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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Bridgestone India, a leading tyre manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Rajarshi Moitra as its new Managing Director, effective 1 January 2026. He currently serves as the Deputy Managing Director and succeeds Hiroshi Yoshizane, who has served as Managing Director since January 2024 and as Group President, Bridgestone Asia Pacific, India, China (BSAPIC) since May 2025.

Yoshizane will be promoted to Vice-President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation, effective 1 January 2026. He will continue to serve as BSAPIC Group President, Chairman of the Board of Bridgestone India and Vice Chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association.

In these roles, Yoshizane will provide strategic guidance to Bridgestone India and contribute to the growth of the industry.

Rajarshi Moitra, said, “I’m deeply honoured to take on the role of Managing Director and to continue supporting our teams at Bridgestone India, with whom I have worked so closely over the past few years. I look forward to continuing to work in alignment with Bridgestone’s essence and its unchanging mission of ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality’, as we serve our customers, OEM partners and communities at large.”

Hiroshi Yoshizane, said, “Bridgestone India has been an important part of Bridgestone’s growth journey globally, and it has been a privilege to work with such a passionate and capable team driving that progress. Together, we have strengthened our business operations, expanded our market presence, enhanced Safety & Quality, and planted important seeds for the future through initiatives in R&D, social contribution, and sustainability. The team’s strong commitment to serving customers and communities has created a solid foundation for continued success. As I continue my responsibilities as Group President of BSAPIC and Chairman of the Board of Bridgestone India, I look forward to supporting its continued growth under Rajarshi’s capable leadership.”

Moitra has over two decades of experience in Business Strategy, Profit Centre Management, Sales & Marketing and leading transformations. He joined Bridgestone India in 2019 to lead the Consumer business. He expanded his roles to include Consumer & Commercial Business, Solution Business, Logistics & Supply Chain Management. He became Executive Director – Sales & Marketing in June 2024 and Deputy Managing Director in May 2025.

Bridgestone India states that the new leadership structure will help it continue its transformation toward becoming a solutions company, guided by the ‘Bridgestone E8 Commitment.’

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Albourgh Tyres, a brand owned by Heuver Group, has appointed Armando Lima Santos as Sales Manager for Latin America region. This strategic placement is in line with Albourgh Tyres’ global expansion plans after a successful introduction of the first tyre lines for truck and trailer on the European market during the last three years.

Santos brings over 17 years of experience and expertise in truck and OTR tyres and has been associated with major tyre companies like Goodyear, Bridgestone, Tiresur and Prinx Chengshan in the past. In his new role, he will focus on developing the Latin American market, a key step in strengthening Albourgh Tyres’ global presence.

Santos said, “LATAM will be a strategic engine to accelerate Albourgh’s worldwide relevance and reinforce Heuver’s international footprint – with stronger portfolio depth, proximity, scale and customer-centric execution. I’m excited to help build this together – developing long term partnerships in the region and capturing this huge potential with the Heuver family.”

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Linglong Tire president and chief executive Wang Feng has set out the Chinese manufacturer’s most detailed climate commitments to date, telling delegates at the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil that the company aims to reach carbon neutrality a decade ahead of China’s Paris Agreement schedule for industry.

Speaking at China’s national pavilion at COP30, Wang said Linglong will “significantly” cut CO₂ emissions by 2030 and target full carbon neutrality by 2050, aligning its internal goals with those of the European Union.

Linglong said it is already lowering emissions through energy-efficiency measures, sustainable tyre development and digitalised supply-chain systems. The company aims to reduce emissions by 52.07 percent by 2035, underpinned by a strategy built on five pillars — new materials, advanced technologies, modern processes, smart machinery and renewable energy.

Last year the manufacturer unveiled a concept tyre made from 79 percent sustainable materials. It expects to raise the proportion to 85 percent in all tyres by 2028 and achieve 100 percent sustainable materials by 2040. The company highlighted bio-based feedstocks — including biotechnical (itaconate) rubber, rice husk ash and corn-based silica — as alternatives to petroleum-derived raw materials, claiming such substitutions could cut emissions by up to 35%.

Linglong was the first Chinese tyre maker to join the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, and said it is working with members to improve environmental and social standards across the sector. It is also backing FSC-certified natural rubber projects to protect forests, strengthen labour rights and support smallholder farmers. In recycling, the company said it is promoting the use of liquid waste rubber and pyrolysis carbon black to create a closed-loop system for end-of-life tyres.

Wang stressed that the company’s “dual-carbon roadmap is not only a commitment to environmental protection but also revolutionises the entire production process”. He added that Linglong would “do everything it can to achieve its environmental goals and provide consumers worldwide with environmentally friendly, sustainable and high-quality mobility solutions to leave a clean and beautiful planet for generations to come”.

COP30, held from 10–21 November in the Amazonian city of Belém, is expected to produce a list of indicators designed to measure adaptation progress, covering areas such as climate-resilient infrastructure, public health, livelihoods, water supply and ecosystem protection.

Shandong-based Linglong, founded in 1975, operates seven R&D centres and seven manufacturing bases globally, employing more than 19,000 people. Its tyres are sold in 173 countries and supplied as original equipment to more than 60 automotive brands, including Volkswagen, Audi and BYD.

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Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli has equipped the new McLaren W1 supercar with three bespoke tyre fitments made from more than 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials. This figure has been certified by the independent body Bureau Veritas.

Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier for the new model, which features a hybrid powertrain capable of delivering up to 1,275 PS and 1,340 Nm. The W1 has acceleration of zero to 300 kmph in less than 12.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 350 kmph.

The three new tyres – P Zero R, P Zero Trofeo RS and P Zero Winter 2 – were developed in collaboration with McLaren's R&D teams, starting in a virtual environment with driving simulation technology before progressing to physical tests. Testing locations included the Nardo circuit in southern Italy and the Idiada track in Spain.

The fitments cover every aspect of the supercar's use:

• P Zero R: Designed for daily driving.
• P Zero Trofeo RS: A track-biased tyre delivering high performance.
• P Zero Winter 2: Handles colder seasons.

All three tyres for the W1 will be produced at Pirelli’s plant in Settimo Torinese, Italy.

These bespoke P Zero tyres are the first supercar tyres to be made with over 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials. This is part of Pirelli’s industrial plan, which aims to launch the first tyres containing 80 percent of these materials by 2030. The company’s P Zero E, launched in 2023, was the first tyre on the market to contain more than 55 percent bio-based and recycled materials.

A logo identifies all Pirelli products containing at least 50 percent sustainable materials.

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