Hankook Tire played its role as the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to perfection at the series’ recent visit to Saudi Arabia for a double-header event under the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The company’s Hankook iON Race tyre was put to the test across two nights of intense racing, where driver precision and tyre durability were critical factors. In the first of the two rounds, Pascal Wehrlein of the Porsche Formula E Team claimed victory by combining consistent speed with clever positioning on the fast and challenging street circuit. The following evening, António Félix Da Costa of Jaguar TCS Racing took the win in a race that demanded careful attention to both energy consumption and tyre preservation until the very end.

The Jeddah circuit, measuring just over three kilometres and featuring 19 turns, is designed to complement Formula E’s unique braking and energy recovery systems. It offers a mix of long straights and demanding technical sections that place significant stress on tyres. Throughout both races, the Hankook iON Race tyre demonstrated its ability to maintain strong grip under heavy loads while managing heat effectively and supporting low rolling resistance. These characteristics are vital in a championship where tyre behaviour directly influences energy strategy and overall race outcomes.

In the days following the races, Formula E hosted its EVO Sessions 2 programme, inviting a group of international digital creators to experience the GEN3 Evo race car on the same circuit. The initiative, which first launched after last year’s Miami E-Prix, has generated substantial online engagement and provided additional visibility for Hankook’s tyre technology. Participants including Khaby Lame and Behzinga took part in driving sessions, while others assumed team principal roles for the event. The Hankook iON Race once again proved its capability by delivering strong traction and stability during these high-speed demonstrations.

Looking ahead, the championship will resume in Madrid on 21 March 2026 with a race at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama. This more compact and technically demanding permanent track will present a fresh challenge, with Hankook’s iON Race tyre continuing to serve as the foundation for competitive and sustainable racing.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director, Hankook Motorsport, said, “Jeddah under the lights produced two demanding races with their own strategic patterns. Across both rounds, the iON Race demonstrated stable and consistent performance in conditions where track behaviour and tyre temperatures evolved through each session. Such tyre predictability is essential in helping teams execute their strategies on such a fast and technically complex circuit, and the data gathered here will feed directly into our ongoing iON development programme.”

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NEXEN TIRE is strengthening its presence in the global replacement tyre market by introducing the N’BLUE S, a high-performance summer tyre, to emerging markets across Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Following a successful rollout in Europe, this expansion targets Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia and Australia. These regions are ideal for summer tyres due to their consistently warm climates and minimal seasonal variation, aligning perfectly with the product’s design.

The N’BLUE S features an optimised contact patch structure that lowers rolling resistance, enhancing fuel efficiency and handling. Its multifunctional compound includes evenly dispersed materials that improve wet grip, ensuring stable and safe driving on rain-soaked roads. Each tyre also bears NEXEN TIRE’s EV ROOT mark, indicating it is engineered for exceptional performance across internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. As electrification accelerates globally, this versatility allows the company to serve a broader customer base with a single product line.

The tyre’s capabilities are already proven through both European replacement sales and original equipment partnerships. It has been supplied for models including the Hyundai Casper EV, Kia Niro and PV5. Building on this established credibility with automakers, NEXEN TIRE aims to deepen consumer engagement by expanding availability in the replacement market, supporting long-term growth and revenue diversification.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “The N’BLUE S represents a key strategic model for the company, upgrading its existing summer lineup while extending OE-proven technology into the replacement market. To reinforce our global revenue base, we plan to gradually expand our presence in regions with stable year-round demand for summer tyres.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Company has confirmed its tyre plant in Salem, Virginia, will permanently cease operations with effect from 18 March 2026. This decision follows consultations with the labour union, resulting in an earlier closure than anticipated. Initially, production was to be scaled back in March with a potential shutdown in July, but negotiations accelerated the timeline. The company has held discussions with suppliers and customers, assuring that the closure will not cause supply chain interruptions. Yokohama Tire Corporation, the company's US subsidiary, has coordinated these efforts. For the approximately 570 affected employees, Yokohama is providing outplacement support in cooperation with local agencies and the union.

The Salem facility began operating in the 1960s and has been part of Yokohama since the Mohawk Rubber Company acquisition in 1989. The closure stems from challenges posed by ageing equipment and outdated methods, which hinder meeting production goals focused on high-value-added premium tyres, including ADVAN and GEOLANDAR brands, winter tyres and those sized 18 inches and larger. The company aims to strengthen output and sales of these products.

This move aligns with Yokohama Transformation 2026, the medium-term plan running from 2024 to 2026. The strategy emphasises maximising premium tyre sales while optimising production systems across the group to ensure sustainable profitability and long-term growth. The Salem plant closure directly reflects these efforts.

Despite the shutdown, United States remains one of the most important markets for Yokohama. Since establishing its US sales subsidiary in 1969, the company has expanded its production and sales network through proactive efforts. Yokohama is committed to adapting to global shifts, promoting sustainable business expansion and contributing to the US economy and society. The company continues to respond to changes in the global business environment.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has issued a reminder that underinflated tyres can lead to higher fuel consumption, a concern that is especially relevant given the current geopolitical pressures on global energy markets. With pump prices beginning to climb again across the UK, motorists are being encouraged to carry out basic vehicle maintenance as a way to improve fuel efficiency.

This week, motoring organisations including the RAC and AA have urged drivers to adopt efficient driving habits and ensure their tyres are properly inflated to mitigate the impact of rising costs. Recent RAC Fuel Watch data reveals a significant increase at the pumps, with petrol climbing by approximately 4.68p per litre and diesel rising by around 8.59p per litre in just over a week, coinciding with escalating tensions in the Middle East.

According to TyreSafe, checking tyre pressures at least once a month and before longer trips is essential. Drivers should refer to the manufacturer’s recommended levels, typically listed in the vehicle handbook or on a sticker inside the driver’s door frame or fuel cap.

Many motorists may not realise that driving on underinflated tyres could be silently increasing their fuel bills. Research from The Motor Ombudsman indicates that more than half of all tyres on UK roads may be running below the ideal pressure. This increases rolling resistance, meaning the engine has to work harder to maintain normal speeds.

Even a modest drop in pressure can have an effect. A 10 percent reduction can raise fuel consumption by about two percent, adding unnecessary costs. Safety is also compromised, as a 20 percent decrease can impair handling and grip, heightening the risk of incidents. With costs rising again, a simple tyre check can support both road safety and household budgets.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “When fuel prices rise, drivers naturally look for ways to make their fuel last longer. One of the simplest things they can do is check their tyre pressures regularly. Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means the vehicle has to work harder and burn more fuel just to move forward. It may seem like a small issue, but over time it can quietly add to the cost of every journey. More importantly, tyres that are not inflated correctly can reduce grip, handling and overall vehicle stability. Keeping tyres at the correct pressure isn’t just about saving fuel – it’s a critical part of staying safe on the road.”

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Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has inaugurated The Gambia’s inaugural tyre recycling plant, a pioneering step forward in the nation's efforts to combat environmental degradation and manage waste. As per a report by The Point, this landmark facility, established with financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is engineered to process end-of-life tyres into reusable materials, directly confronting a long-standing waste issue that has seen discarded tyres obstruct waterways and blight communities for years.

During the inauguration, representatives from KMC highlighted the council's dedication to forward-thinking solutions, ecological responsibility and local advancement. The project was presented as a testament to the effective synergy between local governance and international cooperation in achieving significant environmental progress. The new plant is anticipated to yield substantial advantages, including mitigating pollution and enhancing urban cleanliness from an environmental perspective, while simultaneously unlocking economic potential through the creation of valuable resources from waste.

This, in turn, could stimulate local enterprise and generate employment. Officials characterised the venture as emblematic of a shared resolve to foster a cleaner and more resilient nation. By establishing this recycling facility, KMC has positioned itself at the vanguard of ecological innovation within the country, establishing a benchmark for future sustainable initiatives across The Gambia.

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