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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Linglong Tire has recognised its top-performing global dealers at a five-day event in London, bringing together partners from several regions as the Chinese manufacturer seeks to strengthen its international distribution strategy.

Dealers from Australia, El Salvador, Egypt, Finland, Italy, Poland, Turkey and Uzbekistan were among those invited. The company said participants were selected for achieving the highest sales of Linglong Group products in the first half of 2025, covering its core Linglong range as well as regional brands such as Atlas Tires in Australia and Benchmark in Turkey.

The event included corporate and product briefings, during which Linglong awarded certificates to all attendees. Several dealers also presented their own business strategies, outlining how they position the brand in their respective markets. Linglong said the exchanges enabled participants to compare marketing approaches and share regional insights.

The programme concluded with a group visit to a Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC. Linglong is a global tyre partner of Chelsea and is represented on LED boards at all home games at Stamford Bridge.

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., founded in 1975, operates seven research centres and seven manufacturing bases, including facilities in Thailand and Serbia. The company employs more than 19,000 people and supplies tyres to over 200 vehicle-production sites worldwide. It retains a presence in original equipment supply for manufacturers including Volkswagen, Audi and BYD.

Linglong said it intends to continue evaluating potential sites for future overseas capacity as part of its long-term global expansion strategy.

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European replacement tyre demand was broadly stable in the third quarter of 2025, although overall volumes remain weaker than last year as economic softness and rising imports continue to weigh on the market, according to new figures from Tyres Europe.

The industry association said sales across the consumer segment — which includes passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles — were flat in the quarter and down slightly in the first nine months of the year. Adam McCarthy, Secretary-General of Tyres Europe, said: “Tyre markets were generally stable in the third quarter of 2025, although demand in the Truck & Bus tyre segment remained weak. Data for the first three quarters shows tyre volumes generally lower than the same period in 2024.”

The data point to an ongoing shift in consumer purchasing patterns. Sales of summer car tyres declined, while demand for all-season and winter products continued to rise. McCarthy added that “demand for car tyres is clearly shifting from summer tyres toward all-season and winter products”.

Truck and bus tyres recorded a sharper downturn. Third-quarter declines followed similar weakness earlier in the year, reflecting subdued freight activity and stronger competition from imports. Year-to-date sales fell about 1 percent. McCarthy noted that the segment’s performance “reflect[s] subdued economic activity across the region and an increase in imported tyres”.

Agricultural tyre volumes remained well below pre-pandemic levels, though quarterly figures were broadly stable. Moto and scooter tyres showed modest growth.

The update highlights significant changes in the region’s import landscape. Imports of passenger car and light truck tyres into the EU27 and UK rose 10 percent in the first eight months of 2025, although growth slowed sharply after a strong end to 2024 and early 2025. China retained a dominant market share of more than 70 percent, but Vietnam’s exports expanded rapidly from a low base, exceeding volumes from India. Truck and bus tyre imports increased nearly 14 percent, with Thailand and Vietnam accounting for more than half of extra-European shipments. China lost share and fell to third place.

Underlying mobility trends also point to a mixed recovery in tyre usage. Miles travelled by light vehicles across Europe are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2025, but car mileage in Western Europe will not fully recover until 2026 or later, according to the analysis. Truck mileage remains closely tied to GDP growth but has lagged behind owing to efficiency gains, larger vehicles and structural shifts in the European economy.

The report also emphasised regulatory barriers that continue to affect the recycling sector. Tyres Europe and Recycling Europe repeated their call for harmonised EU-wide End-of-Waste criteria for rubber derived from end-of-life tyres. “Standardised End-of-Waste criteria will boost demand for high-quality secondary raw materials and reduce dependence on virgin resources,” said McCarthy.

Tyres Europe represents 13 manufacturers whose global sales account for 70 per cent of the worldwide tyre market and collectively operate more than 70 production sites and over 20 research centres in Europe. The sector supports almost 500,000 jobs across the EU.

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Bridgestone Americas marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities by awarding USD 200,000 in grants towards expanding adaptive sports opportunities within public education. This funding, allocated through the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, will establish or enhance athletic programming across 62 schools in eight states, ultimately serving approximately 1,400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The initiative addresses a notable gap in participation, as students with disabilities have historically been underrepresented in school athletics despite millions receiving special education services. Presently, only a small fraction of US public schools provides these vital adaptive programmes. The grants will support inclusive team sports, including basketball, soccer and track and field, allowing children of all abilities to engage in competitive play.

This community investment extends Bridgestone’s enduring commitment to adaptive athletics, following its tenure as a Worldwide Paralympic Partner. The company further advances this mission through equipment innovation and collaborations with elite adaptive athletes who serve as ambassadors for its ‘Team Bridgestone’ initiatives.

Wade Munday, Director, Corporate Philanthropy and Social Impact, Bridgestone Americas, said, “Access to sports is a serious barrier for young people with disabilities across the country. Bridgestone has long supported equitable access to sports because of the lifelong skills they provide on and off the field. With these grants, we look forward to empowering more young people with the opportunity to play.”

Chuck Aoki, American wheelchair rugby player, Paralympic medallist and member of Team Bridgestone, said, “When I was 12, I met a Paralympian who used a wheelchair just like me, but he was faster than I could ever imagine being! That encounter changed my life because I realised there was a place for me in sports. Access to adaptive sports is transformative for people with disabilities, and I am proud that Bridgestone remains committed to reducing barriers for all athletes.”

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Sumitomo Rubber Industries will rename a number of its overseas subsidiaries to carry the Dunlop brand as the company moves to unify its global tyre business and strengthen brand value across key markets.

The changes, approved by the board on 27 November, follow Sumitomo Rubber’s acquisition earlier this year of the Dunlop trademark and related rights for four-wheel tyres in Europe, North America and Oceania. The company said the rebranding supports its long-term strategy, “R.I.S.E. 2035,” which places Dunlop at the centre of its global operations. The move is still subject to approval at each subsidiary’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.

With the new rights in place, the firm aims to present a consistent brand message to customers around the world. It said Dunlop’s value should be reflected not only in products but also in services, user experience and corporate identity. Subsidiaries across Europe, the US, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East and Taiwan will adopt new Dunlop-branded names from January 2026, with one change planned for February.

In Europe, Falken Tyre Europe GmbH in Germany will become Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, while Srixon Sports Europe Ltd. in the UK will be renamed Dunlop Golf Europe Ltd. In the US, Sumitomo Rubber North America, Inc. will become Dunlop Tires North America, Inc., and in Australia, Sumitomo Rubber Australia Pty. Ltd. will take the name Dunlop Tyre Australia Pty. Ltd. Subsidiaries in Chile, Taiwan and the Middle East will also adopt the Dunlop identity.

Sumitomo Rubber said the rebranding is expected to strengthen customer recognition and help build Dunlop into a brand “chosen by customers” across regions. The company is also seeking to reinforce brand management as it expands globally, particularly in the competitive replacement tyre market.

The firm clarified that use of the Dunlop brand continues to carry certain regional exclusions, such as India and parts of Southeast Asia for four-wheel tyres, and India, Europe and Oceania for motorcycle tyres. Nevertheless, the company said it intends to apply a unified brand approach wherever possible to support long-term growth.

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