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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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has urged UK motorists to adopt preventative habits after research showed drivers react emotionally rather than practically following near-misses. The findings reveal that 23 percent of drivers shouted, gestured or sounded their horn after a frightening moment, while only 11 percent checked their tyres and 22 percent did nothing at all and kept driving. The pattern is consistent across the country, highlighting a widespread action gap in which drivers neglect simple steps that could improve safety.

The organisation wants near-miss experiences to serve as prompts for vehicle checks. It is promoting its ACT checks, which begin with air pressure: drivers should verify tyre pressures at least monthly and before long journeys using an accurate gauge, since correct pressures optimise braking, fuel efficiency and tyre life while lowering failure risk. Condition comes next, with tyres regularly inspected for cuts, cracks, bulges and embedded objects; any visible damage should be assessed immediately by a tyre professional as it may signal structural problems.

Finally, tread depth should be checked. For passenger cars, the UK legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre around its entire circumference. Adequate tread is especially important on rural roads, where standing water and uneven surfaces can substantially raise the risk of aquaplaning and loss of control. TyreSafe's message encourages drivers to turn a scare into a safety check and act before reacting.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “A near-miss should be a warning sign – but too often it becomes a moment of frustration rather than reflection. Checking your tyres takes minutes, but it can make a critical difference in preventing the next incident. We need to move from reacting in the moment to acting in advance.”

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Mitas has confirmed its participation in EIMA International 2026, a major agricultural machinery exhibition running from 10–14 November in Bologna, Italy. Visitors will find the company in Hall 14 at Booth B2, where it plans to display a range of tyre solutions tailored to contemporary farming needs and reflective of its know-how across machines, applications and operating environments.

The centrepiece of the exhibit is GRANTERRA, the newest member of the Mitas agricultural family. Engineered for high-horsepower tractors, the tyre merges a contemporary tread layout with VF PFO technology to achieve solid traction, stability and efficient field performance. Its broader footprint encourages even load distribution and curbs soil compaction, fitting the requirements of modern large-scale farming while embodying the brand's goal of merging power, reliability and effective field performance.

Alongside GRANTERRA, three other ranges will be on show. AGRITERRA ULTRA targets agricultural trailers, spreaders and slurry tankers, blending high load capacity with durability and stability for demanding transport work in fields and on roads, with a large footprint and rounded shoulders that help protect soil and grassland. HCM provides versatile year-round performance for municipal tractors, road maintenance equipment and telehandlers across varied surfaces. AC 85, built for modern row crop farming, supports spraying, fertilising and crop care while shielding plants and roots and will be displayed in a dual-mounting setup demonstrating a practical configuration for greater flotation and traction.

By taking part in EIMA International 2026, Mitas underscores its commitment to agricultural tyre expertise, product performance and the needs of professionals engaged in a broad array of farming applications.

Roberta D’Agnano, Global Marketing Director Mitas at Yokohama TWS, said, “EIMA is an important opportunity to meet customers and partners from across the agricultural sector and showcase solutions developed around their everyday needs. With GRANTERRA, we expanded our portfolio for high-horsepower tractors with a solution that brings together traction, reliability and VF PFO technology. Alongside AGRITERRA ULTRA, HCM and AC85, it reflects the breadth of our expertise and our commitment to supporting agricultural professionals with tyre solutions suited to their everyday challenges.”

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Tegeta Green Planet and Shine Energy brought an environmental education session to seventh-graders at Tbilisi Public School No. 142, aiming to deepen young people's understanding of sustainable development and environmental protection. The meeting was designed to make abstract ecological concepts tangible for early adolescents.

Led by representatives of the two organisations, the session unfolded under the theme ‘A Sustainable Future: Environment, Transport and Energy’. Presentations and discussions covered waste management, responsible resource use, environmental protection and the value of renewable energy, giving students a broad picture of how these issues interconnect.

The interactive format included team activities through which students explored the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, learning what it is for and how it contributes to environmental protection. Participants also considered how ordinary daily choices can curb pollution and conserve resources. An environmental game and a hands-on activity reinforced the lessons, helping students link environmental concerns to their own lives, and each participant received a certificate and a small gift at the close.

Operating since 2022, Tegeta Green Planet ranks among Georgia's first authorised EPR organisations, advancing a circular economy by collecting and recycling waste tyres, waste oils and used batteries while helping reduce environmental harm and meet legal obligations. Environmental education for young people remains a priority for both organisations, which run school sessions on environmental protection, resource conservation and sustainable development.

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Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH will hold Premium Partner status at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, running 24 October to 1 November at the Wiener Stadthalle, under a three-year term from 2026 to 2028 with an extension option, and holds exclusive tyre-category rights. DUNLOP Sports separately serves as Official Ball Partner. The event lets Dunlop Tyre Europe spread the ONE DUNLOP message, as trademark rights for DUNLOP tyres across Europe, North America and Oceania now sit once more under Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI). A 25-square-metre stand will occupy the fan zone in the Wiener Stadthalle foyer.

The divisions have already collaborated at B2B events this year, including THE TIRE COLOGNE. At the Mondial de l'Auto in Paris, held 12 to 18 October, the DUNLOP brand joined DUNLOP Sports colleagues to display tyres, motorsport heritage and tennis, padel and squash racquets across 105 square metres. Vienna marks the first time both appear together at a sporting tournament.

Premium Partner status brings strong visibility. Television coverage includes Micro Wings, LED side banners, Close Calls and the ‘New Balls Please’ activation. Dunlop Tyre Europe also features at the ceremonial coin toss, in the tournament magazine, in the fan zone and via ‘Daily Highlights presented by Dunlop’. Hospitality packages at the Wiener Stadthalle and Marx Halle await customers and partners, with invitations to the Pro-Am tournament and official press conference.

At the DUNLOP stand, visitors can guess how many tennis balls sit inside a racing tyre, entering via iPad and a digital landing page, with newsletter sign-up optional. A set of tyres is the prize, and souvenir photos in a DUNLOP-branded frame can be downloaded via QR code. The brand and SRI trace their heritage to 1909, when Dunlop Far East was founded in Kobe. After a partner organisation held passenger car tyre rights in several markets, those rights were reacquired in 2025 and Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH launched in early 2026, reuniting the brand under SRI. The goal is restoring DUNLOP among the world's leading, most innovative tyre makers.

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe, said, “Through our Premium Partnership with the Erste Bank Open and with our colleagues from DUNLOP Sports serving as the tournament’s Official Ball Partner, we are appearing together at a sporting event for the first time, following successful collaborations in the B2B sector and at the Paris motor show. The dynamic environment of professional tennis and the world-class performances regularly seen on court provide the ideal stage for combining activation activities for DUNLOP Tyres and DUNLOP Sports. We work closely with DUNLOP Sports and our parent company, Sumitomo Rubber Industries in Japan, to unlock the full potential of the global ONE DUNLOP strategy.”

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