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).

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Celebrated French cyclist Romain Bardet is entering a profound partnership with Michelin to serve as the strategic ambassador for its Gravel segment. This alliance is founded on a mutual commitment to pioneering innovation and sustainable performance within the discipline. Both Bardet and the Michelin Group share deep roots in France’s Auvergne region, reinforcing a natural cultural and geographical synergy that underscores a joint pursuit of excellence.

Beginning in 2026, Bardet will dedicate his racing calendar almost entirely to international Gravel events, aiming for podium results at competitions like the UCI Gravel World Series. His recent decisive win at a major Gravel event in Australia already signals his strong competitive potential in this arena. In his role, Bardet will initially compete on existing Michelin products such as the MICHELIN Power Gravel.

From 2027 onward, his involvement will deepen to actively co-develop future Gravel product ranges. By providing real-time feedback from diverse terrains and race conditions, Bardet will enable Michelin’s technical teams to refine and optimise product development directly from the field. This collaboration strategically merges elite athletic insight with engineering expertise to advance Gravel cycling innovation on a global scale.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Apollo Tyres Ltd reported a 12 percent increase in consolidated revenue for the third quarter of the 2025–26 financial year, supported by double-digit growth in both its Indian and European operations.

For the three months ended 31 December, 2025, the tyre maker recorded revenue from operations of INR 77.43 billion, compared with INR 69.28 billion a year earlier. Operating profit rose 25 percent to INR 11.86 billion, while net profit increased 40 percent to Rs 4.71 billion.

For the first nine months of the financial year, revenue rose seven percent to INR 211.35 billion, up from INR 197.00 billion in the corresponding period last year. Operating profit for the period increased 12 percent to INR 30.74 billion.

Net profit for the nine months stood at INR 7.41 billion, compared with INR 9.37 billion a year earlier. The company said the figure included an estimated pre-tax restructuring cost of INR 5.45 billion, disclosed as an exceptional item.

Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo Tyres Ltd, said the company delivered double-digit volume growth across geographies and market segments during the quarter.

“My compliments to the team for delivering double-digit volume growth across geographies and market segments in the past quarter,” he said. “India recorded its best quarterly performance to date, driven by strong growth across replacement, exports and OEM channels. Our European Operations also performed in line with the broader market. Encouragingly, demand momentum remains healthy, and we expect this trajectory to sustain going forward.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Building upon the foundation of their joint venture, UniPyrum, Pyrum Innovations AG and UNITANK Holding GmbH are advancing their collaboration into a concrete implementation phase. A key milestone has been reached with the signing of a high six-figure engineering and consulting agreement between Pyrum and UniPyrum, which also serves as the joint venture's inaugural order. This contract, for which an initial payment has already been made, focuses on the approval process and basic engineering for the partnership's first tyre recycling plant. The selected site is an existing UNITANK tank farm in Emleben, Thuringia, a location chosen for its excellent logistical access and established infrastructure.

This facility in Emleben represents the initial project within a broader vision to develop five to 10 such plants across Germany and Europe. The UniPyrum management team has begun its strategic work, securing preliminary funding and holding meetings to coordinate operational steps and site development. A primary focus of this early phase is the systematic identification and evaluation of strategic locations for subsequent projects.

To propel the ambitious pipeline forward, the venture's immediate priorities include selecting sites for the next two German plants and commencing the requisite planning and approval procedures. To manage this expansion effectively, UniPyrum plans to recruit specialised personnel, ensuring that the development of all projects progresses both efficiently and on schedule. This structured approach marks a significant transition from planning to active execution for the partnership.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “With the signing of the engineering contract, we are setting a decisive milestone together with UNITANK for the implementation of our first joint venture plant in Europe. The plant in Emleben is another driver of our growth strategy in Germany and lays the foundation for the widespread introduction of our pioneering recycling technology and the supply of system-critical raw materials produced from waste to Europe.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tyres Europe has announced that Brisa and Marangoni have become Full Members of the association, strengthening the European tyre manufacturing industry's collective presence.

Commenting on the development, Livio Magni, President, Tyres Europe, said, “We are pleased to welcome Brisa and Marangoni to Tyres Europe. Their joining reflects the importance of a strong and united industry voice at the European level, particularly at a time of increasing regulatory complexity and transformation for the tyre sector.”

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General, Tyres Europe, said, “The joining of Brisa and Marangoni reinforces the diversity and expertise within Tyres Europe, particularly in retreading and circular economy solutions. We look forward to working closely together on key EU policy files affecting competitiveness, sustainability and innovation in the tyre industry.”

Cenk Koçdor, Chief Growth Officer, Brisa, said, “Being part of such an influential platform that shapes the future of the industry at both European and global levels always makes us happy and proud. Through this full membership, we will contribute to the dialogue on regulations and market dynamics while strengthening our market intelligence to deliver greater value for our customers. With our capabilities, we will help reinforce the strategic role of tyres within a sustainable mobility ecosystem and support the industry’s readiness for the future.”

Vittorio Marangoni, President, Marangoni, said, “We are proud to regain our status as a Full Member and look forward to contributing to the European tyre industry during this challenging period. We will also be happy to share with Tyres Europe our specific expertise in the circular economy of tyres.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!