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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A new industry initiative is highlighting the indispensable role of advanced conveyor belts, positioning them as a critical yet often overlooked technology underpinning the global economy. The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk), through its campaign ‘Rubber – We save the world!’, is emphasising the sophisticated engineering of these systems.

According to Volker Krings, Chief Chemist of the association in Frankfurt am Main, these belts function as a combined pathway and container, a duality made possible only through the complex integration of rubber, thermoplastics and plastics, reinforced with steel cables or textile fabrics. This core structure is supported by a system of rubber-coated rollers, drums and scrapers.

While the public most commonly encounters these systems at airport luggage carousels or supermarket checkouts, their most significant applications operate largely out of sight, pointed out Krings. They are the backbone of logistics in parcel sorting centres and are deployed on a massive scale in the mining and raw materials sectors. In these industries, extensive conveyor networks transport immense volumes of ore, coal and gravel over vast distances, both underground and on the surface. Their utility further extends to agriculture, food processing and automotive manufacturing.

The environmental and economic argument for these systems is compelling. Conveyor belts represent the most cost-effective method for moving large quantities of bulk goods. By assuming this burden, they significantly reduce the volume of heavy truck and rail traffic, leading to direct benefits for road infrastructure and the environment. The German production of these belts is a high-tech field, where ongoing optimisation of rubber compounds and belt architecture continues to drive down the energy consumption of the entire conveyor system.

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In recognition of its industry-leading water conservation efforts, Apollo Tyres’ Chennai facility has been honoured with the first prize in the National Water Awards (for 2024) within the Best Industry category. The President of India presented the award to the plant’s Head of Engineering, Mushtaq Mohammad Khan, at a formal ceremony.

The company attributes this success to its comprehensive 7R Strategy – encompassing Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace, Rethink, Refuse and Regenerate – and the 3M Principles of Measure, Monitor and Manage. This framework facilitated a notable 38 percent decrease in Specific Fresh Water Consumption from the 2022 to 2026 financial years. The national award is viewed as a direct affirmation of the company's strategic commitment to sustainable water stewardship and its long-term vision for responsible manufacturing.

This achievement underscores the effectiveness of the company's environmental processes and the dedication of its teams. Apollo Tyres has expressed its intention to continue pursuing advanced sustainability initiatives to ensure future water security.

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In a significant strategic expansion, Point S, one of the world’s largest independent tyre and automotive service networks, has introduced its first proprietary line of truck tyres. The official launch occurred at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, representing a major advancement in the company's deep involvement with the commercial vehicle industry. Already a well-established force in the truck tyre markets of Europe and North America, Point S is leveraging its expertise to introduce the Point S Tyres Truck range. This initiative is seen as a disruptive move in the international sector, extending the group's reputation for quality and its independent ethos to a wider base of transport professionals.

The comprehensive range consists of eight key sizes, all certified with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, guaranteeing reliable winter performance and year-round usability. Two notable products within the line are the Mixed Service tyre, designed for extreme conditions with optimised durability and stone penetration resistance, and the Regional Haul tyre, noted for its versatility, robustness and full 3PMSF certification across all sizes. Production for these tyres will be handled by a premium truck and bus radial manufacturer based in Poland and Turkey. A key logistical benefit for Point S members is the ability to combine orders from both production facilities into a single shipment, enhancing ordering flexibility and overall supply chain efficiency.

This new private label range is engineered to provide long-lasting value for independent retailers, featuring high-performance solutions that are both regroovable and retreadable. By moving into the truck tyre segment, Point S now offers its global network of members a complete portfolio that previously included only passenger and premium tyres. This empowers members to more effectively and competitively serve fleet operators and other clients with a compelling price-to-performance ratio.

Fabien Bouquet, CEO, Point S International, said, “This launch represents a key step in our journey to support our members and their customers with complete mobility solutions. Transport professionals need tyres that deliver performance, durability and value, which is exactly what this range delivers. It also marks an important milestone in our long-term strategy to strengthen our position in the commercial vehicle sector and to bring more innovation, choice and independence to the truck tyre market.”

Emilie Faure, International Private Labels Product Manager, said, “From the outset, our goal has always been to replicate the strategy and success of our Point S Tyres passenger car range by extending it to the commercial vehicle market with the launch of Point S Tyres Truck. To support this development, we involved selected Point S members and some of our small and medium-sized fleet clients from various countries to test the product. Initial feedback has been extremely positive, with testers particularly impressed with the range’s performing, as well as its quality and competitiveness in real-world operations.”

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According to Tyres Europe's sales data for the Q3 and the first three quarters of 2025, the overall tyre market has demonstrated general stability. Adam McCarthy, the organisation's Secretary General, reported that despite this, demand for Truck and Bus tyres has remained persistently weak. Cumulative figures for the year so far indicate that total tyre volumes are lower than those recorded during the same period in 2024.

Within the Consumer segment, third-quarter sales were stable, yet they reflect a slight decrease for the year to date. A notable trend is the shifting consumer preference away from summer tyres and towards all-season and winter products. The Truck and Bus segment experienced a continued decline, with the year's sales also down slightly, a situation attributed to regional economic softness and a rise in tyre imports. Meanwhile, the Agricultural tyre market saw stable volumes in the quarter, though they remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

The full Quarterly Update, prepared by Astutus Research, is available for download on the Tyres Europe website.

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