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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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has thrown its support behind a legislative provision known as Section 114, or Advancing Tire Technologies, included in H.R. 7389. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted favourably to advance the ‘Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026’ during a markup session held yesterday. USTMA credited Congressman Russell Fry for his leadership on tyre safety and acknowledged the bipartisan committee staff work that successfully pushed for modernised federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The association stressed that tyres are critical to moving people and goods across the country. As representatives of the entire industry value chain, USTMA and its membership recognise the importance of fostering a safer and more connected society. The new language directs the Transportation Secretary to eliminate obsolete testing methods for radial tyres, update snow tyre failure modes, review similar updates for all tyres, adopt stricter speed symbol requirements and commission a GAO study to evaluate global regulations and recommend further safety improvements.

With the committee’s approval secured, USTMA has now urged all House members to pass the legislation on the floor and send it to the Senate for deliberation. The organisation is advocating for the removal of outdated plunger energy and bead unseat tests under federal standards while pushing for more stringent performance evaluations to ensure consumer access to the highest performing tyres available globally.

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Solvay has redirected funds from an internal carbon pricing mechanism on business travel towards local environmental projects, mobilising over EUR 750,000 since 2023. The company launched its Travel Carbon Fund that year, applying a EUR 100 per tonne of CO₂ levy on emissions from employee travel. Proceeds are reinvested directly at site levels into initiatives that might otherwise lack traditional investment backing.

In 2026, three new projects joined nine already-supported projects worldwide. In Dombasle, France, Solvay will restore more than 20 hectares of ecosystems and expand reforestation. In Brazil’s Paulínia and Santo André sites, two separate projects aim to boost energy efficiency, cut CO₂ output and conserve water. To date, collective results include nearly 72,000 trees planted, over 38,000 cubic meters of water saved annually and more than 80 hectares restored or replanted across seven countries.

These efforts have also helped reduce business travel emissions by 22 percent between 2024 and 2025. Solvay remains on track with broader sustainability targets, having already cut direct emissions by 29 percent against a 2030 goal of 30 percent, reduced value chain emissions by 13 percent toward a 20 percent goal and placed 16 percent of land under conservation or restoration towards a 30 percent target by the end of the decade.

Jean-Charles Djelalian, Chief Sustainability Officer, Solvay, said, “As a global company, we rely on business travel to stay close to our customers, develop strategic partnerships and engage with our teams. While the greenhouse gas emissions derived from our travels can be reduced through responsible practices, they cannot be eliminated entirely. The Travel Carbon Fund allows us to take responsibility for what remains and turn it into concrete sustainability projects, all while creating engagement and pride across our sites and teams. While relatively modest in scale, the Travel Carbon Fund illustrates a practical approach to scope 3 emissions: tackling what can be avoided and converting what remains into projects that deliver tangible environmental benefits.”

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Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook has secured a “Highly Recommended” rating for its Dynapro AT2 tyre in the Best Tyres for Pick-Up Trucks category of the DriverReviews 2026/27 Customer Choice Awards. The all-season Dynapro AT2 is engineered as a dependable all-terrain SUV tyre offering year-round safety and performance.

Three additional Hankook tyres also received recommendations in their respective segments. The Ventus S1 evo3 SUV, an ultra-high performance tyre blending sporty handling with everyday comfort, was cited in the Best Tyres for Large SUVs category. The Kinergy eco2 earned a nod in the Best Tyres for City Cars class for its efficiency and low running costs, while the Vantra LT, a durable light van tyre designed for high mileage and commercial use, was recognised in the Best Tyres for Vans category. These honours underscore Hankook’s consistent performance and popularity among drivers across France, Italy, Germany, and other key European markets.

Based on over 548,000 verified customer reviews, the DriverReviews awards reflect genuine on-road experiences across diverse vehicles and conditions, making the platform one of Europe’s largest and most trusted independent review sites. Since partnering with DriverReviews in 2021, Hankook has repeatedly demonstrated its innovative range and reliability, reinforcing its continental reputation for quality and customer satisfaction.

Paul Emery, Sales Director, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “We are delighted to be recognised across four categories in the DriverReviews 2026/27 Customer Choice Awards. Our longstanding partnership with DriverReviews continues to be incredibly valuable, as it reflects genuine customer feedback from across Europe. These results are a testament to the quality and performance of our tyre range, and further reinforce Hankook’s reputation as a trusted choice for drivers.”

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA) has been named a Sustainability Yearbook Member in the Auto Components category for the first time. The recognition took place on 11 May 2026 at the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook Distinction Ceremony hosted by S&P Global at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai, where Thai companies featured in the Sustainability Yearbook 2026 were celebrated. From over 9,200 firms assessed in the 2025 Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), only 848 earned Yearbook membership.

STA’s inclusion highlights its strengths in the Social Dimension, particularly human rights, occupational health and safety and employee development. Environmentally, the company has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a short-term target of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions per product unit by 10 percent by 2026, compared to the 2021 baseline.

The S&P Global assessment reaffirms STA’s leadership in the integrated rubber industry under its Sri Trang Green Rubber vision. The company drives product quality while managing environmental, social, governance and emerging risks, thereby creating stakeholder value and strengthening trust among partners and consumers.

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