The CrossClimate2 has been lauded for being the first passenger tyre in the all-season category to deliver multiple performance attributes without compromise. Competitors in the all-season tyre category typically deliver one or two performance areas well but must make sacrifices in other areas that are important to drivers. The CrossClimate2 delivers them all – wet stopping, longevity, dry grip and snow performance.

The CrossClimate2 has a distinct V-formation tread pattern. This tread pattern works together with the tyre’s revolutionary rubber compound to redefine the “all-season” category and bring drivers a tyre that excels in more climate conditions than any competing product.

Road testing shows the CrossClimate2 wears better than leading competitors. Not by a little bit, by a lot -- up to 15,000 extra miles. That’s up to an additional year of use.2 The CrossClimate2 includes a 60,000-mile warranty.

Stopping power matters in wet or dry conditions. The CrossClimate2 stops up to 16 feet shorter (more than one full car length) on dry pavement than four leading competitive tyres.

NEW COMPOUND, TREAD MAKE CINTURATO ALL SEASON SF2 WINNER

Pirelli’s Cinturato All Season SF2, their latest all-season tyre, offers top performance in both winter and summer conditions. The new compound and tread pattern design that adapts automatically to the different temperature peaks of summer and winter, a review says. The tread pattern is so designed that it responds to the surface conditions well.

“To provide grip when we are driving in the snow, a tyre has to cut the snow surface and trap the snow itself to provide the grip, because snow with snow has higher grip than rubber with snow. From this point of view, the sipes of typical winter tyres are fundamental. This is the same for all-season tyres. In the SF2 you will see that the sipes are linear, not zigzagged like a typical winter tyre. This is because they also have to work in the summer,” Pierangelo Misani, Senior VP, R&D and cyber at Pirelli, was quoted as saying.

Pirelli says the compound also changes characteristics depending on temperature: soft and adaptable for cold and wet conditions, rigid and stable for when it is dry. This is achieved through careful blending of the components of the compound, which includes biphasic polymeric materials chemically linked by silica particles – a concept that Pirelli claims also delivers lower rolling resistance, for lower fuel consumption or a longer battery range.

CONTINENTAL LAUNCHES EXTREMECONTACT DWS06 PLUSON

Continental Tire has launched its latest all-season ultra-high performance ExtremeContact DWS06 Pluson. It is available in 100 sizes and covers 96% of the all-season ultra-high-performance market.

The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus is the successor to the popular ExtremeContact™DWS06 with improvement in all key performance areas including enhanced dry and wet handling, improved braking, and improved snow and ice performance. It also features exceptional tread life and is backed by a 50,000 mile limited tread life warranty.

Continental Tire’s SportPlus™ Technology provides precise handling, security on wet, slippery roads and excellent tread life, while QuickView Indicators visually inform drivers to the level tires are performing in dry, wet and snow, and the need to check vehicles’ alignment.

The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus is ideal for performance-focused drivers of sports and luxury cars, CUVs and SUVs.

Continental Tire’s Total Confidence Plan which provides an extra measure of confidence with a comprehensive package of available warranties and services including: Limited Warranty, Flat Tire Roadside Assistance, Customer Satisfaction Trial, Mileage Warranty (if applicable) and Road Hazard Coverage.

NOKIAN ONE: NEWEST ALL-SEASON FROM COMPANY

Nokian is ramping up production of its newest, the Nokian One, which will be produced at its new plant in Tennessee as well as in Europe. The One is the first Nokian all-season tyre developed specifically for the North American market. A tyre that can better handle hazardous road situations while having a tread life expectancy of 80,000 miles is a promising prospect. So is the expected affordable price point, although the company has not released price information yet.

Nokian claims the One will have improved wet braking and handling over its current Entyre 2.0 all-season as well as lower rolling resistance. The company says the Nokian One has a Driving Safety Indicator on the tread (pictured at left above) that displays a number to indicate the amount of tread remaining.

YOKOHAMA GEOLANDER WINS TOP DESIGN AWARD

Yokohama “GEOLANDAR CV G058,” touring tyre for crossover SUVs, won the Chicago Athenaeum’s 2020 Good Design Awards. The award, established in 1950, is the world’s oldest and most prestigious worldwide design award. It is organized by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. Candidate products are judged by experts who evaluate products from diverse perspectives, including design, use of new technologies, materials and function. In 2020, the Good Design Award was presented to more than 900 products and graphic designs from entries received from more than 47 countries and covering a wide range of categories, including electronics equipment, transportation-related goods, and medical equipment.

The “GEOLANDAR CV G058” is a grand touring tyre that delivers comfortable rides on long-distance drives as well as on city roads, according to Yokohama. In addition to basic performance features of a highway terrain tyre, such as safety and noise reduction, the design contributes to its excellent wear resistance and fuel efficiency. Yokohama said the “GEOLANDAR CV G058” has secured the M+S (mud & snow) designation that indicates its reliable performance in a sudden snowfall.

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has named Sangwoo Ryu as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ryu possesses over 25 years of leadership in finance and operations within international markets. He is currently the CEO of Cariflex Pte Ltd, a former Kraton spin-off now under DL Chemical, where he initially served as Chief Financial Officer starting in February 2020. He assumed the Cariflex CEO role in April 2025 following the promotion of its former CEO, Prakash Kolluri, to President of Kraton's Polymer business.

Ryu’s deep expertise in financial strategy, investment controls and operational planning is expected to strengthen Kraton’s standing as a reliable leader in global Pine Chemical and Polymers markets. In his new position, he will collaborate with Kraton’s Executive Leadership, Board of Directors and Cariflex Leadership to guide strategic decisions and operational excellence, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustained growth and organisational stability.

Ryu said, “I want to express my gratitude towards the members of the Board of Directors and the Kraton Leadership Team for their unwavering dedication to Kraton’s success. I’m looking forward to leading Kraton into the next era of excellence, building upon the strong foundations and principles set forth in our vision and values.”

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As part of its strategic growth into Central Europe, FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has established a new sales partnership in Germany. The company has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its representative for the region to drive the promotion and implementation of its recycling systems. Jerschl’s extensive expertise, built over two decades with prominent firms like BHS, Eldan and Vecoplan, encompasses a deep understanding of diverse waste streams such as tyre, cable, municipal solid waste and e-waste.

This collaboration, initially targeting Germany, Austria and adjacent countries, is designed to be flexible and scalable. Its primary aim is to cultivate a strong project pipeline and solidify FORNNAX’s regional footprint. The partnership extends beyond sales to include comprehensive technical support, with Jerschl’s team providing vital value-added services like installation, maintenance and spare parts assistance. This local service framework is intended to ensure efficient project execution, minimise operational downtime and elevate customer satisfaction.

By leveraging Jerschl’s profound market insight and established networks, FORNNAX seeks to accelerate the adoption of its high-performance shredding and pre-processing technologies. The move underscores the company’s global strategy of embedding local expertise within key markets, which it deems crucial for developing technically sound solutions tailored to specific regional waste challenges. This initiative reinforces FORNNAX’s dedication to innovation and environmental stewardship, advancing its mission to deliver sustainable recycling solutions worldwide.

Jerschl said, “I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art technology; it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey. We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to 10 years.”

Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, FORNNAX, said, “We see tremendous potential in the Central European market. Partnering with someone as experienced and well established as Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally.”

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Dr Gerard Nijman of KraussMaffei Extrusion has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Fernley H. Banbury Award, one of the rubber industry’s highest international honours, presented by the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This award annually recognises outstanding scientific and technological contributions to the field.

The award commemorates the inventor of the internal mixer and highlights sustainable innovations in production technology, instrumentation, process control and the development of processing methods for rubber and similar materials. Dr Nijman’s career exemplifies such innovation, having significantly advanced rubber rheology, pioneered new mixing and multiplex extrusion technologies and modernised the production of silica compounds for the tyre industry.

His work has effectively bridged the gap between scientific research and industrial application. Notably, in the 1990s at Vredestein, he introduced novel mixing technologies and multiplex extrusion to tyre manufacturing. He also contributed to pioneering processes for silica compound processing, foundational to technologies like Michelin’s ‘Green Tyre’. Furthermore, his rheology-based designs for extruder screws and flow channels have helped shape enduring industrial standards.

Dr Nijman, who joined KraussMaffei Extrusion in 2017, brings decades of expertise from previous roles at Apollo Tyres Ltd and Vredestein Banden BV. His ongoing collaborations with the German Institute for Rubber Technology (DIK) and the University of Twente have also profoundly influenced his approach. KraussMaffei Extrusion itself is globally recognised for its tyre technology, building on longstanding Berstorff expertise to deliver advanced extrusion solutions for treads, sidewalls, innerliners and other components, as well as high-performance multiplex and calender systems.

The award acknowledges not only his specific technical achievements but also his distinguished career and lasting impact on rubber processing. The official presentation will be held in September 2026 during the Global Polymer Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, US.

Dr Nijman said, “It is a great honour for me to receive the Fernley H. Banbury Award. This recognition confirms the importance of the close connection between research and industrial practice in rubber processing and motivates me to continue to drive forward innovative solutions for our industry.”

Ralf Benack, Managing Director, KraussMaffei Extrusion, said, "We warmly congratulate Dr Nijman on this outstanding award. With his in-depth knowledge, many years of experience and tireless dedication, he has had a decisive influence on the rubber and tyre industry and has further developed our technologies in a targeted manner. This recognition is more than deserved. We are very proud to have Dr Nijman in our team!"

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Michelin has appointed James Dimmock as its new Commercial Communications Manager for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Based at the company's Stoke-on-Trent headquarters, he will report to the Northern European Communications team. In this capacity, Dimmock will oversee all commercial communications, including public relations, social media and influencer partnerships.

His mandate involves crafting the brand's commercial narrative, fostering stronger connections with media and content creators and producing innovative digital content to support the brand's growth. He brings more than two decades of extensive experience with Michelin to the role, having held various senior marketing and communications positions both internationally and domestically. His most recent role was as Social Media and Influencer Manager. He will now lead these efforts locally while integrating with the broader communications team.

John Howe, Managing Director, Michelin UK, said, “James has already made a significant contribution to Michelin communications activity in the UK & ROI. His deep understanding of our business and products, combined with his strategic and creative approach, makes him ideally placed to lead our commercial communications as we continue to evolve our brand.”

Dimmock said, “I am excited to be taking on this new role at Michelin. It is a privilege to continue building on the work we have already achieved and to help drive the next phase of our commercial communications strategy across the UK & ROI.”

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