Hankook Tyre UK at the London to Brighton EV Rally finish line 2025. L-R: Zoe Baldwin (Marketing Manager), Neil Barrett (EV Lead & Key Account Manager), Lucy Stanton (Marketing Specialist), Ben Francis (PCR Sales Manager), Natasha Ramos Smyth (Marketing Specialist) and James Young (UK National Account Manager).

Hankook Tyre UK has confirmed it will continue as a key partner for the 2026 London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally, building on the success of the 2025 event. The premium tyre manufacturer reaffirmed its dedication to innovation, sustainability and the future of electric mobility. Scheduled for 20 June 2026, the rally will again bring together industry leaders, electric vehicle enthusiasts and the public for a major celebration of electric transport.

The event will commence in Westminster, with an electric vehicle convoy travelling through central London before finishing along Brighton’s seafront. More than 100 vehicles will take part, with drivers challenged to complete the route using minimal energy. This format highlights the critical importance of efficiency in advancing sustainable mobility. Upon arrival in Brighton, up to 35,000 spectators are expected to welcome participants at the seafront e-village.

Hankook will showcase its iON range, the world’s first complete tyre lineup developed specifically for electric vehicles. The company will also serve as the official sponsor of the awards ceremony, a highly anticipated after-party at the Malmaison, bringing together industry figures and participants for an evening celebrating energy efficiency and EV innovation. The event programme includes an electric stunt show, live music, interactive experiences and test drive opportunities.

Hankook’s iON range includes the iON evo for summer, the iON i*cept for winter, the all-weather iON FlexClimate and the iON GT for compact EVs, all available for SUVs. These tyres feature reduced rolling resistance, low noise levels and high load‑bearing capacity to handle instant torque and increased vehicle weight, thereby extending driving range and comfort. As the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Hankook will also display a Formula E car and its racing tyre at its stand.

Harrison Hughes, Director of the London to Brighton EV Rally, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Hankook Tyre UK back as a key partner of the London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally. Their continued support plays an important role in helping us deliver and grow the event year on year, and we’re especially pleased to have them sponsoring the evening awards, which are a real highlight of the event.”

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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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