. Improvements in tread performance, rolling resistance reduction, handling, and durability have been well documented. As vehicles have evolved over the past 20 years, tyres have had to adjust along with them. Larger vehicles, higher performing vehicles, and light-weighting, along with the introduction of electric vehicle technology, are all trends that have steered development over the years.

Through all of it, several key areas in tyre testing have remained steady. Tyres need to meet minimum safety and performance standards as dictated by governments and vehicle OEMs.

•          Tyre durability testing depends on a variety of industry test standards such as endurance testing on a drum.

•          Wet stopping distance, tread wear, and winter traction testing have very specific on-vehicle testing requirements.

•          Rolling resistance testing utilises a couple standardised test methods to measure the amount of hysteretic energy loss from a rolling tyre on a drum and specified surface.

•          Force and moment testing on a moving belt has been used to characterise tyre performance for vehicle design as it relates to cornering and other use conditions.

As time has passed, tyres have been asked to do more and more on vehicles. While the testing methodology has remained similar, conditions have been altered to accommodate these vehicle performance expectations. And while reducing testing time has always been a goal, many of these standard tests still require the same amount of time to conduct.

Because much of tyre testing has been standardised over the years, many facets of the industry can use tyre testing data as a unifying benchmark for evaluating specific performance criteria. For OEMs, the data is valuable to the vehicle development process. For tyre companies, the data is used in a marketing context to compare and contrast features for consumers. Trucking fleets use the data to optimise their operations and reduce costs and fuel consumption. Consistency in testing methodology provides the industry with a unifying foundation of benchmarking data.

That being said, older methods are always being reviewed for obsolescence. For example, NHTSA in the United States is currently considering the removal of test standards for bead unseat and plunger energy testing that were originally developed for bias ply tyre designs.

There are always efforts to look at novel ways of improving the tyre testing process and increasing speed to market. For example, experimenting with different surfaces for drum and belt testing of tyres continues to take place in an attempt to more closely replicate an infinite number of real-life surface conditions. Man-made snow has been developed to extend testing seasons and try to mirror natural snow in an indoor environment. As the industry learns more about how pressure loss impacts rolling resistance and fuel efficiency, more methods have been developed to measure how well different inner liner materials maintain steady tyre pressure. Tyre companies can more readily choose the right materials of construction to suit performance requirements by using material property data from finite element analysis.

Many of these testing methodologies are trending towards virtual testing and modelling of tyre performance. And while tyre modelling has been around since the 1980s, the amount of data and range of data measurement required has increased exponentially.

The key automotive trends driving tyre development going forward continue to be electrification and autonomy. These trends will bring their own challenges to testing and validation. Electrification will present some traditional challenges with new applications, such as managing heavier loads, more aggressive torque / tread wear, reducing noise, and lowering rolling resistance. New materials and constructions are being developed to accommodate these unique challenges for electric vehicles. Tyre tuning will become exceptionally important as second-life tyres are brought into the mix, as consumers will want consistent performance.

From the perspective of autonomous vehicles, sensors and tyre intelligence are being added to provide new data sources for autonomous systems. Tyres equipped with these sensors will have to undergo the same endurance, durability, and performance tests to ensure the sensor can function as designed when faced with the same rigors as the tyre. Depending on where the sensors are mounted in the tyre/wheel assembly, normal tyre dynamics could adversely affect the accuracy of measurements or transmission of data to the vehicle. As aftermarket tires and sensors are developed, testing and validation should follow the same standards to simplify service and compatibility for consumers. Ease of replacement will be critical, as this directly affects the consumer and dealers.

There will continue to be developments and ongoing efforts to improve the fidelity and range of tyre testing data. These improvements will strive to speed up development cycles and improve virtual models going forward. However, the established standards and protocols continue to provide a steadfast and reliable set of tools that development teams, independent evaluators, and testing organisations can use to address new challenges and ensure that the ultimate goal of safety is met for regulatory bodies and consumers.

Dr. James A. Popio is Vice President of Operations - North America of the Smithers Materials Science and Engineering division. Prior to his current role, he was Vice President and General Manager of Smithers in the United Kingdom. Before that, he was General Manager and Director of Engineering at Smithers' Tire and Wheel Testing Laboratory in Ravenna, Ohio.

Jim has worked with the tyre and rubber industry for 20 years and has spent his professional career working for and/or with tyre companies, tyre dealers, automotive OEMs, industry suppliers, manufacturers, standards organisations and government agencies. 

Jim has extensive experience in tyre performance, characterisation, and methods development. His specialty areas of expertise are force and moment, endurance, aging, compliance, indoor wear, rolling resistance, and characterisation for modelling. Jim is a regular contributor to industry journals as well as a chair and speaker at major tyre and rubber conferences. Jim has a PhD in engineering and MS, and BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. and dotData, Inc. have announced joint development an AI agent to help engineers form hypotheses, interpret findings and make decisions in manufacturing R&D. Before full deployment, the initiative will validate the agent's required capabilities and technical feasibility.

The solution combines technical documents such as design specifications and experimental reports with engineers' accumulated expertise and features extracted from measurement data via dotData's Signal Intelligence technology. It will provide insights tailored to each project's objectives, circumstances and constraints.

The agent is not meant to produce a single correct answer. Operating in a human-in-the-loop framework where engineers retain decision-making authority, it will present multiple possibilities, perspectives and risks to broaden thinking and support professional development.

Manufacturing R&D generates diverse data through experiments, simulations, production and evaluation. Developing hypotheses requires specialised knowledge and context. Since new technology R&D rarely has one predetermined answer, abductive reasoning plays a key role. AI can add value by using data and organisational knowledge to widen engineers' perspectives rather than replace judgment.

The agent will explore measurement and experimental data patterns beyond factors engineers previously identified, combining quantitative insights with design documents and expert knowledge to reveal difficult-to-spot relationships. It will offer input from materials, design, analysis, production and evaluation perspectives, challenge existing hypotheses and raise questions about alternative interpretations and conditions. Engineers will then test hypotheses and feed results back into further dialogue, guiding Signal Intelligence processes so non-specialists can explore data features as needed.

Yokohama Rubber has advanced HAICoLab since 2020, using dotData as a foundational technology in tyre design and rubber mixing. This joint development expands those efforts, with engineers interpreting and evaluating the agent's suggestions using their own expertise rather than accepting them unquestioningly. The companies aim to transform R&D processes while strengthening engineers' creativity and judgment, establishing a new model for human-AI collaboration in manufacturing R&D.

Motoji Fujita, Head of Research & Advanced Development Division, The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., said, “Since 2020, we have conducted research and development under the HAICoLab framework, drawing on the complementary strengths of people and AI to create a collaborative environment. We believe AI agents will give engineers access to perspectives beyond their own experience and enable them to evaluate hypotheses from multiple angles. Through this development initiative, we aim to advance our R&D capabilities while supporting the continued growth of our engineers.”

Ryohei Fujimaki, CEO, dotData, Inc., said, “Success in manufacturing R&D depends heavily on an organisation’s ability to connect its proprietary data and knowledge with AI. The quantitative context generated from data through automated Signal Intelligence provides a foundation for AI agents to engage engineers in practical, data-driven discussions. Together with Yokohama Rubber, which has many years of experience in advanced data utilisation, we intend to establish standards for using AI in highly specialised business domains.”

Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe), a Bridgestone Corporation subsidiary, has announced the deployment of its ‘easytrack’ tyre management system at SR Technics Spain SAU, the tyre and wheel maintenance hub of global maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) provider SR Technics. The scalable digital platform is accessible on desktop and mobile devices.

Designed for airlines and MROs, ‘easytrack’ manages inbound and outbound tyre and wheel flows across single- or multi-site operations. It delivers real-time identification, tracking and documentation throughout each asset’s lifecycle. The project follows the solution’s first airline implementation in 2025, becoming its second customer rollout and first MRO application.

MRO providers handle large tyre and wheel volumes for multiple airlines, complicating operations. ‘easytrack’ simplifies asset management and improves traceability, accuracy, safety and productivity. At SR Technics Spain SAU, it digitalised paper-based processes, cutting processing time by 45 percent, reducing data-entry and identification errors and improving flow management across Palma de Mallorca and Madrid.

From left: David Sautois, ‘easytrack’ Product Manager, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) S.A.; Antonio Colella, General Manager, SR Technics Spain SAU; Jean-Philippe Minet, Managing Director, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) S.A.; Eugenie Baradzina, Commercial Director, SR Technics Spain SAU.

The results stem from a Bridgestone and SR Technics Spain SAU co-creation initiative built on long-standing partnership. ‘easytrack’ was adapted to support tyre and wheel combinations for the hub’s wheel and brake operations. Bridgestone’s expansion of airline and MRO solutions aligns with its E8 Commitment, emphasising efficiency and ecology.

Antonio Colella, General Manager, SR Technics Spain SAU, said, "The successful implementation of easytrack is a significant achievement for SR Technics Spain SAU and our teams in Mallorca and Madrid. From the very beginning, the collaboration with Bridgestone was built on trust, openness and a shared vision for innovation. Together, we have developed a solution that not only improves efficiency and traceability but also creates lasting value for our operations. We are proud to be the first MRO in the world to adopt this technology and look forward to continuing this journey with Bridgestone Corporation.”

Jean-Philippe Minet, Managing Director, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Europe, said, “I’d like to thank SR Technics for their trust and another fruitful collaboration with Bridgestone. What the teams have jointly achieved is remarkable: co-creating through efficient teamwork and customising the Bridgestone easytrack application to digitise SR Technics tyre and wheel tracking operations. This is a brilliant example of how Bridgestone amplifies the value created at our partners.”

Michelin Connected Fleet, a subsidiary of Michelin North America, has entered into a collaboration with Doran to integrate the latter’s tyre pressure monitoring hardware with its own Smart Predictive Tire solution. This combined offering is now accessible through the Platform Science Virtual Vehicle Marketplace, marking the first retail platform to host the integrated system.

The partnership merges Doran’s commercial tyre pressure and temperature monitors with Michelin’s predictive analytics software, creating a unified tyre management ecosystem. By fusing real-time sensor data with connected vehicle intelligence, the solution aims to enhance fleet visibility into tyre health, thereby enabling more informed maintenance scheduling and operational strategy. This development follows Michelin Connected Fleet’s recent launch of Smart Predictive Tire on the same marketplace, now broadening access to a fully bundled hardware-software package.

Utilising advanced data analytics, Smart Predictive Tire identifies emerging tyre issues through pressure and temperature readings, allowing fleets to pre-empt costly roadside failures and minimise unplanned downtime. Doran’s sensors supply the critical digital inputs that feed this predictive model, delivering comprehensive tyre oversight. The joint effort underscores both companies’ dedication to progressing connected fleet capabilities via synergistic hardware, software and data integration.

Willem Moore, President, Michelin Connected Fleet, said, "Doran provides the signal, and our Michelin Smart Leak algorithm helps translate tyre data into actionable insights that support informed maintenance decisions. By providing visibility into potential tyre conditions, fleets can evaluate issues sooner and take appropriate action based on their operational needs. Our focus is on delivering information that helps fleets manage their tyre assets more effectively and helps to support safe, efficient operations.”

Jim Samocki, President, Doran, said, “Fleets do not just need more data. They need accurate and reliable information that they can trust to reduce tyre-related repair and maintenance costs, improve uptime and keep vehicles operating safely. By combining Doran’s proven TPMS technology with Michelin’s Smart Predictive Tire solution, fleets can move beyond simply reacting to tyre issues and take a more proactive approach to tyre maintenance.”

Speaking to Tyre Trends, Salvador Espinosa Perez, spokesperson and executive representative at Renovacion Suarod, characterised Mexico’s tyre retreading industry as entering a period of greater maturity and heightened competition.

“On one side, commercial fleet operators are facing increasing pressure to reduce operating expenses while meeting corporate sustainability targets. Those trends have renewed interest in tyre retreading as fleets seek to maximise tyre life and reduce environmental impacts,” he stated.

At the same time, the industry continues to face structural challenges.

One of the most significant concerns, according to Espinosa, is competition from the informal sector, where quality standards may not always match those of established retreaders.

Another challenge comes from increasing imports of inexpensive tyres that are often manufactured for single-use applications and lack the structural integrity required for multiple retreading cycles.

“The formal market in Mexico is resilient and moving steadily towards complete technical professionalisation,” Espinosa said.

The company, an authorised retreader for Industrias de Hule Galgo, has more than five decades of experience, investments in advanced manufacturing technology and digital inspection systems that have positioned it as a long-term partner for commercial fleet operators rather than simply a tyre supplier.

“Our history is synonymous with evolution, consistency and leadership in the Mexican market,” said the executive.

DEMAND DRIVERS

Espinosa identified three primary factors supporting demand for retreaded commercial tyres in Mexico.

The first is the growing adoption of circular economy principles. Companies across multiple industries are increasingly seeking measurable ways to reduce environmental footprint. Retreading extends the useful life of tyre casings, reducing waste generation and lowering raw material consumption compared with manufacturing new tyres.

The second driver is cost efficiency. “Commercial tyres represent one of the largest operating expenses for transportation fleets. By extending casing life through multiple retreading cycles, fleet operators can significantly reduce their total cost of ownership, making retreading an increasingly attractive financial proposition,” divulged Espinosa.

The third driver is the rapid growth of nearshoring. As manufacturing investment and cross-border freight activity continue expanding across North America, trucking fleets require highly reliable tyre solutions that maximise vehicle uptime and minimise interruptions along transport routes.

According to him, these factors collectively are reshaping purchasing decisions throughout Mexico’s commercial transportation sector.

RETREADING FOCUS

Founded more than 50 years ago, the company was established with the objective of providing a sustainable and efficient mobility solution for Mexico’s transport sector. Over the decades, it has expanded its operations by investing in modern production technology, implementing stringent quality-control procedures and developing services tailored to the operational demands of Mexico’s commercial transport industry.

According to Espinosa, these investments have enabled the company to build long-term relationships with some of the country’s largest fleet operators.

“Today, we are not merely a supplier but an indispensable strategic partner for transport operators,” he said.

Renovacion Suarod specialises primarily in retreading commercial tyres used in heavy-duty freight transportation, passenger transport fleets and off-the-road (OTR) applications.

The company uses the cold retreading or precured process, which Espinosa described as the benchmark for high-performance commercial fleets.

Unlike processes that require rebuilding an entire tyre, cold retreading preserves the structural integrity of the original tyre casing while replacing only the worn tread. A pre-vulcanised tread is applied to the inspected casing before being cured in an autoclave under carefully controlled pressure and temperature.

According to the him, the process allows the retreaded tyre to deliver mileage comparable to that of a new tyre while maximising the value of the original casing.

The company’s primary production facility is located in Metepec in the State of Mexico, a location that Espinosa says provides efficient access to the country’s major logistics corridors.

He added that the location enables faster response times and more efficient deliveries to customers throughout central Mexico and other regions.

The Metepec plant is equipped with modern production equipment and infrastructure capable of processing substantial monthly tyre volumes. It also maintains sufficient operational flexibility to accommodate increases in demand from major corporate fleets without sacrificing technical precision or product quality.

BEYOND RETREADING

Renovacion Suarod attributes much of its competitive position to its status as an authorised retreader for Industrias de Hule Galgo.

The partnership allows the company to use rubber compounds specifically formulated to perform under Mexico’s diverse road and operating conditions.

Espinosa said the company has shifted from offering conventional retreading services to providing complete tyre lifecycle management.

Rather than selling a single retread, the objective is to maximise the economic value of every casing throughout its usable life while delivering the lowest possible cost-per-kilometre for fleet operators.

Commercial fleet operators are also becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they evaluate tyre performance. According to Espinosa, purchasing decisions are no longer based simply on obtaining the lowest acquisition price.

Operators also demand greater predictability in maintenance planning. Rather than reacting to tyre failures, fleet managers want to know precisely when maintenance will be required in order to avoid unplanned roadside breakdowns and improve operational efficiency.

Fuel economy has likewise become a growing priority. “Fleet operators increasingly expect retreaded tyres to meet low rolling resistance requirements that contribute to lower fuel consumption and reduced operating expenses,” noted Espinosa.

INNOVATION GIVES QUALITY

Innovation remains central to improving retread performance, according to Espinosa. The company continues developing tread patterns and rubber compounds designed to dissipate heat more effectively, reduce irregular tread wear and improve traction on wet road surfaces.

Process innovation has also become an important focus. Renovacion Suarod has invested in increasingly precise vulcanisation procedures to ensure consistent product quality throughout the retreading process.

In addition, the company employs advanced bonding cushion technologies designed to strengthen adhesion between the casing and the replacement tread.

According to Espinosa, these technologies are intended to eliminate the risk of tread separation while improving long-term reliability.

Digitalisation is also becoming an increasingly important component of tyre inspection, retreading and fleet management.

Espinosa said the transformation begins before production even starts. At the company’s Metepec facility, every tyre casing undergoes a comprehensive digital inspection to determine whether it is suitable for retreading.

The company uses advanced inspection equipment and specialised software capable of performing predictive diagnostics before the casing enters the buffing or vulcanisation stages.

These technologies identify internal defects including micro-separations that cannot be detected through conventional visual inspection.

The resulting structural data is then linked with fleet operating requirements, allowing technicians to determine whether a casing can safely continue through the retreading process.

According to Espinosa, the objective is to deliver retreaded tyres that eliminate roadside failures by ensuring only structurally sound casings enter production.

STANDING ISSUE

Among the industry’s biggest concerns is the growing presence of imported single-use or disposable tyres. According to Espinosa, many of these products lack the internal structural characteristics required for safe retreading.

Because they cannot undergo multiple service cycles, they ultimately increase the volume of waste tyres entering disposal systems while limiting the environmental benefits associated with the circular economy.

Another major obstacle is public perception. Espinosa said the industry must continue educating fleet operators and the broader market to dispel longstanding misconceptions that retreaded tyres are inherently less safe than new products.

He argued that premium tyre casings retreaded under strict manufacturing standards can achieve safety and performance levels comparable to new tyres.

The challenge, he said, is replacing outdated assumptions with measurable technical data demonstrating the reliability of professionally retreaded products.

EXPANSION THROUGH AUTOMATION

Looking ahead, Renovacion Suarod plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities while further integrating automation throughout its operations.

The company intends to increase operational capacity and deploy additional technologies that improve the precision of casing diagnostics.

It also plans to strengthen relationships with commercial fleets pursuing ‘zero carbon’ initiatives, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability within the transportation industry.

Espinosa said the long-term objective is to reinforce the company’s reputation as a provider of technologically advanced retreading solutions while maintaining high levels of reliability across Mexico’s road transport network.

For Renovacion Suarod, the future of tyre retreading lies at the intersection of economic efficiency, technological innovation and environmental responsibility.

As commercial fleets increasingly seek to reduce operating costs while meeting sustainability objectives, the company believes modern retreading has evolved into a strategic fleet management tool rather than simply a maintenance service.

“We are driven by the technical expertise and commitment to sustainability that define us. We do more than just retread tyres; we extend the return on your investment and safeguard the future of mobility in Mexico,” Espinosa said.