UK-headquartered TyreSafe, a not-for-profit tyre safety firm, has launched Tyre Safety Month 2024, featuring the ‘Caught in the Act’ campaign.

The safety institute states that October has long been the focal point for TyreSafe’s efforts to promote road safety, and this year’s campaign promises to engage, educate and support behaviour change, as part of the charity’s vision to achieve ‘Zero harm to road users as a result of illegal or poorly maintained tyres’.

Tyre Safety Month is TyreSafe’s flagship annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role tyres play in road safety. With the ultimate goal of reducing tyre-related incidents, Tyre Safety Month has become a crucial fixture in the road safety calendar, shining a spotlight on the importance of regular tyre maintenance.

This year, TyreSafe is challenging drivers and riders to get ‘Caught in the A.C.T.’ a campaign that’s not just informative but also entertaining. Adopting a striking superhero theme, the campaign uses a comic strip approach to make tyre safety more engaging, helping motorists to see themselves as tyre safety heroes.

It aims to significantly increase awareness among motorists about the importance of regular tyre checks. Road users are encouraged to adopt a habit of performing the three key tyre checks — Air Pressure, Condition, and Tread, through a fun and interactive superhero-themed approach. At the heart of the campaign is the ACT acronym, helping drivers and riders to perform basic tyre safety checks once a month, every month and before long journeys.

• Air Pressure: Highlighting the need to keep tyres adequately inflated to ensure optimal performance and fuel efficiency.
• Condition: Urging motorists to inspect their tyres regularly for any signs of damage, such as cuts, bulges, or other issues that might compromise safety.
• Tread: Stressing the importance of maintaining sufficient tread depth for effective grip and braking.

These three checks form the foundation of proactive tyre maintenance and tyre husbandry, empowering drivers and riders to take charge of their safety on the road. By getting ‘Caught in the ACT.’ every month, motorists are making a super heroic commitment to road safety.

TyreSafe states it has prepared a comprehensive toolkit to help supporters and partners spread the message. The campaign includes social media static assets, animations, a post schedule, and customisable poster and flyers.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said “Tyre safety is not just a responsibility — it’s a lifesaving habit. By getting ‘Caught in the ACT.’ this October, drivers can become their own tyre safety heroes and contribute to safer roads across the UK. This campaign is a fun and engaging way to remind everyone of the critical role that tyres play in keeping us safe."

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”