TyreSafe has introduced a comprehensive package of tyre safety materials tailored specifically for the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. The initiative comes in the wake of multiple enforcement actions that have uncovered a troubling number of licensed vehicles operating with dangerous or illegally maintained tyres across United Kingdom.

Recent inspections conducted by local authorities have led to several licensed vehicles being taken out of service immediately. Officers discovered tyres in such poor condition that internal reinforcing cords were visible, creating a substantial hazard not only for the drivers themselves but also for passengers and other individuals sharing the road.

In Liverpool, enforcement officers from the city council suspended a Sefton-licensed private hire vehicle after finding a tyre with white cords exposed across its inner surface. A subsequent joint operation with Merseyside Tunnel Police resulted in another Sefton-licensed car being removed from duty due to two illegal tyres, both displaying exposed cords. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, with a Bristol-licensed vehicle suspended overnight for an almost completely smooth tyre and a Knowsley-licensed driver receiving penalty points and fines after being prosecuted for operating with two illegal tyres.

The images captured during these operations are particularly alarming because they involve vehicles that the public regularly trusts for safe transportation. While the vast majority of taxi and private hire drivers maintain their vehicles responsibly, these cases highlight the critical need for sustained attention to tyre safety across the industry. Although several recent incidents have occurred in Liverpool, they signify a broader national problem, especially given that such vehicles often accumulate far higher mileages than standard private cars, making frequent tyre inspections indispensable.

In response, TyreSafe has developed complimentary resources offering practical advice on routine tyre checks, legal obligations and replacement timing. The materials also address the purchase of part-worn tyres, reminding drivers to buy only from reputable dealers and ensure compliance with UK regulations, including proper inspection, pressure testing, permanent ‘PART-WORN’ marking, a minimum tread depth of two millimetres and freedom from dangerous defects. Given that previous enforcement has repeatedly uncovered illegally sold part-worn tyres with structural damage and missing markings, the organisation urges professional drivers to verify the history of any such purchase and prefer new tyres when feasible.

As part of the rollout, TyreSafe is collaborating with Liverpool City Council Licensing to distribute printed guides and educational posters directly to drivers, leveraging the city’s largest Hackney Carriage fleet outside London to place essential guidance in the hands of thousands of professionals. The resources cover daily inspections, correct pressures, damage identification and safe purchasing and are being made available for download at the TyreSafe website. Licensing authorities, operators and associations nationwide are encouraged to integrate these materials into licence processes and compliance checks, with the overarching goal of reducing illegal tyre use and ensuring every journey begins with a roadworthy vehicle.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe said, “Professional drivers spend more time on our roads than almost anyone else. Their vehicles carry passengers throughout the day and night, often covering many thousands of miles every year, so maintaining safe, legal tyres is absolutely fundamental to protecting everyone who uses our roads – and, of course, protecting the income of drivers and service provision to the public by reducing the risk of suspensions during busy weekends. The recent enforcement cases are an important reminder that illegal or poorly maintained tyres remain a real and preventable risk. Whilst the overwhelming majority of taxi and private hire drivers are committed professionals who maintain their vehicles to a high standard, these incidents demonstrate why regular tyre checks can never be overlooked.

“We also recognise the financial pressures many drivers face. If you’re considering part-worn tyres, it’s essential to ensure they’ve been properly inspected, tested and comply fully with the law. Not every part-worn tyre offered for sale is legal or safe, so buying from a reputable retailer and understanding what to look for is vital. Education, guidance, support and enforcement must go hand in hand. Whilst enforcement removes unsafe vehicles from our roads, guidance and knowing what to look out for helps prevent them getting there in the first place. By working with Liverpool City Council and providing practical guidance directly to drivers, we hope this initiative encourages licensing authorities across the UK to make tyre safety an even greater priority.”

Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards in Liverpool, said, “The safety of passengers, drivers and all road users is our highest priority. The recent enforcement activity has demonstrated why routine tyre inspections are so important, particularly for vehicles that spend long hours on the road every day. We’re delighted to be working with TyreSafe to provide practical tyre safety guidance directly to our licensed drivers. By combining education with our ongoing compliance work, we hope to encourage simple preventative checks that help keep vehicles safe, legal and roadworthy.”

David Lawrie, Director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA), said, “Professional drivers and operators want to do the right thing, but financial pressures and a lack of clear, accessible guidance can sometimes lead to shortcuts that put lives at risk. Tyres are the only contact your vehicle has with the road – compromising on them is never worth the gamble. We fully support TyreSafe’s new initiative and urge all our members, operators and licensing authorities to make these resources a central part of their vehicle maintenance and safety checks.”

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has issued a stark warning, throwing its full support behind a recent open letter from the metal and electrical sectors that urges the Federal Government to implement immediate industrial reforms. Association President Michael Klein stressed that the current situation poses a fundamental threat to the nation’s industrial foundation, prosperity and the very fabric of its democratic society. He insisted that the time for half-measures has passed and that decisive action can no longer be postponed.

The association’s concerns are particularly acute for Germany’s rubber sector, a systemically important industry whose products are vital to strategic fields like healthcare, mobility, defence and infrastructure. According to Klein, mid-sized member companies are buckling under the weight of exorbitant energy costs, excessive bureaucratic red tape and aggressive competition from non-European rivals. He described the industry as being in a state of free fall, which jeopardises national self-sufficiency in several critical areas. To reverse this trend, the wdk is calling for the suspension of reporting duties, the abolition of the national emissions trading system to lower energy prices and robust measures to secure domestic markets.

These urgent appeals are underscored by the latest economic data for the first half of 2026, which paints a grim picture of the industry's trajectory. wdk chief economist Michael Berthel reported significant declines across all major indicators, with production dropping by 5.4 percent to 530,000 tonnes and the workforce shrinking by five percent to 57,200 employees. Revenue also took a substantial hit, falling by 4.1 percent to EUR 5.2 billion compared to the same period in 2025.

Berthel further cautioned that without a rapid improvement in the general operating conditions, the situation will only deteriorate further, leading to the permanent closure of more production facilities. The association’s leadership maintains that creating a level playing field in international competition is not merely an option but an absolute necessity for the survival of the rubber industry in Germany.

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Pyrum Innovations AG has unveiled a comprehensive rebranding initiative, introducing a new logo, an updated corporate design and a fully redesigned website. This strategic overhaul publicly reflects the company’s significant evolution in recent years across technological, entrepreneurial and international dimensions.

Central to the new identity is the guiding principle ‘Rethink Resources’, which encapsulates Pyrum’s shift in perspective towards viewing waste as a valuable raw material source. No longer positioning itself solely as a tyre recycler, the technology firm employs its proprietary thermolysis process to recover and reintegrate valuable resources into the production cycle. The refreshed brand imagery is designed to articulate this vision clearly while fostering a cohesive identity to support ongoing global expansion and technological scaling.

Visually, the transformation features a modern aesthetic with a clear design language intended to boost brand recognition internationally. The new website serves as a central hub, making the company’s technology and vision more accessible. This corporate identity will be phased into operations gradually, with existing materials replaced only during regular updates to align with sustainable resource management principles.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “Pyrum has evolved significantly in recent years. With our new brand identity, we want to make this evolution visible to the outside world as well. Our new brand identity is not a break from our previous identity, but rather the next logical step. ‘Rethink Resources’ perfectly captures what drives us: rethinking resources, tapping into new sources of raw materials with our technology and thereby making an important contribution to greater resource independence. Pyrum aims to be one of the first brands that comes to mind when it comes to resource resilience.”

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Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (Toyo Tires) has introduced the Proxes G-Tour, a new grand touring all-season tyre engineered for premium CUVs, SUVs and passenger cars. Positioned as an ideal original equipment replacement, the tyre features a contemporary design that prioritises fuel and range efficiency across gasoline, hybrid and electric vehicles. Compared to ultra-high performance or standard touring alternatives, it delivers superior driving comfort through reduced road noise and low rolling resistance.

The tyre’s asymmetrical tread design and five-variable pitch pattern work in concert to minimise pattern noise while ensuring dependable traction on wet, dry and light-snow surfaces throughout its lifespan. Bevelled tread blocks enhance water evacuation to maximise road contact, while high-stiffness centre ribs and outside blocks, paired with an advanced compound and multi-wave sipes, balance ride comfort with robust wet and dry handling. These elements also provide firm grip and cornering stability, with the compound further promoting even wear and extended tread life.

Optimised for long-distance travel, the Proxes G-Tour offers a quiet, comfortable ride and is tailored for maximum fuel and range economy. The multi-wave sipes not only reduce irregular wear for increased durability but also contribute to a smooth, silent performance in diverse weather conditions. The tyre will be manufactured in more than 70 sizes and load/speed combinations, accommodating 16- to 22-inch wheel diameters with speed ratings of T, H, V and W.

Initial sizes are slated for September availability, with additional fitments rolling out through the end of the year. Key applications include vehicles from Audi, BMW, Lexus, Tesla, Toyota, Honda, Ford and Volkswagen. The Proxes G-Tour carries a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for T/H-rated versions and a 55,000-mile warranty for V/W-rated models, alongside the Toyo Tires No Regrets 45-Day or 500-Mile Trial Offer.

Cameron Parsons, Technical Field Manager and Business Development, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp., said, "The Proxes G-Tour is an exciting addition to the Toyo Tires lineup and a new benchmark in our grand touring all-season category. Through our latest innovations in tyre construction and compound technology, the Proxes G-Tour delivers long tread life with confident wet and dry performance for everyday driving."

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Yokohama Tire has reinforced its commitment to adaptive motorsports by extending its partnership with the High Fives Foundation for a fourth straight year. Through this collaboration, the company supplies its GEOLANDAR truck and CUV/SUV tyres to the Return to Dirt programme, which empowers individuals with mobility impairments to navigate off-road environments using specialised vehicles and instruction.

The Return to Dirt initiative organises driving excursions across diverse landscapes, ranging from icy lakes to wooded trails. Participants manoeuvre modified Polaris RZRs equipped with hand controls and outfitted with Yokohama’s GEOLANDAR M/T G003 SxS tyres, ensuring reliable traction in challenging conditions.

Professional off-road racer and Team Yokohama member Kristen Matlock attended a recent Return to Dirt gathering and described a profound personal impact. She arrived intending to motivate the adaptive athletes but left feeling transformed by their resilience and unwavering positivity. Matlock observed that the participants confronted obstacles with determination and authentic happiness, reshaping her understanding of strength and personal limitations.

Beyond outfitting the programme’s vehicle fleet, Yokohama supplies tyres for the foundation’s towing trucks and actively contributes to fundraising initiatives. The company involves its sales teams and customers in local High Fives events nationwide, broadening its support for the nonprofit’s mission.

Melissa Aguirre, Manager – Brand Marketing, Yokohama, said, “Yokohama fully supports and aligns with High Fives Foundation’s vision of creating a universal shift in adventure sports that expands what is possible for those who have faced life-changing injuries. We’re pleased to be a part of High Five’s athletes’ on- and off-road experiences through their Return to Dirt programme.”

Roy Tuscany, CEO and Founder, High Fives, said, “We value partnerships with like-minded brands and Yokohama is a brand that totally aligns with our core values. Yokohama supports the entire mission of the organisation and helps us achieve the vision of being the safety net of the outdoor sports community.”

Tim Burr, Program Manager, Return to Dirt, said, “Having Yokohama on-board lets us deliver experiences to our adaptive drivers that are unprecedented. We drive on ice with studs, access high mountain terrain in dirt and share desert experiences on rocks all thanks to Yokohama.”

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