Like every technology sector requires testing, so do the tyres that come with any vehicle. It is important that the tyres of a vehicle function smoothly on different roads and under all weather conditions. This results in tyre manufacturers conducting a number of vital tests to ensure that their tyres perform when the end user sits behind the wheel. Dr Dieter Barz, Director – Sales and Service, and Executive Board Member at Altracon, a company that provides tyre and material property testing solutions and configurations, throws light on tyre testing standards, how the Indian market is one of the major markets of the future for tyre testing and how the future is about sustainability.

What is the role of testing in tyre development as a whole?
When a customer buys a tyre, they, of course, have to be sure that the tyre is safe, comfortable to ride and not noisy. Therefore, tyre testing is essential.

The tyre is a very complex, built-up element. As for tyre testing in general, it is split up into several areas. For one, there’s subjective testing, like the feeling of driving a car, for instance. This would be the tyre performance.

Then there’s tyre measurement. When it comes to tyre measurement, it’s very important that during the development process, one proves that the tyre is fulfilling various standards. These standards are different for different countries – there are European, American, Japanese or Asian standards and so on. But on the whole, the tyre has to show that it is capable of fulfilling those standards. And that is the role of tyre testing.

What kind of regulation, according to you, will fuel more demand for testing businesses?
The future is about sustainability. Energy consumption is one of the most important factors and is influenced by a lot of things. If we look at compound development, we have to find compounds that have low rolling resistance and low damping in order to be energy efficient. So the focus on tyre testing will be in terms of sustainability and energy consumption, looking into the compounds and the complete tyre as well. These are two very important elements to look into.

Does the Asian market require different testing machines?
In general, no. You have different standards to prove, although the test machines are more or less the same. The software program that you run for the test is what stands.

Which is the most exciting market for Altracon right now?
As sustainability is a global project, there are no priority markets. However, we also see that India is developing very fast. Therefore, the demand for tyre testing, now and in the future, will be very high in India. Hence, India will definitely be a focus market in the future.

Can you elaborate more on this? What is Altracon’s scope in the Indian market?
Altracon is already very well known in the Indian market. In fact, we offer machines that directly suit the country’s requirements. Plus, along with our machines, we also provide tools that are sustainable. For example, we offer special energy management to operate the machine. Besides, we also offer machine programmes that help shorten development processes, thus enhancing sustainability by reducing manufacturing and testing efforts. This saves fuel and reduces emissions and pollution.

Can you tell us a bit about the services provided by Altracon? How do you make sure that your customers receive timely and the most effective service possible?
In the past, we have experienced that the online service we provide fulfils more than 90 percent of customer requirements. If there is any issue with the machine, we start a remote service via the internet in order to look into the machine and solve the problem along with the customer. We have a very fast response time and low costs as there is no travelling involved. We go out to the customer in person and fix the machine only if it is really needed.

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Tolins Tyres Limited reported a rise in quarterly revenue as demand recovered across retreading materials and new tyre segments.

Revenue for the three months to 31 December 2025 increased 33.8 percent year on year to INR 933 million, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to INR 142 million. Net profit declined to INR 105 million from INR 109 million a year earlier.

For the first nine months of the financial year, revenue rose 11.8 percent to INR 2.49bn. EBITDA fell to INR 366 million from INR 426 million, and net profit declined to INR 268 million from INR 294 million.

Tolins Tyres said growth in the quarter was supported by higher volumes in domestic markets and increased contribution from recently launched agricultural tyres. The India business remained the main source of revenue, while UAE operations contributed steadily.

Dr K V Tolin, promoter, chairman and managing director of Tolins Tyres Limited, said, “Q3 FY26 marked a strong rebound in performance with robust year-on-year revenue growth and clear recovery in volumes across both retread and new tyre segments. The deferred demand witnessed in Q2 has meaningfully converted into orders during the quarter, reflecting improved customer sentiment and normalized buying patterns following the GST revision.

The agricultural segment delivered encouraging traction, with our newly launched tractor rear tyre range beginning to contribute meaningfully to revenues. The increasing share of tractor tyres in our overall mix validates our strategic focus on expanding presence in high-demand farm tyre categories. Distribution expansion and deeper engagement with institutional customers further supported volume growth across key markets.

For the nine-month period, the Company has demonstrated resilience and improved operational momentum. With demand visibility strengthening, a diversified customer base, and continued cost discipline, we believe Tolins Tyres is well-positioned to sustain growth in the coming quarters while maintaining focus on margin stability and operational efficiency.”

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Eastern Treads Limited has appointed Navas Meeran as managing director following the expiry of the tenure of M E Mohamed.

Meeran’s appointment took effect from the close of business on 14 February  2026 and is subject to shareholder approval. Mohamed ceased to hold office on the same date on completion of his term.

Eastern Treads said its key managerial personnel now comprise Navas Meeran as Managing Director, Devarajan Krishnan as Chief Financial Officer and Abil Anil as Company Secretary.

The company stated that Meeran has more than 33 years’ experience in the tyre retreading industry and previously held roles including Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s southern region and membership of its national council.

It added that Shereen Navas, a Director of the company, is the spouse of Meeran.

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The UK’s enhanced verification system for waste tyre exports is failing to ensure compliance, with fewer than 25 percent of consignments meeting reporting requirements, according to government data cited by the Tyre Recovery Association.

In a letter to Mary Creagh, Minister For Waste And Recycling, the association said the majority of exported end-of-life tyres (ELTs) remain untracked after shipment, despite strengthened rules introduced in 2025.

Parliamentary answers published on 12 February show 3,281 Annex VII export notifications were authorised from October 2025. Of 1,891 consignments past the eight-week reporting deadline, 1,370 returned no post-shipment information. Of those that did respond, 458 met required standards, leaving more than 75 percent of recent whole-tyre exports undocumented.

The data, disclosed in response to questions tabled by Tessa Munt, also indicate limited enforcement. The association said there was no evidence the Environment Agency had removed non-compliant receiving sites from its approved list or issued stop notices to brokers failing to submit documentation.

The Tyre Recovery Association urged the UK to adopt a “shred-only” export policy modelled on Australia’s December 2021 ban on exporting whole or baled tyres. Under that regime, tyres must be processed into shred or crumb of no more than 150 mm before export.

The group said at least 150,000 tonnes of licensed domestic recycling capacity remained unused because of weak enforcement of existing rules. It also called for removal of the T8 waste-tyre exemption, arguing the low-cost permit for small-scale operators had been widely abused and created an uneven market for compliant recyclers.

Peter Taylor, Secretary-General of the Tyre Recovery Association, said: “A new system with a 75% failure rate is not a solution. Despite the Government’s best intentions to sharpen the Environment Agency’s teeth, the new enhanced verification measures are being ignored by brokers and operators who continue to fuel unregulated pollution overseas.

“The only way to secure the integrity of our waste stream and protect the environment is to move beyond paperwork and mandate a ‘shred-only’ export policy. A model with proven success in Australia.

“We now know recent efforts to improve enforcement of existing rules still have a long road to travel before signs of success. The legitimate operators in the UK continue to be disadvantaged and significant domestic capacity lies idle.

“2026 must be the year that the UK stops exporting its environmental responsibilities – bring in the Australian model and build a robust, truly circular UK economy for tyres.”

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Pirelli has once again distinguished itself in the 2026 edition of S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook, earning a place in the elite ‘Top 1%’ category. This achievement makes Pirelli the only tyre manufacturer worldwide to receive this highest level of recognition.

The honour stems from an evaluation of over 9,200 companies based on their environmental, social and governance performance. It reflects Pirelli’s outstanding result in the 2025 Corporate Sustainability Assessment, where the company achieved a score of 86 points. Notably, this was the highest score awarded in both the Auto Components and the broader Automobiles sectors, underscoring Pirelli’s leadership in sustainability within the automotive industry.

Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice President – Sustainability, New Mobility and Motorsport, Pirelli, said, “Pirelli’s confirmation in the Top 1% of the 2026 Sustainability Yearbook represents a great validation of the company’s journey. Innovative development and responsible growth specifically guide our operational choices: continuous investment in technology, transparent management of the entire value chain and a strong focus on safety, skills and people development. This approach strengthens our competitiveness and our ability to create long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

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