Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader producing high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres for fleets across the UK and Europe, has launched the ZEXY Range, a bold new line of versatile tyres designed for performance and durability, at the 2025 Road Transport Expo (RTX) last week.

Engineered to tackle every road condition, the ZEXY Range promises unmatched reliability for drivers seeking top-tier performance. Whether for long-haul journeys or urban commutes, the collection offers a tyre suited to every need.

More details about the ZEXY Range are available on the company’s official website.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, successfully demonstrated its high-performance racing technology at the demanding Central European Rally. As Round 12 of the 2025 season, the event concluded on 19th October in and around the Passau region of Bavaria, challenging participants with one of the calendar's most complex tarmac routes.

The rally's 18 special stages, spanning roughly 307 kilometres of asphalt, presented a severe test. The route wove from the high-speed sections on the rolling hills of the Czech Republic to the narrow, slippery and technical roads of the Bavarian Forest, with surface grip changing dramatically throughout. Unpredictable autumn conditions, including sudden showers, dense fog and sharp temperature swings, further intensified the challenge, pushing drivers and their equipment to the absolute limit.

In this variable environment, Hankook supported all crews with its dedicated tarmac rally tyres: the Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210. The Ventus Z215 provided sharp handling and exceptional cornering stability on dry asphalt, while the Ventus Z210 was crucial for maintaining confident grip and dispersing water effectively during wet stages. The consistent performance of both tyre models amid rapidly shifting grip levels underscored Hankook’s technological advancement and reliability under extreme asphalt conditions.

The rally concluded with a victory for Kalle Rovanperä of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, who secured his third win of the season. This result elevated him to joint second in the Drivers' Championship standings. The event was also historically significant for Toyota, which clinched its ninth Manufacturers' Championship title, setting a new record for the team.

The championship now advances to the final round, FORUM8 Rally Japan, in November. Known for its narrow and treacherous mountain roads, the event will demand ultimate precision. Hankook's involvement as the exclusive tyre supplier is backed by extensive development, including over 2,000 kilometres of FIA-supervised testing across eight countries. This commitment forms the foundation for its continued role as the sole tyre supplier for all WRC categories for three consecutive seasons starting in 2025, a partnership that will further strengthen the premium value of the Hankook brand on the global stage.

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Steelastic LLC, part of the HEICO Companies, has officially announced a new strategic partnership with IBP for the territories of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In this capacity, the company has welcomed John Powath as its official agent for these regions. Powath is a respected leader within the tyre industry, bringing a wealth of experience from his roles as a Partner at IBP and as a Co-Founder of Automoto. He is also recognised as an active contributor to global tyre and automotive industry events.

Operationally, Steelastic’s Business Development Manager Hemant Agrawal will work in close coordination with the IBP team. Their collective focus will be on strengthening the support infrastructure for customers and driving the growth of Steelastic’s business footprint across South Asia. The company has expressed considerable optimism regarding this collaboration and believes it will unlock substantial new opportunities for its valued customer base in the region, enhancing product access and technical service.

The company statement read: “We welcome John Powath as Steelastic’s official agent in these regions. Powath is a respected leader in the tyre industry, Partner at IBP, & Co-Founder at Automoto, as well as an active contributor to global tyre and automotive events. Moving forward, Steelastic Business Development Manager, Hemant Agrawal, along with the IBP team, will work closely to strengthen customer support and grow Steelastic’s business across South Asia. We are excited about this collaboration and the opportunities it will bring for our valued customers.”

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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport has been declared the definitive winner in EVO's 2025 Tyre Test, decisively outperforming eight rival products. Evaluated on a high-powered BMW 135i xDrive with 302 bhp in the size 235/35 R19, the tyre delivered six class-leading results.

The tyre’s dominance was particularly evident in wet conditions, where it achieved the shortest braking distance and top scores for cornering and aquaplaning resistance. The tyre also excelled in dry performance, recording the fastest lap time and a strong third-place finish in dry braking. Test editors praised it as an exceptional and emphatic winner, noting its superb on-road feel and capability in all conditions.

This assessment is further supported by independent TÜV SÜD testing, which confirms the Potenza Sport's superior dry braking, cornering and stability against other premium tyres. Its wet performance is also officially recognised with a top EU 'A' wet grip rating and leading results in wet cornering and handling, solidifying its status as a top-tier ultra-high-performance tyre.

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Michelin has announced the full deployment of its proprietary TreadEye technology across the Michelin Retread Technologies franchise network in the United States. TreadEye is a technology developed to enhance the retread process and deliver value to fleets.

The company stated that TreadEye is a tread depth assessment tool that helps fleets maximise their tyre investment. The system collects 1,200 measurement points accurately and consistently, providing insights into tread wear and casing condition.

Key benefits of the TreadEye technology include:

• Identification of pull points by fleet location.
• Maximisation of rubber on the road by helping to avoid early pulls.
• Helps in prevention of casing damage and helps reduce DOT violations.
• Helps reduce downtime from late pulls.
• Improved efficiency in the tyre removal process, directly affecting a fleet’s bottom line.

Nate Kirian, Vice-President of Sales and Distribution, Commercial Business Lines for Michelin North America, Inc, said, “TreadEye is a game-changer for our retread operations and for the fleets we serve. It’s a powerful example of how Michelin continues to innovate in ways that directly benefit our customers.”

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