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!

Continental has introduced the ContiMotion EVO, the successor to its well-regarded ContiMotion sport touring tyre. The new model targets motorcyclists seeking a balanced blend of riding enjoyment, safety and longevity. It arrives with multiple product enhancements over the previous generation.

Technical upgrades include new carcass materials that deliver greater stability and consistency, translating into improved handling and more agile dynamics. Updated compounds further boost performance in both wet and dry conditions. The tyre also features Continental's EasyHandling technology for predictable steering, a hybrid silica tread compound for reliable grip, an advanced compound and dedicated pattern for extended mileage and ZeroDegree steel-belt construction with new carcass materials for high-speed stability.

The ContiMotion EVO suits sporty weekend riders and touring enthusiasts alike. It fits motorcycles such as the BMW R12 nineT, Triumph Daytona 660, Ducati Supersport 950, Honda CB 650R, Suzuki GSX-8TT and Yamaha MT-09. It can also be paired with the existing ContiMotion.

Christoph Ettenhuber, Head of Business Field Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “With the ContiMotion EVO, we’re offering a versatile sport touring tyre. It combines intuitive handling with reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions – all while delivering impressive mileage for everyday use. The ContiMotion EVO has been upgraded in key areas without losing the fundamental renowned qualities of its predecessor. Riders benefit from a tyre that is noticeably more agile. The ContiMotion EVO is compatible with a wide range of popular naked bikes, roadsters and modern classics.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Goodyear takes centre stage at Silverstone this weekend as title sponsor of the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone, the second consecutive year it has headlined the European Le Mans Series event following its return to the calendar last year after a six-year break.

The manufacturer will equip 37 cars across LMGT3, LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am with its Racing Eagle tyres. LMGT3 entrants will use the Medium compound, chosen for its adaptability across varying conditions and driving styles, while LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am crews run their own Medium specification, a staple of the series since debuting at Le Castellet last season. Wet-weather Racing Eagle tyres remain available should conditions demand.

Silverstone's fast nature is set to shape tactics, with fuel consumption a likely determinant of pit-stop windows. Goodyear anticipates LMGT3 outfits will favour single-stinting to maximise pace on fresh rubber at every stop, whereas LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am squads could split between single and double-stinting approaches.

Off-track, Goodyear has arranged several activations. Vector Sport's #10 car ran a special Goodyear Racing livery last weekend at Caffeine & Machine's Warwickshire venue and will race in the same colours. The company also backs Friday's ELMS Charity Run, where Racing Eagle tyre stacks will mark each kilometre and runners finish beneath an inflatable Goodyear arch, with proceeds going to the Luca Guintoli Foundation, supporting families affected by childhood cancer. Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres additionally feature in NASCAR action at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Silverstone should be a fairly straightforward race from a tyre strategy perspective. The high-speed nature of the circuit means fuel consumption will be high, so fuel strategy is likely to be the main factor influencing pit stop timing. The tyre allocations broadly give teams the flexibility to change tyres at every stop, so there is less of a need to stretch a set of tyres purely to save time in a pit stop. We therefore expect teams across both categories to largely focus on single-stinting tyres. The biggest variable at Silverstone is always the weather, which can quickly change stint lengths and pit stop timing.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The new AZuR CO₂ savings certificate gives commercial vehicle fleet operators a way to quantify and prove the emissions reductions they achieve through smarter tyre strategies. The tool turns calculated savings into transparent, verifiable documentation, allowing businesses to showcase their resource efficiency efforts. The certification sits within AZuR's wider vision of a closed-loop tyre economy, in which quality tyres are kept in service as long as possible through repair, retreading and regrooving, and materials are recovered through proper recycling channels only once further use is ruled out.

Three distinct levers form the basis of the assessment, and fleets may adopt them separately or together. Reusing sound tyre casings through retreading cuts demand for virgin materials and stretches each tyre's service life. Reprofiling technology from Bear-Machines adds as much as a quarter more mileage to compatible commercial tyres, depending on the tyre and how it is used, while simultaneously trimming fuel burn. Digital tyre management powered by CO2OPT analyses a fleet's tyre usage patterns through artificial intelligence, guiding the selection and deployment of suitable tyres; under the right operating conditions, this can shrink fuel consumption and its associated emissions by as much as 10 percent.

Reliability of the reported figures rests on a defined calculation framework applied to each fleet's own data. The retreading portion draws on life cycle assessment work from Fraunhofer UMSICHT, while the remaining measures follow their own established methodologies and fleet-specific inputs. The result is auditable evidence linking implemented tyre management practices to calculated CO₂ reductions.

Beyond emissions figures, the certificate reveals how deeply a fleet has embraced circular practices by showing its share of retreaded tyres. Three tiers structure this indicator: Category A covers fleets above 50 percent, Category B spans 25 to 50 percent and Category C captures 5 to 20 percent. Documented savings and a practical circularity measure are thus combined in a single certification.

Early adopters already illustrate the concept in action. Over a 12-month window, SIS Internationale Speditions GmbH calculated 31.99 tonnes of CO₂ saved through retreading, CO2OPT software and the fuel savings that followed, with retreaded tyres on more than half its vehicles, earning Category A. The Steinkühler Group, meanwhile, reached 44.72 tonnes of calculated savings in the same period using retreading, reprofiling, CO2OPT and resulting fuel reductions, landing in Category C.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR), said, “Many companies are already investing in lower-emission vehicles and alternative drive systems. However, it is often overlooked that tyres can also make a quantifiable contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the AZuR CO₂ savings certificate, we demonstrate how retreading, reprofiling and intelligent tyre optimisation can be combined in a joint tyre management strategy.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

DUNLOP has premiered a new atmospheric short film titled ‘Taking the Line’, which centres on the brand’s participation in the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring 24 Hours. The two-minute production chronicles the journey of the black-and-yellow DUNLOP Porsche 911 GT3 R, car number 17, offering an emotive portrayal of the challenges faced during one of the world’s most gruelling endurance events.

The film, shot over a week at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, employed two dedicated camera crews utilising digital cinema cameras, action cameras, car-to-car tracking and aerial drones to capture the action. The notoriously capricious Eifel mountain weather, with its fog, rain and dramatic lighting, serves as a dynamic backdrop, amplifying the drama and underscoring the circuit’s unique character.

Rather than focusing exclusively on track action, the narrative shifts following the retirement of the DUNLOP car to highlight the essential human element of the race. The production pays tribute to the mechanics, marshals, support crews, drivers and devoted fans, emphasising that the event’s spirit relies on these individuals. This approach also connects to DUNLOP’s deep-rooted heritage in motorsport, blending tradition with innovation since the invention of the pneumatic tyre.

In a notable technical achievement, the filmmakers utilised advanced artificial intelligence to reconstruct a historically accurate sequence depicting the car without using any archive footage. This innovative process, informed by extensive visual documentation and historical references, successfully bridges more than four decades of DUNLOP’s racing history, creating a new and authentic representation of its enduring legacy at the Nürburgring.

Evropi Dionysiadou, Brand Communications Specialist at Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH and responsible for the production, said, “One of the film’s most memorable moments creates a bridge between the past and the present. As a tribute to DUNLOP’s heritage, a Porsche 962 C appears on the start-finish straight for a few seconds, bearing the same number 17 that raced at the Nürburgring on DUNLOP tyres in 1986 and 1987.”

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “With ‘Taking the Line’, DUNLOP underlines its deep roots in motorsport. For decades, experience gained in racing has been transferred into the development of road tyres, helping us create products capable of performing in the most demanding conditions and regularly earning recognition in independent tyre tests. An icon of 24-hour racing, DUNLOP has also contributed to 34 victories at Le Mans, a legacy that continues to inspire and drive us today.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!