After two years of virtual conferences, the Tire Society has returned to an in-person format for the 41st Conference on Science and Technology, to be held September 12th and 13th at the University of Akron. With the return to the University of Akron, where it was originally held, the Tire Society Conference will kick off Tire Week in Akron, officially proclaimed September 12-16 by the Mayor of Akron. Tire Week also includes the International Tire Exhibition and Conference (ITEC), which is the largest tyre manufacturing trade expo and conference in North America. Tire Week will be a can’t-miss opportunity for those who want to achieve a broad grasp of leading-edge Tire Design and Manufacturing technology. 

Please click to the link for the detailed programme: Programme schedule  

Alexis Garcin, Chairman and President, of Michelin North America, will deliver a keynote address at the conference. Tracey Norberg, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of USTMA, will give the plenary lecture titled ‘The Road Ahead – Technology and Policy in the Tyre Industry’ at the conference. Dr Nohoon Ki, Engineering Manager at John Deere, will speak on ‘Round and Green: Engineering for Agriculture’.

The welcoming address will be delivered by Dr Gary L Miller, President of the University of Akron. Under Dr Miller’s leadership, the University of Akron has reaffirmed its reputation as a leading public urban research university, committed to fulfilling its long-standing promises to the people of Akron and Northeast Ohio. 

Wide range of topics

The conference is attended by engineers and scientists from around the world, representing the tyre and vehicle industries, academia and governmental agencies. A wide range of topics on tyre applications, ranging from passenger, high-performance, truck and electric vehicles to off-highway, including aircraft to far off-highway Mars Rover, will be covered in the paper presentations.

There will be a wide array of more than 20 interesting and significant original works by top technologists, presented by the authors themselves.

With this year’s theme, New Horizons in Tyre Evaluation, the papers will cover the characterisation of tyre performance, both physically and with vehicle simulators. Other subjects include numerical predictive methods, data analytics, tyre performance and construction, and rubber compound development.

A panel discussion titled ‘The Future of Tire Testing’, moderated by Heather Bobbitt, Tire Modeling Group Manager, General Motors, will be joined by Christian Bachmann, Senior Manager – Tyre Technology, FKA GmbH; Henning Olsson, Director of Technology, Calspan Corporation; Jonathan Darab, Operations Director, Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation (GCAPS); Matt Kent, Technical Director of Tire & Wheel Test Lab, Smithers, USA and Sonny Huisman, Manager, Siemens Digital Industries Software.

These experts will discuss the challenges ahead for the tyre industry and provide insights into the next steps in tyre testing. Predictive methods in the emerging ‘digital twin’ era require improved testing methods to understand the physics of tyre mechanical behaviour under circumstances that can cause uncertainty in virtual assessment. Temperature effects, wear behaviour, wet surfaces, soil interaction and snow sinkage are some factors that are not necessarily well understood or integrated when a vehicle-level assessment is concerned.

They will also discuss the testing requirement in developing speciality tyres for racing, agricultural or heavy industrial applications that will remain a challenge for characterisation and parameterisation. Big data, machine learning algorithms and databasing methods and increased leverage of simulation environments are critical enablers for faster turnaround in early vehicle development, which is emerging as an OEM requirement.

Back to roots

This year’s edition will be held at the University of Akron near downtown Akron. In the last 12 years, the conference has only been held downtown once. With the conference’s return in September to its historic home, where it was held for the first 28 years, it is fitting that the Awards Banquet will be kicked off by an address from Mayor Dan Horrigan. 

With the conference’s return downtown to the University of Akron and being aligned in the same week as the International Tire Exhibition and Conference (ITEC) to be held at the John S Knight Center, this ‘Tire Week in Akron’ will provide a nostalgic and informative homecoming, said the organiser.

The conference will be held in a hybrid format.

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Hankook Tire Hungary Ltd received the ‘Key Supporter of Saint Pantaleon Hospital’ award during the hospital's Semmelweis Day ceremony in Dunaújváros, Hungary. This recognition highlights the company's longstanding commitment to enhancing local healthcare quality through consistent contributions.

Marking a new tradition, this year's ceremony expanded beyond honouring healthcare workers to acknowledge institutional supporters. Hankook earned this distinction through multiple initiatives, including recent equipment donations for the paediatric ward and installation of a nurse call system in the surgical department. The company's support extends to previous years' projects such as ventilator procurement, maternity ward renovations, and pandemic-related protective equipment donations.

The award coincides with Hungary's annual Healthcare Day celebrations on 1 July, which since 1992 has honoured medical professionals nationwide. By recognising Hankook's sustained community involvement, Saint Pantaleon Hospital underscores the vital role of corporate partnerships in maintaining quality healthcare services.

Dr Örs Szilágyi, Director General of the Saint Pantaleon Hospital, said, “We are very grateful for the help and commitment of Hankook Tire Hungary. We are working together for a joint goal to improve continuously the standard of healthcare and thus create value for local citizen, help them in maintaining their health and in getting better. Hankook’s Corporate Social Responsibility sets an example to all. We are happy to award Hankook Tire Hungary Ltd as the first company with the ’Key Supporter of Saint Pantateon Hospital’ award.

Receiving the award from Dr Szilágyi on behalf of the company, Ho Taek Lim, Managing Director of Hankook Tire's Hungary Plant, said, “We are honoured to receive this recognition from Saint Pantaleon Hospital. At Hankook, we believe in long-term partnerships and consider the health of the people living here, our employees and their families to be our most important investment, which is why we intend to continue supporting local initiatives and institutions in the future.”

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Metso is strengthening its position in sustainable screening technologies by establishing a new manufacturing facility in Oradea, Romania. This strategic investment supports the company's growth plans by boosting production capacity and enhancing service capabilities for customers across Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

The new centre will focus on manufacturing stationary screening equipment while expanding spare and wear parts supply, including rubber screening media. Expected to employ 70-80 people by 2026, the facility will improve regional customer support in minerals and aggregates markets where demand is growing.

The Romanian production hub complements Metso's existing global manufacturing network, which includes facilities in France, Brazil, India, South Africa and China. This expansion reinforces Metso's commitment to delivering efficient, localised solutions while supporting customers with faster service and optimised screening technologies.

Jouni Mähönen, Vice President of the Screening business line, said, “This investment is a continuation of our regional strategy implementation. A new centre in Romania will improve responsiveness to meet customer needs, answer to growing demand in growth markets and strengthen our ability to deliver tailored screening solutions efficiently.”

Adrian Wood, Vice President, Central Region Screening business line, said, “Customer proximity is at the heart of our service philosophy. Through this investment, we enhance our ability to serve customers by being faster and efficient. We will be able to be more flexible, allowing us to meet regional specifications and needs while also ensuring strong service capabilities through integrated screening media production.”

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Michelin has once again been recognised by ADAC, Germany's leading automobile association, as the industry leader in reducing particle emissions from tyre abrasion. This marks the second consecutive time Michelin has received this distinction, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable mobility. Recent ADAC tests on 160 tyre models revealed that Michelin tyres emit 26 percent fewer particles than the premium competitor average, building on similar results from a 2021 study, where Michelin outperformed rivals by 28 percent. Notably, Michelin's closest competitor emitted 20 percent more particles per kilometre and per metric tonne transported.

These findings highlight Michelin's dedication to innovation, delivering tyres that balance longevity, safety and minimal environmental impact. The company has focused on reducing tyre abrasion – a key contributor to road transport emissions – for nearly two decades. Between 2015 and 2020, Michelin’s advancements led to a five percent reduction in wear emissions, preventing an estimated 100,000 metric tonnes of particles from entering the environment.

The issue of tyre abrasion has gained regulatory attention, with the Euro 7 standard, enacted in July 2024, setting strict limits on particle emissions for tyres sold in Europe. This regulation aims to curb the 500,000 metric tonnes of tyre and road wear particles generated annually across the continent.

Michelin continues to invest heavily in R&D, allocating EUR 786 million in 2024 alone, to further mitigate abrasion through advanced materials and optimised tyre design. Recent innovations, such as the MICHELIN Primacy 5 (14 percent fewer emissions than its predecessor) and the CrossClimate 3 Sport (23 percent reduction compared to the Pilot Sport 5), demonstrate tangible progress. Additionally, Michelin’s BioDLab—a collaboration with CNRS and the University of Clermont Auvergne—focuses on studying particle biodegradation to develop eco-friendly solutions.

By combining cutting-edge research with sustainable design, Michelin aims to further reduce emissions while maintaining high safety and performance standards, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in environmentally responsible tyre technology.

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Continental has launched an educational initiative highlighting how rolling resistance-optimised tyres can enhance efficiency and sustainability in commercial vehicle fleets. The campaign, anchored by a dedicated website, provides fleets with interactive tools, videos and data-driven insights to demonstrate how strategic tyre selection impacts total operating costs.

While many fleet operators traditionally prioritise mileage-optimised tyres for their longer tread life, Continental emphasises that rolling resistance plays an increasingly critical role – especially with tightening EU emissions standards and the logistics sector’s shift towards greener transport. Tyres influence not just direct costs (around two percent of fleet expenses) but also fuel consumption, toll fees and CO₂ emissions, affecting up to 31 percent of total operating expenses.

The campaign compares Continental’s fifth-generation tyre lines – Conti Eco, Conti Hybrid and Conti EfficientPro – in various applications, showing how low rolling resistance can reduce fuel use by up to 2,105 litres per vehicle annually. For a 150-truck fleet, proper tyre selection can yield over EUR 300,000 in yearly savings. Continental’s calculations, based on VECTO and its proprietary LODC (Lowest Overall Driving Costs) tool, illustrate these benefits for long-haul and regional transport scenarios.

Beyond tyres, Continental integrates digital solutions like ContiConnect and retreading services (ContiLifeCycle) to further optimise fleet efficiency. Customers like Remondis, a German waste management firm, report tangible benefits, including lower fuel consumption, extended tyre life and proactive maintenance through digital monitoring.

With this initiative, Continental aims to help fleets balance economic and environmental goals, proving that rolling resistance-optimised tyres are not just a compliance measure but a strategic tool for cost savings and emissions reduction in modern logistics.

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