Please forgive my indulgence on the topic of tyre testing, but the end result of a safe tyre is, the tyre is only safe IF the appropriate inflation pressure is used!

The physical road testing of a pneumatic tyre is the last part in a very long line of testing procedures used to manufacture the tyre. The actual manufacturing is not the end of the line as the tyre has to be competently mounted to a wheel and then appropriately inflated prior and during use.

If the tyre/wheel assembly is not balanced in mass and dimension, then the tyre is not going to perform as expected, nor will the tyre perform as expected if the inflation pressure is not appropriate to the load and speed the vehicle is going to be utilised at.

The humble pneumatic tyre is a composite assembly of many different materials, each having to work in harmony and unison with each other.

The different materials used to manufacture the tyre have already undergone substantial testing as individual products to assure the sought-after properties and qualities are exactly what is required to produce a tyre that is not only safe but performs as expected.

Many years ago, on a major construction project in Asia with one of my clients, the tyre company I was an engineer with suffered many catastrophic tread separation failures. This was a time critical project so having haul trucks out of service was a serious impediment to achieving the extensive earthworks required. A long story short, I was given to understand that there was a change in the supplier of the carbon black used in this particular tyre tread specification. The fresh manufacturer’s product checked all of the (then) testing parameters, but when it came to actual live service, there was a deficiency somewhere. I was never privy to the actual product details, just the end result of seeing haul trucks with fuel and hydraulic tanks on the ground having been slapped off by tread packages parting from the tyre casing. Having up to 1,000 kg of tread rubber flapping out of control is not conducive to a safe operation.

The testing regime for the product used was seemingly insufficient to identify this issue pre-production, ending up with very costly results.

One can read in various publications of tyre testing where a group of journalists and motoring writers take vehicles fitted with various tyre producers’ products around a circuit in an attempt to quantify the performance, in lap times, but more importantly, in feel.  ‘Through the seat of your pants’ is a commonly used phrase.  As a young two-wheel motorcycle racer, I progressed from using treaded road tyres to a full racing slick. The feeling was totally different and, to be honest, I didn’t ever get the slick tread tyres to operate as they were designed.  After progressing to three-wheel bikes (sidecars), slicks became the ideal product.

In todays’ tyre production world, I suggest that the development on MotoGP motorcycles leads the way. Think of a MotoGP bike where cornering lean angles of up to 65 degrees, yes 65 degrees, are common place, all the time transmitting a power to weight ratio of more than 1:1, which is more than one horsepower per kilogramme of weight (including the rider!).  When combined with the technology developed in the giant OTR tyres used in mining, the development of tyre performance is progressing rapidly. The ability of a giant mining tyre to support a load in excess of 100 tonnes per tyre (think 50 average passenger cars, yes that’s per tyre) whilst travelling at 60 km/hr is an everyday event for a mining operation. These tyres on a drive position transmit thousands of horsepower to motivate the truck. These numbers are far in excess compared to your daily drive!

A passenger car tyre benefits greatly from all of this research and development leading to the actual physical testing of the tyre in the hands of the journalists pushing a car around a circuit.

Yet, all this testing can be undone by the end user’s reluctance to verify that the tyre’s operating pressure is appropriate for the duty cycle being undertaken. The adoption of real time tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS) has generated an increase in safety IF the driver actually uses the data.

Race pilots (drivers and riders) carefully study the operating tyre pressure detail as they well understand that just ½ a psi may make the difference between winning or finishing off the podium.

Alas, our industry has not really educated the daily driver to the critical importance of ensuring their tyres have the appropriate inflation pressures installed. Inflation, it seems, is only important to economists and price rises.

All the material testing, quality control in production and physical mounting of the tyre can be undone by the ignorance of the end user in not attending to the inflation pressures adequately. No matter how deep the science used, the quality control measures employed within production our product’s success remains at the whim of the end user as to whether they can be bothered to ensure the very item that provides their safe passage is indeed fit for purpose.

Regardless of the impressive advances in testing technology, the serious quantitative leaps in the use of computer aided design and manufacture, the improvements in material science yielding growth in all the useful features for a tyre combined in production benefitting the end result can be undone by end user apathy. As an industry, we have a programme of continuous improvement, but does the end user have the same? Do they care?

For all the testing programmes we, as an industry, have in place, the one lacking I feel is the understanding of the level of knowledge from the perspective of the driver. Do they understand the information that the physical tyre testing provides? In the case of a motoring enthusiast, very much yes, but they make up a small percentage of the population.

The advent of the Euro 7 standards will draw the performance of tyres into the everyday realm for the legislators and regulators. Again, how the daily drivers that use their vehicles for commuting actually care is an unknown, and I feel that the care factor is probably less than zero.

In speaking with learner drivers, I ask whether the driving instructors had mentioned tyres at all and was totally unsurprised when the answer came back as a no. I know I have said before that unless we can engage drivers into understanding and appreciating their tyres’ contribution to their personal safety whilst driving, then our industries progress will be stymied.

All the progress in material science, advanced vehicle standards, wonderful testing regimes can all be negated when the vehicle driver ignores the very basic of the tyres operating requirement – the appropriate operating inflation pressure. 

How we change the mindset of the end user is still testing my knowledge and patience; it is more than tiring to keep on hearing that people don’t even acknowledge the benefits they enjoy from the use of the product our industry produces.

Please educate the end user on the critical importance their tyres have in overall on-road safety. Look after your tyres, so when you call upon them to look after you, they will be appropriately equipped to do so.

Stay TyreSafe

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has named Sangwoo Ryu as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ryu possesses over 25 years of leadership in finance and operations within international markets. He is currently the CEO of Cariflex Pte Ltd, a former Kraton spin-off now under DL Chemical, where he initially served as Chief Financial Officer starting in February 2020. He assumed the Cariflex CEO role in April 2025 following the promotion of its former CEO, Prakash Kolluri, to President of Kraton's Polymer business.

Ryu’s deep expertise in financial strategy, investment controls and operational planning is expected to strengthen Kraton’s standing as a reliable leader in global Pine Chemical and Polymers markets. In his new position, he will collaborate with Kraton’s Executive Leadership, Board of Directors and Cariflex Leadership to guide strategic decisions and operational excellence, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustained growth and organisational stability.

Ryu said, “I want to express my gratitude towards the members of the Board of Directors and the Kraton Leadership Team for their unwavering dedication to Kraton’s success. I’m looking forward to leading Kraton into the next era of excellence, building upon the strong foundations and principles set forth in our vision and values.”

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As part of its strategic growth into Central Europe, FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has established a new sales partnership in Germany. The company has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its representative for the region to drive the promotion and implementation of its recycling systems. Jerschl’s extensive expertise, built over two decades with prominent firms like BHS, Eldan and Vecoplan, encompasses a deep understanding of diverse waste streams such as tyre, cable, municipal solid waste and e-waste.

This collaboration, initially targeting Germany, Austria and adjacent countries, is designed to be flexible and scalable. Its primary aim is to cultivate a strong project pipeline and solidify FORNNAX’s regional footprint. The partnership extends beyond sales to include comprehensive technical support, with Jerschl’s team providing vital value-added services like installation, maintenance and spare parts assistance. This local service framework is intended to ensure efficient project execution, minimise operational downtime and elevate customer satisfaction.

By leveraging Jerschl’s profound market insight and established networks, FORNNAX seeks to accelerate the adoption of its high-performance shredding and pre-processing technologies. The move underscores the company’s global strategy of embedding local expertise within key markets, which it deems crucial for developing technically sound solutions tailored to specific regional waste challenges. This initiative reinforces FORNNAX’s dedication to innovation and environmental stewardship, advancing its mission to deliver sustainable recycling solutions worldwide.

Jerschl said, “I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art technology; it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey. We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to 10 years.”

Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, FORNNAX, said, “We see tremendous potential in the Central European market. Partnering with someone as experienced and well established as Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally.”

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Dr Gerard Nijman of KraussMaffei Extrusion has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Fernley H. Banbury Award, one of the rubber industry’s highest international honours, presented by the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This award annually recognises outstanding scientific and technological contributions to the field.

The award commemorates the inventor of the internal mixer and highlights sustainable innovations in production technology, instrumentation, process control and the development of processing methods for rubber and similar materials. Dr Nijman’s career exemplifies such innovation, having significantly advanced rubber rheology, pioneered new mixing and multiplex extrusion technologies and modernised the production of silica compounds for the tyre industry.

His work has effectively bridged the gap between scientific research and industrial application. Notably, in the 1990s at Vredestein, he introduced novel mixing technologies and multiplex extrusion to tyre manufacturing. He also contributed to pioneering processes for silica compound processing, foundational to technologies like Michelin’s ‘Green Tyre’. Furthermore, his rheology-based designs for extruder screws and flow channels have helped shape enduring industrial standards.

Dr Nijman, who joined KraussMaffei Extrusion in 2017, brings decades of expertise from previous roles at Apollo Tyres Ltd and Vredestein Banden BV. His ongoing collaborations with the German Institute for Rubber Technology (DIK) and the University of Twente have also profoundly influenced his approach. KraussMaffei Extrusion itself is globally recognised for its tyre technology, building on longstanding Berstorff expertise to deliver advanced extrusion solutions for treads, sidewalls, innerliners and other components, as well as high-performance multiplex and calender systems.

The award acknowledges not only his specific technical achievements but also his distinguished career and lasting impact on rubber processing. The official presentation will be held in September 2026 during the Global Polymer Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, US.

Dr Nijman said, “It is a great honour for me to receive the Fernley H. Banbury Award. This recognition confirms the importance of the close connection between research and industrial practice in rubber processing and motivates me to continue to drive forward innovative solutions for our industry.”

Ralf Benack, Managing Director, KraussMaffei Extrusion, said, "We warmly congratulate Dr Nijman on this outstanding award. With his in-depth knowledge, many years of experience and tireless dedication, he has had a decisive influence on the rubber and tyre industry and has further developed our technologies in a targeted manner. This recognition is more than deserved. We are very proud to have Dr Nijman in our team!"

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Michelin has appointed James Dimmock as its new Commercial Communications Manager for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Based at the company's Stoke-on-Trent headquarters, he will report to the Northern European Communications team. In this capacity, Dimmock will oversee all commercial communications, including public relations, social media and influencer partnerships.

His mandate involves crafting the brand's commercial narrative, fostering stronger connections with media and content creators and producing innovative digital content to support the brand's growth. He brings more than two decades of extensive experience with Michelin to the role, having held various senior marketing and communications positions both internationally and domestically. His most recent role was as Social Media and Influencer Manager. He will now lead these efforts locally while integrating with the broader communications team.

John Howe, Managing Director, Michelin UK, said, “James has already made a significant contribution to Michelin communications activity in the UK & ROI. His deep understanding of our business and products, combined with his strategic and creative approach, makes him ideally placed to lead our commercial communications as we continue to evolve our brand.”

Dimmock said, “I am excited to be taking on this new role at Michelin. It is a privilege to continue building on the work we have already achieved and to help drive the next phase of our commercial communications strategy across the UK & ROI.”

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