Continental is the only tyre company that manufacturers bicycle tyres in Germany. The long-time Tour de France associate has always believed in serving cyclists with the best technology features they expect and deserve

How passionate Continental is about the bicycle tyre business can be judged by the company’s history and innovations in the segment. One of the leading innovative tyre makers that caters to all tyre segments, Continental will be celebrating its 150th anniversary of the bicycle tyre production next year.

“Mobility concepts are a core of Continental. We are looking back on a strong heritage and carefully built up expertise over the many years since we are operating. Therefore we find ourselves in the very encouraging position of contributing to mobility developments of today and serving solutions,” Oliver Anhuth, Global, Head of Marketing, Two Wheel Tires Bicycle at Continental Tires,told Tyre Trends.

Continental is the only tyre company that manufacturers bicycle tyres in Germany.

Though bicycles are no more preferred mode to commute on the road as it used to be, love for the bicycle has not faded. According to Anhuth, Continental has a robust international community with many interested people and cyclists who are keen to explore the options they have to tune their bikes easily. “Speaking of our community there are many many passionate fans who actively share information and tips and also help each other with recommendations when it comes to model selection, sizing or tyre pressure questions,” he said.

Over the years, Continental has believed in serving cyclists with the best technology features they expect and deserve. “We find ourselves both seen as an industry leader, yes, and by doing so, with a strong eye on the reliability aspect of our tyres, to really support for the best ride possible,” Anhuth said.

Continental sees the growing demand for more individual solutions and setups in the bicycle tyre business. “By perceiving this, the brand is not only the platform for a company’s overall appearance but also a strong promise we are lucky enough to make to the cyclists. By choosing Continental, cyclists can rely on the fact that the products have proven their performance multiple times before we present it and provide a high level of quality on different price points. We also strongly believe in the handmade aspect we are performing since 1871,” he explained.

In developing markets, such as China and India, which are also the largest bicycle markets and where bicycles are still used as a commuting tool, and there is another market like Europe where bicycles are used from commuting and exercising to for sadventure sports. Being a global company, Continental focuses on understanding different markets to cater to different demands. “We cater to different customers globally, this with various solutions; from specialist tyres to allrounders, from special interest products to generalists, at different price points. We always valued having the chance to gain insights from different perspectives. We learn from this and take this as inspiration to synergize,” said Anhuth.

Like other segments, significant trends are being seen in the bicycle tyre segment as well. Being serving the cyclists for over a century, Continental has a keen eye on emerging trends. “By today we have talked a lot about wider tyres in the classic Road tyre segment in the industry. We had stepped our way early in this field since we saw that increasing the comfort on the bikes was a real topic in the cycling community.”

If the passion and trends are evolving, so are technologies in the bicycle tyre segment. The company introduced the revolution to the tubeless market with the Grand Prix 5000 TL launch back in 2018. With the solution, ambitioned road cyclists finally had the chance to step their way into tubeless, without the discomfort of the early inventions of this technology. 

“Overall we definitely see the ongoing diversification of the formerly classified segments, Road, MTB, Urban/Tour, but in the same instance also the need for simplicity. This may appear as a contradiction but in fact, only shows how big the demand for a proper bike setup is. The goal we are working for is to provide cyclists with easy access to what they like most: riding their bike, without having to care too much for their tyre setup,” said Anhuth.

When it comes to technologies, Continental shares the same passion for bicycle tyres as it does for car tyres. For an instant, its Black Chili compound provides high grip not only in Continental bicycle tyres but in the company’s high-performance car tyres as well.

In its technology and development centre in Korbach, Continental is continuously developing new revolutionary technologies such as the unbeatable Black Chili compound and the ultimate Vectran breaker anti-puncture technology, both used at the top end of race sport.

These technologies demand sophisticated processes to ensure its legendary end-product quality, and these innovations, as well as the ProTection and RaceSport technology for MTB tyres, can only be manufactured in Continental’s factory in Germany.  

Continental has been associated with Tour De France, the iconic cross country bicycle race. “With the Tour de France as the queen of the tours, it is clear that we talk about the strong heritage we have in common.”

Over the decades Continental and Tour De France are working together with the professional teams, and Continental tyres always have been the preferred go-to-brand for many of the decorated winners of the last years.

“The activation of the Tour de France is a shared project we are happy to realize together with our colleagues from the PLT tyre segment. For us, this collaboration just underlines the important role that road cycling plays for many people,” said Anhuth.

“We love to enrich the strong connection with our community, be it merely online at the moment, due to the current situation, but hopefully soon in real life again, too. Learning from the cyclists, be it the ambitioned ones or the professionals, and transferring these gains into solutions, will stay a core driver for us,” he added.

ENDS

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Kolkata-based Himadri Speciality Chemical has announced that its flagship plant in Mahistikry, Haripal, Hooghly, has received ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification).

The company has been recognised for its ecological and social responsibility, along with compliance with stringent criteria on greenhouse gas emission reduction, ecosystem protection, social accountability and complete traceability of raw materials.

Anurag Choudhary, CMD & CEO, Himadri Speciality Chemical, said, “Achieving ISCC PLUS certification marks a defining step in Himadri’s sustainability journey. It validates our determination to integrate renewable, low- carbon, and circular solutions into every layer of our operations. As global industries shift towards sustainable value chains, Himadri is leading this transformation—delivering innovative and responsible solutions that create long-term value for society, the environment, and our stakeholders worldwide.”

With this recognition, the company joins a number of global players who are driving systemic change towards responsible sourcing and production.

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George Varughese, founder of General Rubbers and the man behind the iconic Midas brand of tyre retreading materials, passed away on 28^th August, 2025.

Varughese established General Rubbers in 1969, building Midas into India’s most recognised name in retreading materials. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a global player, supplying more than 24,000 tonnes of tread rubber, precured tread rubber and other products annually. Today, Midas serves customers across South America, Africa, Europe and Australia.

Known for his vision and emphasis on innovation, Varughese placed research and development at the heart of Midas’s success. His commitment to improving compound formulations with the latest technology ensured the brand’s reputation for durability and reliability.

With operations centred in Kottayam, Kerala, Midas continues to expand its dealer network, reflecting Varughese’s lifelong mission of accessibility and customer service.

Varughese leaves behind a lasting legacy in India’s tyre industry, remembered as a pioneer who transformed the retreading sector into a global business.

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Vaculug has named Nick Hermitage as Operations Manager – OTR South, following a significant expansion in its OTR Division.

The company's new OTR Centre of Excellence in the South East will serve as Hermitage's headquarters. He is in charge of making sure the depot runs smoothly, which includes daily administration, logistics, foam filling and tyre pressing. Hermitage brings with him a depth of experience, knowledge and skill – accumulated over 22 years in the tyre industry.

Alan Robin, National Account Manager – OTR, Vaculug Technologies Ltd, said, "This is an incredibly exciting time at Vaculug, and we are fortunate to welcome Nick to the OTR team. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of both OTR and solid tyre operations will be instrumental as we build on our significant investments in the division. I am confident Nick will make a strong contribution to our growth and I wish him every success in his new role."

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Hankook Tire Europe GmbH has appointed Richard Bezzant as the new Marketing Director Truck and Bus with effect from 1 August 2025.

The British-born marketing and sales expert started his career with Michelin in UK in 2003. He brings with him more than two decades of experience in the tyre business for buses and trucks. Following a five-year period in leadership roles in France, he most recently served as Marketing Director for UK and Ireland, where he was responsible for developing and managing the complete marketing strategy across all business divisions.

Bezzant said, “My goal is to support growth opportunities for Hankook in the European truck and bus sector and expand them further. I am confident that we will be able to build on what has been achieved so far and continue to expand the business with innovative products and services. I am glad to be working with a great team to pursue our goals.”

Jang Hyuk Moon, Vice President – Marketing Department, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “With Richard Bezzant, we have appointed an industry-leading expert for our truck and bus marketing activities. With his decades of experience, we will consistently expand our business in the commercial vehicle sector and strengthen our market position in Europe in the long term.”

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