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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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has entered a new partnership with West Yorkshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to road safety and reducing fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration arrives amid concerning road safety figures, with 51 deaths and 1,210 serious injuries recorded on West Yorkshire’s roads in 2025.

The two organisations will work together to highlight the essential role tyres play in road user safety. Drivers will be encouraged to perform routine checks on tyre pressure, tread depth and overall condition. The initiative also supports West Yorkshire Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from the county’s roads.

West Yorkshire Police becomes part of a growing network of over 260 organisations partnering with TyreSafe to promote safer motoring and enhance public understanding of tyre safety. A rising number of police forces now recognise tyre safety as a vital component of their broader road safety efforts.

As the sole point of contact between a vehicle and the road, properly maintained tyres are critical for braking, steering and grip, especially in difficult conditions. TyreSafe advises road users to check their tyres monthly and before long journeys, helping identify pressure, tread and condition issues before they become safety risks. This partnership marks another significant step in TyreSafe’s mission to reduce tyre-related incidents and improve road safety across Britain.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome West Yorkshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. The fact that 51 people lost their lives and more than 1,200 suffered serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads in 2025 is a stark reminder that there is still so much work to do. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of West Yorkshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help ensure more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Inspector Claire Gray, Roads Policing Support and Proactive Intercept Team Inspector for West Yorkshire Police, said, “Every death and serious injury on our roads has a devastating impact on families, friends and communities. We are committed to working with partners to make West Yorkshire’s roads safer and to support the Vision Zero ambition. Vehicle safety is an important part of that work, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to help raise awareness and encourage road users to take responsibility for checking and maintaining their tyres.”

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Hankook Tire has completed a significant expansion of its European manufacturing facility in Rácalmás, Hungary, marking the company's first production of truck and bus tyres on the continent. The new line, representing an investment of EUR 540 million, is scheduled to commence operations in October and has been configured to deliver more than 800,000 units annually. The first pre-production tyre from these facilities was officially unveiled at the ongoing IAA Transportation exhibition.

Previously, Hankook supplied European commercial vehicle customers exclusively from plants in Korea and China. The Hungarian line substantially reduces delivery distances, strengthening supply reliability and cutting lead times. Logistics-related carbon dioxide emissions also decline as lengthy transport routes from Asia are partially eliminated. Europe represents roughly 45 percent of Hankook's worldwide sales, making it a critical market for the tyre maker.

The Rácalmás site has received approximately EUR 856 million across three earlier expansion phases since 2007, with the third stage finishing in spring 2015. It now produces as many as 17 million tyres yearly for passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles. The fourth phase added the truck and bus tyre line and has seen around 66,000 square metres of production and support buildings constructed since 2024. More than 450 local jobs are being created. Globally, Hankook operates eight plants with capacity for up to 100 million tyres annually and employs about 20,000 people.

Designed as a highly automated facility, the new line relies on automated logistics systems, autonomous guided vehicles and real-time tracking to manage material flow and warehousing, while automated testing ensures consistent quality. Sustainability guided planning and operation through energy-efficient systems, optimised supply infrastructure and modern process controls that lower energy and water use. The plant earned ISCC PLUS certification in 2023. Production will initially centre on 22.5-inch truck and bus tyres, gradually broadening as capacity and approvals allow.

Jongho Park, President and COO, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “The expansion of our European production plant with a new line for truck and bus tyres is yet another key milestone for Hankook in Europe. The central location of the facilities in Hungary and their proximity to the core European markets is a key locational advantage. It will enable us to supply our European customers with premium commercial vehicle tyres even more reliably and quickly, and to respond to their needs with the greatest possible flexibility.”

Ho Taek Lim, Vice President and Managing Director of the plant in Rácalmás, said, “This expansion project was one of the largest industrial development projects ever undertaken at the site in Hungary. The new truck and bus tyre production facilities will transform the plant into a comprehensive production site of significantly greater complexity and with a higher level of automation.”

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Continental has expanded its global ultra-high-performance tyre portfolio, covering sizes 18 inches and above, over five years and plans further growth. By late 2027, it will add over 650 new sizes across all lines for original equipment and replacement markets. This responds to demand for tyres suited to larger, heavier, more powerful and electrified vehicles, supporting profitable growth.

UHP tyres for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles now matter more to Continental and its customers. From 2020 to 2025, their share of global passenger-car tyre sales across all brands rose from 41 to 55 percent. Asia-Pacific leads at 70 percent, the Americas at 66 percent and EMEA at 43 percent. For the Continental brand, the share grew from about 49 to 62 percent.

The trend towards larger tyres links to vehicle market shifts. Cars are becoming bigger, heavier and more powerful, with SUVs increasingly common. Electric mobility is another weight driver, since batteries add considerable mass. Modern drivetrains also produce torque once associated only with high-performance sports cars. These changes demand more from tyres, which must support heavier loads while ensuring safety, efficiency and comfort.

UHP tyres combine high grip, short braking distances and precise handling with low rolling resistance and high mileage. Continental develops them mainly for wheel-and-tyre combinations of 18 inches and above, performance SUVs, premium sedans, sports cars and high-performance electric vehicles. It is expanding this range across major markets, adding over 650 sizes by the end of 2027, including secondary brands such as Semperit and Uniroyal.

This reflects growing vehicle market diversification, as manufacturers offer more variants and need tyres tailored to differing performance, efficiency and comfort requirements. UHP tyres must meet conflicting demands, balancing grip, braking, handling, rolling resistance, comfort and mileage, with rubber compounds playing a central role. Continental relies on simulations, laboratory analyses, bench tests and driving tests across varied conditions, with the High Performance Technology Center in Korbach driving manufacturing advances applied globally, where UHP tyres up to 24 inches are made.

Testing occurs at the Contidrom near Hannover, Arvidsjaur in Sweden and Uvalde in Texas, focusing on braking, handling, high-speed capability, comfort and durability. Collaboration with tuners ABT Sportsline and BRABUS, plus motorsport input through Hoosier, further advances development. The SportContact 7 exemplifies the segment, available from 18 to 24 inches and approved by Audi, BMW, BYD, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Porsche, Volkswagen and Zeekr, ranking top three in 27 of 29 international tests.

Edwin Goudswaard, head of Research and Development for Continental’s Tires group sector, said, “With our expanded UHP portfolio, we are responding directly to the increasing demands of modern vehicles. This enables us to offer our customers around the world even more tailored solutions for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics. As modern tyres become larger, heavier and more powerful, tyres are becoming even more critical. They are no longer simply the vehicle’s connection to the road, but a key prerequisite for safety, efficiency and driving dynamics. The UHP segment clearly demonstrates how capable modern tyres need to be. The art lies in combining conflicting requirements at the highest level, and that is precisely what sets our tyres apart.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that a car equipped with its ADVAN flagship tyres claimed overall victory at the 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) Round 8 in Germany on 12 September. The ADVAN racing tyres delivered the grip and durability required to succeed in the demanding endurance event.

The winning entry was the No. 77 BMW M Motorsport car, fielded by Schubert Motorsport. It started from the front row, took the lead early and stayed with the front-runners throughout. After moving back ahead on lap 24, it resisted heavy pressure from closely pursuing rivals and crossed the line just 0.308 seconds clear of the second-place finisher.

This season marks the first collaboration between Yokohama Rubber and BMW M Motorsport in almost 40 years. The No. 77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, featuring ADVAN’s ‘Red in Black’ livery, has been consistently competitive, winning Rounds 3 and 8 while finishing second in Rounds 6 and 7.

Following Round 9 on 13 September, the car leads the NLS Speed Trophy standings, awarded for the most points across all classes. The ‘Red in Black’ entry will seek to secure the trophy and the series title in October’s final round.

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