Ashutosh Chincholikar, the Founder and CEO of Smart Controls, passed away on 23 May 2021 after losing battle to Covid-19.

Chincholikar was an electronics engineering graduate with more than 28 years of experience in the rubber and tyre industry. Smart Controls was founded in 1999 and has achieved major milestones under his leadership, which includes Automation, MES and Digitalisation Solutions for Rubber Mixing Room, Tyre Curing Presses, Spinning Lines, Polyester Staple Fiber Lines, Fabric Dipping Lines, Airport-Metro Baggage Handling etc.

Black Donuts Engineering Inc, commented, “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. With great memories of a true tyre industry professional and friend, Ashutosh Chincholikar.”

Peter Haan, Head of Global VM Tire, Siemens AG, said, “The global tyre community lost a pioneer regarding moving our industry towards digitalisation. This was his passion! Siemens has lost a long term reliable partner; driving our common business as an entrepreneur with a strong focus on customer satisfaction. I have lost a very good friend and I am in deep sorrow about this loss. Our feelings are with the family.”

Rochus Hofmann, Managing Director, Zeppelin Systems, said, “With heartfelt sorrow, we had to communicate to the Zeppelin Group that our colleague, friend and business partner, Ashutosh Chincholikar, passed away unexpectedly. He was the Founder, Managing Director as well as Co-Owner of Smart Controls India Ltd., our strategic joint venture automation company at Gwalior. Additionally, he was a very significant member of the global management team of Zeppelin Systems. We are saddened by this big loss for the whole Zeppelin Group."

“He will remain in mine and our memories with his visionary sense and his irrepressible will to move forward. It was a pleasure to work with him and exchange ideas. Those of us who have been in contact with him will also remember his energy, smile and his smart way of communicating with others. We pray to the Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul,” he added.

 (TT)

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Pirelli will deploy its full range of tyre compounds across the upcoming Austrian and British Grand Prix races. For the Red Bull Ring event in Spielberg, teams gain access to the three softest mixtures in the range, designated C3, C4 and C5. The Silverstone race, however, sees a return to the hardest trio of C1, C2 and C3 compounds.

The Austrian circuit features the fewest corners and shortest lap time on the Formula One calendar, with heavy braking and acceleration zones. These characteristics generate predominantly thermal degradation in the tyres, while lateral loads on the axles remain low. Despite the track’s old and highly abrasive surface, pure tyre wear is not considered a decisive factor.

Silverstone adopts the Sprint weekend format this year and ranks among the longest circuits, dominated by high-speed corners that produce extreme lateral forces comparable to Suzuka and Spa-Francorchamps. Consequently, the front axle endures the highest stress, with the left-front tyre wearing more quickly due to the abundance of right-hand turns.

Pirelli serves as the title sponsor for the British Grand Prix weekend, a distinction it also holds for the Italian Grand Prix. This association links the manufacturer’s name with two of the most frequently held historic events in the Formula One World Championship.

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ZC Rubber made a strategic statement at THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026, held from 9 to 11 June, using the event to reaffirm its enduring dedication to the European automotive sector. The manufacturer placed its advanced WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE tyre families at the forefront of its exhibition.

A clear strategic pivot for the region was evident, as the company mapped out a wider European direction. Visitors were shown a full pipeline of new passenger car and light truck tyres destined for a second-half 2026 release, presented alongside the proven commercial truck portfolio and a handful of carefully selected previews set for 2027.

Considerable interest gathered around the passenger car and light truck offerings, specifically the upcoming summer and all-season ranges. Performance enthusiasts examined the WESTLAKE ZuperFlex Z-137 and GOODRIDE RideMax G-147 for ultra-high-performance vehicles, while off-road specialists focused on the WESTLAKE TERRA LEGEND SL399 and GOODRIDE MUD LEGEND SL388.

The WESTLAKE Zuper4S Z-411 emerged as a central solution for Europe’s unpredictable seasons. Engineered to manage wet roads, snow and dry tarmac in one package, the tyre uses V-shaped grooves to rapidly clear water and slush. Its high-density 3D siping provides braking stability on icy surfaces, while a specialised compound ensures consistent grip and long life across wide temperature ranges.

Within the commercial truck arena, ZC Rubber highlighted its established WESTLAKE Gen II series, already valued by European fleets for mileage. The WSL2 steer tyre was presented as a tool for stable handling and fuel savings, featuring optimised pressure distribution and a low-heat compound. The WDL2+ drive tyre was shown to deliver strong traction and even wear thanks to its rigid blocks and belt-wrap technology. Motorsport attendees saw the upgraded WESTLAKE Sport RS2 displayed alongside the Red Bull Driftbrothers’ drift car, a product of close racing collaboration now under consideration for future public sale.

The company also offered glimpses of 2027 innovations, including the WESTLAKE Z-301 van tyre, the GOODRIDE All Season G-721 and new truck solutions like the WTL2 and GOODRIDE M2. The latest passenger car and light truck tyres are expected across Europe in the latter half of 2026, while the premium WSL2 and WDL2+ truck tyres are already available. ZC Rubber confirmed it will continue advancing product development and regional support tailored to Europe’s varied climate and transport needs.

Leo Liao, General Manager, ZC Rubber Europe, commented, “The Tire Cologne gave us an important opportunity to show not only a broader product portfolio but a clearer direction for Europe. We are focusing on products that respond to the way European customers actually drive, operate and make purchasing decisions – from year-round mobility to long-haul efficiency and durability. These products reflect how we are listening to European customers and partners, and how we are building a portfolio that is more closely aligned with local market needs.”

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Nokian Tyres has launched its Road Trip Guide consumer campaign, running from Monday through 19 June at NokianTyresdotcom/Guide. The initiative, themed around real drivers, real destinations and real roads, invites motorists to submit lesser-known travel spots including roadside diners, remote trails, scenic views and unique landmarks.

The campaign website includes a tyre quiz to assist drivers in selecting the appropriate tyres for their journeys, along with safety tips designed to keep attention on the scenery rather than roadside issues. On its social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Threads under the handle @NokianTyresNA, the global tyre maker is sharing road trip safety advice, aspirational travel ideas and destination recommendations from tire dealers.

Several all-season, all-terrain and all-weather tyres from Nokian Tyres’ North American factory in Dayton, Tennessee, supply shops across United States and Canada. Popular models include the Nokian Tyres One, the Outpost all-terrain family, the all-weather Remedy WRG5 and the Surpass AS01, an ultra-high-performance tyre with puncture-resistant Aramid fibres introduced last year. The company, which invented the winter tyre, also unveiled the studded Hakkapeliitta 01, the first studded winter tyre with on-demand grip, available at tyre shops this fall.

Beyond the guide, Nokian Tyres is engaging travellers through a partnership with Alterra Mountain Company and appearances at Overland Expo events across United States. Globally, the company served as an Official Sponsor of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, which concluded at the end of May.

Hans Dyhrman, Director of Marketing, Nokian Tyres North America, said, “Safety is the foundation of every journey, from daily errands to cross-country road trips. Our Road Trip Guide is a great place for drivers to turn for inspiration and information that will help them make the most of their summer travels.”

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Michelin has redirected industry focus towards its speciality tyre division, a lesser-known but strategically essential part of the group’s operations. During its latest Media Day, held on 9 and 10 June 2026, the company welcomed visitors to its Almería Test Center in Spain, known as CEMA – a facility deliberately chosen for its exposure to Europe’s most punishing weather conditions. At this site, the group rigorously pushes its products to their breaking points, underscoring how critical this lesser-known division is to overall corporate strategy.

Specialty tyres are presented as vital components for industries where operational failures carry severe economic and human risks. They ensure safe aircraft landings, maintain continuous mining output and boost agricultural machinery performance under strict technical and regulatory demands. Rather than simple rubber parts, these products function as high-technology assets that keep the global economy running smoothly, performing reliably in some of the harshest environments on earth.

Financially, this segment has become Michelin’s most lucrative tyre activity, generating 17 percent of group revenue with a 13.1 percent operating margin in 2025. First-quarter 2026 data showed volume growth of 2.5 percent, with further expansion expected in structurally growing markets like air transport, logistics and defence, where annual growth rates range from three to eight percent. Research and development investments, 90 percent of which remain in France, support this trajectory alongside a manufacturing scale-up at Bourges and new industrial processes in Le Puy, Troyes and Montceau-les-Mines.

Michelin enhances client performance through specialised teams, digital services and enduring partnerships backed by 6,000 researchers and deep materials science expertise. Motorsport activities accelerate innovation by pushing tyres to their limits, while the CEMA facility itself serves as a unique living laboratory. With 113 kilometres of tracks, vast terrain and custom-built measurement tools from Clermont-Ferrand engineers, the centre is far more than a test track, standing as a central pillar of Michelin’s innovation strategy.

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