Last year, Oxford Dictionaries declared that “Unprecedented” is the word of year that chosen by the famous English language experts to sum up the preceding 12 months. It’s been more than a year since the pandemic changed the way we live and work, and nothing feels more important than staying connected to our communities. Tyre industry is no exception.
As we all know, the automotive society is changing at rapid pace world-wide due to various factors such as new customer trends, growth of middle class and new mobility concepts. The performance requirements of tyres continue to rise ever higher, meaning that even further advancement in tyre technology as well as fighting with complex issues are now our new normal. The requirements of tyre performance parameters are much greater than past therefore now we work with “octagon,” instead of historically used “triangle.”
Today, we are talking about “Desired performance” instead of “Prioritised performance” which covers all required factors as well as sustainable green product concept. As we all know, many tyre manufacturers have announced their aggressive plans to have “carbon-neutral” products and aimed to adopt renewable materials and sustainable solutions.
As noted earlier, there are also additional challenges facing mobility and there are many new topics. In this article as TIC, we focused some of the hot topics to be involved by tyre companies. The below topics will force fundamental changes and our industry is going to be more complex. We need to understand those which would affect market dynamics, breakthrough developments and mobility revolutions.
We believe that a holistic approach is needed to see the future as well as new opportunities and treats. TIC-Tire Industry Consulting’s recommendations are given for some of the important areas, which should be involved by tyre manufacturers in order to continue their business.
Air-Free tyres
The airless concept tyre is one of the initiatives aimed towards many tyre manufacture’s long-term vision of the use of sustainable materials. Many of tyre manufacturers revealed their second or third generation air free technologies by featuring improved load-bearing capabilities, driving performance and environmental design. However, there are a lot of works to be made before air free tyres available for customers. Anyone looking for the future of tyre industry needs to involve Air Free tyre technology. Although it is very hard to estimate, we believe CAGR would be reached 3-4% within ten years globally.
Sustainable solutions
This is one of the most popular topics for automotive industry since many years by aiming CO2 emission reduction. The motivations are: increasing pressure from legislation to move to zero CO2, EV sales booming in many countries and consumers are increasingly seeking to buy from environmentally responsible companies. Main players have announced very challenging targets to use all-sustainable materials by 2030 and 2050. Tyre industry has to follow this path and needs to do fundamental changes regarding all processes such as R&D, supply chain and others. We believe that tyre industry should implement multiple technological innovations for sustainable solutions by working with their suppliers. In order to keep the competition, tyre manufacturers should: have a Science Based Target (SBT) for sustainability, engage with suppliers for joint activities and improve R&D activities regarding new materials, new designs and higher the usage of recycled materials.
EV tyres
Global automotive sector is responsible for 15% of global GHG emission and Paris agreement targeted to have “zero” GHG emission by 2050 to limit global warming. This is a very challenging target ever seen that committed by all countries. Private sector is co-responsible for implementation and rapid fleet electrification is one of the on-going solution items. OEMs have set the pace for CO2 reduction and tyre manufacturers should have the EV tyre that meets “desired performance” as a sustainable green product.
The best example would be Germany , that aims to have 14M electric cars in 2030 by having almost 30% share of total car and electric passenger car new sales would reach to 75-80% of total cars sale in 2030. Those figures show how big opportunity is exist for EV tyre manufacturers for OE and replacement markets. In that respect, we should continue to improve New Product Development (NPD) process even harder by expanding R&D efforts.
Artificial Intelligence
One of the important breakthrough innovations is AI and now widely use in all industries. We have seen many new applications by using AI in tyre industry too. Some of the areas would be sensor adoptions, prediction of compound physical properties, data mining in production processes and performance predictions during service time such a wear life and others. As TIC, we see AI as a “white space” for tyre manufactures that needs special skills as well as knowledge to adapt AI to existing systems.
Dynamic Testing
This has been performed by many tyre manufacturers using different test methodologies such as component level, Hil (Hardware-in-the-Loop), ViL (Vehicle-in-the-Loop) test during the development and test & verification states of the product. In addition to those currently available test technologies, there are new developments in testing, such as dynamic driving simulators, in other words DiL (Driver-in-the-Loop). This technology enables tyre manufacturer to test and verify their next-generation tyre designs in virtual environment using the vehicle digital twin, which replicates the actual vehicle including vehicle driving dynamics, with real driver interaction. The DiL will improve the development process and create new opportunities for tyre manufacturers as preferred one. TIC believes in “Speed to market with right solutions and innovation,” and ready to support you. Design & development process duration is getting more and more crucial and all manufacturers are trying to reduce it by using modern simulation and testing technics. We recommend adopting Virtual technology in order to provide the best service to your customers.
As a conclusion, tyre industry is facing a lot of challenges and having very dynamic competition, in that respect the tyre technology and tyre knowledge will be extremely important to compete in the future, more than at any time in the past.
TIC Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) have vast hands-on experiences for above topics and ready to support your activities. We provide specialised technical solutions for challenges and TIC guarantees a high standard of professional-ethical principles that we have kept and developed for years. (TT)
Yokohama Rubber Reports Record Sales And Profit For Fifth Consecutive Year
- By TT News
- February 19, 2026
Yokohama Rubber reported record sales and profit for fiscal 2025, marking a fifth consecutive year of growth, as higher tyre volumes and a stronger product mix offset one-off costs linked to an acquisition.
Sales revenue rose 12.8 percent year on year to USD 8.2 billion. Business profit increased 24.0 percent to USD 1.11 billion, while operating profit advanced 28.3 percent to USD 1.02 billion. Profit attributable to owners of parent climbed 40.7 percent to USD 0.70 billion. The business profit margin reached a record 13.5 percent.
The company said the increase in consolidated business profit reflected strong performance in existing operations, which absorbed one-time costs related to the acquisition and consolidation of Goodyear’s OTR business. In tyres, profit rose on higher unit sales of consumer tyres and continued growth in high-value-added ADVAN, GEOLANDAR and winter tyres, alongside larger-diameter products. In the MB segment, cost reductions and structural reforms supported profitability.
For fiscal 2026, management targets sales revenue of USD 8.7 billion, business profit of USD 1.25 billion, operating profit of USD 1.15 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of USD 0.60 billion, aiming for a sixth consecutive year of sales and profit growth.
Hankook iON Race Shines At Formula E’s Jeddah Double-Header
- By TT News
- February 19, 2026
Hankook Tire played its role as the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to perfection at the series’ recent visit to Saudi Arabia for a double-header event under the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The company’s Hankook iON Race tyre was put to the test across two nights of intense racing, where driver precision and tyre durability were critical factors. In the first of the two rounds, Pascal Wehrlein of the Porsche Formula E Team claimed victory by combining consistent speed with clever positioning on the fast and challenging street circuit. The following evening, António Félix Da Costa of Jaguar TCS Racing took the win in a race that demanded careful attention to both energy consumption and tyre preservation until the very end.
The Jeddah circuit, measuring just over three kilometres and featuring 19 turns, is designed to complement Formula E’s unique braking and energy recovery systems. It offers a mix of long straights and demanding technical sections that place significant stress on tyres. Throughout both races, the Hankook iON Race tyre demonstrated its ability to maintain strong grip under heavy loads while managing heat effectively and supporting low rolling resistance. These characteristics are vital in a championship where tyre behaviour directly influences energy strategy and overall race outcomes.
In the days following the races, Formula E hosted its EVO Sessions 2 programme, inviting a group of international digital creators to experience the GEN3 Evo race car on the same circuit. The initiative, which first launched after last year’s Miami E-Prix, has generated substantial online engagement and provided additional visibility for Hankook’s tyre technology. Participants including Khaby Lame and Behzinga took part in driving sessions, while others assumed team principal roles for the event. The Hankook iON Race once again proved its capability by delivering strong traction and stability during these high-speed demonstrations.
Looking ahead, the championship will resume in Madrid on 21 March 2026 with a race at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama. This more compact and technically demanding permanent track will present a fresh challenge, with Hankook’s iON Race tyre continuing to serve as the foundation for competitive and sustainable racing.
Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director, Hankook Motorsport, said, “Jeddah under the lights produced two demanding races with their own strategic patterns. Across both rounds, the iON Race demonstrated stable and consistent performance in conditions where track behaviour and tyre temperatures evolved through each session. Such tyre predictability is essential in helping teams execute their strategies on such a fast and technically complex circuit, and the data gathered here will feed directly into our ongoing iON development programme.”
Västerås Däck And Arlandastad Däck Become Part Of Citira
- By TT News
- February 19, 2026
Two tyre service businesses with strong regional recognition in central Sweden and the Stockholm area, Västerås Däck and Arlandastad Däck, have been acquired by Citira, a Sweden-based company specialising in circular tyre management. These additions represent a significant step in Citira’s strategy to broaden its service network within the country.
Established in 2008 by Jalle Eriksson, Västerås Däck built a solid reputation for servicing both passenger cars and heavy vehicles, cultivating a dedicated customer base. This success led to the creation of Arlandastad Däck in 2020. The strategic placement of both facilities along the E4 and E18 corridors, combined with dedicated leadership and strong operational standards, positioned them for integration as vital service hubs within the expanding Citira network.
Daily operations at both locations will remain unchanged, with the existing staff continuing in their roles. The current management will stay on to run the businesses, now with access to Citira’s broader resources to foster future growth. As part of the agreement, Eriksson will transition into a co-ownership role within Citira, ensuring continuity and a shared vision for the businesses moving forward.
David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, “It is our privilege to welcome Jalle, Fredrik and Sofie to Citira, we look forward to working with them. The Eriksson family has made great achievements with both tyre shops and we are confident that adding these two service points will improve Citira’s service offering in both regions. We see great value in the experience that the Eriksson family brings and in the potential to operate these tyre shops alongside our current tyre shops in Västerås and Märsta.”
Eriksson said, “We are very impressed with what Citira has achieved so far. Their extensive network of tyre shops, broad service offering and industry experience will ensure that our service standards remain high going forward while enabling us to focus fully on serving our customers and exploring growth opportunities. We look forward to this partnership.”
- Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries
- ANRPC
- Natural Rubber
- Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association
- MARGMA
- Rubber Gloves
ANRPC Secretary-General Pays Courtesy Visit To MARGMA To Strengthen Collaboration
- By TT News
- February 19, 2026
Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), visited the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) in Kuala Lumpur on 13 February 2026. The meeting brought together the ANRPC representative with MARGMA's Executive Director, Linda Tey and Dr Amir Hashim Md Yatim to discuss potential avenues for collaboration between their two organisations.
The dialogue was focused on strengthening ties across the natural rubber and glove value chain. Key topics included enhancing downstream value addition, promoting sustainable practices and navigating the challenges presented by evolving global market dynamics. The conversation underscored a shared interest in a closer partnership to build greater industry resilience.
Both parties expressed a firm commitment to working together to foster sustainable growth and to reinforce Malaysia's significant role within the global rubber ecosystem. The discussions highlighted a mutual dedication to forging a more integrated and competitive future for the natural rubber and products sector.
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