NEXEN TIRE has been distinguished as a finalist in two categories at the prestigious 2025 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The company earned this recognition for its visionary concept tyres, NEXIST and CELLEXIS, which were developed to address the complex transportation challenges of future megacities. The IDEA awards, hosted by the Industrial Designers Society of America, are globally renowned for honouring superior achievement in design innovation, aesthetic appeal, user benefit and societal value.

The NEXIST concept is engineered for a future of urban air mobility, anticipating a landscape where traditional road space is scarce. It is designed as a lightweight, high-performance component for fully autonomous vehicles capable of vertical take-off, utilising advanced carbon composites while retaining the familiar form of a tyre. The second concept, CELLEXIS, reimagines public transport with a modular system inspired by the efficiency of a red blood cell. Its unique spherical structure, equipped with multi-directional omni wheels, functions simultaneously as the tyre, a docking mechanism and a passenger entry point, aiming to streamline urban transit and lessen reliance on private cars.

These projects are the result of a collaboration with the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, an agency of South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. For NEXEN TIRE, such concept tyres are a critical platform for demonstrating technological leadership, design philosophy and a commitment to sustainable mobility. This accolade marks the third recent year the company has been honoured with an IDEA award, following wins in 2022 and 2023, highlighting a sustained commitment to pioneering design.

This latest achievement is part of a broader pattern of international recognition for NEXEN TIRE in 2025. The company also secured a Red Dot Design Award for its Winguard Sport 3 tyre and a North American Green Good Design Award for its N’FERA Sport R and N’BLUE 4Season 2 models, collectively affirming its growing stature and competitive edge in the realm of innovative and environmentally conscious design.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “This award is a testament to our philosophy and innovative efforts to deliver differentiated experiences that resonate globally. We will continue to develop designs and technologies that bridge the present and future of mobility.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Yokohama Rubber Co., has added a new hose with a 3/8-inch (9mm) inner diameter and a 4-spiral structure to its Versatran ISO Series of hydraulic high-pressure hoses for markets outside Japan. The sales of the new hose has already started in September 2025.

The development, the company shared, responds to increased demand from underground mining sites for hoses with small diameters and high durability to fit narrow spaces and improve operational efficiency. The new 3/8-inch hose conforms to the highest durability standard, DC Type of the ISO18752 international standard. It also meets the flame-retardant standards of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), ensuring safety under demanding conditions.

The hose is described as flexible and easy to manoeuvre, allowing for greater freedom in machine design and more efficient maintenance.

The addition of the new 3/8-inch hose expands Versatran's lineup in the 42MPa specification to include inner diameters from 3/8 of an inch (9mm) to 2 inches (50mm). This is expected to broaden the lineup's appeal across various markets and applications beyond mining machinery.

Yokohama Rubber's Versatran brand also includes the 4SH/4SP Series (meeting the EN856 European Standard) and the R1/R2 Series (complying with the EN853 and the US Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J517 standard). The company views its hose and couplings business as a key growth driver under its Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026) management plan.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Balkrishna Industries (BKT), an off-highway tyre company, has been named Cricket Australia’s (CA) naming rights partner for the Men’s One Day International (ODI) and T20 International series against India.

The matches between Australia and India will be titled the BKT Tyres Men’s ODI Series and the BKT Tyres Men’s T20 International Series.

The three-match BKT ODI series is scheduled to begin in Perth on 19 October, followed by the five-match BKT T20I series starting in Canberra on 29 October.

The partnership reinforces BKT’s existing association with cricket and reflects its commitment to advancing the sport globally. CA’s leadership is visiting India this month to engage with key stakeholders, highlighting the significance of the partnership between the two countries through sport.

Todd Greenberg, CEO, Cricket Australia, said, “We’re delighted to welcome BKT Tyres as the Naming Rights Partner for these marquee series. Their passion for cricket and dedication to creating immersive fan experiences align perfectly with our vision for the sport. We’re expecting huge crowds across Australia for the eight matches in the ODI and T20 series and it’s great to have a partner who shares our excitement about this series and for the game itself.”

Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT, said, “This partnership with Cricket Australia marks a strategic milestone in strengthening BKT’s global footprint and deepening our connection with key markets where cricket is more than a sport — it’s a shared passion. As an Indian-origin company with a strong international presence, we see this collaboration as an opportunity to build brand equity, create meaningful engagement with fans across both India and Australia, and celebrate the values of performance, resilience and teamwork. Australia has been a key market for us for over a decade, and we are excited to elevate our journey in line with our ‘Growing Together’ philosophy.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

A recent collaborative study from The AA and TyreSafe reveals a significant and concerning disconnect between UK drivers' confidence in their tyre knowledge and their actual understanding of legal requirements and maintenance practices. The research, which surveyed more than 22,000 individuals, indicates that while drivers grasp basic safety concepts, this awareness fails to translate into consistent action or knowledge of severe legal consequences.

A foundational safety principle is well understood; an overwhelming 98 percent of drivers correctly recognised that worn tyres increase stopping distances in wet weather. However, this awareness is not matched by familiarity with the law. A startling 61 percent of motorists are unaware that the maximum fine for driving on an illegal tyre is GBP 2,500 per tyre, meaning a vehicle with four illegal tyres could incur a GBP 10,000 penalty. Furthermore, 45 percent did not know that each illegal tyre can result in three penalty points on a driving licence, an oversight that could quickly lead to a disqualification for drivers with multiple faulty tyres.

Confusion also exists regarding fundamental legal responsibilities. Only two-thirds of respondents correctly identified that the person driving the car is legally responsible for its tyres, with a significant portion mistakenly believing the responsibility lies with the vehicle's owner. Knowledge of the minimum legal tread depth was also found to be lacking, with just 57 percent correctly stating it is 1.6 mm for cars.

This gap between perceived and actual knowledge is further evidenced by inconsistent checking habits. While an overwhelming 96 percent of drivers claimed to know how to check tyre pressure, only 30 percent had actually done so in the week prior to the survey. Similarly, just 19 percent reported checking their tread depth weekly, with a concerning number admitting to checks less than every six months or never at all. The research also identified clear demographic trends, with male and older drivers consistently demonstrating better knowledge and more frequent maintenance practices than female and younger motorists.

In response to these findings, The AA and TyreSafe are urging all drivers to integrate regular tyre checks into their monthly routine and before long journeys. They emphasise that maintaining correct pressure and sufficient tread depth is not merely a legal formality but a critical measure for ensuring vehicle safety, optimal handling and fuel efficiency while also avoiding severe financial and legal penalties.

Greg Carter, AA Technical Specialist, said, “The findings from our joint research are a stark reminder that while drivers understand the dangers of worn tyres in principle, a significant proportion are completely unaware of the precise legal requirements and the severe financial and licensing consequences they face for non-compliance. It’s alarming that so many drivers are risking not just their own safety and that of others, but also potentially crippling fines and driving bans, simply due to a lack of knowledge and inconsistent maintenance. We need a concerted effort to educate drivers about their responsibilities. Checking your tyre pressure and tread depth should be as routine as checking your fuel gauge. The risks of not doing so – both to safety and your wallet – are simply too high. We particularly encourage targeted campaigns for younger drivers and women to bridge the knowledge gap highlighted in our research.”

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “Our partnership with The AA on this vital research has unveiled critical knowledge gaps that we, as an industry, must address. Tyres are the only contact points a vehicle has with the road, and their condition directly impacts braking, steering and overall vehicle control. It’s concerning that fundamental aspects of their maintenance and the critical legal ramifications of neglect are so poorly understood. This collaborative insight reinforces the urgent need for greater public education to empower drivers with the knowledge and habits needed to keep their tyres, and our roads, safe.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has expanded its premium Cross Country mountain bike tyre line with the introduction of the SCORPION XC RH. This new model, entirely manufactured in Italy at the company's Milan-Bollate facility using FSC-certified natural rubber, is engineered for the highest levels of competitive racing where minimizing rolling resistance is the paramount concern.

Designed for hardpack and compact terrain, the SCORPION XC RH aims to deliver record-level rolling efficiency without sacrificing control. Its performance stems from a synergistic combination of a specialised tread design and a bespoke RACE XC compound. The tread pattern features a wide, continuous central band with low-profile, tightly spaced knobs to maximize speed and smoothness. For confident cornering, a key weakness in many fast-rolling tyres, the RH incorporates aggressive shoulder knobs directly derived from the SCORPION XC RC model. This differentiated profile ensures stability on straightaways and provides exceptional traction through technical turns.

The custom-formulated RACE XC compound is the product of Pirelli’s technical expertise, bridging motorsport and cycling. Developed specifically for the RH model, this compound is calibrated to offer ultra-fast rolling performance coupled with essential chemical grip, which is critical for maintaining control on mixed surfaces and when riding at the limit. Internal laboratory testing confirms that the SCORPION XC RH is the fastest model in Pirelli's entire Made-in-Italy cross-country range, demonstrating a more than forty percent improvement in rolling speed over the previous RC model.

This new Racing Hardpack tyre has already been proven under race conditions by Pirelli’s partner teams, including Alpecin-Deceuninck and Trek Factory Racing, in events such as the Les Gets World Cup and the World Championships. Notably, Samuele Porro of the Klimatiza Orbea team rode the SCORPION XC RH to a Vice World Champion title at the 2025 Marathon World Championships.

The SCORPION XC RH is available to consumers in a 29x2.4 size, offering a choice between the standard LITE casing and the redesigned ProWALL casing, which features reinforced sidewalls for enhanced protection and stability. The tyres are now available at leading bicycle retailers and online, complete with graphics in both standard and Team Edition versions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!