The benefits of this are multiple. First of all, they don’t need to offer the full range of sizes to stake their claim as a racing tyre manufacturer. And I need to stress I’m talking about road car racing, not F1 racers, as those tyres are basically rocket science at this point. Many Chinese factories seem to have launched their racing tyre range for a very specific purpose, as they only have a few sizes, and sometimes very odd ones. For example, I saw a factory with just three different sizes for their racing tyre pattern, and one of them was 255/55R18. Just in case you want to rock your BMW X5 on the racing track, maybe? I can’t help but giggle at the image of drifting SUVs. Secondly, they don’t even need to be very good at it, or to be able to make very innovative products. It’s much easier to develop a product for a very specific purpose and just make it ‘good enough’, without engaging in the top five percent where all the heavy investment and R&D is needed to churn out those milliseconds that make all the difference for the top performers. Actually, when catering to the segment that just wants to burn tyres – drifters, for example – the usually all-important grip factor suddenly becomes negligible. And offering a budget option is attractive to those burning tyres on their own bill.

Design wise also racing tyres are very different from regular car tyres, in that they’re basically slicks with a flashy looking single lightning groove from close to the centre to the edge. Hard to make that design truly unique, but that also means that nobody can be blamed when designing something a bit too similar to something already on the market. Function before looks in this case, I’m sure. And in terms of rubber compounds, there are usually two or three different ones, depending on specific client needs, and they’re made to order. The hardest compounds are naturally for the drifters, and the softer ones for track racing.

But, in spite of the designs being simple, compounds not challenging to make, and the fact that the size range doesn’t need to be extensive, launching a racing tyre range still somehow reflects positively on all the regular passenger car tyres in the manufacturer’s range. As if the fact that they can design and produce tyres for high-performance racing machines also means that their standard range offers better handling or on-road performance to vehicles run by weekend warriors or others who might drive a station wagon, but really are race car drivers at heart.

That is, of course, if the Chinese budget manufacturers used this in their global marketing strategy – and in most cases, had one to begin with. The days where Chinese tyres could be sold on price alone are over, as output has far exceeded demand, but it’s striking to see how few have actually invested in their future market shares. For the layman, trying to name five major Chinese tyre manufacturers (or any of their brands) would be a tall order. Trying to name any that produce racing tyres would be even harder. Even for those inside the industry, very few know how many produce racing tyres or other specialised tyre products, because they often produce for a single client and don’t use this in active marketing. And no, a ‘sales manager’ posting a picture on LinkedIn doesn’t count. The brands and tyre manufacturers in China that will prevail are those able to build a global marketing strategy and naturally possess the skills to stay at the front of product development and gradually move out of the ultra-budget segment. The rest will learn the hardship of selling cheap tyres on price alone when China isn’t cheap anymore. (TT)

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Apollo Tyres Ltd is broadening its cycling portfolio with a new all-season, high-performance option: the Vredestein Superpasso Pro 4S. Engineered for competitive cyclists, this tyre is designed to provide reliable speed and handling throughout the year, regardless of weather or road conditions. It will be available across Europe from 1 March 2026 in four different width sizes to accommodate various road bikes.

Developed at the company's European Global R&D Centre, the tyre builds upon the existing Superpasso Pro platform. It aims to merge the low rolling resistance and responsiveness of a summer performance tyre with the enhanced grip, durability and puncture resistance necessary for consistent year-round use. A key innovation is the proprietary ‘TriComp’ technology, which utilises multiple rubber compounds. A harder, reinforced centre section promotes efficiency and longevity, while softer shoulder compounds deliver superior traction and stability when cornering, even on wet or uneven surfaces.

Further contributing to its all-season capability is an optimised tread pattern. This design efficiently channels water away and maximizses the tyre's contact patch with the road, ensuring predictable handling. Underneath this tread, a 120 TPI casing and a reinforced breaker layer work in tandem to bolster puncture protection and overall resilience. Additionally, the model incorporates ‘Active Control Technology’, featuring a unique bridged centre structure. This construction method reduces overall weight and enhances the direct feedback transmitted to the rider, resulting in a more agile and connected riding experience.

Nic Knippers, Divisional Head – Vredestein Two Wheel Tyres, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “Following the success of the new-generation Superpasso Pro, we saw a clear opportunity to create an all-season variant that would allow competitive and enthusiast riders stay on the bike longer, regardless of the weather. The Superpasso Pro 4S achieves exactly that, faithfully transmitting rider power and steering inputs to all surfaces, year-round.”

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Polymer Alumni Welfare Association (PAWA), in association with Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) and Dr D Banerjee Centre of Excellence (DBCOE), Mysuru and with the support of Department of Polymer Technology at Karnataka (Govt) Polytechnic, Mangaluru, is jointly conducting the third edition of DPT-Con 2026, a national-level conference scheduled to be held on 23rd & 24th January 2026 at KPT College campus, Mangaluru.

Carrying the theme “Sustainable Polymer for a Smarter Future,” DPT-Con 2026 aims to bring together industry professionals, alumni, academicians, and students on a common platform to advance learning and collaboration for infrastructure development in polymer science and technology.

“Karnataka (Govt.) Polytechnic, a 78-year-old institution approved by AICTE, as India’s first Autonomous status Polytechnic, has been home to the Department of Polymer Technology since 1975. Over the past five decades, the department has produced more than 1,000 polymer technologists who today serve across the Tyre, Rubber, Plastics, TPE and composite industries in India and abroad. Many of these alumni now hold senior technical and leadership roles, forming a strong industry–academia bridge,” says S Vasudev Rao, convener, DPT-Con 2026. 

PAWA, established in 2017 by senior alumni of the department, has played a pivotal role in strengthening this ecosystem. The association focuses on enhancing student competencies through industry engagement, infrastructure upgrades and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Earlier editions of DPT Con, held in 2018 and 2023, directly contributed to the upgradation of the rubber processing laboratory and the establishment of a modern plastic processing laboratory at the institute.

Building on this legacy, DPT-Con 2026 has set ambitious objectives. The conference seeks to fundraising to establish a cutting-edge incubation centre for composites, to provide scholarships to meritorious & deserving students, and support the maintenance and modernisation of existing rubber, plastic, TPE and composite laboratories. Enhanced student exposure through advanced equipment and real-time industrial interaction is a key focus area, alongside fostering long-term collaboration between industry, alumni and academia. The two-day programme will feature technical paper presentations, expert lectures, networking sessions and cultural programmes. A structured sponsorship framework—ranging from main and platinum sponsors to gold, kit and lunch sponsors—has been designed to encourage active industry participation, with opportunities for technical presentations and brand visibility during the event.

Organisers have set a fund-raising target of INR 2 million to support the planned initiatives and have invited industry leaders, alumni and well-wishers to contribute through sponsorships, kind support or direct participation. According to the organising committee, contributions to DPT-Con 2026 will have a direct and lasting impact on student skill development and the creation of infrastructure aligned with contemporary industry standards.

"With sustainability, innovation and collaboration at its core, DPT-Con 2026 is positioned not merely as a conference, but as a collective effort to shape the next generation of polymer technologists and strengthen India’s polymer ecosystem for the future," adds S Vasudev Rao. 

In addition to Polymer Alumni dedicated team Indian Rubber Institute- DBCOE team joined hands to fulfill this noble cause.

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Pirelli’s 2025 was defined by exceptional innovation and acclaim across its product lines and pioneering technologies, earning numerous independent awards and test victories. The company’s flagship families – P Zero, Cinturato and Scorpion – collectively secured 27 podium finishes in 34 comparative evaluations, with 15 of those positions being first place. New global market launches were particularly successful; both the fifth-generation P Zero and the new Cinturato summer tyre each claimed two major victories. The P Zero was celebrated as the top ultra-high performance summer tyre by industry experts, while the Cinturato demonstrated an outstanding blend of safety and efficiency. Winter performance was also highlighted by the P Zero Winter 2, which won its category in rigorous testing by a leading Swedish automotive magazine.

Specialised technologies integrated into these tyres further enhanced their appeal, offering motorists tangible benefits such as increased puncture resistance and reduced cabin noise. Meanwhile, the all-season segment saw remarkable dominance from Pirelli, especially in the European market. The Cinturato All Season SF3 proved extraordinarily versatile, earning 11 test victories and widespread praise for its balanced safety profile across diverse conditions. Its SUV-oriented counterpart, the Scorpion All Season SF3, quickly replicated this success following its launch. This collective achievement led Pirelli to be crowned the All Season Champion and Top Manufacturer of All Season Tyres by prestigious German institutions.

Complementing these product triumphs, Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre technology received significant international recognition, underscoring its role in advancing connected mobility. This integrated system uses in-tyre sensors and proprietary algorithms to communicate vital data with vehicle electronics in real time, enhancing safety and performance. Over the year, it was honoured four times across different continents, including a top innovation award in the United States, a safety prize in France, a pan-European safety accolade and a Company of the Year title from a noted market analysis firm. These awards collectively affirm how Pirelli’s digital advancements are fundamentally transforming traditional automotive components, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry’s connected future.

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For over a decade, Continental has served as the exclusive tyre supplier to Cemex in the UK, providing comprehensive solutions for the building materials leader's entire fleet. This partnership, initiated in 2011, began when Cemex selected retreaded tyres from Continental’s Bandvulc brand and became an early adopter of the ContiConnect digital monitoring system. Cemex, founded in 1906 and a major supplier of concrete, asphalt and aggregates, operates an extensive UK network of quarries and plants serviced by a large fleet of cement vehicles, dump trucks, trailers and ships.

The demanding environments at Cemex sites, featuring sharp rocks and uneven terrain, previously made tyre-related vehicle breakdowns a significant operational hurdle. By equipping the fleet with Continental’s premium new and retreaded tyres, the company has substantially enhanced vehicle safety, reduced downtime and improved overall fleet efficiency. According to Carl Milton, Cement Logistics Manager – UK at Cemex, this open-book relationship has yielded continuous benefits, from lowering driving costs to increasing vehicle durability and performance.

A cornerstone of this collaboration is the ContiConnect tyre pressure monitoring system. Sensors in the tyres provide real-time data on inflation and temperature, transmitting this information to cab displays and a web-based platform for fleet management. Nigel Ponton, UK Fleet Engineering Manager at Cemex, notes that the system does more than monitor deflation; it analyses heat transfer to predict imminent brake or wheel bearing failures, enabling proactive maintenance. Email alerts from the platform allow both the transport team and tyre providers to address issues in advance, supported by additional checks from Yard Reader stations at Cemex plants.

The partnership has deepened through joint innovation and testing. Milton highlights that the two companies have worked closely to optimise tyre designs for Cemex’s unique operational environments, achieving the best possible fuel economy. Cemex is frequently invited to trial new tyre models, providing feedback that directly contributes to the refinement and development of Continental’s product range. Pina Wallace of Continental concludes that this cooperative relationship is a perfect example of mutual success, where tailored solutions meet specific customer demands while invaluable feedback enhances product offerings. This synergy underscores Continental’s customer-centric approach and the tangible, shared value born from a deeply collaborative alliance.

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