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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Nokian Tyres has named Rhea County High School graduates Jesus Hernandez-Santiago and Josiah Shibley as the recipients of its 2026 college scholarship. The two students were selected based on their strong academic records, interest in STEM fields and commitment to excelling in extracurricular activities.

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship programme supports the company’s broader goal of preparing skilled professionals for the Southeast Tennessee workforce. Complementary initiatives include a robust apprenticeship programme, a work‑based learning scheme and a summer internship partnership.

Hernandez‑Santiago plans to study mechanical engineering at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, having already taken college‑level math courses since his junior year through a dual enrolment programme. Shibley will attend Tennessee Tech to pursue civil engineering with an environmental concentration, aiming to combine his passion for the outdoors with his interest in construction.

Nokian Tyres also runs an apprenticeship with Cleveland State Community College, where six apprentices complete 8,000 hours of on‑the‑job training and 42 classroom credits. A work‑based learning partnership with Rhea County High School places two to four students annually at its high‑tech factory, while a separate internship with Bryan College offers mentorship and project experience.

Since opening its Dayton Factory in 2019 to serve North American markets, the tyremaker has earned multiple awards and became the world’s first tyre production facility to achieve LEED v4 Silver certification.

Nokian Tyres North America Human Resources Director Blake Markham, who serves as chairman of the Southeast Tennessee Workforce Development Board, said, “We are passionate about fuelling the employment pipeline in Rhea County and beyond. Our region benefits from strong partnerships between businesses, educational institutions and local governments that strengthen companies and change lives.”

Hernandez-Santiago said, “I feel so blessed to receive this scholarship because I have always loved the STEM field. Nokian Tyres has always been involved with the community, so I will do what I can to succeed and impact the community with the opportunity I have been given."

Shibley said, “I’ve lived in Dayton my whole life, and this opportunity has shown me what it looks like when a company invests in its community. This scholarship will help me worry less about money and focus more on school, and it means a lot that it’s coming from a company in my hometown.”

Maintenance Apprentice Emily Goodwin said, “Seeing the things in the classroom that I’ve already worked on has helped a lot. It feels like a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity. This has changed my life.”

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Tyres Europe has formally responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the draft Delegated Regulation amending Annex I of the EU Deforestation Regulation. The association views the proposed text as a constructive and proportionate measure to enhance both operability and legal certainty.

A key focus of the submission is tyre retreading. Tyres Europe endorses the plan to limit the regulation’s scope to tyre treads, the only new rubber component added during retreading, while excluding used casings and finished retreaded tyres. This distinction aligns obligations with actual new rubber introduction, reduces administrative burdens on small and medium-sized enterprise retreaders and supports circular economy goals.

The association also welcomes clarifications on products for testing or analysis, used items and waste. Given ongoing supply chain preparations, Tyres Europe urges the Commission to adopt and publish the Delegated Regulation swiftly before the summer break to ensure legal certainty and implementation readiness.

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has signed a letter of intent with an unidentified partner to license its proprietary pyrolysis technology for one pilot plant and multiple full-scale facilities in Brazil. The agreement focuses on converting end-of-life tyres into valuable raw materials.

The letter establishes a joint assessment of the project’s commercial and technical feasibility. This study will help the potential licensee evaluate key conditions for a possible long-term licensing deal and broader collaboration.

Brazil’s large scrap tyre market presents substantial long-term opportunities for sustainable recycling. While this potential partnership would strengthen Enviro’s role as a circular technology leader, any final agreements depend on the study’s outcome and further negotiations. There is no guarantee that binding deals will follow.

Fredrik Aaben, CEO, Scandinavian Enviro Systems, said, “We continue to see very strong and growing interest in Enviro’s technology, and this Letter of Intent is another clear indication of the commercial potential for our offering. Interest is coming from all major regions of the world, reflecting the increasing global demand for Enviro’s sustainable and scalable solutions for end-of-life tyres.”

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Apollo Tyres has earned five major industry honours at the JioStar Reimagine Awards 2025–26 and the Abby Awards 2026, recognising the strength of its recent advertising efforts. The company secured three Gold trophies at the JioStar Reimagine Awards for Best Use of Sports Talent, Best Content Integration – TV and Best Use of Multi-Screen Campaigns. It also captured two Bronze awards at the Abby Awards within the Audio Visual – TV category for both the Automotive and Corporate segments.

The acclaimed ‘Har Safar Mein Dum Hai’ campaign, rooted in Apollo Tyres’ ‘Go the Distance’ philosophy, transformed a traditionally low-interest product category into an emotionally compelling narrative. Instead of relying on standard celebrity endorsements, the campaign celebrated perseverance over mere victory and used cricket as a shared cultural connector to build authentic audience bonds.

Leveraging A R Rahman’s enduring anthem ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’, the campaign was conceptualised by Simran Kanwar and became the fourth most discussed brand during the recent T20 World Cup. It outperformed competitors with triple the advertising spend, earning top honours across content, sports integration, film craft and multi-platform categories through sharp insight and distinctive execution.

Udyan Ghai, Group Head, Marketing, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “To see our campaign being celebrated by the industry at the JioStar and Abby Awards is an immensely proud moment for all of us. Winning for 'Har Safar Mein Dum Hai' is a beautiful tribute to our team’s hard work in creating stories that truly move people. It proves that our focus on emotional storytelling, strategic sports associations and multi-platform integration is exactly what resonates with today's audience.”

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