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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Tegeta Green Planet has launched an educational initiative targeting young people to foster environmental responsibility and awareness. The effort responds to the growing global challenges of sustainable development and environmental protection. By focusing on youth education, the organisation aims to build a foundation for long-term ecological consciousness and active public participation in preserving natural resources.

Operating since 2022, Tegeta Green Planet is among the first entities in Georgia authorised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture under the Extended Producer Responsibility framework. This system is central to modern environmental policy, ensuring full-cycle management of specific waste streams such as used tyres, oils and batteries. The process covers collection, transportation, recycling and further handling aligned with circular economy principles.

As part of this drive, company representatives visited multiple schools in Batumi, a Black Sea coastal city and major tourist hub. Given Batumi’s rapid urbanisation and growing tourism, the need for proper waste management and ecological awareness is especially acute. The interactive sessions included presentations and workshops, teaching students how to handle used tyres, batteries and oils correctly; why such management is vital and how waste can become a resource through circular economy models. Students also learned how individual responsible behaviour affects the environment and the future.

The programme employs a practical format with educational games and activities after presentations, encouraging participants to ask questions and discuss eco-friendly daily choices. Attendees receive symbolic gifts and prizes as motivation. Through this project, Tegeta Green Planet continues its educational work across Georgia, aiming to inform and involve the younger generation in building a cleaner environment. The organisation maintains that environmental care extends beyond waste management to include education and a culture of responsibility for a sustainable future.

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TyreSafe and Good Egg Safety CIC have formed a major national partnership to tackle child seat misuse and vehicle safety together. The collaboration unites the UK’s leading child seat safety organisation with the country’s road safety charity, creating a pioneering programme designed to address both risks at scale. Following a planned pilot with Bradford City Council’s Road Safety Team, the initiative will roll out joint child seat and tyre safety check clinics across the UK using a data-led approach that reflects real-world road risks.

Good Egg Safety’s evidence, drawn from over 45,000 child seat checks, shows that more than 60 percent of child restraints are incorrectly fitted or incompatible, with many involving serious errors that could lead to life-changing or fatal injuries. Simultaneously, unroadworthy or illegal tyres remain a critical but often overlooked factor in many collisions. The partnership directly confronts both hazards by protecting children inside the vehicle while ensuring the vehicle itself is safe for emergency manoeuvres.

Good Egg Safety is known for its government-funded Advanced Child Seat Training Programme, which has accredited hundreds of professionals from police, fire and rescue, public health and local authorities. Unlike awareness-only campaigns, its evidence-based and behaviour-led approach has produced average knowledge increases of over 500 percent among professionals and up to 96 percent retention at six months. The new partnership extends this impact into real-world intervention and prevention.

Joint clinics will offer expert child seat checks, identification of high-risk installations, tyre safety inspections including tread depth and pressure and practical pre-journey advice. This whole-vehicle safety model aligns with the UK’s Safe System approach. The partnership will be showcased at the TyreSafe National Briefing in June 2026 and the Road Safety GB National Conference in November 2026, where early findings and national rollout plans will be presented. By combining training, community engagement and hands-on checks, the programme provides one of the most scalable and effective interventions available to protect children on UK roads.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of Tyresafe, said, “This partnership with Good Egg Safety CIC represents a significant step forward in our shared ambition to reduce avoidable road casualties. By combining expertise in child seat safety with tyre safety checks, we are addressing two critical but often disconnected risk factors in a practical, evidence-led way. The planned pilot in Bradford, followed by national rollout, will allow us to better understand real-world vehicle safety issues and intervene directly with families at the point of need. Working together in this way strengthens the Safe System approach and has the potential to make a measurable difference in saving lives and reducing incidents on UK roads.”

Janis James MBE, CEO, Good Egg Safety CIC, said, “For too long, road safety messaging has treated risks in isolation. In reality, a correctly fitted child seat cannot compensate for a vehicle that cannot stop safely – and safe tyres cannot protect a child who is incorrectly restrained. This partnership is about bringing those two critical elements together in a way that is practical, evidence-led and capable of saving lives at scale.”

Alison Lowe OBE, Chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Board, said, “The fact that two thirds of children are at risk travelling in unsafe seats is deeply troubling. Being a nana myself, I made sure to make use of the Good Egg Safety service and I am very glad that I did. We have worked with them for a number of years to run child car seat checking events. I am pleased to say that another 50 sessions will be taking place over the coming months in West Yorkshire as part of our work to reduce road deaths and serious injury to zero by 2040.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) is set to publicly unveil new survey findings on 10 June at THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026, located in Hall 7.1 at booth C031 B038. The data reveals a European retreading industry in distress, with three-quarters of international survey respondents characterising the current situation as either critical or declining. Cheap new tyre imports are cited as the primary driver of mounting price pressure.

Conducted in spring 2026 among European tyre and retreading firms and experts, the survey aimed to assess real-world market conditions, success factors and political hurdles. Results show a deeply contradictory landscape: while retreading is acknowledged as a key circular economy technology for climate and resource protection, cheap imports, high energy costs and weak policy support are squeezing businesses. Nearly half of participants describe the industry as under severe pressure, with German players notably pessimistic, though a few see a growing market.

Respondents still see major potential through lower total cost of ownership, high casing quality and closer cooperation among fleets, retailers and retreaders. Cost-per-kilometre models, professional tyre management and transparent environmental, social and governance documentation are highlighted as crucial future strategies to prove economic and environmental benefits.

A strong political appeal emerged, with 88 percent of participants urging green procurement and more public funding. They call for binding sustainability criteria in public tenders, improved regulations and equal treatment of retreaded tyres in European ESG and taxonomy systems. France and Scandinavia are cited as models due to their eco-taxes and national circular economy collaborations. The full results will be discussed at AZuR’s event ‘The Future is retreaded!’ on 10 June at THE TIRE COLOGNE.

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Superteam Wheels, a prominent Chinese manufacturer of carbon fibre bicycle wheelsets, has introduced a new flagship carbon fibre wheelset, the Ultra SL SE, designed to resolve the performance trade-offs faced by road cyclists. Riders have long been forced to choose between lightweight designs lacking stiffness or rigid wheelsets too heavy for long distances. The new model integrates mature Chinese manufacturing with DT180 hubs, carbon spokes and aerodynamic optimisation for professional racing, training and casual riding.

Unlike single-function wheelsets, the Ultra SL SE is engineered for full-scenario adaptability. Weighing only 1,210 grammes, the wheelset achieves a lightweight breakthrough without compromising rigidity. The DT180 hubs enable direct power transmission for sprinting, climbing or cruising. The wheelset adapts seamlessly to flat roads, rolling terrain and climbs.

Compared to the classic H2 model, the Ultra SL SE brings three major upgrades: lighter weight, DT180 hubs and a redesigned circular rim. It retains H2’s stiffness and shark fin bionic aerodynamics. At 40 kmph, wind resistance drops by 17.62 percent.

The 51-millimetre front rim and 48-millimetre rear rim create a three-millimetre difference. The higher front rim enhances stability and resists crosswinds, while the lower rear rim reduces drag. This design balances controllability and aerodynamics.

Superteam selected DT180 hubs for their precision and low rolling resistance, combined with carbon spokes. The Ultra SL SE delivers professional race-level performance at a friendly cost, offering lightweight portability, rigid power transmission and all-scenario adaptability.

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