Hankook Tire announced today that it will be sponsoring and supplying tyres exclusively for Brazil's motorsport competition, Stock Car Pro Series. This will be in addition to the Stock Series access category and the BRB Formula 4 Brazil, accredited by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The tyre manufacturing company states that this reflects the company's ongoing commitment to Latin America and the global automotive culture. Created in 1979, the Stock Car Pro Series is a public and audience phenomenon, with transmission to more than 100 countries.

As an official supplier and partner of Vicar, promoter of the Stock Car Pro Series, Stock Series and Formula 4 Brazil categories, Hankook Tire claims that it will exclusively equip Stock cars with Hankook Ventus F200 and Hankook Z207 tyres. As a high-tech slick tyre for dry runs, the Ventus F200 offers optimised directional performance, including excellent durability and grip. For use on wet surfaces, the Ventus Z207 effectively prevents aquaplaning, promoting directional stabilisation, as well as offering maximised drainage performance, according to Hankook Tire.

Sharing his thoughts, Alex Inho Choi, President of Hankook Tire Latin America SA, said, “Our participation in the Stock Car Pro Series Brazil has a special meaning because we understand what this category means to motorsport fans in Brazil, as well as in the Latin American region. Through this sponsorship, we hope to help nurture the motorsport culture in the region and also use it as a platform to demonstrate the excellence in performance and reliability of our tyres."

Sharing his views, Fernando Julianelli, CEO of Vicar, category promoter, said, “We are very happy with this partnership, since Hankook, in addition to being the main tyre manufacturer in the world, is recognised for the quality of its competition products in several top categories of international motorsport. Another key point is that this partnership goes beyond the tracks. Our chain of stores, Stock Auto Service, is a strong player in the automotive tyre retailer and Hankook will also be a protagonist in our network through this new partnership."

Adding to this, Fabio Aires, CEO, Stock Auto Service, said, “The arrival of Hankook proves the business and sales potential that the synergy between the largest category in Brazil and our network of stores provide. It is an unprecedented business model in the country and a perfect link to the concepts of sportiness, technology and quality that the entire industry seeks to emphasise through motorsport.”

Hankook Tire currently supplies racing tyres to over 70 global motorsports competitions/teams around the world, dedicated to expanding the culture of the sport.

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

Sentury Tire USA has opened pre-enrolment for its two associate dealer programmes (ADPs), the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program and the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program, underscoring the company’s commitment to rewarding dedication and partnership to the Landsail and Delinte brands.

The ADPs, which are customised for each brand and intended to encourage dealers, will formally start on 1 June 2025. Both programmes give dealers access to special benefits, incentives and strong tools to help them expand their businesses. This involves dependable customer service, effective marketing and worthwhile financial incentives to promote dealers' success at every stage.

Beginning in Q3, dealers may earn up to USD three per tyre through the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program. Dealers can receive retroactive benefits for purchases completed in Q2 if they register before 1 June. The awards are available for all Delinte PTR, LTR and the new DV3 LMD AS last-mile delivery tyres. For all Landsail PTR and LTR tyres, independent dealers that sign up for the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program can also earn up to USD three per tyre. For customers who sign up by June 1, the new LMD 100 AS last-mile delivery is also eligible for the benefits and will get the same early bird incentive for Q2 2025.

No initial order is necessary. Dealers only need to register to begin making money. According to the monthly programme rewards structure, 48 tyre purchases each month are eligible for a reward of USD one per tyre, 120 tyres are eligible for a reward of USD two per tyre and 240 or more tyres are eligible for a reward of USD three per tyre.

ENSO, a London-based tyre manufacturer engaged in the production of sustainable tyres specially designed for electric vehicles (EVs), has launched its new ENSO Premium range of EV-specific ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres aimed at drivers of high-performance EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Specifically designed for electric passenger vehicles, the ENSO Premium range comes with A/A EU-label ratings for both energy efficiency and wet grip. The tyres are designed to provide safety, increased range and a reduced total cost of ownership. Conventional tyre designs frequently fall short of the special performance needs of electric vehicles, which include greater vehicle weight, regenerative braking and higher torque loads. By lowering tyre wear and rolling resistance, ENSO Premium takes care of these issues.

The company is an authorised provider of replacement tyres for LEVC's electric taxis and has partnered with Uber to install its tyres in high-mileage metropolitan areas. The company now plans to grow throughout Europe and North America, and with ENSO Premium, it is now offering its services to individual EV owners throughout the United Kingdom. According to ENSO, the range offers advantages including longer tyre life and fewer replacements, lower energy usage, fewer charging stops and lower CO₂ emissions and tyre particle pollution.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO and Co-Founder, ENSO, said, “We’re plugging a long-standing gap in the tyre market by offering EV drivers a purpose-built, affordable, premium EV tyre alternative that matches the innovation of their EV.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has announced a general price hike in North America for its SBS, SIS and HSBC product lines with effect from 1 May 2025.

Following a careful analysis of the effects of recently implemented tariffs, related cost increases and a conclusion that the company cannot independently absorb these repercussions, Kraton is adopting these pricing hikes, according to a company statement. The company further said that it will keep an eye on the scene and reassess these measures promptly in the event that conditions and US import tariffs alter.