The tyre industry gathered to honour outstanding innovation and individual accomplishment over the past year during the Tire Technology Expo 2026 held in Hannover. The Tire Technology International Awards, spanning 13 categories, recognised both technological progress and the commitment to a more sustainable future within the tyre sector. Organised by the Tire Technology International magazine, the winners were selected by an independent panel of journalists and technical experts.

Sustainability was a dominant theme, highlighted by three distinct environmental awards. Bridgestone received the award for tyre design innovation, celebrated for developing a truck tyre composed of 70 percent recycled and renewable materials, a notable industry milestone. In manufacturing, Continental was acknowledged for its significant strides in reducing freshwater consumption during production with the Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing award. The Environmental Achievement – Industry Contribution award went to the BioButterfly project, a collaborative effort involving Michelin, IFP Energies Nouvelles and Axens. This initiative was praised for creating bio-based butadiene from bioethanol, presenting a credible substitute for fossil fuel-derived materials and demonstrating strong potential for immediate industrial application.

Further technical achievements were recognised across several categories. Flexsys earned the Chemicals and Compounding Innovation of the Year award for developing the first practical alternative to the antioxidant 6PPD after extensive research. Teijin Aramid was honoured with the Materials Innovation of the Year award for industrialisation of its high-performance Twaron Next para-aramid fibre. A collaborative R&D breakthrough by Goodyear and TNO, which integrates tyre intelligence directly into a vehicle's automatic emergency braking systems to enhance safety, won the R&D Breakthrough of the Year award. In manufacturing equipment, Comerio Ercole’s advanced modular calendering line, Zeus, won the Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year award. Uzer Makina, a long-time finalist, was finally named Tyre Industry Supplier of the Year.

The event also celebrated conceptual and product excellence. Michelin had a particularly successful evening, first winning the Tire Concept of the Year award for its Lunar Airless Wheel, designed to withstand the extreme conditions on the moon. The company then claimed the highly anticipated Tire of the Year award for its Primacy 5 Energy, a tyre noted by the jury for achieving top EU label ratings in most sizes while offering improved longevity and reduced emissions compared to its predecessor. In the final major category, Continental was named Tire Manufacturer of the Year for the second consecutive year and the fifth time overall, following a review of the top manufacturers' yearly contributions.

The awards also highlighted personal achievements within the field. The Young Scientist Prize for 2026 was presented to Max Dixey, a PhD student at Queen Mary University of London, for his compelling presentation on the effects of carbon black activators. Finally, a Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Michelin’s Pascal Prost. A veteran engineer, researcher and long-time contributor to both the conference and the awards jury, Prost was celebrated by peers and colleagues for his enduring and significant impact on the tyre industry.

Matt Ross, Chairman of the awards and Editor-in-Chief of Tire Technology International, said, “As is now becoming the norm, this year’s awards were incredibly close. Continental and Michelin have picked up multiple awards and should be highly commended, but I’m also happy to see such an array of winners across the whole range of categories. The level of innovation on display across the tyre sector is staggering, and I hope that this year’s awards have captured even a hint of the groundbreaking work taking place to move this industry forward.”

On Frost’s achievement, Ross said, “For as long as I have worked on Tire Technology International and these awards, Pascal has been a valued contributor, a hugely appreciated advisor – and a wonderful sounding board. I would like to join with his peers and friends from across the industry in celebrating his phenomenal contribution to the tyre business.”

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has reinforced its technical support for the sixth round of the 2026 season, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, being held from 7 to 10 May in Matosinhos in the country’s northern region. The company is supplying its extreme all-terrain Dynapro R213 tyre, engineered for gravel stability, which is available in both Hard and Soft compound options. This tyre features a high-strength casing and an optimised tread pattern designed to disperse impact from sharp rocks and maintain grip even under high-speed, high-stress driving conditions.

As one of the most historic fixtures on the WRC calendar, Rally de Portugal has been a cornerstone event since the championship’s inaugural season in 1973. The 2026 edition is based at the Exponor service park near Porto and includes 23 special stages with a total competitive distance of roughly 345 kilometres. The route blends fast-paced sections with technically demanding areas, challenging crews with a soft, sandy gravel surface that deteriorates rapidly as cars make repeated passes. While the first run demands stable performance on limited grip, the second pass exposes deeper ruts and sharper rocks, making tyre durability and handling decisive.

A particular focus is the Amarante stage, the longest of the rally at approximately 26 kilometres, which features a mix of tight hairpin turns and high-speed straights. Drivers must carefully balance aggressive tactics with tyre preservation, placing a premium on strategic decision-making. The Dynapro R213’s two-compound system allows teams to adapt flexibly to evolving stage conditions, with the Hard compound offering resilience against cuts and the Soft compound providing extra mechanical grip on looser surfaces.

Beyond technical support, Hankook is operating its ‘Brand World’ booth inside the service park throughout the event. This interactive space aims to elevate the premium image of the global brand with a motorsport heritage exhibition, racing simulators, branded merchandise and dedicated photo zones. Visitors are offered an immersive brand experience that complements the intense competition, as Hankook continues to demonstrate its engineering capabilities across one of the most abrasive and unpredictable rallies on the WRC schedule.

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Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp (Toyo Tires) launched the 2026 Championship Off-Road (COR) racing season with a dominant three-class victory sweep, led by drivers Johnny Greaves in Pro-4, Ryan Beat in Pro-2, and Wyatt Miller in Prospec. The opening weekend, held for the second straight year at the Show-Me Shootout on the 1.2-mile short course at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, saw Beat’s Pro-2 truck run on off-the-shelf 35x12.50R17 Open Country C/T tyres, while Greaves relied on off-the-shelf 35x12.50R17 Toyo Open Country R/T Trail tyres for his Pro-4 win.

During Saturday’s round one, Ryan Beat in the number 51 Bilstein / Toyo Tires / Rockstar Energy / Chevrolet truck seized the lead on lap two and never gave it up, securing Team Toyo’s first Pro-2 victory of the 2026 campaign. The following day’s round two featured Johnny Greaves piloting the number 22 Monster Energy / Toyota / Toyo Tires Pro-4 truck to an early-season checkered flag, while reigning Prospec champion Wyatt Miller, in the number 73 Bass Pro Shops / Toyo Tires / Chevrolet entry, added another win to start his title defence.

With the season-opening weekend complete, the COR series now prepares for the Antigo Off-Road National scheduled for 29–31 May 2026 at the Langlade County Motorplex in Antigo, Wisconsin.

Greaves said, “It felt great to show up for the first race weekend and take a win, along with a third-place finish. It was a strong way to start the season.”

Beat said, “I’m super happy to kick off another season with a win! The team has been putting in the work, and it shows. As the series continues, tyres become the difference-maker, and our Toyos were dialled all weekend.”

Adrian Puente, Manager – Events, Motorsports and Technical, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp, said, “After an incredibly successful 2025 season, it’s great to see Team Toyo drivers in the winner’s circle on opening weekend in Wheatland. Wins across three classes on off-the-shelf Toyo tyres highlight the quality of our products and their championship-winning-pedigree.”

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Liberty Tire Recycling’s SmartMIX rubber asphalt additive (RMA) has taken centre stage as a key component as the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), alongside Alabama State Parks and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, was named a finalist in the Market Development Excellence category of the inaugural Circle of Change Awards launched by the Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF).

For its award-nominated project, Alabama State Parks selected Liberty Tire Recycling’s SmartMIX to resurface roads and parking areas at public parks. Unlike complex liquid modifiers, the SmartMIX additive from Liberty Tire Recycling offers a simpler, cost-effective solution that improves asphalt compaction, flexibility and overall durability. Manufactured entirely from recycled tyres, the material itself remains recyclable, helping Alabama’s project boost pavement longevity while generating steady, long-term demand for recycled tyre rubber.

The Tire Recycling Foundation launched this national recognition programme to honour efforts that create lasting, expandable demand for products derived from scrap tyres, integrating such materials into conventional infrastructure and public works. The award category recognises initiatives that embed recycled tyre materials into mainstream infrastructure and public works programmes.

Winners of the Circle of Change Awards, including the Market Development Excellence category, will be announced on 14 May 2026, during the Tire Recycling Conference Awards Luncheon in Denver, Colorado.

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Infiniteria has appointed Proman as its Engineering, Procurement and Construction partner for a circular tyre recycling facility in Uddevalla, Sweden. This collaboration marks a decisive move towards establishing what the company describes as Europe’s leading circular tyre recycling business, with the Uddevalla site serving as the cornerstone for a future network of industrial-scale plants across the continent.

The company specialises in transforming end-of-life tyres into high-value recovered materials, aiming to accelerate the transition to a more resilient circular economy. The Uddevalla facility stands as Infiniteria’s flagship project and represents the initial phase of a broader European expansion strategy.

Committed offtake agreements are already in place with major customers including Preem, Nokian Tyres and Michelin, underscoring strong industrial demand for the recovered materials.

Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, CEO, Infiniteria, said, “Bringing Proman on board as our partner is a major step forward for Uddevalla. They have a proven track record in delivering complex industrial plants, and the discipline and capability they bring mark a decisive step towards starting operations. We are fully committed to Uddevalla as the long-term home of our flagship facility, to our customers and to building Europe’s leading circular tyre recycling business.”

Francisco Carlos, Managing Director, Proman Portugal, said, “We appreciate the confidence and trust placed in Proman by Infiniteria as we take on the role of Engineering, Procurement and Construction partner in the Uddevalla project. Proman brings strong global expertise and experience to the project, including project management, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of complex industrial facilities. We look forward to working with Infiniteria to progress the Uddevalla project towards successful completion.”

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