Hankook Tire has partnered with DriverReviews, a platform for verified tyre reviews of current models in the UK, to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

The reviews provided by the consumers will be verified and published on the tyre maker’s UK website, making it the first tyre maker in the UK to do so. Hankook Tire currently has over 5,000 product reviews on its website.

Zoe Baldwin, Marketing and Communications Manager of Hankook Tyre UK, said, “As reviews have become a very important force in online consumer decision making, it seemed a natural progression to provide genuine reviews of our products on our website. This will enable consumers to make an informed choice when selecting their tyre brand. We have partnered with DriverReviews to ensure consumers are confident in their choice of Hankook tyres before purchasing. As the reviews are requested at three intervals of ownership, after 3 months, 12 months, and 18-24 months, consumers can provide the most accurate, honest opinions across the product’s lifecycle.”

Adam Butcher, Head of Product at DriverReviews, said, “We are very pleased to announce our partnership with Hankook – one of the fastest-growing and leading premium tyre makers in the world. Thousands of customers have already used DriverReviews to review and voice their opinion on Hankook’s wide range of high-quality and high-performance products, and it is exciting that our partnership will enable Hankook to syndicate these reviews into their marketing communications. It’s an important step for DriverReviews to collaborate with partners such as Hankook to ensure that more customers are given the opportunity to read genuine authentic tyre reviews to guide their future purchases and help them make the right choice in a sometimes-complicated customer experience.”

Although DriverReviews is currently only integrated into the UK website, Hankook plans to roll out across more countries in 2022. (TT)

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The British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (BTMA) has secured a one-year mandate to represent Europe’s national tyre trade bodies on the Tyres Europe Board of Directors. The decision was made during the first meeting of the newly created National Associations Leadership Council, a body intended to improve coordination between national and European industry representatives.

The Council includes associations from UK, Spain, Italy, France, Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. It will serve as a platform for exchanging views on sector-wide issues, identifying matters of broader European significance and feeding national perspectives into Tyres Europe’s discussions.

As the Council’s chosen representative, BTMA Chief Executive Darren Lindsey will relay shared priorities to the Board and report back on relevant outcomes. For BTMA members, this offers earlier and more detailed insight into European-level discussions, plus a direct route to raise UK concerns on trade, enforcement, end-of-life tyres and product regulation in Brussels alongside eight other national markets.

Lindsey said, “This is a genuine step forward for the national associations, and the BTMA is grateful for the confidence its European colleagues have shown in asking us to hold the seat. Our job over the next year is a simple one to describe and a demanding one to do well: to make sure the Board hears not just the UK view, but the common thread running through nine national markets and to bring back what we learn so that every association benefits. Members need to understand the associations they belong to and the value those associations create, and where that picture is changing it should be discussed at Tyres Europe level as part of our collective strategic thinking, not in isolation. That culture of open exchange is what this Council exists to build.”

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General, Tyres Europe, said, “The Leadership Council strengthens the mutually beneficial exchange of information between Tyres Europe and the national associations. National insights can better inform discussions at European level, while associations gain a clearer view of relevant EU developments. This closer two-way exchange will support more coordinated and effective representation of the sector.”

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Blackcircles.com has become a member of the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), deepening its engagement with the UK tyre trade. The NTDA represents businesses spanning retail, wholesale, distribution, mobile fitting, manufacturing, retreading and recycling, along with the broader automotive aftercare sector.

The move marks a further step in Blackcircles.com’s efforts to forge closer industry relationships and help shape conversations about the sector’s direction. Membership offers a chance to share its digital tyre retail expertise with the wider trade while drawing insight from companies active in different parts of the market.

Since its 2001 launch, Blackcircles.com has changed how motorists purchase tyres, merging online ordering with a nationwide network of independent fitting partners. As UK’s leading online tyre retailer, it now links customers to a broad selection of tyres and fitting choices.

NTDA involvement will support greater participation in discussions on industry standards, professional development, regulation and tyre safety. Blackcircles.com has long valued fitters and independent garages, and the membership reinforces that connection as the trade confronts evolving vehicle technology, electric vehicle growth, sustainability pressures and shifting customer expectations.

Michael O’Connor, Chief Operations Officer, Blackcircles.com, said, “Joining the NTDA is an important step for Blackcircles.com and reflects our commitment to playing an active role in the wider UK tyre industry. Our business brings together the convenience of digital retail with the expertise of tyre professionals across the country, and we’re looking forward to working more closely with the NTDA and its members to share knowledge, strengthen relationships and support high standards across the sector.”

John Paterson, Head of Network, Blackcircles.com, said, “One of the real strengths of the NTDA is its ability to bring together businesses from across the tyre industry and give the sector a collective voice. As customer expectations, vehicle technology and the way people buy tyres continue to evolve, that collaboration becomes increasingly valuable. We’re excited to work alongside the NTDA and its members, sharing our experience in digital tyre retail while contributing to the conversations that will help shape the future of the industry.”

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Maxam Tire has introduced the MT152 Rubber Track, a new product featuring an enhanced Z-Lug design. This track is engineered to provide exceptional traction, durability and extended service life for compact track loaders operating in demanding environments.

Building on the proven performance of traditional Z-Lug rubber tracks, the MT152 combines aggressive traction with increased tread depth and a larger footprint. This design improves wear life without sacrificing performance. It is intended for construction, site preparation and general earthmoving applications, excelling in loose ground conditions while offering the stability and durability contractors rely on daily.

The MT152 features a heavy-duty carcass for enhanced machine stability and long-lasting structural integrity under demanding workloads. Its stepped tread pattern improves self-cleaning by allowing mud and debris to expel more efficiently, maintaining consistent traction throughout the workday. A cut and tear-resistant tread compound further boosts durability in harsh conditions, while the increased tread depth and optimized net-to-gross ratio deliver longer tread life and greater overall value.

Matt Fagan, Director – Research & Development, Maxam Tire, said, “The MT152 was developed to give equipment owners aggressive traction and the durability they need to maximise uptime. By enhancing the traditional Z-Lug design with a deeper tread, larger footprint and reinforced carcass construction, we’ve created a rubber track that delivers outstanding performance, extended wear life and dependable operation across a wide range of challenging jobsite conditions.”

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Birla Carbon will use its presence at RubberTech China 2026 to demonstrate how its operations across Asia, including China, are being scaled up to meet demand from both regional and international customers. The manufacturer of high-quality carbon materials will exhibit at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from 15 to 17 September 2026 at Booth No. W5B467.

Growth in manufacturing capacity and geographic reach underpins the company's push for greater supply reliability, responsiveness and consistency. Thailand's Rayong facility and an additional high-output Indian plant both commence operations this year. Across key Asian markets, these additions bolster dependable volume availability, sharpen the company's ability to react swiftly to changing customer demands and shorten delivery timelines by operating nearer to buyers.

A broad solutions portfolio awaits exhibition attendees. Engineered materials for mechanical rubber goods (MRG) deliver enhanced hose durability, superior belting abrasion resistance and reliable performance in anti-vibration and sealing systems. Tyre-focused carbon black grades extend product lifespan while improving fuel and energy efficiency, with Euro 7-inspired and EV-designed options covering PCR, LT and TBR applications. Low PAH grades hold certification for skin-contact and export markets, functioning as drop-in ASTM replacements. Continua SCB and SCM products permit elevated recycled and bio-based content as drop-in substitutes for conventional ASTM grades, assisting customers in advancing circularity goals without sacrificing performance.

Amit Kumar, President, Asia, Birla Carbon, said, “The Asia region is increasingly viewed as a manufacturing hub for the world, with China playing a central role in the growth of high-value MRG and tyre markets.  This is making performance, supply reliability and sustainability more critical than ever for the region. At Birla Carbon, we are strengthening our regional material capacity and footprint to be closer to our customers and respond more effectively to their evolving needs. With expanded capacity and innovative solutions spanning MRG, tyres, including Euro 7-inspired and EV-designed performance materials low PAH applications, and sustainable offerings, we are well positioned to help customers enhance product performance, build more resilient supply chains and advance their sustainability goals.”

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