Hankook Tire has launched the fourth generation Ventus evo, a sporty ultra-high-performance summer tyre for changeable conditions.

Featuring a new mixture developed using artificial intelligence (AI), the tyre provides excellent wet grip and low rolling resistance. The wide drainage grooves work in tandem with the optimised tyre contact area to facilitate good evacuation of water and reduce the risk of aquaplaning, while the extra-rigid sidewalls and tread blocks provide stability during cornering and shorten the dry braking distance by six percent compared to the third-generation tyre. The innovative mixture, on the other hand, ensures low rolling resistance despite the high grip. This reduces fuel consumption and provides a 32 percent increase in mileage compared to the third-generation tyre.

Klaus Krause, Vice President and Head of Europe Technical Centre, Hankook, said, “With the fourth generation of the Ventus evo, we are setting new standards. We decided early on to leverage AI in the development of tyre mixtures and were able to successfully transform the laboratory results into high-quality industrial processes. Today, we’re seeing the benefits of that effort. With its innovative mixture ratio, the Ventus evo overcomes traditional trade-offs, delivering uncompromising excellence in performance, safety and mileage.”

The new Ventus evo and Ventus evo SUV will be available in stores in 58 sizes by this summer, with plans to expand the offering to 94 sizes – from 17 to 23 inches in widths from 205 to 325 in the 65 to 30 series and with speed indexes from V to (Y) – by the end of next year.

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The Rubber Board of India has introduced a new initiative to assist farmers seeking information on the use of agricultural drones for fungicide application on rubber plantations. The advisory specifically targets the management of leaf diseases that become prevalent during the rainy season, including Abnormal Leaf Fall and Colletotrichum Leaf Spot. To facilitate this, the Rubber Board has made its call centre available for farmers to raise their queries.

Principal Scientist Dr Shaji Philip from the Rubber Research Institute of India will be the designated expert responding to these inquiries. He will be available for a dedicated three-hour session on the morning of 15 May 2026 from 10 am to 1 pm. Farmers are encouraged to reach out during this period to gain technical clarity on drone-based spraying methods.

The call centre can be contacted directly at the phone number 0481-2576622. This step is aimed at modernising disease control practices in rubber cultivation and reducing the manual labour and risks associated with traditional spraying during wet weather conditions.

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Cabot Corporation has received two 2026 Responsible Care awards from the American Chemistry Council for its performance in workplace safety and environmental management.

The company received the Waste & Water Stewardship Award and the Facility Safety Award at the ACC Responsible Care Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Cabot was also named one of two finalists for the Responsible Care Initiative of the Year Award.

The Waste & Water Stewardship Award recognised the company’s handling of synthetic gypsum produced by the air pollution control system at its manufacturing site in Franklin, Louisiana. Cabot said it had identified a reuse application for the material in the cement industry, diverting nearly 15,000 metric tonnes of synthetic gypsum from landfill in 2025.

The company said the initiative helped it meet air emissions control requirements while reducing waste through the reuse of byproducts.

The Facility Safety Award recognised employee health and safety performance across Cabot’s US manufacturing operations, with nearly all of the company’s US manufacturing sites receiving the award based on their 2025 performance.

“We are honored to be recognized by the ACC for our leadership in advancing safety and sustainability performance,” said Jennifer Chittick, senior vice-president, safety, health and environment, and chief sustainability officer at Cabot.

“At Cabot, we believe our employees are our most valuable asset, and our long-standing commitment to safe working conditions, employee involvement in safety efforts, and workplace wellness is deeply embedded in our culture to ensure that all employees, contractors, and visitors return home safely each day.

“Furthermore, we remain committed to protecting the environment and reducing our impact through focused initiatives that drive lasting, positive change while strengthening our environmental performance in the communities where we operate.”

The ACC’s Responsible Care Awards programme recognises companies for environmental, health, safety and security performance, sustainability and chemicals management.

Cabot joined the ACC in 2010 and adopted the chemical industry’s voluntary Responsible Care initiative and Responsible Care Global Charter, aimed at improving health, safety, environmental and security performance across operations.

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Plaza Tire Service, a brand within the Sun Auto Network, has expanded its Missouri footprint by opening a new location strategically serving drivers along the Highway 65 corridor. The expansion now reaches motorists across Ozark, Nixa and the greater Springfield area, reinforcing the company’s presence in Christian County, recognised as one of the fastest-growing regions south of Springfield.

Operating under the Plaza Tire Service name, the newest storefront upholds the brand’s Driver Commitment, which emphasises clarity, confidence and attentive customer care. To enhance the service experience, the facility offers 24/7 online appointment scheduling, digital vehicle inspections, nationwide warranties and immediate access to leading tyre brands. Same-day service is available alongside a full range of automotive maintenance and repair work, including alignments, brake service, oil changes, battery replacements and preventative maintenance.

Michael Loa, Regional Vice President, said, "Missouri continues to be an important market for us. This location allows us to strengthen our presence in the Springfield area while continuing to deliver the consistent, expert know-how our customers expect."

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), successfully completed the sixth round of the 2026 season, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, where its Dynapro R213 rally tyre played a central role in managing the event’s punishing conditions. The tyre was engineered to absorb impacts from rough gravel and rocky terrain while delivering consistent grip and durability across the rally’s demanding stages.

Held from 7 to 10 May around Matosinhos in northern Portugal, the competition covered 23 Special Stages totalling approximately 345 kilometres. The surface began as soft, sandy gravel but progressively turned into sharp rocks and deeply rutted terrain due to repeated passes, making tyre durability and stability essential for performance. Hankook provided the Dynapro R213 in Hard and Soft compounds, allowing teams to balance high grip from the soft version with the hard compound’s resilience on changing surfaces.

After a fierce battle, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver Thierry Neuville secured overall victory, marking his team’s first win of the 2026 season. He took the lead in the closing stages and delivered a commanding performance to finish on the top step of the podium. In the Drivers’ Championship standings, Toyota GAZOO Racing’s Elfyn Evans leads with 123 points, followed closely by teammate Takamoto Katsuta on 111 points.

Throughout the event, Hankook operated a Brand World booth in the service park, featuring a motorsport heritage exhibition, racing simulators, branded merchandise and photo zones to enhance its premium global image. The 2026 WRC season now moves to Round 7, the FORUM8 Rally Japan on 28–31 May, a tarmac event on narrow mountain roads requiring precise steering and high-speed stability. Hankook continues to integrate WRC driving data into its R&D, advancing high-performance tyre technology as the exclusive supplier for all WRC classes since 2025.

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