In that respect, tyre industry should continue to improve New Product Development (NPD) process to a different level by expanding R&D efforts. Consequently, innovative tyre technology and tyre knowledge will be extremely important to compete in the future, more than at any time in the past. As we all know, there are several key processes to design and to produce the right tyres to meet the customer requirements.

In the new tyre development process, duration is getting more crucial and all manufacturers are trying to shorten it by using modern simulation and modeling technics. TIC - Tyre Industry Consulting - and AccuPredict LLC believe in “Speed to market with right solutions and innovation.” In that respect, Virtual Technologies enable companies to launch world-class product faster and more cost effectively than ever. Therefore, we recommend using the Virtual technology which is essential to understand how all the various parts of the tyre interact and add up to whole. With modeling and simulation, you will foresee the full effects of cascading events as well as novel events that our mental models cannot even imagine.   

Tyre, as a component of a vehicle, can largely influence the performance of the vehicle. On the other hand, to design tyres with high quality and high-performance, not only the characteristics of tyres such as tread pattern, tyre structure, material, local stress and thermal properties are also important, but the running conditions such as the load of a vehicle, the road roughness, temperature changes are equally critical. Considering the rapid advancement in electric vehicle, tyre will be the major source of noise for the modern vehicles. European regulation on tyre pass-by (PB) noise has been restricted to be less than 72 dB (A) and set the future noise level at a limit of 68 dB(A) after 2025 (phase 3). Tyre models based on virtual technology provide a comprehensive evaluation of key aspects of tyres. To ensure that the tyres are designed with high quality and good durability, and also in compliance with regulation, simulating tyres and predicting the tyre performance under various conditions can largely improve the tyre develop efficiency. The following tyre simulation and modeling are a few examples to showcase the vast potential of the tyre virtual technology.

• Components of tyre simulation - creation of rim, carcass, ply, and belts, reinforcement modeling, tread pattern meshing method, element types, etc.
• Footprint and force/moment prediction – Quasi-static footprint prediction with normal force, lateral force, torsion, and camber; steady-state rolling with brake and acceleration, cornering, and camber, etc.

• Integration of tyre structure and tyre Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) – pitch sequencing, tyre profile and structure, tread blocks, void area, non-skid depth, angle of groove, shape of footprint, local stress distribution and tyre uniformity can be investigated in combination with tyre impact noise, air-pumping noise and cavity noise to obtain the tyre radiation noise model for tyre design optimisation.
• Rolling resistance – Deformation analysis, radial stiffness (R deflection) prediction, tread pattern and side wall stiffness may be included to a finite element model for specific tyre designs and then simulate the energy loss under different tyre running conditions to obtain the optimal rolling resistance level.
• Thermal stress and fatigue analysis based on fluid dynamics - fluid-solid coupling simulation, creation and evaluation of detailed tread design, and dynamic meshes for tyre structure and rotating machinery fields will collectively provide precise understanding of the thermal distribution of given tyres. In particular, the analysis can predict the thermal stress of tyre molds accurately.

We do recommend applying Virtual analysis in design and development phases regarding; sizing, carcass line design, pattern design, footprint, tyre structure, materials, running conditions, durability, rolling resistance, noise and others.

TIC-Tyre Industry Consulting and AccuPredict LLC Subject Matter Experts (SME) have vast hands on experiences for above topics and ready to support your activities. We provide specialised technical solutions for your challenges and we guarantee a high standard of professional-ethical principles that we have kept and developed for years.

In addition to those services, we also provide Simulation and Modeling Technical Courses that design to give your workforce the skills, mind set and competences. Our trainers guide participants through a learning journey featuring workshops, case studies and the latest educational technologies.

• www.ctyreindustry.com. Contact: halukkizilay@outlook.com
• www.accupredictllc.com. Contact junhan08@yahoo.com

Haluk Kizilay has built over 30 years an impressive career that spans everything from tyre design & development to strategic planning, marketing and business development with global leaders including Bridgestone Turkey and Cooper Tire & Rubber. In 2019, he established TIC (Tire Industry Consulting). Haluk is one of the authorised judges of EU Horizon 2020 work programme and one of the registered researchers of TUBITAK, the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey. In this article he focuses how to enhance New Product Development (NPD) process.

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Jun Han Ph.D. has more than 15 years of experience in solving mechanical problems related to structural sound and vibration, tyre NVH, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), thermal, and numerical modelling. His exceptional modeling work won him the Outstanding Contribution to Innovation Award in 2019. He was a Senior Engineer at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (OH) and has served as the core technical support for Cooper Tire’s Global R&D centers in the US, China and Europe. His work in reducing total tyre pass-by noise won him the prestigious Chairman’s Award at Copper in 2016. In 2020, Jun Han established his own technology company AccuPredict LLC

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Designed to tackle the largest truck and bus wheels while maintaining precision for passenger vehicles, the RB30T Hybrid Wheel Balancer from Ranger (a BendPak division) delivers power and versatility. Switching between heavy-duty and light-duty applications is effortless, requiring just a button press. Its integrated pneumatic wheel lift enhances safety and ergonomics by minimising manual handling and reducing injury risks.

Capable of balancing wheels for buses, semi-trucks, OTR vehicles, light trucks and cars, the RB30T ensures fast, accurate results without recalibration. Its re-engineered platform supports wheels up to 330 lbs (approx. 150 kg), 49.25 inches in diameter and 20 inches wide, with rapid cycle times – seven seconds for car wheels and around 20 seconds for full truck assemblies. At its core, the Ranger Drive-Check system uses advanced 64-bit processing and quartz piezoelectric sensors to detect even the slightest imbalances across multiple axes. This smart technology simulates real-world driving conditions, identifying vibrations before they become road issues and automatically recommending optimal corrections.

Built for durability, the RB30T features a ribbed nylon-fibre drive belt, counter-weighted flywheel system and a three-phase motor with solid-state phase conversion for smooth, high-torque operation under heavy loads. The balancer comes ready to use with a commercial mounting kit, including cones and adapters, while its spacious top tray and side shelves keep wheel weights and tools organised for efficient workflow.

Available as a standalone unit or with the Ranger Select package – which includes professional installation and training – the RB30T is a robust solution for shops handling diverse wheel balancing needs.

Sean Price, Director of Product Development, said, “The new RB30T wheel balancer can do it all. Its versatility makes the RB30T a great choice not just for heavy-duty fleets and repair garages but also for high-volume tyre shops and mixed fleets.”

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Bridgestone has officially rolled out its proprietary aircraft tyre management system “easytrack” in collaboration with Cebu Pacific Air, marking the first deployment of the solution by a commercial airline.

The system, launched in April 2025, uses QR codes and a smartphone app to track aircraft tyres across the supply chain—replacing Cebu Pacific’s manual, paper-based process.

“As Cebu Pacific continues to expand its operations, it's essential that we invest in smart solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce manual workload,” said Shevantha Weerasekera, Vice President, Engineering & Fleet Management at Cebu Pacific. “Partnering with Bridgestone to implement the ‘easytrack’ system has enabled us to significantly improve our tyre  management processes significantly, ensuring greater accuracy, safety, and productivity across our operations.”

Bridgestone said the system has halved labour time for inventory management and achieved full tyre tracking accuracy after verification trials at Cebu Pacific’s warehouses, MROs, and maintenance bases.

“As a value co-creation partner, we have proposed solutions tailored to on-site operations based on learnings and insights gained from Cebu Pacific Air’s frontline operations,” said Arata Tomita, Director, Global Aviation Tire Solutions Business Division at Bridgestone. “We are very pleased that the official implementation of ‘easytrack’ has contributed to the improvement of operational accuracy, safety, and productivity.”

Bridgestone said the move aligns with its “Bridgestone E8 Commitment,” with a focus on enhancing efficiency and ecology by supporting sustainable tyre practices and operational productivity.

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Japanese start-up ispace inc. and tyre maker Bridgestone have agreed to jointly develop tyres for small and midsize lunar rovers, targeting Moon use by 2029.

The partnership equips Bridgestone’s elastic wheel technology—designed to adapt to harsh lunar terrain—on ispace's rover prototypes. The companies will conduct Earth-based performance tests before Moon deployment.

“Bridgestone’s lunar rover tyre has a structure of thin metal spokes, enabling flexible deformation while maintaining durability,” said Masaki Ota, Director of OE Business Strategy & Planning/New Mobility Business Division at Bridgestone. “This design delivers superior ability to traverse and shock absorption, allowing the rover to traverse the lunar surface and overcome obstacles such as lunar rocks.”

Bridgestone started developing lunar rover tyres in 2019 and unveiled concept models in April 2025 with lower weight to suit smaller rover platforms.

ispace, known for micro-sized lunar rovers, sees the partnership as key to its long-term lunar economy mission.

“ispace's goal of establishing a new economy on the Moon requires the participation of players from a wide range of industries,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Bridgestone… is now developing lunar rover tyres for the extreme environments found on the Moon. These tyres will undoubtedly contribute to future human advancement on the Moon.”

The companies said they are also exploring collaboration opportunities through the Space Strategy Fund at Japan’s national space agency, JAXA.

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Magna Tyres, a leading premium off-the-road (OTR), industrial and truck tyre solutions company, has launched a new AI-powered (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot on its official website.

The chatbot will provide instant assistance to its customers 24x7 in any language around the world.

Robert Gruijters, Head of Marketing, Magna Tyres, said, “Customer service is at the core of our brand promise. With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 67, we already outperform many in our industry and this launch reinforces our commitment to becoming a truly best-in-class brand by being always available, accessible and responsive.”

This move is part of the company’s efforts to not only meet but exceed customer expectations by providing an instantaneous response ranging from product queries to general support.

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