By Sharad Matade

As part of its sustainability efforts, Continental aims at using at least ten percent of natural rubber derived from Russian dandelion roots in its tyre and industrial rubber goods production in future.

“We have undertaken a huge research task to meet ten percent of our requirement of natural rubber from dandelion roots. It is a long-term process,” Dr Carla Recker, Head of Expertfield Materials Chemistry & Taraxagum, told Tyre Trends in an interview. “It will take decades to complement natural rubber from Hevea brasiliensis with natural rubber from dandelion plants at an industrialised level. However, the company does not intend to replace NR from Hevea brasiliensis trees.”

According to Dr Carsten Venz, Site Manager at Taraxagum Lab Anklam, “Dandelion will be an additional source of natural rubber, not a replacement to rubber trees, in the coming years.”

Continental has been consequent on the cultivation and processing of Russian dandelion as an alternative source of raw material to the rubber tree in the tropics. Last year, the company officially opened its research and test laboratory named Taraxagum Lab Anklam in Anklam, Germany, a base for its future research into the cultivation and processing of Russian dandelion, within a year after the ground-breaking ceremony held in November 2017.

“The Taraxagum Lab Anklam is the latest key milestone of our project,” said Dr Recker.

The Taraxagum project is crucial for the company. “The natural rubber from dandelion is important to develop a new alternative and sustainable supply of the raw material” Dr Venz said.

On bicycle tyres

Though the lab was opened last year, Continental started working on the dandelion rubber project in 2011, and the company has already used rubber from dandelion roots in its passenger car tyres, truck tyres and industrial rubber goods. “The latest development on production-side is that we have industrialised bicycle tyres with rubber derived from dandelions. So, you can now buy bicycle tyres of Continental made of dandelion rubber in the market,” Dr Recker said. Continental showcased its first bicycle tyre with dandelion rubber at the Tour de France this year.

Currently, the Taraxagum lab is working on dandelion research, and over the next five to ten years, it will focus on the industrialisation of dandelion rubber and increase the share for the dandelion rubber in its products.

“Continental sees the Russian dandelion as one element of our commitment for sustainable natural rubber as detailed in our Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy published in October 2018. At least for us, the Russian dandelion is the most promising alternative source for natural rubber. There might be different sources (to get natural rubber), but that does not fit for us. The Russian dandelion can be grown in different climate zones unlike natural rubber from heave brasiliensis trees which need tropical climates to grow. Rubber trees and the Russian dandelion have the same characteristics, the same chemical structure and the same properties. It is just two plants producing the same material,” says Dr Recker. The advantage of dandelion rubber over rubber from trees is that the former has a generation succession of just three months as compared to seven years for the latter.

Since the dandelion plants can be cultivated in Northern and Western Europe, which makes transportation routes to the European production sites much shorter and contributes to the sustainable use of existing resources, thinks Continental.

However, the major challenge will be the 100 percent replacement of rubber made from trees with dandelion rubber. Dr Recker thinks, yes, technically, dandelion can replace tree rubber by 100 percent, but the more significant challenge will be the industrialisation of dandelion rubber to the level of rubber trees. “We are at a research stage. The amount of dandelion available globally is not enough to replace natural rubber commercially. To create that biological system to industrialise the natural rubber from the dandelion will take some time and we will have to be more patient,” says Dr Recker.

Research is a time and capital consuming task. Synthetic rubber is also coming into tyre production in a more significant way, but the crude oil derived commodity has historically been volatile, and even oil-producing nations are diversifying their businesses citing falling productions and growing focus on cleaner options.

Dandelion rubber is not new to the tyre industry; however, the industry does not seem much keen on dandelion plants as an alternative source for natural rubber. “Not everybody (tyre company) is willing to invest in the early research of dandelion rubber and setting up the entire bio-economy. You have to establish a full value chain from breeding to the production of natural rubber from dandelion plants, which is does not exist yet and not every market player is willing to invest in such a long-term process,” explains Dr Recker.

Since Continental sees dandelion a sustaining resource for natural rubber in the future, it has made a substantial investment for the project. It has already poured in 35 million euros for the project. “Though many of our peers are investing in other resources to get natural rubber, I think we are quite unique investing like the way we are to explore alternative resources for natural rubber,” says Dr Venz.

Over 90 percent of natural rubber derives from South East Asia, a tropical region suitable for natural rubber trees. However, erratic climate behaviour is hitting production of natural rubber in this region. Natural rubber producers are also exploring other areas to grow natural rubber trees. According to Dr Recker, the research project has yet to ascertain the survival scope of the Russian dandelion in changing climates. “I believe that Dandelion will grow in all climate zones,” says Dr Recker.

Yield ratio

As of now, Continental also does not have comparable yield ratios between natural rubber from dandelion and hevea brasiliensis. “We are working on determining the output of natural rubber per acre from both resources,” says Dr Venz. “Usually, between 1 and 1.8 ton per hectare per year is produced from rubber trees, and around the same amount of production per hectare we are expecting from dandelion plants,” estimates Dr Recker.

As part of the value chain creation, the company is focusing on breeding for seed production and harvesting, root production and harvesting, and the extraction process. According to the company, growers also need some time to understand and get hands-on to harvest dandelion plants. Every year climate conditions will determine a different impact on the plants. “We will need to see how the crops will react in different climate and harvesting seasons. We are building a network of farmers in North East Germany from whom we learn and whom we can teach what we have learned,” added Dr Recker.

Fundamental design and development of tires for the mobility of the future will be unchanged; however, tires will be expected to be high performance and eco-friendly. According to Continental executives, for the mobility of the future, natural rubber will remain the core ingredient and dandelion will be one of the sustainable options to provide natural rubber. “Rubber be will be used in future to make high-performance tires, and we are exploring the option to have a sustainable source for natural rubber,” adds Dr Recker.

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Ozzy Tyres has launched a new MONSTA all-terrain tyre, engineered to align with the actual driving patterns of modern Australians. As the nation's utility vehicle market expands, with models like the Ford Ranger dominating sales, a clear trend has emerged: most 4x4 owners primarily use their vehicles on sealed roads for daily commuting and family transport, venturing off-road only occasionally. Founder and Director Hussein Chahine identified this shift, noting a significant market gap for a tyre that delivers the rugged, aggressive aesthetic and off-road assurance drivers desire, but without the traditional compromises.

Conventional all-terrain tyres, optimised for extreme off-road conditions with large tread blocks, often generate excessive road noise, vibration and a harsh, stiff ride on pavement. Ozzy Tyres addressed this by rethinking the design from the ground up. After six months of dedicated research and development, the new MONSTA tyre features a pattern with narrower gaps and smooth, curved tread lines. This design maintains crucial off-road traction and durability while ensuring a quiet and stable on-road performance. Furthermore, engineered sidewalls provide greater compliance than typical all-terrain tyres, enhancing ride comfort and reducing strain on vehicle suspension.

This product underscores MONSTA’s unique position as the only Australian-owned tyre brand in the market, a status that enables a direct, customer-led approach to manufacturing. The company’s vertically integrated model allows it to respond swiftly to local driving trends and feedback, rather than relying on imported products designed for different conditions. Manufacturing has now commenced, beginning with 10 sizes and plans for more as demand grows. The brand’s organic international expansion into markets like Japan and New Zealand continues, but the new MONSTA tyre is distinctly born from an understanding of Australian habits.

Ultimately, the tyre is built for the reality of Australian lifestyles. It provides the confident, aggressive look and sidewall strength that 4x4 drivers want, coupled with the daily comfort of a smooth and quiet ride. Chahine emphasises that by designing and developing their own products, Ozzy Tyres maintains full control over quality and performance, ensuring the tyre resonates with drivers who no longer need to sacrifice on-road comfort for off-road capability.

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Yokohama Tire Corporation, a subsidiary of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has become a supporting sponsor for the new American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC), which launches in 2026 as North America’s top desert racing series. The company will also equip competitors with its GEOLANDAR brand tyres for SUVs and pickup trucks.

The championship is a collaboration between Unlimited Off-Road Racing and the Best in the Desert Racing Association, consolidating several premier events, including the historic Best in the Desert series and the Mint 400. This five-race points championship will traverse demanding US desert courses, commencing with the Parker 400 in Arizona. As a sponsor, Yokohama Tire Corporation will deliver marketing and motorsport support throughout the series.

The provided tyres will include racing specifications derived from the GEOLANDAR M/T G003 mud-terrain model and overseas-market GEOLANDAR SD off-road racing tyres. Building on the proven track record of GEOLANDAR tyres in events now forming the AORC, TEAM YOKOHAMA is focused on securing series championships.

AORC Schedule

14–18 January: Parker 400 (Arizona)
4–8 March: Mint 400 (Nevada)
22–26 April: Silver State 300 (Nevada)
23–26 July: Vegas to Reno Legends Rally (Nevada) *Not included in AORC series points
13–16 August: Vegas To Reno (Nevada)
15–19 October: Laughlin Desert Classic (Nevada)

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Emerging as a direct answer to the mining industry's most persistent durability challenge, Triangle Tyre has comprehensively launched its groundbreaking giant OTR tyre bonding protection solution: EnsureX Efficient Technology. This innovation is specifically engineered for the world's most punishing environments, such as the Deo Nai coal mine in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province. There, extreme heat, prolonged humidity and rugged lignite terrain traditionally cause severe tyre ageing and delamination, leading to high failure rates and operational risk.

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Already proven in rigorous field testing, the technology has been applied to 49-inch and 57-inch tyre series with remarkable results. It acts as a resilient mechanical anchor within the tyre's structure, deeply securing each steel cord to create a far more integrated and robust assembly. This engineering advancement reduces delamination failures by more than 95 percent and extends overall tyre service life by over 15 percent, directly addressing the costly cycle of premature scrapping.

The successful deployment of EnsureX Efficient Technology marks a significant leap forward in OTR tyre capability. By providing a stronger, more durable and stable solution, it not only elevates safety and efficiency for mining operations but also solidifies a new standard of performance through independent innovation in high-end tyre manufacturing.

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Apollo Tyres is preparing to introduce the Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, a next-generation ultra-high-performance all-season tyre slated for release in the summer of 2026. This product is engineered with a completely new architecture, innovative materials and an advanced directional tread to achieve leading performance standards. It is specifically designed for compatibility with contemporary electric and hybrid vehicles, offering low rolling resistance and minimal noise alongside a reinforced structure to accommodate their greater weight without compromising dynamic response.

This breakthrough tyre is conceived as a versatile, performance-focused option suitable for a broad range of vehicles, including sports cars, high-performance saloons and SUVs, and will be available in a wide selection of sizes. The launch continues the Vredestein brand's longstanding leadership in the all-season category, a segment it has helped define since the 1990s and where it currently offers the most comprehensive product range.

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