Continental, one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, is celebrating 90 years of developing and producing winter tyres. The German company launched its first winter-specific tyre, the Gelände, in 1934, pioneering safety and performance in cold-weather driving conditions.

Today, Continental’s winter tyres, including the award-winning WinterContact TS 870, feature advanced tread patterns and specialised rubber compounds that deliver superior grip, braking and handling on snow, ice, and wet roads. The German automobile association ADAC recently recognised the TS 870 as a test winner for its precise and safe driving performance across various road conditions.

“For 90 years, our winter tyres have been synonymous with safety in winter weather conditions. Softer rubber compounds improve adhesion, while sipes provide grip on snow and ice. And wider grooves displace water particularly effectively,” explains Martin Welzhofer, Head of Global Tire Testing at Continental Tires. “We put our winter tyres through their paces during testing on snow and ice, in Germany and Sweden.”

Decades of Progress in Winter Safety

Continental’s winter tyres are specifically engineered to handle harsh weather. Compared to summer tyres, they provide significant safety advantages. In recent tests conducted by UK trade magazine Tyre Review, the WinterContact TS 870 P demonstrated remarkable braking performance. When braking hard from 40 km/h on snow, the winter tyre stopped in just 18.25 metres, while a summer tyre took 44.18 metres — a difference of nearly six car lengths.

Similar results were observed on ice. During emergency braking from 25 km/h, the WinterContact TS 870 P stopped in 11.13 metres, whereas the summer tyre required 32.19 metres — almost three times the distance.

This performance is attributed to Continental’s advanced tread design and rubber compounds. The softer, more flexible winter tyre compound enhances grip at low temperatures, while optimised tread grooves and sipes improve traction and water displacement.

Rigorous Testing for Maximum Safety

Ensuring safety remains Continental’s top priority. Each new winter tyre undergoes extensive testing, covering up to 500,000 kilometres across 20 disciplines before being brought to market. The tyres are assessed for traction, braking, cornering stability, and directional control on dry, wet, and snow-covered roads. Noise levels, fuel efficiency, and overall driving comfort are also evaluated.

Testing takes place under extreme conditions. At Continental’s test site in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle, engineers measure performance on snow and ice, collecting over 60,000 individual data points each winter. Vehicles complete thousands of manoeuvres, including starts, cornering and braking on icy surfaces.

Closer to home, the company’s Contidrom test site near Hanover features an indoor ice track that operates year-round. Here, tyres are tested under varying temperatures to assess rubber compound behaviour in freezing conditions. Continental’s automated braking test facility further ensures precision by evaluating tyre performance on wet and dry surfaces without a driver.

A Legacy of Innovation

Continental’s journey in winter tyre development began in 1934 with the Gelände, one of the world’s first tyres designed for snow, ice, and slush. By 1953, the company’s M+S winter tyres had proven their capability by enabling vehicles to cross the snow-covered Gotthard Pass in the Alps safely.

Today, Continental continues to push boundaries, refining its tyre technologies and materials to ensure optimal safety and performance. Models such as the WinterContact TS 870 undergo relentless testing in Sweden’s icy landscapes and the Contidrom’s controlled environments.

With 90 years of experience, Continental remains at the forefront of winter tyre innovation, delivering safer driving experiences for motorists navigating treacherous winter roads.

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Bridgestone India has joined hands with Sagest (Society for Environment and Agricultural Sustainability) to launch the Nutritional Fruit Orchard Project in Sulawad Village, Madhya Pradesh. This women-led project improves nutrition, fosters livelihood possibilities and supports environmental sustainability. With the help of Bridgestone staff and locals, the orchard, which spans four acres, is home to more than 1,300 fruit trees of more than 15 species. It is grown using sustainable practices.

With a 96 percent survival rate in its first year, the project has enabled women to run a nursery with 1,000 saplings and turn garden waste into organic compost and insecticides, encouraging environmentally responsible farming and generating extra revenue. The ladies who are in charge of the orchard will have a reliable source of income once it is completely developed. By assisting households in growing 251 kitchen gardens, the programme also improves nutrition in Sulawad by guaranteeing that locals have access to fresh, homegrown produce. Frequent training sessions have improved environmental consciousness and community ownership.

This unique project demonstrates multi-stakeholder collaboration – Bridgestone and Sagest lead implementation, the local panchayat provided land, women manage daily operations and a nearby government school assists. By combining environmental conservation, rural development and women’s empowerment, the initiative serves as a replicable model for sustainable corporate-community partnerships.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “True sustainability goes beyond business – it’s about empowering communities and protecting the planet. This project shows how women-led, community-driven action can create long-term impact on nutrition, livelihoods and the environment. It’s not just about planting trees; it’s about planting hope, resilience and a better future. This initiative beautifully demonstrates how community-driven, women-led environmental action can improve nutrition, generate income and protect the planet – all at the same time.”

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JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has announced the appointment of Sylvain Sagot as Director – Quality.

Sagot comes with over three decades of experience in quality assurance, process excellence and operational leadership in the automotive and tyre industry. A French national, he began his career as a Quality Engineer at Michelin Netherlands in 1991.

In 2004, he worked with Renault as a Supplier Development Consultant and went on to grow to the ranks of Supplier Performance Manager for the Renault Nissan Alliance. He also worked with Alstom and Gajah Tunggal, one of the biggest tyre manufacturers in Southeast Asia as QA General Manager & TBR Plant Head in Indonesia for over three years.

Sagot in his last role was the International Truck Trailer Quality & Product Safety Director at Carrier, where he spent over a decade.

JK Tyre & Industries believes that Sagot with deep expertise in supplier development, quality management systems, product safety, and OEM partnerships in large-scale manufacturing environments, will further strengthen its global operations.

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  - Jitendra Pancholi July 04, 2025 19:47 PM

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Nynas, with its strong commitment to innovation and product sustainability, recently commissioned an independent study to evaluate the environmental impact of its products across four key application areas: transformer oils, lubricating greases, tyres and bitumen binders. Conducted by Future Earth Analytics, LLC, the research revealed that many Nynas products deliver significant sustainability advantages, often surpassing industry performance benchmarks.

The study highlighted several environmental benefits across different applications. In transformer oils, certain Nynas products improve cooling efficiency and energy transmission, reducing energy losses during operation. For tyres, specific Nynas tyre oils contribute to lower rolling resistance, which helps decrease fuel consumption in vehicles. In lubricating greases, the use of naphthenic base oils reduces reliance on lithium – a resource-intensive material – while also cutting energy consumption during production. Additionally, Nynas’ strategic location near bitumen customers minimises transportation distances, thereby lowering associated emissions.

The findings underscore a substantial environmental impact: had customers opted for alternative products instead of Nynas’ offerings in 2023, an additional 740,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions would have been generated. This saving is equivalent to avoiding the consumption of five million barrels of oil.

To assess these benefits, researchers employed a dual analytical framework combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Net Energy Analysis (NEA). This approach allowed for a detailed comparison of energy savings and emissions reductions across different lifecycle phases, such as cradle-to-gate and use-phase impacts. By focusing on stages where variations occur, the study provided a quantitative evaluation of how choosing Nynas products can lead to measurable energy and emissions savings compared to market alternatives. The results reinforce Nynas’ leadership in delivering sustainable solutions that support a lower-carbon future. 

Marika Rangstedt, Sustainability Manager, said, “The beneficial effects are true not only for our recent circular or renewable products, but also for many of our traditional products. We are leading the way in sustainability and setting new standards for product related environmental responsibility within our industry.”

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Westlake Performance Tyres, a brand of ZC Rubber, has teamed up with German motorsport team Red Bull Driftbrothers as the new official supplier and tyre partner. The company will supply its Westlake Sport RS tyres for the team’s two 1,000 hp BMW M4s.

Munich marketing agency die agentour was the driving force behind the collaboration. The Red Bull Driftbrothers and ZC Rubber have a long-term cooperation that benefits both parties in many ways. Giving the team tyres will help with technical advancements based on driver Elias Hountondji's input, among other things. The collaboration will also help ZC Rubber spread the word about the Westlake brand throughout the European market. Demonstrating the products' and technologies' performance and quality in harsh environments is also a clear signal to the European OEM and replacement market.

This year's ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring marked the debut of the new collaboration. The Red Bull Driftbrothers created a stir among the record-breaking audience when they performed a display drift in their recently tyred BMW vehicles during the pre-race of the renowned race. The Westlake Sport RS tires were especially taxed by the high track temperatures.

Henry Shen, Deputy General Manager, Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber), said, “We’re proud to be the tyre partner of Red Bull Driftbrothers. Their trust in WESTLAKE, especially the performance of our SPORT RS on the demanding drift circuit, is a powerful endorsement. This partnership is built on a shared drive to push boundaries, and we’re excited to support their passion with our technology on the global stage.”

Elias Hountondji, driver and engineer of Red Bull Driftbrothers, said, “We are very excited about the partnership with Westlake Performance Tyres and ZC Rubber. Tyres are crucial for our sport. They have to withstand extreme abuse while providing a consistently high level of grip right to the end. The Westlake Sport RS is the perfect choice for this. It is extremely stable across the entire temperature range and the entire tread depth. Even with a very low tread pattern, you still have complete confidence as a driver.”

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