Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (SRI) has entered a significant virtual partnership, becoming the official tyre partner for ‘Gran Turismo 7’ driving simulator for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 and the ‘Gran Turismo World Series’. This new alliance was formally announced at a September 2025 event held in Berlin, Germany.

This strategic move is a key component of the company’s brand strategy focused on the Dunlop name, which falls under its broader ‘R.I.S.E. 2035’ corporate vision. The partnership follows SRI's January 2025 acquisition of the global Dunlop trademark rights for four-wheel tyres in key regions, allowing for a unified global brand presence.

The collaboration will see Dunlop integrated into the game in several immersive ways. Following a future update, the brand will be featured within the ‘Brand Central’ museum, presenting its 130-year heritage and motorsport history. The Dunlop logo will also appear as trackside advertising on in-game circuits. Furthermore, players will be able to equip their vehicles with Dunlop tyres through the ‘Tuning Shop’ to enhance performance. An exclusive Dunlop-themed time trial event is also planned to celebrate the partnership.

By aligning with the critically acclaimed Gran Turismo franchise, a leader in racing simulators since 1997, Sumitomo Rubber aims to connect with a global audience of passionate gamers and automotive enthusiasts, strengthening the Dunlop brand's perception for innovation and performance in the digital realm.

Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo Series Producer, said, “We are very excited to welcome Dunlop to the Gran Turismo family. As a company with a significant legacy in automotive and motorsport history, Dunlop continues to demonstrate innovation and competitiveness in the industry. We look forward to a productive collaboration to engage a new generation of enthusiasts with racing and Dunlop tyres through the Gran Turismo World Series and franchise.”

Hiroshi Hamada, Senior Executive Officer, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., said, “We at Dunlop are truly honoured to be part of Gran Turismo, a title that continues to captivate motorsports fans around the world. Gran Turismo is pioneering new possibilities in motorsports by bridging the real and virtual worlds. Its outstanding technological capabilities, passion and meticulous attention to detail deeply resonate with our own manufacturing philosophy, and we see great value in this partnership. For over a century, Dunlop has been actively involved in motorsports, building a strong track record across racing scenes worldwide. By combining our accumulated experience with cutting-edge simulation technologies, we are driving the development of high-performance and sustainable tyres. Through this partnership, we aim to further enhance the value of the Dunlop brand and contribute to the future of motorsports.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, played a central role in the season’s pivotal Japanese double-header. As the official race tyre for all competitors, the company’s iON Race compound was put to the test under extreme and shifting conditions during Rounds 14 and 15 of Season 12 at the 2026 TDK Tokyo E-Prix.

The weekend’s on-track action produced two dramatic winners. CUPRA KIRO’s Dan Ticktum snatched victory in Round 14 with a last-corner overtake on Jake Dennis, while Nick Cassidy completed the podium. The following day, Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries claimed Round 15, finishing ahead of Cassidy and Dennis, who secured second and third respectively. The entire paddock also observed a period of remembrance for the late Cyril Blais.

The 2.575-kilometre temporary circuit, featuring 18 corners and situated around Tokyo Big Sight, hosted its first-ever night races, drastically altering track conditions from practice to competition. Unstable weather compounded the challenge, with a Sunday thunderstorm cancelling Free Practice 3 and leaving a damp, drying surface for Round 15 that demanded constant adaptation in tyre warm-up and strategy.

Throughout the weekend, Hankook’s iON Race tyre demonstrated reliability across the evolving grip levels and temperature swings. Following the Tokyo results, Dennis retains the championship lead with 146 points, narrowly ahead of Mitch Evans and Pascal Wehrlein. The title battle remains fiercely contested and will be resolved at the season-ending Hankook London E-Prix double-header on 15–16 August.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director, Hankook Motorsport, said, “Bringing Formula E night racing to Tokyo for the first time made this a distinctive weekend and one of the more unusual tyre assignments of our season. The contrast between afternoon running and the 20:05 races shaped how teams prepared for both events, and the iON Race managed that transition and the changing weather conditions well, delivering consistent and predictable performance as the circuit cooled through the evening.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tegeta Green Planet recently contributed to the ‘Circular Future’ green camp, an environmental education initiative organised by CENN and funded by the European Union. The camp, which hosted 23 teenagers from the Adjara and Kakheti regions, was designed to deepen ecological understanding, advocate for waste-free systems, and inspire long-term behavioural change among the next generation.

Throughout the week-long gathering, young attendees engaged with forward-thinking methods for minimising refuse, prolonging product life cycles and improving separation and recovery processes. Interactive workshops translated abstract circular economy theories into tangible daily actions, equipping participants with the know-how to conserve materials and shrink their personal environmental toll.

A noteworthy component of the programme occurred on 22 July, when a specialised seminar titled ‘Circular Economy: Waste Reduction and Recycling for Public Health’ was convened. Co-hosted by Tegeta Green Planet, the UNDP and the Waste Management Business Association, the seminar examined the intersection of ecological integrity and human well-being, illustrating how robust recycling systems directly benefit community health outcomes.

Closing the day’s agenda, Tegeta Green Planet’s Director, Shalva Akhvlediani, offered an in-depth look at the Extended Producer Responsibility model currently unfolding in Georgia. He traced the journey of end-of-life vehicle components – from used tyres and spent lubricants to depleted batteries – through collection, transport and reprocessing channels. Akhvlediani also highlighted his organisation’s network of over 350 domestic producers and importers, stressing that youth education remains a cornerstone of their mission. The floor was then opened for a lively exchange, where students posed probing questions, debated local environmental dilemmas and floated their own grassroots suggestions, reinforcing the message that responsible resource use begins with informed individual choices.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nexen Tire reported second-quarter revenue of KRW 891.3 billion and operating profit of KRW 34.3 billion, as growth in Europe and higher sales of premium products supported performance despite rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty.

Revenue increased 10.8 per cent from a year earlier, driven by demand in key markets, particularly Europe, the company said .

The tyre manufacturer said its strategy of expanding original equipment (OE) supply programmes and diversifying replacement (RE) tyre sales helped support growth amid weaker demand in the automotive market. Sales of 18-inch and larger tyres accounted for 38.8 percent of total sales, up 3.6 percentage points from a year earlier, reflecting a greater focus on premium products.

Profitability came under pressure as higher raw material prices and increased ocean freight rates raised costs. The company also incurred one-off expenses following the final ruling on US anti-dumping duties, which resulted in a higher tariff rate than previously expected.

Europe was the strongest-performing region during the quarter, with revenue reaching KRW 407.2 billion, the first time quarterly sales in the region have exceeded KRW 400 billion.

The company attributed the growth to higher OE sales from its European manufacturing plant, business expansion in the UK, Türkiye and other markets, and improved distribution and logistics following the addition of a finished-goods warehouse at the plant.

In South Korea, demand for electric vehicle (EV) and sport utility vehicle (SUV) tyres remained strong. Nexen Tire said its expanding OE portfolio, which includes the Hyundai IONIQ 6, Kia's EV3 to EV9 models and other domestic electric vehicles, supported higher OE revenue and increased sales of larger-diameter tyres.

The company also said continued growth in rental sales within the replacement market improved its product mix, while its first OE supply agreement with BYD strengthened its position in the global EV market.

Alongside its financial results, Nexen Tire said it had expanded its OE supply during the quarter to electrified models including BYD vehicles and the Hyundai STARIA EV. Supply to premium automotive brands also increased from a year earlier, supported by research and development initiatives, including AI-based performance prediction technologies.

"Despite growing cost pressures from external factors, we have continued to achieve top-line growth on the back of strong sales in key markets," said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO of NEXEN TIRE. "With the stable ramp-up of the second-phase expansion at our European plant and the results of our distribution improvements in North America, we expect more tangible improvements in earnings."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has officially communicated to all Formula 1 teams the tyre compound selections for the upcoming Dutch, Spanish and Italian Grands Prix. The Italian manufacturer has opted for the medium-range C2, C3 and C4 compounds for the events at Zandvoort and the new Madrid circuit, while the Monza race will see the softest available tyres, the C3, C4 and C5, deployed.

For the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Pirelli has confirmed the same compound choice as the previous year. The coastal circuit is defined by its medium and low-speed corners, including two banked turns, which place significant vertical and lateral loads on the tyres and demand high aerodynamic downforce. The track surface itself offers low inherent grip, a challenge compounded by sand from the nearby beaches being blown onto the asphalt, further affecting tyre performance.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza presents a contrasting challenge, with its recently resurfaced track encouraging teams to run low-downforce configurations. The pit lane loss time for a tyre change is among the highest of the season, incentivising teams to extend stints and manage degradation to achieve a one-stop race. However, the potential for high ambient temperatures could complicate this strategy, making tyre management more difficult.

Making its debut on the calendar as the Spanish Grand Prix, the semi-permanent street circuit in Madrid features 22 highly varied corners, significant elevation changes and the longest banked turn in the championship. Simulations indicate that the loads on the tyres are comparable to those at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Consequently, Pirelli’s selection of the medium-range compounds is designed to favour a two-stop strategy and offer greater protection against overheating, a risk to which the softer C5 compound would be particularly vulnerable in warm conditions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!