Omni United Pte. appointed Stéphane Clepkens as Test Manager, hiring a veteran tyre expert to oversee the Singapore-based manufacturer's testing operations and performance analysis.

Clepkens, who has more than 25 years of tyre testing experience, previously held senior positions at Continental AG and Nokian Tyres Plc. The company said he will manage relationships with independent testing organisations while conducting hands-on analysis as a professional handling driver.

"We are thrilled to welcome Stéphane to the Omni United team. His extensive experience and hands-on expertise will be vital in our mission to make premium, high-quality products affordable to all. Stéphane's appointment reinforces our commitment to innovation, quality, and delivering exceptional value to our customers worldwide," said GS Sareen, president and CEO of Omni United.

The hire brings specialised expertise to Omni United's testing programme, including extensive experience at Germany's Nürburgring-Nordschleife racing circuit. Clepkens has worked as a freelance tester with multiple automotive and tyre manufacturers.

The appointment strengthens Omni United's technical capabilities as the company competes with larger global tyre manufacturers in performance and testing validation.

"I am thrilled to join Omni United and am committed to ensuring Radar Tyres are rigorously tested to outperform premium brands while remaining affordable. This opportunity allows me to collaborate with a dynamic team that shares my passion for innovation and excellence in tyre technology," said Clepkens.

As vehicle emissions regulations evolve, the lack of global uniformity is becoming a growing concern for OEMs and tyre manufacturers. With disparate standards across regions, companies are forced to navigate a complex regulatory maze, straining research and development and production resources. The shift towards electric mobility coupled with heightened focus on non-tailpipe emissions, such as tyre and brake abrasion, further amplifies the need for harmonised frameworks. Industry leaders including Audi’s Sebastian Gramstat argue that collaboration across borders and sectors is essential not just for compliance but for meaningful progress in sustainability and innovation.

Tyre regulations are rules and standards established to ensure that tyres used on vehicles meet safety, environmental and performance criteria. The impetus on new and updated regulations is also growing across regions to reduce pollution brought about by tyre abrasion, rolling noise etc.

The ECE R30, ECE R117, EU Tyre Labelling Regulation (2020/740), which is implemented within the European countries, or JIS Standards of Japan, CCC Certification of China, AIS 142 and BIS Certification of India and FMVSS, DOT Code and UTQG of the United States are different region-specific regulations aiming for a same outcome.

But the vastness of these regulations poses as a challenge for automobile OEMs and tyre makers alike as a lot of energy and resources have to be diverted within production and research and development lines to meet these standards.

Furthermore, the advancement of electric mobility and changes in vehicle dynamics are also slated to impose new regulations worldwide. Hence, the need for a uniform regulation has become a precondition.

Speaking to Tyre Trends on the need for uniform regulations, Dr Sebastian Gramstat, Senior Expert Development Brake System, Audi AG, averred, “Our company delivers products globally and having a unified standard is far more efficient than navigating a patchwork of regional requirements and regulations. Harmonisation brings clear operational and strategic advantages. That’s why we actively support and participate in standardisation and harmonisation working groups.”

“The European Union is involved through bodies such as the Joint Research Centre (JRC), but we also recognise the unique demands of other markets, particularly the US, where customer expectations can diverge significantly. These are often beyond the immediate scope of EU regulators. Our role is to help connect these dots by facilitating dialogue, sharing insights and contributing to building a global standard that benefits the entire ecosystem. We believe this collaborative approach is not only useful but essential to moving the industry forward,” he added.

The need for uniformity is exacerbated as OEMs and tyre makers continuously amp up research and development efforts to curb noise and air pollution from tyres. “Noise pollution, particulate matter or overall tyre wear remains a challenge. And the first step to tackle it is collaboration to develop a standardised method for accurately measuring tyre abrasion and wear. We are also working on such collaborations. Without reliable quantification, you can’t evaluate whether any mitigation measure is actually effective,” said Dr Gramstat.

He added, “This method needs to be robust, applicable across a wide range of real-world scenarios and globally accepted. That’s why we’re collaborating not only with industry partners and academia but also with regulatory authorities. This effort is taking place under the auspices of the United Nations and involves close coordination with national bodies, ministries and the European Commission. The goal is to ensure that the methodology we develop isn’t just technically sound but also internationally harmonised with Euro 7 regulations and integrated into UN regulations so it can be implemented consistently across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond.”

THE EURO 7

Tyres are a crucial component of overall vehicle design to the extent that many OEMs have dedicated in-house departments focused solely on tyre development, including Audi AG. While tyres aren’t developed in isolation, the process involves close collaboration with manufacturers to meet specific, often bespoke, requirements. These custom specifications ensure the tyre aligns with the car’s performance targets and regulatory demands including type approval.

When selecting a tyre, OEMs weigh multiple parameters; safety, performance and comfort are chief among them. But increasingly, attention is also given to sustainability and economy. Factors like tyre abrasion, longevity and fuel efficiency are becoming just as critical, particularly as regulatory frameworks begin to formalise such requirements.

Ultimately, the process involves balancing trade-offs. As Dr Gramstat put it, no tyre can deliver 100 percent on every metric. The goal is to find the best possible compromise – one that supports a premium product and meets both regulatory standards and consumer expectations.

Euro 7 is the upcoming EU vehicle emissions regulation set to take effect from 2025 for cars and vans and 2027 for trucks and buses. It introduces stricter limits on nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate emissions, covering both combustion and electric vehicles.

It also regulates brake and tyre emissions and requires compliance under real driving conditions. It aims to cut air pollution, support the European Green Deal and standardise emission rules across vehicle types.

Alluding to whether the industry is ready to adopt the regulation, Dr Gramstat noted, “The industry is well-positioned for adoption. The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) plays a central role in coordinating the efforts of tyre manufacturers across the continent, including legacy European brands and Asian manufacturers, with research and development and production facilities in Europe. Beyond Europe, we’re seeing strong international engagement. U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is actively involved, and on the global standards side, ISO is working in parallel to develop the necessary technical frameworks. Stakeholders from China are also contributing significantly. This is no longer just a regional conversation but a truly global initiative. Experts from continents are collaborating to align regulatory, technical and industrial priorities, ensuring the tyre industry is prepared to meet the evolving demands of Euro 7 and beyond.”

Further outlining the impact of the regulation, he said, “Tyre manufacturers have largely operated under internal benchmarks for metrics like mileage and abrasion till date. Euro 7 represents a shift towards formal regulation, creating a harmonised framework that applies to the entire industry. This will undoubtedly influence existing design priorities. There’s a complex interplay between various tyre performance criteria such as wet grip, rolling resistance, noise and abrasion. Regulatory limits on one can impact the others, so the challenge will be to minimise trade-offs while maintaining overall performance. At this stage, it’s difficult to offer a one-size-fits-all answer. The impact will vary depending on vehicle type.”

REPLACEMENTS

Premium automobile OEMs like Audi have been using tyres from premium European tyre makers for decades. But as the status of Asian manufacturers changes, there might be room for such companies within the supply chain of premium car makers.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about the brand label but meeting the technical and performance specifications we define. Whether a supplier operates in the premium or high-volume segment, what matters is its ability to fulfil our requirements. If a manufacturer can meet those benchmarks and is willing to collaborate and co-develop with us, then they’re absolutely welcome. Competition in the supplier landscape is a positive force. It drives innovation, efficiency and ultimately better outcomes for the end consumer. We believe valuable ideas can come from any corner of the market and we’re open to partners who share our commitment to quality, performance and progress,” said Dr Gramstat.

He also acknowledged that there is a growing trend within the company to include tyres made from renewable and recycled materials. “The move towards sustainable materials is more than a marketing exercise. It’s becoming embedded in product development strategies across the industry. We’re already seeing recycled content being integrated into certain product lines, and the ambition from suppliers to scale this up is very real. What’s encouraging is that this isn’t limited to one-off pilot products. There’s genuine momentum towards making sustainability a core part of tyre manufacturing. For us, this aligns with our broader sustainability goals, and we see it as a critical area of innovation moving forward,” said Dr Gramstat.

However, the executive emphasised the importance of maintaining a balance too. According to him, sustainability is just one of several key factors in vehicle design while others include safety, comfort, performance and cost. He stressed that no single aspect, including sustainability, could come at the expense of another.

To meet these multi-dimensional goals, additional research and development efforts are required to create a product that meets safety and performance standards while also addressing environmental concerns. Economy remains a consideration as well. Internal research conducted under a European-funded project suggested that customers are, in fact, willing to pay a premium for more sustainable products but only up to a point. Price sensitivity remains a limiting factor.

Turning towards next-generation tyre concepts such as airless tyres, Dr Gramstat noted that innovative ideas like this were once viewed as distant possibilities but are now gaining traction. He cited the LEON-TI project from four years ago, in which airless tyre prototypes were first explored. Since then, similar concepts have been tested by various companies, including in pilot programmes for commercial delivery fleets in Asia.

Although these innovations show promise, particularly for reducing noise emissions and improving durability, they are still in advanced development stages.

THE FUTURE IS CHANGING

As the automotive industry moves towards electrification, the conversation around ‘zero-emission’ vehicles is evolving. Dr Gramstat acknowledged that while electric vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions, other sources of pollution such as brake and tyre abrasion remain unaddressed in regulatory terms.

Currently, there are no standardised methods for measuring particulate emissions from these sources, but the industry is actively working on it. According to the executive, regulatory bodies and stakeholders are collaborating to develop measurement frameworks. Once these standards are in place, automakers will be able to quantify non-tailpipe emissions and provide a more accurate assessment of a vehicle’s overall environmental footprint.

The executive stressed that collaboration across the value chain is essential, especially between vehicle manufacturers and tyre companies. Such partnerships already exist within serial and advanced development efforts, including participation in the United Nations’ GRBP task force, which brings together manufacturers, tyre associations and regulators to advance tyre abrasion standards.

Weight reduction remains another key challenge. Automakers continue to look for ways to decrease vehicle mass but face constraints. Safety regulations now require more sensors and electronic control units (ECUs), which cumulatively increase vehicle weight. Although each component adds little individually, the growing number of sensors and accompanying wiring has a significant cumulative impact.

As for tyre development, the question of smart tyre was also addressed. While such technology offers valuable insights during research and development phases, Dr Gramstat expressed scepticism about its near-term viability for mass-market vehicles.

In a major step toward sustainable waste management, RPM Automotive Group has partnered with Fornnax to enhance its tyre recycling capabilities in Australia.

As part of the initiative, RPM has integrated Fornnax’s high-capacity SR-200 HD primary shredder into its operations, significantly improving recycling efficiency and material quality.

The collaboration supports RPM’s broader environmental goals and positions the company to process over 180 tonnes of used tyres weekly, with plans to scale beyond 300 tonnes. The move is expected to help RPM capture up to 5 percent of Australia’s national market share in tyre recycling.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax, said, "At Fornnax, we understand the urgency of addressing end-of-life tyre waste, not just in Australia but globally. The SR-200 HD Primary Shredder is designed for exceptional efficiency, enabling RPM to process vast quantities of discarded tyres while maintaining optimal operational performance. This collaboration showcases our dedication to providing our clients with the robust, high-performance solutions they need to excel in the circular economy."

RPM’s 3,500 sqmt facility not only boosts recycling output but also transforms waste tyres into rubber-based materials for road projects and industrial fuel. Leveraging its distribution network, the company aims to recycle up to 54,000 tonnes of tyres over five years.

The initiative aligns with Australia’s 2021 ban on tyre waste exports and underscores the urgent need for local recycling solutions.

Birla Tyre has launched a new brand identity featuring a redesigned logo and corporate website, marking a major step in its transformation journey under new ownership. The company, now backed by a consortium led by Dalmia Bharat Refractories (DBRL) as Resolution Applicant, and strategic partner Himadri Speciality Chemical (HSCL), aims to position itself as a premium, high-performance and future-ready brand.

The company plans to roll out a multi-platform marketing campaign and focus on re-entering key markets, expanding distribution and strengthening its product portfolio.

The refreshed identity reflects Birla Tyre’s renewed focus on speed, innovation and excellence. The new logo includes a custom wordmark symbolising forward motion and a tiger motif – called ‘Tyger’ – representing power, agility and leadership. The blue and orange colour scheme signifies trust and optimism.

Anurag Choudhary, Chairman and Managing Director & CEO, Himadri Speciality Chemical, said, “This rebranding is more than merely a visual transformation; it is a reaffirmation of our dedication to purposeful development and progress.” 

Dr Chandra Narain Maheswari, Whole Time Director & CEO, Dalmia Bharat Refractories, said, “Our new logo encapsulates the essence of Birla Tyre, which is founded on four fundamental pillars: a legacy that motivates boldness, a product line that is prepared for the future, an unwavering commitment to continuous innovation and a oneness with world around us. As this new identity signals Birla Tyre’s readiness to meet the evolving needs of the automotive industry with energy, innovation, and purpose.”

The 2025 Rally of Poland commenced amid an atmosphere of mourning following the tragic death of Italian motorsport driver Matteo Doretto in a racing accident.

The 81st edition of Europe's second-oldest rally competition, taking place across the challenging gravel roads of the Masurian Lakes region from June 13-15, has been overshadowed by the loss of the rising Italian talent.

"His loss is a tragedy that deeply saddens us," said Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. "On behalf of Pirelli, I would like to extend our most heartfelt and sincere condolences to his family and friends."

Despite the sombre mood, 63 crews took to the start line for what remains one of the European Rally Championship's most demanding events. Notable competitors include Jon Armstrong driving a Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta, alongside Jos Verstappen and Andrea Mabellini, both piloting Skoda Fabias fitted with Pirelli tyres.

The rally features 14 special stages covering 190.40 timed kilometres across terrain known for its technical difficulty. The Masurian Lakes route presents drivers with uneven, often sandy roads where grip proves elusive even for experienced competitors.

"It's a very difficult and high speed rally, where attention to detail is very important," commented Testoni. "With every car passage the terrain gets rougher, forming deep ruts that can challenge even the most experienced drivers."

Weather conditions are forecast to remain dry, though organisers caution that conditions can change rapidly on such challenging terrain.

The rally serves as the third round of this season's ERC Fiesta Rally3 trophy, for which Pirelli provides exclusive tyre supply. Competing crews have access to three variants from Pirelli's Scorpion gravel range: the K4A hard compound, the K6A soft compound designated as the prime choice for this event, and the K8B supersoft option.

Regulations permit each crew to utilise 16 tyres total, including those selected for qualifying sessions. Trophy category vehicles will run on Scorpion 175/70-15 specifications in both K4 hard and K6 soft compounds.

Rally Poland's reputation for difficulty stems from its unique surface characteristics, where the sandy base becomes increasingly rutted as more vehicles traverse each stage. The deteriorating conditions throughout the weekend create an additional strategic element as crews must balance speed with mechanical preservation.

The event's location in the Masurian Lakes region, known for its natural beauty, provides a stark contrast to the intense competition unfolding on its roads. The rally has maintained its position as a crucial championship round despite the technical challenges it presents to both drivers and machinery.