A new trans-Tasman alliance has been formed to fundamentally reshape the approach to end-of-life tyres in Australia and New Zealand. The Trans-Tasman Tyre Recycling Alliance (TTRA), a joint initiative of Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) and Tyrewise New Zealand, will function as an independent entity dedicated to advancing a circular economy for the sector. This collaboration arrives at a critical moment, as the two nations collectively discard more than 600,000 tonnes of tyres annually, presenting a significant environmental and economic challenge.

The urgency for such an alliance is underscored by recent data. In Australia, a mere 30,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres are currently recycled domestically, leading to an estimated annual loss of over USD 50 million in resource value from large off-the-road tyres alone. Furthermore, a substantial portion of tyres in both countries are used for energy recovery rather than being transformed into valuable materials, highlighting a widespread missed opportunity for higher-value recovery. The TTRA will specifically champion advanced material applications, moving beyond this status quo to promote the use of crumb rubber in road construction, advanced manufacturing and innovative new products.

The alliance’s strategy is built upon five interconnected pillars: fostering technology and innovation, developing new markets for tyre-derived products, advocating for supportive policy and procurement standards, facilitating knowledge exchange across the industry and establishing a unified regional voice in global forums. This formal partnership allows both nations to leverage their distinct experiences; New Zealand can learn from Australia's more developed recycling markets, while Australia can gain insights from New Zealand's implementation of a regulated, mandatory stewardship scheme.

Scheduled to commence full operations in early 2026, the TTRA will not replace the existing national schemes but will instead operate alongside them, with both TSA and Tyrewise contributing resources and expertise. The formation of the alliance follows a successful global industry summit and signals a concerted effort to elevate industry standards, drive investment and create a more sustainable future for tyre management across the Australasian region and eventually into the Pacific.

Lina Goodman, CEO, Tyre Stewardship Australia, said, "We must work together across borders to unlock the full potential of circular tyre recovery and build resilience against global market disruptions. Through TTRA, we can get ahead of risks, capitalise on opportunities and accelerate the development of local markets for tyre-derived materials. The formation of TTRA reflects growing momentum behind product stewardship, circular economy outcomes and government mandates on recycled content, particularly in infrastructure projects.”

Adele Rose, CEO of 3R Group which manages New Zealand’s Tyrewise scheme, said, "Tyrewise has demonstrated how quickly a regulated system can deliver high collection rates and meaningful recovery outcomes. Through TTRA, we can not only share our learnings but can also be the incubator for new technology that demonstrates how a regulated well-supported scheme can foster greater circular outcomes. In addition, this assists us to support our close pacific neighbours who receive new and used tyres from our respective countries, often without the resources to manage those tyres when they become end of life. This is about building resilient, circular economies that support jobs, innovation and environmental responsibility. The future of tyre recycling in our region depends on the kind of collaboration TTRA represents."

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Continental has secured a global original equipment supply agreement for the new all-electric Renault Twingo. The latest generation of the compact vehicle is now being produced exclusively with the 18-inch Continental EcoContact 7 tyre as standard across all worldwide markets.

The selection of this specific tyre is underpinned by its superior performance on the EU tyre label, particularly regarding energy efficiency and rolling noise. These attributes are critical for electric vehicle applications, as low rolling resistance directly contributes to maximising the driving range per charge, while reduced noise emission ensures a more serene cabin environment.

The tyre’s exceptional energy efficiency stems from a novel rubber compound and the advanced Smart Energy Casing technology, which incorporates new materials to minimise internal friction. Efficiency is further amplified by an aerodynamically optimised sidewall, featuring a golf-ball-inspired ‘Aerodimple’ structure that reduces air turbulence and the energy required to maintain motion.

Furthermore, Continental has engineered the Silent Pattern tread design to specifically mitigate rolling noise. By meticulously calibrating the tread block spacing and angles to counteract low-speed urban frequencies, the tyre delivers a quieter experience for both passengers and surrounding communities. This tyre variant, size 205/45 R18 90H XL FR, has been homologated for the Twingo in numerous countries.

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Bridgestone UK has been named Tyre Manufacturer of the Year at the 2026 TyreSafe Awards, recognising its sustained efforts to improve road safety and influence driver behaviour across the country. The honour specifically highlights the effectiveness of the company’s 'Be a Road Safety Hero' initiative.

Since its inception, that campaign has reached over 24 million individuals, combining public education, retailer participation and direct engagement to translate awareness into practical action. More than 25 nationwide events have been held at venues ranging from supermarkets to tyre retail sites, resulting in over 10,500 complimentary safety inspections. Those checks uncovered more than 1,200 separate issues, including roughly 200 tyres deemed illegal for road use.

Beyond these hands-on clinics, the programme has distributed extensive educational resources and maintained visibility through digital media and targeted public relations. Partnerships with groups like Sporting Bears have helped convey safety messages to enthusiast communities, while Bridgestone staff have collectively logged over 10,000 volunteer hours in support of the campaign’s objectives.

Helen Roe, Senior Manager – Brand, Events, Product & Digital Marketing, said, "While we're naturally delighted to receive this recognition, what matters most to us is the impact the campaign is having beyond the award itself. Our 'Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero' campaign was designed to encourage drivers to take simple steps that can make a big difference, and we're proud that the campaign is helping to identify potentially dangerous tyres and prompting drivers to take action. Tyre safety isn’t something any one organisation can tackle alone. That’s why we’ve worked closely with our retailers and partners to take this message directly to motorists in ways that are practical, visible and engaging. To have carried out over 10,500 tyre checks over the last couple of years, demonstrates the scale of the challenge but also the power of education and collaboration. We see this award not as the finish line, but as motivation to continue championing safer roads for everyone.

“We’d also like to recognise and congratulate TyreSafe, on their 20th year anniversary, for bringing together so many to collaborate on raising tyre safety awareness in the UK and for their continued work with government, police and emergency services to raise the profile of tyre safety nationwide. Ultimately, tyres carry lives. With an estimated 6.1 million illegal tyres still on UK roads, raising awareness remains critical. Regular tyre checks are a simple step that can make a real difference – for drivers and for everyone around them.”

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Toyo Tires secured a dominant performance at the 58th SCORE Baja 500, with drivers Trey Gibbs and Gustavo Vildósola Sr. claiming victories in the Trophy Truck Spec and Legends classes, respectively. The championship-winning Open Country M/T-R tyres were instrumental in the success, particularly in the highly competitive Spec class, which boasted the largest field among the top five categories. Brent Fox added to the brand's success by finishing second in the Spec class, delivering a third podium finish for Team Toyo over the race weekend.

The second round of the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship unfolded on a demanding 468.70-mile circuit through the northern Baja California peninsula. Driving the #215 Mason Motorsports / Toyo Tires / Ford Raptor, Gibbs achieved his maiden SCORE race victory with a winning time of 9 hours, 46 minutes and 7.59 seconds. This triumph extended Team Toyo’s remarkable winning streak in the Spec class to four consecutive years, a reign that began at the 2023 Baja 500. Fox secured the runner-up position in his #282 1Nine Industries / Ford Raptor, clocking in at 9 hours and 55 minutes to complete a one-two finish for the team.

In the Legends category, Vildósola Sr. returned to the top step of the podium behind the wheel of his #1L Mason Motorsports / Toyo Tires / Vildosola Racing / Ford Raptor. His winning effort, completed in 9 hours, 47 minutes and 56.17 seconds, marked his first victory of the season and extended his personal winning streak at the Baja 500 to five consecutive races, a run that started in 2022.

Looking ahead, Team Toyo aims to build on this momentum as the series progresses towards the Baja 400 in September. The brand’s legacy in the SCORE World Desert Championship remains extensive, with multiple victories across all major events. Notable wins include the San Felipe 250 on four occasions, the Baja 500 six times, the Baja 400 five times and the prestigious Baja 1000 six times, with a roster of accomplished drivers contributing to this storied record.

Gibbs said, “Winning the Baja 500 is something I’ve always dreamed of, and it still hasn’t fully hit me what my team and I accomplished over the weekend. Honestly, I don’t have the words to describe what this win feels like.”

Fox said, “Taking home second place in the Trophy Truck Spec class and completing the Baja 500 is something we’re really proud of. Thanks to Toyo Tires, we ran the entire race with no flats and zero issues.”

Stan Chen, Deputy Director – Consumer Marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp, said, “Congratulations to Trey Gibbs on earning his first SCORE race victory this weekend, and to Gustavo Vildósola Sr. on adding another win to his accomplished career. Our drivers have continued to set the standard in the Spec and Legends classes at the Baja 500, and we’re proud of this past weekend’s continued success.”

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Tyres Europe has joined a broad coalition of industrial sectors calling on the European Union to adopt a more dynamic and forceful trade policy amid deliberations by the European Council on economic security, competitiveness and EU-China relations. The tyre industry contends that current frameworks are increasingly mismatched with the realities of a fast-moving global economy, where distortions rapidly transcend borders and sectors.

The sector underpins approximately 500,000 jobs across the Union and supplies essential products for passenger mobility, freight, agriculture and defence. Its viability depends on fair competition within deeply interconnected value chains, yet structural overcapacity, state-induced market distortions and unfair trading practices are simultaneously affecting multiple industries. These pressures cascade across supply networks, weaken investment incentives and progressively hollow out Europe's industrial base. Tyres Europe argues that only a coherent policy combining robust trade defence instruments with broader industrial resilience measures can effectively counter this erosion.

A critical challenge lies in the temporal disconnect between agile global supply chains and the slower pace of EU investigations and duty implementation. Tyre manufacturing routes can be reconfigured within months, allowing exporters to front-load shipments during probes and redirect production to alternative locations once tariffs are imposed. This leaves European manufacturers under sustained competitive pressure even after investigations conclude. Tyres Europe has therefore endorsed the Joint Industry Statement, which urges a more ambitious application of trade policy that reflects the fundamentally altered contours of global commerce.

The organisation supports enhanced resources for investigations, a more proactive deployment of existing instruments aligned with industrial objectives and exploration of additional WTO-compatible tools to tackle systemic state-induced distortions. It also advocates for strategic use of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation to address recurrent distortive patterns beyond isolated case assessments. Given that tyre manufacturing involves long-term, capital-intensive decisions with near-irreversible capacity loss, preserving a competitive domestic base is framed as both an industrial goal and a matter of strategic autonomy. As European leaders shape their response to a volatile trading environment, Tyres Europe urges them to ensure that trade defence evolves to safeguard fairness and the industrial capabilities underpinning prosperity and innovation.

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