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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Maxxis Rubber India has been presented with an Appreciation Award from the Ahmedabad Rural Police in recognition of its support during VIP movements. The accolade was conferred by Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat, acknowledged for his role in fostering community safety and collaboration through his leadership.

Guided by its core principles of respect, care and appreciation, the company emphasises its commitment to quality, service and trust alongside cooperation with authorities. Expressing gratitude to the police department for acknowledging its efforts, Maxxis stated that the honour reinforces its dedication to integrity and public safety partnerships, motivating the organisation to continue contributing with the same unwavering commitment and a focus on building stronger, more resilient communities every single day forward together.

“At Maxxis, our core values – respect, care and appreciation – drive us beyond business. Whether ensuring 100 percent quality, service, trust in our products or standing alongside authorities for public safety, we believe strong partnerships build stronger communities. We sincerely thank the Police Department-Ahmedabad Rural Police for acknowledging our ‘unwavering support’ and ‘invaluable cooperation’. This honour motivates us to continue contributing with the same commitment and integrity,” the company acknowledged in a social media post.

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The organisers of the International Rubber Conference 2026 have opened exhibitor applications for the accompanying Rubber & Elastomer Technical Exhibition, with discounted early-bird rates available until 30 April 2026.

The conference will take place from 2 to 6 November at the Aichi International Exhibition Center (Aichi Sky Expo), bringing together global scientists, engineers and industry stakeholders working across rubber and elastomer technologies.

Exhibitors submitting applications by the April deadline will benefit from reduced participation fees. The final deadline for regular applications is 15 July 2026.

Held alongside the conference from 3 to 6 November, the exhibition is expected to attract more than 4,500 visitors and is regarded as one of the leading international platforms for showcasing advances in rubber science, materials engineering and industrial applications.

IRC 2026 marks the sixth edition hosted in Japan, following previous conferences in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Yokohama and Kitakyushu. Under the theme “Future Rubber Technology toward Sustainability”, the event aims to address evolving industry demands, particularly as Asia accounts for a growing share of global rubber production and consumption.

Organisers said the event will provide a platform not only for established players but also for emerging engineers and researchers to engage with international experts, fostering collaboration and technological advancement across the sector.

Applications and further details are available via the official conference website.

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Tegeta Green Planet, in partnership with the Wasteless specific waste management association, hosted the Georgia Rubberized Asphalt Summit (GRAS) 2026 in Tbilisi. This international conference was designed as a platform for exchanging global knowledge on sustainable road infrastructure and rubber-modified asphalt technologies, bringing together industry leaders and international experts to examine both the challenges and opportunities within the sector. A dedicated panel discussion formed a central part of the event, fostering in-depth dialogue among participants.

Despite being widely adopted in United States, Portugal, Spain and across Europe for over six decades, rubber-modified asphalt remains unused in Georgia. This technology offers significant advantages over conventional pavement, including a service life of 8 to 10 years, superior resistance to water damage, reduced noise pollution and a substantial decrease in environmental harm caused by automotive waste. The summit’s organisers aim to address this gap by promoting responsible waste management and raising public awareness about the dangers of unprocessed refuse.

More than a forum for knowledge exchange, the summit served as a call to action, underscoring Georgia’s potential to become a regional frontrunner in sustainable infrastructure. Tegeta Green Planet, a subsidiary of Tegeta Holding established in 2022, was among the first companies in the country authorised by the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture to recycle used tyres, oils and batteries under extended producer responsibility principles. The organisation operates by collecting specified waste types, managing their transport and recycling and ultimately processing these materials in line with circular economy models, thereby supporting the nation’s shift towards innovative green initiatives.

Ekaterina Kavtaradze, CEO, Tegeta Holding, said, “For Tegeta Holding, sustainable development is one of the most important principles of our operations, which is reflected in concrete solutions. I am delighted that Georgia has had the opportunity to host such a large-scale event. GRAS 2026 demonstrates that the circular economy can become a real economic priority in Georgia as well, bringing significant benefits to the country, as waste is transformed into a resource, creating economic advantages and reducing the negative impact on the environment.”

Shalva Akhvlediani, Director, Tegeta Green Planet, said, “Georgia is at a stage where infrastructure decisions can shape the economic and environmental outcomes of the next generation. This summit provides us with a unique opportunity to learn from the world’s leading countries and implement these lessons at the local level. Overall, the circular economy is the way forward: it allows us to transform waste, such as used tyres, into a useful resource, ensuring economic stability, environmental protection and sustainable development.”

Giorgi Guliashvili, Chairman, Wasteless, “Our goal is to implement a fully circular model in Georgia – from waste collection to recycling and the effective use of recycled materials. Starting this autumn, Georgia will launch its first high-tech tyre recycling plant, which will process used tyres collected throughout the country. Using recycled rubber in asphalt is a clear answer to the question of how the resulting raw materials are utilised. As a result of the plant’s launch, we estimate that we will produce up to 12–15 thousand tonnes of rubber crumb per year, which will allow us to use this material locally to build more durable and environmentally friendly roads. This will bring significant benefits to both the environment and the economy.”

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Sailun recently welcomed trade and media representatives from across the Nordic region to the Sailun Polar Drive 2026 event, where the focus was on hands-on testing of the new Alpine Evo2, Arctic 2 and studded Ice Blazer Spike winter tyres. Held under severe winter conditions, the gathering was designed to let participants experience the full capabilities of this new range through direct driving experiences rather than passive demonstrations.

Situated in Munio, Finland, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, the location offered consistently harsh weather that served as the ultimate proving ground. Around 120 guests, including journalists, original equipment representatives and retail partners from the Baltics and Nordic countries, put the tyres to the test across a variety of challenging surfaces. From loose snow and slush to polished ice and wet pavement, the Alpine Evo2, Arctic 2 and Ice Blazer Spike each had the opportunity to showcase their specialised winter performance.

The event took advantage of temperatures fluctuating between -20 and +5 degrees Celsius, creating the mix of snow, ice and wet roads typical of Nordic winters. Testing took place on a frozen river track straddling the Finnish-Swedish border, featuring dedicated sections for handling, acceleration, braking and drifting. The remote Munio area, known for its pristine natural environment, also reflected Sailun’s commitment to sustainability, which includes reducing energy use and emissions during manufacturing and developing fuel-efficient tyres. A fleet of Audi A3, Audi A6 e-tron and Audi Q6 e-tron vehicles allowed participants to assess not only performance but also comfort, low noise and energy efficiency.

Beyond the driving sessions, the programme included an in-depth workshop covering tyre technology, the new winter product lineup and Sailun’s broader brand direction. Attendees also had ample opportunity to engage directly with members of Sailun’s management team throughout the event.

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