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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Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres emerged as the central strategic battleground in the LMGT3 class during the FIA World Endurance Championship’s season-opening 6 Hours of Imola. The Italian circuit’s notably smooth asphalt led to unexpectedly low tyre degradation across the six-hour race, which allowed teams to experiment with varied tactical plans rather than following a single, predictable approach. Under this season’s increased tyre allocation rules, teams enjoyed greater flexibility, although not every squad chose to use its full supply.

The performance and consistency of the Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compound proved decisive, with most teams minimising pit lane time by double- or triple-stinting their tyres. However, a minority of competitors opted for a contrasting strategy, fitting fresher Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres more frequently. Crucially, the durability of the Medium compound ensured that both approaches remained competitive, resulting in a wide array of live strategies unfolding simultaneously across the LMGT3 field.

The FIA World Endurance Championship resumes with the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps from 7 to 9 May 2026. Over the same weekend, Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres have also been in action at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, as well as at Donington Park for the British Touring Car Championship season opener.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Programme Manager, said, “In the first half of the race, we saw several teams double stinting the unloaded left-hand side, but changing their right-hand side tyres at every stop. But as the race progressed, some teams began to double-stint both sides. This meant that teams that had only changed the right-hand side at the previous stop were onto their third stint with the left-hand tyres. Across the field, we saw some teams stop as little as five times during the race, and some as many as eight, emphasising the range of different strategies teams employed.”

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Bridgestone has reaffirmed its partnership with the Sporting Bears Motor Club by sponsoring the Golden Dream Rides competition for another year, with proceeds benefiting multiple children’s charities. The initiative builds on a collaboration first established in 2023 and underscores the company’s dedication to community-focused causes. Through this sponsorship, Bridgestone covers competition costs while also contributing directly to charitable funds.

The Sporting Bears Dream Rides offer passengers an exceptional opportunity to ride in classic or supercars in exchange for a donation, with every penny going to chosen children’s charities. Club members generously donate their vehicles, volunteer their time and cover personal expenses, ensuring that 100 percent of each donation supports those in need. To date, the club has provided more than 85,000 Dream Rides and raised over GBP 4 million, benefiting more than 400 children’s charities across the UK since its formation in 1989.

The Golden Dream Ride competition invites anyone who has engaged with Sporting Bears to share a photograph of their favourite moment with the club via official social media channels. Each month, one winner receives a Golden Dream Ride voucher redeemable for any available dream ride car at any Sporting Bears event nationwide. Beyond the contest, Bridgestone and Sporting Bears are promoting road safety as part of Bridgestone’s ‘Be a Road Safety Hero’ campaign, with volunteers conducting public tyre‑safety checks.

Sporting Bears recently announced its historic fundraising milestone at the Practical Classics Restoration Show in Birmingham. While the club is known for its presence at major events such as the two NEC classic car shows, Carfest and the British Motor Show, it also participates in more than 60 other events throughout the season. Bridgestone’s ongoing support helps sustain these activities and the broader mission of safer roads for all.

Clare Stephens, PR and Social Media Lead for Sporting Bears, said, “Our Dream Rides are all about creating unforgettable experiences while raising vital funds for children’s charities. Bridgestone’s support covers the cost of the competition, which ensures that even more money goes directly to the charities we support.”

Helen Roe, Senior Marketing Manager from Bridgestone, said, “We’re incredibly proud to support Sporting Bears and their Golden Dream Rides concept. It’s a fantastic initiative that brings together a passion for cars with a genuine opportunity to make a difference in local communities, whilst sharing vital tyre safety advice.”

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Apollo Tyres Ltd and Italdesign are set to mark over 25 years of collaborative tyre design at Milan Design Week, running from 20 to 26 April 2026. The partnership will display key co-creations, including the Vredestein Ultrac Sessenta and the latest Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2 all season tyre, which is scheduled for a summer release.

The collaboration between the Italian design house and the Vredestein brand has now reached 27 years, beginning with the 1999 debut of the Vredestein Sportrac. Designed by renowned automobile stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Sportrac introduced an asymmetric pattern that boosted its sporty appearance, setting the stage for future projects blending aesthetics with high-performance engineering.

Launched in 2006, the Ultrac Sessenta was created by Italdesign to celebrate six decades of the Vredestein brand in Enschede, the Netherlands. The tyre’s name is Italian for the number 60, a tribute to its designers. It features a distinctive tread pattern that enhances performance and handling as an ultra-high-performance summer tyre.

The latest joint effort, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, goes on sale in June. This ultra-high-performance all-season tyre incorporates a sidewall design that portrays the seasons through a seamless mix of solid and void elements, with flowing graphics hinting at leaves, snow and rain. Its overarching Passage theme reflects seasonal cycles and travel through varied conditions, while visual references to water ripples, wind and motion underscore the tyre’s advanced all-season capability.

Udyan Ghai, Head of Marking, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The partnership with Italdesign has endured because we share the same ethos regarding the union of performance and aesthetics in modern product design. Both the Ultrac Sessenta and Quatrac Pro 2 demonstrate how tyre design can enhance not only function, but also visual identity.”

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DUNLOP (company name: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.) has achieved a major milestone as its BLUE RESPONSE TG tyre secured first place in the overall ranking of a tyre test conducted by Auto Motor und Sport, a premier German automotive publication. This marks the first major test victory for the summer tyre since its market introduction.

The BLUE RESPONSE TG represents the inaugural Dunlop brand summer tyre developed by Sumitomo Rubber Industries specifically for the European market following the company’s acquisition of the Dunlop brand trademark in Europe, United States and Australia. Auto Motor und Sport is widely recognised for its rigorous evaluation standards regarding vehicle performance and safety, making it a highly influential medium in European tyre assessments. The publication’s circulation and technical expertise command deep trust from both automotive experts and enthusiasts.

Securing the top overall ranking in this test demonstrates the advanced technology and high level of refinement embedded in the BLUE RESPONSE TG. For safety-conscious consumers and those prioritising driving performance in the European market, the assessment results are expected to serve as a crucial reference for purchase decisions.

During the test, the BLUE RESPONSE TG in size 195/55R16 was fitted to vehicles including the Hyundai i20 and INSTER. The tyre earned high marks for delivering balanced wet and dry road performance. On wet surfaces, it stood out for grip and braking distance, while on dry roads, it excelled in handling and braking. These combined strengths led to the tyre’s overall victory. The BLUE RESPONSE TG is engineered to achieve both high-level safety and dynamic traveling performance.

Markus Bögner, President of DUNLOP Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “I am really delighted that the first DUNLOP tyre we designed for the European market received the highest rating in the assessment by a trusted magazine with a long history. The assessment results we obtained this time will provide a tailwind for the DUNLOP tyre business in Europe, which started on a full scale in January. We will continue to provide ‘Experiences that exceed expectations’, which is one of the brand value propositions of DUNLOP, for more customers.”

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