However, as is evident now, we were caught unawares. Mutated strain of the virus took India in its stride as we were yet to work out a robust vaccination strategy. To curb the spread and manage the health emergency getting out of control in view of paucity of beds, oxygen and ventilators, a large number of states-imposed lockdowns and other restrictions which continue till date. 

As is normal under such circumstances, the economy bears the brunt and that is what seems to have happened. The fragile economic recovery seen in the second half of FY21 seems to have gone derailed. Consumer confidence has hit a new low as shown in a recent survey. Different rating agencies and multilateral organizations have downwardly revised the growth projections for the current fiscal year. From a bullish 11-13% growth (in view of base effect), the projections are now for growths in single digits only.

Needless to say, the pitch for economic revival is queered.  But, curiously, as Covid infections come off from the peak levels and the recovery rates go up, a new kind of confidence is building up. The infection rates are coming down with as much alacrity as they had peaked.

Certainly, there is no room for any complacency as premonitions of a third wave have already been made. However, the vaccination strategy to inoculate a large number of Indians by the end of the year holds much hope. It has been observed that those countries that have already inoculated over 50% of their population have witnessed much less morbidity and mortality rates.

What also holds out hope are a range of high frequency indicators which show the resilience of the Indian economy and the entrepreneurship that shines through whenever an opportunity is provided. The economic growth in the fourth quarter of last fiscal has been better than expected. From a contraction of 24.4% and 7.4% in the first and second quarters, the economy turned around in the third one with 0.5% growth and ended the year with 1.6% growth in Q4.

There are a range of other indicators too. Industrial performance measured by IIP grew by 22.3 percent in March. Merchandise exports grew by 197 percent in April. The output of eight core infrastructure sectors grew by robust 7% in March. Manufacturing PMI has remained at a high of over 55 in March and April. GST revenue collection set a new record of Rs. 1.4 lakh crore in April.

If the tyre  production data for FY21, as released recently, is anything to go by, Tyre Industry will continue to put the wheels of economy in motion against all odds. No doubt, Tyre Industry's overall numbers are down in FY21. However when looked closely, there is ample evidence that points to the resilience  in the sector. Truck & Bus (T&B) tyre production, the bellwether of economy has turned in better performance in FY21 over FY20. And this despite the fact that April’20 was a washout in view of nationwide lockdown. Both T&B and Passenger Car tyre production touched significantly higher figures in March this year with T&B tyre production crossing 20 lakh numbers, a historic high.

FY21 will also go down as a landmark year when Radial Truck & Bus tyre production equalled that of Bias tyre production. Tyre exports from India have charted an upward trajectory in the second half of previous fiscal as the stability was achieved in the exports markets.

Forecast of a normal monsoon (third in a row) and the upcoming festive season can provide much-needed impetus to the economy if vaccination drive accelerates and Covid appropriate measures are followed strictly.

No doubt, the situation is still in a flux, and it is too nascent to gauge the true impact of the second wave on economic growth.  But ramping up the vaccination drive and inoculating the entire adult population as early as possible will help.

And there is a major shift again in the vaccination policy. As this column gets on the editor’s desk, the federal government has decided to provide free coronavirus vaccines to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18.

FY 21 could not live up to the expectations that most Indians had. Hope the next year will. (TT)

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TYRESYSTEM, functioning as the digital arm of AZuR partner RSU, has made Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) its central pillar of expertise. This unit moves beyond simple product sales by offering specialised training focused on tyre pressure monitoring systems. Their inventory is substantial, featuring over 500 sensors designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of vehicle types, and this hardware is supported by complementary valves, service kits and diagnostic programming tools.

The importance of this focus became legally binding on 1 November 2014, when TPMS became mandatory for cars, motorhomes and off-road vehicles. For workshop operators, a neglected sensor is a serious liability, as it not only creates a safety hazard but also guarantees a failed roadworthiness test like the TÜV. Consequently, the seasonal tyre change has evolved into a critical checkpoint where technicians must rigorously inspect sensor batteries and overall condition to ensure compliance.

To address this industry need, TYRESYSTEM acts as a holistic online wholesaler for tyres, rims and complete wheels. Recognising that hardware alone is insufficient, they established the TyreSystem Academy to deliver practical TPMS training through both online and on-site courses. This educational push helps workshops master modern tyre complexity. Correctly maintained TPMS systems preserve optimal pressure, reduce tread wear and extend tyre life, directly supporting resource conservation and a functioning tyre circular economy within the AZuR network.

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Parcours, a British wheel brand specialising in aerodynamic, wind-tunnel-tested carbon wheelsets for road, gravel and triathlon cycling, has launched the Strade GT, the debut model in its new GT Series. At the heart of this wheelset lies VibraCORE, a technology developed alongside Lineat and Nottingham Trent University. VibraCORE embeds Lineat’s reclaimed aligned carbon fibre material, known as AFFT, directly into the rim’s spoke bed. This structural integration reduces vibration at its source rather than simply damping it after transmission begins.

The principle behind VibraCORE is straightforward: less vibration reaching the rider means less fatigue, allowing for longer, faster rides. Not all vibrations affect the body equally. Certain frequencies are either amplified by the human body or directly contribute to muscle exhaustion. VibraCORE targets these specific ranges, absorbing and dissipating vibrational energy before it travels through the wheelset to the rider. This approach directly addresses the harsh, high-frequency ‘road buzz’ that makes rough roads particularly draining.

In practical testing at standard road tyre pressures, VibraCORE reduces root mean square vibrational energy by an amount equivalent to lowering tyre pressure by roughly 10 to 15 psi. Crucially, this benefit comes without the usual penalties of softer tyres, such as reduced rolling efficiency or compromised handling precision. As a result, the Strade GT delivers a calmer, more controlled ride over long distances while retaining the stiffness, responsiveness and aerodynamic performance expected from a high-end wheelset.

To verify these claims, Parcours partnered again with Nottingham Trent University for controlled real‑world testing across multiple riders and surfaces. Using vibration sensors and frequency domain analysis based on power spectral density, the data showed that rims with VibraCORE reduced vibration energy by 19 to 23 percent compared to identical rims without the technology. This translates directly into a noticeably smoother ride on rough terrain and lower cumulative fatigue over extended rides.

Beyond comfort, the Strade GT represents an evolution of Parcours’ existing Strade platform. Its rim profile is optimised around a 30‑mm tyre, outperforming the previous model by 3.2W at 48 kmph, improving handling stability by 15 percent and achieving a weight of just 1,130g. VibraCORE also enables the use of lightweight Alpina Carbolite carbon spokes. Although sustainability is not the primary goal, the technology incorporates recycled carbon from Lineat’s AFFT process. Parcours is now developing a full circular pathway so that carbon recovered from old wheels, including those from its Crash Replacement Programme, can be reprocessed into VibraCORE components for future wheelsets. In this way, the Strade GT proves that speed and comfort need not be opposing forces.

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Continental is celebrating two decades of its Camaçari tyre factory, situated near Salvador in Brazil. This occasion represents a major milestone for the firm’s operations throughout the Americas, as the site has served as a trusted partner across South America since its April 2006 opening. The facility supplies both replacement tyres and original equipment manufacturers with high-grade products for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Approximately 136 million tyres have rolled off the line at Camaçari over the last 20 years. Roughly BRL 1.2 billion (approximately EUR 235 million), has been invested there in the past 10 years alone to sharpen competitiveness through better efficiency, product quality and responsiveness to customers. The factory currently provides jobs for around 2,000 people, making it a leading industrial employer locally, with its future success built on team spirit, consistent quality and a strong customer focus.

The site began as a greenfield project in 2004 and was formally inaugurated in April 2006, with the first tyre, a ContiEcoContact 3, produced five months earlier in November 2005. Today, the factory supplies original equipment to major automotive names including General Motors, Volkswagen, Renault, Honda, Fiat and Mercedes‑Benz, proving its dependable and uniform product standards. This same drive for steady improvement supports the plant’s role in Continental’s wider environmental goals.

By constantly tracking energy use and managing it responsibly, the Camaçari plant ensures that all power generated or consumed on site is used as efficiently as possible. The facility relies entirely on LED lighting, which saves more energy than conventional options, and has carried out targeted production upgrades such as better insulation on critical machinery. These efforts have yielded annual energy savings, including a total cut of 10.4 gigawatt‑hours in 2025, equal to about five percent of the plant’s yearly energy consumption.

Shander Basílio, plant manager of the Continental tyre plant in Camaçari, said, "Our 20-year journey in Camaçari is a story of continuous growth, operational excellence and the deep commitment of our people to this region. I would like to sincerely thank all our employees for their outstanding contribution as well as to our customers for their continued trust. Looking ahead, we are dedicated to writing the next chapter of our plant’s success.”

Rodrigo Bonilha, head of Continental Tires South America, said, “I would like to congratulate our manufacturing team in Camaçari on their 20th anniversary. The production facility is a key asset for our business in the region. By manufacturing premium tires locally, we ensure a reliable supply for the Brazilian market while securing valuable local jobs. This ‘in the market, for the market’ approach is fundamental to how we deliver consistent product quality and performance for customers and consumers.”

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The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has announced the publication of a scientific study presenting a sophisticated model designed to track how tyre and road wear particles (TRWP) move through land and freshwater environments. Known as the Mass Balance Model, this tool provides a method for predicting particle concentrations within watersheds across different climates and regions, offering high spatial detail on how these particles travel from roadways towards rivers, lakes and estuaries.

Tyre and road wear particles are created unintentionally during normal driving, where tyres meet the road surface. As scientific and regulatory focus on these particles intensifies, reliable models are essential for understanding their environmental pathways. While research is growing, the behaviour of these particles in waterways remains particularly understudied, making this modelling advance especially relevant.

The model draws on global and local datasets and open-source frameworks, including the ERA5 global climate dataset by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Wflow catchment hydrology model by Deltares, a research institute. Its accuracy has been confirmed using field measurements from the Seine River basin in France, the Chesapeake Bay basin in the United States and the Yodo River basin in Japan – three very different watersheds. This validation shows the approach works across diverse watershed sizes, climates and stormwater management systems.

Applying the model to these three regions revealed that the share of particles reaching surface waters varies from just 2 percent up to 18 percent, depending on urbanisation, climate, basin size and drainage infrastructure. Importantly, improvements to stormwater systems could cut particle transport to surface waters by as much as half. This refined model builds on earlier work and is now globally applicable, with ongoing development aimed at making it accessible beyond the scientific community.

Nicolas Tissier, Director of Research at TIP, said, “Having a robust, reproducible model for TRWP transport and fate that can be applied worldwide is essential for advancing both scientific understanding and practical solutions. Our role at TIP is to support rigorous, transparent science that helps researchers, policymakers and industry make evidence-based decisions. By making this model open access, we aim to support broader collaboration across the scientific community around TRWP in the environment and to enable the development of more effective mitigation strategies.”

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