The huge volume of data that can be collected from tyres is beyond most people’s comprehension, especially when most don’t even know they should be checking the tyre inflation pressures on a regular basis.

Tyre technology is advancing at an ever increasing rate. The demands of consumers on the products our industry produce are changing as vehicles evolve. The advent of electric vehicles (EV) has placed a series of demands on tyres that have not been previously experienced.

How will hydrogen-powered vehicles (HPV) vary from the EV requirements is an answer yet to be found. The intrusion of artificial intelligence (AI) into daily life is permeating faster than most can appreciate, and tyres are no different.

The huge volume of data that can be collected from tyres is beyond most people’s comprehension, especially when most don’t even know they should be checking the tyre inflation pressures on a regular basis.

Early Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) generate reams of data. The systems used on F1 (Formula 1) cars and MotoGP bikes generate huge volumes, which is used to assist control of the vehicle. An example was relayed to me some years ago by a Moto2 race engineer who mentioned that when slip-streaming a bike (following literally nose to tail), it was observed that the temperature of the front tyre rose by up to five degrees

Celsius. I observe some of the artistic renditions of futuristic trucks and cars where tyres are completely enclosed by bodywork, ostensibly to aid aerodynamics. If the tyres don’t have a stream of cooling air, how do they dissipate the heat that is generated by the hysteresis a tyre experiences during operation? It is evident to me that many fall victim to what I call the Rumsfeld Rule; they don’t know what they don’t know, and worse still, they don’t know that they don’t know.

This could also be called the ‘First Rule of Tyre Technology’, just as I was taught the first law of computing, GIGO. If you have to ask, then you’re already a victim. The vast majority of the population don’t know much about tyres except that when they are flat, it’s a pain.

The fact that they entrust their lives to the humble servant we know as tyres on a daily basis without the basic knowledge is a serious concern to me. In the headlong race into technology, we’ve forgotten to bring the people along with us.

Social media is an example where most, nearly everyone, wants the fruit without having to prepare the soil, then grow the tree until it flowers, then wait for the fruit. ‘I want it now, I want it yesterday and stay tuned because the demands will all change’ (thanks Billy Connolly!) is all too common. The insidious outcome of this media is the ownership of the data, of what you buy, use, view, listen to, eat, where you visit is no longer yours. It is the big corporates that now own your data.

What does this have to do with tyres, I understand you ask. The humble tyre conveys us through our daily travels. It experiences a lot more than we do in that we don’t tread the pavements, or get hot or wet or get bounced over potholes on the road. The array of sensors now being developed for tyres are becoming the control centre of the automotive conveyances, be they fossil-fuelled, EV or HPVs.

What the tyre experiences is transferred into the vehicles control systems, which are then able to direct the motive forces to be applied at the appropriate rate. There is little use in having more brakes than there is traction available; that only results in a brake lock up, which destroys tyres and often results in a loss of control. ABS brakes are a prime defence of tyre lock ups. The tyre can collect the data which can determine your driving style, not only the route you have taken or the load you carry. So the automotive manufacturers will be able to use this data to tailor their solutions to you just as the social media concerns use algorithms to target content to you.

What is not quite as obvious as the data collection aspects is the environmental results of tyre use. Just as there are many unseen outcomes as a result of social media, there are outcomes that are largely unseen involved with tyre manufacture and use.

We go into a tyre shop to purchase tyres; it’s clean and bright or dark and dingy as a traditional tyre outlet or maybe something in-between. This experience tells us zero about how the tyre came into being and how it was landed in the store where you are purchasing it. The deeply technical and diverse agglomerations that are required to produce a tyre range from growing a tree (remember the fruit?) or drilling deep wells for oil, the mining of iron and other minerals to the production of complex chemical compounds used to create the rubbers.

The technology required to produce the single most complex item on today’s automotive machines is largely forgotten when standing in front of a range of tyres on offer. Unfortunately, a purchasing decision may be as basic as ‘what is the cheapest you have’ or preferably ‘what is the safest tyre you have’. As an industry, we’ve forgotten to educate the buying public on why a safe tyre is the item we should be purchasing. The race to the bottom to have low-cost items has yielded more than just cheap prices and substandard products.

Like most industries, there is a legacy of unwanted results; yes, the demise of discussion now we are staying glued to our phones instead of conversing.

Rubber, by its very nature, is a resilient compound that endures the abuse we throw at it when used as a tyre. Think about this for a moment: you purchase a new vehicle fitted with quality tyres, which we all know will be worn out when the tread is down to the tread depth indicators. What happens to the rubber that has worn away? Do you think about it? For those unfamiliar with on road motorsport such as F1 or MotoGP, you may not have heard of the term ‘tyre marbles’. These are chunks of the very sticky soft compound rubbers on tyres that are used for ultimate traction on a road circuit.

The marbles on a road racing circuit are quite obvious and are at the opposite end of the spectrum to the rubber particulates left on our streets and roads as our daily drives pass by. These rubber particulates (P2.5 is the smallest measurable in today’s systems) are particularly insidious as they permeate our environment.

The rubber dust is washed from the pavements when there is rain, dispersed through the drainage systems and then mixed into the outfall, be that a river and then ocean.

Dry dust particulates are dispersed by the winds into the soils. Microplastics ingress is a rising issue. Our technology (as an industry) is found wanting when the environmental aspects of product use is examined. No, I don’t have any answers except to consider magnetic levitation (which is feasible with examples operating) or matter transportation, which is off the planet for me. I raise the topic for consideration within the context of tyre technology. There is an immediate requirement for the recycling of tyres. Such projects, where the carbon black makes up about 40 percent of the recycling project product stream, seem to be an issue but are potentially feasible.

Tyres can be reused by retreading or repurposed in other manners; however, until the general public accept that tyres are more than a grudge purchase, then all the technology is only leading us further into the abyss.

Our industry needs the same energies as are applied to the technology employed to be used in education of our end users so they can grow to appreciate tyres just as we in the industry already do. As fire is a wonderful servant but a bad master, tyres too are wonderful servants but have serious outcomes if we continue to ignore them. Education is required. More technology is not necessarily the best answer.

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Discount Tire has earned a prominent position on Glassdoor's Best Places To Work 2026 list, ranking 14th in Consumer Services and within the top 100 US employers. This distinction is awarded to organisations with over 1,000 employee reviews on Glassdoor and a minimum rating of 3.5. For the Scottsdale-based retailer, with more than 1,250 locations nationally, the honour underscores a long-standing commitment to its workforce.

The company cultivates a people-first culture for its over 30,000 employees by providing substantial career growth, thorough training, leadership development and competitive benefits. This philosophy, centred on serving others and empowering personal goals, previously earned Discount Tire top Glassdoor rankings from 2018 through 2021. The latest recognition reaffirms its status as an employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and progressive workplace.

Dean Muglia, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We treat our people like family. We're honoured to be recognised by both current and former employees and Glassdoor as a best place to work. We strive every day to deliver the most inviting, easy and safe experience possible for our people and our customers."

Michael Zuieback, Executive Chairman, said, "Through six and a half decades of growth, our primary commitments have stayed true: We want to take care of people and help make more dreams come true.”

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Radar Tyres has entered a significant, multi-year global partnership with Cricket South Africa, a strategic move to build its brand within a sport enjoyed by a worldwide audience. This alliance grants the company headline sponsorship for the Proteas Men’s and Women’s T20 International sides, alongside associate partnership status for their ODI and Test matches. Radar will also be the headline partner for South Africa’s Under-19 national teams.

The collaboration provides substantial visibility, featuring exclusive logo placement on both match and training kits, with the new T20I apparel already unveiled. For Radar, this investment is a key step in leveraging high-profile platforms to enhance global brand recognition, all while maintaining its commitment to providing high-quality, value-driven tyre products.

G S Sareen, President and CEO, Omni United, said, "Becoming the Global Partner of the Proteas marks a significant milestone in Radar Tyres' global brand journey and reflects our belief in sport as a powerful platform to build brand equity, strengthen dealer support, enhance trust and credibility and connect with households worldwide. Through this partnership, we are able to engage with cricket fans both locally and globally while reinforcing Radar Tyres' as a reliable, performance-driven brand committed to delivering premium-performance at an accessible price point."

Pholetsi Moseki, Chief Executive Officer, CSA, said, "CSA is extremely proud to partner with Radar Tyres, an organisation that shares our values and commitment to excellence. This partnership is a significant milestone, securing support not only for our senior teams but for our junior teams as well. This partnership reflects our deliberate approach to working with like-minded organisations, guided by a long-term vision of developing the game, supporting our players and delivering memorable experiences for fans. Radar Tyres' support also reinforces CSA's commitment to excellence and inclusion, strengthening our ability to drive high performance across all levels."

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For the second consecutive year, the Alliance for the Future of Tyres (AZuR) has been shortlisted for the German Award for Sustainability Projects, following its 2025 win. This renewed nomination underscores the jury’s recognition of AZuR as a pioneering force in sustainability, particularly for its dedicated efforts to advance tyre retreading as a core component of a circular economy. The 2026 award ceremony will be held under the patronage of Brigitte Zypries on 17 September in Berlin.

AZuR’s multifaceted initiative extends well beyond theoretical advocacy. Its work gained significant international attention with the Retreading Summit, held in September 2025 at KRONE Trailer in Werlte. This event convened experts from industry, politics, academia and media for two days of intensive dialogue on the potential, challenges and necessary policy frameworks for tyre modernisation, leading to the launch of concrete action plans. Furthermore, the alliance drives progress through strategic communications and direct support for flagship projects, such as the new passenger car tyre retreading facility established by Rigdon in Pfaffenhofen.

Central to AZuR’s mission is transforming public perception by demonstrating that worn tyres are valuable resources, not waste. Through ongoing awareness campaigns, it highlights the substantial ecological and economic benefits of retreaded tyres, which can be refurbished multiple times to conserve raw materials, reduce climate impact and offer cost-effective solutions. The German Award for Sustainability Projects, judged by a panel chaired by Prof Dr Claudia Kemfert of DIW Berlin, evaluates entries based on their innovation, impact and relevance to a sustainable future. AZuR’s repeated shortlisting affirms that its model for a tyre circular economy is a replicable and exemplary system with groundbreaking potential.

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Seasoned tyre industry executive Manish Maharaj has embarked on a new professional chapter, joining Balkrishna Industries Ltd (BKT Tires) in a senior leadership capacity after a distinguished 11-year tenure with Apollo Tyres Ltd.

In his new role at BKT Tires, Maharaj has been appointed General Manager and Head of Business Finance, where he will focus on enhancing financial strategy, driving performance-driven growth, and building scalable systems to support BKT’s global expansion ambitions.

“I am thrilled to begin a new chapter with BKT Tires,” said Maharaj.

Maharaj’s career at Apollo spanned multiple strategic roles in one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, most recently serving as Regional Chief Financial Officer for South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and later as Business Head for South East Asia. In these capacities, he led multi-market commercial and financial operations, driving robust business performance across diverse cultural and economic environments.

At Apollo, Maharaj was responsible for charting growth strategies in fast-evolving markets, strengthening distributor partnerships, and reinforcing brand positioning across key ASEAN economies. His leadership coincided with initiatives to expand premium brand presence in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines & South Korea and foster deeper retail engagement across the ASEAN region.

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