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, a tyre technology company, has expanded its network in India with the inauguration of three new Michelin Tyres & Services (MTS) stores in Tamil Nadu.

Two stores were launched in Coimbatore: one with Covai Tyres in Sundarapuram, and another with Carzone in Goundermills. The third facility was inaugurated with Carworld Automotive in Tirupur.

Each new dealership offers Michelin’s complete range of products, along with advanced diagnostic tools and high precision equipment for alignment, balancing and car services. The new facilities were inaugurated by Prashant Sharma, National Sales Director at Michelin India.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said: “The opening of three new Michelin Tyres & Services Stores in Tamil Nadu reflects our continued investment in expanding our retail network and strengthening consumer access to our products and services. These new touchpoints align with our broader strategy as we prepare to introduce our Made-in-India passenger car tyre range, ensuring we are well positioned to serve the evolving needs of our consumers.”

Tamil Nadu is a key market for Michelin, supported by the company’s production facility in Chennai. Michelin stated it is focused on delivering mobility experiences that combine safety, durability, and performance through collaboration with partners like Covai Tyres, Carzone and Carworld Automotive.

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The Classic Himalayan Drive 2025, a 10-day motoring expedition, concluded recently, which was supported by Yokohama India and included over 60 classic and vintage cars from the UK, France, Kenya, Bhutan and India.

The drive celebrated heritage motoring by retracing rally routes and uniting enthusiasts, showcasing vehicles spanning decades of automotive engineering.

Participants navigated terrains and elevations through Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The route covered Noida, Corbett, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Theog and Manali, including high-altitude sections such as Jalori Pass (10,800 ft) and Rohtang Pass (13,095 ft) via the Atal Tunnel. The drive included highways, gravel stretches, hill climbs and cold-weather routes representative of Himalayan motoring conditions.

A dedicated Yokohama Club Network Pitstop was set up at Batra Tyres, Chandigarh. The facility supported the entire convoy with tyre checks, alignment and balancing services and inspections after the high-altitude sections. This stop ensured the vehicles were road-ready for the final stretch and served as a technical checkpoint.

Rajiv Batra, Batra Tyres, said, “Events like the Classic Himalayan Drive push vehicles to perform across varied and demanding conditions. We are proud that Yokohama tyres remain the preferred choice for drivers seeking reliability and control. Seeing enthusiasts place their confidence in Yokohama reinforces our commitment to delivering performance that is matched by long-term dependability on every drive.”

A participant from the drive expressed his take on Yokohama tyres and said, “I completed nearly 2,500 kilometres during the drive, and the Yokohama tyres delivered consistent grip and comfort across every surface we encountered. They are soft enough for classic cars yet stable and reliable on high-altitude sections and tight turns. I’ve been using Yokohama tyres on all my classics for over five years, and the performance on this drive reaffirmed why. For a car like my 1977 Peugeot 504, the fit, handling, and control were exactly what I needed for a long-distance run like this.”

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Michelin’s engineering expertise and premium urban tyres have been instrumental in enhancing the performance and reducing downtime for Big Bus Tours’ newly converted electric bus fleet in London. As the world's largest open-top sightseeing company, Big Bus Tours faced a significant challenge after converting 20 Ankai double-decker buses from diesel to electric with drivetrain specialist Equipmake. While this conversion met London's emission rules, the new batteries added 800 kg, altering the weight distribution and creating concerns about tyre loading, especially on the steer axle.

Seeking a solution, service provider Tructyre brought in Michelin's specialists. Carl Williams, Manager of Customer Engineering Support at Michelin, along with Territory Business Manager Ian Roberts, performed a detailed weighing analysis. This study accounted for passenger numbers and axle loads to define the ideal tyre pressures. Their report confirmed that the original tyres were inadequate for the new demands, prompting Big Bus Tours to upgrade all wheels on its Ankai buses to MICHELIN X InCity EV Z tyres.

The results were so impressive that the company has now fitted most of its 56-bus London fleet with these tyres. The MICHELIN X InCity EV Z tyres are specifically designed for urban electric buses, providing key benefits including robust resistance to kerb damage, reliable all-weather grip and low rolling resistance for optimised energy efficiency and cost savings. This successful collaboration has supported Big Bus Tours, which has global operations across more than 25 cities.

Jon Reed, Head of Engineering – Europe, Big Bus Tours, said, "Michelin said to us that from a cost, as well as a duty cycle, perspective ‘the MICHELIN InCity EV Z is the best tyre for you’. And it has been. They are performing well, and we’ve had zero complaints of road noise. We seem to be getting less sidewall damage too. While we are paying more for them initially than our previous brand of tyres, the cost is worth it. We’re getting much longer life out of them.”

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India’s tyre industry has secured a stronger foothold in the global market, with four domestic manufacturers ranked among the world’s top 20, according to the latest Global Tyre Report released by Tire Business based on 2024 sales.

MRF was the highest-placed Indian company, taking the 13th spot worldwide. Apollo Tyres followed at 14th, while JK Tyre & Industries ranked 19th. CEAT entered the top 20 for the first time, securing 20th position and underscoring the country’s growing influence in the global tyre trade.

“The presence of four Indian tyre companies among the world’s top 20 is a matter of immense pride for the Indian manufacturing ecosystem. It reflects not only the scale we have achieved, but also the focus on technology and global competitiveness that Indian companies have pursued. This milestone is a validation of India’s emergence as a global hub for high-quality, value-driven tyre manufacturing,” said Mr Rajiv Budhraja, Director General of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA).

Indian companies have been steadily climbing the global rankings over the past decade. Apollo Tyres has moved up three places since 2013, while JK Tyre has advanced six positions in the same period. CEAT has shown the fastest recent progress, rising three spots in just the last year.

The country’s manufacturing strength is also reflected in its industrial footprint. China leads with 158 tyre plants, followed by India with 67 and the United States with 44. This places India as the world’s second-largest tyre manufacturing base by number of plants.

In Asia, MRF holds the second-largest manufacturing footprint with 10 plants, trailing only Bridgestone, which operates 19. Indian companies have also built strong positions in specialised and high-performance categories. MRF is the world leader in racing tyre manufacturing with three plants. It also ranks second in motorcycle tyres with four plants, followed by CEAT with three. In the farm tyre segment, MRF again ranks second globally with seven factories.

Investment has played a central role in this expansion. Apollo Tyres recorded the highest capital expenditure globally as a share of sales, reinvesting 59% into expanding and modernising its operations. MRF also ranked among global leaders, with capex exceeding 10% of sales.

Long-term prospects remain robust. A recent report by ATMA and PwC India, titled Viksit Bharat 2047: Vision and Roadmap for the Indian Tyre Industry, forecasts that India’s tyre production could nearly quadruple by 2047, while industry revenues may grow nearly twelvefold to about ₹1,300,000 crore.

“With strong domestic demand, rising exports and policy support under the vision of a Viksit Bharat, we are confident that Indian tyre manufacturers will continue to move up global rankings and play a defining role in the future of global mobility,” Mr Budhraja added.

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