Six currencies, with an estimated population of 184 million - the East African community exists around the Great Lakes Region. “The Cradle of Mankind” is what it is called. This region lies in the heart of Africa and is home to both flora and fauna as it may have existed in the primordial times, undisturbed – SMART.

Mobility has changed considerably in this region by the way the tyres here have found their way into this market. In 1998, Truck Tubeless Tyre Conversions began in Kenya and quickly spread out to the neighboring regions. Presently 95% of the tyres found in fleets are tubeless and there is 100% conversion rate on Passenger and 4x4 range of vehicles. It was the SMART thing to do. The millennium saw an influx of Fleet Management softwares, Tyre Management Contracts, with the help of Budini Tyre Management Software. Unprecedented tyre training, growing investments in tyre machinery, tools and accessories investments. Technology and processes peaked and the bubble burst.

On the tyre spectrum 12.00R20, which was the predominant tyre size, was replaced by the low profile 315/80R22.5 (not the 13R22.5) which continues to hog 60% of the truck tyre market. The 8.25R16 was replaced by the 265/70R19.5 and 295/80R22.5 (together with 12R22.5) replaced 11.00R20. On the tyre spectrum and front we were ahead of developed, space (nuclear) age countries like India and the Gulf where tubeless conversions were less and the predominant sizes remained to be 10.00R20 and 12.00R24 respectively.

Tubeless rims became the order of the day and even when Trilex Split rims (80 years technology) are still in use in the Gulf. For a market that churns out approximately 600,000 trucks tyre casings per year, tyre retreading is the environmentally SMART thing to do. The cold procured tread process replaced the hot casing damaging process.  East Africa has not been left  SMARTing in this field either.

What went wrong:

1.  Intelligent Organisations. Any intelligent system must be data-driven

The primary objective of any successful organisation is to analyse large pools of data accumulated over long periods of time in their areas of operations (This includes transporters, tyre importers and distributors and tyre manufacturers). Increasingly organisational decisions are NOT taken by managers’ intuition and common sense but algorithms and data derived electronically from recording of our interactions and experiences with customers. Selling tyres has ceased to be a contact sport it has degenerated in some quarters into a Nintendo like encounter.

Intelligent organisations normally SCALE (Sense, Comprehend, Act, Learn and Explain) their environment with managers/ owners / directors ceding authority over certain decisions while acquiring new capabilities and roles for themselves. As conjoined twins, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) and SCALE goals must be matched.

Let me give illustration with a story. In Africa we love to do so. Reader’s discretion is advised!

A (SMART) priest arrived late at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, for a climbing expedition the following day. Exhausted, he searched for a room in the nearest inn. Only one room was available which he was requested by the motel owner to share with a beautiful lady wearing a stunning fishy (SCALEy) dress who had arrived late for the same expedition. To make matters worse, there was only one mattress. The exhausted lady prepared and slept on one side of the mattress, while the honorable  priest laid the sheet and slept on the cold floor two meters away. The following morning at the breakfast table the priest formally introduced himself to the beautiful lady as asked her where she was from. She on the other hand enquired of the priest as to his mission at the Kilimanjaro. “ I have come to climb and conquer this greatest mountain in Mother Africa,” he said proudly trying to impress her. She paused and after a sigh said to  the priest in a low voice, “Tell me exactly how you intend to climb this mountain when you cannot SCALE up a six-inch mattress?!”  Moral of the story: No matter how good your SMART goals are, you must act on SCALE-ing the heights.

2. Smart Technologies portend a smart working force

Tony Nicolini – Founder of the Budini Tyre Software and Systems, puts it beautifully when he says “Technology is only as smart as the users want it to be.”  The exponential growth of data capturing capability has not been matched by its harnessing and channeling into useful avenues largely because investments are low in the field of tyre education and  tyre infrastructure. Having experience Tyre related trainings in different parts of the world, our region receives but a trickle of the much-needed skill laced training that would sharpen their senses in order to tyre SCALE better.

The three aspects related to Smart Tyre Technology are:

Smart transporters

Zul is a transporter who runs a successful bus company. Operating from the heart of Nairobi, to most parts of Kenya. He keeps meticulous records on all his tyre records. These records were the basis for decision making for a transport company that has had the least number of fatalities in the country. Zul represents about 5% of transporters in this region who have scrupulous, readily available  data that is open to scrutiny not only by his own company but can be used by suppliers.

In 2012 I had a chance to visit Tyre Heaven, a company in Sao Paulo. They invited Nicolini (Budini) and me to visit their premises. With over 700 trucks and trailers, there were there only three persons working in the tyre department. Cradle-to-Grave tyre data is maintained for all tyres. Once or twice a year, like a pilgrimage, representatives major tyre suppliers congregate in the transport premises to tender openly for 8,000 tyres.

Smart processes

Special Sales approaches to the market determine the success or failure or a sales person. Many transporters, tyre importers or dealers approach to own products with little comprehension on the conditions of use. Mismatch between tyres and vehicles, tyre and routes, have only added to the chagrin on the end-user. Professional ethics prohibit me from dwelling too much into these sales processes to end-users and dealers, but to say the least, these methodical approaches have no substitute. As a result of tyres being treated as a commodity, where price is the only point of discussion, SMART tyres with lipstick and high-heels have found their way into a hostile market that has unpaved roads, untrained staff and uncaring drivers in some instances.

The readers of this article may have had access to better tyre optimisation processes than the ones I will mention below. Yet I can say without a doubt now will match the dedication and follow-up that is offered by the Budini Tyre Management Systems.

• The Tyre Optimisation Process is a non-patented process that was arrived at by a team of tyre experts on casing (yet not tyre optimisation) in order to achieve the lowest cost per Kilometer in a particular fleet. Pocket Suit, Survey Web and TMS are worth a glance.

Feature Benefits and Evidence (FABEs) is the way tyres were sold, sadly price has over-shadowed all three since both  the purchaser nor the seller are reluctant to discuss the matters relating to performance. Benchmarking of tyre mileages across fleets is more often than not misleading.

Smart sales people

Ajay, Yves, Mick and Tony belong to a fading rare breed of people who were tyre  fleet problem solvers. These gate-keepers and well-trained mentors in process described above played and continued to give solutions and on-site training in the harsh environments. What is common about this people in how  SMART or wise they are. It is the extremely long span of attention they dedicate in their line of duty. It is therefore worrying that today when the tyre is being treated as a commodity and not a Safety Engineering piece of equipment, Africa and Africans without secure gate keepers and anti-dumping laws will fall prey to fast talking sales persons with tik-tok attention spans. If I were to be the Chief Tyre General –  Certain Tyres would only be sold on prescriptions.

In  South Africa, it was uncommon for representatives of different companies to meet at a major transporter and conduct a joint scrap and claim analysis. Just like doctors conducting a post-mortem, sample casings from each brand would be analysed and reported before they would rest back for a Friday  Brae and Beer. SMART. I know this may be happening in other parts of the word any it is the reason we now have the Radial Tyre Damage Book.

RFID, push alerts, Translogic tools, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems) are all example of Smart technologies that many sales persons, managers, owners and directors are aware of but are not capable of implementing just yet. However, training might be that essential key that unlocks the thirst for the much-needed necessities.

I end this article with the SMARTest thing I have heard this year and maybe for a long time. It comes from a great mind in Tyre Management “It does not matter how you record (label) tyres in whatever system you have….what matters is what you do with that tyre after that. A basic tyre system understood by all is the best way to involve others and come out with shining success. It beats even the tyre RFID systems - Marcio Olievera (Budini Systems – SMARTyre SCALER).

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading independent tyre safety charity, has significantly expanded its industry backing with the formal addition of Dunlop and Falken to its roster of official supporters. The move arrives at a crucial juncture, as road safety advocates push for greater public awareness amid rising concerns over vehicle maintenance standards across the country.

Both brands bring considerable market weight to the charity, holding influential positions across premium, performance, SUV and light commercial vehicle categories throughout UK and Europe. Their entry into the TyreSafe fold does more than simply increase membership numbers; it injects fresh technical perspective and broadens the demographic of motorists who can be reached through co-branded safety messaging. This development coincides with the rollout of Britain’s first comprehensive road safety strategy in over a decade, a period in which industry-wide cooperation has become increasingly vital.

Practical benefits for everyday drivers are expected to emerge quickly, as the partnership enables larger-scale distribution of educational content on tyre care fundamentals such as proper inflation, tread evaluation and defect recognition. Beyond public awareness, the alliance creates a framework for joint research ventures and information exchange, potentially yielding richer data on accident causation and tyre performance under varied conditions. These insights are likely to inform future campaign designs and help address gaps in current road safety knowledge.

The collaboration reinforces a growing consensus within the automotive sector that preventable road incidents demand unified responses rather than isolated efforts. TyreSafe will coordinate closely with its new partners on targeted initiatives spanning driver education, industry engagement and policy advocacy. By combining the charity’s strategic oversight with the commercial reach and engineering expertise of Dunlop and Falken, the group aims to foster lasting behavioural shifts among motorists, ultimately contributing to a measurable decline in tyre-related casualties on UK roads.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome both DUNLOP and FALKEN to TyreSafe. Their decision to join TyreSafe demonstrates a clear commitment to road safety. This is significant not only for TyreSafe, but for road users. The more leading manufacturers we can bring together around a shared vision for safer roads, the greater our ability to influence behaviour, share expertise, generate evidence and deliver life-saving safety messages. The publication of the Government’s new national Road Safety Strategy has created a renewed focus on casualty reduction across UK. Achieving those ambitious goals will require genuine collaboration between industry, government, enforcement and road safety organisations, and we are excited to have DUNLOP and FALKEN joining us on that journey.”

Markus Bögner, President and Managing Director, Dunlop Tyre Europe and FALKEN Tyres Europe, said, “We are delighted to join TyreSafe and become part of an organisation that has played such an important role in improving tyre safety awareness across UK for more than two decades. At DUNLOP and FALKEN, safety, innovation and performance are at the heart of everything we do. As manufacturers, we recognise that delivering world-class products is only part of the equation; helping road users understand the importance of tyre maintenance and vehicle safety is equally important. TyreSafe has built a strong reputation for bringing together industry, enforcement, government and road safety partners to drive meaningful change, and we are proud to be joining that community. We believe that by working collaboratively and sharing expertise, we can help raise awareness of the vital role tyres play in keeping people safe on the roads. We look forward to supporting TyreSafe’s mission and contributing to initiatives that encourage safer journeys for road users across UK.”

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Lassa Tyres, the flagship international brand of Brisa, Türkiye's sector leader and tyre industry export champion, recently convened its international distributors for an exclusive event aimed at celebrating enduring partnerships and articulating its strategic growth trajectory. The gathering, which coincided with The Tire Cologne, brought together representatives from over 20 companies within the brand’s global network to reinforce synergy and mutual dedication.

Central to the brand’s vision is the ongoing enrichment of its product portfolio and technological transformation, designed to bolster competitiveness in key export markets. In response to shifting consumer demands abroad, Lassa Tyres is significantly expanding its winter and all-season offerings, complementing its established summer lineup.

The company has introduced four new winter tyres and one all-season tyre, marking a comprehensive overhaul of its winter range across all segments. These new products incorporate ‘EV ready’ and ‘NextGen’ technologies, aligning with the global industry shift towards larger rim diameters and the proliferation of electric vehicles. The updated winter portfolio is projected to satisfy approximately 85 percent of European market demand, with a particular emphasis on increasing availability in sizes 18 inches and above.

Brisa Chief Executive Officer Vecih Yılmaz underscored that sustainable global expansion relies on robust partnerships, affirming that the company continues to advance in international markets through locally responsive business models. This strategic approach reinforces Lassa Tyres’ commitment to meeting diverse regional needs while solidifying its presence in critical winter tyre segments worldwide.

Yılmaz said, "Driven by our commitment to continuously investing in and expanding our product portfolio in line with customer expectations, we are establishing a closer and more powerful connection with our customers through our expanding and enriched channel structure while enhancing our brand appeal among target audiences. Today, reuniting physically with our distributors at such a large-scale event is not only a celebration of our collaboration but also the most significant indicator that we are entering the new season stronger than ever with our completely renewed winter product portfolio. In line with our shared growth vision, we will continue to deepen our strong global presence together with our partners."

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AZuR network partner Genan has undertaken a significant strategic shift by divesting its tyre recycling facility in Houston, Texas, to concentrate exclusively on expanding its European footprint. The decision reallocates management focus and capital toward bolstering existing operations and penetrating new markets across the continent, effectively making Europe the sole theatre for the company’s future growth.

This corporate recalibration follows closely on the heels of Genan’s recently announced acquisition of a recycling plant in Weiden, Bavaria. That investment not only deepens the firm’s manufacturing base in Germany but also strategically enhances its logistical access to consumer and industrial markets throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Collectively, these moves crystallise a long-term commitment to establishing a robust European supply chain for high-quality secondary raw materials derived from end-of-life tyres.

The development arrives amid surging continental demand for recycled materials, with shorter supply chains and the imperative for resilient resource security driving the need for efficient domestic recycling capacity. Genan’s advanced mechanical processing technologies are positioned to address this gap, producing rubber granules, powder, steel and textile fractions that feed multiple industrial applications. The company’s role within the AZuR competence network further amplifies its impact, fostering joint innovation across repair, retreading and mechanical recycling stages.

Industry observers view Genan’s move as a clear endorsement of Europe’s ascendant position in the circular economy, where technological investment directly bolsters value creation and industrial know-how. Through collaborative efforts with research bodies and sector stakeholders, AZuR and its partners aim to strengthen the entire lifecycle of tyre materials, reinforcing the principle that closed-loop systems thrive on integrated, cross-sector cooperation.

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Goodyear is significantly broadening its award-winning UltraGrip Performance 3 tyre line, expanding the range to 344 stock-keeping units across Europe. The addition of 66 new SKUs marks a major milestone, as the company now offers the most extensive winter tyre coverage available from a single tread pattern. This strategic move simplifies the selection process for customers while extending proven performance to a wider array of vehicles.

The European automotive landscape now encompasses everything from compact city cars to high-performance electric vehicles and large SUVs. With this expansion, Goodyear is establishing a new benchmark for how comprehensively a singular winter tyre design can address this evolving market. By achieving this broad coverage through one pattern, the brand differentiates itself from competitors who often require multiple designs.

The newly introduced SKUs represent entirely new fitment opportunities, allowing Goodyear to serve vehicle models previously beyond its winter portfolio. Over 90 percent of the new additions are in sizes of 19 inches and above, with the entire range now spanning from 14 to 23 inches to accommodate Europe's changing vehicle parc.

This growth reinforces Goodyear's presence in both replacement and original equipment markets, featuring 59 new replacement SKUs and 7 OE fitments. The replacement segment now includes options for models like the Volvo EX60 and BMW X3 M50, as well as electric vehicles such as the Škoda Elroq RS. New OE partnerships have been secured with major manufacturers, including the BMW iX3, Porsche Cayenne Electric and Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ.

The tyre's reputation is validated by securing first place in the ADAC Winter Tire Test for both 2024 and 2025, with ADAC predicting a lifespan of 76,500 kilometres. Strong braking and handling on snow, wet and dry roads are achieved through Snow Protect and Wet Grip technologies. Designed for both electric and traditional vehicles, the tyre also features reduced rolling resistance and lower interior noise for a refined driving experience.

Ben Glesener, Senior Technology Director, Product Development Consumer EMEA Goodyear, said, “Today’s winter tyre market is more complex than ever, with more vehicle types, sizes and requirements than before. By offering 344 SKUs within a single winter tyre pattern, UltraGrip Performance 3 cuts through that complexity, making it easier to choose a tyre that delivers proven performance across a wide range of vehicles.”

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