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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Pirelli has been reconfirmed as the global leader in the Auto Components and Automobiles sectors within the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class World and Europe indices, formerly known as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. The tyre manufacturer achieved this distinction based on its performance in the 2025 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment.

Pirelli, which remains the only tyre company featured in both the World and Europe indices, secured a score of 86 points. This result is the highest among all companies in both the Auto Components and Automobiles categories and far exceeds the sector averages of 34 points for auto components and 37 points for automobiles.

The company earned maximum scores across multiple criteria, including Business Ethics, commitment to Human Rights, Occupational Health and Safety programmes, supply chain ESG assessment and environmental management related to water, waste and energy. Additional top scores were recorded for biodiversity protection and Pirelli’s verified pathway towards its Net Zero by 2040 target, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

This latest recognition follows Pirelli’s reconfirmation in February 2026 as the only tyre manufacturer worldwide included in the Top 1 percent of the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026. Originally launched in 1999 as the first global best‑in‑class sustainability benchmark series, the S&P Dow Jones indices now cover 62 business sectors and assess more than 12,000 companies annually across regional and global levels.

Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice President Sustainability, New Mobility and Motorsport of Pirelli, said, “The confirmation of Pirelli at the top of the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class indices is a testament to the solidity of a journey built on industrial innovation and responsibility across the entire value chain. This approach is embedded in our strategic and operational decisions, from technology to processes, from supplier management to the protection of people and contributes to strengthening the Group’s competitiveness while supporting its long‑term growth.”

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Shalva Akhvlediani, the Executive Director of Tegeta Green Planet, appeared on Radio Ucnobi on 15 April 2026, alongside Giorgi Guliashvili, Chairman of Wasteless. The broadcast focused on transforming waste into a resource, a key principle of the modern circular economy.

The discussion highlighted the necessity of properly managing automotive waste, especially end-of-life tyres, while addressing environmental and economic challenges in Georgia and worldwide. The guests argued that tyres should no longer be viewed as purely hazardous waste, as modern technologies and circular economy models can turn them into valuable materials for various industries.

A significant point of interest was rubber-modified asphalt. The speakers reviewed international practices and the potential for adopting this technology in Georgia, noting its proven durability, noise reduction benefits and ability to enhance road infrastructure while minimising environmental harm. The conversation also acknowledged local progress in sustainable road development.

As a follow-up, the guests referenced the GRAS 2026 conference, held in Tbilisi on 16 March 2026 and organised by Tegeta Green Planet and Wasteless. The event united local and international experts, private sector leaders and policymakers to discuss innovative technologies and circular economy applications. The conference served as a key platform for environmental awareness, demonstrating that the circular economy represents both an ecological duty and a basis for new economic opportunities and sustainable growth.

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DUNLOP’s natural rubber procurement subsidiary, SUMITOMO RUBBER SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., which operates as part of the supply chain partner Halcyon Agri Corporation Ltd., has been leading a major sustainability effort in Indonesia. Together with its Indonesian subsidiary PT Hok Tong, the Singapore-based producer and distributor launched the Traceability and Transparency Pilot Project, also known as the SNR Project, in South Sumatra in 2022. The initiative was designed to directly support smallholder natural rubber farmers in the region.

The project has successfully raised natural rubber productivity while simultaneously improving the earnings of local farmers. By enabling growers to achieve a stable income on existing farmland, the initiative has reduced pressure to expand agricultural areas. This outcome has contributed meaningfully to curbing deforestation that would otherwise result from farm expansion, demonstrating positive environmental and economic results for the DUNLOP Group’s sustainable procurement efforts.

Natural capital, including natural rubber, is recognised by the DUNLOP Group as an essential foundation for its sustainable business activities. Following the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, the group has assessed its dependence on and impact upon natural capital, along with associated risks and opportunities. Continuing to use natural rubber as a sustainable resource has been identified as a major management objective for the future.

Most natural rubber production is carried out by smallholders rather than large plantations, and insufficient knowledge of cultivation and processing methods can lead to lower productivity and unstable incomes. These factors also risk driving farm expansion and deforestation, as well as creating social issues in production areas. To address these challenges, the DUNLOP Group undertakes support activities aimed at improving smallholder productivity and living standards.

In collaboration with Halcyon Agri, support focused on enhancing traceability, transparency and producer welfare in South Sumatra. Using RubberWay, a risk assessment tool for natural rubber, the project identified risks related to wage levels and agricultural practices. Over roughly three years from 2022 to 2025, including a pandemic-related suspension, more than 1,000 farmers received assistance through field investigations, raw material distribution mapping, productivity training, fertilisers and guidance on fertilisation. As a result, natural rubber yield increased by up to about 19 percent, and farmers’ earnings rose by approximately 25 percent in the target region.

Halcyon Agri commented: “At Halcyon Agri, we believe that the long-term resilience of the natural rubber industry is closely linked to the well-being of smallholder farmers. Through our subsidiary, PT Hok Tong, and in partnership with DUNLOP, we are advancing a CSR programme in Jambi Province to strengthen farmer capabilities through training, agricultural inputs and on-the-ground support. We are honoured to collaborate with DUNLOP, whose strong commitment and investment have been instrumental in enabling this initiative. Through this partnership, we aim to enhance productivity, improve livelihoods and promote sustainable practices across the supply chain. We believe this collaboration will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the natural rubber industry and create meaningful value for all stakeholders.”

Mulyono, a farmer who received support, said, “After the application of fertilisers, the leaves and bark of a rubber tree showed clear improvements in their conditions, and the health states of the entire tree improved. The leaves became even greener, and the bark became thinner, which made tapping easier. As a result, the rubber yield increased from approximately 100 kg to around 125–130 kg. Support from Halcyon Agri and DUNLOP has led to the improvement of our livelihood, and we expect a project like this to continue in the future.”

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Bridgestone is broadening its winter truck tyre offering with the introduction of the Duravis Winter Drive, a new premium product designed specifically for mild European winter conditions. The tyre aims to help commercial fleets lower operational downtime and total cost of ownership by delivering extended mileage, better fuel efficiency and dependable winter traction.

The newly launched Duravis Winter Drive achieves a 15 percent mileage improvement over its predecessor, the Bridgestone RW-DRIVE 001.1, alongside a three percent reduction in rolling resistance compared to the previous generation. These enhancements allow fleets to cut both fuel consumption and carbon emissions while maintaining reliable snow traction throughout the tyre’s entire lifecycle, thereby minimising the risk of weather-related vehicle downtime.

Key performance gains are enabled by a fresh pattern design, a tailored compound and the integration of Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Technology, a next-generation suite that delivers customised and uncompromised tyre performance while boosting sustainability. Additional engineering features include new sipes geometry for improved traction until end of life, a higher contact area, increased tread depth and variable groove angles to extend wear life and mileage. Interlocking centre ribs further reduce rolling resistance and enhance fuel efficiency.

To support sustainable fleet management, the Duravis Winter Drive is engineered for regroovability and multiple retreads, extending tyre lifespan, reducing waste and lowering operational costs. Its retreadable design also aids fleets in cutting environmental impact. The tyre comes with integrated RFID for digital readiness and is designed for year-round use. Availability begins in size 315/80 R22.5 from May 2026, with additional sizes rolling out in August 2026.

Waqqas Ahmad, VP Commercial, Bridgestone EMEA, said, “Now more than ever, European fleets need both predictable, reliable performance and solutions that can help reduce operational costs. That’s why we’ve engineered a tyre that consistently and efficiently performs from the very first kilometre to the last. The Duravis Winter Drive is built to keep vehicles running and help fleets stay on the move with confidence.”

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