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 Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has concluded the seventh round of the 2026 season, FORUM8 Rally Japan. Held across the Aichi and Gifu regions, the competition saw Hankook provide its two specialised tarmac rally tyres: the Ventus Z215 for dry surfaces and the Ventus Z210 for damp conditions.

The rally consisted of 20 special stages covering 302.82 kilometres of challenging mountain asphalt. The route featured steep roads lined with cliffs, barriers and dense woodland, offering little room for error and demanding constant driver concentration. Due to the narrow layout with virtually no straight sections, maintaining stable line-holding and precise vehicle control became essential to avoid damage or retirement.

Fluctuating weather conditions, including mountain fog, localised rain and shifting surface temperatures, kept the road surface in constant change. In this environment, tyre performance proved critical, with the Ventus Z215 delivering strong cornering on dry highspeed sections and the Ventus Z210 providing drainage and reliable grip on damp stretches. The event drew intense local interest as the home round for Toyota GAZOO Racing, where Elfyn Evans claimed overall victory, his second win of the season. Evans now leads the Drivers’ Championship with 151 points, followed by teammate Takamoto Katsuta on 131.

The championship now moves to Round 8, the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, scheduled for 25 to 28 June in Loutraki. Known for its extreme mountain terrain and rough gravel surfaces with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, the event will test tyre durability and thermal stability. Since becoming the exclusive WRC tyre supplier for all classes in 2025, Hankook has integrated racing data from over 70 global championships into its research and development to advance its high-performance lineup.

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Comerio Ercole has concluded its participation at INDEX, the premier international nonwovens exhibition in Geneva. The event served as a vital platform to connect with global customers and industry professionals, reinforcing the company’s strong market foothold. Throughout the exhibition, the company showcased cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions, drawing excellent feedback. The fair facilitated valuable idea exchanges, strengthened longstanding relationships and fostered new international ties, proving an inspiring experience for the entire team.

Parallel to industry engagements, Comerio Ercole is bolstering employee wellbeing through the WHP Lombardia programme. Since 2019, the company has joined this regional initiative following the World Health Organization model. Increasingly investing in environmental, social and governance initiatives, the company has introduced measures to improve health and safety. These efforts have earned renewed recognition as a health-promoting workplace, with programmes including healthy nutrition, physical activity groups, anti-smoking campaigns and sustainable mobility.

Separately, Comerio Ercole recently hosted Istituto Fermi students for an educational visit. The group toured production workshops, observing machinery construction firsthand. A particularly appreciated segment introduced virtual reality systems for training and machine support, where immersive simulations using Oculus headsets demonstrated how new technologies enhance learning and remote maintenance.

The meeting also covered the company’s history and sustainability efforts. For Comerio Ercole, such initiatives build connections with younger generations and inspire future professionals by sharing a passion for engineering excellence. The company extended thanks to the students and teachers for their enthusiasm.

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The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has recognised Michelin North America for a USD 5,000 donation made to the Tire Industry Scholarship programme. The scholarship initiative is administered in partnership with the University of the Aftermarket Foundation and aims to support students pursuing higher education while strengthening the future workforce of the tire and automotive service industries.

Michelin’s contribution places it alongside a growing roster of industry donors, including Bridgestone Americas, Hankook Tire, Kumho Tire, Nitto Tire, Toyo Tire, VIP Tire, Yokohama Tire Corporation and the Tire Industry Association itself. Established with the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, the Tire Industry Scholarship programme provides financial assistance to students and directly addresses workforce development needs within the tyre sector.

TIA continues to encourage companies throughout the tyre industry to support the scholarship fund, helping to expand educational opportunities for future students and secure a skilled talent pipeline for years to come.

Dick Gust, CEO, TIA, said, "We are grateful to Michelin for supporting the Tire Industry Scholarship programme and investing in the future of our industry. Scholarships like these help create opportunities for students while demonstrating our industry's commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, technicians and professionals. The success of this programme depends on industry participation. Every contribution helps us invest in the future of our workforce and create opportunities for students who may one day become the leaders of our industry."

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Pirelli is all set for the Monaco Grand Prix, a street circuit steeped in glamour and racing history since 1929. For this 3.337-kilometre layout with 19 tight corners, the Italian tyre manufacturer has selected the softest compounds in its range – C3, C4 and C5 – to provide maximum mechanical grip on the Principality’s unusually smooth asphalt surface.

The narrow carriageway follows regular urban traffic lanes, leaving virtually no run-off areas and placing safety barriers just centimetres from the racing line. Drivers frequently brush against these walls while pursuing the ideal trajectory, with average speeds the lowest of the Formula 1 season. In some sections, cars decelerate to roughly 50 kilometres per hour, making qualifying the most critical session of the weekend since overtaking is exceptionally rare.

Several sections of the track have been resurfaced for this edition, including between Turns 19 and 1, from Turn 7 to the tunnel entrance and at pit lane entry and exit. Although graining could appear, tyre behaviour is unlikely to be significantly affected because the Monaco circuit primarily subjects rubber to traction-related loads. Low degradation traditionally encourages a one-stop race strategy, though an experimental rule in 2024 forced two pit stops by requiring three different tyre sets. That regulation has since been abandoned.

Red flags and safety car periods frequently disrupt the race due to the high probability of barrier contact and the difficulty of recovering stricken cars. In 2024, an opening-lap red flag allowed all drivers to immediately fulfil the two-compound requirement, enabling a split strategy between Medium and Hard tyres for the remainder of the Grand Prix. The 2025 edition reintroduced a three-set rule, prompting most drivers to choose Medium-Hard combinations while six teams used all three compounds including the C6 Soft.

Now in its 72nd running in Monaco, the event has seen Ayrton Senna claim six victories, one more than Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher. McLaren remains the most successful constructor with 16 wins, followed by Ferrari on 10. Reflecting the Principality’s elegance, Pirelli has unveiled a special Podium Cap in deep red and champagne colours, designed by Denis Dekovic and available on the Pirelli e-commerce platform.

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