The unprecedented lockdown imposed in March last year turned the supply chain of companies upside down, and the tyre companies were no exception. However, the intensity of disturbance was relatively high for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT), which exports more than 90 percent of its production. According to Padmakumar G, Executive Vice President – SCM at YOHT, unprecedented lockdown led to unprecedented initiatives for YOHT. “Most importantly, we learned the importance of being able to react, adapt and set up crisis management mechanisms to weather situations of uncertainty,” says Padmakumar G.

Q) Was Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) ready for the unprecedented lockdown?

Padmakumar G: The whole of 2020 was an extraordinary time when ‘business as usual’ was not an option. From the beginning of the year, it was clear that we were braced for a marathon and not a sprint.

At work, we had a unique period of simultaneous supply and demand shocks. Our plants in India were closed for a couple of weeks. As they (plants) were finally allowed to operate, we faced government-mandated operating restrictions and labour shortages that prevented us from running the plants at total capacity.

On the positive side, our plant in Israel was running at full capacity and continued shipments as planned. All sales and administrative employees at global locations were working from home and were doing their best to be accessible at all times. In North America, our network of national warehouses was open, stocked at historically high inventory levels and operating at full local, regional, and national distribution capacity to ensure continued deliveries to locations.

Our competitive position, market share, brand and diversification of our businesses in products and regions helped us see some all-time highs during these challenging times.

Q) Vendors and customers got panicked because of the uncertainties instilled by the lockdowns. How did you keep their morale and confidence intact in those tough times?

Padmakumar G: Unprecedented lockdown led to unprecedented initiatives for YOHT. The acute restrictions and lockdowns created many urgent situations that required immediate attention in the early days of the pandemic. At YOHT, we believe that no crisis should go to waste.

Adaptability, inventiveness and tenacity of our team paved the way to a ‘recovery mode’, and we started planning for the longer-term proactively. We did not face substantial business and operational disruptions – from mitigating the effects of reduced supply to managing disruptions to logistics suppliers and hurdles in meeting their contractual obligations to customers.

YOHT has an agile team that quickly reprioritised the customers’ requirement and ensured critical supply continuation through our multiple sourcing locations. We closely integrated with suppliers, vendors and customers to have better visibility. Consistent communication and streamlining the complexity helped us keep our commitments while keeping the morale and confidence in the most challenging times.

Q) YOHT is mainly into export of products and imports of raw materials? How did you cope up with the supply-demand situation?

Padmakumar G: Prioritisation of critical supply with effective utilisation of available inventories of finished goods, raw materials, and production capacities were the immediate focus in the lockdown situation. What also helped is that we have a wide base of sourcing raw material from multiple sources. We were able to keep our facility running at full efficiency to meet market requirement. We stepped up all measures to ensure that our customers get our products in the earliest shipments.

Q) ATG is now a part of Yokohama, a global giant in the tyre industry. What changes has Yokohama brought in the supply chain?

Padmakumar G: Yokohama has a strong legacy of quality, and its manufacturing and supply chain is very process-driven. The Kaizen processes and digitalisation of our daily supply chain activities helped us improve our process and culture. 

Q) What did you learn from the pandemic?

Padmakumar G: The importance of supply chain resilience and risk management is more apparent than ever. Most importantly, we learned the importance of being able to react, adapt and set up crisis management mechanisms to weather situations of uncertainty. 

Q) There has always been pressure to reduce cost and improve efficiency by shortening the order-to-delivery period. Could you share a couple of examples highlighting the company’s efforts that reduced the cost and enhanced supply chain efficiency?

 Padmakumar G: To shorten the order to delivery, YOHT has initiated Strategic Inventory build-up through S&CP (Sales & Capacity Planning) and effective cost management through strategic buying of raw materials. We have also increased the manufacturing flexibility to reduce delivery in our business of handling 3500+SKU’s.

Q) What new ideas will the company implement at the Visakhapatnam plant to have better supply chain management?

Padmakumar G: Investment in technology that will gain data insights like MES & digitalisation, improving transparency and considerations on sustainability in the supply chain will be key focus areas of our SCM processes in the Visakhapatnam plant. 

Q) What are the current challenges in the business?

Padmakumar G: Current situation of increased raw material cost, an aggressive demand for containers and increased shipping cost are some of the major challenges in SCM across industries. 

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The DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG summer tyre has earned the highest possible distinction, receiving an ‘Outstanding’ overall rating from Auto Motor und Sport, a premier German automotive publication with significant influence across the European market. This top-tier performance was secured during the magazine's latest comparative assessment, where eight competing summer tyres, all sized 195/55 R16, were subjected to rigorous evaluation. The newly launched DUNLOP model emerged as the definitive leader.

Having been formally introduced to the European press and consumers just this week in Seville, the DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG represents a significant milestone as the first DUNLOP tyre manufactured by Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Its debut in a major market test has already yielded remarkable results. The tyre's evaluation revealed superior performance across all measured categories. In wet condition assessments, it achieved scores approaching a perfect 10 in nearly every test. Its innovative tread design proved highly effective, excelling in critical areas such as braking distance, lateral grip and resistance to longitudinal aquaplaning.

This excellence was matched during dry handling trials, where the tyre demonstrated remarkably balanced and dynamic capabilities. It accumulated three flawless scores of 10 and an additional three scores of nine, underscoring its exceptional precision and the heightened safety it provides. Notably high marks were awarded for its braking performance, responsive handling characteristics and sustained consistency. Testers universally praised its superior grip on both wet and dry surfaces, its precise and agile steering feedback and its dependable behaviour during lane changes, highlighting a safe and forgiving performance envelope. As the sole tyre in the test to achieve the ‘Outstanding’ rating, the DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG established a commanding lead in the final classification.

Markus Bögner, Managing Director and President, DUNLOP Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “We are proud that the first DUNLOP tyre of our own design leads the competition from the outset. This test victory clearly confirms our ambitions and shows that DUNLOP’s return to the premium segment was the right strategic decision. The DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG sends a strong signal about where the brand is headed.”

Full scores for DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG:

Wet braking distance:                                  10/10
Wet lateral grip:                                           10/10
Wet handling (measured):                            10/10
Wet handling (subjective):                            10/10
Wet longitudinal aquaplaning:                     10/10
Wet lateral aquaplaning:                                9/10
Dry braking distance:                                  10/10
Dry lane change safety (subjective):              9/10
Dry steering response (subjective):               9/10
Dry handling (measured):                           10/10
Dry handling (subjective):                           10/10
Dry rolling comfort (subjective):                   9/10
Rolling resistance:                                        6/10
Road noise:                                                10/10
Overall rating:                                          9.6/10

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Hankook Tire has confirmed the 2026 season of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series will commence with its opening round in Florida from 18 to 20 March 2026. As the exclusive tyre supplier for this international championship organised by Italian supercar manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., Hankook will equip all competing Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 cars with its ultra-high-performance Ventus racing tyre. This partnership, established in 2023, continues to see the Ventus tyre support Lamborghini vehicles under extreme conditions, withstanding speeds approaching 300 kmph while delivering exceptional grip, handling and durability across varied global climates.

The opening event, part of the North American series, is set to take place at the challenging Sebring International Raceway. This 6.0-kilometre circuit, constructed on the grounds of Hendricks Field Airport, presents unique difficulties with its combination of dedicated racetrack sections, airport runways and taxiways. The track surface itself adds another layer of complexity; concrete sections in particular place immense stress on tyres and become notably slippery when wet. Furthermore, the intense Florida sun can dramatically elevate track temperatures, making strategic tyre management a critical factor that could very well decide the race's outcome.

Despite these demanding conditions, the Ventus tyre is expected to perform reliably, showcasing Hankook’s advanced motorsports technology. Its robust construction provides the necessary heat resistance and stability for high-speed racing, reinforcing the global premium status of the Hankook brand through this strong collaboration with Lamborghini.

The 2026 Lamborghini Super Trofeo season will feature three continental series spanning North America, Europe and Asia, encompassing 10 countries and six rounds each. A key highlight for local fans is Round 4 of the Asia series, scheduled for 17 to 19 July 2026 at Inje Speedium in Gangwon Province. Following the conclusion of the regional championships, the top competitors will gather in Italy for the Grand Final from 24 to 25 October, where the ultimate world champion will be crowned.

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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport EVO, incorporating ENLITEN Technology, secured the top position in the 2026 summer tyre test conducted by sport auto magazine. Evaluated in size 205/45R17 on a Mazda MX-5, it emerged as the clear leader among seven competing tyres. It was the sole tyre to earn the prestigious ‘outstanding’ rating, achieving 9.2 points for its overall performance.

The testers commended the Potenza Sport EVO for its remarkably balanced capabilities. They characterised it as a tyre combining high safety with an exhilarating driving experience, declaring it their definitive top choice. The evaluation noted the tyre's abundant grip and precise handling during challenging manoeuvres. The experts described it as a highly responsive tyre with substantial grip in reserve on both wet and dry roads while praising its fine controllability through load variations.

Its proficiency in wet conditions was a significant highlight, demonstrated by short braking distances, tenacious cornering grip and robust safety margins against aquaplaning. Developed from the multi-award-winning Potenza Sport, this new model elevates sports performance, wet control, durability and efficiency. Available from January 2026, the tyre ensures precise control at high velocities, preserving vehicle composure. It attains a top-tier EU label A-grade for wet grip, and compared to its predecessor, it reduces wet braking distances by five percent and dry braking by two percent.

These advancements are complemented by superior longevity, with a 15 percent mileage increase, translating to roughly 6,000 extra kilometres. Furthermore, it enhances fuel economy and boosts electric vehicle range through a rolling resistance reduction of up to six percent.

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DUNLOP has announced the launch of its BLUE RESPONSE TG, a new premium summer tyre developed for passenger cars and SUVs. Suitable for internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, the tyre will be available in 99 sizes spanning 15 to 21 inches, series 40-65 with H, V and W speed ratings. Production takes place at a state-of-the-art facility in Türkiye, with European market availability scheduled for March 2026.

This launch represents a significant shift for the brand in Europe. BLUE RESPONSE TG is the first DUNLOP product developed under Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) since it acquired the historic brand’s passenger car tyre rights in 2025. The tyre was engineered collaboratively by DUNLOP’s teams in Germany and Japan, drawing upon SRI’s established manufacturing and development capabilities.

The ‘TG’ designation stands for ‘Touring,’ underscoring the tyre’s ability to deliver long-distance comfort and efficiency while maintaining strong performance. A suite of new technologies ensures stability and control on both wet and dry roads. Impressive braking performance is a key feature, enhancing overall safety and driver confidence.

Central to the tyre’s capabilities is an intelligent three-zone rib design that efficiently channels water away from the contact patch. This promotes stability at higher speeds and unlocks reliable wet-weather grip during directional changes. A refined shoulder design features lateral grooves set at optimised angles. This enhances tread rigidity, reduces block deformation under load and ensures consistent force transfer when cornering and braking.

Durability is addressed through a new tread compound utilising longer, more resilient polymer chains. These resist abrasion and slow wear to extend mileage without compromising performance. To complete the package, a noise-reducing tread design links lateral grooves into continuous channels. This smooths airflow and dampens vibration, resulting in a noticeably quieter cabin environment and the composed, refined ride expected from the DUNLOP brand.

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