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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Hankook Tire wrapped up its showing at IAA Transportation 2026, the commercial vehicle industry’s largest global expo, held in Hannover, Germany, from 15 to 20 September. The company used the event to introduce three new tyres.

The debut lineup included the Smart Control AW53 and DW53 winter tyres, plus the Smart Flex TH51 trailer tyre for regional and long-haul use. All three rely on SMARTEC, Hankook’s advanced truck and bus radial technology system, which targets safety, mileage, chip and cut resistance, retreadability and braking.

The AW53 and DW53 are built for steer and drive axles respectively, delivering grip and braking on snow and ice. Testing at Hankook’s Ivalo proving ground in Finland showed gains in snow braking, acceleration and handling over the prior generation. Hidden Groove technology sustains performance as tread wears and extends tire life by as much as 15 percent.

The TH51 pursues high mileage and low rolling resistance, with zigzag grooves and drainage channels for water evacuation. Its Hidden Groove design, made possible by 3D-printed tread moulds, preserves grip to the end of service. Hankook also displayed Smart Line, e-SMART City, the Laufenn LF95+, Alphatread and Smart Fleet while continuing its presence at European events such as the Road Transport Expo, Transport Logistic and The Tire Cologne.

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Continental has expanded its fifth-generation Conti Eco range for freight transport with the Conti Eco HT 5, a trailer tyre that joins the Conti Eco HS 5 steer and Conti Eco HD 5 drive products. The trio forms a coordinated package aimed at cutting operating costs, sustaining high mileage and lowering rolling resistance to support better fuel economy. Although trailer axles are not driven, their tyres still shape how efficiently a rig moves. By targeting that axle, Continental extends the Generation 5 advantages across the full vehicle combination for regional and long-haul duty. Less resistance at the trailer can translate into reduced fuel burn and, in turn, lower operational CO₂ output.

Because a trailer rolls on several tyres that never leave the road, those tyres directly affect stability, efficiency and day-to-day performance. In some configurations, they generate as much as half of a truck-trailer combination's total rolling resistance. Continental engineered the Conti Eco HT 5 to reconcile low rolling resistance with long tread life, encouraging uniform wear and dependable traction in a broad range of conditions. Optimised materials, a fresh sidewall design and advanced filler compounds underpin the tyre's fuel-saving characteristics.

Mileage and durability come from a new tread compound paired with a refined curing method, while a redesigned five-rib tread layout supports even wear, steady handling and consistent behaviour across shifting weather and road surfaces on both regional and long-distance routes. Tested against the Conti Hybrid HT3+, the Conti Eco HT 5 posted rolling resistance reductions of as much as 12 percent under specified conditions, offering fleets a path to lower fuel use, diminished CO₂ emissions and reduced tyre-related costs.

The Generation 5 Conti Eco portfolio sits within Continental's broader strategy of helping customers boost transport efficiency through technological innovation and tuned tyre performance. Uniting low rolling resistance, high mileage and long service life at every axle position, the range addresses industry pressures such as climbing fuel prices and stricter efficiency and emissions expectations. The Conti Eco HT 5 reaches the market in September 2026 in two sizes, 385/65 R 22.5 and 385/55 R 22.5.

Hinnerk Kaiser, responsible for the development of truck and bus tyres in the EMEA region at Continental, said, “Every tyre contributes to the efficiency and operating costs of a truck and trailer combination. While attention often focuses on the steer and drive axles, trailer tyres also play an important role in rolling resistance and fuel consumption. With the Conti Eco HT 5, we are extending the benefits of our fifth-generation Conti Eco portfolio to the trailer axle and helping fleets improve the efficiency of their transport operations. For the Conti Eco HT 5, our focus was on improving efficiency while maintaining durability. The combination of low rolling resistance, long service life and balanced wear characteristics can help fleets reduce tyre-related operating costs while maintaining reliable performance in demanding transport operations.”

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Titan International, Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to divest its Italtractor ITM undercarriage business (ITM) to USCO S.p.A., marking a significant strategic shift for the global off-highway wheel, tyre and undercarriage manufacturer. The deal positions Titan to concentrate on its core operations while securing substantial cash value from the sale.

Under the agreement, Titan will receive an initial purchase price of USD 207 million, with the potential for an additional USD 6 million in earnout proceeds contingent on ITM meeting specified performance targets for 2026. Customary adjustments tied to ITM’s net asset and financial position at closing are expected to add approximately USD 23 million in cash value. Combined with USD 49 million in dividends from ITM – USD 38 million already received in recent years and USD 11 million anticipated before closing – Titan projects total cash value of up to approximately USD 285 million, inclusive of the earnout.

The transaction allows Titan to sharpen its focus on its global wheel and tire operations serving agricultural, construction and consumer markets. According to Chairman Maurice M Taylor, Jr, the potential sale of ITM was first discussed with the board over a decade ago when an offer below USD 100 million was presented. He credited President and CEO Paul Reitz and his team for their patience in completing a deal that he described as fair for Titan and beneficial for USCO, which gains a strong manufacturing business with a good brand and skilled workforce. Taylor also praised Cecilia La Manna for nearly 30 years of service and leadership, noting that USCO is acquiring a strong management team along with the business and plants.

Reitz characterised the transaction as an important step in Titan’s transformation, delivering strong value while providing ITM with an owner that understands the undercarriage sector. He said the deal enables Titan to direct people, capital and resources towards core wheel and tyre operations, pursue accretive growth opportunities and reduce debt. The move supports portfolio reshaping, accelerated strategic investments, transformative acquisitions and partnership, and long-term shareholder value.

As part of USCO, ITM will build on its position as a global provider of undercarriage components and complete solutions, with added focus and resources for long-term growth, customer service, product innovation and geographic expansion. ITM designs, manufactures and distributes undercarriage systems for construction, mining, forestry, road-building and agricultural applications through an international network and is a pioneer in undercarriage sensor technology, including its TRUST ITM monitoring solution.

Titan intends to use a portion of the proceeds to reduce existing debt and strengthen its balance sheet, with future capital deployment towards key growth investments, including accretive acquisitions and strategic partnerships. The transaction is expected to close in early January 2027, subject to customary closing conditions and required regulatory approvals, with both companies continuing ordinary operations until then. Gianni & Origoni and Poggi & Associati advised Titan and ITM on legal and tax matters, while USCO received assistance from Eidos Partners, Simmons+Simmons, BDO and KPMG.

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NEXEN TIRE has unveiled the N’FERA Sport 2, an ultra-high-performance summer tyre succeeding the widely acclaimed N’FERA Sport. The original earned strong results in independent tests by leading DACH-region automotive publications, including ADAC and AUTO BILD, and secured multiple original equipment fitments. The new model adopts an updated tread pattern and revised construction to deliver sharper handling, shorter braking distances and dependable performance in both wet and dry conditions.

Structural rigidity has been raised by 15 percent over the predecessor, reducing tyre deformation and supporting stable behaviour during dynamic driving. NEXEN TIRE also incorporated Chamfer Technology, whose specially shaped block edges enlarge the contact area under braking and cornering. Meanwhile, the outer tread blocks are 5 percent wider, transferring vehicle power to the road more efficiently and improving cornering stability. A rim protector 7 percent wider than before adds protection against curb contact.

The tread design distributes pressure more evenly across the footprint, enlarging road contact and balancing handling, traction and braking while limiting heat buildup. Increased sidewall rigidity further cuts deformation and sharpens steering response, especially in high-speed corners. Collectively, these measures yield a 10 percent gain in cornering stiffness relative to the previous N’FERA Sport. Multi-width grooves and chamfered block edges widen the drainage area, helping evacuate water, lower aquaplaning risk and preserve wet-road grip.

Testing at Spain’s IDIADA Proving Ground demonstrated measurable gains over the outgoing tyre. NEXEN TIRE’s own results show an 11 percent shorter wet braking distance and a 2 percent shorter dry braking distance. Wet and dry handling improved by 7 percent, while cornering stiffness rose by 10 percent. The N’FERA Sport 2 is engineered to provide confident control across a broad range of road conditions.

Jeff Roh, Vice President of Europe Sales & Marketing, said, “Following the success of the N’FERA Sport, we expect the new N’FERA Sport 2 to deliver even stronger results. NEXEN TIRE has demonstrated proven quality and performance over the years, and with the improved capabilities of the new pattern, we aim to further enhance driving performance while helping drivers enjoy the thrill of driving with greater confidence and safety.”

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