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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The Goodyear Highway Hero Award is actively seeking nominations to honour the exceptional bravery of commercial truck drivers. The programme, now in its 42nd year, recognises those who perform courageous acts that extend far beyond their typical job responsibilities to aid others and enhance public safety on North American highways.

To qualify for consideration, a nominee must hold a current Commercial Driver's License and drive an eligible vehicle, which includes long-haul trucks, vocational and infrastructure trucks and non-lifesaving emergency vehicles with rim sizes exceeding 19 inches. The incident must have taken place within the United States or Canada during the 2025 calendar year while the driver was officially on duty.

The nomination period remains open until 31 January 2026. Submissions require a detailed account of the event and are made through Goodyear’s dedicated online portal. Following a review of all entries, a panel of judges will evaluate the approved nominations to select one winner and up to two finalists. The grand prize winner will receive a cash award and a ride aboard the Goodyear Blimp, while the finalists will also be granted monetary prizes. The recipient of the award will be officially announced in early 2026.

Joe Stuglis, Vice President, Commercial Sales North America, Goodyear, said, "Truck drivers are the unsung heroes of our roads and communities. For more than four decades, the Highway Hero Award has celebrated those who step up in critical moments to protect others. We're proud to continue this tradition and shine a spotlight on their inspiring stories."

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The Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) has made a proposal to Tyre Retreaders Education Association (TREA) for mandating certain standards that will improve the quality of retreads.

Speaking to Tyre Trends about the move, a source privy to the developments explained, “We have sought TREA’s views on mandating the retread standards and we are currently awaiting their formal response on the subject. Once an agreement is reached with TREA, a formal proposal will be submitted to BIS for consideration. At present, the retread sector is largely unorganised with more than 10,000 retreaders operating. Once the applicable standards are mandated, all retreaders will be required to comply with the relevant BIS standards and mark their products with the BIS certification marks.”

“Considering the large number of retreaders operating in the market, enforcing retread standards will be a significant challenge for BIS,” he added.

As per an ICRA report, the Indian retreaded market was valued between INR 580 billion and INR 600 billion with a cumulative annual growth rate of 7–9 percent between FY23-26. As the market continues its projected trajectory, quality and efficacy become paramount not only to bolster recognition and usage but also to make a name at the global level.

The documents that were accessed by Tyre Trends signal a major restructuring of test procedures and physical property norms across key retreading standards.

At the centre of the exercise is remarks from Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), supplemented by inputs from a major tread maker, covering four foundational BIS retread standards, namely IS 15725, IS 15753, IS 15524 and IS 9168.

TREA members are yet to assess proposed updates to the physical-property criteria for uncured rubber including tread, belt, undertread, base and cushion gum compounds.

The technical work on retread-casing standard IS 15704 represents the most sensitive part of the proposal. Furthermore, ITTAC has partially aligned Indian requirements with ECE R109, the European regulatory benchmark.

Key alignments include widening allowable outer-diameter growth for tyres with section widths above 305 millimetre, raising permissible deviation from two percent to 3.5 percent for high-aspect-ratio radial tyres and four percent for bias-ply constructions.

ITTAC also endorsed the addition of a one percent deviation allowance for snow tyres, consistent with R109 clause 7.1.5.2.

The recommendations in the proposal also contains inputs from Michelin Tyres. The company had proposed a full R109-based clause on minimum material thickness above the breaker for diagonal-ply casings.

ITTAC did not accept the full wording, arguing that IS 15704 already covers requirements for both radial and bias tyres, but acknowledged that the minimum 0.80 millimetre non-repair spot thickness must be explicitly stated to prevent accidental exposure of the belt package during buffing operations, informed the source.

Alluding to how these changes will be incorporated, he noted, “As far as process is concerned, like in case of new tyres, retreader will apply to BIS for getting the license. After reviewing the application, a BIS auditor will visit the retreading facility and collect samples for testing at BIS-authorised laboratories. The laboratories will conduct tests as specified in the standard and submit their reports to BIS. If the sample successfully meets all requirements, a license is issued to the retreader, allowing them to mark their retreaded tyres with the applicable ISI mark.”

India’s retreading sector now stands at a defining crossroads. The push by ITTAC to formalise and mandate BIS standards marks a decisive shift from a largely fragmented landscape to one governed by measurable, certifiable quality benchmarks.

For more than 10,000 retreaders, the transition will not be easy as compliance, auditing and testing will demand new investments, capabilities and mindsets.

Yet, this transformation also presents an unprecedented opportunity. Standardisation could elevate Indian retreads from a cost-driven alternative to a globally credible, technically assured product category.

As TREA prepares its response and BIS gears up for the next drafting phase, the onus now lies on industry players to embrace this moment. If executed well, the reforms could not only improve safety and performance but also position India as a competitive force in the international retreading arena.

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Linglong Tire has recognised its top-performing global dealers at a five-day event in London, bringing together partners from several regions as the Chinese manufacturer seeks to strengthen its international distribution strategy.

Dealers from Australia, El Salvador, Egypt, Finland, Italy, Poland, Turkey and Uzbekistan were among those invited. The company said participants were selected for achieving the highest sales of Linglong Group products in the first half of 2025, covering its core Linglong range as well as regional brands such as Atlas Tires in Australia and Benchmark in Turkey.

The event included corporate and product briefings, during which Linglong awarded certificates to all attendees. Several dealers also presented their own business strategies, outlining how they position the brand in their respective markets. Linglong said the exchanges enabled participants to compare marketing approaches and share regional insights.

The programme concluded with a group visit to a Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC. Linglong is a global tyre partner of Chelsea and is represented on LED boards at all home games at Stamford Bridge.

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., founded in 1975, operates seven research centres and seven manufacturing bases, including facilities in Thailand and Serbia. The company employs more than 19,000 people and supplies tyres to over 200 vehicle-production sites worldwide. It retains a presence in original equipment supply for manufacturers including Volkswagen, Audi and BYD.

Linglong said it intends to continue evaluating potential sites for future overseas capacity as part of its long-term global expansion strategy.

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European replacement tyre demand was broadly stable in the third quarter of 2025, although overall volumes remain weaker than last year as economic softness and rising imports continue to weigh on the market, according to new figures from Tyres Europe.

The industry association said sales across the consumer segment — which includes passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles — were flat in the quarter and down slightly in the first nine months of the year. Adam McCarthy, Secretary-General of Tyres Europe, said: “Tyre markets were generally stable in the third quarter of 2025, although demand in the Truck & Bus tyre segment remained weak. Data for the first three quarters shows tyre volumes generally lower than the same period in 2024.”

The data point to an ongoing shift in consumer purchasing patterns. Sales of summer car tyres declined, while demand for all-season and winter products continued to rise. McCarthy added that “demand for car tyres is clearly shifting from summer tyres toward all-season and winter products”.

Truck and bus tyres recorded a sharper downturn. Third-quarter declines followed similar weakness earlier in the year, reflecting subdued freight activity and stronger competition from imports. Year-to-date sales fell about 1 percent. McCarthy noted that the segment’s performance “reflect[s] subdued economic activity across the region and an increase in imported tyres”.

Agricultural tyre volumes remained well below pre-pandemic levels, though quarterly figures were broadly stable. Moto and scooter tyres showed modest growth.

The update highlights significant changes in the region’s import landscape. Imports of passenger car and light truck tyres into the EU27 and UK rose 10 percent in the first eight months of 2025, although growth slowed sharply after a strong end to 2024 and early 2025. China retained a dominant market share of more than 70 percent, but Vietnam’s exports expanded rapidly from a low base, exceeding volumes from India. Truck and bus tyre imports increased nearly 14 percent, with Thailand and Vietnam accounting for more than half of extra-European shipments. China lost share and fell to third place.

Underlying mobility trends also point to a mixed recovery in tyre usage. Miles travelled by light vehicles across Europe are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2025, but car mileage in Western Europe will not fully recover until 2026 or later, according to the analysis. Truck mileage remains closely tied to GDP growth but has lagged behind owing to efficiency gains, larger vehicles and structural shifts in the European economy.

The report also emphasised regulatory barriers that continue to affect the recycling sector. Tyres Europe and Recycling Europe repeated their call for harmonised EU-wide End-of-Waste criteria for rubber derived from end-of-life tyres. “Standardised End-of-Waste criteria will boost demand for high-quality secondary raw materials and reduce dependence on virgin resources,” said McCarthy.

Tyres Europe represents 13 manufacturers whose global sales account for 70 per cent of the worldwide tyre market and collectively operate more than 70 production sites and over 20 research centres in Europe. The sector supports almost 500,000 jobs across the EU.

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