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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The DUNLOP Group is restructuring its sustainability management to more closely align business strategies with sustainability initiatives, aiming to achieve sustainable corporate value growth. As part of this effort, each business division will establish a Divisional Sustainability Promotion Committee under the umbrella of the existing Sustainability Promotion Committee, which oversees company-wide efforts. This change is intended to accelerate the integration of business strategies and sustainability measures.

The newly formed divisional committees will discuss and decide on sustainability policies designed to create business opportunities and drive growth within their respective divisions. They will also monitor progress towards division-specific targets under the Long-Term Sustainability Targets, known as ‘Driving Our Future Initiatives’, and share relevant information. Progress updates will be reported to the Sustainability Promotion Committee, strengthening company-wide monitoring.

Chart of sustainability management structure

In addition, a cross-divisional Sustainable Natural Rubber (SNR) Subcommittee will be launched to manage and reduce risks and create opportunities in the natural rubber supply chain. Natural rubber is a natural capital resource on which the Group’s business significantly depends and also has significant impacts. The subcommittee will address these issues from natural capital and human rights perspectives, based on the Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy.

The SNR Subcommittee will serve as a cross-functional body that concentrates and accelerates the Group’s various SNR activities. By aligning with biodiversity and human rights initiatives and taking a mid- to long-term approach, it will pursue sustainable natural rubber through efforts such as supporting natural rubber farmers and collaborating with external partners.

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Kenda Tires has launched the K-SERIES VELORA ENDURANCE, the first model in its new premium VELORA road tyre family. The tyre targets cyclists seeking speed, confidence and long-lasting reliability, combining advanced compound technology, enhanced puncture protection and extended tread life in a purpose-built package for endurance riding, daily training and high-mileage use.

A new puncture-resistant base layer boosts durability by 35 percent while preserving the smooth ride and rolling efficiency expected from a premium road tyre. At its core sits Kenda's new K-SERIES high-performance road compound, engineered to minimise rolling resistance and maximise tread life. Against the Kriterium, the VELORA ENDURANCE achieves a 27 percent improvement in tread wear, letting riders spend more time on the road and less time replacing tyres.

A smooth centre tread promotes speed and efficiency, while optimised shoulder siping sharpens cornering grip and wet-weather traction for predictable handling across changing conditions. The tyre is fully Tubeless Ready, delivering easy setup, dependable puncture protection and the ride quality modern road cyclists demand.

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Niutech Technology Group Co., Ltd. completed its group restructuring on 26 August 2026, drawing on nearly 40 years in industrial continuous pyrolysis. Its proprietary technology and complete equipment sets convert over 30 material streams, including waste tyres and plastics, into high-value recycled resources such as pyrolysis oil and combustible gas. Niutech spans high-end equipment R&D and manufacturing, project investment and construction and operation, supporting 10,000-tonne-scale projects in dozens of countries, including Germany, UK, Korea, Denmark and Brazil, while meeting developed-market environmental and technical standards.

Tightening regulation is accelerating demand. The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation raise recycled-material requirements and spotlight continuous pyrolysis. Niutech's new-generation large industrial continuous intelligent pyrolysis line delivers major gains in processing capacity, efficiency, cost control and product quality. In waste tyres, a single unit handles over 100 tonnes daily, with recovered carbon black exceeding 80 percent toluene transmittance, yielding high-grade commercial carbon black for tyre manufacturing.

For waste plastics, including low-value municipal, ocean, and textile streams such as mixed PP, PE, PS, ABS and nylon, one unit also processes over 100 tonnes daily without complex washing, sorting, drying or fine crushing. It produces stable pyrolysis oil, solid fuel and combustible gas, the latter cutting on-site energy use, while the oil can become chemical feedstock for new plastics. The line operates in multiple overseas markets.

In China, majority-owned subsidiary Hesheng Environmental Protection, commissioned in 2013, was the country's first continuous tyre recycling project and the sector's first to earn International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, operating stably for over a decade. In 2026, Hesheng launched a 100,000-tonne Phase II project, lifting capacity to 160,000 tonnes annually. A UK customer signed an RMB 198 million order after assessing Niutech's projects and global peers. Niutech is now advancing clean tyre pyrolysis oil research toward sustainable aviation fuel and other clean energy.

"The maturity of a technology is best verified through industrial projects. Our project references in China and overseas are becoming our most persuasive calling card," said the head of the marketing department at Niutech.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, is proving its mettle at the season-ending Rally Italia Sardegna, scheduled for 1–4 October around Alghero on the Italian island of Sardinia. The 23rd edition of this historic gravel event now closes the 2026 calendar after Rally Saudi Arabia, originally slated as the finale, was removed from the schedule.

Because the Drivers' Championship will be decided in Italy, tyre performance and strategies for handling the demanding roads and unpredictable October weather are expected to be decisive. The rally covers 17 Special Stages totalling roughly 307.02 competitive kilometres on unpaved roads, where narrow, winding sections lined with trees and undergrowth, combined with blind crests, restrict visibility and leave little margin for error.

The route also includes Micky's Jump, one of the event's most recognizable features, as well as deep ruts created by repeated runs and rough, rocky stretches. These conditions place heavy demands on tyre durability and vehicle stability, making consistent control a critical factor throughout the event.

Hankook will provide its Dynapro R213 all-terrain rally tyre in Hard and Soft compounds for the finale. The tyre is engineered to absorb gravel impacts while delivering stable grip, precise handling and strong durability. At Round 12 in Chile, Toyota GAZOO Racing's Oliver Solberg took his second win of the year, securing Toyota the 2026 Manufacturers' Championship – its sixth straight since 2021 and 10th overall – leaving the drivers' title to be settled in Sardinia.

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