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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Nynas is expanding its commitment to responsible business practices in 2026 through active engagement with two United Nations Global Compact development programmes. The company has joined the Business and Human Rights programme alongside the SDG Innovation for Young Professionals programme, reflecting a dual focus on ethical operations and sustainability-driven progress. Both programmes provide access to expert guidance, practical methodologies and cross-sector collaboration opportunities with peers across Sweden, enabling continuous refinement of practices throughout the value chain.

Within the Business and Human Rights programme, Nynas is working to establish a more systematic approach to human rights due diligence. This involves examining both internal operations and supplier relationships to ensure respect for human rights becomes an integrated aspect of everyday business processes. The framework is aligned with established international standards, particularly the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and reinforces ongoing work in responsible sourcing and maintaining transparent commercial conduct.

The SDG Innovation programme offers a different but complementary dimension, bringing together young professionals from various industries to tackle sustainability challenges through collaborative problem-solving. Participants develop, test and refine concrete ideas that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals while simultaneously generating business value. For Nynas, the outcomes support broader innovation efforts and help identify practical pathways towards reducing environmental footprint and strengthening customer offerings.

These engagements form an integral component of Nynas’ overarching sustainability strategy. The knowledge and tools acquired will enhance risk management capabilities, embed responsible practices more deeply across operations and stimulate innovation aligned with global priorities. Working alongside the UN Global Compact Network Sweden, Nynas seeks to transform these insights into tangible actions, collaborating closely with customers, suppliers and partners to advance sustainability in meaningful and measurable ways.

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Bridgestone Americas has announced a significant evolution for the 2026 INDYCAR season, as Firestone Racing will equip the series with Firehawk race tyres featuring the company's global ENLITEN Technology. This integration of sustainability-focused innovations begins immediately with this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, impacting both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the INDY NXT by Firestone support series.

This development arrives as the Firestone brand marks its 125th anniversary, a legacy deeply intertwined with motorsport. Firestone’s competitive pedigree was established in the early 1900s and solidified when Ray Harroun secured victory at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 using Firestone tyres. Racing continues to serve as a critical proving ground, driving advancements in materials and technology that ultimately benefit tyre development for everyday consumers.

For the 2026 season, the Firestone Race Tire Engineering (RTE) team will produce approximately 37,000 Firehawk ENLITEN race tyres. Over 32,000 of these are destined for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, requiring 60 distinct specifications to handle the unique challenges of ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits across an 18-race calendar. An additional 5,000 tyres, spanning 18 specifications, will support the INDY NXT by Firestone series, providing a developmental platform for rising drivers on a 17-race schedule that closely mirrors the premier series.

The ENLITEN Technology integrated into these race tyres represents a commitment to enhanced sustainability without compromising performance. The Firestone Firehawk primary and alternate compounds now incorporate key components such as renewable soybean oil, which replaces traditional petroleum-based oils. They also utilise recycled steel for the bead wire and recycled carbon black derived from end-of-life tyres, improving resource efficiency and material circularity while meeting the extreme demands of open-wheel racing.

This move builds on several years of sustainability initiatives by Firestone Racing. Previous efforts have included the successful use of guayule-derived natural rubber in sidewalls on street circuits, as well as incorporating materials from hard-to-recycle plastics and palm oil waste residue. The 2026 Firehawk tyres also continue the use of ISCC PLUS-certified monomers from palm oil processing waste. Concurrently, Firestone is advancing end-of-life recycling, with nearly all race tyres from the series being repurposed into products like playground surfaces and flooring.

All Firestone Firehawk race tyres are produced at the Bridgestone Advanced Tyre Production Center in Akron, Ohio, a facility opened in 2022 that represents a new chapter in the brand’s history. The engineering team works in close collaboration with the nearby Bridgestone Americas Technology Center, ensuring that insights gained from the racetrack directly inform and enhance the development of tyres across the company’s entire portfolio.

Lisa Boggs, Director, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports, said, "Firestone Racing serves as a mobile lab to test and prove new technologies under the most extreme conditions. The integration of ENLITEN Technology is the next step in our commitment to no compromises and sustainably focused technology through the use of cutting-edge materials."

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Bridgestone Americas is preparing to introduce three new off-the-road tyres at the upcoming CONEXPO-CONAGG exhibition, showcasing advancements in durability, load capacity and application versatility across its Bridgestone and Firestone brands. The company’s booth will feature these latest innovations – the Bridgestone MasterCore V-Steel M-Traction Deep (VMTD), the Bridgestone V-Steel Rock Deep Ultra (VRDU) and the Firestone Multi Block T – alongside a broader selection of premium intelligent tyres engineered for equipment ranging from cranes and graders to haulers and loaders.

The Bridgestone MasterCore VMTD, a 27.00R49 tyre developed for 100-tonne haul trucks, represents the expansion of the company’s proprietary MasterCore technology into large-scale quarry applications. This new tyre features a traction-oriented tread pattern that delivers a 14 percent increase in tread depth compared to the conventional Bridgestone VMTP tyre, enhancing performance on difficult terrain. Its durable sidewall construction and narrow tread grooves contribute to a 10 percent extension in tyre life, while the MasterCore platform enables a 10 percent increase in load capacity and a two percent improvement in tonne-mile per hour and tonne-kilometre per hour metrics over the previous generation. With this launch, Bridgestone now offers two distinct tread patterns in the 27.00R49 segment, the other being the rock-patterned MasterCore VRDU introduced in mid-2025. The MasterCore VMTD will be available to fleets beginning in June, offered in four compound formulations including standard, cut resistant, ultra-cut resistant and heat-resistant options.

Also debuting at the show is a new three-star VRDU tyre in the 24.00R35 size, engineered with a rock tread pattern specifically for rigid dump trucks operating in quarry environments. This marks the company’s second three-star product in the large tyre segment and extends the hauling benefits of larger VRDU sizes to more compact applications. The tyre incorporates a stronger cord, enhanced casing structure and refined tread design that together yield a 15 percent increase in TMPH and TKPH compared to its predecessor. The new casing construction also provides more than an eight percent gain in load capacity relative to the two-star Bridgestone VRQP tyre. Its tread pattern incorporates slopes and centre grooves that improve wear characteristics while minimising heat generation during operation. This new VRDU size is scheduled for availability in 2027 and will replace the Bridgestone VRQP tyre in the company’s portfolio.

The Firestone brand introduces the Multi Block T radial tyre, designed for articulated dump trucks and wheel loaders, marking a new chapter in the brand’s 125-year legacy of durable products. This model replaces the Versabuilt AP and delivers a 10 percent improvement in cut resistance through strategically placed tie bars, robust steel cord construction and advanced compound formulations. The tyre features a 10 percent deeper tread depth combined with a new block design incorporating biting edges for reliable grip on challenging terrain. Its multi-star rating and non-directional pattern enhance application versatility and simplify tyre management, contributing to reduced operational costs. The Firestone Multi Block T will be available this summer in five sizes including 17.5R25, 20.5R25, 23.5R25, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25.

CONEXPO-CONAGG stands as the largest construction exhibition in United States, taking place from 3 through 7 March at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Bridgestone Americas will be exhibiting at booth 41633 in the West Hall.

Rob Seibert, President – Off the Road, Bridgestone Americas, said, "These three new tyres underscore our relentless focus on delivering premium products that help our customers operate more efficiently. Each tyre is engineered to deliver optimal performance in the most demanding environments, extending tyre life, reducing downtime and lowering total cost of ownership, helping our customers move more with less."

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Citira has taken another significant step towards becoming the leading tyre management provider in Northern Europe by acquiring Dekkservice Kvinesdal, marking its first service point acquisition in Norway. The well-regarded tyre shop has built a strong reputation since its establishment in 2000, serving both passenger car and heavy vehicle customers with consistent high-quality service and personal relationships.

Under the new arrangement, Dekkservice Kvinesdal will maintain its operations with the same team at the same location, ensuring continuity for its valued customers. The team will continue managing daily operations while gaining access to Citira's resources for continued development. Ivar Røyseland will become a co-owner of Citira as part of this strategic partnership that combines local expertise with broader organisational support.

David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, “It is a pleasure to welcome Ivar and the Dekkservice team to Citira. They have established a well-run tyre shop with a longstanding reputation in the industry as a trusted tyre service point, which has truly impressed us. The combination of strong expertise and local customer relationships makes them an ideal partner, and we are proud that they have chosen to join us. This marks an important first step as we pursue our ambition to build a nation-wide service network in Norway.”

Røyseland said, “When we started Dekkservice Kvinesdal, our goal was to build a tyre shop that customers could trust for timely and high-quality service. After more than 25 years, I am incredibly proud of the relationships we have built with customers and the team we have become. Joining Citira will now allow us to focus fully on further developing the business while leveraging the resources of a larger organisation, and it is exciting to do so as their first service point in Norway.”

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