Hankook Tire, the official tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), concluded its participation in the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya, which took place in Naivasha, Kenya, with the event wrapping up on 15 March 2026. The challenging terrain of the Kenyan savanna provided a rigorous test for Hankook’s specialised equipment. Throughout the rally, the company provided its Dynapro R213 tyre, engineered specifically for severe off-road conditions. This extreme all-terrain tyre was available in Hard and Soft compounds and featured a robust casing structure alongside an optimised tread design. These characteristics ensured reliable grip and accurate steering response despite the demands of high-speed rallying.

A key development was the introduction of an upgraded soft gravel tyre at this event. It delivered superior traction on wet and slippery sections while retaining its structural integrity amidst the unpredictable conditions. The rally unfolded across the rugged landscapes of Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, where competitors faced sharp rocks, deep sand and treacherous fesh-fesh dust. Fluctuating weather further compounded the difficulty, making consistent tyre performance critical for drivers to reach the finish line. Ultimately, Toyota Gazoo Racing's Takamoto Katsuta emerged victorious after four gruelling days, reinforcing the event's reputation as one of the season's most demanding.

Looking ahead, the championship moves to Europe for its fourth round, the WRC Croatia Rally 2026, scheduled from 9 to 12 April 2026 along the Adriatic coast. Returning to the WRC calendar after being part of the European Championship in 2025, the rally has generated significant interest with its redesigned route that navigates both coastal and mountainous terrain. For this event, Hankook will supply its Ventus Z215 and Z210 tyres, high-performance tarmac compounds designed to meet the rigorous demands of the course. These tyres have previously proven their effectiveness in similar environments, such as during the 2025 Rally Islas Canarias, where coastal and mountainous stages demanded exceptional vehicle control and tyre resilience.

Since taking over as the exclusive tyre supplier for all WRC classes in 2025, Hankook has leveraged data from its involvement in over 70 global motorsport championships. The company applies these race-proven insights to advance its ultra-high-performance tyre technology, continually reinforcing its leadership in the field.

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Bulloch County, Georgia, is testing an innovative road foundation method that extends pavement life, lowers upkeep costs and reuses large volumes of scrap tyres. This pilot project is upgrading one of the county’s busiest dirt roads, Five Chop Road near Statesboro, with support from a state environmental grant.

The county partnered with Liberty Tire Recycling and Century Road Solutions to install mechanical concrete on a 0.58-mile (approximately 0.93 km) stretch. Funding comes from a USD 250,000 Tire Products Grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Mechanical concrete locks stone gravel into place using recycled tyre components. Scrap tyres are processed into honeycomb-like structures, laid along the roadbed and filled with aggregate, preventing shifting, erosion and potholes.

The surface remains flat with minimal upkeep. The technology has over 15 years of proven use on industrial and mining roads without follow up repairs. An estimated 200,000 recycled tyres have been reused in Georgia through this process. Reduced grading and resurfacing needs lower long-term costs. Bulloch County estimates paving one mile (approximately 1.61 km) of asphalt costs USD 1 million, whereas mechanical concrete can improve nearly two miles (approximately 3.22 km) for the same price.

County leaders will monitor durability before expanding use. A partnership with Georgia Southern University’s asphalt programme is being explored to independently study long-term performance. With 638 miles (approximately 1026.76 km) of dirt roads countywide, even modest maintenance savings would be substantial. If the technology proves effective, it will continue.

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Hankook Tyre Australia successfully participated as the official tyre supplier for the 2026 Bathurst 6 Hour, held from 3 to 5 April at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit. This role reinforced the company’s dedication to advanced tyre technology and high-performance motorsport. The primary endurance race took place on 5 April, lasting six demanding hours.

To support the event, Hankook Tyre Australia deployed its sophisticated motorsport tyre technology, specifically the Ventus TD semi-slick competition tyre. Engineered for rigorous track driving, this tyre provides exceptional dry grip, steady handling and improved longevity over long race stints. Its design focuses on durability, heat management and even load distribution for consistent wear.

The 2026 edition marked the 10th running of the Bathurst 6 Hour, featuring 69 cars across various classes. The challenging 6.2-kilometre Mount Panorama Circuit, with its high-speed sections, technical turns and steep elevation changes, solidified this event as Australia’s top production car endurance race.

The race itself was highly competitive and fluid, featuring numerous lead changes and tactical battles throughout the six hours. Victory went to Supercars driver Thomas Randle alongside Ben and Michael Kavich after a tight contest resolved only in the closing laps. In this demanding environment, the Ventus TD proved critical, offering stable grip and predictable handling over long stints to optimise race strategy, while its compound and tread design minimised wear and supported balanced load distribution under varying track conditions.

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Trelleborg Tires will exhibit at Intermodal South America 2026 from 14 to 16 April at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, Brazil, showcasing the XP1000 tyre for high-intensity material handling. The company will be at booth M023 and within the Smart Intralogistics area, reinforcing tyres’ role in automation and process optimisation. This presence highlights Trelleborg as a strategic partner where tyre solutions ensure stability and efficiency in data-driven operations.

Used on forklifts in warehouses, ports and industrial sites, the XP1000 delivers stability, durability and consistent performance to reduce interruptions. Its Pit Stop Line visual wear indicator signals replacement up to 100 hours in advance, enabling accurate maintenance and reducing unplanned downtime. Produced at the Feira de Santana plant in Brazil for domestic and South American markets, production rose 57.5 percent between 2024 and 2025, reflecting strong demand.

The tread design combines lightweight construction with recycled fibre compound, while the Pit Stop Line minimises waste, ensuring performance, material savings and lower environmental impact. Logistics operations are transforming through automation, electric fleets and data-driven management, key themes at Intermodal. In this context, tires directly impact operational stability and safety.

The Smart Intralogistics area focuses on automation and efficiency within warehouses and industrial facilities. Within this environment, the XP1000 helps reduce bottlenecks and maximise productivity. Trelleborg Tires is the only tyre manufacturer in this area, reinforcing tyre solutions as integral to modern intralogistics systems.

Marcelo Natalini, President, Yokohama TWS South America, said, "The modernisation of logistics operations requires components capable of keeping pace with the sector’s increasing demands for productivity and efficiency. Tyres play a key role in this context, directly contributing to operational reliability and continuity."

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Pirelli has introduced a new development rear tyre for the Dutch Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the iconic TT Circuit Assen. Designated F0298, this soft compound option is engineered to improve stability and deliver greater performance consistency over race distance. It joins the existing DIABLO Superbike rear range alongside the supersoft SCX, the soft SC0 and the medium SC1. The SCX is reserved for practice sessions, qualifying and the Superpole Race, while the SC0 and SC1 serve as the soft and medium race alternatives.

For the front axle at Assen, riders can choose between the soft SC1 and the medium SC2. Given the high likelihood of rain in the Netherlands during this season, Pirelli also provides wet weather solutions including the DIABLO Wet intermediate tyres and the DIABLO Rain full wets. In the WorldSSP class for its third round, the standard front tyre options are the SC1 and SC2, while the rear uses SCX and SC0 compounds.

Also returning to the track during the Dutch weekend are the World Sportbike Championship riders and the women of the WorldWCR series. Both championships use SC1 tyres on both axles, with a 120/70 front and 180/60 rear specification. This completes the tyre allocation across all classes competing at Assen.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, said, " With the 2026 WorldSBK Pirelli Dutch Round, the Championship arrives at the TT Circuit Assen, one of the most iconic tracks in world motorcycling. Both fast and technical, Assen features a mix of low-, medium- and high-speed corners, as well as often variable weather conditions, which over the years have played a decisive role in race outcomes.

“For the third round, confirming a continuous development effort aimed at improving both single-lap performance and further increasing consistency over race distance, Pirelli is providing teams and riders with a new development soft rear solution, the F0298. This tyre could represent a valid alternative to the standard SC0, with the goal of improving stability while ensuring a high level of consistency in race conditions.

“Taking into account the characteristics of the circuit and potentially low temperatures, our choice for qualifying and the Superpole Race has fallen on the supersoft SCX, which until last season was known as the development tyre E0126 and has become part of the standard range this year. For the same reason, as an alternative to the standard and development soft options, riders will also be able to rely on the medium SC1 rear in case of cold conditions.”

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