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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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.

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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."

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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.”

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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.

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