The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has embarked on a new chapter in its storied racing history with the creation of a unified Global Racing organisation. This strategic initiative consolidates all of the company's motorsport operations into a single, worldwide structure, reinforcing its deep commitment to performance and innovation both on the track and in its commercial products.

To lead this new entity, Xavier Fraipont has been appointed Vice President of Global Racing, effective 1 October. Fraipont brings nearly 30 years of combined experience in both racing and product development within the Goodyear family. His extensive background is expected to be instrumental in evolving the company's motorsport strategy. He will be responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the global racing efforts and ensuring they are fully aligned with Goodyear's broader product and brand vision. A key part of his role will be to unify the teams currently supporting premier series like NASCAR, NHRA, the World Endurance Championship and the British Touring Car Championship into one cohesive unit.

To ensure tight integration between technical innovation and marketing, Fraipont will report jointly to Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer Chris Helsel and Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Will Roland. This reporting structure is designed to foster seamless collaboration.

The heart of Goodyear's racing legacy continues to be the iconic Eagle tyre, a symbol of performance and reliability that sets the standard across numerous racing disciplines. Backed by over a century of motorsport heritage, this new global organisation is a future-focused strategy aimed at fuelling technological innovation, enhancing brand impact and driving strategic growth throughout the entire company.

Helsel said, "Goodyear has been synonymous with car racing since the very beginning of our history. With Xavier's deep expertise and leadership at the helm, we're advancing our commitment to innovation – enhancing performance and elevating our competitive edge worldwide."

Roland said, "Motorsport is a central pillar of our brand strategy. It's where our technology, performance and brand identity converge. The best and fastest tyres in the world have Goodyear written all over them, and racing provides the ultimate proving ground – demonstrating the speed, precision and reliability that define our products."

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Hankook Tire is set to showcase its advanced commercial tyre portfolio at the inaugural Road Transport Expo (RTX) Ireland, scheduled for 15 and 16 April 2026 at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn. Hankook will display the pioneering e-SMART City AU56 EV bus tyre, the new Smart Work AM11+ for regional distribution, the versatile SmartFlex range for long-haul applications and value-focused Laufenn commercial tyres. Organised by the team behind the successful RTX Stoneleigh and RTX Scotland events, RTX Ireland 2026 brings a dedicated truck focus to Northern Ireland. With over 50 exhibitors and an expected attendance of more than 7,000 visitors, the event serves as a crucial hub for the Irish road transport sector to network and discover industry-shaping innovations. Attendees can find Hankook alongside its exclusive distributor, TyreCall and Tractamotors, at Stand C15.

Among the featured innovations is Hankook’s pioneering e-SMART City AU56, the brand’s first electric bus tyre introduced in 2024. Engineered for the unique demands of electric urban transport, this tyre offers low rolling resistance for extended range, reduced noise for enhanced passenger comfort and robust durability to manage the high torque and heavier loads of electric vehicles. Also on show will be the recently launched Smart Work AM11+, a tyre specifically developed for the rigours of regional and local distribution. Its design provides strong resilience against the wear and tear of stop-start operations, making it ideal for demanding sectors like waste management, with reinforced sidewalls for extra protection.

For fleets covering regional and long-haul routes, Hankook will present its SmartFlex range. The SmartFlex AL51 for steer axles and DL51 for drive axles are engineered for consistent performance throughout their lifespan. Reflecting Hankook’s commitment to sustainability and cost-efficiency, these tyres are both regroovable and retreadable. Complementing the Hankook portfolio, visitors can also explore the Laufenn brand, including the Laufenn365 initiative. The Laufenn commercial range, featuring the LF95+ trailer tyre, LF22 all-position tyre and LZ22 drive tyre, leverages Hankook’s advanced technology to deliver strong value, full retreadability and a reduced environmental footprint, catering to budget-conscious operators. This participation underscores Hankook’s growing leadership in the UK truck tyre replacement market, driven by continuous innovation and tailored solutions for an evolving industry.

Jon Cottrell, Truck and Bus Sales Manager, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “We are looking forward to the first Road Transport Expo in Northern Ireland – it’s a fantastic opportunity to build meaningful connections and stay informed on the latest developments shaping the industry. 2026 marks the inaugural RTX Ireland and our first time exhibiting in Northern Ireland, which makes it particularly exciting. We’re proud to be attending alongside our exclusive distributors, TyreCall and sister company, Tractamotors, who we have had a strong partnership with for the last 40 years. We look forward to welcoming both existing and prospective customers to our stand while gaining valuable insight into the Irish truck tyre market.”

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The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has released the updated Product Category Rules (PCR) for tyres in collaboration with UL Environment. This revision establishes a more robust framework for measuring environmental performance and promotes consistent transparency throughout the tyre sector.

A Product Category Rule serves as a standardised guide for manufacturers to conduct lifecycle assessments and create Environmental Product Declarations that enable meaningful comparisons between similar products. Valid for the next five years, the revised PCR integrates current scientific findings, including enhanced methods for tracking greenhouse gas emissions. It reflects modern production realities such as the adoption of renewable energy in manufacturing plants and incorporates evolving vehicle technologies like improved fuel economy and alternative fuel sources. The update also mandates uniform reporting when new materials are introduced, simplifying the monitoring of sustainability advancements.

Independently adopted by the 10 member companies of the Tire Industry Project, which collectively account for 60 percent of global tyre production capacity, this fourth edition encourages wider voluntary implementation across the industry. Developed through collaboration among major manufacturers, the PCR standardises how environmental footprints are calculated from raw material extraction through disposal, ensuring comparability of Environmental Product Declarations. This comparability supports environmentally conscious purchasing decisions and fosters ongoing improvements in sustainability across the value chain.

Key enhancements include refined carbon footprint calculations addressing biogenic carbon, expanded applicability to all tyre categories including off-road and specialty tyres and greater regional accuracy by incorporating localised data on end-of-life tyre management, vehicle efficiency, energy mixes and payload considerations. The methodology now provides a clear hierarchy for assessing impacts in multi-product manufacturing environments, aligns impact indicators with the European Commission’s Environmental Footprint 3.1 framework and updates raw material datasets and emission factors for improved data quality.

UL Solutions, an independent safety science organization, collaborated closely on developing and publishing this updated PCR.

Dr Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director, TIP, said, “The updated PCR reflects years of collaboration and investment to advance sustainability across the tyre value chain. Our goal is to strengthen environmental reporting. With a common methodology, we support better industry-wide decision-making, turning ambition into positive environmental action.”

Ranee Valles, Director and General Manager – Product Sustainability, UL Solutions, said, “Transparent, standardised reporting enables manufacturers, regulators, fleet operators and consumers to make informed choices about the products they use or supply. Our collaboration with TIP reflects a shared commitment to credible, science-driven solutions, and we’re grateful for TIP’s leadership in advancing scientific rigour and industry alignment on environmental reporting.”

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Sun Auto Tire & Service, one of the largest independent tyre and automotive service providers in US, has expanded into Colorado by acquiring 23 locations from DAS Drive Automotive Services, marking its entry into the state. This move establishes a notable presence for the company in the greater Denver area while simultaneously enhancing its existing footprint in Arizona. As a result, the Sun Auto Network broadens its service coverage throughout the Southwest region.

With the integration of these locations into the network, customers will now benefit from an expanded suite of offerings. These include access to well-known national tyre brands, the implementation of digital vehicle inspections and an extended range of service capabilities. Furthermore, a nationwide warranty, supported by over 575 locations across the country, provides added assurance. The acquired shops will also tap into shared operational resources, benefit from advanced training initiatives and utilise integrated technology systems, all designed to ensure a uniform and high-quality experience for customers and support for technicians.

This strategic growth is in line with Sun Auto's overarching goal of sustainable expansion. The company prioritises partnerships with established operators who demonstrate a strong dedication to service excellence, the professional development of their teams, and deep-rooted community ties. Through this latest acquisition, the Sun Auto Network continues to extend access to dependable automotive care while reinforcing the communities and personnel fundamental to its ongoing success.

Chris Ripani, Chief Operations Officer, said, "We're excited to welcome these respected brands and their teams to the Sun Auto Network. Each of these businesses has built strong relationships in their communities by delivering dependable service and taking care of customers the right way. That commitment aligns perfectly with the values we look for in every partnership."

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has welcomed Essex Police as its newest road safety partner, furthering a joint effort to address the dangers posed by defective and unlawful tyres across one of UK’s most expansive and varied policing regions. As the largest non-metropolitan force in the country, Essex Police serves over 1.86 million residents, covering a diverse landscape that includes dense urban areas, vast agricultural regions, 400 miles (approximately 643.74 km) of coastline and key national assets such as Stansted Airport and the Port of Tilbury.

This partnership adds Essex Police to a nationwide network of more than 250 TyreSafe affiliates, all working collaboratively to reduce collisions stemming from tyre-related offences and neglected vehicle upkeep. The force’s Head of Roads Policing, Adam Pipe, characterised 2025 as exceptionally tragic due to a spike in road deaths. In response, enforcement was intensified, revealing a persistent pattern of tyre violations during checks.

Officers noted that tyre defects frequently appear on vehicles driven by individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This combination of risky behaviour and poor vehicle care significantly endangers others. During the winter anti-drink and drug driving initiative, Operation Limit, numerous tyre issues came to light. These included a vehicle stopped with four completely bald tyres, two of which showed exposed cords, leading to an immediate driving ban. A single day of action in Maldon uncovered eight construction and use offences, ranging from shallow tread to sidewall damage. At least one driver was reported for visible tyre cords, an offence that typically attracts fines and licence points. The Commercial Vehicle Unit also utilised thermal cameras and tread gauges during HGV inspections, finding that a considerable number of commercial vehicles required warnings or prohibitions for tyres nearing the legal limit.

These incidents highlight the widespread nature of the problem and the substantial threat it poses to everyone using Essex’s roads. Defective tyres are a major but avoidable hazard, contributing to diminished control, longer stopping distances and heightened danger in wet conditions. UK regulations mandate a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm for cars and vans and 1 mm for large goods vehicles and larger motorcycles. Tyres must also be free of significant damage and correctly rated for their vehicle. Offenders risk fines reaching GBP 2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

Inspector Steve Rooney, Roads Policing, Essex Police, said, “We are seeing first-hand just how many vehicles on our roads are being driven with tyres that are worn, defective or in an outright dangerous condition. The risk to the public is enormous, yet the fear of detection among offenders remains low. By partnering with TyreSafe, we aim to raise awareness, improve compliance and ultimately reduce avoidable harm on our roads.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome Essex Police as a TyreSafe road safety partner. The scale and diversity of Essex’s road network – from urban centres to major freight routes – means the force plays a vital role in protecting millions of road users every day. Enforcement highlights the issue, but education and awareness are equally important. By working together, we can ensure more road users understand their legal responsibilities and the simple checks they can carry out to keep their tyres safe and roadworthy. Preventing tyre-related incidents is entirely achievable, and partnerships like this are key to reducing avoidable harm on our roads.”

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