Kumho Tire’s new ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyre, the ECSTA Sport, has been rated ‘Very Good’ in the latest Die Reifentester summer tyre test.

The tyre size used for testing was 225/40R18. Eight tyre manufacturers participated in the test, including well-known names like Goodyear, Bridgestone, Michelin and Continental. Bridgestone and Continental shared the top rating with Kumho's ECSTA Sport. The wet braking results were one of the test's main features. With a stopping distance of only 23.07 metres at 80 kmph, the ECSTA Sport outperformed every other tyre in the test. It was one of just two tyres – the other being the Continental SportContact 7 – to receive the ‘Very Good’ rating in wet handling. In dry weather, the ECSTA Sport also performed admirably. Die Reifentester gave it a ‘Very Good’ grade for dry handling, comparing it to three competitors of premium brands.

Drivers seeking precision handling, robust safety features and high mileage performance are the target market for the ECSTA Sport. The tyre, which comes in sizes 16 to 22 inches, features a new compound blend that improves high-speed stability and reduces stopping distances.

Matthias Bode, Head of Research and Development Europe at Kumho Tire, said, “We are delighted with this result from Die Reifentester. Kumho ECSTA Sport is designed to offer excellent performance for all motorists, including the most demanding drivers, and this test result is an excellent indication that we are on the right course.”

Tony Gangseung Lee, Head of Europe, said, “This test result demonstrates the commitment of Kumho to developing and producing exceptional tyres which offer excellent value to the driving public. I am delighted to see the team’s hard work being so well rewarded in this independent tyre test as we set new performance benchmarks.”

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Pirelli was named ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the Hyundai Motor Group Global Supplier Day, an accolade recognising its superior product quality, effective supply chain management and strong overall collaboration. This distinction reflects the company’s ability to meet high standards across multiple operational fronts.

Amid industry-wide shifts and persistent supply chain disruptions, Pirelli has ensured production stability for Hyundai through forward-looking supply strategies and a globally integrated factory network. By capitalising on the strategic positioning of its Asian plants, Pirelli has aligned closely with Hyundai’s manufacturing footprint, delivering agile support that strengthens their global partnership. This operational synergy has been key to maintaining continuity and responsiveness.

Deep technical collaboration is evident in their latest vehicle launches. The Genesis GV60 Magma and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N are both fitted with Pirelli’s advanced P Zero tyres, incorporating PNCS and ELECT technologies. Developed in 2019 for electrified vehicles, ELECT has since earned over 800 original equipment approvals, underscoring its role in helping Hyundai models achieve optimal performance in the electric era. This award represents a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership, reaffirming a shared dedication to innovation and excellence.

Mattia Bussacchini, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Pirelli, said, "We are truly honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from Hyundai Motor Group. This award fully affirms the strong collaboration between our teams and reflects Hyundai's high recognition of Pirelli's products and services. We look forward to continuing to deepen our cooperation with Hyundai and exploring new opportunities to drive mutual growth.”

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Pirelli has unveiled its latest innovation in road racing, the P ZERO Race TLR SL-R, a tyre engineered with a singular focus on maximising on-road speed. Positioned at the apex of the P ZERO Race lineup, this model unifies aerodynamic efficiency, low rolling resistance, precise handling and dependable grip into a single high-performance package. It is tailored for any scenario where speed is paramount, from competitive time trials and road races to the pursuit of personal bests during weekend rides.

The development of this tyre was heavily influenced by real-world feedback from Pirelli’s WorldTour partners, including Alpecin-Premier Tech, Fenix-Premier Tech and Lidl-Trek, alongside collaborations with leading bicycle manufacturers. Before its official release, it was already being raced under a prototype label, proving its pedigree in elite competition.

Central to its design is the debut of a patented technology called PAAS, or Pirelli Advanced Aerodynamic System. This system redefines the tyre’s shape to optimise its interaction with the rim, effectively managing airflow to harness the sailing effect, which reduces overall drag. By refining the tyre’s mounted geometry and the precise placement of its widest point, PAAS delays airflow separation. Importantly, this aerodynamic gain comes without sacrificing other key attributes, allowing the tyre to retain top-tier rolling efficiency, comfort and handling for a truly balanced ride. Complementing this is a newly developed micro-textured surface on the slick tread, further fine-tuning airflow to enhance aerodynamics and road feel at high speeds. The result is a tangible reduction in wheel drag, with average savings of up to 5 watts in crosswinds and peaks reaching 15 watts under optimal conditions.

Speed is further reinforced by the new LiteCORE casing, a tubeless-ready structure that represents Pirelli’s lightest and most efficient design for road tyres. It achieves a 10 percent reduction in rolling resistance compared to the brand’s previous best, all while maintaining responsive acceleration and precise control across varying conditions. The tyre delivers confident handling during rapid direction changes, accelerations and high-speed cornering.

Grip is entrusted to the SmartEVO² compound, a race-proven material already responsible for victories at prestigious Classics like Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix. This compound ensures reliable traction on both dry and wet surfaces, broadening the tyre’s versatility. Manufactured in Italy using FSC-certified natural rubber, the tyre complies with current ETRTO standards and is optimised for modern rims with internal widths between 22 and 25 millimetres, including hookless models when pressure limits are observed. Initially available in 28- and 30-millimetre widths, with black or yellow sidewall options, a 32-millimetre version is planned for release later in the year.

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Pirelli is all set for the Japanese Grand Prix with the three hardest compounds in its range – the C1 as the Hard, C2 as the Medium and C3 as the Soft – marking the first appearance of the C1 in race weekends of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Suzuka’s legendary 5.8-kilometre figure-of-eight layout, with its eighteen demanding corners and rapid directional changes, places immense stress on tyres, making this selection essential.

Recent resurfacing work, which began ahead of the 2025 event and has since been substantially completed across the remaining two sectors, introduces a smooth but still dirty asphalt surface expected to offer low initial grip. Under these conditions, graining – particularly on the Soft compound – is a typical concern. Last year, such wear was limited to the front axle and faded as the track evolved. With a larger expanse of new asphalt this time, teams will need to closely monitor both graining and its effect on degradation throughout the weekend.

The behaviour of the hardest and softest compounds will be especially telling. If the C1 delivers solid grip and the C3 shows the consistency seen in Shanghai, all three tyre options could become viable for race strategies. Temperatures will also play a decisive role. With the race held a week earlier than last year, ambient conditions may stay near 15°C, keeping thermal degradation in check. Whether a one-stop strategy remains feasible will likely hinge on the severity of graining and its impact on performance, making qualifying preparation critical for properly heating the tyres.

The 2025 race saw a dominant one-stop approach, with most drivers starting on the Medium before switching to the Hard around lap 20 – a path taken by the entire podium finishers. As the 40th edition of the Japanese Grand Prix approaches, Suzuka continues to host the event except for four early editions held at Fuji. Michael Schumacher holds the record for most wins here with six, while McLaren leads constructors with nine victories.

Adding a distinctive local touch, the third podium cap crafted by Pirelli Design with designer Denis Dekovic draws inspiration from cherry blossoms in full bloom during this period. The cap is available through Pirelli’s online store.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, is calling for a shift in driver mindset, moving beyond reliance on enforcement to foster a culture of proactive vehicle safety. This follows new research from Uswitch that exposes a disconnect in how motorists approach maintenance. While the threat of penalty points prompts some action, it falls short of establishing consistent safety habits. TyreSafe argues this ‘safety gap’ reveals the limitations of an enforcement-led strategy, suggesting true road safety depends on motivating drivers to perform checks to protect lives rather than merely avoid punishment.

The findings paint a complex picture. Although over 4.8 million penalty points were issued in 2025, with the vast majority linked to speeding, only a third of motorists conduct vehicle checks specifically to evade penalties. While a significant majority of drivers with existing points altered their behaviour after being penalised, only half believe penalty points enhance road safety. For TyreSafe, this highlights a clear challenge: consistent vehicle maintenance has not yet become an automatic, routine part of driving habits.

This gap between awareness and action is particularly critical for tyre safety, a ‘silent risk’. Unlike speeding, which is highly visible and rigorously enforced, tyre defects often go unnoticed until they contribute to a serious incident. The statistics are stark, with an estimated six million illegal tyres on UK roads. Each year, tyre defects cause over two million MOT failures and result in thousands of penalty points. Given that tyres are the vehicle’s only contact with the road, their neglected state represents a persistent and underestimated danger.

In response, TyreSafe advocates for education alongside enforcement, warning that relying on fear of fines fosters reactive compliance rather than a preventative mindset. To address this, TyreSafe urges road users to embrace the simple ACT protocol: regular checks of air pressure, condition and tread depth. By encouraging drivers to internalize these routine habits, TyreSafe believes it is possible to bridge the gap between knowing what is safe and consistently acting on it, preventing thousands of needless incidents caused by poorly maintained tyres.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Enforcement clearly has a role to play in improving driver behaviour, but it cannot be the only motivator. What this data highlights is a safety gap. If only a third of drivers are checking their vehicles to avoid penalty points, we need to ensure everyone is checking them for the right reason – to stay safe. Tyres are a hidden risk. Unlike speeding, they’re not always visible and often go unchecked until something goes wrong. But when tyres fail – whether through low tread, incorrect pressure or damage – the consequences can be immediate and severe. The reality is that many tyre-related incidents are entirely preventable. A few simple checks, carried out regularly, can make a life-saving difference. We need to move beyond a culture of compliance driven by enforcement and towards one where tyre safety is seen as a fundamental part of responsible driving.”

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