The Tire Society unveiled its speaker lineup for the 43rd Annual Conference, which will be held from 11 to 13 September 2024 at the University of Akron in Ohio.
This premier technical event for advancements in tyre science and technology boasts a keynote address, a plenary lecture, and an awards banquet featuring a tyre-related speaker. Over 25 original technical presentations by international tyre scientists will also be featured.
The Tire Society, the world's leading technical organisation for tyre science, engineering, and technology advancement, is a non-profit dedicated to disseminating knowledge and stimulating scientific and engineering developments in tyres.

Expanded Conference Format
Building on its success, the conference extends two to a half days, allowing for increased attendee interaction. Registration includes annual Tire Society membership, granting full access to the vast archive of the Journal of Tire Science and Technology (over 50 years of articles). Additional benefits encompass on-demand replays of technical presentations and discounted registration for the University of Akron's Tire Mechanics Short Course.
Global Representation in Research Presentations
A global audience can expect high-calibre research presentations from Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. Tyre-related topics include rolling resistance, durability, noise, molecular and constitutive modelling, traction, handling, vehicle dynamics/simulation, manufacturing, intelligent tyre systems, active suspension, and machine learning. An interactive student poster session fosters connections between attendees and the next generation of tyre specialists.
Keynote and Plenary Speakers
The conference welcomes Rob Williams, President of Hankook Tire America, as this year's keynote speaker. His address, "Adapting to Change: Leveraging Technology as a Catalyst for Innovation," reflects his extensive experience of over 33 years in the automotive and tyre industries. Before Hankook, Williams held leadership positions at AAA Carolinas (Automotive Car Care Centres Vice President), Michelin (Commercial Sales & Operations Regional Director and Commercial Operations Vice President), and Goodyear Tire & Rubber (District Manager).
Tom Ebbott, Vice President of Endurica, LLC, will deliver the plenary lecture. Dr Ebbott, recognised for his leadership in tyre modelling, simulation, and workflows, holds a PhD in fracture and crack growth in polymers from the University of Wisconsin. He joined Endurica in 2022 after 35 years at Goodyear, where he held various technical and leadership roles in product and technology development, modelling and simulation, and material characterisation. Dr. Ebbott also played a key role in multiple technical partnerships and spent two years as Manager of Computational Mechanics at Goodyear's Luxembourg Technical Center. His contributions include numerous publications and awards.
Banquet Speaker
The banquet speaker will be Anand Jagota, professor and founding chair of the bioengineering programme at Lehigh University. Dr. Jagota, with over 115 refereed journal articles and three book chapters, focuses his research on biomaterials, biomechanics, and nanobiotechnology. His group explores the properties, processing, and modelling of DNA interactions with nanomaterials, particularly DNA-carbon nanotube hybrids. Additional research areas include nanomechanics, biomechanics, adhesion, and friction. Dr Jagota's lab currently investigates biomimetic fibrillar interfaces for enhanced adhesion, friction, and compliance through near-surface architecture design. The ongoing research projects include solution-based processing of carbon nanotubes, the biomimetics of fibrillar adhesion, and adhesion/mechanical properties.

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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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Michelin has unveiled the X Multi Energy D2 tyre, developed to address the specific challenges of regional haul operations. Fleets in this segment face demanding roads, frequent stop-and-start cycles and escalating fuel expenses that affect both performance and profitability. By blending durability, fuel savings and Michelin’s established performance standards, the new tyre aims to boost fleet productivity while reducing overall operating costs.

The tyre features a revised tread pattern and a new tread compound to better resist tread damage caused by high-torque vehicles and stop-and-go regional driving. It is constructed on Michelin’s Duracore casing, which integrates Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies and benefits from a reinforced bead design known as Duracoil Technology. This casing is engineered to last up to one million miles and support as many as four retreads.

In the effort to curb fuel expenses, the X Multi Energy D2 improves rolling resistance by 9 percent over its predecessor, the Michelin X Multi Energy D tyre, and by 18 percent compared with leading competitors. It also enhances late-life traction, offering 10 percent better wet handling and 16 percent better snow starting traction when worn, giving drivers and operations managers greater confidence on varying roads.

For original equipment manufacturers, the tyre meets Greenhouse Gas standards and supports applicable vehicle carbon-reduction requirements. Designed for regional applications where traction, durability and fuel efficiency matter, it is available in 295/75R22.5 LRG and 11R22.5 LRG and LRH sizes, replacing the X Multi Energy D tyre in those sizes.

Yahn Heurlin, VP of B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Michelin is driven by a deep commitment to understanding the needs and challenges customers face every day. This customer-first mindset inspires the development of purpose-built solutions designed to address real-world pain points and help fleets operate more efficiently.”

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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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