Photo: Winners of TRAC’s 2025 Industry Leaderships Awards. Left to right: Carol Hochu (TRAC), Tony Mougios (Groupe Touchette), Jon Visaisouk (for Sam Visaisouk; Tyromer Inc.), Neil Bansal (Liberty Tire), Barry Yutronkie (Michelin / TRAC), Dr. Behdad Khamesee (Toyo Tire), Chris Figel (Chair of the Board, TRAC).

The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) recently honoured industry leaders for their exceptional contributions to the tire and rubber sector during its annual awards ceremony on 4 June 2025 in Mississauga. The event, held after TRAC's Annual General Meeting at the Alt Hotel Toronto Airport, celebrated excellence across four key categories: Leader of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Sustainability and Young Leader. These awards recognise the visionaries and innovators driving progress in tire manufacturing, recycling, and sustainable practices.

Neil Balson of Liberty Tire Recycling received the prestigious Leader of the Year award for his transformative impact on Canada's tyre recycling industry. As Vice President overseeing Canadian operations, Balson has demonstrated remarkable leadership in developing innovative solutions for end-of-life tyre management. His work has been particularly impactful in addressing the challenges of recycling ultra-large mining tyres, where he pioneered processes that reduce their carbon footprint by 80 percent. Beyond technical innovations, Balson has played a crucial role in shaping national policies and fostering international collaborations, establishing himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of business and environmental sustainability.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards honoured three industry veterans whose collective contributions span decades of service. Pamela Scarrow of Bridgestone Canada was recognised for her 25 years of legal leadership and her instrumental role in TRAC's governance as both board member and former chair. The late Sam Visaisouk, former CEO of Tyromer Inc, was honoured posthumously for commercialising groundbreaking devulcanisation technology that revolutionised tyre recycling globally. Barry Yutronkie received recognition for his 30-year career at Michelin and subsequent leadership at TRAC, where he helped harmonise technical standards across North America. Together, these recipients represent the dedication and expertise that have shaped Canada's tire industry.

From left: Phillip Diogenes of Bridgestone Canada Inc. accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award for Pam Scarrow with Chris Figel (Chair of the Board, TRAC).

TRAC's Sustainability Awards highlighted two leaders advancing environmental responsibility in the sector. Dr Behdad Khamesee of Toyo Tire Canada was celebrated for applying his materials science expertise to develop sustainable tyre technologies and influence industry-wide best practices through various technical committees. Tony Mougios of Groupe Touchette was recognised for developing comprehensive ESG strategies, including the company's inaugural sustainability report that established measurable environmental targets.

The Young Leader Award went to Chris Singleton of Niagara Battery & Tire, who at 37 took over the family business following his father's passing and immediately implemented transformative changes. Singleton modernized operations through digital inventory systems, enhanced employee benefits, and expanded mobile services – all while maintaining the company's 68-year legacy as a community staple.

Carol Hochu, President and CEO, TRAC, said, “The Canadian tire and rubber industry brims with innovation and dedication; and this year’s award winners embody the very best of our industry. We’re thrilled to honour seven remarkable individuals whose leadership, ingenuity and commitment to sustainability have set a high bar for excellence, and shape and inspire the future of our sector.”

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Mitas, Official Agriculture Tyre Sponsor of the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) and Title Sponsor of the Mitas National Finals Pull-Off, will occupy the spotlight at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana, Ohio, on 19 September, when the 2026 Grand National titles are decided.

Serving as the closing Grand National fixture of the season, the 39th Mitas All-Star Pull-Off also wraps up the brand's first year as the association's official agricultural tyre partner. That arrangement forms part of a three-season commitment spanning 2026 to 2028, drawing the company nearer to a North American motorsport discipline where immense engine output, grip and staying power face relentless scrutiny with every pass.

Two tyres will illustrate the breadth of the company's agricultural know-how at the venue. The PowerPull 01 30.5L-32 exists purely for pulling competition, arriving as a smooth tyre devoid of any moulded tread so crews can carve bespoke patterns suited to the track and their own machine setup; its tailored compound and tough build supply the grip, endurance and repeatability the sport requires. The VF 750/60R46 CFO 189D HC1000, by contrast, serves high-capacity self-propelled sprayers and comparable field duties, using Very High Flexion engineering to bear heavy loads at lower pressures while a broad contact patch spreads weight and keeps traction. Its tread delivers grip, longevity and self-cleaning ability for dependable service in punishing conditions.

When the 2026 NTPA season reaches its finale in Urbana, the sport's leading pullers and their followers will gather for a fitting celebration. Mitas will be present throughout, tying together the track and the field by demonstrating how the traction, durability and reliability demanded in competition echo the very traits underpinning its agricultural tyre lineup.

Andrea Masella, Marketing Director, Yokohama TWS, said, "Tractor pulling puts enormous demands on every part of the machine, including the tyres, making it a great environment to demonstrate what traction, durability and reliability mean when performance is pushed to the limit. We are proud to support NTPA as its Official Agriculture Tyre Sponsor and to bring our expertise to the Mitas All-Star Pull-Off. This partnership allows us to connect with the pulling community while highlighting the performance focus behind our agricultural tire portfolio. Pull like a Bull — on the track and in the field."

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Michelin has introduced an automated regrooving system called NAZCA, aiming to modernise a retreading practice that has served truck, bus and coach tyre maintenance for more than a century. The manual method demands specialised expertise and now confronts ergonomic strain and a shortage of skilled workers. Developed by Michelin engineers, NAZCA automates the process while following manufacturers’ recommendations, targeting consistent quality and repeatability. The system employs a high-density laser scanner and advanced algorithms to exploit every millimetre of usable rubber.

Because each tyre possesses a unique geometry, NAZCA adjusts cut depth in real time across the tyre’s full width and circumference. After more than a year of real-world testing, the machine can raise the number of regrooving jobs a workshop completes. Michelin estimates a capacity increase of 30 percent to 50 percent, depending on operating conditions. Each regrooving operation requires under three minutes of technician hands-on time, allowing staff to handle alignment, repairs and tyre mounting or removal.

This supports greater workshop profitability and flexibility. NAZCA accommodates a wide range of tyre brands and sizes, provided the casing is robust enough for the lifespan-extending procedure. About 20 NAZCA machines are in pilot testing across Europe. Michelin plans further rollouts in various countries in 2027, subject to applicable regulations, with a gradual commercial launch tailored to each market. The system will appear at the Michelin stand during IAA Transportation in Hannover from 14 to 20 September 2026.

NAZCA forms part of Michelin’s multi-life model, pairing regrooving and retreading so a tyre can last up to 2.5 times longer than a single-life product. Regrooving enables use to the legal wear limit, adding up to 25 percent more mileage and up to 5 percent fuel savings. Retreading completes the approach: initial REMIX retreading can double mileage for roughly 60 percent of a new tyre’s cost, while REMIX 2 premium retreading, available for 90 percent of Michelin truck lines, delivers 95 percent of new-tyre performance for about 60 percent of the cost, cutting cost per kilometre by 33 percent. Each retreading also saves about 50 kg of raw materials per tyre.

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Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), delivered a keynote address at the Sustainability in Tires 2026 conference in Bangkok on 3–4 September 2026, presenting the organisation's positions on eco-friendly supply chains, market dynamics and ethical production methods vital to the global tyre sector.

His participation highlighted ANRPC's leadership as the principal representative of rubber-producing nations, working to guarantee that smallholder farmers and member countries help shape global sustainability criteria while building strategic alliances with tyre makers and processing firms.

Through such international engagement, ANRPC promotes environmentally responsible cultivation, equitable commerce and traceable supply networks, connecting the natural rubber industry to worldwide ESG frameworks and safeguarding a durable, sustainable future for every stakeholder.

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Pirelli’s Hard tyre played a decisive role as Kimi Antonelli won the inaugural Formula 1 race at the Madring, mastering a one-stop strategy to take victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, extending his World Championship lead in the process.

All three podium finishers made their sole pit stop during a Virtual Safety Car period between laps 14 and 15. Antonelli and Norris swapped Pirelli Mediums for Hards, while Verstappen replaced his starting Softs with Hards. The one-stop approach proved dominant across the grid, with only George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Oliver Bearman, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas stopping twice.

Track temperatures peaked at 52°C and air temperature reached 32°C, mirroring conditions from earlier in the weekend. Russell, Antonelli’s closest title rival and team-mate, came home fifth. Antonelli now leads the standings on 292 points, with Russell second on 211. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix follows on Saturday 26 September.

In supporting action, Dino Beganovic won Sunday’s Formula 2 Feature Race ahead of Alex Dunne and Ritomo Miyata, all three running Softs before Hards and pitting on lap 18. Ugo Ugochukwu secured the Formula 3 World Championship by finishing second in Madrid, as Freddie Slater’s eighth place allowed the title swing. Tuukka Taponen won the finale, with Pedro Clerot third.

Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director, said, “The teams approached today's race differently from what had been simulated on track on Friday. Thanks also to the opportunity provided by the Virtual Safety Car, they favoured a more measured management of pace and degradation, which allowed them to significantly extend stint lengths and made the one-stop strategy the preferred choice for the majority of the field. The star of the Grand Prix was the Hard tyre, a compound that had been little explored during free practice and which today demonstrated a very high level of consistency, proving to be the most robust of the three compounds from both a thermal and mechanical perspective. With the C2, we saw several stints exceeding 45 laps, reaching very high levels of wear without any significant performance drop-off. Both the Medium and the Soft also proved to be effective options despite the track temperatures. The C4, in particular, completed competitive stints comparable to those of the Medium in terms of durability.

“As expected, graining appeared mainly on the front-left tyre, on the inner area of the tread, but with limited intensity. The work carried out by the teams on car setup and tyre management helped to minimise its effects. In a race characterised by few overtaking opportunities, the drivers were able to focus on tyre management, contributing to a very straightforward contest from a strategic perspective. Congratulations to Ugo Ugochukwu for securing the Formula 3 championship title today at the end of a highly competitive season. The series continues to represent an important proving ground for young talents from all over the world. The fact that the title was decided only at the final round highlights the exceptionally high level of competitiveness within the championship, which this year delivered spectacular racing and outstanding sporting value.”

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