Pirelli has secured its position as the exclusive tyre supplier for the DTM following a transparent and competitive tender process. This renewed partnership, effective from the 2026 season, signifies a substantial deepening of the Italian firm's involvement. Beyond simply providing tyres, Pirelli will leverage its extensive motorsport expertise to design and develop a bespoke tyre line specifically for the DTM. These new tyres will be engineered with innovative processes and materials to match the series' demanding race format and increasing competitiveness, and they will incorporate the latest RFID tracking technology.

A notable shift is that, from the next season, DTM tyres will be developed and manufactured at Pirelli's state-of-the-art technology centre in Breuberg, Hesse, marking a ‘Made in Germany’ production. This facility is recognised as one of the most advanced within Pirelli's global network of 18 plants and features a cutting-edge research and development department. The enhanced collaboration also extends to marketing, with Pirelli planning to integrate the DTM more prominently into its international sales initiatives and digital channels, promising to significantly boost the series' global visibility.

In a related development, Pirelli has also extended its partnership with the ADAC GT Masters. However, the product lines for this series will follow a separate development path, maintaining continuity with the global GT platform. The ADAC GT Masters will continue using the P Zero DHG tyre generation introduced for the 2025 season, a partnership that has been in place since 2015.

Thomas Voss, ADAC Motorsport Director, said, "The DTM is the GT and touring car series with the highest performance density worldwide and places special demands on tyres. We are responding to this with Pirelli's tailor-made tyres. The new tyre for the DTM also ensures fair competition and is an effective means of enforcing testing restrictions in the series. The introduction of the exclusive tyre is an important step for the development of the DTM. We are delighted to be taking this step together with Pirelli.”

Mario Isola, Director of Pirelli Motorsport, said, “The ADAC’s decision underscores the high quality of our tyres and the excellent work of our team. The DTM can continue to rely on top tyre performance and dependable support at the track. The tyre production in Germany is certainly a big asset for the series. Pirelli and the DTM will continue on their shared path, confirming the success of the partnership that began in 2023. This is a source of great pride for us and, at the same time, a responsibility. We will continue to provide our utmost support to one of the world's most prestigious and professional championships with bespoke technological solutions. This partnership represents a significant commitment, but also a valuable opportunity for further growth for our team."

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, successfully demonstrated its high-performance racing technology at the demanding Central European Rally. As Round 12 of the 2025 season, the event concluded on 19th October in and around the Passau region of Bavaria, challenging participants with one of the calendar's most complex tarmac routes.

The rally's 18 special stages, spanning roughly 307 kilometres of asphalt, presented a severe test. The route wove from the high-speed sections on the rolling hills of the Czech Republic to the narrow, slippery and technical roads of the Bavarian Forest, with surface grip changing dramatically throughout. Unpredictable autumn conditions, including sudden showers, dense fog and sharp temperature swings, further intensified the challenge, pushing drivers and their equipment to the absolute limit.

In this variable environment, Hankook supported all crews with its dedicated tarmac rally tyres: the Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210. The Ventus Z215 provided sharp handling and exceptional cornering stability on dry asphalt, while the Ventus Z210 was crucial for maintaining confident grip and dispersing water effectively during wet stages. The consistent performance of both tyre models amid rapidly shifting grip levels underscored Hankook’s technological advancement and reliability under extreme asphalt conditions.

The rally concluded with a victory for Kalle Rovanperä of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, who secured his third win of the season. This result elevated him to joint second in the Drivers' Championship standings. The event was also historically significant for Toyota, which clinched its ninth Manufacturers' Championship title, setting a new record for the team.

The championship now advances to the final round, FORUM8 Rally Japan, in November. Known for its narrow and treacherous mountain roads, the event will demand ultimate precision. Hankook's involvement as the exclusive tyre supplier is backed by extensive development, including over 2,000 kilometres of FIA-supervised testing across eight countries. This commitment forms the foundation for its continued role as the sole tyre supplier for all WRC categories for three consecutive seasons starting in 2025, a partnership that will further strengthen the premium value of the Hankook brand on the global stage.

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Steelastic LLC, part of the HEICO Companies, has officially announced a new strategic partnership with IBP for the territories of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In this capacity, the company has welcomed John Powath as its official agent for these regions. Powath is a respected leader within the tyre industry, bringing a wealth of experience from his roles as a Partner at IBP and as a Co-Founder of Automoto. He is also recognised as an active contributor to global tyre and automotive industry events.

Operationally, Steelastic’s Business Development Manager Hemant Agrawal will work in close coordination with the IBP team. Their collective focus will be on strengthening the support infrastructure for customers and driving the growth of Steelastic’s business footprint across South Asia. The company has expressed considerable optimism regarding this collaboration and believes it will unlock substantial new opportunities for its valued customer base in the region, enhancing product access and technical service.

The company statement read: “We welcome John Powath as Steelastic’s official agent in these regions. Powath is a respected leader in the tyre industry, Partner at IBP, & Co-Founder at Automoto, as well as an active contributor to global tyre and automotive events. Moving forward, Steelastic Business Development Manager, Hemant Agrawal, along with the IBP team, will work closely to strengthen customer support and grow Steelastic’s business across South Asia. We are excited about this collaboration and the opportunities it will bring for our valued customers.”

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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport has been declared the definitive winner in EVO's 2025 Tyre Test, decisively outperforming eight rival products. Evaluated on a high-powered BMW 135i xDrive with 302 bhp in the size 235/35 R19, the tyre delivered six class-leading results.

The tyre’s dominance was particularly evident in wet conditions, where it achieved the shortest braking distance and top scores for cornering and aquaplaning resistance. The tyre also excelled in dry performance, recording the fastest lap time and a strong third-place finish in dry braking. Test editors praised it as an exceptional and emphatic winner, noting its superb on-road feel and capability in all conditions.

This assessment is further supported by independent TÜV SÜD testing, which confirms the Potenza Sport's superior dry braking, cornering and stability against other premium tyres. Its wet performance is also officially recognised with a top EU 'A' wet grip rating and leading results in wet cornering and handling, solidifying its status as a top-tier ultra-high-performance tyre.

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Michelin has announced the full deployment of its proprietary TreadEye technology across the Michelin Retread Technologies franchise network in the United States. TreadEye is a technology developed to enhance the retread process and deliver value to fleets.

The company stated that TreadEye is a tread depth assessment tool that helps fleets maximise their tyre investment. The system collects 1,200 measurement points accurately and consistently, providing insights into tread wear and casing condition.

Key benefits of the TreadEye technology include:

• Identification of pull points by fleet location.
• Maximisation of rubber on the road by helping to avoid early pulls.
• Helps in prevention of casing damage and helps reduce DOT violations.
• Helps reduce downtime from late pulls.
• Improved efficiency in the tyre removal process, directly affecting a fleet’s bottom line.

Nate Kirian, Vice-President of Sales and Distribution, Commercial Business Lines for Michelin North America, Inc, said, “TreadEye is a game-changer for our retread operations and for the fleets we serve. It’s a powerful example of how Michelin continues to innovate in ways that directly benefit our customers.”

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