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)
Kumho Tire To Showcase Future Mobility Solutions At The Tire Cologne 2026
- By TT News
- May 27, 2026
Kumho Tire has confirmed its participation at The Tire Cologne 2026, the world’s leading tyre exhibition, taking place in Cologne, Germany, from 9 to 11 June. The South Korean manufacturer will present key products at Hall 6.0, Stand B030 C039, including summer, winter, all-season and truck and bus tyres. The event is the largest and most prestigious global gathering for the tyre industry.
Under the theme ‘Innovation to Build the Future’, Kumho Tire will introduce its latest advancements and intelligent solutions for future mobility. The company aims to demonstrate technological excellence in stability and performance across driving conditions. Featured products include summer tyres such as the ECSTA SPORT S, ECSTA SPORT and ECSTA HS52, along with the winter tyre WinterCRAFT WP52+. Both ECSTA SPORT models are ultra-high-performance tyres gaining strong traction in the European market.
The WinterCRAFT WP52+, developed for European conditions, ranked third out of 51 entries in Auto Bild’s 2025 winter tyre test, earning an ‘Exemplary’ rating. Kumho Tire will also showcase MARSHAL brand products including the MU12, MH15 and MH22. The MU12 delivers stable handling, grip, braking and cornering at high speeds, as MARSHAL strengthens its global position combining performance with value.
Additional displays include the SOLUS HA32, WinterCRAFT ICE WI32, WI52, PorTran 4S CX11 and concept tyres Volume and Origami. Kumho Tire will invite key European customers for business meetings to explore partnerships, aiming to communicate its future vision, deepen engagement and expand its global footprint.
Tony Gangseung Lee, Head of Europe at Kumho Tire, said, “This exhibition presents a valuable opportunity to showcase our key products at the world’s largest tire event. We will leverage this platform to reinforce our position as a sustainable, future-oriented smart mobility partner and accelerate our transformation into a global premium brand.”
JK Tyre Signals Another Price Hike Amid Raw Material Inflation
- By Sharad Matade
- May 27, 2026
JK Tyre & Industries has indicated another 5–6 percent price hike across replacement market product categories due escalating raw material costs continue to pressure margins.
Speaking during the company’s Q4 and FY26 earnings interaction, Chairman and Managing Director Dr Raghupati Singhania said the ongoing West Asia crisis had disrupted global supply chains, resulting in higher crude oil, commodity and logistics costs.
The company expects raw material costs to rise by 15–20 percent in the first quarter of FY27, with crude-linked inputs and rupee depreciation further adding to cost pressures.
“To mitigate raw material price increases and sustain profitability margins, we have started increasing selling prices in a staggered manner,” Singhania said.
He noted that while a 4–5 per cent increase had already been implemented in replacement markets, further hikes of around 5–6 per cent were under consideration. OEM price revisions, however, would follow with a lag due to contractual indexation mechanisms.
Apart from higher raw material costs, the company said export operations had also been affected by disruptions in shipping routes, container shortages and elevated freight charges.
To minimise supply risks, JK Tyre has shifted a part of its sourcing strategy towards eastern markets, including Taiwan, South Korea and China, deploying technical teams to approve alternate raw material supplies more quickly.
Despite near-term cost pressures, the company maintained that underlying demand remains strong and expects healthy growth momentum to continue in FY27, particularly in OEM and replacement tyre segments.
Triangle Tyre Secures CAAC CTSOA Certification For Civil Aviation Radial Tyres
- By TT News
- May 27, 2026
Triangle Tyre has received official certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for its newly developed civil aviation radial tyres. The approval, granted on 11 May 2026, followed the product’s successful completion of rigorous technical evaluations and was formalised through the issuance of a Technical Standard Order Authorization, or CTSOA.
This authorisation serves as the CAAC’s formal recognition of a manufacturer’s design and production capabilities for aviation components. Acquiring the CTSOA confirms that Triangle Tyre has met all conformity standards, granting the company the legal right to manufacture and label its certified products with official identification numbers.
The certification applies to four specific tyre part numbers designed for major aircraft platforms, including China’s domestically produced C919 large passenger jet and the Airbus A320. Aviation tyres are considered critical safety components and are subject to some of the most demanding approval processes in the aerospace sector.
To earn the CTSOA, Triangle Tyre’s products underwent extensive on-site oversight and a battery of evaluations, including static load, high-speed rolling and extreme-temperature tests. The company demonstrated exceptional proficiency in materials science, engineering design, manufacturing processes and quality control, all of which were verified by the regulator.
Triangle Tyre began tackling the technical challenges of aviation radial tyres in 2017, aiming to break foreign monopolies. The company has since developed proprietary framework materials, structural designs and production equipment, establishing an independent technology platform and an airworthiness-compliant quality system.
With over 50 years of experience in tyre manufacturing, Triangle Tyre has now reinforced its position in the high-end market. The CTSOA achievement strengthens supply chain security for China’s aviation industry and follows years of collaboration with COMAC, including the 2020 milestone where its tyre became the first domestic civil aviation radial product to pass dynamic simulation testing.
Yokohama ADVAN-Equipped BMW M3 Touring 24H Wins SP-X Class, Finishes Fifth Overall At Nürburgring 24H
- By TT News
- May 27, 2026
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that a vehicle equipped with its ADVAN global flagship brand tyres claimed victory in the SP-X class at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, held in Germany from 14 to 17 May. The car also secured an impressive fifth place overall in the gruelling endurance race.
The winning No 81 BMW M3 Touring 24H, fielded by partner BMW M Motorsport, started from 22nd position before rapidly advancing into the leading pack. Designed as a fan-focused car for the Nürburgring, it shares its technical foundation with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO while retaining the M3 Touring body shell. The team maintained high speeds and error-free driving to finish fifth overall, competing alongside SP9 class leaders.
Two additional ADVAN-equipped cars finished within the top 10 overall. Haupt Racing Team’s No. 67 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO secured eighth place, followed by BMW M Motorsport’s No. 77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO in ninth. These results at one of the world’s most demanding circuits underscore the high performance of Yokohama Rubber’s ADVAN racing tyres.
Beyond the 24-hour race, Yokohama Rubber supplies ADVAN tyres to KONDO RACING and the same three teams competing in this year’s Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, which began in March. BMW M Motorsport’s No. 77 already won NLS Round 3 in April, and the company anticipates further victories from its partner teams throughout the season.
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