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.

As part of its ambitious goals for 2025 and beyond, Point S Tyre & Autocare, the biggest independent tyre dealer and auto repair network in the UK, has reorganised its leadership team. Ali Yilmaz has been appointed as the new UK Managing Director as part of the reorganisation, which also includes other significant appointments aimed at improving the organisation's operational effectiveness and strategic direction.

Yilmaz, who is renowned for his proficiency in fleet growth and strategic planning, assumes the position with a distinct future vision. By interacting directly with the network's independent dealers and offering customised solutions to support their success, he focuses on promoting member-centric growth. In order to strengthen its UK operations and maintain its position as a leader in fleet and automotive services, Yilmaz also hopes to take use of Point S's worldwide experience. Yilmaz brings to Point S a wealth of expertise in company growth and operational leadership from his nearly eight years at Pirelli/Prometeon Tyre Group, where he held the positions of UK Managing Director and Head of Fleet Development – Europe and MEA.

Wayne Daniel has also been promoted to the Point S Board of Directors as part of the leadership reorganisation. With more than 340 points of sale, Daniel has played a key role in the network's growth, making it the biggest independent tyre dealer and auto repair network in the UK. Strategic projects and assisting Yilmaz's leadership will be the main focusses of his new position. Ben Herridge has taken over as Regional Sales Manager (South), while Andy Tester has been elevated to Business Development Manager.

Yilmaz said, “Point S has a unique vision to protect and grow independent tyre dealers and auto repair centres, which are essential to the UK’s automotive industry. I am excited to work with our team and members to build on the strong foundations already in place, ensuring sustainable growth and cementing our position as an industry leader.”

Daniel said, “Having been part of Point S for 12 years, I’m honoured to join the Board of Directors. Our shared vision of growth, through initiatives like our fleet programme and training courses, will continue to guide our network’s success. I look forward to working alongside Ali and the team during this transformative period.”

Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) will display its Chinese New Year wishes on the ABC SuperSign in Times Square, showcasing the company’s global brand presence.

The 3,685-square-foot digital landmark will feature greetings for the Year of the Snake, representing ZC Rubber’s six tyre brands: WESTLAKE, GOODRIDE, ARISUN, CHAOYANG, YARTU, and TRAZANO.

A top-10 global tyre manufacturer, ZC Rubber operates 13 factories across six countries and supplies tyres to nearly 200 countries. The company has been China’s No. 1 tyre manufacturer for 14 consecutive years.

In 2023, ZC Rubber became the Global Official Tyre Partner of Arsenal Football Club, expanding its international brand recognition. The Times Square display continues the company’s strategy of global brand amplification.

The company said the digital billboard, which will be featured daily on ABC’s Good Morning America, will reach millions of viewers worldwide.

Continental Tires has received the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS sustainability certification for its tyre plant in Korbach, Germany. This is the company’s fourth plant to receive the prestigious certification.

In order to receive the certification, specific procedures for the mass balance of raw materials have to be followed and documented. With the mass-balance method, current systems and processes use a combination of recycled, renewable and fossil raw resources. The amounts utilised can be distributed proportionately at any point as they are monitored throughout the value chain. By using the mass-balance technique, Continental is able to progressively raise the percentage of sustainable materials in its goods. It makes it possible to report the percentage of certified sustainable materials with accuracy. This is an additional step for the company towards using only sustainable materials in its tyre products by 2050 at the latest. In addition to the tyre plant in Korbach, the plants in Lousado (Portugal), Hefei (China) and Puchov (Slovakia) are already ISCC PLUS-certified production sites of Continental Tires.

Continental's UltraContact NXT is the first tyre to employ materials approved for mass balancing. Carbon black, which is partially manufactured from oil from circular processes, and synthetic rubber, which is made from bio-based and bio-circular raw materials, are two examples. Since 2023, it has been produced in the Continental tire facility in Lousado, Portugal.

Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires, said, "We are consistently increasing the amount of renewable and recycled materials in our tyres. Certifications contribute to transparency. Our ambition is to roll out the mass-balance approach to all of our tire plants worldwide."

Klaus Ohlwein, Head of the Continental tyre plant in Korbach, said, "At Continental, we are working worldwide to make the future of mobility more environmentally friendly. Our ISCC PLUS certification as well as our latest step, the use of recycled PET bottles in series production, are proof of our consistent implementation here in Korbach. We offer our customers high-performance tyres that not only deliver outstanding performance but also increasingly support the bio-based and circular economy.”

Apollo Tyres has received certification as a Top Employer in the Netherlands, Singapore, UK and Hungary for 2025. The offices in Hungary and the Netherlands have been certified for the second year in a row, demonstrating their continued commitment to creating exceptional working conditions, while the Singapore and UK offices have been recognised as Top Employers for the third year in a row, highlighting their ongoing excellence.

Organisations are evaluated in a variety of HR disciplines and issues, such as People Strategy, Talent Acquisition, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Well-Being, among others, as part of the Top Employers Institute's stringent accreditation process. Apollo Tyres' global dedication to workplace quality is demonstrated by this certification, which also strengthens the company's standing as an employer of choice. At Apollo Tyres, the work on people agenda is always given high priority, guided by the fundamental principle of ‘One Family’. The business has consistently achieved the highest scores in India's manufacturing and auto component Great Place To Work assessments.

Sunam Sarkar, President and Chief Business Officer, Apollo Tyres, said “This recognition is a testament to our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace that prioritises employee well-being, professional growth and a positive, inclusive culture. I would like to dedicate this recognition to every member of the Apollo Family, whose hard work, collaboration and dedication made this possible.”