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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Michelin has introduced two new high-efficiency tyres – the MICHELIN Primacy ^{5 energy} and MICHELIN Pilot Sport ^{5 energy}. These two new product families have been developed in direct response to the shifting requirements of contemporary vehicle design. With the automotive industry’s rapid transition toward electrification, manufacturers are increasingly demanding tyres that deliver an exacting balance of low rolling resistance, tenacious grip, extended durability and precise handling dynamics. Both new ranges have been engineered to fulfil these criteria, offering tangible benefits such as extended range for electric vehicles and reduced fuel consumption for internal combustion models, all while upholding uncompromising standards of safety and longevity.

The MICHELIN Primacy ^{5 energy} is distinguished by its triple A-rating for wet braking, rolling resistance and external rolling noise. Compared to its predecessor, it achieves wet braking distances that are up to eight percent shorter, both when the tyre is new and when worn down to two millimetres of tread depth. Its best-in-class longevity is enabled by Energy Passive 2.0 Technology, which employs functionalised elastomers, advanced resins and a refined architecture to deliver the highest mileage in its European segment, including on electric vehicles. Independent tests have shown it can outlast leading competitors by as much as 40 percent in comparable conditions. The efficiency gains are substantial, offering up to six percent lower fuel consumption, which translates to roughly 0.3 litres saved per 100 kilometres, along with a 10 percent increase in electric vehicle range. These figures mean substantial fuel savings and a 327 kg reduction in CO₂ emissions over the tyre’s lifespan.

The MICHELIN Pilot Sport ^{5 energy} merges motorsport-derived engineering with energy-conscious design. Leveraging Dynamic Response Technology and a new Adaptive Grip Compound, it delivers the precise steering feedback and superior wet and dry grip expected from a high-performance tyre. MaxTouch Technology addresses the historically rapid wear associated with performance vehicles by optimising the contact patch for even wear distribution, while an Energy Passive compound in the shoulder areas achieves an unprecedented level of rolling resistance for this category. The result is a sport tyre that not only significantly outperforms key rivals in longevity tests but also secures an A rating for rolling resistance. Its endurance credentials were validated during the MERCEDES AMG GT CONCEPT XX world record, where it sustained a constant speed of 300 kmph for nearly eight days, demonstrating exceptional durability and energy efficiency under extreme conditions.

Both ranges are now being rolled out with a clear focus on meeting the specific demands of modern mobility. The Primacy ^{5 energy} is initially available in 33 sizes spanning 16 to 19 inches, while the Pilot Sport ^{5 energy} launches with 19 sizes across 19 to 21 inches. By addressing the dual imperatives of enhanced performance and reduced environmental impact, Michelin aims to reinforce its position in a segment that continues to dominate global tyre sales, offering solutions that cater equally to the needs of electric vehicles, hybrids and traditional internal combustion engine cars.

Jean-Claude Pats, Automobile and Two-Wheel Business Line Director and member of Michelin’s Executive Committee, said, “These innovations reflect a profound transformation in mobility. Today’s tyres must combine performance, longevity and energy efficiency while supporting the transition to electrified vehicles. With MICHELIN Primacy ^{5 energy} and MICHELIN Pilot Sport ^{5 energy}, drivers and manufacturers no longer need to compromise between performance, safety, durability and efficiency. These new ranges demonstrate Michelin’s continued investment in innovation and our ambition to deliver technologies that support the mobility needs of today and tomorrow.”

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has formed a new alliance with TMS Consultancy, a specialist in road safety audits and training. This partnership unites two organisations dedicated to reducing casualties through the ‘Safe System’ framework, merging TMS Consultancy’s expertise in engineering with TyreSafe’s focus on vehicle safety advocacy.

With a 35-year track record that includes delivering over 19,000 Road Safety Audits and more than 2,500 training courses for clients across UK, Ireland and beyond, TMS Consultancy brings practical, tailored solutions to the collaboration. This complements TyreSafe’s longstanding mission to advance road safety through education, research and awareness, particularly regarding tyre condition and vehicle maintenance. Together, they aim to close the gap between road design and vehicle safety by embedding TyreSafe’s specialised knowledge into TMS Consultancy’s established training programmes. This equips road safety practitioners with a deeper understanding of how tyre health, braking distances and road surface interaction are critically linked.

This alliance also strengthens TyreSafe’s existing network of more than 250 supporters, which includes local authorities, transport bodies and police forces, helping to spread consistent, evidence-led tyre safety messages widely. Building on existing partnerships with the Institute of Highways Engineers and the Road Surface Treatment Association, TyreSafe continues to advance awareness of the connection between tyres and road infrastructure. By joining forces with organisations involved in road development and maintenance, TyreSafe further embeds the Safe System approach, working to mitigate human error through safer roads, vehicles, speeds and road users, alongside effective post-crash response.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “Road safety depends on every element of a vehicle being fit for purpose, and tyres are a critical part of that. Working with TMS Consultancy allows us to bring clear, practical tyre safety guidance to more organisations and road professionals, helping them understand how simple checks and maintenance can prevent incidents and save lives.”

Jess Waldron, Director, TMS Consultancy, said, “Partnering with TyreSafe aligns perfectly with our mission to make roads safer for everyone; increasing knowledge and sharing best practice across the sector is a responsibility we take seriously. By sharing TyreSafe’s ACT message through our training and professional networks, we can ensure that vehicle safety becomes a core consideration for road safety practitioners across the board.”

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The ZARE initiative held its 2026 partner meeting on 18 March 2026 in Schwenningen, hosted by the Bavarian used tyre disposal company Reifen Draws, which was simultaneously celebrating its 50th anniversary. Guests were given a firsthand look at the company’s modern recycling operations. For five decades, Reifen Draws has served tyre retailers, car dealerships and repair shops across a 200-kilometre radius, earning a reputation for reliable service and expert advice as a certified disposal firm.

During the meeting, partners described a strained market environment marked by declining business volumes, mounting price pressure and a growing shift towards lower-value scrap. Rising fuel costs add further strain, as these expenses can only be partially passed on. The situation underscores that maintaining stable, high-quality tyre recycling remains a persistent challenge requiring coordinated effort across the entire value chain.

On the political front, partners welcomed developments at the state level, notably the integration of used tyres into North Rhine-Westphalia’s circular economy strategy following an industry roundtable. However, ongoing discussions highlight the need to strengthen recycling markets and improve regulatory frameworks. In this context, a recent call by the European Court of Auditors to reinforce recycling markets – emphasising functioning markets, consistent implementation and reliable EU financing – was noted. The rise in export inquiries from non-OECD countries further reinforces the importance of transparent material flows and clear rules for a sustainable circular economy.

A notable highlight was a presentation by detection-X GmbH on automated tyre damage detection and sorting. A pilot project on damage analysis is already underway with one ZARE partner, aimed at enhancing process efficiency and recycling quality – a significant step towards a more effective circular economy.

For the coming year, the partners have prioritised a joint presence at THE TIRE COLOGNE trade fair, along with refining tendering standards, addressing declining online inquiries and strengthening public outreach. These efforts seek to raise the visibility of certified used tyre disposal and underscore the value of high-quality recycling.

Looking ahead, the new Waste Shipment Regulation, taking effect in May 2026 and becoming mandatory in 2027, will introduce significant organisational and documentation demands affecting international material flows. ZARE partners intend to actively incorporate this topic into relevant industry events.

Overall, the 2026 partner meeting reaffirmed that while the industry faces considerable challenges, it benefits from strong networks, innovative capacity and a clear sense of purpose. In a demanding market environment, close collaboration remains essential as the ZARE partners continue advancing sustainable, high-quality solutions for end-of-life tyres across the entire value chain.

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Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., the parent organisation of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. and Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., has officially inaugurated a new tyre warehouse in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. This facility is scheduled to commence its initial outbound shipping operations on 1 April 2026, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The strategic development of this warehouse directly supports the corporation’s midterm expansion objectives while aiming to reduce service times for key dealers and customers throughout that part of the country.

Spanning 409,500 square feet, this distribution hub offers storage capacity for as many as 368,000 tyres. Its primary purpose is to elevate service and distribution capabilities across 14 states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, creating a ripple effect that allows the company’s existing tyre warehouses to operate with greater efficiency and maintain more consistent stock levels. By alleviating pressure on other locations, the new facility helps streamline the broader supply chain network, ensuring that inventory is positioned to meet regional demand more responsively.

In addition to its regional distribution role, the Shippensburg location is set to receive product directly from Toyo’s manufacturing facility in Serbia via the Port of New York and New Jersey. Plans are already in place to convert the site into a Foreign Trade Zone during the latter half of the year, a move intended to facilitate winter delivery operations for Toyo Canada. Equipped with advanced technology tailored specifically for tyre storage, this new warehouse represents the fifth tyre production warehouse and distribution centre established by the company across the continental United States, further solidifying its logistical infrastructure.

Curtis Maggard, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Logistics, said, “This warehouse represents a significant investment by Toyo, providing improved supply and faster service levels to our valued customers in the region. The warehouse is designed specifically for high volume tyre storage and will support Toyo’s sales forecast.”

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