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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Tyres Europe has underscored that tyres qualify as fully recyclable under ISO 22628:2002 and UN Regulation No. 133, describing the established methodology as a robust foundation for assessing tyre recyclability. The organisation recently set out its position on the matter.

The distinction between recyclability and actual recycling rates is central to the group's argument. Recyclability refers to the technical potential of a product and its materials to be recycled, while the real rate hinges on treatment capacity and demand for secondary raw materials. Regulatory frameworks should therefore separate the two concepts clearly and align with an internationally recognised standard.

Tyres consist of rubber compounds, chemical additives and reinforcing textile and steel cords, and at end of life they are separated into rubber, textile and steel fractions, all of which existing mechanical or chemical routes can recycle. Mechanical processing yields rubber granules and powders usable as secondary raw materials across many applications, recovered textiles can be further processed and valorised, and cleaned recovered steel can re-enter metal recycling and steelmaking.

Tyres Europe pledged continued cooperation with policymakers and value-chain partners to strengthen circularity and maximise recovery of valuable tyre materials in Europe, with the full paper available on its website.

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Prinx Chengshan showcased comprehensive tyre solutions for diverse North American driving needs at the 2026 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The company presented products designed to address the continent's varied geography and climate, where drivers seek year-round performance from a single tyre set.

The PRINX HiSEASON 4S HS1 and Fortune CLIMAFLEX 4S FSR402 deliver consistent grip and handling in snow and wet conditions, with low noise and long tread life balancing comfort and cost efficiency. For off-road capability, the PRINX HiCOUNTRY A/T2 and Fortune TORMENTA A/T 2 provide puncture resistance and traction on unpaved roads, resisting cuts from sharp gravel – suited to 4×4 and SUV owners who combine commuting with off-road excursions.

At the show, Prinx Chengshan's sales team engaged in extensive discussions with North American distributors, channel partners and end users about real-world applications of all-season and off-road tyres. The team gathered substantial firsthand market feedback and reached preliminary understandings on future cooperation, laying a foundation for continued North American expansion.

As Chengshan Group marks its factory's 50th anniversary, Prinx Chengshan continues strengthening international brand presence. In 2026, PRINX entered the European commercial vehicle market, partnered with the Garrett Trucksport team at the FIA European Truck Racing Championship and became an official USL partner. The Fortune brand maintains a strong North American presence through USA Pickleball sponsorships. The SEMA appearance highlights product strengths and globalisation progress as the company pursues coordinated development across overseas capacity, distribution, branding, and supply chain.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has announced Nottinghamshire Police as an official partner, joining the network of police forces committed to promoting safer tyres and safer roads. The collaboration aims to raise awareness of the essential role tyres play in road safety, urging road users to conduct regular checks and address problems promptly. TyreSafe maintains that partnerships between road safety organisations and police forces are a valuable means of building awareness and helping prevent avoidable incidents.

The partnership arrives amid ongoing road safety concerns in Nottingham and the surrounding county. Department for Transport road safety data, published through its STATS19 dataset, recorded 780 personal-injury collisions in Nottingham in 2025, involving 900 casualties. Eight were fatal and 164 resulted in serious injuries, with the total exceeding the 761 recorded in 2024. Although collisions can have many contributing factors, tyre condition remains an essential element of vehicle safety that every driver can help manage.

Tyres represent a vehicle's only point of contact with the road, influencing grip, braking, steering and stability. Incorrect tyre pressures, damaged tyres and insufficient tread can compromise performance, particularly in wet weather and during emergency manoeuvres. Nottinghamshire Police serves a diverse area of around 834 square miles, spanning Nottingham's urban centre, major towns, rural communities and extensive road networks. Home to approximately 1.16 million residents and two major universities, the area saw more than six billion vehicle miles travelled across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County combined in 2025.

Through joint efforts, TyreSafe and Nottinghamshire Police aim to reinforce the importance of regular tyre checks as part of a wider commitment to responsible driving and reducing road casualties. The addition of Nottinghamshire Police strengthens this shared commitment, supporting TyreSafe's work with partners across the country to make tyre safety a priority for every road user.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Nottinghamshire Police as an official TyreSafe partner. Police forces play a vital role in keeping our roads safe, and their support helps us reach more drivers with a message that can make a real difference. Tyre safety is sometimes overlooked, yet it is fundamental to how a vehicle performs on the road. Drivers may take care to observe speed limits and remain alert to hazards, but they also need to ensure their vehicles are safe and their tyres are in the right condition for the journey. By working with Nottinghamshire Police and our wider network of police partners, we want to make tyre checks a simple, everyday habit. Checking air pressure, condition and tread depth can help drivers identify problems before they become more serious and contribute to safer journeys for everyone.”

Chief Inspector James Walker, Operational Support department at Nottinghamshire Police, said, “Road safety is a shared responsibility, and ensuring vehicles are safe and roadworthy is an important part of protecting everyone who uses our roads. Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, yet their condition and pressure can easily be overlooked. We’re pleased to be partnering with TyreSafe to help raise awareness of the importance of tyre safety and encourage drivers to make regular checks part of their routine. Taking a few moments to check tyre pressure, tread depth and overall condition can help identify potential problems before they put drivers, passengers and other road users at risk. By working together, we can help spread this important message and support safer journeys across Nottinghamshire.”

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Trelleborg Tires unveiled two new agricultural tyre solutions at the ongoing EIMA International 2026 in Bologna, Italy, expanding its premium portfolio with products engineered for demanding field applications. The CR3000 and PneuTrac Aqua were presented during a dedicated conference at Hall 14, Stand B2, combining advanced engineering and application-specific technologies developed over decades of expertise.

The CR3000 addresses the harvesting segment, designed for high-power combines operating in challenging conditions. Its Off-Stubble Technology pairs an optimised structure with a dedicated compound to resist crop residue damage, while an interlug design improves self-cleaning and maintains traction across varying soils. Integrated VF-CFO technology reduces soil compaction and supports higher cyclic loads, together extending tyre life and sustaining productivity when harvest hours are critical.

For centre pivot irrigation systems, the PneuTrac Aqua targets continuous operation in wet fields where traction, stability and uninterrupted performance are essential. The tyre combines an airless PneuTrac carcass, an Omega-shaped sidewall using CupWheel technology by Galileo Wheel Ltd. and a ProgressiveTraction tread design. Its puncture-proof construction eliminates maintenance and replacement, while the wide, uniform footprint minimises soil compaction and supports consistent ground contact in water-saturated soils.

Both solutions reflect Trelleborg's focus on helping agricultural professionals maximise productivity throughout the season. The CR3000 delivers stubble protection, high load capacity and extended tyre life, while the PneuTrac Aqua ensures maintenance-free irrigation performance. Together, the launches reinforce the company's commitment to long-lasting value and high performance in the field.

Luca Sabelli, Global Marketing Director, Trelleborg Tires, said, “Innovation is most valuable when it responds to real agricultural needs. CR3000 and PneuTrac Aqua are developed for two highly specialised applications, bringing together advanced engineering and decades of expertise for unmatched productivity. At EIMA 2026, we are proud to showcase these latest innovations and demonstrate how Trelleborg Tires continues to drive the future of agricultural productivity through premium tyre technology.”

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