Tyre testing is not a new concept. In fact, is there any industry that can do without tests? However, what tyre testing does bring into consideration is an umpteen number of factors – everything from the road wear to the certification, the testing spots and, of course, the different types of testing and the very tyres themselves. Discussing these very aspects with Tyre Trends, Ismo Halén, Vice President at BD Testing Inc, spoke about Black Donuts, the subjective and objective views of tyre testing, the convenience of BD Testing having its own indoor testing facility and more. Read on…

The name Black Donut is self-explanatory, making it rather individualistic. A tyre resembles a donut and is black in colour – simplicity at its best. Black Donuts offers a range of solutions for tyre product development and testing, tyre factory construction, plant process design and process development. Therefore, Black Donuts has many business areas, and one of them is service in product development. When it comes to testing, Black Donuts owns 90 percent of another company, BD Testing Inc, which is into tyre testing and high-end customer service. Plus, Black Donuts also happens to be one of BD Testing’s customers.

BD Testing’s customers
When we caught up with Ismo Halén, Vice President at BD Testing Inc, he told us, “Black Donuts designs new tyres and new tyre models or improves existing tyres. That’s why they need testing in order to support the product development. Black Donuts Engineering was founded in 2011, and we were a test team within the company in the beginning. However, we separated in 2012 into an individual company, and now we have separate management and everything else that’s individually ours. We don’t have anyone from Black Donuts working at BD Testing. They are only one of our customers.”

And as customers, they can always decide who tests their tyres. “For instance, Black Donuts can use BD Testing for product development testing because we understand each other. However, the customer can  reach out to other companies to test their tyres as well. For example, when a product is finished, customers usually make homlogation tests somewhere else,” Halén explained.

When it comes to customers/clients, Halén mentioned that it’s not exactly easy to acquire new clients. However, he added, “I’m happy because we already have so many customers that even if somebody doesn’t order anything that others do, we are still in a very good situation.” When turning to his plans on approaching any Asian manufacturers, he responded that while they don’t have any plans for Asia, they would consider going there if there are proving grounds that can be used or rented.

BD Testing’s various focus areas
BD Testing goes beyond this and also issues certification. It has a quality system and is accredited for some R117 tests. “This includes rolling resistance, wet grip, noise measurement and snow performance,” Halén mentioned and continued, “Earlier, we would do wet grips, noise measurements etc. But just one year ago, we started focusing more on winter testing. We now conduct snow and ice tests for the label, which comes under the R117 tests. Additionally, we provide technical service to The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). RDW will issue many types of approvals for many tyre manufacturers, and we can conduct snow tests for them.”

“Furthermore, in Nordic countries, we use studs in the tyre, which has to be approved. Besides, we make road wear testing for studded tyres, which needs mandatory approval from the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, TRAFI,” Halén further explained.

Making it work
As far as testing and tyres go, BD Testing does both indoor and outdoor testing and is currently focusing on winter testing, winter tyres and studded tyres (conducting only product development tests for summer tyres). However, because the business is open all year, the winter tests are held in ice halls during the summer, Halén shared. As for snow testing, the indoor tests are conducted in Ivalo and Sweden.

However, most big tyre manufacturers conduct the majority of their tests themselves. Yet, that doesn’t stop a company like BD Testing. There are certain factors in testing that tyre manufacturers can’t carry out themselves and thus have to turn to the likes of BD Testing.

“For example, with road wear testing, it isn’t something they can do by themselves,” Halén asserted and added, “There are only five laboratories that can do that, and we are one of them. Similarly, indoor testing and snow testing is something they may not want to do – it’s a long way to travel and they don’t have the capacity to do so, which is where we come in.”

Indoor testing and outdoor testing
Speaking of indoor testing, it is the easier one to conduct over outdoor testing, Halén claimed. But since handling driveway in itself involves the car being built outdoors, there’s no choice over there, he informed.

What’s more, Halén asserted that usually they don’t test the same things indoors and outdoors – the two aren’t competing and are individual. “Their requirements too are different. But as for product development, some indoor testing is needed, like footprint or contact presser, which gives the designers a lot of information,” he enlightened.

BD Testing would, however, like to have its own indoor testing facility where tests can be conducted whenever needed. “Although, as of now, we have to rent for indoor testing, which can sometimes be fully booked,” Halén cited and added, “In fact, we want our own indoor testing facility that we can rent to other customers as well. However, it’s a huge investment and is too big for us at the moment.”

Objective and subjective testing
Another challenge that Halén spoke to us about, besides having an indoor testing facility, was in terms of manpower, where getting testing drivers is a challenge right now. When asked about the thought process behind selecting a testing driver (since the testing can be very subjective, from driver to driver), Halén highlighted that it’s the experience that plays a role. “And then, the drivers drive together and decide what works and what doesn’t. While these drivers do subjective tests, they, of course, also conduct objective tests. However, objective testing is easier, because you only have to know how to make the test,” he added.

Halén further said that with robots and automation, it’s possible that subjective testing will eventually get reduced in the future. “But in my opinion, with subjective driving, if a driver drives with a set of tyres, then we have a huge amount of information,” he pointed out. “Therefore, it’s a very fast way to have lots of information. If you try to have the same information with the help of machines, you’ll need several machines and it takes a long time. And if you need to analyse data, it takes a long time to develop a new methodology.”

A happy customer equals a successful company
While Halén gave us his clear visions in terms of BD Testing and the tyre testing industry as a whole, he also threw light on the company’s preparation for new regulations. “Additionally, we are focusing on what we are currently doing, targeting for higher quality and making our customers happy,” he expounded and added,
“Our strategy for that is based on the quality system we have. We have very close contact with our customers, so we try to understand what they need. Hence, I’m not trying to sell something to somebody if they don’t need it. Thus, I think our customers come to us themselves when they need something. So, ultimately, customer happiness has been our key to success.”

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In a significant strategic expansion, Point S, one of the world’s largest independent tyre and automotive service networks, has introduced its first proprietary line of truck tyres. The official launch occurred at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, representing a major advancement in the company's deep involvement with the commercial vehicle industry. Already a well-established force in the truck tyre markets of Europe and North America, Point S is leveraging its expertise to introduce the Point S Tyres Truck range. This initiative is seen as a disruptive move in the international sector, extending the group's reputation for quality and its independent ethos to a wider base of transport professionals.

The comprehensive range consists of eight key sizes, all certified with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, guaranteeing reliable winter performance and year-round usability. Two notable products within the line are the Mixed Service tyre, designed for extreme conditions with optimised durability and stone penetration resistance, and the Regional Haul tyre, noted for its versatility, robustness and full 3PMSF certification across all sizes. Production for these tyres will be handled by a premium truck and bus radial manufacturer based in Poland and Turkey. A key logistical benefit for Point S members is the ability to combine orders from both production facilities into a single shipment, enhancing ordering flexibility and overall supply chain efficiency.

This new private label range is engineered to provide long-lasting value for independent retailers, featuring high-performance solutions that are both regroovable and retreadable. By moving into the truck tyre segment, Point S now offers its global network of members a complete portfolio that previously included only passenger and premium tyres. This empowers members to more effectively and competitively serve fleet operators and other clients with a compelling price-to-performance ratio.

Fabien Bouquet, CEO, Point S International, said, “This launch represents a key step in our journey to support our members and their customers with complete mobility solutions. Transport professionals need tyres that deliver performance, durability and value, which is exactly what this range delivers. It also marks an important milestone in our long-term strategy to strengthen our position in the commercial vehicle sector and to bring more innovation, choice and independence to the truck tyre market.”

Emilie Faure, International Private Labels Product Manager, said, “From the outset, our goal has always been to replicate the strategy and success of our Point S Tyres passenger car range by extending it to the commercial vehicle market with the launch of Point S Tyres Truck. To support this development, we involved selected Point S members and some of our small and medium-sized fleet clients from various countries to test the product. Initial feedback has been extremely positive, with testers particularly impressed with the range’s performing, as well as its quality and competitiveness in real-world operations.”

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According to Tyres Europe's sales data for the Q3 and the first three quarters of 2025, the overall tyre market has demonstrated general stability. Adam McCarthy, the organisation's Secretary General, reported that despite this, demand for Truck and Bus tyres has remained persistently weak. Cumulative figures for the year so far indicate that total tyre volumes are lower than those recorded during the same period in 2024.

Within the Consumer segment, third-quarter sales were stable, yet they reflect a slight decrease for the year to date. A notable trend is the shifting consumer preference away from summer tyres and towards all-season and winter products. The Truck and Bus segment experienced a continued decline, with the year's sales also down slightly, a situation attributed to regional economic softness and a rise in tyre imports. Meanwhile, the Agricultural tyre market saw stable volumes in the quarter, though they remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

The full Quarterly Update, prepared by Astutus Research, is available for download on the Tyres Europe website.

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Goodyear India reported a decline in quarterly profit as softer demand and higher expenses offset modest revenue growth, while the company announced board changes and new senior management appointments.

The tyremaker’s standalone profit after tax fell to INR INR 134.7 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2025, down from INR 143.1 million in the same period last year, according to financial statements approved by the board.

Total income for the quarter edged up to INR 5.8441 billion from INR 5.6835 billion a year earlier, though margin pressures persisted.

Profit before tax for the quarter stood at INR 180.7 million , down from INR 195.1 million in the previous year, reflecting higher input costs and muted replacement demand. Performance in the half-year to September also trailed the prior period, with profit after tax at INR 317.6 million compared with INR 363.7 million last year.

Alongside the earnings announcement, Goodyear India disclosed several board changes. Varsha Chaudhary Jain tendered her resignation as Whole-Time Director, effective 31 December, citing personal reasons. Rajiv Lochan Jain will complete his second term as Independent Non-Executive Director on the same date.

The board has approved the appointment of Gajanan Vithal Gandhe as an Independent Non-Executive Director from 1 January 2026 for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval. The company stated that he “is not debarred from holding the office of a Director by virtue of any order passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other Authority.”

Goodyear India also designated three senior executives as Key Managerial Personnel for determining material events under SEBI’s disclosure rules from 1 January: Arvind Bhandari, Chairman and Managing Director; Sandeep Garg, Whole-Time Director and CFO; and Anup Karnwal, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer.

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MRF, India’s largest tyre manufacturer, reported higher quarterly earnings as easing raw material prices offset the seasonal weakness in domestic demand, even as exports held up against tariff pressures.

The Chennai-based group said consolidated total income rose 7 percent year on year to INR 74.87 billion for the three months to 30 September, compared with INR 69.94 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated profit before tax increased to INR 6.99 billion from INR 6.31 billion, while net profit climbed to INR 5.26 billion from INR 4.71 billion.

The company attributed the improved bottom line to “softening of raw material prices”, according to a statement released after its board meeting on 14 November.

Sales in the second quarter are typically slower because of the monsoon season, a trend the company noted once again. Even so, original equipment demand “continued to have a strong double digit growth” and exports “performed well despite tariff issues”. MRF added that the government’s mid-quarter announcement of a reduction in goods and services tax had briefly damped replacement sales, though it expects the revised rate to support volume growth in subsequent quarters.

The board declared an interim dividend of INR 3 per share for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.

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