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 Tire Industry Project (TIP) has appointed Dr Willie Peijnenburg to its external Assurance Group (AG), an independent advisory committee that guides the organisation's research programs.

Dr Peijnenburg serves as Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Biodiversity at Leiden University in the Netherlands and works as a Senior Researcher at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

His academic work covers environmental risk assessment, ecotoxicology, predictive modelling and the behaviour of emerging contaminants in ecosystems. He joins five other independent members on the committee.

"Questions around environmental emissions, chemical safety and the sustainability of mobility systems are becoming increasingly important. I was drawn to TIP’s Assurance Group by the opportunity to contribute to conversations that have real-world relevance. I look forward to working with fellow Assurance Group members to support robust, transparent science and evidence-based decision-making." said Dr Peijnenburg.

The organisation also announced the departure of committee members Dr John Spengler of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Dr Iseult Lynch of the University of Birmingham, noting their contributions to the research oversight body.

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Axens, a global process technology leader in refining, petrochemicals and circular economy applications, has been chosen by a US-based investor and project developer to supply a Process Design Package for a hydroprocessing unit. This unit is engineered to process 100 percent tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO), marking a significant step in alternative feedstock upgrading.

The broader project encompasses a local end-of-life tyre valorisation facility that integrates pyrolysis technology alongside the TPO-upgrading hydroprocessing unit. The operation will yield low-sulphur fuel for the domestic market, capped at a maximum sulfur content of 500 ppm. Currently in the FEED phase, the project anticipates a Final Investment Decision in 2027. Axens tailored the design package to meet specific product quality targets and site conditions, drawing on its hydroprocessing expertise and catalyst portfolio to enhance operational performance and product quality.

The developer's selection of Axens hinged on the company's extensive experience with hydroprocessing and upgrading projects involving alternative feedstocks. Axens' track record includes over 300 proven hydroprocessing references globally, covering applications such as Distillate Hydrotreating (Prime-D), Waste Lube Recycling (Revivoil) and Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Oil Hydroprocessing (Rewind Mix). The client particularly valued Axens' capacity to tackle TPO processing challenges and impurity management, alongside its proven project delivery capabilities as an experienced technology licensor.

The initiative delivers economic advantages while addressing a mounting waste management issue. By converting end-of-life tyres into valuable products, it fosters more resource-efficient value chains and supports local economic objectives through the production of transportation fuels.

Jean-Luc Nocca, Executive Vice-President Commercial Business Division, said, "This project highlights the growing interest in converting end-of-life tyres into valuable transportation fuels through robust and reliable upgrading technologies. We are proud to support our client with a tailored process design package that builds on Axens’ proven ability to address the specific challenges associated with tyre pyrolysis oil. This selection reinforces the versatility of our technologies in enabling circular economy solutions while delivering products that meet market and environmental requirements."

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Wallace Instruments has launched Wallace Instruments West Africa, a new Abidjan-based entity extending the UK materials testing equipment maker’s support for natural rubber producers across the region. The operation places servicing, calibration, spare parts and technical expertise closer to an established West African customer base that depends on Wallace instruments for plasticity, PRI and viscosity testing. The move is intended to shorten turnaround times and foster lasting local relationships.

Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa’s foremost natural rubber producer, ranks among the world’s leading exporters of technically specified rubber (TSR), supplying tyre and rubber product manufacturers globally, including the Americas. Properly maintained and calibrated instruments generate consistent, traceable results at source, strengthening confidence in shipment quality throughout the supply chain.

The Abidjan facility will feature a laboratory and training centre where customers can observe Wallace equipment in action and receive hands-on testing and technical guidance. Technicians trained by Wallace will use OEM calibration kits for fully compliant work, while customs-cleared spare parts stocks will cut lead times. An exclusive local partner will also provide servicing and calibration for other plantation and processing equipment across West Africa.

Chris Norval, Managing Director, Wallace Instruments, said, "Our aim is to bring trusted, traceable quality measurement closer to natural rubber production. Establishing Wallace Instruments West Africa helps our customers maintain reliable testing and strengthen quality control while giving the wider supply chain greater assurance in the test data. We're excited to be building our team locally and look forward to growing with the region."

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A new Bridgestone report released ahead of Tyre Safety Month 2026 reveals a troubling gap between UK motorists’ stated safety priorities and their actual tyre maintenance habits. While two-thirds of drivers rate safety as extremely important when replacing tyres, nearly half only think about their tyres once a year, and almost a third continue driving on them until an MOT failure forces action.

The manufacturer’s survey of 2,000 motorists found that 47 percent check their tyres only when an MOT is due, while 31 percent wait until being told their car will fail. One in five drivers admits to buying potentially deadly part-worn products despite being warned of the risks. Three in five motorists never check their tyres at all, even though 87 percent claim to know how to do so.

These findings arrive alongside TyreSafe estimates that 6.1 million tyres on UK roads are illegal or dangerously worn at any given time, typically because tread depth falls below the 1.6 mm legal limit. Department for Transport figures show that people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving illegal, defective or underinflated tyres rose from 169 in 2024 to 201 in 2025.

Bridgestone has conducted thousands of complimentary tyre checks across the UK over the past year and runs its Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero campaign, which offers drivers practical guidance on tread depth, pressure and tyre condition. The company also advocates mandatory tyre replacement as a penalty for driving on illegal tyres, a stance supported by 30 percent of survey respondents.

Helen Roe, Senior Manager for Brand, Events, Product and Digital Marketing, described the research as a timely reminder of the need to educate motorists. She noted that while drivers recognise tyre safety as the most important purchase factor, life-saving checks still are not happening, possibly because tyres remain an afterthought or because drivers lack confidence in performing them. She emphasised that tyres are the only contact points with the road and that part-worn products carry unknown histories and potential damage.

Bridgestone urges drivers to check pressures monthly when tyres are cold, inspect surfaces for lumps, bulges, cuts and cracks and verify tread depth exceeds 1.6 mm using a gauge or the 20p test. Motorists uncertain about their tyres should seek a qualified professional, with many garages offering free checks. The company says its community campaigns, educational resources and retailer partnerships aim to make correct safety decisions easier and to highlight how essential well-maintained tyres are to preventing accidents and saving lives.

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