As I speak with industry members, regulators and legislators I continue to be stunned by the lack of appreciation of the very critical role that tyres play in our societies.

Governments bleat about fuel security “investing” precious currency to prop up petroleum fuel storage and production in the face of the ever-expanding development of electric vehicles and more recently the advent of hydrogen as a viable fuel with thanks to the PV (solar) industry advancements. Tyres? What do you mean tyres? Without tyres our societies would grind to a halt in the near term. How are they not a strategic consideration?

Our industries (tyre, road freight transport, mining, public transport and leisure) are facing sufficient difficulties with COVID as well as international shipping challenges to be faced with continued ignorance and negligence by our legislators and regulators.

Please review your countries legislative requirements in regards tyre inflation for light vehicles (say <4,500 kgs) and then the same requirement for heavy vehicles (>4,500 kgs). What do you find?

Mostly I think you will find that tyre inflation pressures are regulated for light vehicles via the vehicle manufacturers tyre placard. For heavy vehicles there is little, if any, such requirement. To illustrate the yawning gap between reality and regulation one peak heavy transport regulatory body published a procedure for roller brake testing for heavy vehicles. The procedure details in minute detail the requirements of the pneumatic system on the truck under test yet merely stated “tyres should be inflated.” As everyone in the tyre industry understands a tyre can be inflated at low pressures totally unrelated to actual operating pressures. What connects the brakes to the pavement? Tyres!

I’ve spoken at length about the absolute requirement for a tyre to be appropriately inflated. This is basic physics, the air molecules captured within the tyre’s air chamber actually support the applied loads. If there are insufficient molecules of air the tyre will be overworked so overheat and so enter a failure phase. There are other requirements for the inflation being the actual shaping of the tyre to interface with the pavement at the optimum level, read traction. A wide based tyre requires special construction to maintain the tread platform shape. If the inflation pressure is not at the manufacturer’s specified level will this critical shape be maintained? Then it is not only the performance of the tyre in question but also the safety of the vehicle and that of the general public in the areas this vehicle operates in.

The extensive report produced by the TNO Organisation (TNO 2013 R10986) detailed not only the exhaust emissions as a result of inappropriately inflated tyres but also the road safety outcomes. This paper is now just over eight years old but the situation with real time pressure monitoring for heavy vehicles remains as it was, 50 years or more ago. WHY? Are our regulators asleep at the wheel (or tyre some may say) through entrenched inaction and ignorance? Or is it that there are just “no votes” in tyres and everyone just ASSuMes their tyres are “ok”?

EV tyres

With the advent of electric vehicles, the ramifications for tyres are huge. In the past internal combustion engines (ICE) built up torque over a rev range, drivelines multiplied the torque developed and for heavy vehicles there is a sweet spot for torque. The multi speed gearboxes assisted the driver to maintain forward motion within this torque sweet spot. Electric motors apply maximum torque over most of their operating range. From the instant the power is applied by the driver (be that human or robotic) the tyres are under peak stress. Any deficiency within the tyre will be magnified with detrimental results. Such a deficiency may be of a manufacturing nature but this is largely controllable by the manufacturer. What is not currently controllable is the human maintenance factor, the applied inflation pressure.

Tyre manufacturers have for as long as they have been manufacturing tyres been informative about the criticality of appropriate tyre inflation. There are untold charts and pictorials showing how a tyre is influenced by under or over inflation yet our regulators and legislators continue to keep their heads buried deep out of the light. WHY when tyres are such a critical component of our modern-day motor vehicle? I would charge ignorance and negligence on one hand but then on the other suggest that because tyres work as well as they do, are as forgiving (by nature of their fundamental flexible design) our “guiding powers” can focus on other trendy and glamorous aspects such as stability control or autonomous braking. An important question for these people to consider and respond to; “what item on the vehicle transfers the power (and so directly influence these vehicle control systems) from the vehicle to the pavement (be that power tractive or retardation)? Yes of course, the humble tyre.

So, when a government sponsored or publicly funded body involved in road safety ignores tyres (for whatever reason, ignorance or negligence) are they really serving the interests of our communities and societies or are they just -- I should stop there but you know where I’m going!

The technology to monitor tyre pressures in real time is and has now been available for decades. The TREAD Act (USA) mandated tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS) for light vehicles in the USA in the year 2000. This year TPMS gets a key for its birthday, yes well and truly a mature product (some may say adult) and industry yet, our regulators and legislators continue to ignore the humble tyre.

The upsides of maintaining tyres at an appropriate pressure I’ve discussed previously, all positive. The same detail has been published in many papers (such as the TNO paper!) but we as an industry continue to live in the past whilst adopting hi-tech solutions for other aspects of our industries, e.g., GPS tracking, fatigue monitoring, reefer monitoring and control, real time video surveillance of the drivers and the surrounding traffic conditions. Why? To me there is little respect paid to the critical role the tyre provides for us. So many users do not consider how the tyre works for them and why the simplest of tasks will enhance the performance, yes, I speak of inflation maintenance. Without respect the tyre will never be recognised for the contribution it has made and continues to make.

I publicly and openly challenge our tyre manufacturers as a collective to mount an education campaign to enhance the level of respect the general public has about tyres. The TIA (US) and USTMA have local campaigns on behalf of their members but I consider that until the tyre manufacturers as a collective industry actual improve the level of respect for the humble tyre we will be chasing our tails on a race to the bottom. Our tyres deserve better!

What about Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental, BKT, Dunlop, ZC Rubber, Hankook, Pirelli, Toyo, Sumitomo, Yokohama, Kumho, MRF, Apollo, Nokian, JKTyres, Cooper, Titan, Linglong, Triangle et al?

Remember success does not reward a lack of action. (TT)

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has taken a significant step forward in its Nordic expansion by submitting an environmental permit application for its first wholly owned, full-scale pyrolysis plant in the region. The company has also secured an exclusive option to purchase the property where the facility is intended to be located.

Designed to process over 70,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually, the proposed plant represents a core pillar of Enviro’s long-term strategy focused on wholly owned facilities. The permit submission and property option mark continued execution of the company’s industrial scale-up, supported by constructive dialogue with relevant authorities and stakeholders. Preliminary feedback from regulators could arrive before the end of the second quarter of 2026.

While the property option allows Enviro to reserve the site ahead of a final investment decision, the planned establishment remains conditional on receiving the necessary environmental approvals, a final investment decision and other standard project requirements.

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has thrown its support behind a legislative provision known as Section 114, or Advancing Tire Technologies, included in H.R. 7389. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted favourably to advance the ‘Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026’ during a markup session held yesterday. USTMA credited Congressman Russell Fry for his leadership on tyre safety and acknowledged the bipartisan committee staff work that successfully pushed for modernised federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The association stressed that tyres are critical to moving people and goods across the country. As representatives of the entire industry value chain, USTMA and its membership recognise the importance of fostering a safer and more connected society. The new language directs the Transportation Secretary to eliminate obsolete testing methods for radial tyres, update snow tyre failure modes, review similar updates for all tyres, adopt stricter speed symbol requirements and commission a GAO study to evaluate global regulations and recommend further safety improvements.

With the committee’s approval secured, USTMA has now urged all House members to pass the legislation on the floor and send it to the Senate for deliberation. The organisation is advocating for the removal of outdated plunger energy and bead unseat tests under federal standards while pushing for more stringent performance evaluations to ensure consumer access to the highest performing tyres available globally.

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Solvay has redirected funds from an internal carbon pricing mechanism on business travel towards local environmental projects, mobilising over EUR 750,000 since 2023. The company launched its Travel Carbon Fund that year, applying a EUR 100 per tonne of CO₂ levy on emissions from employee travel. Proceeds are reinvested directly at site levels into initiatives that might otherwise lack traditional investment backing.

In 2026, three new projects joined nine already-supported projects worldwide. In Dombasle, France, Solvay will restore more than 20 hectares of ecosystems and expand reforestation. In Brazil’s Paulínia and Santo André sites, two separate projects aim to boost energy efficiency, cut CO₂ output and conserve water. To date, collective results include nearly 72,000 trees planted, over 38,000 cubic meters of water saved annually and more than 80 hectares restored or replanted across seven countries.

These efforts have also helped reduce business travel emissions by 22 percent between 2024 and 2025. Solvay remains on track with broader sustainability targets, having already cut direct emissions by 29 percent against a 2030 goal of 30 percent, reduced value chain emissions by 13 percent toward a 20 percent goal and placed 16 percent of land under conservation or restoration towards a 30 percent target by the end of the decade.

Jean-Charles Djelalian, Chief Sustainability Officer, Solvay, said, “As a global company, we rely on business travel to stay close to our customers, develop strategic partnerships and engage with our teams. While the greenhouse gas emissions derived from our travels can be reduced through responsible practices, they cannot be eliminated entirely. The Travel Carbon Fund allows us to take responsibility for what remains and turn it into concrete sustainability projects, all while creating engagement and pride across our sites and teams. While relatively modest in scale, the Travel Carbon Fund illustrates a practical approach to scope 3 emissions: tackling what can be avoided and converting what remains into projects that deliver tangible environmental benefits.”

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Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook has secured a “Highly Recommended” rating for its Dynapro AT2 tyre in the Best Tyres for Pick-Up Trucks category of the DriverReviews 2026/27 Customer Choice Awards. The all-season Dynapro AT2 is engineered as a dependable all-terrain SUV tyre offering year-round safety and performance.

Three additional Hankook tyres also received recommendations in their respective segments. The Ventus S1 evo3 SUV, an ultra-high performance tyre blending sporty handling with everyday comfort, was cited in the Best Tyres for Large SUVs category. The Kinergy eco2 earned a nod in the Best Tyres for City Cars class for its efficiency and low running costs, while the Vantra LT, a durable light van tyre designed for high mileage and commercial use, was recognised in the Best Tyres for Vans category. These honours underscore Hankook’s consistent performance and popularity among drivers across France, Italy, Germany, and other key European markets.

Based on over 548,000 verified customer reviews, the DriverReviews awards reflect genuine on-road experiences across diverse vehicles and conditions, making the platform one of Europe’s largest and most trusted independent review sites. Since partnering with DriverReviews in 2021, Hankook has repeatedly demonstrated its innovative range and reliability, reinforcing its continental reputation for quality and customer satisfaction.

Paul Emery, Sales Director, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “We are delighted to be recognised across four categories in the DriverReviews 2026/27 Customer Choice Awards. Our longstanding partnership with DriverReviews continues to be incredibly valuable, as it reflects genuine customer feedback from across Europe. These results are a testament to the quality and performance of our tyre range, and further reinforce Hankook’s reputation as a trusted choice for drivers.”

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