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)
TVS Srichakra reported higher revenue and profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, supported by stronger operating performance and exceptional gains.
The tyre maker reported standalone revenue from operations of INR 33.9 billion for FY26, compared with INR 30.2 billion a year earlier. Profit before tax rose to INR 1.1 billion from INR 486.1 million in FY25, while net profit increased to INR 827.1 million from INR 369.6 million.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, standalone revenue from operations rose to INR 9.1 billion from INR 7.5 billion in the corresponding period last year. Profit before tax increased to INR 456.2 million from INR 118.4 million, while quarterly net profit rose to INR 346.2 million from INR 105.9 million.
The company recorded an exceptional gain of INR 29. Million m for FY26, compared with an exceptional charge of INR 114 million in the previous year. During the March quarter, exceptional gains stood at INR 8.9 million.
TVS Srichakra said the exceptional items included grant income linked to investment promotion incentives sanctioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu through the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu. The company also accounted for expenditure related to a voluntary retirement scheme and recognised an incremental obligation arising from the implementation of the Labour Codes.
Goodyear India reported higher profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, supported by an exceptional gain during the period.
The company posted profit before tax of INR 831.6 million for FY26, compared with INR 746.8 million a year earlier. Net profit for the year rose to INR 615 million from INR 551.2 million in FY25. Earnings per share increased to INR 26.66 from INR 23.90.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, Goodyear India reported profit before tax of INR 133.3 millon, against INR 333.5 million in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. Quarterly net profit stood at INR 96.9 million, compared with INR 245.3 million in the previous-year period. Earnings per share for the quarter declined to INR 4.20 from INR 10.68.
The company recorded an exceptional item of INR 217.7 million during FY26. In the March quarter, the exceptional item stood at INR 198.3 million.
Goodyear India said the exceptional item was linked to a reassessment of liabilities relating to gratuity and compensated absences under the Labour Codes. The reassessed amount relating to previous periods was reclassified from employee benefits expense to exceptional item in the financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Kumho Tyre UK To Spotlight Mixed-Service Tyres At RTX 2026
- By TT News
- May 28, 2026
Kumho Tyre UK is set to return to the Road Transport Expo (RTX) 2026, scheduled from 30 June to 2 July at Stoneleigh Park. The company continues to emphasise dependable tyre solutions tailored for United Kingdom fleet operators, reaffirming its commitment to the commercial vehicle sector.
At Stand R37 in Exhibition Hall 1, attendees can examine Kumho’s latest commercial vehicle tyre range, engineered for applications spanning long-haul motorway driving to regional and local delivery routes. The display highlights the regional multi-performance lineup, including the KXA31, KXD31 and KXT31. Designed for mixed-use fleets navigating motorways, A-roads and urban settings, these tyres balance durability, mileage and efficiency to maximise performance across varied routes.
Also on show are the KMA12 and KMD41, developed for mixed service applications where robust construction is vital to maintaining uptime. Engineered for tougher conditions, they offer enhanced durability for demanding environments. Kumho’s RTX presence underscores its ongoing support for fleet operators with high-quality, value-driven solutions focused on performance, longevity and real-world reliability.
Kumho’s TBR sales team and executive management will be available throughout the event to discuss fleet requirements and the company’s growing retailer network. Visitors can enjoy refreshments while learning about the expanding CV portfolio.
Richard Lyons, Managing Director, Kumho Tyre UK, said, “We’re looking forward to returning to RTX and building on the conversations we started last year. It’s a great opportunity to meet with fleets face-to-face, showcase the strength of our CV range and demonstrate the quality and performance that underpins the Kumho brand.”
Prinx Chengshan Showcases Full Agricultural Tyre Lineup At 2026 Xinjiang International Agricultural Machinery Expo
- By TT News
- May 27, 2026
Prinx Chengshan has introduced a new line of agricultural tyres at the 2026 Xinjiang International Agricultural Machinery Expo, which opened in Urumqi on 25 May. The Chengshan brand showcased products specifically designed for tractors and combine harvesters, responding to the growing performance demands of large-scale machinery driven by agricultural modernisation.
As tyres play a critical role in equipment efficiency, Prinx Chengshan has developed a full-chain innovation system covering fundamental research, application development and pilot verification. With a newly launched green and intelligent off-the-road tyre plant, the company now offers agricultural tyres that excel in durability and load capacity, providing cutting-edge solutions for global customers.
The Chengshan TX series addresses specific operational needs. The TX600, for tractors, features large tread lugs and flexible sidewalls to ensure stability and comfort during high-speed relocation. The TX700 uses a reinforced carcass and belt structure to handle heavy combined loads without deformation. The TX800 incorporates an R-1W deep tread pattern and wear-resistant compound to withstand sharp stubble, gravel and roots, extending tyre life and lowering costs. For combine harvesters, the TX2000 uses proprietary IF technology to deliver 20 percent higher load ratings at the same pressure, reducing soil compaction and protecting topsoil.
Moving forward, Prinx Chengshan will continue its product plus service strategy, supporting modern agriculture alongside global partners. The company aims to advance green farming practices and contribute to a sustainable future.
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