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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Tegeta Green Planet representatives met with Institute of Design students on 22 September for a practical workshop and discussion. The session focused on proper management of specific waste streams, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles and recycling processes, with particular emphasis on how these concepts intersect with the design discipline. Students gained insight into the complete journey such waste undertakes, from initial collection through to final treatment, with used tyre recycling receiving notable attention as an example of converting discarded materials into valuable new resources.

Rubber samples of varying sizes and colours, all produced from recycled tyres, were displayed during the workshop. These physical materials illustrated the direct connection between tyre recycling and design applications. Participants explored potential uses for recycled tyre materials in product development and examined how design contributes to transforming waste into items with both functional purpose and visual identity, creating new value in the process.

A practical assignment concluded the meeting, requiring students to develop a product concept utilising recycled tyre material and establish its complete identity. This task enables participants to merge their design expertise with authentic environmental challenges while discovering how discarded materials can serve as foundations for new product creation.

Tegeta Green Planet regards education and environmental awareness as essential components of its mission. The organisation regularly partners with academic institutions, disseminating information to young people about specific waste management, circular economy models and resource reuse. Through such collaborations with the Institute of Design, students receive opportunities to combine environmental engagement with hands-on creative experience.

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Goodyear is all set for the showdown at Fuji Speedway this weekend for the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, equipping all 18 LMGT3 cars with the Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres . The Japanese venue ranks among the calendar’s fastest and most demanding circuits.

Its permanent-track straight measures 1.475 km, the longest of the season. That extended run from Turn 16 to Turn 1 allows front tyres to cool substantially before subsequent corners impose heavy lateral and longitudinal loads on the rear tyres, making temperature management critical over the six-hour race.

Every LMGT3 entrant will use the Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compound, the same specification employed in the opening five rounds. It was engineered for a broad range of circuits and temperatures, suiting Fuji’s famously changeable conditions. Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet tyres remain available should rain arrive.

The Medium compound could enable single-stint strategies, prioritising performance from each set over multi-stint approaches, with Fuji’s relatively low wear potentially permitting extended runs when safety car or full course yellow periods make that advantageous. Tyre selection and pit timing gain added importance given swiftly shifting weather. Goodyear Racing Eagles also compete this weekend at Kansas Speedway in NASCAR, Rockingham Dragway in NHRA and Silverstone in the British Touring Car Championship.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Fuji’s track surface is relatively smooth, meaning overall wear is comparatively low. This also means that managing heat and bringing the tyres up to temperature can be more difficult, particularly at the start of a stint. Teams need to get the tyres into their operating window quickly, and the quick warm-up characteristics of the Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium will help them do that.

“The weather can be a major factor at Fuji, so teams need to be prepared to react quickly. The wide operating window of the Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium gives drivers confidence across changing temperatures, while the Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet provides a solution should track running become affected by rain.”

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TyreSafe has entered a new partnership with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, reinforcing joint efforts to prevent road casualties and enhance safety throughout the county. The fire and rescue service becomes part of a widening group of UK fire services collaborating with TyreSafe to highlight the dangers linked to illegal and poorly maintained tyres.

Under the arrangement, both organisations will pool expertise, resources and engagement opportunities to promote tyre safety among South Yorkshire road users. This work will be integrated into broader road safety initiatives. The partnership also builds on South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s existing role within the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership, where education, training and publicity are central to reducing casualties.

The collaboration comes amid a difficult road safety picture. In 2024, a total of 43 people died and 748 were seriously injured in South Yorkshire collisions, amounting to 791 killed or seriously injured casualties. Although this was lower than the 841 recorded in 2023, the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership acknowledges substantial progress is still needed to reach its Vision Zero goal.

Road traffic collisions remain a major operational demand for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, whose community risk work involves joint efforts to cut incident numbers and severity. Serious and fatal crashes occur on major routes linking Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley, and on higher-speed rural roads. Tyres are vital to the Safe System approach, as defects can impair braking, steering and control, raising the risk of serious incidents.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “Fire and rescue services see the consequences of serious road collisions first-hand. Their experience gives them a unique perspective on the importance of prevention, and that makes South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue an incredibly valuable partner for TyreSafe. South Yorkshire has a strong and established road safety partnership, with organisations already working together towards Vision Zero. We want to complement that work by making tyre safety a more visible part of the conversation around safer vehicles and safer roads. We’re delighted to welcome South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to the growing number of fire and rescue services partnering with TyreSafe. By combining their frontline experience and local reach with our specialist knowledge of tyre safety, we have an opportunity to reach more drivers with simple, practical advice that could help prevent a serious collision.”

Robert Horne, Prevention & Intervention Officer for Barnsley, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with TyreSafe to strengthen the road safety work we already undertake with our partners across South Yorkshire. Our firefighters regularly attend road traffic collisions and see the devastating impact they can have on individuals, families and communities. Prevention is therefore a vital part of our role, and helping people understand the simple steps they can take to reduce risk is an important part of that work. Tyres are a critical safety component on every vehicle, yet they can easily be overlooked. Working with TyreSafe will help us reinforce that message and provide road users with practical information they can use to make sure their vehicles are safe and roadworthy.”

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Yokohama Rubber has become a participant in PROJECT TREE, a sustainability initiative launched by ITOCHU Corporation to advance the responsible sourcing of natural rubber. The programme relies on blockchain technology to create a traceable supply chain, and Yokohama Rubber has begun using rubber procured through this framework. On 25 September 2026, the company started supplying tyres for commercial vehicles operated by FamilyMart Co., Ltd. as project-supported products.

Natural rubber represents roughly 30 percent of tyre raw materials, while tyres account for about 70 percent of global consumption of the resource. Most of the world’s supply comes from smallholder farmers in nations such as Thailand and Indonesia. The tyre industry has responded with efforts spanning forest conservation, human rights safeguards, agricultural training and livelihood stabilisation. PROJECT TREE identifies sourcing regions and assists farmers through incentives from participating companies and training programmes.

Yokohama Rubber has pursued traceability through several channels. Its natural rubber processing subsidiary, Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd., earned Chain of Custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council for responsible processing and distribution. The company also employs RubberWay Geo-Mapping as a risk assessment tool and is aligning its operations with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). For several years it has supported smallholder farmers in Thailand’s Surat Thani Province. Joining PROJECT TREE is expected to further reinforce supply chain transparency and supplier support.

As a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Yokohama Rubber revised its Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber in September 2021 and continues to strengthen collaboration with the platform. The company is also working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with the Yokohama Rubber Group promoting sustainable raw material procurement, including natural rubber, as part of that effort.

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