The iconic Goodyear Blimp marked its centennial anniversary today with an extraordinary celebration at the historic Wingfoot Lake Airship Hangar, hosting an unprecedented gathering of beloved brand mascots and Ohio sports characters. The star-studded event brought together cultural icons including Duolingo's owl, Dr. Squatch, Scrub Daddy, Wendy's red-haired mascot, the Kool-Aid Man, OREO's cookie enthusiast, Olipop's representative and childhood favourites like the Teletubbies, Blippi and CoComelon.

Adding local flair to the festivities, Ohio's most recognisable mascots joined the party, with representatives from The University of Akron, the Akron RubberDucks, Kent State University, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Guardians celebrating alongside their corporate counterparts. The hangar transformed into a spectacular venue featuring the largest balloon installation in Ohio history, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the celebration.

Guests enjoyed specially designed mascot-sized games and indulged in a gravity-defying centrepiece Blimp Cake, complemented by personalised miniature cakes for each attending character. The entertainment lineup included a high-energy DJ keeping the dance floor lively, while attendees sipped on custom blimp-themed mocktails. The celebration reached new heights with commemorative blimp flights, offering mascots a unique aerial perspective of the festivities.

This historic event not only honoured a century of Goodyear's aviation legacy but also created a once-in-a-lifetime crossover moment where corporate mascots and sports personalities united under the shadow of the legendary airship. The centennial celebration set a new benchmark for brand anniversaries, combining nostalgia, innovation, and pure spectacle in a tribute worthy of the Goodyear Blimp's enduring place in American culture.

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Building on their successful 2024 collaboration, Goodyear and streetwear brand Anti Social Social Club (ASSC) have reunited through IMG Licensing to launch a bold new capsule collection celebrating racing culture. The limited-edition line blends ASSC's rebellious aesthetic with Goodyear's rich motorsport heritage, paying tribute to the iconic Goodyear Blimp and the brand's century of track innovation.

The collection features adrenaline-charged designs across apparel and accessories. Standout pieces include racing-inspired ‘Catch the Feeling’ tops with driver's seat graphics and international race flags, ‘High Performance’ hoodies showcasing the Goodyear Blimp, and ‘Wet Tyre’ tees with tread-pattern branding. Motorsport enthusiasts can also find spark-generating race car graphics on ‘Sparks’ collection pieces, while the ‘Eagle’ line incorporates blimp imagery across button-ups and swim trunks.

Complementing the apparel are podium-worthy accessories like a dual-branded Zippo lighter, flag-adorned keychain and racing gloves. The crown jewel is the Podium Cap, featuring wreath detailing that channels vintage motorsport victory celebrations. Each piece fuses ASSC's signature irreverence with Goodyear's legacy of high-performance racing technology.

This marks the second collaboration between the tire giant and streetwear disruptor, following their October 2024 drop that similarly celebrated automotive culture through fashion. The new collection continues to bridge the worlds of competitive racing and contemporary street style.

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Maxxis continues its successful partnership with the Nissan Acceleration Team (NAT) for the 2025 racing season, supplying high-performance tyres including the Victra VR-1, Victra VR2, RAZR AT (for Altima) and Bravo HP-M3 (for Versa) models. These tyres will equip NAT's diverse fleet featuring Sentra, Z, Z NISMO and CS23 vehicles across 39 AutoX and RallyX events.

The volunteer-driven team of Nissan engineers and technicians, Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA), founded in 2019, has grown to include Arizona Testing Center (ATC) members while maintaining its winning tradition. NAT enters the season with strong momentum following a dominant 1-2 finish at Detroit's Milan March Madness rallycross event. The team will also showcase its capabilities at September's ZCON convention in Nashville, the premier gathering for Z car enthusiasts.

Mark Lin, OE Account Manager, Maxxis – Canada, said, “We’re proud to partner with Nissan and help this team live their passion for motorsports. Everyone at Maxxis is cheering them on, and we’re delighted that our tyres help them to roar across the finish line in first place.”

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Continental Tires is celebrating Tadej Pogačar's dominant 2025 Tour de France performance, where he claimed both the Yellow and Polka Dot Jerseys. The champion relied on Continental's high-performance Archetype and GP5000 TT TR tyres throughout the gruelling competition, showcasing exceptional climbing ability and endurance.

Continental-equipped riders dominated this year's race, securing eight stage victories – more than any other tyre brand. As cycling's ultimate proving ground, the Tour de France demands peak performance from both athletes and equipment. Continental continues to deliver winning technology, powering champions to victory on the sport's biggest stage.

Hannah Ferle, Road Product Manager, Continental, said, "Tadej’s exceptional achievements reinforce our commitment to superior tyre performance. Every tyre is crafted with precision to dominate at the highest level."

Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, said, "Continental’s tyres have given us a real competitive edge. Their speed and reliability are crucial factors in our success."

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French tyre giant maintains 2025 outlook amid market volatility and currency headwinds

Michelin reported first-half segment operating income of €1.5 billion, driven by strong pricing effects that offset a 6.1 percent decline in tyre volumes amid challenging market conditions.

The French tyre manufacturer said sales fell 3.4 percent to €13.0 billion in the six months to 30 June, weighed down by depressed original equipment markets and a 1.5% negative currency impact from euro strengthening.

“The Group’s fundamentals are decisive assets in these unstable and highly unpredictable times,” said Managing Chairman Florent Menegaux. “They enable us to manage our activities as closely as possible and adapt to turbulence as best we can.”

Despite the volume decline, Michelin achieved a positive 4.0 percent price-mix effect, reflecting €285 million from contractual indexation clauses and local price adjustments, plus €257 million from shifting towards higher value-added products including larger passenger car tyres.

The company’s segment operating margin compressed to 11.1 percent from 13.2 percent in the prior year period, with the automotive and two-wheel division posting a 12.2 percent margin compared with 13.2 percent previously.

Road transportation proved the weakest performer, with operating margin falling sharply to 5.5 percent from 9.5 percent as North American original equipment markets contracted 19 percent in the first half.

Michelin’s speciality businesses maintained resilience with a 14.5 percent operating margin, supported by growth in aircraft and mining tyre segments, though down from 17.1 percent last year.

The group faced headwinds from raw material cost increases dating to late 2024, which added €240 million to expenses, including costs related to European Union deforestation regulations. Manufacturing and logistics costs rose €175 million, partly due to higher customs tariffs.

Free cash flow before acquisitions turned negative at €102 million compared with positive €669 million in the prior year, reflecting the group’s typical seasonal working capital build-up.

Net income declined to €840 million from €1.163 billion, including a €140 million provision related to the Symbio joint venture following partner Stellantis’s decision to terminate its fuel cell technology programme.

Regional markets showed mixed performance, with European passenger car original equipment demand falling eight percent  and North American markets down five percent, whilst China posted 10 percent growth, supported by government incentives for new vehicle purchases.

In replacement markets, European demand rose five percent and North America gained two percent, though both regions saw increased imports of low-cost Asian tyres amid regulatory uncertainty.

The company announced progressive closures of facilities in Querétaro, Mexico and Guarulhos, Brazil, by the end of 2025, affecting 830 employees, citing market changes and overcapacity from low-priced product imports.

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