Smithers, a leading global provider of testing, consulting, information and compliance services, has invested in a state-of-the-art simulated on-vehicle acceleration testing (SOVAT) machine.
With this, Smithers will provide automakers and tyre makers faster testing capabilities especially for indoor and repeatable testing. The company said that on-vehicle tyre testing can be time-consuming and inconsistent, which is pushing for the need for faster, more repeatable methods for treadwear, chip and chunk, road hazard endurance and break-in testing.

Derek Read, Vice-President, Asia Pacific & Global Development, Smithers Materials Science and Engineering Division, said, “Our investment in tyre testing technologies in the Asia Pacific region has always been on the forefront of new trends and technologies. We believe that through this investment, Smithers will further provide unique services and solutions to the automotive industry. At the same time, we look forward to working hand in hand with industry experts to promote the innovation and development of tyre technology.”

SOVAT

The SOVAT machine consists of a rough drum surface that mimics real road surfaces, which can be customised with specially designed cleats to simulate road hazards. Lateral and longitudinal forces can be applied to the tyres simultaneously, which closely mimics vehicle operating conditions, and helps to conduct laboratory analysis of irregular tyre wear, chip and chunk problems.

It also supports accelerated wear tests with multiple drive profiles to simulate real-world treadwear. This not only helps reduce the testing time, but also cost and wastage. Interestingly, the SOVAT is also equipped with tightly controlled acceleration and deceleration to test wheel covers to resemble the high torque from electric vehicles.

Smithers Henry He, General Manager of Materials Science and Engineering Division Asia Pacific, Smithers, said, “On-vehicle tire testing has always been a time consuming, expensive process. We’re excited to see how this innovation can improve our clients’ testing results and development timeframes. It just reinforces our desire to provide accurate data, on-time with client centric collaboration.”

It was in 2011, the Smithers tyre and wheel testing laboratory in Suzhou was opened to customers. It currently serves the needs in the Asia Pacific region and support the company’s global client base.

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.”

Alliance, one of the leading tyre brands in the off-highway tyre segment from the Yokohama-ATG group, is celebrating 70 years in the industry with a global campaign dubbed “Always by Your Side.”

The Yokohama-ATG group brand commemorates its seven-decade journey by highlighting its longstanding relationship with customers, particularly in agricultural and forestry sectors.

Angelo Noronha, President & CEO – Yokohama-ATG, commented, “We are extremely happy to celebrate 70 glorious years of Alliance in the off-highway tyre segment and are thrilled to launch the “Always by Your Side” campaign globally. It honours the strong ‘alliances’ we have built and nurtured with our trusted customers and partners over the years”

“The campaign also talks about the quality, excellence and commitment that the Alliance brand offers to its customers. Our extensive on-ground service teams worldwide play a crucial role in keeping this commitment, ensuring we are always there to offer support” added Noronha.

With operations in over 120 countries, Alliance boasts expertise in radial technology and offers a comprehensive tyre portfolio, including technologies like Agriflex, SLT, and ELITE.

The campaign, running through 2025, aims to recognise top customers and reinforce the brand’s commitment to providing custom solutions.

Alliance plans to celebrate its heritage by emphasising its reputation as a reliable partner for multiple generations of farmers and industrial customers.