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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Liberty Tire Recycling facilities throughout North America took part in the Recycled Materials Association's (ReMA) annual Safety Stand Down Week, underscoring the company's sustained dedication to worker safety and well-being. Teams set aside regular duties to engage in training sessions, hazard awareness conversations and reviews of established best practices aimed at reinforcing a safety-first culture.

The week's programming spanned the company's entire network and featured toolbox talks, site-specific safety discussions, CEO-sponsored facility inspections with managers and employees and examinations of safe operating procedures. These activities gave workers room to spot potential hazards, offer observations, raise questions and strengthen the systems underpinning a safer workplace.

Beyond this annual event, Liberty maintains year-round safety measures that include regular stand downs, five-minute safety talks, near-miss reporting, safety work orders, Liberty Learning LMS training, engineering upgrades, standard operating procedures and employee development programmes. Joining industry peers in the ReMA initiative let the company reaffirm continuous improvement across every facility.

Safety is treated as a shared responsibility and an ongoing journey. Liberty Tire Recycling, a leader in tyre recycling and circular economy solutions, expressed appreciation to all participating team members for keeping safety central to daily operations while supporting ReMA's broader push for industry-wide safety excellence.

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DT Swiss has refreshed its mountain bike (MTB) wheel range with redesigned asymmetric alloy rims, following more than 10 years of leadership in the alloy MTB segment. The EX 511, XM 481 and XR 391 have each received updates featuring premium aluminium alloy, welded rim joints, wider horns to limit tyre damage and a humped tyre contact surface for better support, yielding stronger and more durable rims.

Across the range, every new rim now uses an asymmetrical profile that balances spoke tension more evenly and extends wheel life. Distinct construction traits are tailored to cross-country, all-mountain and enduro use, so riders can select a rim suited to their preferred discipline.

The EX 441 is built for unplanned lines, combining its asymmetric shape with wider horns and an optimised structure for stability and impact resistance. It comes in multiple sizes with either 28 or 32 spoke holes.

For mountain exploration, the XM 431 pairs a strong aluminium build with a refined profile and wider horns for greater impact resistance, plus a redesigned contact patch for improved lateral tyre support; it is offered in 27.5 or 29 inches. The XR 421, meanwhile, uses a lightweight asymmetric, flatter construction with a 28 mm inner width optimised for tyres up to 2.7 inches, giving cross-country riders confidence and speed lap after lap.

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Bridgestone Americas has entered a three-year partnership with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), becoming the organisation’s Official Tyre and the exclusive tyre supplier for the SCCA Club Spec programme. The agreement deepens Bridgestone’s presence in grassroots motorsports, spanning autocross, track days and time trials while reinforcing its commitment to accessible competition.

Under the arrangement, Bridgestone will equip vehicle platforms intended to reduce the technical and financial obstacles facing newcomers to motorsports. The company’s championship-winning Potenza RE-71RZ tyre will support established categories such as Solo Spec Coupe, Club Spec MX-5 and Club Spec Mustang. It will also serve as the spec tyre for the Club Spec Cayman class, scheduled to debut in 2027.

The Potenza RE-71RZ, an extreme 200TW summer performance tyre, was engineered specifically for grassroots racing, delivering rapid lap times and responsive control. Bridgestone performance tyres, including the new model and its predecessor, the Potenza RE-71RS, posted strong 2026 results. They captured 75 percent of class wins, more than 350, and 70 percent of class podiums across 21 of 24 national SCCA Solo events, while accounting for 70 percent of eligible entries, surpassing 3,300 competitors. At the SCCA Solo National Championships, the tyres represented 55 percent of total event entries and 80 percent of eligible street tyre classes. They won 36 of 41 classes, earned 103 trophies and set the event’s fastest overall index time by 0.7 seconds. In SCCA time trials, they claimed 97 percent of podium finishes and set 19 class lap records.

Looking forward, the two organisations plan to collaborate on educational programmes, trackside support and member experiences. The partnership will back initiatives including Track Night in America and SCCA Women on Track, underscoring Bridgestone’s aim to combine innovative tyre technology with broader access to high-performance driving.

David Colletti, President of Consumer Original Equipment Tires, North America, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, said, “Bridgestone and the SCCA share a core commitment to making motorsports accessible, educational and fun. Partnering as the Official Tire of the SCCA and SCCA Club Spec furthers our investment in the heart of the racing community while enabling us to deliver peak Potenza performance every single weekend.”

Heyward Wagner, Vice President of Rally, Solo and Experiential Programs, said, “SCCA is honoured to partner with Bridgestone and welcome the brand back into our community. Bridgestone was a tremendous supporter of SCCA Solo competitors 20 years ago, and many of our members still remember the impact the brand made. That history has paved the way for genuine excitement across SCCA to reunite with Bridgestone, celebrate that shared history and build on it through programmes that support accessible, competitive and fun motorsports experiences for drivers at every level.”

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Continental has announced the sale of mycar Tyre & Auto, its Australian tyre and automotive servicing subsidiary, to Chinese automotive service platform Tuhu. The enterprise value of the deal stands at AUD 403 million (approximately USD 283 million), and closing depends on regulatory clearances.

The move aligns with the German company's broader intention to sharpen its focus on developing and producing tyres. For mycar, the change in ownership brings a parent whose priorities centre squarely on automotive services, giving the chain a stable footing to keep expanding. Roughly 280 outlets and over 1,600 staff fall within the scope of the agreement.

Back in 2018, Continental bought the business as a way to widen its Australian distribution reach and bolster its standing in the global tyre sector. Australia has since matured into a well-established and valuable market for the firm, which has simultaneously assembled a robust local sales operation. Across eight years under Continental, mycar gradually reinforced its Australian market position by adding stores, diversifying its offering and raising its profile.

Once the sale concludes, mycar will keep distributing Continental tyres in Australia and the two sides foresee room for tighter collaboration ahead. The chain's services span routine maintenance, tyres, brakes, suspension, batteries and general mechanical work, and its workforce ranks among the sector's largest in the country.

Dalibor Kalina, head of Continental’s tyre business in the Asia-Pacific region, said, “mycar Tyre & Auto has developed very successfully under the Continental umbrella and is now exceptionally well positioned in the Australian market. In Tuhu, mycar Tyre & Auto is gaining an owner with many years of experience who will actively drive the company’s strategic direction and sustainable long-term development. Tuhu and Continental have a longstanding and strong strategic partnership in China. With our own sales organisation in Australia and the continued distribution of our tyres through the mycar Tyre & Auto network, we will ensure seamless continuity for our customers.”

Min Chen, Founder and CEO, Tuhu, said, “Australia is a highly attractive and promising market for automotive services, and mycar Tyre & Auto is a distinctive business with a strong position in this market. We look forward to working closely with the existing management team and employees while continuing our longstanding partnership with Continental. As a new entrant to the Australian market from China, we are committed to adapting quickly to the local market and building on mycar’s strong foundation established under Continental’s management and its proven track record of responsible and reliable operations. By bringing Tuhu’s capabilities and experience to Australia, we look forward to continuing to deliver value, choice and convenience for Australian vehicle owners.”

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