Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched the Vredestein Superpasso Pro competition-ready road bicycle tyres. This is the first model in the company’s all-new range of high-performance bicycle tyres scheduled for launch throughout the coming year.

The Superpasso Pro was developed using Apollo Tyres' cutting-edge ‘TriComp’ technology in Europe, which combines several rubber compositions for the tread and sidewall to maximise rolling resistance, puncture prevention and traction in both wet and dry situations. While the tyre's shoulder is composed of a softer composition to improve cornering grip at all speeds, the centre of the tread features a tougher compound to reduce rolling resistance and to prevent penetration. The new Superpasso Pro achieves a 14 percent improvement in rolling resistance, a 23 percent increase in puncture resistance and an eight percent weight reduction when compared to its Vredestein predecessor.

For TLR tyres, the new ‘Active Control’ technology offers a novel design that substitutes a bridging gap for the conventional overlapping centre join. Because of this development, the tyre is lighter and quicker, offering better control, better feedback and unwavering comfort. In order to increase puncture resistance and provide consumers the assurance that they can go farther, the Vredestein tyre also has a reinforced breaker layer. As part of a business collaboration with Apollo Tyres, the Dutch professional cycling team BEAT Cycling Club has put the Superpasso Pro through a rigorous testing process. Three sizes of the new Vredestein tyre are available: 700x25C, 700x28C and 700x32C. Both tubeless-ready (TLR) and tube type choices are available.

Nic Knippers, Division Head – Vredestein Two Wheel Tyres, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The Superpasso Pro represents a significant leap forward in tyre technology, offering cyclists a product that excels in both performance and durability. With its innovative design and advanced materials, it delivers unmatched speed, comfort and reliability for cyclists of all levels.”

Thijs Zonneveld, Sportive Director, BEAT Cycling Club, said, “As a team that consistently pushes the limits of performance, we’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Superpasso Pro. The advancements in rolling efficiency, grip and durability have been evident in both race-day conditions and intense training sessions, and we’re excited to continue using it in competition.”

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Michelin has secured a significant expansion of its partnership with the DHL Group, taking over complete tyre management for 11,000 new all-electric delivery vehicles from the DHL’s Post & Paket Deutschland division. This brings the total number of DHL vehicles under Michelin’s care to 45,000 across more than 2,000 locations, covering a substantial portion of the German last-mile fleet operated by the world’s largest logistics company. The newly signed contract, valued in the mid-double-digit million range, extends for up to 12 years and deepens a collaboration that has lasted 14 years.

Under the arrangement, Michelin oversees the entire tyre lifecycle for the 45,000-vehicle Post & Parcel fleet in Germany, which consists mainly of vans and passenger cars alongside some trucks supplying parcel centres. Services encompass tyre assembly, seasonal switching between year-round and winter tyres, mobile breakdown assistance and comprehensive wear management. Michelin expects roughly 70,000 tyres to be changed annually, about 20,000 service operations and some 6,000 roadside assistance calls, each with a reliable two-hour response commitment.

To handle this volume, every vehicle is clearly identifiable, allowing Michelin to immediately determine the required tyre type when a breakdown or wear limit is reported and resolve the issue on site swiftly. The company deploys its MICHELIN Agilis CrossClimate all-season tyre and the MICHELIN Agilis Alpin for winter road conditions. A nationwide network delivers the service promise, with Euromaster managing DHL locations alongside more than 220 additional partners, while Michelin staff across Germany monitor quality from urban parcel centres to rural delivery bases.

The outsourced tyre management keeps Deutsche Post and DHL’s German fleet reliably operational, letting the logistics group focus on its core business. Michelin impressed DHL with a competitive tender offer and an innovative overall concept, including a more transparent cost structure and simplified processes for tyre management and roadside assistance. This major order for networked fleet solutions strengthens Michelin’s standing as a high-performance partner for large delivery and parcel services, particularly in the growing electric delivery fleet segment.

Eva Tschan, Director Connected Solutions DACH and Nordics at Michelin, said, “DHL Group assigns us complete responsibility for tyre management on the last mile in Germany and thus for the most critical part of the daily letter and parcel delivery. We completely take the work of our customer around the topic of tyres and ensure that the feed fleet stays on the road – reliably, predictable and efficient. Our aspiration is to make the complex topic of tyre management for the postal and parcel Germany division as simple and transparent as possible.”

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Tyrecycle has been honoured with the Closing the Loop Award at the 2026 WasteSorted WA Awards, recognising its groundbreaking InfinitySeries partnership with Fenner Conveyors. The accolade highlights a significant shift in how end-of-life mining conveyor belts are managed, moving away from traditional landfill or stockpiling methods that had long posed challenges for the industry.

Through collaboration with Fenner Conveyors, a genuine belt-to-belt circular solution has been established, recovering valuable materials from used conveyor belts and reintroducing them into the manufacture of new ones. So far, the initiative has diverted over 4,000 tonnes of end-of-life belts from landfill, with recovered materials incorporated into Fenner's InfinitySeries products, each containing a minimum of 10 percent recycled content sourced from locally recovered belts.

The award reflects the potential of coordinated efforts among recyclers, manufacturers and industry stakeholders to keep resources in circulation and transform complex industrial waste streams into new products. Tyrecycle extended appreciation to Fenner Conveyors, its customers and its team for bringing this circular economy innovation to fruition.

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Hankook Tyre UK has secured exclusive sponsorship of the Transport Association Traffic Managers’ & Engineers’ Conference 2026, an event that draws fleet and logistics professionals together to exchange knowledge and examine the issues influencing commercial transport’s future.

The Transport Association, established in 1955, represents a UK-wide network of roughly 65 independent, family-owned logistics firms. Its members operate some 5,700 vehicles from 175 locations, delivering transport, storage and distribution services domestically and across Europe, while the organisation promotes collaboration and best practice.

Scheduled for 25–27 September 2026 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, the annual gathering will convene senior figures from the Association’s national network. As exclusive sponsor, Hankook will address tyre efficiency, safety, sustainability and total cost of ownership – topics of growing importance amid decarbonisation, cost pressures and electrification. The partnership reinforces Hankook’s dedication to collaborating with fleet operators and industry bodies on practical solutions for commercial mobility’s future.

Jon Cottrell, Network & Operations Manager, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “We’re delighted to support The Transport Association and its members at this year’s conference. The transport sector is evolving rapidly, and close collaboration across the industry will be essential. We look forward to sharing our experience, hearing different perspectives and contributing to the practical discussions taking place throughout the event.”

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Pirelli has introduced its new SCORPION Gravity range, a mountain bike tyre lineup created for gravity riding and covering trail, enduro, freeride and downhill disciplines. The Italian manufacturer has completely redesigned the platform while introducing a new naming system intended to simplify how riders identify the best tyre configuration. Compared with the previous line, the range substantially increases the number of available combinations, as each model can be paired with different casing and compound choices.

The selection process follows three stages. Riders first choose a tread pattern, with three distinct scorpion species each representing a different terrain and riding style. They then select a casing based on the level of support and protection required. Finally, they choose a compound from Medium, Soft or Supersoft to achieve the desired balance of grip, rolling efficiency and durability.

Three tread names form the foundation of the new architecture: Black Sting, Emperor and Red Claw. Each draws inspiration from a different scorpion species, with the name reflecting the creature's characteristics and natural habitat to create a direct link with the conditions and riding style the tyre is engineered for.

Black Sting takes its name from scorpions living in deserts and arid environments. Developed for riders prioritising speed, precision and responsiveness, the fast-rolling tread combines low rolling resistance with controlled braking, suiting hardpack and firm, compact terrain where stability under high loads and at speed is critical. Emperor is the range's most versatile option, building on the previous RACE M tread but fully re-engineered. Like the scorpion it represents, it performs across mixed terrain and changing conditions, balancing traction, control and rolling efficiency. Red Claw, inspired by tropical scorpions in wet, humid environments, targets maximum traction and control. Based on the earlier RACE T design, it is optimised for loose-over-hard, dusty and off-camber terrain.

Pirelli has also evolved its four casing constructions, all now fully eMTB-ready for conventional and electric mountain bikes, including Light and Full Power models. ProWALL is the lightest with sidewall protection, weighing 700 to 900 grammes, and favours responsiveness and climbing efficiency. HardWALL, at 900 to 1,100 grammes, adds structural support and reinforcement against pinch flats. DualWALL, weighing 1,100 to 1,300 grammes, uses a dual-ply build for enduro racing, bike parks and freeride. DH+ WALL, from 1,300 to over 1,500 grammes, is the most protective option, employing tougher base fabrics and extra reinforcement for elite downhill racing.

Three compounds complete the range. Medium, marked yellow, balances grip, comfort and durability. Soft, marked red, provides intuitive handling and consistent grip in dry and wet conditions without sacrificing durability. Supersoft, marked purple, is engineered for the most demanding conditions, offering maximum grip, vibration damping and impact absorption. The range was developed by Pirelli technicians with three-time Downhill World Champion Fabien Barel and world-class athletes including Brendan Fairclough, Jack Moir, Thomas Genon, Juan Diego Salido, Fabio Wibmer and Lachlan Blair.

Fabien Barel said, “Having worked closely with Pirelli, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply their expertise runs, from Formula 1 to the Motorcycle World Championship, from motocross to high-performance cars. That same racing DNA is now driving innovation in mountain biking – across compound technology, casing construction and tread design. What’s particularly interesting is seeing how the company is bringing into cycling that wealth of cross-discipline knowledge built up over years of success at the highest levels of motorsport. What stands out most when riding these new tyres is how consistent the grip feels across the entire tread, no matter the terrain, and how stable the casing stays even when conditions get rough – it’s the kind of confidence you notice within the first few turns.”

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