Michelin has maintained its position as the world’s most valuable tyre brand for the seventh consecutive year, according to new data from Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. The French brand’s value remained stable at $7.9 billion year-on-year despite facing challenges, including declining road transportation sales and reduced replacement market sales.

 Michelin also retained its title as the world’s strongest tyre brand, achieving a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 85.6 out of 100. While there was a 2.5-point decline in BSI, primarily due to lower-than-expected revenue forecasts, Brand Finance research indicates that Michelin excels in brand familiarity and customer recommendation. Additionally, Michelin commands the highest price acceptance in its home market.

 Bridgestone and Continental secured the second and third positions in the ranking, respectively, with 8 percent and 13 percent brand value increases. Bridgestone’s brand value rose to $7.6 billion, narrowing the gap to Michelin’s to just $254 million. Like all major tyre manufacturers, Bridgestone faced challenges due to increasing raw material prices and inflation. However, the company’s robust measures, including flexible supply management, contributed to a five percent year-on-year revenue increase.

With a brand value of $4.7 billion, Continental improved its BSI score by 3.2 points to 79.1 out of 100, driven by stronger scores in familiarity, consideration, and reputation.

Alex Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance Asia, said, “In a landscape where global tyre giants face challenges, the success of Chinese brands shines brightly. Their remarkable growth amid adversity underscores the resilience and dynamism of the Chinese tyre industry. With innovative approaches and a focus on sustainability, Giti emerges as the fastest-growing brand, buoyed by robust performance in China. Meanwhile, Linglong Tire, Sentury Tire, and Sailun are expanding their global footprint, leveraging cost-effectiveness to secure significant market share. As inflation grips traditional markets, the ascent of these Chinese brands heralds a new era of competition and opportunity in the global tyre market.”

 Giti emerged as the fastest-growing tyre brand this year, with a staggering 19 percent increase in brand value to $924 million, ranking ninth overall. This significant growth is supported by solid revenue growth forecasts, particularly in the Chinese market. Giti also saw a 6.3-point increase in its BSI score.

 Brand Finance’s research revealed Giti’s particularly strong performance in China, its largest market. Giti received a very high recommendation score in China, reflecting high customer satisfaction. Additionally, the brand achieved significant market recognition and acceptance, as evidenced by exceptionally high familiarity and consideration scores.

 Other Chinese tyre brands also witnessed notable brand value growth, including Sailun (up 10 percent to $ 801 million), Linglong Tire (up 11 percent to $ 799 million), and Sentury Tire (up 17 percent to $ 377 million). This growth is attributed to substantial overseas demand and a prosperous year for the Chinese tyre industry in 2023, marked by expanding overseas operations, high domestic demand, and favourable conditions for industry development. Notably, exports to South America increased by 33 percent.

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Pirelli has expanded its premium Cross Country mountain bike tyre line with the introduction of the SCORPION XC RH. This new model, entirely manufactured in Italy at the company's Milan-Bollate facility using FSC-certified natural rubber, is engineered for the highest levels of competitive racing where minimizing rolling resistance is the paramount concern.

Designed for hardpack and compact terrain, the SCORPION XC RH aims to deliver record-level rolling efficiency without sacrificing control. Its performance stems from a synergistic combination of a specialised tread design and a bespoke RACE XC compound. The tread pattern features a wide, continuous central band with low-profile, tightly spaced knobs to maximize speed and smoothness. For confident cornering, a key weakness in many fast-rolling tyres, the RH incorporates aggressive shoulder knobs directly derived from the SCORPION XC RC model. This differentiated profile ensures stability on straightaways and provides exceptional traction through technical turns.

The custom-formulated RACE XC compound is the product of Pirelli’s technical expertise, bridging motorsport and cycling. Developed specifically for the RH model, this compound is calibrated to offer ultra-fast rolling performance coupled with essential chemical grip, which is critical for maintaining control on mixed surfaces and when riding at the limit. Internal laboratory testing confirms that the SCORPION XC RH is the fastest model in Pirelli's entire Made-in-Italy cross-country range, demonstrating a more than forty percent improvement in rolling speed over the previous RC model.

This new Racing Hardpack tyre has already been proven under race conditions by Pirelli’s partner teams, including Alpecin-Deceuninck and Trek Factory Racing, in events such as the Les Gets World Cup and the World Championships. Notably, Samuele Porro of the Klimatiza Orbea team rode the SCORPION XC RH to a Vice World Champion title at the 2025 Marathon World Championships.

The SCORPION XC RH is available to consumers in a 29x2.4 size, offering a choice between the standard LITE casing and the redesigned ProWALL casing, which features reinforced sidewalls for enhanced protection and stability. The tyres are now available at leading bicycle retailers and online, complete with graphics in both standard and Team Edition versions.

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Nokian Tyres has been named an Official Sponsor for the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, connecting its brand with a premier winter sports spectacle. The sponsorship covers the upcoming tournaments in Switzerland and Germany, which captivate a global audience of millions.

According to Tiina Frazer, VP of Brand, Marketing and Communications at Nokian Tyres, the partnership is a natural alignment. She notes that ice hockey is a sport defined by extreme conditions, where success hinges on control, precision, and grip. This directly parallels the core mission of Nokian Tyres, which is to engineer products that provide drivers with reliable safety and confident performance on the road, regardless of the weather. The collaboration reinforces the company's dedication to excellence in demanding environments.

Frazer said, “We’re proud to support an event that brings together millions of passionate hockey fans – whether they’re cheering at the ice rink or following the excitement from their screens. It’s a privilege to be part of the special moments viewers enjoy around the globe, especially as awareness of our heritage as inventor of the winter tyre is growing globally. We are looking forward to our partnership and wish all the teams and players success for the upcoming tournament.”

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The World Brand Lab unveiled its ‘Asia's 500 Most Influential Brands’ list at the Asia Brand Congress in Hong Kong on 24 September 2025, featuring both Kumho Tires and Doublestar Tires for their significant brand impact.

Kumho Tires achieved a comprehensive ranking of 209th, rising six places from the previous year and positioning it as the second-highest ranked tyre brand. Meanwhile, Doublestar Tires climbed five spots to 305th overall, earning the distinction of being the top-ranked brand within China's domestic tyre industry.

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Michelin North America, Inc. is enhancing retailer access to its bicycle tyres through a new distribution partnership with J&B Importers, effective 1 October 2025. With this development, retailers will be able to order Michelin products directly through J&B Importers, starting with an initial selection of popular models.

A major expansion of the tyre lineup is scheduled for 1 January 2026, which will introduce a comprehensive portfolio. This collaboration is designed for a seamless integration, providing efficient access to Michelin's premium range. The 2026 expansion will include a wide array of new SKUs, encompassing tyres for road, mountain, gravel and city cycling to meet diverse market demands.

Justin Brock, Vice President – Sales, Recreational Products, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Partnering with J&B Importers, Inc. allows us to better serve independent bike dealers with faster access to Michelin’s trusted tyre technologies. This is a key step in expanding our footprint and supporting the cycling community with products that deliver performance and durability.”

Phil Sweet, General Manager, J&B Importers, Inc., said, “We’re proud to welcome Michelin to our distribution portfolio. Michelin is a globally respected brand known for innovation and performance. This partnership allows us to offer our dealers access to premium bicycle tyres backed by a legacy of excellence, and we’re excited to grow the assortment in the months ahead.”

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