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)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) took part in the Women's Leadership Luncheon organised by the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region's Women In Alliance, held at San Jacinto College. The gathering drew women from throughout the Houston Port Region to exchange professional experiences, build connections and encourage the next generation of women leaders.

Andrea Cavalier, Principal Engineer at Kuraray America, Inc., noted that as she nears the later stages of her career, she has come to value how much can be learned from people at different points in their professional journeys. Her remarks underscored KAI's view that leadership growth is an ongoing process enriched by connections across career stages.

The event's centerpiece was a fireside chat titled ‘Beyond the Arena: Saddled for Success’, featuring Pat Mann Phillips, past Chairman of the Board for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with Nellie Baktashi Macaluso moderating. The conversation explored leadership, career development and spotting chances for personal and professional growth, highlighting three lessons: building trust through credibility and authenticity, embracing challenges by stepping outside familiar situations and knowing one's worth by recognising individual strengths and contributions.

Cavalier further stressed that leadership extends beyond personal success to using experience to create opportunities for others. That outlook mirrors Kuraray America's emphasis on mentorship, collaboration and continuous learning, where employees at all stages share knowledge and support one another.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has unveiled the ANGEL GT III, a new radial Sport Touring tyre that combines easier, improved handling with enhanced wet-weather capabilities and more consistent performance across its service life while retaining the brand's sporting DNA. The rear tyre is built for greater durability and reduced rolling noise compared with other ANGEL family products, thanks to a new tread pattern, and it carries a high-contrast sidewall with the ANGEL symbol and Gran Turismo lettering.

Scheduled for availability from early 2027, the tyre is the fourth generation of the ANGEL family, which began with the ANGEL ST and evolved through the ANGEL GT and ANGEL GT II. Over the past 15 years, the range has helped raise standards in the radial Sport Touring segment for riders seeking a balance of sporty performance, riding enjoyment and long-distance touring capability, supporting Pirelli's steady expansion in one of the European market's most important segments. Each generation has brought technological and performance advances, earning growing rider recognition and strengthening the brand's presence.

Designed for modern mid- and large-displacement Sport Touring, Crossover and Naked motorcycles, the ANGEL GT III pursues a clear objective: Pirelli's interpretation of the Gran Turismo riding experience, with high levels of control, comfort and riding enjoyment. Dedicated work to reduce rear-tyre rolling noise further enhances touring comfort, an especially important consideration for long-distance riders, with the resulting reduction in fatigue benefiting both journey enjoyment and overall control.

The tyre's standout characteristic is improved easier handling, a trait particularly valued by riders in this category. Pirelli's designers aimed to make motorcycles feel more intuitive, smoother and less demanding in everyday use and on long journeys while preserving the precision and responsiveness of the brand's sporting DNA. Wet performance also received particular attention, with the tyre designed to deliver confidence and control on wet, low-grip roads, raising standards set by previous generations.

Consistency throughout the service life was another key focus. Extensive development work sought more uniform dynamic characteristics over time, even as wear increases, so riders retain high levels of control and enjoyment. While improving comfort and ease, the tyre remains true to Pirelli's heritage, its focus on sport performance, steering precision and support during spirited riding reaffirming a distinctive character over long distances.

Aesthetically, the ANGEL GT III evolves the family's visual identity, its new tread pattern reinterpreting signature ANGEL graphic elements while expressing clear stylistic evolution. The high-contrast sidewall, with the iconic ANGEL logo and Gran Turismo lettering, references an Italian motorcycling concept of travelling swiftly, comfortably and in style. Pirelli frames the launch as a new Sport Touring chapter and a renewed commitment to innovation and raising segment standards.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Sri Trang Group has earned the CAC Change Agent Award 2026 from the Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC), with the honour collected by Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), alongside Vitanath Sincharoenkul, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Public Company Limited (STGT). The presentation formed part of the CAC Annual Conference 2026, convened around the theme of business integrity and collective action for Thailand's OECD journey, and was presided over by Rapee Sucharitakul, Chairman of the Thai Institute of Directors Association and of CAC, at the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 4 November 2026.

The award represents a fourth successive year of recognition for STA, while STGT secures its second. Across the Group, anti-corruption serves as a foundational corporate policy shaping the conduct of directors, executives and employees through explicit guidelines and measures that undergo periodic review to stay attuned to shifting circumstances and applicable standards. The Group further encourages cooperation with suppliers and business partners, nurturing a culture of transparency and accountability that reinforces confidence among all stakeholders.

Bestowed upon organisations that meaningfully advance transparency and sound corporate governance while carrying collective anti-corruption action into supplier networks and the wider business community, the accolade mirrors Sri Trang Group's resolve to lift responsible business conduct standards and weave anti-corruption collaboration across its entire value chain.

Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Chief Executive Officer, STA, said, “Receiving the CAC Change Agent Award 2026 is a source of pride that reflects our commitment to conducting business transparently, upholding good corporate governance and consistently combating corruption. It also recognises our role in extending collective action to suppliers and business partners to raise standards of ethical business conduct throughout the value chain. We firmly believe that good corporate governance is the foundation of sustainable growth and that trust must be earned through action.

“As a group whose operations span the entire natural rubber industry, from upstream to downstream, we are committed to driving change from within by embedding transparency and accountability in every process. We also cultivate a culture of zero tolerance for corruption and extend these principles to our suppliers and business partners, encouraging them to uphold the same ethical standards. We place particular emphasis on whistleblowing and encourage employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and report suspected corruption so that concerns can be appropriately investigated and addressed.

“Translating good corporate governance into tangible outcomes is central to the role we embrace as a Change Agent. Creating a transparent and fair business environment requires collaboration and action across all sectors. This award provides further impetus for Sri Trang Group to strengthen corporate governance, reinforce a culture of transparency and expand anti-corruption collaboration throughout the value chain. Through these efforts, we aim to ensure that business growth goes hand in hand with stakeholder confidence while contributing to the long-term strength and sustainability of Thailand’s business sector.”

Vitanath Sincharoenkul, Chairman of Executive Committee of STGT, said, “Receiving the CAC Change Agent Award for the second consecutive year is an honour and a source of pride for our organisation. This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our people to uphold integrity and transparency in the way we conduct business. It is the result of everyone’s commitment to good corporate governance and to fulfilling their responsibilities transparently, ethically and accountably – principles that have become an integral part of our corporate culture. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed, especially our suppliers and business partners, for helping translate our commitment into tangible results. For STGT, trust is something we must uphold at every stage of our business. This award motivates us to continually raise our standards by building employee awareness, promoting accountable and verifiable work processes, and encouraging everyone to stand up for what is right, ensuring that anti-corruption principles are put into practice throughout the supply chain.

“Our commitment to transparency and anti-corruption is fundamental to putting our ‘Clean World Clean Gloves (CWCG)’ approach into practice. Environmental and social responsibility must be grounded in ethical, transparent and accountable business conduct. We therefore strive to apply good corporate governance principles at every level of our operations, ensuring that the delivery of quality rubber gloves goes hand in hand with building trust in our organisation. This prestigious award further motivates STGT to advance its corporate governance standards and strengthen a culture of integrity, transparency and accountability in line with our core values, supporting stable, long-term growth.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has published an analysis of nearly 137,000 vans showing that a tyre advisory at MOT is a strong predictor of future dangerous defects, with the risk doubling for larger vans in the 3–3.5 tonne class. The organisation is calling on fleets to treat every advisory as a task requiring completion rather than a mere annotation on a certificate.

According to the study of DVSA MOT data, vans that received a tyre advisory were almost twice as likely to present a dangerous tyre defect at their next test. Roughly 1 in 14 vans with an advisory, or 7.0 percent, had a dangerous tyre defect at the following MOT, compared with about 1 in 28, or 3.6 percent, of those without an advisory. For vans weighing 3–3.5 tonnes, the figures rose to 6.3 percent against 3.0 percent, a doubling of risk that persisted even after accounting for vehicle age.

The scale of the problem is considerable. Of the nearly 27,600 vans issued a tyre advisory in February 2024, more than 1,900 returned in February 2025 with a defect graded Dangerous, a classification meaning the vehicle should not be driven until repaired. In around 3 in 10 van tyre failures, the issue had already been flagged at the previous MOT, suggesting the warning was often available in advance.

Roadside evidence reinforces the pattern. Tyres are the most frequent reason DVSA takes action against a van, and between April and June 2026 tyre condition was the top prohibition defect, recorded against 22.7 percent of vans inspected. Because DVSA targets vans suspected of being overloaded or unroadworthy, the figure is not representative of all vans, but it illustrates how often neglected tyres put a working vehicle out of service.

The business consequences are significant. With 4.89 million vans licensed in the UK covering around one mile in every six driven on British roads, and about one in five work-related collision vehicles being a van, employers face a clear legal duty to manage work-related driving risks. A van off the road also means missed jobs and lost income.

TyreSafe advises fleet managers to log every tyre advisory with a repair or re-inspection date, confirm and record its resolution, incorporate tyres into daily walkaround checks, set pressures according to manufacturer figures for the load carried and ensure wheel nuts are torqued and re-checked after any wheel removal. Drivers are urged to follow the ACT routine: checking air pressure with an accurate gauge, inspecting condition for cuts, bulges, cracks, embedded objects and uneven wear and verifying tread depth against the 1.6 mm legal minimum for vans up to 3.5 tonnes. The release is the first in a weekly series on tyre safety and fleet risk management.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “An MOT tyre advisory is an early warning, and our analysis shows it is a reliable one. Vans that get one are almost twice as likely to have a dangerous tyre a year later. That is a risk to the driver, to everyone around them, and to the business that depends on that van. Fleet managers already have this information on the MOT certificate. The fix is simple: treat every tyre advisory as a job with a deadline, and make sure drivers ACT on their tyres every day."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!