Nova Motorsport has completed the inaugural track tests of the Nova ZZXC, the British brand's first fully original competition tyre. Designed and manufactured in-house for Cross Car competition, it marks a significant milestone in the company's transition from reviving proven Avon Motorsport products to creating its own competition tyres. It also extends Nova Motorsport's mixed-surface range, which already covers Rallycross and Autocross.

Development followed the company's ‘listen, design, test and deliver ‘approach. After consulting Cross Car competitors, Nova Motorsport's engineers produced separate front and rear tread designs for loose and mixed surfaces in wet and dry conditions. The asymmetrical rear tyre pairs larger outer shoulder blocks for durability with a more open inner pattern for traction, and can be mounted on either side. This allows competitors to carry one spare rear tyre instead of separate left- and right-sided versions. Pressure adjustments alter the tyre's profile, with lower pressures creating a flatter shape for dry conditions and higher pressures producing a more crowned form for wet and muddy surfaces. At the front, an arrow-shaped central block and larger side blocks manage loading and wear during aggressive steering and cornering.

The first comprehensive evaluation took place at Circuit Parc de la Serra in Mollerussa, Spain, with three-time FIA European Cross Car Champion David Méat. The programme examined start-line traction, acceleration, braking, steering response, cornering and durability while benchmarking against established competitors. Champion driver Olivier Barré provided further validation at Circuit Nicolas Klein in Is-sur-Tille, France, during Round 6 of the French Autocross and Sprint Car Championship, topping the time sheets in the Super Sprint category.

The crossply Nova ZZXC will be available in front and rear sizes with soft and medium compounds for wet and dry mixed-surface competition. It will be presented at Lohéac, France, from 28–30 August 2026, during one of Europe's largest rallycross weekends, with Nova Motorsport showcasing it from its on-site support unit alongside service partner Sodipneu.

Philip Carder, Product Category Manager, Nova Motorsport, said, “The Nova ZZXC is the first tyre that Nova Motorsport has taken through the complete development process, from understanding what competitors need and creating the initial design, through engineering, manufacture, track testing and, very soon, production.”

David Méat, three-time FIA European Cross Car Champion, said, “Testing on such a demanding circuit and in extreme conditions gave the Nova ZZXC nowhere to hide. It was a proper test from the first run, and I was impressed by the way the tyre responded.”

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Tegeta Green Planet recently took part in a two-day Circular Economy Hackathon at Senaki Tech Park, an initiative funded by the Georgia Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA). The gathering sought to connect the circular economy and waste management fields with technological innovation, with organisers working to pinpoint urgent industry challenges and craft workable technological solutions, prototypes and business models in response.

For Tegeta Green Planet, an Extended Producer Responsibility organisation, pursuing such technological routes matters greatly, since effective waste handling, resource reuse and the real-world application of circular economy principles call for up-to-date, intelligent technological methods and flexible systems. Team members contributed by joining a panel discussion, guiding participants through the project development stage, and finally choosing their preferred team.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has joined forces with Mat MacDonald, the West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, in a bid to raise greater awareness of how tyres contribute to keeping road users safe. The collaboration draws on TyreSafe’s longstanding expertise in tyre safety education alongside MacDonald’s broader road safety remit.

MacDonald, the UK’s first Road Safety Commissioner, works with partners across the West Midlands to improve road safety and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads. His wider background includes experience as an NHS doctor supporting victims of road collisions and a previous role as chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, a group established to campaign for safer and better connected public spaces in the city.

TyreSafe maintains that tyre safety must form an integral part of this work. Tyres are a vehicle’s only point of contact with the road, playing a critical role in braking, steering and grip, yet condition, pressure and tread depth can be overlooked by drivers, increasing the risk of collisions and breakdowns. Through the collaboration, both parties aim to reinforce the importance of tyre safety as part of a wider commitment to safer journeys and preventing avoidable harm.

The charity is encouraging every road user to follow its ACT approach, which covers air pressure, condition and tread. Drivers are advised to check pressures regularly in line with manufacturer recommendations, look for cuts, cracks, bulges, embedded objects and uneven wear, and ensure tread depth is legal and suited to the vehicle. Such checks should form part of routine maintenance, with professional advice sought if concerns arise. TyreSafe continues to promote practical steps through work with road safety organisations, emergency services, industry partners and public bodies.

MacDonald said, “Traffic collisions can change lives in an instant on our roads, wiping out futures and leaving behind unimaginable trauma for witnesses and survivors. Safe vehicles are one of the key pillars of the system we’re trying to create, in which no-one is killed or seriously injured as they travel. That’s why I’m so proud to be supporting TyreSafe’s work in this area, raising awareness of the risks associated with illegal or poorly maintained tyres and encouraging road users to take practical steps to ensure their vehicles are safe and roadworthy. Checking your tyres before you drive is a small act, but there’s no doubt it could prevent your journey from ending in a devastating tragedy.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to be working with Mat MacDonald to strengthen the focus on tyre safety as a fundamental part of road safety. Tyres are often overlooked, despite being critical to a vehicle’s ability to brake, steer and maintain grip. Our aim is to make tyre safety an everyday consideration for every road user, rather than something people think about only when a problem arises. Partnerships are essential to reaching more people with clear, practical advice that can help change behaviour and reduce risk. By working together, we can reinforce the message that checking your tyres takes only a few minutes, but those checks could make all the difference.”

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FALKEN, a tyre brand under Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, has renewed its partnership with the International Handball Federation (IHF), extending its sponsorship to cover both the 2027 and 2029 IHF Men’s Handball World Championships. The agreement was brokered by SPORTFIVE, the IHF’s exclusive commercial agency for worldwide media and marketing rights through 2031.

The renewed deal continues a cooperation that began with the 2019 World Championship and persisted through the 2023 and 2025 tournaments. FALKEN served as official event partner for the 29th edition in 2025, gaining visibility through LED advertising boards and goal-area signage that reached millions of fans globally and reinforced its standing as a sporty upper mid-range tyre provider.

Shared values of precision, performance, reliability and the pursuit of excellence underpin the collaboration, qualities the brand describes as essential both on the handball court and on the road. The extension signals FALKEN’s commitment to international handball as a communications platform.

The 30th IHF Men’s World Championship will be held in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027 across Munich, Stuttgart, Magdeburg, Kiel, Hannover and Cologne under the motto ‘Where Handball is Alive’. Through 2029, FALKEN aims to build long-term, authentic sporting partnerships and bring its brand values to a global audience.

Dr Hassan Moustafa, President, International Handball Federation (IHF), said, “I am pleased to confirm the continuation of our partnership with FALKEN for the IHF Men’s World Championships in 2027 and 2029. FALKEN has been part of our tournament for several years, and the extension of this partnership underlines our shared commitment to performance and excellence, values that define both our sport and the FALKEN brand. I would like to thank FALKEN for its continued trust in the IHF and in the Men’s World Championship and look forward to welcoming the brand back to our courts in Germany and again in France and Germany for the upcoming tournaments.”

Markus Bögner, Managing Director and President, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “Our shared values, the successful partnerships of previous years and the FALKEN brand’s deep roots in sport provide a strong foundation to continue our commitment. We are delighted to partner with the IHF Men’s Handball World Championships in 2027 and 2029 and look forward to the excitement and entertainment it brings fans. The extension of our partnership with the IHF enables us to further expand our presence on a global stage and connect with millions of enthusiasts all around the world.”

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Kumho Tire USA has marked a successful return to off-road racing in the 2026 season, with its three sponsored drivers securing multiple class podium finishes. Mark Duval, Stephen ‘Woody’ Rose Jr and Eric Wikle all competed on KUMHO Road Venture MT71 mud-terrain tyres, which are engineered for the varied terrain and harsh conditions of competitive off-road courses.

Duval, driving the #4810 entry, claimed the 4800 Class title in the Valley Off Road Racing Association Season Championship after winning all four events in the series. He completed the campaign without a single puncture on his KUMHO tyres. Rose, in the #22 vehicle, earned the Ultra4 Western Regional Series Championship in the 4800 Class, recording one victory and two fourth-place finishes across four demanding races.

Eric Wikle, piloting the #406 entry, took first place in the Rock800 Legends class at the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race. He navigated the rigorous 505-mile Nevada desert course, which was run in reverse for the first time in the event's history, with racers competing for the quickest time from Reno to Las Vegas.

The Road Venture MT71 features increased block stiffness for enhanced on- and off-road handling, a high-void tread pattern with a zig-zag and dual-pitch design for maximum off-road traction and mud and stone ejector bars between the shoulder lugs to prevent damage and aid self-cleaning. The drivers' results demonstrate Kumho Tire's commitment to high performance and durability across its Road Venture light truck and SUV tyre range.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, “We are extremely proud of the success of our drivers this season, which is a testament to the strength and performance of our Road Venture MT71 tyres. Key product insights gathered from these races will be integrated into the next generation of all-terrain tyres to ensure that racing-grade innovations reach everyday drivers.”

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