Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company reported a marked improvement in fourth-quarter profitability, as restructuring benefits and favourable pricing offset weaker demand and persistent cost pressures across global tyre markets.

The US-based group said fourth-quarter net sales were USD 4.9 billion, slightly lower than a year earlier, while tyre unit volumes fell to 42.3  million. Net income rose to USD 105 million, or USD 0.36 a share, compared with USD 73 million, or USD 0.25 a share, in the same period last year. Adjusted net income was USD 113 million, marginally ahead of the prior year, with adjusted earnings per share of USD 0.39.

The company said the quarter delivered its highest segment operating income and margin in more than seven years, reflecting progress under its Goodyear Forward transformation programme.

“We delivered another strong quarter, driven by execution of our Goodyear Forward plan,” said Mark Stewart, Chief Executive and President. “While we continue to face challenging industry conditions in the first quarter, we are operating with greater focus and discipline on the elements within our control.”

Total segment operating income in the quarter rose to USD 416 million, from USD 382 million a year earlier. On an organic basis, excluding the impact of divestitures, segment operating income increased 18 percent, supported by restructuring benefits of USD 192 million and favourable price and mix compared with raw material costs. These gains were partly offset by inflation, tariffs and other cost pressures, as well as lower volumes.

Goodyear Forward has now generated USD 1.25 billion of cumulative segment operating income benefits since its launch, exceeding the programme’s original commitment by about USD 150 million. By the end of 2025, the company had reached a USD 1.5 billion run-rate over the two-year programme.

During 2025, Goodyear also generated USD 2.3 billion from divestitures and other asset sales, including the disposal of its chemical and off-the-road tyre businesses and the Dunlop brand. The company said the proceeds were used primarily to reduce debt, exceeding its asset sale target by about USD 300 million.

For the full year, Goodyear reported net sales of USD 18.3 billion, with tyre unit volumes of 158.7m. The company recorded a net loss of USD 1.7 billion, or USD 5.99 a share, compared with net income of USD 46m a year earlier. The loss reflected several significant non-cash items, including a USD 1.5 billion deferred tax asset valuation allowance and a USD 674 million goodwill impairment charge. Adjusted net income for the year was USD 136 million, down from USD 278 million in 2024, with adjusted earnings per share of USD 0.47.

Segment operating income for the year totalled USD 1.1 billion, down from USD 1.3 billion a year earlier. Excluding divested businesses, segment operating income declined by USD 170m, reflecting lower volumes amid continued weakness in the commercial tyre market and tariff-related pressures. These effects were partly offset by restructuring benefits of USD 772 million and modest gains from price and mix.

Regional performance remained mixed. In the Americas, fourth-quarter net sales slipped slightly as volumes declined, reflecting high channel inventories of imported tyres and weaker original equipment production. Europe, the Middle East and Africa recorded higher sales, supported by pricing and currency effects, with original equipment volumes rising sharply. Asia-Pacific results declined, largely due to the sale of the off-the-road tyre business, although underlying margins improved once divestment effects were excluded.

Looking ahead, management said industry conditions were expected to remain difficult in the near term, particularly in the commercial segment. The company said it would continue to focus on cost control, pricing discipline and execution of its transformation plan to navigate the current environment.

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Kuraray America, Inc. marked National STEM Day on 8 November by spotlighting a community educational event that brought together 15 of its volunteers and students from the Houston Japanese Supplementary School at San Jacinto College for a day of hands-on exploration and discovery.

Participants engaged in activities illustrating how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) converge in chemical manufacturing. Experiments with superabsorbent polymer beads explored chemistry and material properties, while a tour of the college’s facilities introduced industrial equipment. Students also learned about water filtration and distillation processes and how mathematical concepts underpin scientific and engineering applications.

One student showed particular interest in the distillation tower, linking the experience to the Kuraray Group’s contributions to everyday life and its mission of achieving for people and the planet what no one else can. The event also benefited KAI volunteers, who shared technical knowledge, exchanged perspectives and learned alongside potential future scientists and engineers.

Kuraray America thanked Reiko Fuwa and Tomohiro Tani for coordinating the visit, Hans Vandommele for sharing his expertise and all 15 KAI volunteers. The company also expressed appreciation to San Jacinto College for facility access and to the Houston Japanese Supplementary School students for their curiosity, enthusiasm and thoughtful questions.

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Liberty Tire Recycling attended the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, held from 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The automotive aftermarket event, one of the industry's largest, drew over 160,000 attendees from the automotive, tyre and transportation sectors to review new products, technologies and business opportunities.

The Lakin Tire brand, a consistent SEMA exhibitor, once again used the show to reinforce industry relationships and present Liberty's tyre collection, recycling and sustainable resource management capabilities. Personnel from Grade/Used Tires, Commercial Truck Tires, Metals, Recycling and Collection, together with corporate and regional leadership, met customers, suppliers and industry professionals from around the world.

The booth received existing and prospective customers from numerous tyre and automotive segments during the week. Costco Wholesale Corporate Office, United Tires and UTU Wholesale were among the organisations that stopped by to examine Liberty Tire's products, services and nationwide reach. The company viewed the event as an effective forum for monitoring emerging market trends and demonstrating its position in recycling and sustainability, alongside its focus on innovation, workforce development and circular economy principles.

A memorable moment came when a high school shop teacher and students, attending through a special educator programme, toured the booth to learn about tyre recycling and industry operations. Liberty team members provided industry insights, outlined career pathways and acknowledged educators' contribution to developing future skilled trades professionals, supplying tyre inflation gauges for classroom use.

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Laufenn, Hankook's associate brand, earned a ‘Good’ ratingwith an overall score of 2.2 for its G Fit 4S in the Auto Bild Allrad all-season SUV tyre test published on 8 October 2026 (issue 41). The tyre competed credibly against 11 rivals from established premium marques, finishing competitively in a 12-strong field.

Wet handling proved a particular strength, with the G Fit 4S collecting the second-highest rating shared with other models. Aquaplaning resistance also impressed, as the tyre held its line until stability began to fade at roughly 100 kmph (62 mph). In snow, it recorded the third-shortest braking distance, matching two other contenders.

Testing spanned snow, wet and dry disciplines, each weighted equally in the final ranking, with a third-generation MINI Countryman serving as the test vehicle. Snow assessments were carried out in New Zealand, while European venues hosted the wet and dry evaluations. The jury's conclusion underscored Laufenn's value-focused positioning, finding the G Fit 4S a solid option for cost-conscious buyers.

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Tyres Europe has underscored that tyres qualify as fully recyclable under ISO 22628:2002 and UN Regulation No. 133, describing the established methodology as a robust foundation for assessing tyre recyclability. The organisation recently set out its position on the matter.

The distinction between recyclability and actual recycling rates is central to the group's argument. Recyclability refers to the technical potential of a product and its materials to be recycled, while the real rate hinges on treatment capacity and demand for secondary raw materials. Regulatory frameworks should therefore separate the two concepts clearly and align with an internationally recognised standard.

Tyres consist of rubber compounds, chemical additives and reinforcing textile and steel cords, and at end of life they are separated into rubber, textile and steel fractions, all of which existing mechanical or chemical routes can recycle. Mechanical processing yields rubber granules and powders usable as secondary raw materials across many applications, recovered textiles can be further processed and valorised, and cleaned recovered steel can re-enter metal recycling and steelmaking.

Tyres Europe pledged continued cooperation with policymakers and value-chain partners to strengthen circularity and maximise recovery of valuable tyre materials in Europe, with the full paper available on its website.

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