The Yokohama Rubber Co., one of the leading tyre manufacturers globally, has announced that it has succeeded this month in developing a proprietary tyre design support system that uses eXplainable AI (XAI).

This enables it to create the desired tyre features by supplementing the knowledge and experience of development staff while also making it easier for less-experienced staff to design tyres. In addition to getting new insights and inspirations to the development of products and performance, it also leads to reduction in development time and costs. 

Yokohama states that the new tyre design support system was created to make its tyre development process more innovative and is based on its HAICoLab AI utilisation concept, which was launched in October 2020. 

How does tyre development happen?

The tyre development begins with a search for features (design factors that determine the tyre’s material, shape, and structure) that will improve the its characteristic values (numerical values and indicators that represent performance and quality) and achieve the development goals. 

Yokohama’s new tyre design support system was developed using a customised version of XAI called SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations), which provides developers with the features that can be useful for realising the desired tyre characteristics. 

In addition, the system provides multifaceted indicators that make it easier for developers to understand how to adjust the obtained features. The system will enable less-experienced developers to efficiently develop new tyre designs.

XAI uses the standard specifications and targeted characteristic values set by development staff to determine the targeted characteristics that need to be improved and related quantitative values.

They further interpret the information presented by XAI (features that can be useful for realising the desired tyre characteristics) from multiple perspectives and modify the specifications. The staff then applied the characteristic value estimation AI developed by Yokohama Rubber in 2021 to check whether each characteristic value was achieving the targeted level. The final specifications are determined after repeating this process, and XAI is able to confirm the basis for each of these specifications — the design factors (features) that help improve or maintain each characteristic value and its contribution rate. 

This collaborative effort between humans and AI generates new discoveries and inspirations that will lead to the development of products with higher performance levels.

The Japanese major plans to use this system to develop a wide range of tyre products and broaden the applicable areas of its HAICoLab.
HAICoLab is a framework that aims to realise digital transformation by merging the unique inspiration and creativity of humans with AI’s enormous data processing capability. 

The resulting human-AI collaborations enable people to interpret, analyse, and judge AI-generated results without being trapped by preconceptions and cognitive biases by incorporating perspectives from outside from their own field of expertise and opinions different from their own that supplement their own extensive experience, knowledge, and assessment criteria. 

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.