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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BKT Tyres, the tyre mobility brand of Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), has introduced a 24x7 journey assistance programme called BKT YOU FORWARD for two-wheeler riders. The initiative marks the company’s shift from a pure tyre manufacturer to a comprehensive mobility partner, offering support that extends well beyond the point of sale and aligns with its Elevate Your Drive philosophy.

Available across India, the programme provides round-the-clock assistance through a dedicated helpline for unexpected incidents like punctures, breakdowns or accidents. Services include towing, repairs, ambulance access, cab arrangements and legal aid, all aimed at reducing rider anxiety and ensuring uninterrupted mobility.

A digital-first campaign film starring veteran actor Rakesh Bedi brings the initiative to life through everyday riding scenarios, showing how reliable support turns stressful roadside moments into reassuring experiences.

BKT YOU FORWARD offers three structured plans with two-year validity: the Basic Plan at INR 99, the Signature Plan at INR 149 and the Elite Plan at INR 199. Partner agencies Crossroads and Bi WW support the programme, which relies on a robust service infrastructure, real-time monitoring and defined processes to maintain consistent customer experiences and long-term engagement.

Mahesh Koppad, Chief Marketing Officer, BKT Tyres, said, “Indian riders face diverse challenges every day, and access to timely, reliable support can redefine their journey experience. At BKT Tyres, our philosophy of Elevate Your Drive is not limited to selling tyres; it’s a long-term commitment to rider confidence and mobility. BKT YOU FORWARD, as the name suggests, is designed with consumer-first principle and embodies this promise by offering a structured, 24x7 assistance programme that covers nearly every scenario a rider may encounter. This initiative is not just about solving problems, it’s about building trust, continuity and assurance into every journey. By combining strong service infrastructure, real-time monitoring and defined escalation processes, we are setting a new benchmark in customer engagement. Our vision is to ensure that riders don’t just move forward but move forward with confidence.”

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Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (Toyo Tires) has launched the 10th annual Toyo Tires Shutter Space Automotive Photo Gallery Contest, calling on automotive photographers to submit their best original work. The competition is open to all, with entries required to capture car culture through artistic composition and technical excellence without using artificial intelligence. Submission details and entry forms are available online.

The grand prize winner will have their photograph displayed at the Shutter Space Collaborative Car Meet & Automotive Photo Gallery in Southern California later this summer. Additional rewards include social media features from Toyo Tires, a USD 1,000 gift card from BHPHOTOVIDEOdotcom, and an all‑expenses‑paid trip for two to the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where the winner will serve as a guest photographer for the brand.

Nineteen finalists will also be selected, with their work showcased at the Shutter Space event and on Toyo Tires’ social media channels. Each finalist will receive a USD 200 BHPHOTOVIDEOdotcom gift card. Judging criteria include originality, artistic composition, technical quality, authentic non‑AI imagery and embodiment of the Toyo Tires lifestyle. Submissions must be received by 28 June 2026 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time.

Stan Chen, Deputy Director – Consumer Marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp., said, “It’s incredibly exciting to reach the 10th annual Toyo Tires Shutter Space Automotive Photo Contest. Over the years, this event has created a platform for photographers to express their passion, showcase their incredible work and capture the spirit of the automotive world. At Toyo Tires, we are honoured to continue supporting the creative voices that share our passion for car culture.”

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Liberty Tire Recycling recently hosted 20 visitors from the Recycling Association of Minnesota for an industry tour of its state operations. Company representatives guided the group through the entire scrap tyre processing cycle, demonstrating how inbound tyres are collected, processed and transformed into finished materials.

Beyond collecting tyres from retailers, auto body shops and transfer stations, Liberty Tire Recycling assists local governments with amnesty drop-off events and illegal dump cleanup initiatives. These efforts protect roadsides, neighbourhoods and natural areas by redirecting discarded tyres into responsible recycling channels. Minnesota generates more than four and a half million end-of-life tyres annually, making robust collection infrastructure essential. Liberty accepts tyres from landfills, transfer centres, and generators such as tyres retailers and auto dealerships.

Despite a strong state framework, illegal dumping persists. Community amnesty events and targeted cleanups provide residents with convenient disposal options and give local governments a proven partner for addressing abandoned tyres piles. Liberty operates two key facilities serving Minnesota: a tyre collection and processing site in Savage and another in St. Martin. Both locations are part of Liberty’s North American network, which processes over 200 million tyres each year into rubber mulch, moulded rubber goods and rubberised asphalt components.

During the Recycling Association of Minnesota tour, visitors observed how end-of-life tyres become crumb rubber, tyre-derived aggregate, rubber mulch and tyre-derived fuel for commercial and residential applications. Through education, direct collection services, local processing, amnesty support and cleanup partnerships, Liberty helps prevent tyres from ending up in ditches or landfills and returns them to productive use.

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The Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, a new ultra-high-performance all-season tyre, has achieved a category first by securing ‘A’ ratings for both wet grip and exterior noise across its entire size range. Developed in Europe by Apollo Tyres Ltd and set for production at the company’s Hungarian facility, this performance-focused product utilises a distinctive tread pattern that merges longitudinal and directional grooves.

Unlike competing ultra-high-performance all-season tyres, the Quatrac Pro 2 incorporates four longitudinal grooves in every size to maximise aquaplaning resistance and deliver superior wet-weather braking and traction. Directional lateral grooves further enhance water evacuation. While conventional all-season designs often omit such grooves to prioritise snow traction – resulting in higher noise levels – Apollo Tyres’ research team has engineered the Quatrac Pro 2 as a segment-leading wet performer without sacrificing acoustic comfort. The tyre still carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake marking for certified winter capability.

Advanced engineering is evident in the shoulder’s three-dimensional interlocking sipes, which feature zig-zagged inner faces on horizontal and vertical planes. Unlike straight-cut conventional sipes, this design limits tread block movement, maintaining structural stability during high-speed cornering while retaining flexibility for snow grip. This unique tread construction ensures a consistent contact patch and predictable handling even under aggressive cornering. A continuous centre rib, rare in all-season tyres, further boosts dry handling, steering precision and braking distances on wet and dry roads.

Building on its predecessor’s acoustic performance, the Quatrac Pro 2 employs an optimised multi-pitch tread block sequence to reduce resonance and noise. The irregular block arrangement, with pitch counts and sequences tailored to each tyre diameter, produces a refined acoustic signature. This balance of characteristics secures the top ‘A’ noise rating for all sizes, confirming that certified winter performance does not compromise comfort or wet-weather capability.

Daniele Lorenzetti, Chief Technology Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The tread design of the Quatrac Pro 2 reflects a new approach to all-season tyre development. By combining features typically associated with ultra-high-performance summer tyres with carefully engineered elements for traction in wet and winter conditions, we have created a tyre that delivers strong braking response and confident handling year-round.”

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