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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Pirelli has renewed its collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing in North American rallying, a partnership that will see the new Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 make its competitive debut this weekend at the 100 Acre Wood Rally. This marks the second round of the season and reintroduces the Corolla name to international rally competition.

The vehicle, developed specifically for the RC2 category of the American Rally Association (ARA), is derived from the road-going GR Corolla and has been meticulously refined with contributions from Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen. Central to its development was the use of the latest Pirelli AT Scorpion gravel tyres, an advanced evolution of a tyre family already widely respected in the World Rally Championship for its consistent reliability and performance. These same tyres will be used throughout the entirety of the American season.

American driver Seth Quintero has been selected to pilot the new machine for the remaining rounds of the championship, bringing fresh energy to the campaign. The Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 represents a significant technical achievement, blending production-based design with competition-focused engineering. The development process benefited from extensive testing and the input of world-class drivers, ensuring the car is well prepared for the challenges of the ARA. With the Pirelli AT Scorpion tyres providing a proven foundation for gravel performance, the team enters the season with strong momentum and clear objectives for the rounds ahead.

Terenzio Testoni, Rally Activity Manager, Pirelli, said, “It’s a pleasure to see our collaboration with Toyota renewed in American rallying with a technically exciting project such as the Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2. The ARA championship is a top-level series that adds to the many rally and GT programmes supplied by Pirelli around the world. We are ready to bring our experience to support Toyota in this new challenge.”

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Hoosier Racing Tire, a subsidiary of Continental AG specialising in the production of racing tyres, has entered into a significant multi-year agreement with Street Car Takeover, assuming the roles of Presenting Sponsor and Official Tyre for the prominent street car racing series. This collaboration positions Hoosier at the forefront of a dynamic motorsport platform known for its high-energy atmosphere and rapid growth within the automotive community.

The partnership ensures Hoosier's prominent visibility throughout the entirety of SCT's event lineup. This includes a presence at preliminary gatherings, main racing days, collaborative activities and featured car showcases. By becoming the series' official tyre, Hoosier deepens its dedication to the racers and the vibrant culture that defines the sport, ensuring its products are integral to the competition.

Street Car Takeover orchestrates national weekends that combine various forms of racing, including traditional drag racing and roll racing, alongside substantial car shows. These events create an immersive experience centred on street car enthusiasm, drawing thousands of participants and spectators. The diverse competition classes accommodate a wide spectrum of vehicles, from everyday street-driven machines to extensively modified high-performance builds.

To enhance competitor support, a Hoosier Racer Incentive programme will be active throughout the season. Participants using Hoosier tyres across all racing classes will earn additional championship points, providing a tangible reward for their choice of equipment during the SCT tour. This commitment to grassroots competitors extends into the car shows held at each event, where special incentives and awards will recognise exceptional vehicles fitted with Hoosier tyres.

The 2026 Street Car Takeover season is set to commence with its opening event at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California. This weekend marks the first of 17 scheduled race events, where racers and fans will gather to experience a programme filled with high-speed competition, displayed vehicles and continuous activity.

Nic Moncher, Head of Marketing, Hoosier Racing Tire, said, “Street Car Takeover represents the heart of grassroots street-car performance, showcasing real racers, amazing cars, undeniable competition and an incredible lifestyle scene. At Hoosier, our mission has always been to fuel passion, pride and success. We're proud to partner with SCT, bringing even more performance, competition and excitement to every event.”

Chase Lautenbach, Founder, Street Car Takeover, said, “Hoosier Racing Tire is an iconic brand in drag racing, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them as the Presenting Sponsor and Official Tyre of Street Car Takeover. Their reputation for performance, innovation and racer support makes them a perfect fit for our racers and our fans.”

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Hankook Tire has introduced the Laufenn S Fit 2, a new addition to its sporty tyre lineup that emphasises consistent performance, efficiency and durability while upholding the premium standards of the Hankook brand. This marks a significant milestone as the first Laufenn model to be selected as original equipment by European automobile manufacturers. The Laufenn S Fit 2 is now widely available in 94 sizes ranging from 15 to 20 inches, with a dedicated SUV version offered in sizes from 16 to 20 inches.

Engineered specifically for the European market, the tyre underwent rigorous testing to ensure it performs reliably across diverse driving conditions. It delivers strong grip and stability for agile cornering on dry asphalt, confident control during heavy rain and a smooth, comfortable ride through city traffic. A key technical advancement is the high silica compound combined with convex tread blocks, which enables nearly 90 percent of sizes to achieve the top EU wet grip classification of A. This represents a 16 percent reduction in braking distance compared to its predecessor. Furthermore, four wide linear grooves enhance water evacuation, resulting in a 10 percent improvement in wet handling and increased directional and lateral stability at higher speeds.

The S Fit 2 also demonstrates notable gains in sustainability and cost efficiency. With a rolling resistance rating between B and C, the tyre supports exemplary fuel economy. The integration of a new generation of polymers contributes to a 15 percent increase in mileage over the previous model, thereby reducing long-term tyre costs. Additionally, the refined tread pattern minimises vibrations and noise, significantly enhancing acoustic comfort.

Beyond its performance credentials, the Laufenn S Fit 2 offers a high load capacity and low weight, making it suitable for a broad spectrum of vehicles. Looking ahead, Laufenn tyres designed for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles will feature a dedicated EV marking on the sidewall, a strategic characteristic of this second-generation product line that is already present on the S Fit 2.

Jang Hyuk Moon, Vice President – Marketing, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “With the Laufenn S Fit 2, we are strengthening the profile of our brand in the summer segment. The fact that the tyre is also being used as original equipment for the first time is an important milestone and shows that Laufenn is continuing to gain substance in the European market.”

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The AZuR project group on chemical recycling has published a comprehensive glossary to establish clear and consistent terminology in the field of used tyre processing. This resource aims to support a common understanding among industry professionals, scientists, politicians and the media by defining key technical terms and explaining complex processes transparently.

The glossary was compiled by Claus Lamer and Robert Weibold (both of Robert Weibold GmbH), along with Dr Ann-Kathrin Andresen (ING.-UP). It covers essential concepts related to chemical tyre recycling, such as pyrolysis and devulcanization, while also including other relevant recycling methods for context.

Pyrolysis, a central process in chemical recycling, involves the thermochemical decomposition of shredded tyres at high temperatures without oxygen. This process yields valuable outputs like pyrolysis oil, gas and recovered carbon black. The generated gas can be used to power the plant, making the process highly energy efficient. Devulcanisation is another technique highlighted, as it allows vulcanised rubber to be reprocessed into a usable secondary raw material.

These advanced recycling methods are crucial for advancing a sustainable tyre circular economy. They provide a climate-friendly alternative to landfills or incineration for tyres that are no longer suitable for repair or retreading. By transforming end-of-life tyres into valuable secondary raw materials, chemical recycling keeps resources in circulation and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

With this glossary, the AZuR project group provides a foundational technical reference to guide future discussion and development. It encourages a balanced assessment of the opportunities and limitations of these technologies, promoting innovation that supports a fully functional circular economy.

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