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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Road Ready Foundation, a nonprofit focused on tyre safety and roadside education, has entered a new collaboration with Anyline, a company known for artificial intelligence driven mobile tyre inspections. By joining forces, they plan to use Anyline’s TireBuddy system during live events to show how technology can bring more honesty and uniformity to checking tyre health. Their shared goal is to make safety lessons more hands on and widely available.

The TireBuddy tool is not meant for everyday drivers but rather for service centres and dealerships looking for consistent data and digital records. Trained personnel can measure tread depth using only a smartphone, avoiding the need for special equipment. Major names like Discount Tire, EchoPark and Michelin already use this technology. Road Ready will adapt it as a teaching aid during community outreach, proving that business focused solutions can also serve the public good.

Throughout the coming year, Road Ready will feature TireBuddy in its national roadshows to offer live insights into tyre conditions and dangers. Alex Bebiak, who leads the foundation, will present these demonstrations at the upcoming Lifesavers Conference in Baltimore from 19 to 21 April. Anyline’s co-founder Lukas Kinigadner, who recently joined the Safe Tread Alliance board, believes this partnership shows how corporate tools can reduce preventable roadway harm.

Bebiak helped create the Safe Tread Alliance in 2025, a coalition pushing to modernise American tyre safety rules and phase out outdated habits linked to traffic deaths. This new partnership expands tyre safety education and highlights what industry and nonprofits can achieve together. By blending advanced software with real world demonstrations, Road Ready and Anyline hope to change how tyre safety is taught and understood.

Bebiak said, “For too long, tyre safety has been overlooked in driver education, despite being something every driver can control. This partnership is about using technology for good – taking industry-grade tools and turning them into powerful educational moments that help drivers make safer decisions and prevent tragedies.”

Kinigadner said, “When technology is built responsibly, its impact can extend well beyond its original use case. By partnering with Road Ready Foundation, we are using our technology to support safety education, raise awareness and help drivers better understand the importance of tyre safety.”

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Mitas is all set to display its newest farming tyre designs at Agrishow 2026. This big trade fair happens in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, from 27 April to 1 May. It is one of the largest agricultural events in all of Latin America, so nearly every major player in the farming world will be there to see what is new.

At booth E8b, the company is putting its best solutions on display, focusing on tyres that last a long time, work hard and won't let you down. The big news is the GRANTERRA tyre, which is making its first appearance in Brazil. This tyre is built for the most powerful tractors and the toughest farming conditions. It uses special VF and PFO technology, meaning it can handle very heavy loads even when the air pressure is low, and it works just as well in the field as on the road. The tough body of the tyre helps it survive heavy use over and over again, while the tread pattern gives excellent grip and prevents slipping. All of this adds up to better performance and less damage to the soil.

Mitas is also bringing along some other solid choices from its existing lineup. There is the HC3000 for powerful harvesting machines, which also uses VF technology to protect the soil while keeping traction high. The HC1000 is a narrow VF tyre made for sprayers and row crops, helping to avoid crushing the plants or packing down the earth too much. And then there is the HCM, a real all-rounder that works on pavement or dirt, in summer or winter, with a steel belted design that keeps things quiet and stable no matter the job.

All of these products show how Mitas mixes its long experience with a practical, down-to-earth approach to solving real problems on the farm. Anyone visiting Agrishow 2026 is invited to stop by booth E8b, meet the team, and see these new solutions up close.

Fábio Metidieri, Agricultural Tyres Director South America, Yokohama TWS, said, “Mitas is a brand with deep agricultural roots and a clear ambition to continuously evolve alongside farmers’ needs. The introduction of GRANTERRA is a key milestone, bringing a new solution to a market that demands high performance and reliability. Together with our proven portfolio, we are offering products that deliver real value in the field.”

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Continental has earned top recognition in the ‘Tires and Tire Management’ category of the International busplaner Sustainability Award for its Conti Urban HA 5 NXT tyre. The award celebrates groundbreaking vehicle parts, services and models that drive sustainability in the bus industry. Announced on the evening before the BUS2BUS trade fair, this marks the fourth time Continental has received this honour since the prize was first introduced.

A key feature of the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT is its material composition, with up to 60 percent coming from renewable, recycled or ISCC mass balance-certified sources. ISCC certification ensures full traceability of these raw materials across the supply chain. An externally verified life cycle assessment shows an 11 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the earlier Conti Urban HA 3 model. The tyre incorporates natural rubber, renewable fillers, recycled synthetic rubber and rubber derived from mechanically processed end-of-life tyres.

Designed to address major trends reshaping urban transport such as urbanisation, electric mobility and digital fleet management, the tyre arrives at a time of strong growth in new bus registrations across the EU, especially in Germany and Poland. Electric bus adoption is rising sharply in markets like Germany, Sweden and Belgium, while conventional technologies lose ground. This shift underscores the need for tyres that support cleaner, more efficient city bus operations.

The Conti Urban HA 5 NXT delivers a 25 percent reduction in rolling resistance versus the prior generation, which can extend electric bus range by up to 15 percent. A new tread compound increases mileage by up to 15 percent compared to the Conti Urban HA 3 while maintaining a B EU wet‑grip label rating. A reinforced sidewall enhances resistance against curb and impact damage, and the optimised tread pattern improves traction and lowers noise, boosting passenger comfort.

The tyre works seamlessly with Continental’s digital ContiConnect system, allowing fleet operators to monitor pressure, temperature and wear in real time using sensors. This enables proactive maintenance, greater operational safety, fewer unplanned breakdowns and cost-effective fleet management. Since its launch in 2013, the International busplaner Sustainability Award has become one of Europe’s most respected honours in bus and transport, recognising companies that balance economic success with environmental care and social responsibility.

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Pirelli has created bespoke versions of its P Zero R tyre for Porsche 911 Turbo S, the most powerful version ever of the 911 model in its six-decade history. Drawing directly from motorsport expertise, this ultra-high-performance compound supports everyday sports car driving while delivering exceptional dynamic response. It shares the same technological DNA as Pirelli’s racing solutions, already well regarded in the prestige vehicle segment.

Engineered to harness 711 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque, this tyre ensures effective power transfer to the road. It enhances the car’s dynamic abilities and driving pleasure through consistent traction on dry, varied and wet surfaces, with a strong focus on wet safety and control. The tread pattern reduces noise for improved comfort, while lower rolling resistance boosts overall vehicle efficiency. The rear axle uses 325/30 ZR 21 tyres, 10 mm wider than before, and the front retains 255/35 ZR 20 for balanced handling.

Following Pirelli’s Perfect Fit philosophy, each tyre matches the precise technical needs of its vehicle. This longstanding collaboration with Porsche has also produced P Zero R fitments for the hybrid Porsche 911 GTS. The new Turbo S tyres carry the ‘N’ marking on the sidewall, signifying joint development for optimal performance across the 911 range.

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