Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire’s associate brand Laufenn is celebrating 10-year milestone of the brand’s presence in Europe.

The brand started with passenger car tyres since 2015 and added commercial vehicle treads to its portfolio five years later. Laufenn today boasts market presence in over 100 countries, offering passenger car tyres in 341 sizes along with a commercial vehicle portfolio of 18 sizes. Hankook intends to boost marketing expenditures in order to raise awareness of its Laufenn brand. In addition, a new generation of passenger car treads for the summer and winter will soon be introduced. Laufenn will increase its market share and supply original equipment tyres to a European automaker in 2025, in addition to its current offering in the passenger car replacement market. Laufenn has also been an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa Conference League since the 2021/22 season, further emphasising its position in strategically important sales markets.

Laufenn first made its foray into the market with performance and touring summer tyres for passenger automobiles. The X Fit Van summer tyre for SUVs and passenger vehicles, as well as the i Fit, the first winter tyre for SUVs and passenger cars in Western and Central Europe, came next. The i Fit ICE, a studded winter tyre for passenger automobiles and SUVs, marked Laufenn's entry into the Northern and Eastern European markets over the ensuing time frame. All-season tyres are now part of the range in addition to summer and winter tyres. Laufenn unveiled the improved summer tyres S FIT EQ+ and G FIT EQ+ in 2020. Laufenn's total market share in Europe has increased fourfold since its launch.

Laufenn is also commemorating a significant milestone in the commercial vehicle tyre industry: the company has been providing truck, bus, and trailer treads throughout Europe for five years. In 2025, the 18 sizes that are now available in the commercial vehicle portfolio will be expanded to include additional sizes, beginning with the trailer tyres LF95 and LR02, which are 265/70 R19.5.

In an effort to further innovate the truck market, Laufenn is this year launching ‘Laufenn365’, a new digital platform that will make it easier to resolve unintentional damage claims for the company's commercial vehicle tyres and provide clients with additional insurance against unforeseen expenses. Initially, this platform will be available in the United Kingdom. Laufenn intends to reach further European markets with its smart product and tyre warranty. The launch of another affiliate brand, Optimo, is a recent illustration of Hankook's strategic brand growth. Optimo serves a market niche with increasing demand for passenger automobiles and enhances Hankook's sibling and premium brands.

Jongho Park, President and Chief Operating Officer, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “With our associate brand Laufenn, we offer tyres that deliver excellent value for money without compromising on safety, reliability and quality. Customers benefit from the many years of experience of the Hankook brand and get a product that meets the highest standards. This allows us to create a win-win situation in every respect.”

Jang Hyuk Moon, Vice President – Marketing Department, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “Laufenn has established itself as a strong associate brand to Hankook with a steadily expanding portfolio and growing international presence. The brand will continue to focus on quality and customer relationships in order to further build on its success.”

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has issued a reminder that underinflated tyres can lead to higher fuel consumption, a concern that is especially relevant given the current geopolitical pressures on global energy markets. With pump prices beginning to climb again across the UK, motorists are being encouraged to carry out basic vehicle maintenance as a way to improve fuel efficiency.

This week, motoring organisations including the RAC and AA have urged drivers to adopt efficient driving habits and ensure their tyres are properly inflated to mitigate the impact of rising costs. Recent RAC Fuel Watch data reveals a significant increase at the pumps, with petrol climbing by approximately 4.68p per litre and diesel rising by around 8.59p per litre in just over a week, coinciding with escalating tensions in the Middle East.

According to TyreSafe, checking tyre pressures at least once a month and before longer trips is essential. Drivers should refer to the manufacturer’s recommended levels, typically listed in the vehicle handbook or on a sticker inside the driver’s door frame or fuel cap.

Many motorists may not realise that driving on underinflated tyres could be silently increasing their fuel bills. Research from The Motor Ombudsman indicates that more than half of all tyres on UK roads may be running below the ideal pressure. This increases rolling resistance, meaning the engine has to work harder to maintain normal speeds.

Even a modest drop in pressure can have an effect. A 10 percent reduction can raise fuel consumption by about two percent, adding unnecessary costs. Safety is also compromised, as a 20 percent decrease can impair handling and grip, heightening the risk of incidents. With costs rising again, a simple tyre check can support both road safety and household budgets.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “When fuel prices rise, drivers naturally look for ways to make their fuel last longer. One of the simplest things they can do is check their tyre pressures regularly. Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means the vehicle has to work harder and burn more fuel just to move forward. It may seem like a small issue, but over time it can quietly add to the cost of every journey. More importantly, tyres that are not inflated correctly can reduce grip, handling and overall vehicle stability. Keeping tyres at the correct pressure isn’t just about saving fuel – it’s a critical part of staying safe on the road.”

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Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has inaugurated The Gambia’s inaugural tyre recycling plant, a pioneering step forward in the nation's efforts to combat environmental degradation and manage waste. As per a report by The Point, this landmark facility, established with financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is engineered to process end-of-life tyres into reusable materials, directly confronting a long-standing waste issue that has seen discarded tyres obstruct waterways and blight communities for years.

During the inauguration, representatives from KMC highlighted the council's dedication to forward-thinking solutions, ecological responsibility and local advancement. The project was presented as a testament to the effective synergy between local governance and international cooperation in achieving significant environmental progress. The new plant is anticipated to yield substantial advantages, including mitigating pollution and enhancing urban cleanliness from an environmental perspective, while simultaneously unlocking economic potential through the creation of valuable resources from waste.

This, in turn, could stimulate local enterprise and generate employment. Officials characterised the venture as emblematic of a shared resolve to foster a cleaner and more resilient nation. By establishing this recycling facility, KMC has positioned itself at the vanguard of ecological innovation within the country, establishing a benchmark for future sustainable initiatives across The Gambia.

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Sun Auto Tire & Service, one of the largest independent tyre and automotive service providers in US, has unveiled Drive With Purpose, a new community-focused initiative designed to embed charitable action into the company’s daily operations. The programme transforms each service visit into an opportunity for both employees and customers to contribute to local communities. Rooted in the company’s heritage as an independent shop, the effort balances grassroots engagement with the backing of a national network.

The initiative is structured around three core pillars. Through Community Partnerships, Sun Auto strengthens local neighbourhoods by supporting food banks, events and fundraising tied to routine vehicle maintenance. A second pillar is dedicated to Veteran Causes, channelling resources towards organisations that assist veterans and first responders. These efforts emphasise mobility, independence and career opportunities beyond military service. The third area, Educational Development, focuses on technical training and workforce education, aiming to cultivate the next generation of automotive technicians and ensure the industry’s long-term vitality.

Drive With Purpose builds on existing philanthropic momentum. Last year, Sun Auto contributed more than USD 70,000 to charitable causes and has already donated USD 30,000 in the first quarter of this year. The company is now directing increased attention to veteran support, workforce development and local partnerships.

In January, more than seven hundred employees gathered in Arizona for the DRIVE 2026 Leadership Workshop. Regional teams competed to direct donations to charities of their choice, including organisations such as America’s VetDogs, Susan G. Komen Tunnel to Towers Foundation, TechForce Foundation and No Kid Hungry. reinforcing the company’s commitment to purpose-driven community impact.

Tony Puckett, CEO, Sun Auto Tire & Service, said, "Drive With Purpose is a platform in which we can support our local communities every day. It connects the automotive service work that we are doing in our stores to the opportunity to serve others in need within our local markets and gives our teams and guests a great way to support these amazing charitable organisations.  Every mile truly matters, and this is how we bring that to life."

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Pirelli has renewed its collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing in North American rallying, a partnership that will see the new Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 make its competitive debut this weekend at the 100 Acre Wood Rally. This marks the second round of the season and reintroduces the Corolla name to international rally competition.

The vehicle, developed specifically for the RC2 category of the American Rally Association (ARA), is derived from the road-going GR Corolla and has been meticulously refined with contributions from Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen. Central to its development was the use of the latest Pirelli AT Scorpion gravel tyres, an advanced evolution of a tyre family already widely respected in the World Rally Championship for its consistent reliability and performance. These same tyres will be used throughout the entirety of the American season.

American driver Seth Quintero has been selected to pilot the new machine for the remaining rounds of the championship, bringing fresh energy to the campaign. The Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 represents a significant technical achievement, blending production-based design with competition-focused engineering. The development process benefited from extensive testing and the input of world-class drivers, ensuring the car is well prepared for the challenges of the ARA. With the Pirelli AT Scorpion tyres providing a proven foundation for gravel performance, the team enters the season with strong momentum and clear objectives for the rounds ahead.

Terenzio Testoni, Rally Activity Manager, Pirelli, said, “It’s a pleasure to see our collaboration with Toyota renewed in American rallying with a technically exciting project such as the Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2. The ARA championship is a top-level series that adds to the many rally and GT programmes supplied by Pirelli around the world. We are ready to bring our experience to support Toyota in this new challenge.”

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