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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Maxxis has expanded its mountain bike lineup with two major innovations, one addressing the demands of modern cross-country racing and the other exploring entirely new terrain in wheel design. The brand introduces the Aspen AT, a tyre built for rougher and more variable XC courses, alongside a pioneering family of 32-inch mountain bike tyres.

The Aspen AT draws from the trusted Aspen family’s speed but adds a revised tread profile that boosts control and confidence on uneven ground. It sits between pure racing tyres and aggressive trail models, giving riders a single option for the varied demands of today’s XC and down-country riding. While the Aspen AT addresses the present, Maxxis looks further ahead with its new 32-inch platform. Larger wheel diameter improves rollover capability, traction and high speed stability on rough trails, offering a fresh choice for those who want to keep momentum and smooth out feedback without replacing current wheel sizes.

The initial lineup includes Aspen ST, Aspen and Aspen AT tread patterns, with Forekaster and Dissector versions following in the third quarter. Key features of the Aspen AT include a fast-rolling XC tyre with broader all-terrain capability, a revised tread for better grip in rough sections and construction suited to modern racing disciplines. The tyres deliver increased rollover for a smoother ride over obstacles, improved efficiency on rough surfaces and a larger contact patch that translates into greater stability and grip.

By adding the Aspen AT and introducing the 32-inch tyre family, Maxxis continues to lead the evolution of mountain biking, supporting riders from competitive starts to the very edge of what is possible on two wheels.

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Goodyear is all set to launch the new Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season this weekend at Donington Park’s National circuit. A 21-car grid marks the beginning of a campaign defined by a changed race structure, one that puts a stronger focus on how teams manage their tyres and prepare for each session rather than raw pace alone.

For the Donington rounds, competitors will receive four sets of the standard Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium tyre plus one set of the softer option compound. Throughout the season, every event will include both the standard tyre and one set of the option rubber, which must be used in at least one of the three races held over the weekend.

The most significant strategic shift comes from the revised weekend schedule. There is now only a single free practice session before qualifying and the newly introduced Race to Pole on Saturday. This compressed timeline is expected to reshape tyre strategies dramatically, rewarding those who can best adapt to limited track time.

In wet conditions, teams can turn to the Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet tyre, designed with a tread pattern that clears standing water to deliver grip. Beyond the BTCC, Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres will also be in action this weekend at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Imola, as well as in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Kansas Speedway.

Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC event leader, said, “This season, teams will have more preparation to do, but less time to do it in. The changes put a lot of pressure on drivers to make the most of free practice, as it’s the only real opportunity to understand how the tyres are working before dialling in a setup that needs to perform in qualifying and the Race to Pole.

“Typically, teams will add a degree or even a degree and a half of extra negative camber for qualifying to maximise one-lap performance. However, with parc fermé conditions in place between qualifying and the Race to Pole, what will make a strong strategy is finding a setup that works across both sessions, or choosing to favour one and accepting a compromise in the other. That’s where tyre management and understanding how the different compounds behave will be key.”

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Kumho Tire USA has kicked off the 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship season with a strong statement, as their driver Jack Shanahan secured third place in the opening round. Competing on Kumho’s Ecsta V730 tyres, Shanahan piloted an E82 BMW that was assembled in only 16 days. His podium finish demonstrated remarkable skill and precision throughout each battle, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.

After earning second place in qualifying, Shanahan moved confidently through the main competition, defeating Rudy Hansen, Jeff Jones and Aurimas Bakchis in successive rounds. However, when engine troubles arose during his Top Four matchup against Fredric Aasbo, Shanahan made the difficult but honourable decision to withdraw rather than risk spilling oil onto the track. This unfortunate mechanical failure also denied spectators the potential excitement of a final round showdown between Jack and his brother.

Shanahan first joined the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship in 2025, quickly establishing himself as a serious competitor. His rookie season was exceptional, as he finished sixth overall and earned Rookie of the Year honours while supported by Kumho tyres. Now in 2026, he aims to build on that momentum with clear goals of reaching more podiums and contending for the championship, steadily proving himself among the world’s elite drifters.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "We are absolutely thrilled with Jack Shanahan's impressive performance on the Streets of Long Beach, where he put our Ecsta V730 tyres to the ultimate test at the highest level of competitive drifting. His podium finish is a powerful testament to the exceptional performance and unwavering reliability of KUMHO tyres, and we are excited to have him as a returning driver for the 2026 season."

Shanahan said, "After building an all-new car for Formula DRIFT in just 16 days, we are incredibly grateful to have secured third place in round one, and KUMHO was a huge part of our success. I had every confidence in the KUMHO Ecsta V730 tyres and they performed flawlessly – providing the grip and consistency we needed for every battle on a highly technical and challenging course."

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Pirelli enters the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season as the defending Tyres Manufacturer champion, with the opening round taking place from 17 to 19 April on the demanding asphalt roads of Rally Sierra Morena in Andalusia. A total of 62 crews will gather for the event, and more than 30 of them are expected to fight for the initial points of the European title race. The challenging route features 203.80 timed kilometres spread across 13 special stages, setting the scene for a competitive weekend.

To equip its teams for this gruelling asphalt challenge, Pirelli has prepared a selection of tyres from the P Zero range, specifically the hard RA5C and soft RA7+ compounds for dry conditions, complemented by the Cinturato RWD for wet weather. Among the leading contenders using Pirelli tyres are Andrea Mabellini, who secured third place in the overall championship last year and will drive a Lancia Y HF, along with reigning Italian champion Giandomenico Basso and Teemu Suninen, both piloting a Skoda Fabia RS.

Beyond the main European championship entries, Pirelli also serves as the sole supplier and technical partner for the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, now in its third season. This initiative has attracted 11 crews to Rally Sierra Morena, further highlighting Pirelli’s broad involvement in the event. The tyre allocation rules specify that drivers in RC2, RC3 and RGT categories receive 16 tyres, while those in RC4, RC5 and RC6 are allocated 12.

For crews taking part in Qualifying, the tyres used during that session count towards the overall allocation. However, tyres used during Free Practice and the Shakedown are not included in the total. With a strong field and Pirelli’s comprehensive technical support, the 2026 season opener promises intense competition on the Andalusian stages.

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