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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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) is at the centre of a new industrial paradigm, as a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Federation of German Industries (BDI) confirms that the circular economy is becoming a decisive competitive factor for Germany. The analysis projects that circular gross value added could more than double from roughly EUR 60 billion (approximately USD 69.60 billion) today to up to EUR 125 billion (approximately USD 144.95 billion) annually by 2045, cumulatively unlocking an additional EUR 880 billion (USD 1.02 trillion) in value creation. AZuR interprets these findings as validation that recycling, reuse and extended product life cycles directly strengthen climate protection, supply security and industrial competitiveness.

A practical model of this transition already exists in the tyre recycling sector, where Germany generates around 50 million used tyres each year. Through professional repair, retreading and regrooving, many of these tyres could remain in use significantly longer before being mechanically or chemically recycled. AZuR actively champions keeping tyres and their raw materials in circulation across Europe, with the clear goals of avoiding waste, lowering CO₂ emissions, conserving natural resources and securing secondary raw materials for industry.

The effectiveness of extending tyre lifespan is illustrated by commercial vehicle retreading, which can increase mileage by up to 25 percent. According to an AZuR and DBU study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT, retreading saves over 60 percent of CO₂ emissions, roughly two-thirds of raw materials and about 50 percent of the energy compared to new tyre production. Tyres no longer suitable for retreading are then mechanically processed into rubber granulate or chemically recycled via pyrolysis and devulcanisation, yielding valuable secondary materials for construction and new tyre products.

With more than 80 partners across the entire value chain, AZuR networks industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, science and recycling technology to develop concrete circular solutions. The BCG and BDI study thus confirms that the circular economy is not merely an environmental policy issue but a crucial growth driver for Germany’s industrial future, a role that AZuR believes the tire industry is uniquely positioned to lead.

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DUNLOP has entered the Italian Rally Championship this season with former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen at the wheel. Backed by parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Kovalainen competes alongside his longstanding co-driver Patric Öhman for Gino Scuderia in a Citroën C3 Rally2 fitted with DUNLOP DIREZZA 201R and 301R racing tyres.

DUNLOP’s involvement in the championship forms a key part of its global motorsport strategy, offering ideal conditions for tyre development under real-world competitive pressure. The variety of asphalt surfaces encountered provides valuable data on performance, durability and vehicle dynamics, helping transfer insights into future road tyre advancements. Kovalainen, drawing on extensive experience from Formula 1 and international rallying, has been closely involved in high-performance tyre development and will use his technical feedback to support DUNLOP’s rally tyre evolution.

As Italy’s premier rally series and one of Europe’s most demanding asphalt championships, the CIAR features seven closed-road rounds known for high speeds, technically challenging stages and extreme demands on drivers, cars and tyres. The series regularly attracts competitors from the World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship, reinforcing its reputation as a tough and respected battleground.

With two rounds completed, the season began in Tuscany in March with a 12th-place finish. A mechanical issue ended their challenge in Sicily on 14–16 May, but the duo returns to contest the championship on 4–6 June in Verona, followed by events in Rome, Alba and Cassino before the finale in Sanremo. The programme strengthens DUNLOP’s European motorsport presence and boosts brand visibility, underscoring its ambition to combine technological progress with top-level sporting performance.

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Triangle Tyre released its 2025 Sustainability Report on 29 April 2026, marking the company’s second full public accounting of its environmental, social and governance performance. The document outlines progress across all three ESG pillars since the previous disclosure.

Over the past year, the Chinese tyre manufacturer achieved several international firsts following its stock market listing. Triangle Tyre earned the EcoVadis Gold Medal, becoming the first domestic tyre company to receive that recognition, and also joined the United Nations Global Compact along with the China Environmental Protection Foundation. These moves signalled deeper global engagement on ESG issues.

The company’s sustainability leadership gained further validation through multiple external honours. Triangle Tyre appeared in the 2025 China Corporate ESG Blue Book Case Studies and the 2025 China Corporate ESG 100 Index. The China Listed Companies Association additionally named it a best practice case for corporate sustainable development, underscoring its rising influence at home and abroad.

In line with national carbon peaking and neutrality goals, Triangle Tyre pushed forward with green manufacturing by adopting energy efficient technologies and clean production processes. Its 2025 energy performance earned a place on a national list of leading enterprises in key industry energy efficiency, published by three central ministries. The company achieved a two percent year on year reduction in comprehensive energy use while building a low carbon energy management system.

Sustainability efforts extend across the product lifecycle, including tyres for the new energy vehicle market that combine ultra-low rolling resistance with high load capacity to extend driving range. The company is also pursuing a circular economy target of recycling and reusing 100 percent of end-of-life tyres by 2050. Recognised as a 2025 Shandong Social Responsibility Enterprise and a longtime best employer, Triangle Tyre maintains a people centred workplace while supporting rural revitalisation, education and disaster relief.

The company further integrates ESG standards into its supply chain with a zero-deforestation commitment and sustainability criteria for supplier assessments. As China enters the first year of its 15th five-year plan, Triangle Tyre continues to rely on technological innovation to become a globally leading tyre manufacturer, aiming to deliver greener and safer mobility solutions worldwide.

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CarbonX has extended its strategic partnership with European LFP battery manufacturer ElevenEs into 2026. The new phase transitions from initial material validation to advanced industrial-scale testing, aiming to strengthen the local supply chain for LFP batteries across Europe.

As the only LFP Edge cell producer in Europe, ElevenEs supports the regional ecosystem by offering its EdgeLabs R&D infrastructure. This platform integrates CarbonX’s carbon-based anode material into full-scale prismatic LFP blade-type cells, where rigorous benchmarking against global standards validates performance, lifespan and safety.

By providing specialised services, ElevenEs acts as an industrial catalyst for CarbonX, helping the Dutch material innovator move from laboratory to market-ready applications. The cooperation is designed to result in a conditional offtake arrangement upon the successful achievement of technical milestones.

Nemanja Mikać, CEO, ElevenEs, said, “Our continued partnership with CarbonX demonstrates how ElevenEs acts as an industrial engine for the European battery ecosystem. We don’t just validate materials; we provide the manufacturing excellence and R&D infrastructure necessary to scale promising European technologies. ElevenEs experts team actively supports suppliers to build a resilient, energy-independent supply chain for the future.”

Rutger van Raalten, CEO, CarbonX, said, “Signing this agreement with ElevenEs marks a significant step forward for CarbonX and reinforces our shared commitment to building a resilient, sustainable battery materials ecosystem. Beyond strengthening our supply chain, this partnership contributes directly to Europe’s strategic ambition for energy independence, accelerating the transition to locally sourced, low carbon critical materials.”

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