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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Linglong Tire hosted legendary Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos at its headquarters in Zhaoyuan from 14 to 16 August 2026. The Real Madrid official ambassador’s visit included high-level meetings with the tyre manufacturer’s senior management, alongside engagements with key clients and commercial partners. His itinerary featured a comprehensive tour of the company’s primary production facility and an in-depth briefing on its smart manufacturing systems.

The former Real Madrid star explored the firm’s research and development centre and evaluated the Sino-Asia test track, recognised as China’s largest and most advanced proving ground. Carlos expressed considerable admiration for the facility’s professionalism and scale, particularly noting the colossal 63-inch off-the-road tyre displayed at the headquarters. His schedule also included a panel discussion with Linglong Chairman Wang Feng and CEO Lingkun ‘Andy’ Zhou.

Linglong Tire has served as Real Madrid’s Global Tire Partner since 2024, a commitment that extends into the 2026/2027 season. The partnership is activated as the nine-time European champions prepare for their La Liga opener against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu on 26 August. As part of the agreement, the Linglong brand secures prominent visibility on the stadium’s digital perimeter boards for all domestic league and cup fixtures.

Additional sponsorship benefits include logo placement on partner boards and the official club website, along with VIP hospitality packages. The collaboration also features advertisements in Real Madrid’s digital and print publications, television spots on the club’s official channel and extensive integration into the club’s media activities, solidifying Linglong’s presence within the Spanish giants’ commercial framework.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced the presentation of findings from an international joint research project for developing technologies to prevent and control rubber tree leaf fall diseases. Lead researcher Minami Matsui delivered a public lecture on 1 August, addressing the global history of rubber trees and collaborative measures against Leaf Fall Disease, which has significantly reduced production in affected regions.

Yokohama Rubber participates as a cooperating corporation in this initiative, which aims to achieve sustainable natural rubber production through disease management. The project has been selected under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development programme, jointly implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. This international effort unites Japanese and Indonesian institutions, focusing on Indonesia as the world's second-largest natural rubber producer, where Leaf Fall Disease has severely curtailed output. The research targets smallholder farmers, who account for over 90 percent of the nation's production, by utilising pesticides to combat the disease.

Minami Matsui (left) and co-researcher Emiko Kurihara, Assistant Professor at Keio University

Since the project launched in 2020, research has progressed from pesticide screening to field evaluations at institutional test farms and corporate plantations, and then to smallholder farm assessments beginning in September 2025. Throughout each phase, Yokohama Rubber has investigated pesticide residues in natural rubber latex and evaluated their effects on rubber properties, confirming that proper application does not compromise quality. All field evaluations have demonstrated the selected pesticides' effectiveness, and the project is now advancing towards the practical phase, including securing pesticide registration for Indonesian use.

This research aligns with Yokohama Rubber's Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber, which includes supporting small-scale farmers. The company also participates as an official partner in another SATREPS project focused on utilising rubber seeds for green products to address global warming and plastic pollution.

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NEXEN TIRE is intensifying its transition to renewable energy across its domestic manufacturing facilities, marking a significant step in its long-term sustainability strategy. The company is advancing this effort through a combination of external power purchase agreements and the expansion of on-site solar generation at its Yangsan and Changnyeong plants.

A key component of this initiative involves a Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) inked with SK Innovation E&S, which allows the tyre manufacturer to secure renewable electricity directly from producers via a long-term contract. Beginning in November, the Yangsan plant will receive approximately four megawatts of onshore wind and solar power, with an anticipated yearly output of six gigawatt-hours. This supply is expected to cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Parallel to the DPPA, NEXEN TIRE is bolstering its self-generation capabilities. Rooftop solar systems at the Changnyeong facility, currently under lease, will be transitioned to company-owned generation as leases expire, targeting a total capacity exceeding 10 megawatts by 2028. This shift will convert roughly 9 percent of the plant’s electricity use to renewable sources, while the Yangsan plant is also evaluating similar proprietary solar installations.

Given its substantial presence in Europe and its role as an original equipment supplier to premium automakers, NEXEN TIRE faces increasing pressure from clients to lower production-related emissions. The company has already secured Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation for its goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 58.8 percent from a 2023 baseline by 2034, reinforcing that environmental performance is now a critical competitive factor in its key markets.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, "The shift to renewable energy is not merely a response to regulations but a strategic investment to secure sustainable competitiveness in the global market. We will continue to expand the adoption of renewable energy across our production sites both in Korea and abroad in a phased manner."

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Nokian Tyres has achieved a significant milestone in the 2026 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), securing a total score of 80 points. This evaluation examines sustainability factors that are critical to long-term corporate performance, with a strong emphasis on risk management, organisational adaptability and overall resilience. The company views this result as a clear validation of its strategic approach.

The assessment awarded the tyre manufacturer perfect scores in several key categories, including Climate Risk Management, Raw Materials Programs, Information Security Policy and Human Rights Mitigation and Remediation. Company leadership has acknowledged that this accomplishment is rooted in the deep integration of sustainable practices across daily operations, product innovation and long-term value generation.

Nokian Tyres also stressed that responsible expansion relies heavily on collaborative efforts with employees and partners, reinforcing that sustainable decisions are fundamental to building resilience in a rapidly evolving global environment.

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