A recent FICCI survey made it amply clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a deep impact on Indian businesses which could lead to "unprecedented collapse" of the Indian economy. Only a substantive and urgent economic package by the Government could save a large section of the industry from permanent impairment, survey findings stated.

The survey has just brought to the fore what businesses, cutting across segments, have been realizing ever since the Corona outbreak led to shuttering of businesses and disruption of supply chains. A financial stimulus is, indeed, imperative in view of the huge financial impact on businesses especially to those like auto & tyre sectors who had been facing exceptional distress even before the arrival of the current pandemic. For instance, Tyre industry is poised to lose sales of nearly Rs 10000 crore due to lock-down till the end of April. There is huge blockage of funds by way of inventories of raw materials and in the form of finished goods. Many OEMs have asked for deferment of payments and realizations from the replacement market have dried out.

It is heartening to note Government’s resolve to fight back with full might. Hon’ble Prime Minister has exhorted his cabinet that Government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and strategize for the emergent conditions. However, what is of greater significance is PM’s advice to lessen the country’s dependence on other nations and give a sincere push to 'Make in India' as a long-term strategy to immune the country from external trade shocks. He emphasized on boosting India's manufacturing and exports to benefit from emerging world realties.

Certainly, it is all the more important now to identify champion sectors where the country has much better bet of attaining the ideals of Make in India. These sectors will include the ones which have significant employment potential, have proven credentials in domestic manufacturing and exports, enjoy wide acclaim for quality worldwide and have the capacity to ramp up and become global leaders.

On all these counts, Tyre Industry in India has withstood the test very well over the years. It is unfortunate that Indian Tyre Industry has remained one of the less celebrated success stories on manufacturing landscape of India. The industry has not been adequately acclaimed for sterling achievements in areas such as exports, research & development and innovation. It is time that industry’s key contribution as wheels of nation’s economy gets adequately noticed.

For one, Tyre Industry is self-sufficient in India with indigenous capacities to manufacture practically all kinds of tyres from a moped tyre to mammoth off-the-road tyres. Not many countries in the world can boast of this capability.

Not only has the Tyre Industry worked for a self-reliant India ever since independence but has emerged as a major exporter with Indian manufactured tyres being exported to more than 100 countries in the world including the most discerning ones such as US and European countries. Exports of tyres from India are in the range of Rs 12000 crore per annum (nearly 20% of the industry revenue).

Job creation potential of the Tyre Industry is huge in view of a rich value chain extending from rubber planters to tyre mechanics. Industry supports over one million Natural Rubber (NR) planters since as much as 75% of the NR produced in the country is consumed in tyre manufacturing. Another million or so are engaged in tyre manufacturing, tyre retreading and those employed at tyre dealerships and tyre repair services across the length and breadth of the country.

Indian Tyre Industry is increasingly converging with the world in terms of practices, product quality and research & development. Today India has some of the finest radial tyre manufacturing facilities in the world. International vehicle majors (OEMs) have been rolling out leading brands in India on Indian made tyres underscoring the quality edge. The Indian Tyre Industry is emerging as a force to reckon with in the global manufacturing ecosystem. As many as four Indian tyre companies find a pride of place among the top 30 tyre companies in the world.

At a time when private investments have been hard to come by, Tyre Industry in India has continued to invest handsomely in capacity creation and technology. Ongoing and recently completed investments are to the extent of Rs 51000 crore which is unprecedented in the history of the industry.

There is little doubt that India is in the sweet spot as far as tyre manufacturing goes. Seasoned entrepreneurship, availability of skilled manpower, availability of NR plantations and products surpassing international quality benchmarks –are all the ingredients to make India a hub for tyre manufacturing in the world.

Tyre Industry deserves to be a shining example of Indian manufacturing (much like IT or Pharma in the respective sectors) in view of advancements in technology, contribution to Auto and Transport sectors, job creation potential and growth projections.

Currently, several countries in the world are looking to reduce their dependence on China for political, economic and strategic reasons. US and Japan are openly looking for alternatives to China to source products which offer quality and price competitiveness. And therein lies the opportunity of casting the net wider for exports of tyres from India.

However Indian Tyre Industry can leverage this opportunity and replace China in several key markets only if production and exports are provided a policy push by the Government and bottlenecks are removed. China enjoys huge economies of scale as far as tyre manufacturing is concerned. For instance China exports tyres worth US $15 bn in a year which is nearly double the size of Indian Tyre Industry. Actually China has provided large export incentives to its tyre companies since the manufacturing capacity in China is many times that of its domestic requirements. To insulate its companies from the vagaries of fluctuation in Natural Rubber prices and availability, China is maintaining large reserves of rubber as a state policy.

Corona outbreak can work to India's advantage as the quality of tyres produced in India has received worldwide acclaim. India can leverage this opportunity, if production and exports of tyres is given a strong fillip. That requires a support to the industry much in the same way that Chinese Government has been providing to its tyre companies.

India’s economic engine needs a lot of help from the Government to restart after the lockdown. However support to a champion sector like Tyre Industry which has already proven its credentials as employment and export revenue generator will pay dividends in multiples.

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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport EVO, incorporating ENLITEN Technology, secured the top position in the 2026 summer tyre test conducted by sport auto magazine. Evaluated in size 205/45R17 on a Mazda MX-5, it emerged as the clear leader among seven competing tyres. It was the sole tyre to earn the prestigious ‘outstanding’ rating, achieving 9.2 points for its overall performance.

The testers commended the Potenza Sport EVO for its remarkably balanced capabilities. They characterised it as a tyre combining high safety with an exhilarating driving experience, declaring it their definitive top choice. The evaluation noted the tyre's abundant grip and precise handling during challenging manoeuvres. The experts described it as a highly responsive tyre with substantial grip in reserve on both wet and dry roads while praising its fine controllability through load variations.

Its proficiency in wet conditions was a significant highlight, demonstrated by short braking distances, tenacious cornering grip and robust safety margins against aquaplaning. Developed from the multi-award-winning Potenza Sport, this new model elevates sports performance, wet control, durability and efficiency. Available from January 2026, the tyre ensures precise control at high velocities, preserving vehicle composure. It attains a top-tier EU label A-grade for wet grip, and compared to its predecessor, it reduces wet braking distances by five percent and dry braking by two percent.

These advancements are complemented by superior longevity, with a 15 percent mileage increase, translating to roughly 6,000 extra kilometres. Furthermore, it enhances fuel economy and boosts electric vehicle range through a rolling resistance reduction of up to six percent.

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DUNLOP has announced the launch of its BLUE RESPONSE TG, a new premium summer tyre developed for passenger cars and SUVs. Suitable for internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, the tyre will be available in 99 sizes spanning 15 to 21 inches, series 40-65 with H, V and W speed ratings. Production takes place at a state-of-the-art facility in Türkiye, with European market availability scheduled for March 2026.

This launch represents a significant shift for the brand in Europe. BLUE RESPONSE TG is the first DUNLOP product developed under Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) since it acquired the historic brand’s passenger car tyre rights in 2025. The tyre was engineered collaboratively by DUNLOP’s teams in Germany and Japan, drawing upon SRI’s established manufacturing and development capabilities.

The ‘TG’ designation stands for ‘Touring,’ underscoring the tyre’s ability to deliver long-distance comfort and efficiency while maintaining strong performance. A suite of new technologies ensures stability and control on both wet and dry roads. Impressive braking performance is a key feature, enhancing overall safety and driver confidence.

Central to the tyre’s capabilities is an intelligent three-zone rib design that efficiently channels water away from the contact patch. This promotes stability at higher speeds and unlocks reliable wet-weather grip during directional changes. A refined shoulder design features lateral grooves set at optimised angles. This enhances tread rigidity, reduces block deformation under load and ensures consistent force transfer when cornering and braking.

Durability is addressed through a new tread compound utilising longer, more resilient polymer chains. These resist abrasion and slow wear to extend mileage without compromising performance. To complete the package, a noise-reducing tread design links lateral grooves into continuous channels. This smooths airflow and dampens vibration, resulting in a noticeably quieter cabin environment and the composed, refined ride expected from the DUNLOP brand.

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The first Sprint weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season began in China with an intense schedule, starting with Sprint Qualifying on Friday. George Russell claimed pole position, finishing over two-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, with Lando Norris securing third. Russell received the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award from Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director. The prize includes a helmet decorated in the colours of the Chinese flag and a replica Pirelli P Zero Soft tyre, both personalised with the driver’s name and number.

Pirelli’s compound regulations shaped the qualifying format. In SQ1 and SQ2, drivers were required to use a set of medium tyres, with most completing two fast laps per segment. For the final SQ3 shootout, the top 10 switched to the soft compound. Russell’s pole time of 1:31.520 came on the red-walled P Zero Soft, less than seven-tenths slower than the 2025 sprint pole time of 1:30.849, set by Lewis Hamilton.

The F1 Academy also opened its season in Shanghai, with Alisha Palmowski setting the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying. She outpaced Alba Larsen and Emma Felbermayr ahead of the series’ two races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Marrafuschi said, “During Sprint race weekends, it’s always challenging for teams to fully assess tyre behaviour as they only have one hour of free practice. During this session, the teams used one set of medium tyres and one set of soft tyres, without carrying out any significant long runs. The hards were saved for the following days, and some teams may consider using them in their strategies for Sunday's race as early as tomorrow.

“The Sprint race, which is most likely to be run on Medium tyres, will certainly provide a clearer picture. The performance difference between the two compounds used on Friday is around six tenths. Interestingly, in the first two qualifying segments, the C3 was once again able to deliver maximum performance on the second push lap after completing a cooldown lap.

“Temperatures are cooler than last year; the track is still dirty and has less grip than we will see on Sunday as the track evolves. As happened last year and as expected, some graining appeared on the front-left tyre, which is the most stressed by Shanghai’s corners, and to a lesser extent on the front-right, although the impact on overall wear remains limited. On this circuit, teams tend to prioritise protecting the front axle, shifting the balance towards the rear as much as possible.”

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Nexen Tire has received a ‘Good’ overall rating for its N'Fera Sport model in the latest summer tyre test conducted by Auto Bild in March 2026. The assessment highlights the tyre's strong performance within the competitive Ultra-High-Performance segment.

Tested on a BMW 5 Series (G60) with size 245/45 R 19 tyres, the N'Fera Sport distinguished itself through exceptional braking capabilities, achieving the third-shortest stopping distance among 50 competitors in the qualification phase and demonstrating excellent safety margins on both wet and dry surfaces. The tyre further impressed with its precise steering response and reliable grip, even under challenging conditions. Its overall performance secured it the third-place position in the qualification round. Notably, the N'Fera Sport also excelled in acoustic comfort, ranking second out of 20 tyres for low noise generation.

These results underscore the model's blend of control, responsiveness and safety, making it suitable for both everyday driving and more dynamic scenarios. Nexen Tire views this recognition as a validation of its ongoing commitment to innovation, quality and the production of high-performance products designed to enhance the driving experience.

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