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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hankook Tyre Australia successfully participated as the official tyre supplier for the 2026 Bathurst 6 Hour, held from 3 to 5 April at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit. This role reinforced the company’s dedication to advanced tyre technology and high-performance motorsport. The primary endurance race took place on 5 April, lasting six demanding hours.

To support the event, Hankook Tyre Australia deployed its sophisticated motorsport tyre technology, specifically the Ventus TD semi-slick competition tyre. Engineered for rigorous track driving, this tyre provides exceptional dry grip, steady handling and improved longevity over long race stints. Its design focuses on durability, heat management and even load distribution for consistent wear.

The 2026 edition marked the 10th running of the Bathurst 6 Hour, featuring 69 cars across various classes. The challenging 6.2-kilometre Mount Panorama Circuit, with its high-speed sections, technical turns and steep elevation changes, solidified this event as Australia’s top production car endurance race.

The race itself was highly competitive and fluid, featuring numerous lead changes and tactical battles throughout the six hours. Victory went to Supercars driver Thomas Randle alongside Ben and Michael Kavich after a tight contest resolved only in the closing laps. In this demanding environment, the Ventus TD proved critical, offering stable grip and predictable handling over long stints to optimise race strategy, while its compound and tread design minimised wear and supported balanced load distribution under varying track conditions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Trelleborg Tires will exhibit at Intermodal South America 2026 from 14 to 16 April at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, Brazil, showcasing the XP1000 tyre for high-intensity material handling. The company will be at booth M023 and within the Smart Intralogistics area, reinforcing tyres’ role in automation and process optimisation. This presence highlights Trelleborg as a strategic partner where tyre solutions ensure stability and efficiency in data-driven operations.

Used on forklifts in warehouses, ports and industrial sites, the XP1000 delivers stability, durability and consistent performance to reduce interruptions. Its Pit Stop Line visual wear indicator signals replacement up to 100 hours in advance, enabling accurate maintenance and reducing unplanned downtime. Produced at the Feira de Santana plant in Brazil for domestic and South American markets, production rose 57.5 percent between 2024 and 2025, reflecting strong demand.

The tread design combines lightweight construction with recycled fibre compound, while the Pit Stop Line minimises waste, ensuring performance, material savings and lower environmental impact. Logistics operations are transforming through automation, electric fleets and data-driven management, key themes at Intermodal. In this context, tires directly impact operational stability and safety.

The Smart Intralogistics area focuses on automation and efficiency within warehouses and industrial facilities. Within this environment, the XP1000 helps reduce bottlenecks and maximise productivity. Trelleborg Tires is the only tyre manufacturer in this area, reinforcing tyre solutions as integral to modern intralogistics systems.

Marcelo Natalini, President, Yokohama TWS South America, said, "The modernisation of logistics operations requires components capable of keeping pace with the sector’s increasing demands for productivity and efficiency. Tyres play a key role in this context, directly contributing to operational reliability and continuity."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has introduced a new development rear tyre for the Dutch Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the iconic TT Circuit Assen. Designated F0298, this soft compound option is engineered to improve stability and deliver greater performance consistency over race distance. It joins the existing DIABLO Superbike rear range alongside the supersoft SCX, the soft SC0 and the medium SC1. The SCX is reserved for practice sessions, qualifying and the Superpole Race, while the SC0 and SC1 serve as the soft and medium race alternatives.

For the front axle at Assen, riders can choose between the soft SC1 and the medium SC2. Given the high likelihood of rain in the Netherlands during this season, Pirelli also provides wet weather solutions including the DIABLO Wet intermediate tyres and the DIABLO Rain full wets. In the WorldSSP class for its third round, the standard front tyre options are the SC1 and SC2, while the rear uses SCX and SC0 compounds.

Also returning to the track during the Dutch weekend are the World Sportbike Championship riders and the women of the WorldWCR series. Both championships use SC1 tyres on both axles, with a 120/70 front and 180/60 rear specification. This completes the tyre allocation across all classes competing at Assen.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, said, " With the 2026 WorldSBK Pirelli Dutch Round, the Championship arrives at the TT Circuit Assen, one of the most iconic tracks in world motorcycling. Both fast and technical, Assen features a mix of low-, medium- and high-speed corners, as well as often variable weather conditions, which over the years have played a decisive role in race outcomes.

“For the third round, confirming a continuous development effort aimed at improving both single-lap performance and further increasing consistency over race distance, Pirelli is providing teams and riders with a new development soft rear solution, the F0298. This tyre could represent a valid alternative to the standard SC0, with the goal of improving stability while ensuring a high level of consistency in race conditions.

“Taking into account the characteristics of the circuit and potentially low temperatures, our choice for qualifying and the Superpole Race has fallen on the supersoft SCX, which until last season was known as the development tyre E0126 and has become part of the standard range this year. For the same reason, as an alternative to the standard and development soft options, riders will also be able to rely on the medium SC1 rear in case of cold conditions.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

AZuR partners DIKABO and BEAR Machines have deepened their joint efforts by combining practical innovation with strategic growth in tyre recycling. Through the adoption of BEAR-CUT technology, DIKABO is building a new product line focused on reprofiling, demonstrating how collaboration can advance the circular economy in the commercial vehicle tyre sector.

The semi-automatic BEAR-CUT machine allows DIKABO to offer precise and repeatable reprofiling of truck tyres while fitting smoothly into existing workshop workflows. Sven Wehrmeyer, Managing Director, DIKABO highlights the equipment’s speed, high-quality cuts and straightforward setup, which together enabled immediate productivity gains. The company now plans to recut up to 55 tyres daily for its customers.

Reprofiling plays a vital role in the tyre circular economy by extending tyre mileage by as much as 25 percent, cutting the need for new tyre production, and lowering CO₂ emissions. With BEAR-CUT, DIKABO can further refine this process and tap into new market opportunities. Establishing its own reprofiling division is a strategic move into a high-growth segment that lowers material and energy costs while boosting tyre longevity.

Investing in BEAR-CUT is both a technological upgrade and a strategic portfolio expansion for DIKABO, creating a scalable business model with strong commercial vehicle demand and reinforcing its role in sustainable tyre services. This partnership exemplifies the AZuR network’s philosophy that innovations should be developed and scaled collectively, turning new technologies into resource efficient, low emission and competitive business solutions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!