Ready or not, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are on the way! The Level 5 autonomy, known as "anytime, anywhere" technology that can drive a vehicle under all conditions without a driver, is ways off. However, Level 4 autonomy is already here, enabling vehicles to operate in full self-driving mode, and not needing human interaction in most circumstances. The driver, however, must remain available to take over control if needed, yet the driver would be able to sleep temporarily! Level 4 autonomous vehicles are currently plying in limited geographic areas.

Trucking Industry to Lead AV Usage

Presently the trucking industry is enjoying a significant business growth, but facing a shortage of drivers. Hence, the industry envisions a model where self-driving trucks will handle those long, lonely highway miles while leaving the first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery to the traditional human drivers. This model will shift short-distance regional driving to non-AVs, while the long-haul driving will be done by AVs.

Still, it’s going to be a long time before a full-scale and broad adoption of AVs happens across the trucking industry. The shift to Level 4 autonomous trucking will likely be a gradual, symbiotic shift over the course of the next decades. Fleets will want to know how their maintenance needs will change with autonomous trucks. They will have to develop relationships with new technology partners and will have to train their workforce differently. Fleets need to know what to expect when something goes wrong. For instance, what happens when a truck gets the inevitable flat tyre and has to pull off to the side of the road? “If a vehicle does not have an active driver to ensure that the tyres are safe during use, safety needs to be ensured in another way”, said Mika Penttila, Head of Digital Technology for Nokian Tyres. Tyres are an integral part of a vehicle’s safe operation. When machines, rather than humans, are responsible to observe and manage driving parameters, tyres also need to be smart! “No matter how smart your vehicle is, tyres are the only link between the vehicle and the road”, said Jukka Kasi, Senior Vice President of Products & Marketing for Nokian Tyres.

Hence, there is a need for sensors embedded in, or connected to, tyres. Industry experts believe that smart tyres will be commonplace within five years at the latest. Bridgestone Americas is ready to integrate its “smart-sensing” tyre technologies to enable safer, more sustainable autonomous operations. When information received from tyres is combined with weather data, for example, the vehicle’s on-board information system can form a picture of prevailing driving conditions and adjust the driving accordingly. Tyre sensors can also monitor tyre wear, inflation pressure, and temperature inside the tyre. For example, an increase in the inside temperature may be an early indication of tyre damage, allowing it to be addressed before it causes a dangerous situation on the road.

New Alliances to Promote AVs

Bridgestone Americas recently announced it has made a minority investment in Kodiak Robotics, a leading U.S.-based trucking company that is using autonomous trucks. The partnership will allow Bridgestone to integrate its smart-sensing tyre technologies and fleet solutions into Kodiak’s level 4 autonomous trucks. The companies will also pilot future autonomous and smart tyre technologies to further enhance vehicle intelligence for a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable mobility future.

“Automated vehicles offer a number of benefits to commercial fleet customers and society, including safer roads with fewer unexpected incidents, and upwards of 20 percent savings in fuel and efficiency,” said Paolo Ferrari, President & CEO of Bridgestone Americas. “Advancements in tyre-centric technologies are critical to unlocking greater innovation in mobility, while also delivering significant sustainability benefits. This investment will enable Bridgestone and Kodiak to work together to co-develop advanced mobility solutions with speed and precision that will revolutionize commercial trucking,” according to Mr. Ferrari.

Kodiak has plans to deploy driverless trucks in the next few years with full vehicle intelligence to implement safe, efficient and sustainable autonomy. Bridgestone’s suite of cloud-based technologies leverage connected vehicle data to help predict tyre health and maintenance, as well as optimize tyre lifespan. Kodiak and Bridgestone will work together to advance self-driving trucking technology, from tyres and sensors to predictive maintenance.

Asia represents a $1.5 trillion freight market, and South Korea's third-largest conglomerate, SK Inc. announced a partnership to bring Kodiak’s self-driving technology, to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets. In addition, the companies will work together to provide fleet management services for customers in Asia. "Our partnership with Kodiak will help accelerate the commercialization of self-driving trucks in Asia," said Jungho Shin, executive vice president of SK Inc. "Kodiak's industry-leading technology and SK's unrivaled reach in S. Korea and across Asia make this a natural partnership. We look forward to working with Kodiak to make autonomous trucking a reality around the globe."

No doubt, many more partnerships between tyre manufacturers, technology companies and the trucking industry are needed to achieve full autonomous vehicles. (TT)

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Continental is set to make a significant impact at the upcoming Tire Technology Expo in Hannover with a strong presence at the technical conference scheduled for 3 March 2026. The company will kick off the event with a major presentation centred on the evolution of tyre technologies designed to meet the demands of autonomous driving. Dr Andreas Topp, who leads Platform Development and Industrialisation for passenger car tyres at Continental, will illustrate how the vision of autonomous vehicles is transitioning into everyday reality and how the tyre manufacturer is proactively developing innovative solutions to support this shift.

In addition to the opening session, Continental experts will deliver three further presentations, each addressing critical areas of tyre science and environmental regulation. One of these will explore the use of recovered carbon black derived from end-of-life tyres as a filler material. Professor Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, a specialist in materials evaluation, will delve into the complexities of identifying this material within vulcanised rubber compounds. Recovered carbon black, primarily obtained through pyrolysis, represents a milestone as the first industrially scalable filler sourced from discarded tyres. It is not considered a direct substitute for conventional carbon black but rather a distinct category of filler due to its unique composition, which includes carbon residues and a specific thermal background. Professor Lacayo-Pineda will examine the technological and regulatory possibilities that arise from detecting this material in new tyre compounds, focusing on reliable identification techniques such as electron microscopy and molecular spectroscopy.

Another key presentation will broaden the conversation around tyre emissions. Dr Frank Schmerwitz, a senior test engineer specialising in tyre wear, will address the limitations of current discussions that predominantly focus on tyre and road wear particles. He will highlight additional pathways of mass loss that are not captured by conventional measurements. His talk will consider the release of nanoparticles, the persistence of wear residue on road surfaces and the chemical degradation of this material due to environmental factors like oxygen and ultraviolet light, aiming for a more complete scientific picture.

The final presentation will tackle the complexities of modern tyre development in the context of new regulatory frameworks. Dr Pavel Ignatyev, an expert in rubber friction and wear physics, will discuss how the introduction of standardised abrasion limits and measurement methods under the Euro 7 regulation is reshaping innovation in the industry. He will explain the various parameters influencing tyre wear and how they interact with these new requirements. Through simplified models, he intends to demonstrate the intricate nature of tyre wear and outline the collective challenges that remain for the industry, emphasising that a deep understanding of these dynamics is crucial for translating regulatory mandates into effective technological advancements.

Dr Topp said, “The future of self-driving vehicles has begun. We are developing tyre technologies and products that meet the unique technical requirements of these vehicles. This includes topics such as interaction with smart vehicle dynamic controls, optimised fleet operations and tailored solutions for specific use profiles.”

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The concluding day of 2026 F1 Pre-Season Testing at the Bahrain International Circuit saw Charles Leclerc set the overall fastest lap of the entire six-day programme. The Ferrari driver delivered a time of 1:31.992s on the C4 compound Pirelli tyres during the final hour of running, improving by eight-tenths of a second on the previous benchmark established by Kimi Antonelli. This performance placed him ahead of Lando Norris in the McLaren, who recorded a 1:32.871s on the C3 tyre. Max Verstappen and George Russell followed, with times of 1:33.109s and 1:33.197s, respectively, both also set on the C3 compound. Notably, none surpassed Leclerc's own leading time on that particular compound, a 1:32.655s. Pierre Gasly rounded out the top times, utilising the softest C5 tyres to post a 1:33.421s.

The C5 compound saw limited use on the final day, employed only by Alpine and Williams for short-run simulations. Aston Martin, despite having the tyre available, opted not to run it and instead completed just six laps on C3s before their session was curtailed. In contrast, teams focused on different aspects of performance. Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvin Lindblad set the pace on the harder C1 and C2 compounds, respectively. The day was also notable for the absence of several drivers, including Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon, who did not participate in any track action.

Beyond outright speed, teams dedicated significant effort to long-distance evaluation. Gabriel Bortoleto completed 25 laps on the C2 compound for Audi, while Esteban Ocon undertook 24 laps on C1s for Haas. Ocon was also the sole driver to run intermediate tyres, completing four laps to assess front wing behaviour. Over the entire six-day test, a total of 41,366 kilometres were covered across all 11 teams, a distance exceeding the Earth's circumference. The C3 compound proved the most popular, accounting for 61 percent of all laps. In total, 591 sets of slick tyres were utilised throughout the pre-season, with 326 of those deployed in the final three days alone.

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, said, “The radical changes introduced to the cars have inevitably shifted the teams’ focus towards power units and aerodynamics rather than tyres over the last few days. The final stages of testing are usually dedicated to optimising the car-tyre package, but it is clear some teams haven’t reached that point yet. Generally speaking, track feedback has been consistent with our simulation expectations. Drivers were able to gain confidence with the entire Pirelli range through both performance trials and long runs, even using the C4 and C5 compounds which aren’t particularly suited to a circuit like Sakhir.

“Mechanical resistance appeared strong across all options, with no signs of graining or blistering. Degradation levels are almost certainly higher now than what we expect for the Bahrain race, when temperatures will be lower and cars more developed. A central theme this season will certainly be balancing temperatures between the axles, especially ahead of the first race in Melbourne. The lower loads of a street circuit might require more intensive tyre preparation or differentiated tyre blanket temperatures, particularly in qualifying. In any case, it will be interesting to discover in Australia how much teams have been ‘sandbagging’ their engine power to avoid showing their hand. We only have to wait a couple of weeks to see the true pecking order.”

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Titan International, a global leader in off‑the‑road (OTR) tyre and wheel manufacturing and distribution, has entered into a significant 10-year exclusive distribution agreement with Triangle Tire USA. This strategic alliance grants Titan exclusive rights to distribute both Triangle and Diamondback branded OTR tyres across United States. By combining Triangle’s global manufacturing expertise with Titan’s extensive North American dealer network and the established recognition of the Diamondback brand, the partnership aims to deliver a comprehensive and unified portfolio of high-performance OTR solutions.

The collaboration enhances Titan’s product offering to include a diverse range of radial and bias tyres suited for the most demanding off-road environments. Customers across critical sectors such as mining, construction, earthmoving, aggregates, industrial operations and equipment rental will benefit from this expanded selection. The integrated portfolio supports a wide array of heavy machinery, including large earthmoving equipment, loaders, dozers, scrapers, haulage vehicles, mobile cranes and container handling machinery for ports, as well as industrial and rental fleets.

This initiative is designed to strengthen the market presence of the combined Titan, Triangle and Diamondback brands within the OTR sector. By leveraging Titan’s national sales and support infrastructure, the partnership aims to drive long-term performance through enhanced dealer adoption and improved customer satisfaction. The arrangement ensures that end users have access to a broader spectrum of mission-critical tyre solutions backed by reliable distribution and service support.

The initial rollout of Triangle and Diamondback OTR products is currently underway through Titan’s dealer network in United States. An expanded range of sizes and patterns is scheduled for release throughout the year, with dealers encouraged to consult their Titan representatives for detailed information on availability, specifications and ordering procedures.

Paul Reitz, CEO & President, Titan International, said, “This partnership combines Titan’s deep channel reach with Triangle’s expanding OTR portfolio to deliver a broader, more competitive offering to our customers – backed by Titan’s service, training and technical support. We’re excited to bring the Triangle and Diamondback families into our US distribution platform to improve availability, coverage, and value across critical OTR customers.”

Campbell Metcalfe, CEO, Triangle Tire USA, said, “Triangle is pleased to join forces with Titan to bring our OTR innovations to more US customers, faster. Titan’s scale, distribution strength and customer support capabilities will substantially enhance access to Triangle and Diamondback products across key industries.”

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Radar Tires, a globally recognised manufacturer known for its off-road and high-performance products, is broadening its footprint in the light truck and off-road vehicle segment with a major expansion of its popular Radar Renegade-X line. Responding directly to robust market demand and the model's sustained success among enthusiasts, the company will introduce nine new sizes featuring rim diameters from 18 to 26 inches. A key highlight of this expansion is the debut of 26-inch options, catering to the growing trend of customised and lifted trucks requiring larger wheel fitments.

Since its market introduction, the Renegade-X has built a strong reputation for delivering uncompromising off-road capability without sacrificing on-road civility. Consumer feedback consistently praises its superior traction in mud and rocky terrain, its robust durability and notably low road noise – a combination rarely achieved in the mud-terrain category. This balance of aggressive performance and refined driveability has solidified its appeal.

The tyre’s distinctive design is the result of a collaboration with the renowned Italian design house GFG Style, blending engineering rigor with premium aesthetics. Its technical features include a high void-to-lug ratio designed for effective self-cleaning in mud, alongside a specialised rock-crawl compound for enhanced grip on varied surfaces. Durability is addressed through a three-ply sidewall construction, while a strategic combination of stone ejectors and serrations protects the tyre casing. Furthermore, sidewall lugs inspired by stealth design not only contribute to a striking visual profile but also improve lateral traction in challenging conditions.

The newly added sizes are intended for a wide range of vehicles, including Jeeps, pickup trucks and full-size SUVs. Availability is scheduled to commence through authorised dealers in February 2026, with additional sizes arriving through April of that year.

Rob Montasser, Vice President, Radar Tires, said, “The response to the Radar Renegade-X has exceeded our expectations, and our dealer partners have consistently requested additional sizes to meet customer demand. This nine-size expansion, including our first 26-inch rim diameter sizes, demonstrates our commitment to providing dealers with a comprehensive product offering that supports sustained, profitable growth while giving consumers more choices for their vehicles.”

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