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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Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has concluded its fourth annual ‘Download the App, Plant a Tree’ campaign, resulting in nearly 59,000 new trees being planted across United States. The initiative, which ran from Earth Day on 22 April through the end of Bridgestone’s Sustainable Business Week on 12 May, encouraged customers of Firestone Complete Auto Care and Tires Plus to transition away from paper-based processes. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the company committed to planting one tree seedling for every new download of its mobile applications.

Since the programme’s inception in 2023, the cumulative effort has contributed over 244,000 tree seedlings to a conservation project spanning 3,600 acres. For the second consecutive year, Bridgestone has collaborated with The Nature Conservancy to focus reforestation on flood-prone areas within the Mississippi Delta region, protecting vulnerable farmland. This work builds upon a significant prior contribution, as the company donated over 5,700 acres of Tennessee land to the organisation in 2018, the largest land donation in that chapter’s history.

The mobile applications function as digital glove boxes, enabling customers to schedule appointments, access vehicle histories and review promotional offers. By incentivising digital adoption, BSRO seeks to curtail paper waste across its 2,200 retail locations. Beyond reducing paper consumption, the company’s sustainability strategy incorporates electric vehicle maintenance and charging services, alongside recycling nearly all products and byproducts used in stores.

This reforestation effort supports the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, a framework of eight corporate values guiding sustainability objectives. The campaign exemplifies the company’s dedication to Energy, Ecology and Efficiency, demonstrating how customer engagement drives environmental outcomes. Through these actions, BSRO integrates ecological responsibility into its retail operations and long-term business model.

Marko Ibrahim, President, BSRO, said, “We are proud to see this campaign continue to grow and support Bridgestone’s long-term sustainability goals. By helping expand green space in communities across the country, our stores are demonstrating what it means to live out our Promise to Care.”

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NEXEN TIRE has inaugurated a fully automated logistics centre at its European manufacturing facility in Žatec, Czech Republic. The strategic project significantly boosts the plant’s storage capacity by roughly 57 percent, elevating it from 530,000 to 830,000 tyres.

Spanning 7,104 square metres and rising 51 metres high, the new warehouse employs cutting-edge automation, including RFID-based product tracking and fully automated inbound and outbound systems. These technologies streamline the entire production-to-shipment process, enhancing both operational efficiency and inventory accuracy. Consequently, the European subsidiary gains greater agility to address seasonal demand shifts, ensuring faster and more reliable deliveries that bolster regional customer satisfaction.

Since commencing European production in 2019, NEXEN TIRE has persistently expanded its local presence. The warehouse project, launched in October 2024 following the plant’s second-phase completion, directly supports rising output and underscores the company’s commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience and manufacturing capabilities across Europe.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “This warehouse expansion does more than just increase storage capacity. It is a strategic investment that will strengthen our integrated production and logistics capabilities. By continuously enhancing the operational capabilities of our European plant, we will improve the trust of customers and further accelerate our growth in the European market.”

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Tegeta Green Planet, a pioneering Georgian organisation authorised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, partnered with Shine Energy for an educational visit to GLC School (Georgian Learning Center School). The organisation specialises in the circular economy collection, transportation and recycling of used tyres, waste oils and batteries.

Students from grades VI to IX engaged in dynamic discussions, practical exercises and interactive tasks designed to impart crucial knowledge on waste management and resource conservation. The session illuminated the mechanics of the EPR system and underscored the vital role of individual citizens in environmental stewardship. To commemorate their enthusiastic participation, the students received certificates and symbolic gifts.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy by both companies to cultivate environmental consciousness among youth. By utilising practical examples and interactive learning methods, including presentations and games, the project aims to instil sustainable behaviours and a deep understanding of circular economy principles in the next generation.

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has expanded its European network by integrating REGOM, a French innovator specialising in automated sorting and identification systems for end-of-life tyres. This partnership strengthens the collaborative push towards a sustainable tyre circular economy, leveraging REGOM’s technological expertise to enhance digitalisation and transparency across the industry.

Proper assessment and classification of used tyres is the foundational step in establishing a functional circular system. Determining whether a tyre is fit for reuse, retreading, recycling or alternative recovery processes is essential to maximising the lifespan of valuable materials. REGOM’s solutions directly address this critical juncture by providing precise, data-driven evaluations.

The company employs advanced artificial intelligence, image processing and real-time data analysis to capture key attributes like tyre dimensions, manufacturer details and tread depth. This technology enables accurate sorting, directing each tyre towards its most suitable end-of-life pathway, thereby improving the efficiency of material flows and boosting recycling rates. Such automated objectivity is a significant asset for waste managers, recyclers and retreaders.

Looking forward, REGOM is actively engaged in pioneering initiatives like the Digital Product Passport and RFID-based identification. These tools are vital for ensuring full lifecycle traceability, from production through multiple use cycles. By enabling comprehensive data collection and process optimization, these technologies promise to drive greater resource efficiency and solidify the digital backbone of the future circular economy.

Christina Guth, AZuR network coordinator, said, “Digital technologies will play a key role in the tyre circular economy in the future. They help to keep tyres in circulation longer, strengthen high-quality recycling pathways and use valuable raw materials more efficiently.”

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