Global player in tyre, construction reinforcement and composite technologies, Kordsa marks its 50th year since its inception in 1973. With a presence in 7 countries, 13 manufacturing units, and over 4,000 employees across four continents, the company continues to expand in construction and composites while upholding its tyre reinforcement leadership.

The 50th-anniversary event, held at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum, saw the participation of Güler Sabancı, Chair of Sabancı Holding, along with esteemed executives. Employees and partners worldwide joined, celebrating Kordsa’s remarkable 50-year journey.

Speaking at the event, Güler Sabancı, Chair of Sabancı Holding, emphasized that Kordsa has always stood by its customers, regardless of time or place, throughout its 50-year journey. “Today, if Kordsa has become one of the world’s leading companies in advanced material technologies, the primary factor is the presence of our customers. What defines Kordsa are our incredibly strong, meticulous, excellence-driven, and technology-focused customers. It is this passion for excellence that has propelled Kordsa to its current success. As a result, Kordsa has transformed into a company that reinforces two out of every three aircraft tyres and one out of every three car tyres globally,” said Sabancı. 

Highlighting the rapid pace of change in the world, Güler added, “One thing, however, remains consistent for Kordsa: Our purpose of existence that keeps us together, the importance we place on teamwork and collective wisdom, our unwavering commitment to high quality and our customer-centric approach. This mindset unites hundreds of employees from Indonesia, Thailand, the United States, Brazil, and Italy into one team. Just as globalization cannot be explained solely through commercial relationships, being ‘global’ is not just about exporting. It’s about keeping a team together through all the time zone differences and cultural diversities, walking towards the same goal despite all the challenges. Kordsa is a global company because it has succeeded in doing just that.”

Güler Sabancı concluded her speech: “Kordsa’s vision is to become a ‘global advanced materials technology company.’ To set a technology-focused vision is, in fact, a commitment to continuous development. It’s about keeping pace with the spirit of the times and even going beyond it. It’s about involving your customers and stakeholders in this journey. The materials of the future will be a revolution, and Kordsa will surely be at the forefront of this revolution. The company will extend its 50 years of experience and knowledge in tyre reinforcement to composite technologies, construction reinforcement and new business areas. Kordsa will continue to reinforce life in different geographies and even in space. Just as stated in Sabancı Group Purpose; ‘We will unite Türkiye and the world’.”

Kordsa CEO İbrahim Özgür Yıldırım stated: “The materials of the future signify new horizons. As an industry leader, we are aware of our responsibility. At Kordsa, the ‘innovation engine’ will continue to operate at higher speeds. A corporation is as strong as its values. With our global footprint, innovation, and sustainability leadership, we will continue to create value for our customers.”

Emphasizing Kordsa’s role in advancing technology for the entire world through its tyre, construction reinforcement and composite technologies, İbrahim Özgür Yıldırım continued: “As of the end of 2022, we hold over 900 patents. We will continue our technology leadership guided by the light of knowledge and science. From the tyres of cars on the ground to the wings of planes in the sky and parachutes of spacecraft, just as we are present everywhere, we will also create the future by strengthening and reinforcing it with the materials of the future. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Kordsa and the 100th anniversary of our Republic... To ensure this journey continues with determination and strength, we will move forward with new visionary perspectives, new strategies, and new paths, but with the same determination to grow. To make life safer, more efficient, and easier, we will continue to reinforce.”

At the anniversary event’s outset, Professor Ben. M. Bensaou from INSEAD, an eminent figure in innovation, delivered invaluable insights on instilling innovation throughout organizations. His expertise shed light on crucial approaches for widespread innovation adoption.

Following Prof. Bensaou’s address, a riveting panel discussion, “Materials of the Future,” unfolded. Esteemed panellists, including Rainer Egner from Goodyear, Dr Mükerrem Çakmak from Purdue University, Dr Taylor Sparks from the University of Utah, and Adrian Williams from Future Materials Group, engaged in a dynamic conversation. The discussion delved into the emerging trends and trajectories in material technologies, heralded as a transformative force in the global economy.

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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport EVO, incorporating ENLITEN Technology, secured the top position in the 2026 summer tyre test conducted by sport auto magazine. Evaluated in size 205/45R17 on a Mazda MX-5, it emerged as the clear leader among seven competing tyres. It was the sole tyre to earn the prestigious ‘outstanding’ rating, achieving 9.2 points for its overall performance.

The testers commended the Potenza Sport EVO for its remarkably balanced capabilities. They characterised it as a tyre combining high safety with an exhilarating driving experience, declaring it their definitive top choice. The evaluation noted the tyre's abundant grip and precise handling during challenging manoeuvres. The experts described it as a highly responsive tyre with substantial grip in reserve on both wet and dry roads while praising its fine controllability through load variations.

Its proficiency in wet conditions was a significant highlight, demonstrated by short braking distances, tenacious cornering grip and robust safety margins against aquaplaning. Developed from the multi-award-winning Potenza Sport, this new model elevates sports performance, wet control, durability and efficiency. Available from January 2026, the tyre ensures precise control at high velocities, preserving vehicle composure. It attains a top-tier EU label A-grade for wet grip, and compared to its predecessor, it reduces wet braking distances by five percent and dry braking by two percent.

These advancements are complemented by superior longevity, with a 15 percent mileage increase, translating to roughly 6,000 extra kilometres. Furthermore, it enhances fuel economy and boosts electric vehicle range through a rolling resistance reduction of up to six percent.

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DUNLOP has announced the launch of its BLUE RESPONSE TG, a new premium summer tyre developed for passenger cars and SUVs. Suitable for internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, the tyre will be available in 99 sizes spanning 15 to 21 inches, series 40-65 with H, V and W speed ratings. Production takes place at a state-of-the-art facility in Türkiye, with European market availability scheduled for March 2026.

This launch represents a significant shift for the brand in Europe. BLUE RESPONSE TG is the first DUNLOP product developed under Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) since it acquired the historic brand’s passenger car tyre rights in 2025. The tyre was engineered collaboratively by DUNLOP’s teams in Germany and Japan, drawing upon SRI’s established manufacturing and development capabilities.

The ‘TG’ designation stands for ‘Touring,’ underscoring the tyre’s ability to deliver long-distance comfort and efficiency while maintaining strong performance. A suite of new technologies ensures stability and control on both wet and dry roads. Impressive braking performance is a key feature, enhancing overall safety and driver confidence.

Central to the tyre’s capabilities is an intelligent three-zone rib design that efficiently channels water away from the contact patch. This promotes stability at higher speeds and unlocks reliable wet-weather grip during directional changes. A refined shoulder design features lateral grooves set at optimised angles. This enhances tread rigidity, reduces block deformation under load and ensures consistent force transfer when cornering and braking.

Durability is addressed through a new tread compound utilising longer, more resilient polymer chains. These resist abrasion and slow wear to extend mileage without compromising performance. To complete the package, a noise-reducing tread design links lateral grooves into continuous channels. This smooths airflow and dampens vibration, resulting in a noticeably quieter cabin environment and the composed, refined ride expected from the DUNLOP brand.

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The first Sprint weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season began in China with an intense schedule, starting with Sprint Qualifying on Friday. George Russell claimed pole position, finishing over two-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, with Lando Norris securing third. Russell received the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award from Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director. The prize includes a helmet decorated in the colours of the Chinese flag and a replica Pirelli P Zero Soft tyre, both personalised with the driver’s name and number.

Pirelli’s compound regulations shaped the qualifying format. In SQ1 and SQ2, drivers were required to use a set of medium tyres, with most completing two fast laps per segment. For the final SQ3 shootout, the top 10 switched to the soft compound. Russell’s pole time of 1:31.520 came on the red-walled P Zero Soft, less than seven-tenths slower than the 2025 sprint pole time of 1:30.849, set by Lewis Hamilton.

The F1 Academy also opened its season in Shanghai, with Alisha Palmowski setting the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying. She outpaced Alba Larsen and Emma Felbermayr ahead of the series’ two races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Marrafuschi said, “During Sprint race weekends, it’s always challenging for teams to fully assess tyre behaviour as they only have one hour of free practice. During this session, the teams used one set of medium tyres and one set of soft tyres, without carrying out any significant long runs. The hards were saved for the following days, and some teams may consider using them in their strategies for Sunday's race as early as tomorrow.

“The Sprint race, which is most likely to be run on Medium tyres, will certainly provide a clearer picture. The performance difference between the two compounds used on Friday is around six tenths. Interestingly, in the first two qualifying segments, the C3 was once again able to deliver maximum performance on the second push lap after completing a cooldown lap.

“Temperatures are cooler than last year; the track is still dirty and has less grip than we will see on Sunday as the track evolves. As happened last year and as expected, some graining appeared on the front-left tyre, which is the most stressed by Shanghai’s corners, and to a lesser extent on the front-right, although the impact on overall wear remains limited. On this circuit, teams tend to prioritise protecting the front axle, shifting the balance towards the rear as much as possible.”

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Nexen Tire has received a ‘Good’ overall rating for its N'Fera Sport model in the latest summer tyre test conducted by Auto Bild in March 2026. The assessment highlights the tyre's strong performance within the competitive Ultra-High-Performance segment.

Tested on a BMW 5 Series (G60) with size 245/45 R 19 tyres, the N'Fera Sport distinguished itself through exceptional braking capabilities, achieving the third-shortest stopping distance among 50 competitors in the qualification phase and demonstrating excellent safety margins on both wet and dry surfaces. The tyre further impressed with its precise steering response and reliable grip, even under challenging conditions. Its overall performance secured it the third-place position in the qualification round. Notably, the N'Fera Sport also excelled in acoustic comfort, ranking second out of 20 tyres for low noise generation.

These results underscore the model's blend of control, responsiveness and safety, making it suitable for both everyday driving and more dynamic scenarios. Nexen Tire views this recognition as a validation of its ongoing commitment to innovation, quality and the production of high-performance products designed to enhance the driving experience.

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