressing the climate crisis. She specifically endorsed TRA's five-step Road to Reform, published this summer, as a practical and necessary framework for action.

Elliott-Smith highlighted the critical juncture facing the tyre recycling industry and the unexpected but powerful alliance between her environmental group and the TRA. This partnership, she explained, is united by a shared objective: to overhaul the current regulations governing British end-of-life tyres (ELTs) and transform waste into valuable resources. She stressed that acknowledging the reality of the climate crisis and the limited window for reversal demands an immediate shift from discussion to tangible action, where robust regulation and its strict enforcement are the primary levers for change.

Looking forward, Elliott-Smith articulated a vision where regulatory reform must catalyse the creation of substantial new industries that represent permanent solutions, not merely transitional ones. She expressed deep concern over ‘false solutions’ that might emerge under the banner of a circular economy but ultimately perpetuate pollution. For a truly green industrial future, she argued, new systems must be designed to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, not create new forms of environmental harm.

Furthermore, Elliott-Smith reaffirmed her organisation's commitment to holding regulators accountable through legal means. “Fighting Dirty will continue to initiate legal challenges when we see inaction by regulators, that’s why we initiated court proceedings against the Environment Agency in February, proceedings that led to the EA admitting that there was a failure to understand their responsibilities and regulate. Enhanced verification procedures are a positive step in the right direction, but we wait to see that they deliver the promised change – our legal action is only paused. Policy leadership can create the industry design solution of the future – what is possible in the tyre industry to move it to that new vision, that moves through transitory solutions to genuine solutions for the industry of the future. We all have to be troublemakers, to be a nuisance for a cause,” she said.

Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General, TRA, said, “Today saw the largest gathering of TRA members and industry players in a year. There is a sense of possibility and optimism with a refocus on reform following the Waste Minister’s comments in Spring, but we still wait for that rhetoric to become a reality. Operational clarity for our members will come from the right decisions on regulatory reform being implemented. This must happen if we are to secure domestic capability and the long-term success of British used tyre processors. We all want to see reforms that stop malpractice and corner-cutting, which does so much damage to the environment and undermines legitimate operators.

“As Georgia set out today, there is currently a big gap between the stated objective of Britain having a circular economy and what is happening in practice. We welcome the Environment Agency’s contributions to discussions today – we again encourage them (and DEFRA) to invite industry through their door so we can speak to them and help bring meaningful reform about. Partnership and cooperation are the quickest and most effective route down the road to reform that the Minister initiated nearly six months ago.”

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Steelastic LLC, part of the HEICO Companies, has officially announced a new strategic partnership with IBP for the territories of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In this capacity, the company has welcomed John Powath as its official agent for these regions. Powath is a respected leader within the tyre industry, bringing a wealth of experience from his roles as a Partner at IBP and as a Co-Founder of Automoto. He is also recognised as an active contributor to global tyre and automotive industry events.

Operationally, Steelastic’s Business Development Manager Hemant Agrawal will work in close coordination with the IBP team. Their collective focus will be on strengthening the support infrastructure for customers and driving the growth of Steelastic’s business footprint across South Asia. The company has expressed considerable optimism regarding this collaboration and believes it will unlock substantial new opportunities for its valued customer base in the region, enhancing product access and technical service.

The company statement read: “We welcome John Powath as Steelastic’s official agent in these regions. Powath is a respected leader in the tyre industry, Partner at IBP, & Co-Founder at Automoto, as well as an active contributor to global tyre and automotive events. Moving forward, Steelastic Business Development Manager, Hemant Agrawal, along with the IBP team, will work closely to strengthen customer support and grow Steelastic’s business across South Asia. We are excited about this collaboration and the opportunities it will bring for our valued customers.”

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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport has been declared the definitive winner in EVO's 2025 Tyre Test, decisively outperforming eight rival products. Evaluated on a high-powered BMW 135i xDrive with 302 bhp in the size 235/35 R19, the tyre delivered six class-leading results.

The tyre’s dominance was particularly evident in wet conditions, where it achieved the shortest braking distance and top scores for cornering and aquaplaning resistance. The tyre also excelled in dry performance, recording the fastest lap time and a strong third-place finish in dry braking. Test editors praised it as an exceptional and emphatic winner, noting its superb on-road feel and capability in all conditions.

This assessment is further supported by independent TÜV SÜD testing, which confirms the Potenza Sport's superior dry braking, cornering and stability against other premium tyres. Its wet performance is also officially recognised with a top EU 'A' wet grip rating and leading results in wet cornering and handling, solidifying its status as a top-tier ultra-high-performance tyre.

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Michelin has announced the full deployment of its proprietary TreadEye technology across the Michelin Retread Technologies franchise network in the United States. TreadEye is a technology developed to enhance the retread process and deliver value to fleets.

The company stated that TreadEye is a tread depth assessment tool that helps fleets maximise their tyre investment. The system collects 1,200 measurement points accurately and consistently, providing insights into tread wear and casing condition.

Key benefits of the TreadEye technology include:

• Identification of pull points by fleet location.
• Maximisation of rubber on the road by helping to avoid early pulls.
• Helps in prevention of casing damage and helps reduce DOT violations.
• Helps reduce downtime from late pulls.
• Improved efficiency in the tyre removal process, directly affecting a fleet’s bottom line.

Nate Kirian, Vice-President of Sales and Distribution, Commercial Business Lines for Michelin North America, Inc, said, “TreadEye is a game-changer for our retread operations and for the fleets we serve. It’s a powerful example of how Michelin continues to innovate in ways that directly benefit our customers.”

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In a significant move for UK road safety, TyreSafe, the nation's dedicated tyre safety charity, has formed a landmark partnership with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA). This alliance represents a powerful consolidation of industry voices, uniting manufacturers, distributors and safety advocates behind the common goals of enhancing road safety, elevating professional standards and promoting positive behavioural change among motorists.

This formal collaboration brings together two central organisations within the automotive aftercare sector. By combining their strategic objectives, they aim to amplify crucial safety messages and deepen engagement with the frontline professionals – retailers, fitters and technicians – who directly influence driver habits. The NTDA, a leading trade association founded in 1930, represents over 300 companies operating more than 2,000 retail outlets across the country, from major national chains to independent family-run businesses.

The partnership will facilitate joint public campaigns, shared research projects and the development of educational resources designed to help both consumers and industry professionals better understand the critical importance of correct tyre maintenance and timely replacement. This collaborative effort is bolstered by compelling new data from the NTDA's recent TyreCheck 2025 study, which examined over 58,000 vehicles. The research revealed a concerning increase in the number of tyres nearing the legal minimum tread depth, underscoring an urgent need for renewed public education on what constitutes a truly roadworthy and safe tyre. Ultimately, this unified initiative marks a new era of cooperation, driven by a shared vision to eliminate the dangers posed by illegal and defective tyres on Britain's roads.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “This partnership represents a pivotal moment for the tyre industry. TyreSafe and the NTDA share a common goal – to make tyre safety a central part of the national road safety conversation. By combining TyreSafe’s public awareness and behavioural insight with the NTDA’s trade expertise and nationwide reach, we are uniting every part of the tyre supply chain behind one clear message – safe tyres save lives. Together, we can make that message stronger, more consistent and more effective than ever before.”

Ian Andrew, CEO, NTDA, said, “The NTDA has long been committed to raising standards across the tyre trade and promoting the professionalism of our members. Working collaboratively with TyreSafe allows us to take this commitment to the next level – ensuring that retailers, fitters and technicians play a central role in improving driver understanding and road safety outcomes. This partnership will help unify our industry around shared goals, driving both cultural and practical change.”

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