Just concluded 2021 will stand out as a defining year for the tyre industry in India as it embarked upon an ambitious initiative – Charting a path to greater raw material security by attaining self-reliance in natural rubber (NR) availability.

The journey to become self-reliant is not new for the Indian tyre industry. The industry was amongst the first ones to become self-sufficient much before the slogan of being Atma Nirbhar was coined. For years, India has been producing practically all the tyres it requires making it one of the few countries that are self-dependent in tyre manufacturing. Much before a vehicle is rolled out, the tyre Industry is ready with the fitments having worked out specifications and standards to the minutest details.

While India has developed globally competitive tyre manufacturing capabilities, realising the vision of being Atma Nirbhar necessitates achieving self-sufficiency of the entire value chain in view of strong backward and forward linkages.

In this context, the ATMA NR project, launched during the year, attains all the more importance. Natural rubber is a key raw material for the Indian tyre industry. Unlike the global scenario where the ratio is skewed in favour of synthetic rubber, Indian industry stands out for its unique preference for NR.

However, NR demand has been outstripping domestic supply and the gap is widening. Going forward, the situation may become more challenging for the NR Consuming interests. Imports may not be sustainable considering the strategic importance of NR as raw material and also in view of large outflows of foreign exchange that the Government has been trying to discourage.

As one of its kind initiatives that could hold a template for several other raw material intensive sectors, the NR Project is designed to implement the scheme for developing a substantial 200,000 hectares of rubber plantations in the North Eastern states financially supported by major tyre companies, represented by ATMA with technical support and coordination by the Rubber Board.

This collaborative project in PPP mode involving tyre majors, Rubber Board and financing institutions is a landmark initiative where the consuming industry would be contributing directly to the development of plantation.

The project took off early in the year with a visit to the North East (Tripura, Meghalaya & Assam) by top leadership from ATMA Member companies along with Dr KN Raghavan, Executive Director of Rubber Board in February 2021 to get a first-hand understanding of ground level situation and connect with state leadership and policy makers.

Minister for Commerce & Industry (CIM), Government of India Piyush Goyal has been the prime motivating force, mentoring the project at every step right from the inception. A meeting convened by the Minister in the month of June 2021 discussed threadbare the launch of the project and the road ahead. The CIM proposed a meeting with the chief ministers of North-Eastern states to take them on board, seek their full support and fast track the project. The CIM even offered to speak to the CMs to inform them about the wider benefits of the NR Project for their respective states.

Since availability of planting material locally in North East states was a challenge, plans were made to transport the saplings from Kerala to the North East by rail. Few thousand saplings were initially sent as a pilot which reached Guwahati in good condition.

 It was an emotional moment for all the stakeholders in natural rubber sector, when the first full consignment was sent by a special train 'Bharathappuzha - Brahmaputra Rubber Express', to Azara, Guwahati, from Thiruvalla Railway Station on 10th July 21. It carried 1.33 lakh rubber saplings packed in specially designed cartons. These saplings were distributed in the NE states for planting in the identified areas.

Eventually, Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura formally launched the NR Project under Chief Minister's Rubber Mission on 14th August 21 at Pathaliaghat in Sepahijala district of Tripura and the project is shaping up well ever since.

 India has emerged as a front runner as the world pursues alternatives to China in the field of manufacturing. Given the spirit of entrepreneurship backed by the policy reforms, the country is poised to play its due role in the global supply chains.

At the same time, the need for raw material security cannot be over emphasised as India looks to become the manufacturing hub of the world. It goes to the credit of the Government that it has shown keen interest in enabling policies to encourage domestic manufacturing, including tyre and allied sectors.

The fact that the ATMA NR Project could see the light of the day under the shadow of ongoing pandemic says a lot about the commitment of all the stakeholders to fight against odds. That surely augurs well for raw material security and sustainability as we welcome the New Year.

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Wallace Instruments has launched Wallace Instruments West Africa, a new Abidjan-based entity extending the UK materials testing equipment maker’s support for natural rubber producers across the region. The operation places servicing, calibration, spare parts and technical expertise closer to an established West African customer base that depends on Wallace instruments for plasticity, PRI and viscosity testing. The move is intended to shorten turnaround times and foster lasting local relationships.

Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa’s foremost natural rubber producer, ranks among the world’s leading exporters of technically specified rubber (TSR), supplying tyre and rubber product manufacturers globally, including the Americas. Properly maintained and calibrated instruments generate consistent, traceable results at source, strengthening confidence in shipment quality throughout the supply chain.

The Abidjan facility will feature a laboratory and training centre where customers can observe Wallace equipment in action and receive hands-on testing and technical guidance. Technicians trained by Wallace will use OEM calibration kits for fully compliant work, while customs-cleared spare parts stocks will cut lead times. An exclusive local partner will also provide servicing and calibration for other plantation and processing equipment across West Africa.

Chris Norval, Managing Director, Wallace Instruments, said, "Our aim is to bring trusted, traceable quality measurement closer to natural rubber production. Establishing Wallace Instruments West Africa helps our customers maintain reliable testing and strengthen quality control while giving the wider supply chain greater assurance in the test data. We're excited to be building our team locally and look forward to growing with the region."

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A new Bridgestone report released ahead of Tyre Safety Month 2026 reveals a troubling gap between UK motorists’ stated safety priorities and their actual tyre maintenance habits. While two-thirds of drivers rate safety as extremely important when replacing tyres, nearly half only think about their tyres once a year, and almost a third continue driving on them until an MOT failure forces action.

The manufacturer’s survey of 2,000 motorists found that 47 percent check their tyres only when an MOT is due, while 31 percent wait until being told their car will fail. One in five drivers admits to buying potentially deadly part-worn products despite being warned of the risks. Three in five motorists never check their tyres at all, even though 87 percent claim to know how to do so.

These findings arrive alongside TyreSafe estimates that 6.1 million tyres on UK roads are illegal or dangerously worn at any given time, typically because tread depth falls below the 1.6 mm legal limit. Department for Transport figures show that people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving illegal, defective or underinflated tyres rose from 169 in 2024 to 201 in 2025.

Bridgestone has conducted thousands of complimentary tyre checks across the UK over the past year and runs its Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero campaign, which offers drivers practical guidance on tread depth, pressure and tyre condition. The company also advocates mandatory tyre replacement as a penalty for driving on illegal tyres, a stance supported by 30 percent of survey respondents.

Helen Roe, Senior Manager for Brand, Events, Product and Digital Marketing, described the research as a timely reminder of the need to educate motorists. She noted that while drivers recognise tyre safety as the most important purchase factor, life-saving checks still are not happening, possibly because tyres remain an afterthought or because drivers lack confidence in performing them. She emphasised that tyres are the only contact points with the road and that part-worn products carry unknown histories and potential damage.

Bridgestone urges drivers to check pressures monthly when tyres are cold, inspect surfaces for lumps, bulges, cuts and cracks and verify tread depth exceeds 1.6 mm using a gauge or the 20p test. Motorists uncertain about their tyres should seek a qualified professional, with many garages offering free checks. The company says its community campaigns, educational resources and retailer partnerships aim to make correct safety decisions easier and to highlight how essential well-maintained tyres are to preventing accidents and saving lives.

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DUNLOP has unveiled a cashback promotion timed to coincide with the autumn motoring season, offering drivers a financial incentive of as much as EUR 80 on qualifying tyre purchases. The campaign runs from 1 October through 30 November 2026 and covers car, SUV and light commercial vehicle tyres. The exact rebate a customer receives is determined by how many tyres are bought and the diameter of those tyres in inches.

The initiative launches simultaneously across Germany, Austria and Poland, with France, Italy and Spain set to join in stages thereafter. Beyond the immediate price advantage, the company intends the promotion to showcase the breadth of its tyre portfolio. All DUNLOP tyres measuring 16 inches or larger bought within the promotional window qualify, while French customers can also claim on 15-inch tyres. In total, 891 products spanning 15 to 22 inches fall within the eligible range, 804 of them from 16 inches upward.

The eligible line-up spans winter, summer and all-season options suited to varied driving needs. Winter offerings include the DUNLOP WINTER, WINTER SPORT 5, SP WINTER SPORT 4D and SP WINTER SPORT 3D, alongside the year-round ALL SEASON 2 and summer tyres such as the SPORT MAXX RT2 and the BLUE RESPONSE TG launched in March. These cover small cars, compacts, estates, SUVs, motorhomes and light commercial vehicles, as well as horse boxes, boat trailers and caravans.

Summer tyres extend the range further, serving everything from daily commuting and long-distance travel to holiday journeys on country roads and motorways. Claiming the cashback is designed to be simple: purchasers register online at cashback.dunloptyres.com, submit their proof of purchase, and receive the corresponding amount once verification is complete.

Markus Bögner, President and Managing Director, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, explains, “A price advantage alone does not sell a tyre – it is ultimately its quality, safety and performance that are decisive. With the cashback promotion, we are creating an additional purchase incentive and giving potential customers the opportunity to experience the strengths of our tyres for themselves. If this leads to long-term customer relationships, we will have achieved our goal. At the same time, we are supporting our retail partners with their sales and strengthening the profile of the DUNLOP brand in the market together.”

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Liberty Tire Recycling has continued its push to keep scrap tyres out of British Columbia landfills and illegal dump sites through a series of community collection events held in September. Working alongside Tire Stewardship BC and Duka Environmental Services Ltd., the company supported roundups in both Kelowna and Prince George that together diverted more than 3,000 unwanted tyres from the waste stream.

The Kelowna event, part of a wider provincial effort to expand recycling access, saw 939 tyres gathered in just four hours. In Prince George, a major transportation and trucking hub in central British Columbia, crews collected over 2,100 tyres during a similar four-hour window while speaking with residents about recycling and sustainability.

Beyond simply accepting tyres, Liberty Tire Recycling uses these events to engage directly with community members. Team members in Prince George spent the day answering questions about how scrap tyres are processed and how recycled rubber feeds into a circular economy, helping raise awareness of responsible tyre management across the province.

Improperly discarded tyres remain a common problem in rural areas, where they create visual blight and public health risks. Old tyres collect rainwater that can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and abandoned piles threaten farms, acreages and natural spaces. Recycling addresses these issues while supporting resource recovery.

Under Tire Stewardship BC's province-wide programme, collected tyres are transformed into playground surfacing, running tracks, livestock mats, safety flooring and other rubber products. The Regional District of Central Okanagan's annual tyre recycling event has removed more than 15,000 unwanted tyres from local properties over the past decade.

Liberty Tire Recycling entered Canada in 2010, though its British Columbia facility has operated since 1989, reflecting more than 37 years of combined tyre recycling experience. The company processes tyres in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario, and through the Return to Retailer programme, hundreds of locations across British Columbia accept up to four clean, off-rim tyres per resident, with officials recommending a call ahead to confirm capacity. 

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