AZuR partner NEW LIFE initiative is set to host the inaugural Municipal Climate Dialogue on 22 April 2026, coinciding with International Earth Day. This free online forum, beginning at 10:00 a.m., is designed for municipal decision-makers to connect with experts and editors from the trade journal KOMMUNALWIRTSCHAFT. The event is structured around three focused 30-minute sessions, each dedicated to exploring proven strategies and concrete implementation methods for developing urban spaces that are both liveable and climate-friendly.

A central theme of this digital expert discussion is the critical role of sustainable building materials, with particular prominence given to high-quality recycled products derived from tyre rubber granulate. These solutions directly address the objectives of a climate-resilient city: reducing CO₂ emissions, minimising waste and conserving natural resources. Furthermore, the use of tyre rubber granulate obtained from end-of-life tyres aligns with the German Circular Economy Act (KrWG), which mandates public contracting authorities to prioritise recycled and durable materials. The dialogue will highlight how such products are instrumental in sustainable urban development.

Following a brief opening plenary, the event will feature three parallel 30-minute sessions, allowing participants to easily navigate between online rooms dedicated to distinct urban development topics. The morning begins at 10:10 a.m. with a focus on sustainable urban development, covering building protection through green roofs and photovoltaic systems, impact sound insulation for various construction types and vibration isolation. At 10:40 a.m., the discussion shifts to playgrounds, sports facilities and green spaces, addressing impact-absorbing flooring, playing field surfaces and green area reinforcement. The final session at 11:10 a.m. centres on transport and sustainable mobility, exploring traffic noise protection, recycled rubber asphalt for roads and traffic calming measures.

Products made from tyre rubber granulate offer municipalities a combination of ecological and economic advantages. Their use helps reactivate open spaces and reduce surface sealing, improving the urban climate through applications like water-permeable paving and rainwater-retaining green roof layers. These solutions are weather-resistant, slip-resistant and customisable while also providing long-term economic benefits due to their durability, low maintenance requirements and reduced need for repairs. Such high-quality recycled products are already being successfully implemented in urban development and municipal renovation projects nationwide.

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Michelin unveiled the MICHELIN X Multi T2 at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, presenting the trailer tyre in the widely used UK and Ireland size of 385/65 R22.5. Designed for regional and mixed transport operations, the tyre is engineered to manage heavy loads, resist lateral forces during manoeuvring and remain dependable across fluctuating operating conditions.

Compared with its predecessor, the X Multi T2 delivers as much as 15 percent greater mileage and up to 6 percent reduced rolling resistance. Its development centres on carcass stability and robustness, making it suited to demanding trailer duties spanning general cargo, containers, refrigerated goods, tankers and bulk haulage, along with car, specialised and heavy-haul transport. Such operations frequently involve peak loads, tight manoeuvring and inconsistent road surfaces, all of which affect tyre life, so a durable carcass and damage-resistant tread directly support cost-effectiveness.

Four principal innovations underpin the tyre. REGENION technology continuously forms new grooves as the tread wears, preserving grip and mobility throughout service life. The CARBION compound enhances mileage, rolling resistance and wear resistance. Within the structure, OPTICOIL is a weight-saving bead architecture, while DURACOIL strengthens the tyre-to-rim bond for greater stability. Michelin also employs POWERCOIL, a newer generation of lighter, longer-lasting steel cables.

As a multi-life product, the X Multi T2 can be regrooved and retreaded for notable total cost of ownership (TCO) savings. Regrooving takes place once tread depth reaches 3–4 mm, extending casing life in its most fuel-efficient state. Worn regrooved tyres can then be retreaded as Michelin Remix tyres at the company's Stoke factory, a process adding roughly 20 kg of raw materials versus about 70 kg for a new tyre. Retreads follow the local-to-local principle, being used exclusively within UK and Ireland, supporting skilled domestic jobs and avoiding export-related environmental impact. The tyre carries rolling resistance class B, wet grip class C and external noise class A under EU labelling, plus 3PMSF and M+S winter markings.

Andrew French, B2B Sales Director, Michelin UK & Ireland, said, “Alongside durability and versatility, Michelin recognises the growing pressure hauliers face to reduce rolling resistance, as trailers form an integral part of the total cost of ownership (TCO) equation. This is something our latest generation trailer tyre can help operators to achieve.”

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Goodyear Chile has reinforced its dedication to sustainability and the circular economy through programmes that encourage responsible handling of end-of-life tyres while supporting environmental protection across the country.

Beyond producing and selling tyres, the company ensures its discarded products are managed in an environmentally sound manner. These tyres are collected and treated at authorised recycling plants, where mechanical processes convert them into reusable materials suitable for new products and applications, in line with Chilean regulations for out-of-use tyres and the firm’s sustainability goals.

Goodyear Chile also continues working to meet requirements under Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility Law. It currently uses two management mechanisms tied to regulatory categories. For Category A, covering tyres with rims under 57 inches except those measuring 45, 49 and 51 inches, the company participates in NEUVOL, a collective nonprofit system focused on collecting and recovering end-of-life tyres. Together with NEUVOL, Goodyear Chile sends these tyres to Polambiente, a Santiago-based recycler specialising in mechanical recycling that turns them into raw materials and products for new uses.

For Category B, which includes tyres with rims of 45, 49 and 51 inches and wheels 57 inches or larger, Goodyear Chile has operated under a management plan approved by the Ministry of the Environment since 2022, becoming the first Category B tyre company to secure such authorisation in Chile. It has consistently met annual collection and recovery targets for 2023, 2024 and 2025. These tyres go to Rembre Tires in northern Chile, where granulation recovers 100 percent of the tyre, separating rubber and steel for various applications.

Goodyear Chile’s responsible tyre management predates the REP Law targets and reflects its broader effort to cut environmental and social impacts. For over 10 years, it has advanced recycling initiatives and maintained a zero-waste-to-landfill policy while continuing research into more sustainable materials, including alternative raw materials, to help Chile reduce waste and build a more sustainable future.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, wrapped up its support for the 12th round of the season. The WRC Rally Chile Biobío concluded on 13 September near Concepción, Chile, with Hankook’s off-road Dynapro R213 tyres proving central to the event.

The rally featured 16 special stages covering 311.18 competitive kilometres. Competitors tackled forest roads and rugged, unpaved mountain terrain around Concepción and the Biobío region, beside Chile’s Pacific coast. The route blended fast corners with compacted gravel made of volcanic ash particles and small stones, severely testing both drivers and tyres. Repeated runs over rough ground magnified the difficulty.

Hankook’s Dynapro R213 was available in Hard and Soft compounds, letting teams strategically select tyres for surface and weather conditions. The tyre offered flexibility on steep slopes and across varied ground, from soft earth to thick gravel. Oliver Solberg of Toyota GAZOO Racing claimed his second win of the season, following his Rallye Monte-Carlo triumph. The result also earned Toyota the 2026 Constructors’ Championship, its sixth straight since 2021 and tenth overall.

The 2026 WRC season now moves to the 13th round, WRC Rally Italia Sardegna, scheduled for 1–4 October near Alghero, Sardinia. That event combines demanding coastal and interior mountain roads, with tight corners and blind crests that restrict forward visibility, placing high demands on tyre traction and durability.

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Bridgestone has unveiled the V-Steel Highway Service 3 (VHS3), a new high-speed radial tyre engineered for mobile all-terrain cranes. As a global leader in premium tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, the company designed the product to enhance vehicle and fleet performance. The VHS3 delivers improved wear life while helping reduce downtime and maintenance costs, enabling operators to perform confidently in demanding environments.

Compared with its predecessor, the VHS2, the new tyre offers up to 12 percent longer wear life. Bridgestone achieved this through an advanced rubber compound technology and an optimised contact area that minimises irregular wear. A new tread design featuring wide grooves and extended lug blocks further combines longer wear life with improved grip and stability on highways and off-road terrain.

The VHS3 is also 24 kg lighter than the VHS2, assisting fleets in reducing fuel consumption and operational costs while maintaining durability and improving load capacity. This results from a lighter casing design with a lighter belt construction. Bridgestone's new crane tyre will be available from September 2026 in size 445/95R25 178F.

Bas Rijpma, Fleet Manager, Sarens Netherlands, said, "In our business, reliability, uptime and efficiency are critical. Bridgestone has been a trusted partner to Sarens for more than a decade. As the next generation crane tyre, the VHS3 is already delivering very promising results. We have observed no irregular wear, the robustness we require for demanding heavy transport operations and favourable fuel efficiency potential thanks to its lighter weight. Combined with the TPMS solution, which gives us real-time insight into tyre pressure and temperature, the VHS3 helps us optimise tyre performance and minimise downtime. Together with low noise levels, it gives us confidence that Bridgestone VHS3 is setting a new standard for crane tyre performance."

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