Maserati has selected Continental’s newest premium tyre, the SportContact 7, as OE fitment for its Levante and Quattroporte models.

Successor to the SportContact 6, the SportContact 7 is designed to deliver maximum safety, performance and efficiency in high-powered vehicles. Constructed using the BlackChili rubber compound, the SportContact 7 was designed with an adaptive tread capable of responding in wet and dry conditions. Due to the use of the BlackChili rubber compound, race-track performance has increased by 10 percent over the SportContact 6 while wet braking distance has dropped by 8 percent. In dry conditions, the new tyre is six percent better than its predecessor. The SportContact 7 offers 17 percent higher mileage on high powered vehicles.

Maserati will utilise the SportContact 7 in 265/40 ZR21, 295/35 ZR21, 245/35 ZR21 and 285/30 ZR21 sizes.

Dr Holger Lange, Head of Tyre Development, Continental OE Business, said, "In order to bring the extraordinary power of a Maserati safely to the road at all times for an optimal driving experience without compromise, the tyres, as the only connection to the asphalt, must perfectly match the respective model and thus optimally support the car's performance. To capture the specific requirements for each vehicle model, Continental works closely with vehicle manufacturers to develop the optimal tyre." (TT)

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Apollo Tyres Ltd inaugurated its first super premium branded retail outlet in Bengaluru, aiming to reposition tyre buying as an experience-led service and strengthen its mobility solutions offering in India’s southern markets.

The new format outlet was opened by Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President, Commercial (India, SAARC and Southeast Asia), Apollo Tyres. The company said the retail space is designed to offer a smart, community-driven environment with personalised tyre and mobility recommendations, premium hospitality and digital service systems.

“Tyres are more than just a product -- they are an extension of the driving spirit. Our new retail format is designed to emotionally connect with our customers, offering them not only the best products, but also a space to belong, engage and be inspired,” Dahiya said.

Apollo Tyres said the outlet will act as a hub for driving enthusiasts, offering curated tyre solutions tailored to vehicle brands, lifestyles and driving needs, alongside lounge-style service areas and brand storytelling experiences.

The tyre maker added that it plans to roll out four to five more such premium outlets in India’s metro cities in the coming months, as it looks to deepen customer engagement and differentiate its brand in the competitive automotive aftermarket.

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The Tire Society has announced the final programme for its 44th Annual Conference on Tire Science and Technology, to be held from 23 to 25 September at the University of Akron in Ohio, highlighting sustainability and innovation in the global tyre industry.

Centred on the theme “Rolling Towards Sustainability: Tires for a Greener Future”, the three-day conference will combine keynote and plenary lectures, a banquet address and eight technical sessions. The Society said the event will bring together experts from academia and industry to share research on tyre circularity, advanced modelling, wear, durability, rolling resistance and data-driven technologies.

“The core of the Conference are the eight technical sessions that run over the two and a half days,” the Society said, noting that the programme includes presentations from a wide range of industrial and university organisations.

The sessions will cover areas such as:

• Tyre Circularity – exploring strategies for recycling and sustainable materials;
• Models for Vehicle Simulations – focusing on advanced computational techniques;
• Physics-Based modelling – aimed at improving performance and predictability;
• Tyre-Road Contact – examining safety and friction characteristics;
• Chassis Technology, Durability and Rolling Resistance – assessing efficiency and longevity;
• Wear and Data-Driven Technologies – highlighting the role of digital tools in product design.

In addition to in-person participation, registered attendees unable to travel will be offered a reduced-fee option with access to the full programme via a “Play-on-Demand” feature after the event. All registrations include membership in the Tire Society, which grants access to its peer-reviewed Tire Science and Technology Journal.

The keynote and plenary lectures, along with the banquet address, are designed to align with the sustainability theme, underscoring how the tyre sector is adapting to environmental challenges.

The Society said its non-profit mission remains “to disseminate knowledge and stimulate scientific and engineering development in the science and technology of tyres.”

The Akron-based organisation has hosted the annual conference since 1980, with the event widely regarded as a leading platform for scientific exchange in the field of tyre technology.

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In the mountainous heart of Central Europe, a quiet industrial revolution is unfolding – where discarded tyres are reborn as high-performance materials for modern infrastructure, sport, construction and more. Leading this transformation is RPG Recycling, a Czech company and a flagship member of the REC Group, which has positioned itself at the forefront of tyre recycling and sustainable rubber innovation.

When you step into the industrial heart of RPG Recycling in the Czech Republic, it is immediately clear that this is not just another waste management facility. Here, unwanted tyres are transformed from a mounting environmental burden into valuable resources serving industries across Europe and beyond.

RPG Recycling is part of the Slovakia-based conglomerate REC Group, which houses companies such as Kovsteel, Steelmet, A-Glass, RPG Recycling, Gelpo, ASSCO, Egoe Noba, DZO, A-Orto and Kovozoo.

Interestingly, for the tyre industry RPG Recycling, Gelpo, Assco and Egoe Noba together provide complete treatment of waste from SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) rubber & EPDM (Ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber from the collection through crushing to production of final products. In an exclusive interaction with Tyre Trends, Pavel Hartman, Executive Director of RPG Recycling, Gelpo, Assco and Egoe Noba, shares the details.

“Tyre recycling is more than just a process – it’s a commitment to sustainability and resource maximisation,” explained Hartman.

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF TYRE RECYCLING

Hartman shared that RPG’s operations span the entire lifecycle of tyre waste. “Our facility is equipped with an advanced fleet of vehicles, ELDAN recycling lines, granulation equipment, shredders, tyre cutters and even oversized tyre cutters. This technology allows us to handle everything from initial collection to final processing with unmatched versatility,” he said.

Every step is tightly controlled. “We manually sort and select tyres from the Czech and Slovak markets, ensuring consistent quality enters the granulate processing phase,” Hartman said. Sophisticated sorting ensures only the best input for further recycling. Tyres are then resized, shredded, granulated and separated into constituent materials.

The mainstay of RPG Recycling is the production of rubber granulate – a key raw material for industries ranging from construction to sport. “The primary output is rubber granulate, which becomes everything from industrial and construction panels to base layers for sports facilities. We are proud to supply the raw material behind products that deliver safety, noise reduction and durability,” said Hartman.

A closer look at RPG’s data underlines this impact: in 2024 alone, the company handled nearly 56,000 tonnes of tyres and processed enough rubber to give a new lease of life to materials from over half a million households.

But rubber is only part of the story. “A secondary output is steel fibre, primarily directed to the metallurgical industry, while textile fibre is used for energy recovery,” noted Hartman. For tyres unsuited to granulate production, RPG ensures nothing is wasted, “They are resized and used in the energy sector, contributing as alternative fuel.”

Gelpo, a sister company, pushes these materials even further, manufacturing anti-vibration panels for construction, noise barriers for transport and robust sports surfaces. “At Wenceslas Square in Prague, our anti-vibration mats made from 6,667 recycled tyres span an area equivalent to eight swimming pools,” Hartman shared, illustrating the real-world scale of their output.

He further mentioned that maintaining consistently high standards is a non-negotiable aspect for the company.

“We operate a sophisticated quality management system, overseeing everything from tyre reception to the final stage of rubber granulate production. Daily quality control checks focus on cleanliness, density and structure,” explained Hartman. He underscores that the process extends to the preparation of specific product batches according to the type and cleanliness of input tyres.

Looking ahead, he shared, “We’re developing a second recycling line to increase capacity and output quality. On the technology side, we plan to adopt new components that simplify operations and further refine our granulate.”

RPG Recycling is also actively advancing the principles of the circular economy. “By transforming waste tyres into secondary raw materials, we are reducing dependence on primary resources – like new rubber – and ensuring that fewer tyres end up in landfills or incinerators,” Hartman stresses. A unique feature is the ability to regranulate old rubber products, reincorporating them into new manufacturing cycles and eliminating landfill waste.

This holistic approach is reflected throughout the REC Group, where companies like Assco and Gelpo work together to collect EPDM and SBR rubber waste, process it and return it to market as high-performance materials.

Sustainability is quantifiable at RPG; it is not just the end-product but also the process itself.

“Our photovoltaic power plants alone have reduced emissions by 555 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to planting over 37,000 trees,” Hartman highlights. In total, through the use of secondary raw materials, RPG, Assco and Gelpo together have delivered emission savings of over 24,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The group’s modernisation efforts extend to cleaner production and close cooperation with environmental authorities and research institutions. “We participate in expert groups like European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA), EURIC (European Recycling Industries’ Confederation) and ESTC and support new applications for recycled materials,” said Hartman. He noted initiatives such as eco-friendly noise barriers, which integrate recycled rubber for both environmental and social benefit.

Of course, recycling tyres is not without hurdles. “Energy costs remain significant, so we responded by launching solar generation, cutting usage by 10 percent,” revealed Hartman. He points to market and regulatory headwinds, “There’s a lack of clear standards for recycled rubber products and, in some cases, insufficient market support for end products made from secondary materials. These factors impact competitiveness, especially in price-sensitive sectors.”

Still, he maintains an optimism for the tyre recycling. Hartman is keen to point out ongoing dialogue with tyre manufacturers and the tyre industry’s gradual adoption of reclaimed rubber and pyrolytic products as a route to closing the circular economy loop.

VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Expansion and innovation are central to RPG’s future plans. “We are building a new line to increase rubber granulate capacity and working with Gelpo to diversify applications and enter new markets,” Hartman shared.

While RPG does not currently collaborate with Indian partners, global dialogue and technological advancement are clearly on the horizon.

For Hartman and the RPG team, the mission is clear, “We give tyres a new life, protect nature and use every resource to its fullest.” And looking from both the data and the impact felt across construction, sport and industry, the Group seems to be on a mission set to steer the sector towards a more sustainable future. n

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Bridgestone EMEA has named Andy Mathias Head of Marketing, North Europe. The promotion came into force earlier this year in February and places Mathias at the helm of Bridgestone’s corporate marketing functions in Germany, Poland, UK and 15 other European markets.

Mathias joined Bridgestone in 1998 as Marketing Analyst and went on to attain key positions in the commercial and marketing departments, including leadership positions in fleet and retail marketing. In his new role, Mathias will handle brand, product, digital and trade marketing initiatives as well as supporting PR & Communications.

Mathias said, “I’m relishing the new challenge, and excited to worth with an amazing, multicultural team. I’m also proud that even after 27 years at Bridgestone EMEA, I’m still getting opportunities to progress and challenge myself!”

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