Tyres Europe has joined a broad coalition of industrial sectors calling on the European Union to adopt a more dynamic and forceful trade policy amid deliberations by the European Council on economic security, competitiveness and EU-China relations. The tyre industry contends that current frameworks are increasingly mismatched with the realities of a fast-moving global economy, where distortions rapidly transcend borders and sectors.

The sector underpins approximately 500,000 jobs across the Union and supplies essential products for passenger mobility, freight, agriculture and defence. Its viability depends on fair competition within deeply interconnected value chains, yet structural overcapacity, state-induced market distortions and unfair trading practices are simultaneously affecting multiple industries. These pressures cascade across supply networks, weaken investment incentives and progressively hollow out Europe's industrial base. Tyres Europe argues that only a coherent policy combining robust trade defence instruments with broader industrial resilience measures can effectively counter this erosion.

A critical challenge lies in the temporal disconnect between agile global supply chains and the slower pace of EU investigations and duty implementation. Tyre manufacturing routes can be reconfigured within months, allowing exporters to front-load shipments during probes and redirect production to alternative locations once tariffs are imposed. This leaves European manufacturers under sustained competitive pressure even after investigations conclude. Tyres Europe has therefore endorsed the Joint Industry Statement, which urges a more ambitious application of trade policy that reflects the fundamentally altered contours of global commerce.

The organisation supports enhanced resources for investigations, a more proactive deployment of existing instruments aligned with industrial objectives and exploration of additional WTO-compatible tools to tackle systemic state-induced distortions. It also advocates for strategic use of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation to address recurrent distortive patterns beyond isolated case assessments. Given that tyre manufacturing involves long-term, capital-intensive decisions with near-irreversible capacity loss, preserving a competitive domestic base is framed as both an industrial goal and a matter of strategic autonomy. As European leaders shape their response to a volatile trading environment, Tyres Europe urges them to ensure that trade defence evolves to safeguard fairness and the industrial capabilities underpinning prosperity and innovation.

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Tegeta Green Planet recently took part in a two-day Circular Economy Hackathon at Senaki Tech Park, an initiative funded by the Georgia Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA). The gathering sought to connect the circular economy and waste management fields with technological innovation, with organisers working to pinpoint urgent industry challenges and craft workable technological solutions, prototypes and business models in response.

For Tegeta Green Planet, an Extended Producer Responsibility organisation, pursuing such technological routes matters greatly, since effective waste handling, resource reuse and the real-world application of circular economy principles call for up-to-date, intelligent technological methods and flexible systems. Team members contributed by joining a panel discussion, guiding participants through the project development stage, and finally choosing their preferred team.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has joined forces with Mat MacDonald, the West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, in a bid to raise greater awareness of how tyres contribute to keeping road users safe. The collaboration draws on TyreSafe’s longstanding expertise in tyre safety education alongside MacDonald’s broader road safety remit.

MacDonald, the UK’s first Road Safety Commissioner, works with partners across the West Midlands to improve road safety and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads. His wider background includes experience as an NHS doctor supporting victims of road collisions and a previous role as chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, a group established to campaign for safer and better connected public spaces in the city.

TyreSafe maintains that tyre safety must form an integral part of this work. Tyres are a vehicle’s only point of contact with the road, playing a critical role in braking, steering and grip, yet condition, pressure and tread depth can be overlooked by drivers, increasing the risk of collisions and breakdowns. Through the collaboration, both parties aim to reinforce the importance of tyre safety as part of a wider commitment to safer journeys and preventing avoidable harm.

The charity is encouraging every road user to follow its ACT approach, which covers air pressure, condition and tread. Drivers are advised to check pressures regularly in line with manufacturer recommendations, look for cuts, cracks, bulges, embedded objects and uneven wear, and ensure tread depth is legal and suited to the vehicle. Such checks should form part of routine maintenance, with professional advice sought if concerns arise. TyreSafe continues to promote practical steps through work with road safety organisations, emergency services, industry partners and public bodies.

MacDonald said, “Traffic collisions can change lives in an instant on our roads, wiping out futures and leaving behind unimaginable trauma for witnesses and survivors. Safe vehicles are one of the key pillars of the system we’re trying to create, in which no-one is killed or seriously injured as they travel. That’s why I’m so proud to be supporting TyreSafe’s work in this area, raising awareness of the risks associated with illegal or poorly maintained tyres and encouraging road users to take practical steps to ensure their vehicles are safe and roadworthy. Checking your tyres before you drive is a small act, but there’s no doubt it could prevent your journey from ending in a devastating tragedy.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to be working with Mat MacDonald to strengthen the focus on tyre safety as a fundamental part of road safety. Tyres are often overlooked, despite being critical to a vehicle’s ability to brake, steer and maintain grip. Our aim is to make tyre safety an everyday consideration for every road user, rather than something people think about only when a problem arises. Partnerships are essential to reaching more people with clear, practical advice that can help change behaviour and reduce risk. By working together, we can reinforce the message that checking your tyres takes only a few minutes, but those checks could make all the difference.”

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FALKEN, a tyre brand under Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, has renewed its partnership with the International Handball Federation (IHF), extending its sponsorship to cover both the 2027 and 2029 IHF Men’s Handball World Championships. The agreement was brokered by SPORTFIVE, the IHF’s exclusive commercial agency for worldwide media and marketing rights through 2031.

The renewed deal continues a cooperation that began with the 2019 World Championship and persisted through the 2023 and 2025 tournaments. FALKEN served as official event partner for the 29th edition in 2025, gaining visibility through LED advertising boards and goal-area signage that reached millions of fans globally and reinforced its standing as a sporty upper mid-range tyre provider.

Shared values of precision, performance, reliability and the pursuit of excellence underpin the collaboration, qualities the brand describes as essential both on the handball court and on the road. The extension signals FALKEN’s commitment to international handball as a communications platform.

The 30th IHF Men’s World Championship will be held in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027 across Munich, Stuttgart, Magdeburg, Kiel, Hannover and Cologne under the motto ‘Where Handball is Alive’. Through 2029, FALKEN aims to build long-term, authentic sporting partnerships and bring its brand values to a global audience.

Dr Hassan Moustafa, President, International Handball Federation (IHF), said, “I am pleased to confirm the continuation of our partnership with FALKEN for the IHF Men’s World Championships in 2027 and 2029. FALKEN has been part of our tournament for several years, and the extension of this partnership underlines our shared commitment to performance and excellence, values that define both our sport and the FALKEN brand. I would like to thank FALKEN for its continued trust in the IHF and in the Men’s World Championship and look forward to welcoming the brand back to our courts in Germany and again in France and Germany for the upcoming tournaments.”

Markus Bögner, Managing Director and President, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “Our shared values, the successful partnerships of previous years and the FALKEN brand’s deep roots in sport provide a strong foundation to continue our commitment. We are delighted to partner with the IHF Men’s Handball World Championships in 2027 and 2029 and look forward to the excitement and entertainment it brings fans. The extension of our partnership with the IHF enables us to further expand our presence on a global stage and connect with millions of enthusiasts all around the world.”

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Kumho Tire USA has marked a successful return to off-road racing in the 2026 season, with its three sponsored drivers securing multiple class podium finishes. Mark Duval, Stephen ‘Woody’ Rose Jr and Eric Wikle all competed on KUMHO Road Venture MT71 mud-terrain tyres, which are engineered for the varied terrain and harsh conditions of competitive off-road courses.

Duval, driving the #4810 entry, claimed the 4800 Class title in the Valley Off Road Racing Association Season Championship after winning all four events in the series. He completed the campaign without a single puncture on his KUMHO tyres. Rose, in the #22 vehicle, earned the Ultra4 Western Regional Series Championship in the 4800 Class, recording one victory and two fourth-place finishes across four demanding races.

Eric Wikle, piloting the #406 entry, took first place in the Rock800 Legends class at the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race. He navigated the rigorous 505-mile Nevada desert course, which was run in reverse for the first time in the event's history, with racers competing for the quickest time from Reno to Las Vegas.

The Road Venture MT71 features increased block stiffness for enhanced on- and off-road handling, a high-void tread pattern with a zig-zag and dual-pitch design for maximum off-road traction and mud and stone ejector bars between the shoulder lugs to prevent damage and aid self-cleaning. The drivers' results demonstrate Kumho Tire's commitment to high performance and durability across its Road Venture light truck and SUV tyre range.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, “We are extremely proud of the success of our drivers this season, which is a testament to the strength and performance of our Road Venture MT71 tyres. Key product insights gathered from these races will be integrated into the next generation of all-terrain tyres to ensure that racing-grade innovations reach everyday drivers.”

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