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 CO_2, 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)

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PRINX CHENGSHAN showcased a lineup of agricultural tyres under its Chengshan brand at the 2026 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (CIAME 2026) in Tianjin on 26 October. The display featured tyre solutions tailored to modern agricultural needs, with emphasis on large-scale field cultivation and fall harvesting applications.

Rising performance demands across smart, high-end and environmentally sustainable farming have prompted the company to steadily expand its research and development investment in agricultural tyre applications. PRINX CHENGSHAN has built a comprehensive portfolio for large agricultural machinery, including tractors and combine harvesters, delivering integrated solutions for varied operating conditions along with service support spanning the entire product life cycle.

The TX600 and TX700 radial tyres, intended mainly for tractors, each offer distinct advantages. The TX600 pairs large tread blocks with a proprietary cut- and puncture-resistant rubber compound, ensuring stable driving, dependable handling and puncture resistance during high-speed transfers between work areas. The TX700 employs a high-strength carcass and belt construction to deliver strong load capacity and traction, even in muddy, difficult fields.

For combine harvesters, the TX2000 raises load capacity by 20 percent through high-flexion characteristics, while its low inflation pressure and larger contact patch lessen soil compaction, reconciling efficient operations with farmland protection. The TB500 bias-ply tyre, a notable addition to the tractor range, features a deep tread and large, robust blocks for excellent traction, wear resistance and puncture resistance, sustaining stable, slip-resistant performance in mud and gravel.

Looking ahead, PRINX CHENGSHAN plans to continue advancing agricultural tyre innovation, targeting the evolving requirements of modern equipment and practical field challenges. The company aims to collaborate closely with partners throughout the agricultural machinery supply chain to enhance the quality and efficiency of modern farming and support a stronger agricultural sector and greater food security in China.

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Apollo Tyres Ltd has unveiled the Vredestein Traxion 95, a row-crop tractor tyre designed specifically to carry the advantages of Traxion technology into that segment. According to the company, the product offers strong grip, effective self-cleaning and extended service life, allowing farmers and contractors to get more from their equipment and working hours across the season.

Like other products in the Traxion range, the tyre uses angled lugs set apart at varying intervals, a layout intended to transfer power efficiently and hold traction in difficult ground. The uneven spacing also helps the tread shed soil as it rolls, supporting steady output between crop rows, while the tread pattern and robust rubber compound are claimed to improve operator comfort and lengthen tyre life. Spraying, fertilising and similar crop-care duties are among the tasks the tyre is built to handle reliably.

Vredestein has earned a solid agricultural reputation for grip, longevity and comfort since launching its first Traxion tyre in 1997. The Traxion 95 is scheduled to reach the market in Autumn 2026 in six popular sizes: 230/95 R32 TL 128D, 270/95 R32 TL 136D, 230/95 R36 TL 130D, 300/95 R46 TL 148D, 230/95 R48 TL 136D and 270/95 R48 TL 144D.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President, Commercial EMEA, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The launch of the Traxion 95 marks another important step in the evolution of the Traxion family. Users can now benefit from proven Traxion technology in a dedicated row-crop tyre that increases productivity between every row.”

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NEXEN TIRE has secured a place in the top 2 percent of companies globally in the 2026 ESG assessment conducted by EcoVadis, a sustainability rating agency headquartered in France. The achievement represents the third consecutive year the tyre manufacturer has earned a Gold Medal, improving from its top 3 percent ranking a year earlier. The company posted balanced scores across all four assessment categories, with environmental performance standing out as its strongest area.

Environmental management capabilities drew particular praise, including greenhouse gas emissions disclosure spanning all scopes and environmental management systems operating across global sites. NEXEN TIRE has committed to a Science Based Targets initiative-approved goal of cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 58.8 percent by 2034 relative to 2023 levels. Recognition also came for broadening labour and human rights management systems worldwide, while sustainable procurement efforts earned positive marks for supplier code of conduct revisions, supply chain ESG due diligence and ESG awareness training for procurement staff.

Ethics recorded the largest improvement among assessed areas. The company maintains policies and implementation systems addressing anti-corruption, conflict of interest prevention and information security, and its expanded information security activities across global sites drew a stronger evaluation this year. EcoVadis, established in 2007, has assessed over 150,000 companies in 185 countries, awarding Platinum to the top 1 percent, Gold to the top 5 percent, Silver to the top 15 percent and Bronze to the top 35 percent.

The rating carries commercial weight, as global automakers use EcoVadis assessments when selecting suppliers. With ESG performance requirements across supply chains intensifying, especially in Europe, the result is expected to strengthen NEXEN TIRE's competitive position in original equipment tyre supply.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “Maintaining the Gold rating for three consecutive years indicates that our sustainability management system is functioning effectively. We will continue to improve our ESG management practices in a systematic manner and contribute to sustainable mobility.”

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has urged UK motorists to adopt preventative habits after research showed drivers react emotionally rather than practically following near-misses. The findings reveal that 23 percent of drivers shouted, gestured or sounded their horn after a frightening moment, while only 11 percent checked their tyres and 22 percent did nothing at all and kept driving. The pattern is consistent across the country, highlighting a widespread action gap in which drivers neglect simple steps that could improve safety.

The organisation wants near-miss experiences to serve as prompts for vehicle checks. It is promoting its ACT checks, which begin with air pressure: drivers should verify tyre pressures at least monthly and before long journeys using an accurate gauge, since correct pressures optimise braking, fuel efficiency and tyre life while lowering failure risk. Condition comes next, with tyres regularly inspected for cuts, cracks, bulges and embedded objects; any visible damage should be assessed immediately by a tyre professional as it may signal structural problems.

Finally, tread depth should be checked. For passenger cars, the UK legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre around its entire circumference. Adequate tread is especially important on rural roads, where standing water and uneven surfaces can substantially raise the risk of aquaplaning and loss of control. TyreSafe's message encourages drivers to turn a scare into a safety check and act before reacting.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “A near-miss should be a warning sign – but too often it becomes a moment of frustration rather than reflection. Checking your tyres takes minutes, but it can make a critical difference in preventing the next incident. We need to move from reacting in the moment to acting in advance.”

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