Bridgestone India has expanded its Flagship Select Store network with the opening of four new Select outlets in Hyderabad. With these new outlets, the company has taken its tally of stores in Hyderabad to 46 with an aim to transform the tyre buying and servicing experience by addressing the evolving needs of Indian consumers.

The Bridgestone Select Stores, which are supported by a robust premium network, offer an engaging and instructive experience that enables consumers to choose tyres with knowledge. To assist consumers get the most out of their tyres, the business also gives demos so they can see the impact that each service offers. At the moment, Bridgestone has a strong dealer network of 3,200, which includes 820 Bridgestone Select stores in India. Bridgestone India operates a few select storefronts in important cities including New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Bangalore, Kolhapur, Chennai and Hyderabad. The Select shops are designed to address a long-standing demand for a more intelligent tyre retail structure.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “Hyderabad is an important market for us, and we’re proud to expand this pioneering concept of Select stores in the city. Bridgestone is committed to provide superior products and services to customers in line with its mission of serving society with superior quality. At Bridgestone, we’ve consistently led in enhancing customer experience, and these stores will help customers in Hyderabad to make informed tyre choices tailored to their needs. It also offers our dealers a unique, differentiated format to drive more walk-ins. As tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, the store is designed to offer customers premium products, services and an elevated buying experience through its exclusive network.”

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Brisbane-based NTD has strengthened its leadership position in Australia and New Zealand by finalising four exclusive multi-year supply agreements with major global tyre manufacturers. These deals solidify the company’s standing within a regional wholesale and retail sector valued at over USD 11 billion, ensuring long-term collaboration with key suppliers across a diverse array of tyre segments. The agreements with Radar Tyres, Giti/GT Radial, Cooper Tires and Mickey Thompson Tires cover passenger vehicles, SUVs, 4-wheel drives, electric vehicles, light trucks, commercial fleets and specialised applications in agriculture and mining, reinforcing NTD’s ability to serve a broad customer base.

According to NTD’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Warwick Hay, these partnerships are fundamental to the company’s growth strategy. By securing exclusivity over an extended period, the group can pursue deeper collaboration with manufacturers in areas such as product development, supply planning, and brand building. This structure not only supports commercial flexibility but also enhances supply chain reliability, ultimately ensuring that NTD’s extensive dealer network and customers benefit from consistent product availability.

Two of the newly formalised agreements involve American brands Cooper Tires and Mickey Thompson Tires, both owned by Goodyear. NTD first introduced Cooper Tires to Australia in 1989, and the brand has since become well established in the SUV and light truck segments. Meanwhile, Mickey Thompson Tires maintains a strong focus on high-performance and off-road applications, building on a legacy of innovation in tread design and safety. Representatives from Goodyear and Mickey Thompson noted that NTD’s expertise and commitment have been instrumental in driving brand growth, with the renewed agreements set to build on that momentum.

The remaining two agreements are with Singapore-based entities: Radar Tyres, owned by Omni United, and GT Radial, part of the Giti Group. Radar Tyres has gained recognition in Australia for its value-focused passenger and all-terrain offerings, alongside its distinction as the world’s first carbon-neutral tyre brand. Giti Tire supplies premium products across multiple vehicle categories and has made significant inroads into the electric vehicle segment, supplying original equipment manufacturers such as BYD, GWM and Tesla. Executives from both companies highlighted the combination of global manufacturing capability with NTD’s national distribution network as a key factor in ensuring reliable supply and strong dealer support across Australia and New Zealand.

As the largest independent tyre and wheel importer and distributor in the region, NTD serves more than 4,000 business customers through an extensive network of distribution centres and retail outlets. The company also manufactures retread tyres and provides performance management systems for commercial fleet operators. Hay noted that in a context of global uncertainty, these agreements formalise longstanding supplier relationships while reinforcing continuity of supply. He added that maintaining a broad and dependable product range is essential, particularly as demand grows for eco-friendly, smart and electric vehicle tyres across the diverse sectors the company serves.

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Falken has once again demonstrated its strength in the summer tyre segment, with the ZIEX ZE320 securing an impressive second-place finish in Autoflotte’s latest test. Scoring a total of 791 points, the tyre competed in the popular 235/55 R18 size against a strong field of rivals, reinforcing its status as a top-tier choice for discerning drivers.

Safety on wet roads proved to be a defining strength. The ZIEX ZE320 set the benchmark in longitudinal aquaplaning with the highest recorded speed, while its performance in lateral aquaplaning and critical cornering remained composed and predictable. A wet braking distance of 36.1 metres earned a solid good rating, placing it among the frontrunners. The tyre’s wet handling further impressed with precise steering response and stable road manners, instilling confidence in challenging conditions.

On dry surfaces, the Falken tyre delivered an equally compelling account of itself. It was praised for being highly agile through corners, offering precise lane stability and clear feedback that earned a rating of almost very good. The standout achievement came in dry braking, where a stopping distance of just 33.6 metres from 100 kmph was the best in the entire test, surpassing even established premium names. This result underscores the tyre’s formidable safety credentials during summer driving.

Beyond pure performance, the ZIEX ZE320 excels in efficiency and comfort. Rolling resistance was recorded at a competitive 6.7 kg/t, keeping it close to premium rivals, while interior noise levels ranked among the quietest in the group. Ride comfort emerged as a particular highlight, earning the top very good rating and leading the category. By blending exceptional aquaplaning resistance, class-leading braking, refined comfort and precise handling, Falken has delivered a well-rounded package that is especially compelling for SUV drivers who prioritise safety and reliability, all supported by a five-year guarantee.

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Bridgestone Americas has secured a spot on the Forbes 2026 Best Brands for Social Impact list for the third year running, claiming the number 20 position. This represents a dramatic ascent of 71 places compared to the previous year’s ranking. The company’s standing is particularly notable as it surpassed all other tyre manufacturers as well as businesses in the auto repair and maintenance sectors, underscoring a strong and favourable public perception.

The company’s longstanding approach to community engagement has been driven by key alliances with organisations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Nature Conservancy and United Way. Since 2015, these efforts have translated into the donation of nearly 100 passenger vans to Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, the planting of over eighty-five thousand trees and total contributions exceeding USD 45 million. Additionally, Bridgestone team members contribute more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service each year to support vital local programmes.

Beyond these efforts, the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, established in 1952 by Harvey Firestone, Jr., operates as the largest corporate foundation within the United States tyre industry. It provides annual grants to national and local nonprofits whose missions align closely with the company’s operational footprint and its strategic direction as a sustainable mobility provider. Funding priorities also include employee matching gifts for causes related to diversity, education, mobility and employment access, with many grant recipients selected through a teammate-driven process designed to broaden participation in the company’s philanthropic impact.

Now in its fourth year, the Forbes list identifies the top 300 brands nationwide based on consumer perception. Developed in collaboration with HundredX, the ranking evaluated nearly 5,500 unique brands through surveys of more than 200,000 individuals. The assessment measures how the public views a brand’s trustworthiness, social stances, sustainability efforts and commitment to community support, reinforcing Bridgestone’s elevated standing in this year’s results.

Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer, Bridgestone West and Bridgestone Americas; Head of Bridgestone Americas Business Services, said “This recognition is a testament to every Bridgestone employee, customer and partner who is committed to driving meaningful impact in the communities where we move, live, work and play. The mission of our company has always been serving society with superior quality and a core belief that what’s good for society is good for business.”

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Giti Tire has kicked off an exciting new chapter in motorsport by securing the role of Official Race Tyre for the Lotus Cup China, with the season commencing at the Sepang International Circuit. The races will see competitors utilising the GitiCompete GTR1 in the 240/650R18 and 300/650R18 sizes, setting the stage for a season defined by precision and endurance.

Spanning five rounds from April through December 2026, the championship has drawn significant participation, with 17 teams, 58 drivers and 44 cars registered. This year’s calendar represents a major milestone for the series, as it unfolds across one of Asia’s most technically challenging venues where the demands on performance, reliability and safety reach their peak.

At the core of this competitive effort is the GitiCompete GTR1, a high-performance slick purpose-built for racing environments. Engineered to deliver unwavering confidence on track, it combines advanced tread compounds and an optimised contact patch for superior grip and stability during high-speed cornering and heavy braking. Its ability to maintain consistent handling under extreme temperatures, coupled with efficient heat management for sustained performance over long stints, gives drivers the precise steering response needed to push to the limit.

Motorsport serves as a vital proving ground for Giti’s broader innovation efforts. Every lap at Sepang generates critical data on wear patterns, heat cycles and grip under stress – insights that are directly channelled into the company’s research and development. This real-world feedback allows Giti to refine compounds and structural designs, elevate safety and performance benchmarks and accelerate the creation of next-generation products.

Race Schedule

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