Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels, a subsidiary of The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company, has opened its first-ever retail store in Shanghai, China. This major milestone comes on the back of the launch of the company’s latest product lines in China last year.

The newly opened Mickey Thompson store will serve as a gathering place for Chinese off-road aficionados in addition to being a place to shop. Additionally, Mickey Thompson's involvement in China's off-road community is strengthened by providing off-road fans with access to exclusive events, local races and expert-led workshops. Since 1963, Mickey Thompson has established a solid reputation for manufacturing off-road tires with exceptional performance that are tailored for harsh environments and ardent enthusiasts. Four of the brand's most recent, iconic product lines were formally unveiled to the Greater China market in September.

Nathaniel Madarang, Goodyear Asia Pacific President, said, "The opening of Mickey Thompson's first retail store marks a key milestone in realising our vision to make Goodyear #1 in tyres and service in Luxury, SUV and EV across Asia Pacific. Goodyear and Mickey Thompson have each played a monumental role in the history of tyres for the off-road and 4x4 markets. Now, with over a century of combined expertise, we are excited to build on this momentum, driving innovation and delivering an exceptional off-road experience to enthusiasts across the region."

Justin Foley, Managing Director of Goodyear Greater China, said, "China's SUV market is poised for rapid expansion in the coming years, fuelled by an increasing number of off-road enthusiasts eager to explore the country's diverse terrains, ranging from deserts to high-altitude regions. We will continue to expand our product offerings, providing a comprehensive range of off-road tyre solutions, to meet the diverse needs of consumers."

John Bodart, President of Mickey Thompson, said, "We are incredibly proud to bring Mickey Thompson's legacy of premium quality, durability and traction to China. Our new store in Shanghai represents more than just a retail space; it's a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation. We are thrilled to empower even more enthusiasts to break away from the ordinary and pave their own trails with our top-of-the-line tyres and wheels. This expansion allows us to connect with the vibrant off-road community in China and provide them with the exceptional products and experiences they deserve."

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Birla Carbon will present its carbon black solutions at the Global Polymer Summit 2026, scheduled for 28–30 September at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The company will exhibit at Booth 417, targeting tyre and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) manufacturers seeking higher performance and reduced environmental impact.

The company’s portfolio spans tyre and MRG applications, addressing durability, strength, abrasion resistance and product life across tyres, belts, hoses, sealing systems and anti-vibration products. Birla Carbon will also feature Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM), a circular carbon range with consistent quality and global availability and Continua Sustainable Carbon Black (SCB), produced from recycled or bio-based feedstocks.

Supported by extensive manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-focused teams across the Americas, Birla Carbon provides reliable volumes, responsive service and tailored solutions. Attendees can meet company experts at Booth 417 to explore its product portfolio, technical capabilities and sustainable offerings.

John Davidson, President – Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “The tyre and mechanical rubber goods industries are at an important phase, where performance, supply resilience and sustainability must advance together. The next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration across the value chain and the ability to translate innovation into scalable, commercially viable solutions. At Birla Carbon, we are combining our manufacturing network, portfolio strength, technical expertise and regional capabilities to help customers navigate this transition and build more resilient and sustainable businesses.”

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Firestone, a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary, has unveiled the Destination LE4 highway touring tyre as the successor to its best-selling Destination LE3. The new model features a deeper tread depth, an advanced compound and a non-directional tread pattern, delivering longer wear life along with improved wet and light snow performance for year-round driving confidence.

Backed by a 70,000-mile limited warranty, the Destination LE4 is projected in external testing to wear 16 percent longer than its predecessor, 9 percent longer than the General Grabber H/T and 43 percent longer than the BFGoodrich Advantage Control HT. Thinner 3D sipes enhance traction and handling, while internal testing showed wet stopping distances reduced by 8 feet versus the Toyo Open Country H/T II and 4 feet versus the BFGoodrich Advantage Ctrl HT, with dry stopping improved by 8 feet and 2 feet, respectively, plus a 2-foot dry gain over the LE3.

Sustainability gains come through wear-resistance technology, optimised material usage that lowers raw material consumption and enhanced traction technology. Two technical firsts originated at the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center in Akron, Ohio: a high-strength, lightweight carcass architecture using light body plies and steel cords for durability and low rolling resistance despite deeper tread, and advanced compound mixing that improves ingredient consistency for tread wear, handling and wet grip.

Available in 65 sizes for 15- to 22-inch rims, the Destination LE4 covers small CUVs, SUVs, pickups and larger trucks, including the Mazda CX-5, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Nissan Armada.

Jeremy Norwood, Chief Engineer, New Product Engineering, Bridgestone Americas, said, “Drivers loved the Firestone Destination LE3 for its comfortable, quiet ride and all-season reliability. With the new Destination LE4, we enhanced those strengths by extending wear life and improving wet-weather handling, delivering dependable performance, confident control and everyday value.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC), its Thai subsidiary focused on natural rubber processing, earned the Outstanding Provincial-Level CSR Organization Award. The honour formed part of the ‘CSR Award 2026’ initiative run by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the presentation took place on 22 August 2026.

Built around the idea of ‘CSR Partnerships for Sustainable Thailand’, the award programme highlights organisations demonstrating exemplary corporate social responsibility at provincial or metropolitan level throughout the country’s 76 provinces and Bangkok. A total of 92 recipients – among them YTRC, other firms and bodies chosen nationwide and provincial CSR centres – convened at IMPACT Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi Province to collect commemorative plaques.

Governor Jumpot Wannachatsiri (left) presents flowers to YTRC Managing Director Noboru Takita (centre) and Department Manager Supachai Choosuwan at the Surat Thani Provincial Council.

YTRC, established in Surat Thani Province in 2008, has long pursued environmental preservation and dependable ties with nearby communities. Working with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), it surveys natural rubber plantations and supplies management assistance to farmers, supporting sustainable procurement of the material. The company further backs agroforestry practices that give rubber farmers steadier incomes while partnering with the Surat Thani Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security on efforts to nurture constructive community relations.

The recognition reflects YTRC’s continuous community-oriented CSR work and its notable local impact. A special event on 31 August saw the Surat Thani Provincial Council once more acknowledge those contributions, with the governor presenting a celebratory bouquet. Separately, the CSR Center of Surat Thani Province ranked among only nine centres nationwide to win the Outstanding Provincial CSR Promotion Center Award.

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Hankook Tire has unveiled a new generation of winter tyres for trucks, introducing the Smart Control AW53 for steering axles and the Smart Control DW53 for drive axles. Designed for harsh winter conditions, these models will eventually replace the previous Smart Control AW02 and DW07 winter tyres. They combine high traction on snow and ice with strong cornering and braking performance, along with high mileage. The pair debuts at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, where the company exhibits from 15 to 20 September at stand E09 in hall 11.

Development prioritised strong winter performance across the tyres' full lifespan. Hankook achieves improved winter traction through advanced technology and a blend of tread features. Zigzag grooves and 3D sipes add grip on snow and ice, while tie bars stiffen tread blocks, supporting precise handling and stable driving.

Internal testing at the UTAC Test Centre in Ivalo, Finland, showed the AW53 and DW53 outperforming the earlier AW02 and DW07 models. Braking on snow improved by 2.8 percent, acceleration by 4 percent and handling by 3.7 percent. Central to the design is Hidden Groove technology, in which extra tread grooves emerge as wear progresses, maintaining snow traction and wet grip even when well worn. At 40 percent wear, additional 3D sipes appear, increasing tread block stiffness and improving grip while lowering rolling resistance. At 70 percent wear, further concealed grooves enhance wet grip. Alongside self-regenerating sipes, this sustains winter performance across the service life and extends it by as much as 15 percent.

Stone ejectors in the main grooves and Y-shaped lateral grooves reduce stone retention and shield the tread and carcass from damage. A newly developed compound further contributes to balanced grip. At launch, the AW53 comes in size 385/65 R22.5 164K (158L), rated for 5,000 kg per tyre. The DW53 is offered in size 315/80 R22.5 (156/150L), with a maximum load of 4,000 kg per tyre for single fitments or 3,350 kg for twin fitments. More sizes are planned. All new Smart Control winter tyres carry the 3PMSF label and both can be regrooved and retreaded to extend their working life further.

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