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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Titan International Inc. is embarking on an official partnership with NASCAR competitor Ross Chastain, who is also an eighth-generation watermelon farmer. This alliance extends far beyond traditional sponsorship, focusing instead on direct agricultural support. Titan is integrating its expertise into the daily operations of the Chastain family farm, where company specialists are collaborating alongside Melon 1 to address the distinct challenges of watermelon cultivation.

The farm’s diverse fleet, which includes everything from primary tractors to specialised sprayers and utility vehicles, requires a wide array of tyre specifications. Titan is supplying a comprehensive portfolio of products and tailored support for this entire equipment lineup, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and minimise potential downtime.

Chastain’s national profile uniquely bridges the worlds of high-speed racing and foundational farming. Leveraging his platform as NASCAR’s prominent ‘agriculture guy’, this partnership is designed to generate meaningful awareness for the broader farming community. The initiative underscores a shared mission to recognise the critical innovations and relentless effort of agricultural professionals who support global supply chains. Ultimately, it represents a functional fusion of motorsport visibility and tangible, on-farm problem-solving.

Chastain said, “I grew up farming watermelons with my family, and that will always be a part of who I am. What excites me about working with Titan is that they’re actually on the farm, looking at our equipment and helping us find real solutions. I trust Goodyear tyres on the track, and now I trust Titan and Goodyear Farm Tires on our farm. That’s what 'Ag to Asphalt' means to me.”

Scott Sloan, Global Ag/LSW Product Manager, Titan, said, “Watermelon farming has unique demands across a wide range of equipment. Our goal is to make each machine perform at its best. If Ross trusts Titan on his farm, that tells other farmers they can trust us too.”

Kim Boccardi, VP – Marketing, Titan, said, “For Titan, this partnership represents exactly what we stand for. We’re here to listen, to learn and to provide the service, support and expertise farmers want and need. Ross and his family welcomed us onto their farm, and together we’re showing the industry that if a machine needs tyres, whether it's tractors, trailers, ATVs or UTVs, we’ve got it handled.”

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Radar Tyres has entered a strategic global partnership with celebrated Australian cricketer Michael Clarke, appointing him as the company's new brand ambassador. This alliance represents a significant step in the brand's ongoing development, aimed at bolstering support for its international network of distributors and retailers. Clarke’s worldwide recognition and respected legacy are intended to elevate Radar’s visibility and deepen its connection with consumers across key markets.

The brand emphasises that Clarke's professional attributes – encompassing peak performance, resilience and leadership – perfectly mirror its own core mission of delivering high-quality, premium performance tyres to everyday drivers globally. His celebrated career, which includes captaining Australia to a 2015 Cricket World Cup victory and achieving an iconic Test score of 329 not out, has cemented his status as a sporting legend. Beyond the field, his influence extends through media engagements, business ventures, and a substantial digital footprint, allowing him to connect authentically with diverse, worldwide audiences.

This collaboration is a cornerstone of Radar Tyres' long-term strategy to invest in meaningful brand elevation. By partnering with influential figures like Clarke, the company seeks to authentically amplify its message and mission. The initiative will be supported by a comprehensive series of online and on-ground activities, all designed to actively engage consumers and drive the brand’s presence into households worldwide, thereby providing substantive support to its retail partners.

Clarke said, “I’m thrilled to join the Radar Tyres family. Radar Tyres is a dynamic, fast-growing brand whose mission to make high-quality, high-performance tyres accessible to everyday drivers around the world, truly resonates with me. They deliver premium products at an affordable price, and I’m excited to be part of their journey in bringing this mission to even more drivers globally.”

G S Sareen, President and CEO, Omni United, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Michael Clarke to the Radar family. Michael is a household name whose passion, accomplishments and global appeal make him an ideal ambassador to elevate our brand. His association will help us connect more meaningfully with everyday drivers who seek reliable, premium performance but at an accessible price. This partnership will expand our reach, strengthen our presence in key markets and further reinforce Radar Tyres as a trusted and fast-growing global brand.”

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Bridgestone Americas is voluntarily recalling 1,742 Firestone Destination LE3 all-season tyres produced for the US market. The affected tyres, size 265/70R17, were manufactured at the company's Wilson, North Carolina, facility between 26 October 2025 and 8 November 2025. An internal review identified a production error that could lead to an increased risk of belt separation over the tyre's life, reducing its expected durability. As a result, these tyres may not meet the endurance specifications of the relevant U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. The recall is being undertaken as a precautionary measure, and Bridgestone confirms it is not aware of any related accidents or injuries.

The company is contacting all known customers, distributors and dealers. Owners can bring their vehicles to any authorised Bridgestone or Firestone retail outlet for a complimentary inspection. If a tyre is confirmed to be part of the recall, it will be replaced at no cost with a comparable Bridgestone or Firestone tyre, or another suitable alternative. Bridgestone has formally notified the appropriate US regulatory agency in compliance with legal requirements. The recall pertains exclusively to replacement tyres used on light trucks, crossovers and SUVs.

The details are given below:

• Firestone Destination LE3 tyres in size 265/70R17 
• Plant ID: 1W2
• Size Code: 1Y 
• Optional Code: LE31 
• Beginning Date Code: 4325
• Ending Date Code: 4425

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Anyline, a prominent provider of AI-driven mobile tyre inspection technology, achieved a significant landmark in 2025 by completing over 100 million digital tyre inspections globally in a single year. This milestone underscores the widespread integration of its software within automotive service environments, where dealerships, tyre retailers and repair shops rely on its precise and rapid performance under real workshop conditions.

The practical benefits of this technology are substantial for service technicians. It enhances operational consistency on the shop floor, leading to greater overall efficiency and increased customer satisfaction while also creating avenues for additional revenue. Its proven effectiveness at an enterprise level is demonstrated through its adoption by major aftermarket players like Discount Tire and partners such as Tire Storage Solutions.

On a practical level, digital tyre inspection standardises procedures and record-keeping in the service bay. This contributes directly to safety by facilitating the early detection of worn treads and potential hazards. It also improves regulatory compliance through the consistent digital capture of tyre details, including identification numbers. Furthermore, the technology provides valuable performance insights by tracking wear patterns over time, builds customer trust with clear visual documentation and drastically cuts down on manual labour. Cumulatively, these millions of inspections represent immense time savings, helping businesses address ongoing workforce challenges and operational demands.

To further broaden its reach, Anyline has expanded its offerings beyond the ready-made TireBuddy App that it released earlier this year. The company now provides the TireBuddy ToolKit, a highly customisable software development kit. This toolkit allows enterprise and platform partners to embed sophisticated tyre inspection functionalities – including tread depth measurement, tyre identification and condition assessment – directly into their own existing mobile applications on both iOS and Android. Designed for seamless integration and real-world use, it features intuitive guidance to help technicians achieve reliable, uniform results across various locations.

Lukas Kinigadner, Co-CEO, Anyline, said, “Surpassing 100 million tyre inspections in a single year is a defining moment for Anyline and the industry. Tyre inspection isn’t a nice to have; it’s a safety-critical process that depends on consistency and accuracy at scale. We’re on a mission to transform that process with fast, accurate and dependable digital assessments that make technicians’ work easier and keep the customer experience at the centre. This milestone is a strong signal that we’re on the right track.”

Simon Brooks, Vice President – Product, Anyline, said, “With our TireBuddy ToolKit, our goal is to make advanced tyre inspection as easy as adding an SDK into an existing app. We’re excited to see how our customers customise it for their workflows, and we look forward to TireBuddy powering even more safe, consistent tyre inspections in 2026.”

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