How do you view the changes happening in tyre retailing, the way it goes more and more digital?

This is the inevitable outcome of the internet and the ease it provides for researching tyre types, performance attributes, pricing and communicating with a tyre store. The Covid-19 pandemic has fast-forwarded consumer use and acceptance of online purchasing and communication with retailers, in general, so I think this will occur with tyre retailing. In the U.S., it is estimated that traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are seeing more than 15% of tyre revenues coming from online sales. This is likely to grow, although the majority of replacement tyres likely will continue to be sold and serviced in the more traditional manner of customers interacting with the tyre store directly. Tyre retailers will have to offer both online and in-store operations to be able to service all tyre customers. 

How do you see retailing strategies changing in the changing business environment? 

I think convenience will be the buzzword going forward. Thanks to the growth of general online sales, consumers are becoming accustomed to purchasing products and services via the Internet and having products delivered directly to their homes. This also applies to tyre sales and service. Tyre dealers will need to have an effective website that includes information on various tyres and brands, tyre pricing and the ability to make an appointment. Tyre consumers also will come to expect periodic updates via texts as their vehicles are being serviced. Customers choosing to sit in the waiting room while new tyres are installed or serviced will want to be able to connect to the shop’s Wi-Fi to do work or surf the Internet. The waiting room will need to be clean and inviting. In addition, there likely will be growth in mobile tyre retailing and service, where the tyre shop comes to customer, either at home or work. Why? For convenience.

How is TIA involved in this sector as an industry organisation?

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) serves the tyre retailing sector primarily in two ways. It offers certified tyre service training to tyre technicians and serves as a watchdog for tyre dealers concerning local, state and federal legislation that could negatively impact their businesses. Safety is the watchword when it comes to training, both for the technician as well as the vehicle owner. Over the past two decades, TIA has trained more than 200,000 tyre technicians worldwide on the proper ways to mount, demount and service all types of tyres. Through this, TIA training has helped raise the professionalism of the tyre service operation by teaching technicians the proper ways to service tyres. This in turn has helped make the driving public safer.

Through its Government Affairs efforts, TIA focuses on representing the interests of tyre retailers and the tyre industry in tyre-related legislative issues that could negatively impact the industry and the driving public. Each year, the association monitors scores of proposed bills and legislation and weighs in to fight for the best interests of the industry and tyre retailers.

The association also offers various member benefits that help tyre dealers reduce costs and better run their businesses. 

What is your take on online retailing? What are its advantages as well as disadvantages?

Online retailing is here to stay and will continue to grow. The advantages are obvious. It allows tyre customers to make tyre service appointments any time day or night, to research products, do comparison shopping all without leaving their own home. There is a lot of upside to online retailing. The tyre dealer gains from online retailing because it generates business in a sense automatically and helps in tracking sales and inventory. But there are downsides, as well.

Today, many tyre makers have begun selling tyres direct to consumers via the Internet, bypassing the dealers and using them only as installers. This has upset many dealers, as they lose out on the tyre sale and only generate revenue via the installation charge. Thus, it is crucial for tyre dealers to have their own online tyre operation, in addition to their brick-and-mortar stores, so when consumers are searching the Internet to purchase a tyre, the tyre dealership can not only make the tyre sale online but also schedule the installation. In addition, savvy dealers will use the opportunity to turn that installation customer into their own tyre and service customer in the future. 

Another downside to online retailing is it is more difficult for dealers to build a personal relationship with the customer. One of the strengths of the independent tyre shop is the development of personal relationships and trust with customers. This customer loyalty has served tyre dealers well for over 100 years and kept the independent tyre dealer as the No. 1 channel for the purchase of replacement tyres in the U.S. I don’t see that changing dramatically. Tyres are a major purchase for most consumers and most vehicle owners don’t understand these products. They rely on their trusted independent tyre dealer to guide them in selecting the right tyre at the right price. Online retailing makes developing and retaining that personal relationship more difficult, but I expect the entrepreneurial spirit of tyre dealers to find a way to overcome this issue. 

What is your take on tyre manufacturers doing their own retailing? 

There is nothing wrong with tyre manufacturers operating their own retail tyre store chains. Many do, although this does put them into a competitive situation with their own independent tyre dealer customers. Independent tyre retailers are used to various types of competitors, from tyre company stores, to auto dealerships, to mass merchandisers, to auto service shops and oil change outfits that sell tyres. Now they are contending with online tyre sellers. Historically, independent tyre stores have overcome their competitors through their deep knowledge of the tyre business, their business savvy, their close relationships with customers and ability to evolve and make decisions quickly. I don’t see this changing, even with the growth in online tyre retailing. (TT)

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has confirmed its participation as a cooperation partner for the tyre material flow for an interactive event on the Digital Product Passport (DPP), scheduled for 16 June 2026 at the Bottrop campus of Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences. With the European Union planning to introduce DPP from 2028, the initiative aims to establish greater transparency, resource conservation and functional material cycles. The upcoming gathering will focus on practical applications and future prospects for industry, trade, recycling and the circular economy.

The European Union has classified tyres as a priority product group under the new Ecodesign Regulation. The digital passport will provide accessible data on a tyre’s entire lifecycle, including material composition, carbon dioxide emissions, repair history, retreading suitability and recycling methods, potentially via QR codes or radio-frequency identification technology on the tyre itself.

Significant potential exists for the tyre recycling sector. Retreaders will be able to quickly assess casing history, mileage and past repairs to determine suitability for retreading. Recyclers will gain improved material transparency regarding ingredients, additives and recycled content, thereby facilitating both mechanical and chemical recycling. Thus, the passport can support longer tyre use and more efficient recovery of valuable raw materials.

AZuR views DPP as a key step towards advancing the tyre circular economy. Several manufacturers are already working on pilot projects, including Michelin’s coordination of a scalable system through the CIRPASS-2 project, standardisation efforts by Bridgestone and Michelin via the Global Data Service Organisation and AZuR partners’ work on radio-frequency identification and digital traceability. The upcoming university event offers companies, researchers and municipalities an early opportunity to address the passport’s requirements and develop practical solutions.

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Continental marked a major milestone on 22 May 2026 during opening ceremonies for the second expansion phase of its Rayong plant in Thailand. The development includes growth for the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division and the start of radial production for motorcycle tyres.

The Rayong motorcycle tyre facility operates with fully in-house manufacturing, from rubber compounds to finished products, using modern equipment. All processes adhere to Continental’s global quality and control standards, enabling production of both radial and diagonal tyres with capacity for future expansion. A high degree of automation and automatic monitoring systems eliminate manual errors while maintaining strict quality checks at every step.

Continental’s Rayong production serves diverse riding styles, including sport-touring and adventure touring segments, with popular radial and diagonal tyre models already in production. In March 2026, the plant received IATF certification, meeting international automotive standards that guarantee continuous quality processes and supply reliability for original-equipment customers.

The expansion also reflects Continental’s sustainability commitment, with solar energy supplying about 13 percent of the plant’s electricity needs. Additionally, the project has created new jobs, strengthening the regional economy.

Christoph Ettenhuber, Head of Business Field Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “By expanding our facility in Thailand, we are strategically strengthening our global production structure for Continental Motorcycle Tires. Together with our established operations in our Korbach plant in Germany, we are laying the groundwork for a faster, more flexible response to market demands. Rayong is a key component of our international motorcycle tyre strategy and underscores our clear commitment to growth and state-of-the-art production processes. For our customers, this means premium quality made by Continental – no matter which continent they’re on or which roads they travel."

Sahil Agrawal, Head of Manufacturing Operations in Rayong, said, “Quality is our top priority – for our original equipment customers as well as for end consumers. Our system captures every detail: all tyres are fully traceable at every production step. Online monitoring systems such as automatic scales, profilometers and camera systems ensure that every component is within specification limits. Automation – from the green tyre spray system to automatic tool management – enables us to achieve maximum quality levels while creating an ergonomic and safe working environment.”

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Bridgestone Corporation has once again been selected as a constituent of several globally recognised environmental, social and governance (ESG) indexes, including the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index, the FTSE4Good Index Series, the MSCI Selection Indexes, the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index, the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index, the MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index and the MSCI Japan Equity ESG Select Leaders Index.

The Japanese tyre giant’s continued inclusion in these rankings serves as a concrete and objective embodiment of its corporate mission to serve society with superior quality. Company leadership views the ability to sustain such ESG initiatives over many years as a distinct organisational strength.

Regarding the Dow Jones indexes, Bridgestone has been selected for the Best-in-Class World Index for four consecutive years since 2022, which recognises the top 10 percent of sustainability leaders among 2,500 major global companies. The firm has also maintained a place in the Best-in-Class Asia Pacific Index for 16 straight years since 2010.

In the FTSE Russell assessments, Bridgestone has achieved eight consecutive years of selection for the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2018, alongside the same duration for the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index. The company has also been included in the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for five consecutive years since 2021. For MSCI, Bridgestone has secured three straight years of selection for the MSCI Selection Indexes since 2023 while receiving the highest AAA rating in the MSCI ESG Ratings for three consecutive years.

The company has additionally earned high marks from the international non-profit CDP, receiving an A minus rating in both Climate Change and Water Security for 2025, marking six consecutive years at the leadership level. Bridgestone also obtained an A rating in the Supplier Engagement Rating for the seventh time. Key initiatives behind these recognitions include the expansion of its sustainability business model towards carbon neutrality and a circular economy, actions supporting nature positive goals such as sustainable natural rubber and water resource management, a comprehensive due diligence system based on Plan-Do-Check-Act cycles for human rights and environmental risk and global policy execution guidelines.

Bridgestone places sustainability at the core of its management, aiming to implement and evolve its unique business model across the entire value chain from production and use to renewal and raw materials. These efforts link business operations directly to the realisation of carbon neutrality, a circular economy and a nature positive world.

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Tegeta Green Planet and Shine Energy, both affiliated with Tegeta Holding, have launched a joint educational initiative to raise environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility among young people. The project addresses modern challenges such as environmental protection and sustainable development.

Company representatives are visiting schools across Tbilisi to hold informational meetings, presentations and workshops. The programme begins with presentations, followed by interactive games and activities designed to help students retain the information. At the end of each session, participants receive symbolic gifts and prizes as motivation.

Tegeta Green Planet focuses on teaching students the principles of specific waste management, including how to properly handle used tyres, batteries and oils. The sessions explain why proper waste management is essential for environmental protection and how it connects to the circular economy. Meanwhile, Shine Energy educates young people on the importance of energy, its everyday use and why developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is crucial.

The initiative is not limited to schools. In the near future, both organisations will expand their efforts to universities, aiming to broaden awareness about environmental protection, waste management and energy efficiency. The ultimate goal is to foster environmentally responsible attitudes among the younger generation, helping build a more sustainable and conscious society.

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