The US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has revised its previous forecast for total US tyre shipments in 2024, predicting a rise primarily because of increased demand in the replacement market.

The association anticipates that overall tyre exports will reach 338.9 million units in 2024, above the previous high of 335.2 million units established in 2021 and up 2.1 percent from 2023. Additionally, the estimate is significantly higher than the association's prior August prediction that 337.4 million units will be sold this year.

While light truck tyre OE volumes are predicted to rise 14.6 percent year over year, passenger car and truck tyre OE shipments are predicted to decline 2.6 percent and 7 percent, respectively, compared to 2023. According to the association, OE shipments are anticipated to show a cumulative year-over-year decline of 800,000 units.

However, it is anticipated that every segment of the replacement market would increase annually, with truck tyre volumes likely to expand by 12.5 percent over 2023. Shipments of replacement tyres for light trucks and passenger cars are also expected to climb by 5.8 and 1.4 percent, respectively, for a total increase of 7.8 million units over the previous year.

Tesla has recalled some of its Model 3 vehicles from 2017–2025, Model Y vehicles from 2020–2025 and Cybertruck vehicles from 2024 because they installed a software update that did not meet the telltale requirement for tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctions in FMVSS 138, S4.4(b)(3).

Owners can use the NHTSA VIN Recall Search or Tesla VIN Recall Search tools to see whether their VIN is impacted. FMVSS 138, S4.4(b)(3) compliance of the TPMS warning signal is guaranteed by software release 2024.38.7 or later. Affected vehicles started receiving the upgraded software over-the-air (OTA) on 12 November 2024. Owners of vehicles equipped with software version 2024.38.7 or a later software release do not need to schedule a service appointment or take any other action. By selecting 'Controls' > 'Software' on your car's touchscreen or at the bottom of your car's home screen in the Tesla app, you can verify the software version of your car.

When a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) failure is detected on a vehicle that is off or sleeping in between driving cycles, the TPMS malfunction telltale does not continue, which is in violation of FMVSS 138, S4.4(b)(3). A TPMS malfunction warning that does not adhere to FMVSS 138, S4.4(b)(3) may not sufficiently alert the driver to the possibility of tyre under-inflation, raising the possibility of an accident.

The company statement also says that the software updates may fail for a number of reasons. In that case, owners are advised to check the frequently asked questions about software updates on the company website. If the issue persists, a service appointment is advised.

Professor Joseph Adelegan, Secretary-General of International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), was invited to speak at the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) Annual Seminar to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The seminar, held on 12 December 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, brought together stakeholders, policymakers and industry professionals to talk about how the EUDR has affected the rubber sector. Professor Adelegan outlined particular difficulties the rubber sector has in adhering to the EUDR. Along with the need for more transparency, traceability and sustainability standards across the natural rubber value chain, he also talked about the opportunity provided by the EUDR.

The 2023 adoption of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a major milestone in the fight against deforestation worldwide. Ensuring that goods supplied in the EU don't contribute to deforestation and forest degradation is the goal of this historic rule. However, a number of businesses, particularly the worldwide rubber industry, are significantly impacted by the EUDR.

Pirelli has reconfirmed its first place at the global level in the auto components and automobiles sectors of the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe indices.

In the 2024 S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment, Pirelli, the only tyre company listed in both the World and Europe indices, received the highest score of 84 points in the automobiles and auto components sectors. This is much higher than the averages for the auto and component sectors, which are 35 and 29 points, respectively.

Pirelli received high marks in a number of categories, including supply chain categorisation, business ethics, human rights, workplace health and safety programmes and policies and ESG management. Additionally, it scored highly for actions related to low-carbon products, climate change management, environment and biodiversity, all of which are part of the company's route towards the ambitious goal of Net Zero by 2040 (confirmed by SBTi).

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman, Pirelli, said, “The confirmation of Pirelli in the Dow Jones Sustainability  indices again this year, with the best results in the sector at the global level, highlights the solidity of our sustainable development strategy. Ours is a continuous, day-by-day effort, based on actions that are concrete and measurable, to reach the challenging goals we have set which include the entire value chain.”

JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has achieved a new milestone of inaugurating its 100th JK Truck Wheels brand shop in India.

The JK Truck Wheels brand shop acts as a one-stop shop for providing holistic solutions for the truck and bus tyre needs. The new facility has come up in Erode, Tamil Nadu, and is spread across 15,000 sqft. It was inaugurated by Anuj Kathuria, President (India), JK Tyre & Industries.

“This is a significant milestone in our journey to enhance customer experiences across India. It reflects our dedication to providing exceptional services and being the preferred tyre partner for commercial vehicles. We are the most preferred brand in the Truck Bus Radial (TBR) range of products, and we would further consolidate our position in this space by enhancing the overall value. We continue to focus on making the tyre-buying process efficient, customer-centric, and innovative. With Tamil Nadu emerging as a vital transport hub, this milestone outlet strengthens our presence in the region. We are confident that this new JK Truck Wheels will enable us to deepen customer connections, empower fleets, and support businesses across the state,” said Kathuria.

The tyre major currently has established a network of 1,600 touchpoints in southern part of India, of which Tamil Nadu stands as the biggest market for tubeless tyres for trucks and buses. It further aims to expand its market share with high focus on Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Karur, Kanyakumari, Madurai, as well as Puducherry.