JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has kicked off its annual JK Tyre-WIAA Women’s Rally to the Valley 2025 from the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Worli, Mumbai.

The annual event presented by JK Tyre is organised by the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA). This year's event saw participation from more than 300 women in around 100 cars. It is organised in the TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) format and offers an exciting motorsport experience that unites women from diverse backgrounds.

This year’s event was flagged off by Pooja Batra, acclaimed Indian actress and model, Praveen Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, JK Tyre & Industries and Nitin Dossa, Executive Chairman, WIAA.

Sanjay Sharma, Head – Corporate Communication & Motorsport, JK Tyre, said, "For over a decade, JK Tyre has been committed to breaking barriers and making motorsport more inclusive for women. The JK Tyre – WIAA Women’s Rally to Valley has grown into a marquee event that not only celebrates the spirit of motorsports but also amplifies important social causes. We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm among participants and look forward to concluding this rally in total control.”

The JK Tyre-WIAA Women’s Rally to the Valley 2025 saw participants raise awareness around various social causes such as road safety, women’s empowerment, sustainability, honouring women traffic police and the 'Save the Soil' movement.

Nitin Dossa, said, “The goal of the annual women’s rally is to advocate legislation and policies for women’ empowerment and for their working rights. We push for girl child education and fight against sexual harassment. Today’s woman is no longer a dependant soul. She is independent, self-reliant, and capable of achieving anything she sets her mind to. These rallies have gained tremendous popularity and are now a matter of pride and keen interest for all automobile owners.”

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The AZuR project group on chemical recycling convened its annual in-person meeting on 1 October 2026, bringing together more than 20 network partners at Pyrum Innovations AG in Dillingen/Saar. The gathering centred on recent scientific findings, the recovery of raw materials from end-of-life tyres, the European Tyre-to-Tyre initiative and collaborative projects planned for 2027. Participants examined how recovered carbon black and tyre thermolysis oil can be more effectively integrated into industrial production processes.

A scientific highlight came from Dr -Ing Sebastian Bogdahn, who presented his dissertation on the production and ecological assessment of high-quality carbonizates derived from used tyre thermolysis. His research combined experimental investigations, process modelling and life cycle assessment, with particular attention to recovered carbon black produced during thermolysis and subsequently processed. The findings indicated that the modelled system could potentially lower global warming potential relative to fossil-based carbon black production while underscoring the significance of process control, product quality and energy supply for environmental performance.

The European Tyre-to-Tyre initiative, launched in July 2026 by Pirelli, Pyrum, Synthos and BASF, illustrated how chemical recycling processes can be embedded within industrial value chains. Pyrum converts used and rejected tyres into recovered carbon black and tyre thermolysis oil through thermolysis. The processed carbon black is then used in Pirelli's tyre manufacturing, partially substituting fossil-based industrial carbon black.

At BASF, thermolysis oil is combined with fossil raw materials to produce chemical products including butadiene and styrene. Synthos utilises corresponding feedstocks to manufacture synthetic rubbers, which are subsequently employed in Pirelli's tyre production. According to the project partners, the entire value chain remains traceable via ISCC PLUS certification.

A notable feature of the meeting was a tour of Pyrum's thermolysis plants. Divided into three groups, attendees gained insights into the technical processes and engaged directly with on-site experts. The tour clarified the technical steps required for recovering and further processing raw materials, from the handling of used tyres through to the resulting product streams.

Management emphasised the value of regular AZuR in-person meetings, which combine exchange among companies, technology providers and research institutions with exposure to real industrial applications. The gathering demonstrated the importance of collaboration across the entire value chain, with research, technology development, industrial processing and tyre production considered together to transform recovered materials into high-quality raw materials for new products. The project group will continue this exchange in 2027 through concrete projects and information initiatives.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has welcomed Straightset and Supertracker as Commercial Supporters, pairing two well-established garage equipment names in support of the charity's goal of enhancing tyre safety and lowering tyre-related incidents across UK roads.

Independent garage equipment specialist Straightset and Supertracker, a famed British maker of wheel alignment equipment, are jointly backing TyreSafe's campaign to highlight how essential properly maintained tyres are to road safety.

Straightset, run as a family business, delivers a broad selection of garage equipment for car and commercial vehicle workshops, covering tyre changers, wheel balancers, MOT equipment, workbenches and exhaust extraction systems, plus installation, servicing and maintenance. Since 2022, Straightset has owned Supertracker, a long-established British marque focused on laser and computerised wheel aligners, commercial vehicle apparatus and vehicle lifts including scissor and two-post types.

By merging specialist equipment manufacturing with the thorough service and support garages require, the two brands offer complementary strengths. Correct wheel alignment is tightly connected to tyre maintenance, helping avert uneven tyre wear and bolster vehicle safety. The tie-up demonstrates a mutual dedication to safety, quality and the automotive sector, with both brands aiding TyreSafe's continued efforts to educate road users and encourage improved tyre safety habits.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome Straightset and Supertracker as Commercial Supporters of TyreSafe. Together, they bring valuable expertise across the garage equipment sector, from specialist wheel alignment technology to the equipment, servicing and support that keep workshops operating safely and efficiently. Garages play an important role in helping ensure vehicles are safe and roadworthy, and the right equipment and technical support are essential to that work. We look forward to working with Straightset and Supertracker to raise awareness of tyre safety and encourage road users and businesses to make tyre maintenance a priority.”

Julia Blake, Marketing and Communications Director, Straightset, said, “We are proud to be partnering with TyreSafe, alongside our Supertracker brand, and to support the important work it does to improve tyre safety across the UK. At Straightset, we provide garages with the equipment, expertise and ongoing support they need to operate safely and effectively. Through Supertracker, we also have a longstanding connection with wheel alignment technology, which plays an important role in tyre maintenance. This partnership brings together our shared commitment to safety and gives us an opportunity to help raise awareness of the importance of looking after tyres. We look forward to working with TyreSafe and contributing to its efforts to make UK roads safer.”

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Epsilon Carbon Pvt. Ltd., a global manufacturer of carbon black and speciality carbon products, has published its sixth Sustainability Report for FY 2025–26, titled ‘Anchored in Carbon. Embedded in Circularity’. The document outlines the company’s advancements in emissions reduction, energy efficiency, workplace safety, inclusion and community development while detailing its strategy for a more responsible and resilient carbon value chain.

The company’s sustainability efforts are deeply integrated into its manufacturing operations and its support for customers in the tyre, rubber, manufacturing and industrial sectors. Epsilon Carbon aims to supply dependable carbon materials while enhancing resource efficiency and lowering the environmental footprint of production. In FY 2025–26, it recorded a 98 percent drop in Scope 2 emissions intensity against its FY 2022–23 baseline, alongside a 6 percent reduction in energy consumption intensity driven by operational improvements.

A 17 MW captive power plant using waste hot gases from production remained central to decarbonisation, achieving 77 percent waste heat recovery utilisation and remaining on target. This helped avoid over 89,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by reducing coal-based power reliance. The company also cut Scope 3 emissions intensity by 8.13 percent compared with FY 2024–25, supporting more sustainable manufacturing across its value chain. Its Vijayanagar plant holds an annual capacity of 215,000 tonnes of carbon black and 500,000 tonnes of speciality carbon.

The report further highlights workplace safety and inclusion, with zero fatalities, 10 percent women representation on the Board and 9.41 percent of the overall workforce. CSR programmes positively impacted approximately 140,000 lives, fostering community development near its operations. Epsilon Carbon’s sixth Sustainability Report gives stakeholders a clear view of its ESG performance and reinforces its focus on responsible growth, operational excellence and its expanding role in the global carbon materials industry.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon, said, “Sustainability is central to how we are building Epsilon Carbon for the future. Our progress in reducing emissions intensity, increasing the use of waste heat recovery and improving energy efficiency shows what is possible when sustainability is built into everyday operations. Our customers in tyres, rubber and other manufacturing sectors are also working towards more responsible and efficient value chains. We are committed to supporting them through dependable products, strong manufacturing capabilities and continued innovation. Alongside our environmental priorities, we remain focused on safety, inclusion and creating a positive impact in the communities where we operate.”

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Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp (Toyo Tires) celebrated a milestone achievement in short-course off-road racing as driver Ryan Beat captured the 2026 Championship Off-Road Pro-2 title. The decisive rounds unfolded at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, where Beat piloted his #51 Bilstein / Toyo Tires / Rockstar Energy / Chevrolet truck to the first Pro-2 crown of his racing career.

Beat arrived at the season finale holding a 17-point advantage but faced punishing Southern California heat and a determined group of rivals. A mid-race restart intensified the competition, yet Beat powered through the field and crossed the finish line first on Saturday night, sealing the championship.

His truck ran on standard 35x12.50R17 Open Country C/T tyres throughout the campaign. Beat concluded the year at the top of the Pro-2 standings with 722 points. The result marked the sixth occasion he has placed among the top three in the class, having previously earned four runner-up finishes and one third-place result.

The championship extends Team Toyo’s strong presence in short-course competition, complementing Pro-4 titles claimed by CJ Greaves across 2023 through 2025 and Kyle LeDuc between 2012 and 2020. Toyo-backed drivers have also found success in desert racing, with six SCORE Baja 1000 victories, six Baja 500 wins, five Baja 400 triumphs and four San Felipe 250 titles.

Beat said, “The championship came down to the final race and to not only win the title, but to do it by winning the final race was a dream come true. Surrounded by my family, friends and partners, this one is going to be hard to top.”

Adrian Puente, Events, Motorsports and Technical Manager, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp, said, “Congratulations to Ryan and his motorsports team on securing the first Pro-2 championship of his career! A hard-fought season ending in triumph is a great result for Team Toyo and showcases the versatility and performance of our tyres on and off the track.”

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