Smart mobility is as relevant as ever, with growing urbanisation rates in almost all countries across the globe. But the concept isn’t new. At least I recall reading about the future of driving when I was very young, and a university project concluded that in the future, cars would be able to connect to each other and slide onto some sort of rail system when driving on the highway, so nobody would have to worry about steering or speeding when covering the long stretches of the journey. Not surprising, the project couldn’t have been more wrong in its conclusion. But why didn’t it work? It would have reduced accidents, pollutant emissions, road wear and maintenance costs, and it would have probably been quite easy to develop guiding chips and software to let cars in and out of the chain.

Well, the answer is simple, and is proven by the fact that car sales are still going up worldwide in spite of an ever-growing range of alternative transportation methods available to the buyers: freedom. As global wealth keeps increasing, all societies can recognize that the first luxury people growing out of poverty take is to buy a car, in many cases even before considering taking out a mortgage to buy a house. Why do they do that? Obviously to signal their increased wealth to the people around them (it’s harder to show if your house is bought or rented), but also to enjoy the freedom of being able to go exactly where they want to go and when. In these corona times being able to move about without bumping into others in public transportation is of course also an important factor. If this wasn’t the case, car sales would be dropping rapidly. Public transportation is cheaper, if you compare it to total cost of ownership of a car it’s easy math, and in many cases it’s also faster and easier. Plus, you can be productive getting some work done or enjoying a good rest when you don’t have to sit at the wheel in a traffic jam.

For those who care about global warming and reducing the environmental impact, there’s even further incentive to get rid of the car, but still, this is not what we see in the new car sales figures – although you could argue that some people buy a new car because it pollutes less than the old one.

Bicycles

With all the new technology, it will be very interesting to see how smart mobility will be implemented in cities across the globe, and if it will change the trend for good. After all, it’s be big cities with massive population numbers that will make a difference for the planet. If we look at a city like Copenhagen, it has for many years focused on being the world’s best city to ride a bicycle in, and it has implemented many innovative structures allowing cyclists to zip from one place to another in a matter of minutes with minimal need to stop along the way. Some places bridges have been built just to cater to cyclists. No doubt you can get around faster and cheaper in Copenhagen if you ride a bike than by any other means of transportation.

Another thing that is becoming increasingly interesting in the big cities is the drone technology, now we have seen Chinese firefighters putting out high-rise fires using drones controlled from the ground, and many places they have also begun working as parcel or food delivery agents. But is there a viable case to argue that we will all be flying in private drone vessels instead of driving in cars in the coming decade? I wouldn’t bet my money on it. First of all, it would take long until the general public would trust a drone manufacturer enough to not fear dropping to the ground or being flung into a building or another drone mid-air at any moment. Second of all, they would most definitely run on electricity, which we know from electric cars means very heavy batteries and/or short operation times. Probably in colder regions you would also struggle with much lower performance during winter, and possibly weather conditions not allowing them to take off.

That’s another nightmare scenario – to be caught in a thunderstorm or hailstorm up in the air.

Naturally, the ultimate challenge would be that everyone would basically need to have a pilot license to operate them, and air traffic control would be an entirely new concept in this scenario. We have all seen movies like Stars Wars or The Fifth Element where flying vehicles somehow get into invisible lanes and layers, but it’s hard to see how that can go from fiction to reality.

Urban hubs

So, how can consumers most likely have their desire for freedom fulfilled within a smart mobility concept? Most likely by creating urban hubs or city line parking facilities, so it’s easy to take the car to, from, or between cities, but not inside them. At these hubs, you would park the car and jump on the next shuttle to anywhere in the city, or even ride a bike that you brought with you. Designing these hubs, along with ample green areas in the cities, is the only way that any city planner can create the grounds for real smart mobility, and not take people’s freedom away from them. Then the only thing left is to address the issue of the environmental impact caused by passenger cars, both combustion engine emissions and tyre pollution from wear during use and waste management at end of tyre life.

Tyre manufacturers don’t seem to be making huge changes to the technology yet, except for a few innovative products like the Michelin Tweel – and the ultimate challenge is of course that the vehicle so far has to be in contact with the road surface to move and handle satisfactorily. It’s hard to imagine any tyre concept where rubber against the road surface isn’t involved, and it’s also hard to imagine any tyre manufacturer supporting such a project, given the massive investments they have in their production equipment, which isn’t easy to readjust to put out something else. Well, at least not any serious manufacturer – there was a Chinese plant that stopped producing tyres this year to start producing face masks instead because of corona demand, but that probably says something about the quality of both products coming out of that factory, and it makes me very interested in reading their mission statement.

Ultimately, for tyre manufacturers to start investing in any game changing product development, we would have to see a development like we have seen with British Tobacco actually advertising against smoking – which is very much in line with the trends of the day but doesn’t seem rational from a business perspective. So, to conclude, I’ll venture a bet that we won’t see any drastic changes in how much smarter our mobility options will become until we either see a scenario that will allow people to experience the same level of freedom as owning a car, drastically reducing the environmental impact from driving and tyre waste, and/or creating cities where it utterly doesn’t make any sense to drive instead of hopping on the city’s smart mobility system, whatever that might turn out to be.

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DUNLOP has announced the launch of its BLUE RESPONSE TG, a new premium summer tyre developed for passenger cars and SUVs. Suitable for internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, the tyre will be available in 99 sizes spanning 15 to 21 inches, series 40-65 with H, V and W speed ratings. Production takes place at a state-of-the-art facility in Türkiye, with European market availability scheduled for March 2026.

This launch represents a significant shift for the brand in Europe. BLUE RESPONSE TG is the first DUNLOP product developed under Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) since it acquired the historic brand’s passenger car tyre rights in 2025. The tyre was engineered collaboratively by DUNLOP’s teams in Germany and Japan, drawing upon SRI’s established manufacturing and development capabilities.

The ‘TG’ designation stands for ‘Touring,’ underscoring the tyre’s ability to deliver long-distance comfort and efficiency while maintaining strong performance. A suite of new technologies ensures stability and control on both wet and dry roads. Impressive braking performance is a key feature, enhancing overall safety and driver confidence.

Central to the tyre’s capabilities is an intelligent three-zone rib design that efficiently channels water away from the contact patch. This promotes stability at higher speeds and unlocks reliable wet-weather grip during directional changes. A refined shoulder design features lateral grooves set at optimised angles. This enhances tread rigidity, reduces block deformation under load and ensures consistent force transfer when cornering and braking.

Durability is addressed through a new tread compound utilising longer, more resilient polymer chains. These resist abrasion and slow wear to extend mileage without compromising performance. To complete the package, a noise-reducing tread design links lateral grooves into continuous channels. This smooths airflow and dampens vibration, resulting in a noticeably quieter cabin environment and the composed, refined ride expected from the DUNLOP brand.

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The first Sprint weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season began in China with an intense schedule, starting with Sprint Qualifying on Friday. George Russell claimed pole position, finishing over two-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, with Lando Norris securing third. Russell received the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award from Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director. The prize includes a helmet decorated in the colours of the Chinese flag and a replica Pirelli P Zero Soft tyre, both personalised with the driver’s name and number.

Pirelli’s compound regulations shaped the qualifying format. In SQ1 and SQ2, drivers were required to use a set of medium tyres, with most completing two fast laps per segment. For the final SQ3 shootout, the top 10 switched to the soft compound. Russell’s pole time of 1:31.520 came on the red-walled P Zero Soft, less than seven-tenths slower than the 2025 sprint pole time of 1:30.849, set by Lewis Hamilton.

The F1 Academy also opened its season in Shanghai, with Alisha Palmowski setting the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying. She outpaced Alba Larsen and Emma Felbermayr ahead of the series’ two races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Marrafuschi said, “During Sprint race weekends, it’s always challenging for teams to fully assess tyre behaviour as they only have one hour of free practice. During this session, the teams used one set of medium tyres and one set of soft tyres, without carrying out any significant long runs. The hards were saved for the following days, and some teams may consider using them in their strategies for Sunday's race as early as tomorrow.

“The Sprint race, which is most likely to be run on Medium tyres, will certainly provide a clearer picture. The performance difference between the two compounds used on Friday is around six tenths. Interestingly, in the first two qualifying segments, the C3 was once again able to deliver maximum performance on the second push lap after completing a cooldown lap.

“Temperatures are cooler than last year; the track is still dirty and has less grip than we will see on Sunday as the track evolves. As happened last year and as expected, some graining appeared on the front-left tyre, which is the most stressed by Shanghai’s corners, and to a lesser extent on the front-right, although the impact on overall wear remains limited. On this circuit, teams tend to prioritise protecting the front axle, shifting the balance towards the rear as much as possible.”

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Nexen Tire has received a ‘Good’ overall rating for its N'Fera Sport model in the latest summer tyre test conducted by Auto Bild in March 2026. The assessment highlights the tyre's strong performance within the competitive Ultra-High-Performance segment.

Tested on a BMW 5 Series (G60) with size 245/45 R 19 tyres, the N'Fera Sport distinguished itself through exceptional braking capabilities, achieving the third-shortest stopping distance among 50 competitors in the qualification phase and demonstrating excellent safety margins on both wet and dry surfaces. The tyre further impressed with its precise steering response and reliable grip, even under challenging conditions. Its overall performance secured it the third-place position in the qualification round. Notably, the N'Fera Sport also excelled in acoustic comfort, ranking second out of 20 tyres for low noise generation.

These results underscore the model's blend of control, responsiveness and safety, making it suitable for both everyday driving and more dynamic scenarios. Nexen Tire views this recognition as a validation of its ongoing commitment to innovation, quality and the production of high-performance products designed to enhance the driving experience.

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Bridgestone Corporation has unveiled its comprehensive motorsports engagement strategy for 2026, reaffirming its dedication to competitions spanning all levels, from elite international championships to grassroots events for amateur enthusiasts. This initiative will prominently feature the POTENZA brand for four-wheel racing and the BATTLAX brand for two-wheel competitions, operating under the core philosophy that tyres are essential to safeguarding life.

In the realm of premier racing, the company supplies tyres under both the Bridgestone and Firestone banners. The Bridgestone brand continues its dominant presence in Japan's premier SUPER GT series, where POTENZA-equipped teams recently secured an unprecedented fifth overall championship title in both the GT500 and GT300 categories. Simultaneously, on two wheels, BATTLAX-equipped competitors have achieved their fifth consecutive victory – and sixth overall – in the gruelling FIM Endurance World Championship, underscoring the tyre technology's reliability and performance under extreme conditions.

Complementing these achievements, the historic Firestone brand upholds its 125-year legacy as the exclusive tyre supplier for the renowned NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This partnership includes providing tyres for the legendary INDY500, ensuring the continuation of this exhilarating motorsport tradition. Through these diverse activities, the technologies honed from the racetrack directly contribute to the evolution of its consumer product lines, strengthening the Bridgestone brand and bringing new innovations to customers worldwide.

The company prioritises competitor safety and confidence by supplying tyres meticulously developed and proven on the racetrack, thereby actively nurturing the broader motorsports culture. Crucially, the high-stakes environment of racing serves as a mobile laboratory, where technological advancements forged in the pursuit of victory are transferred to enhance consumer and commercial tyres, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering superior value.

Hiroshi Imai, Vice President and Senior Officer, Global Motorsports Bridgestone Corporation, said, “Motorsports is the ultimate team sport. Everyone involved will come together as 'One Team’, embracing the challenge of motorsports with passion and supplying tyres we have poured our hearts and souls into. We hope to bring joy to drivers, riders, teams and all the fans who come to witness the thrill of racing. I feel as if I'm rolling along with our tyres on the track! This year, we are also sharing the voices of 10 of our teammates who work in motorsports tyre structural design, material development, production and motorsports operations. Please look forward to the efforts of our dedicated teammates who face tyres every day, and their passion through ‘Genbutsu-Genba’ to pursue the ultimate in tyre performance.”

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