Titan International partnered with the Tyre Industry Association (TIA) in hosting advanced tyre service training to further improve safety and technical service knowledge in the tyre industry. 

The training, held for two weeks in July, focused on wheels and tyres in Ag and OTR applications and brought in a range of expert partners, including Stellar Industries, Fuller Brothers, AME International and Intercomp.

“It’s wonderful to see the level of importance that Titan, all the partner companies and all the participating dealers place on the safety of tyre technicians,” said Matt White, director of tyre service at TIA. “It’s events and companies like these that help TIA accomplish our mission of improving safety and, ultimately, saving lives.”

Classroom trainings

The first two days focused on classroom training that followed TIA-developed programmes, including the Farm Tyre Service 200-level programme with 11 modules and the Earthmover Tyre Service 200-level programme with 15 modules.

Hands-on training stations

Following the classroom training, Titan brought in a range of partners to its Boone, Iowa, training facility on day three — setting up six stations for foundational hands-on training to prepare for day four in the field.

• Stellar Industries: Service truck instruction
•  Service truck manufacturer, Stellar Industries, set up two truck stations — one focused on preventive maintenance instruction for service trucks and the other focused on the safe and efficient operation of the tyre manipulator. 
• AME International (AME): Tool training
•  AME, a worldwide supplier of tyre service tools and accessories, provided training on the safe use and maintenance of cribbing tools and lifting tools, as well as lock-out/tag-out instruction.
• Titan OTR specialists: Wheel inspection and tool use
•  Titan’s team of OTR specialists provided instruction on wheel and component inspection, measurement, identification of issues, and the use of Titan OTR profile gauges.
• Fuller Brothers: Wheel and tyre life, mounting and dismounting
•  Led by Fuller Brothers, a leading producer of speciality fluids, sealants and lubricants for the tyre industry — this session focused on the use of products such as Tyre Life and White Lightning (named after Matt White of TIA) during mounting and dismounting.
• Intercomp: Conducting machine weigh-ups
•  Titan’s team of Ag specialists partnered with Intercomp — a leading manufacturer of industrial scale and weighing equipment — to guide participants through machine and tractor weigh-ups and how to inflate tyres and ballast machines properly.
• Titan Ag specialists: Dual hub wheel training
•  Titan’s Scott Sloan, Global LSW/Ag Product Manager and his team of Ag specialists conducted training on the latest dual hub wheel technology commonly installed on larger 4WD tractors, including a review of training materials and hands-on use of the locking mechanism.

In-field training sessions

Following day three’s hands-on instruction, participants were brought to Stellar Industries’ brand new training grounds in Garner, Iowa, to apply what they learned in real-world scenarios. This included four mounting/dismounting stations — one for a John Deere sprayer, a John Deere spreader, a CAT rigid haul truck and a Case wheel loader. Led by TIA’s Matt White, the team of industry experts from Fuller Brothers (Craig Tinklenberg), Stellar Industries (Travis Glidden and Tom Formanek) and AME International (Don Tinker and John Melosci), as well as multiple Titan Ag and OTR specialists were on site to monitor and coach participants through various exercises. 

 

 

 “While Titan has hosted TIA training annually since 2017, this year was undoubtedly the most comprehensive — thanks to the hands-on training made possible by all the participating partners,” said Kim Boccardi, VP-Marketing at Titan. “We’d like to thank TIA, Stellar, AME, Fuller Brothers and Intercomp for their dedication to advancing the safety and technical know-how of nearly 80 tyre technicians who attended this year from more than 35 Titan dealers across the country.”

Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo Tyres Ltd reported a 3% increase in annual revenue to INR 261.23 billion for fiscal year 2024-25, while its net profit fell 35 percent from the previous year.

The company, which markets its products under the Apollo and Vredestein brands, saw its operating profit decline to INR 35.71 billion for the full year, compared with INR 44.47 billion in the previous fiscal year.

For the fourth quarter ended March 31, Apollo Tyres posted a revenue of INR 64.24 billion, up 3% year-on-year, while quarterly net profit dropped to INR 1.85 billion from INR 3.54 billion in the same period last year.

"We acknowledge that our performance over the past few quarters has not met industry benchmarks and our own expectations. After a thorough internal review, we have identified the key challenges that contributed to this underperformance," said Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo Tyres.

"With targeted strategies now in place to address these issues, we are confident in our ability to deliver stronger results in the coming quarters," he added.

Apollo Tyres, which has manufacturing facilities in India, the Netherlands and Hungary, distributes its products in over 100 countries.

Elmer Wiemer, Chief Financial Officer and designated Chief Executive Officer of Heuver Group, has passed away. The group shared the sad news in a statement announcing that he passed away on 4 May at the age of 48 after a brief illness.

Wiemer has had a lasting impact on the Heuver Group since he took office in 2020. As CFO, he played a pivotal role in bolstering the course, advancing the organisation's professionalism and attaining long-term success. His strategic vision and astute financial sense were always bolstered by a strong sense of accountability and a kind, humane leadership style.

“He was a true inspiration. Elmer’s legacy is tangible in the way we work together, in the culture he helped shape and in the ambitions he helped realise. We lose in him not only a leader, but also a warm personality, a dedicated colleague and a dear friend,” said Heuver Group management.

Goodyear has launched the award-winning Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyre in the United States and Canada. The premium summer tyre has emerged the winner in the 2025 AutoBild test for ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres and is aimed at a wide range of sporty and luxury cars, crossovers and SUVS.

With its unique tread composition that optimises rubber-to-road contact, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 offers responsiveness and stability for dynamic driving. While the flexible tyre compound provides better grip in hot weather, the asymmetric tread pattern guarantees rapid responsiveness and traction in turns. To guarantee a peaceful, pleasant ride, the tyre pattern and lightweight design also reduce road noise. Goodyear's SoundComfort and SealTech innovations are two notable features found in certain Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 fitments. For a more peaceful and elegant driving experience, SoundComfort reduces road noise, while SealTech successfully seals punctures up to five mm. Because of its high load rating and low rolling resistance, it is perfect for contemporary SUVs and electric cars, which require more from their tyres in order to maximise economy and range.

Nearly 90 percent of SKUs for the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 are 18 inches or greater, with over 100 sizes available in the 17–23-inch range. Numerous well-known automobiles, such as the BMW M3/M4/X3/X4/X5/X6/X7, Audi A4/S4/A5/S5/A3/S3, Mercedes C-Class, Porsche Macan/Boxster/Cayman and Cayenne, and Tesla Model S, may be fitted with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6. Customers may feel more secure about their purchase with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6's 30,000-mile (50,000-kilometre) tread life limited guarantee. It is available at authorised Goodyear retailers across the United States and Canada.

Ryan Waldron, President, Goodyear Americas, said, "The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 represents the next evolution of ultra-high-performance summer tyre, delivering precision, grip and comfort for drivers. As an award-winning tyre designed for a wide range of sporty and luxury vehicles, including the larger rim sizes on many of these vehicles, it provides a driving experience tailored to today's most premium enthusiasts. We're proud to introduce this globally recognised product to North America, bringing advanced technology and innovation that keeps drivers confident on the road."

Toyo Tires reported record first-quarter sales of 135.5 billion yen ($880 million), marking a 6.2 percent increase year over year and reaching its highest level since adopting its current accounting period in 2013. Despite the top-line growth, operating income fell 13.7 percent to 22.4 billion yen due to rising raw material costs and foreign exchange headwinds.

“Strong sales of large-diameter tyres in North America drove revenue growth but couldn’t fully offset higher production costs,” said the company in its earnings statement. The Japanese tyre maker saw a 7.7 percent sales increase in North America, which remains its largest market.

Profit Squeeze

Ordinary income plunged 42.7 percent to 18.3 billion yen, while profit attributable to owners dropped 41.4 percent to 13.5 billion yen, primarily due to foreign exchange losses from the yen’s appreciation. The Japanese currency strengthened to 154 yen per dollar during the quarter, compared to 146 yen in the year-ago period.

The company maintained its full-year forecast, projecting annual sales of 585 billion yen, up 3.5 percent from FY2024. Operating income is expected to reach 85 billion yen, down 9.6 percent , with operating margin declining to 14.5 percent from 16.6 percent last year. The annual dividend forecast is 125 yen per share, up from 120 yen in the previous fiscal year.

“Assuming tariff impact can be absorbed with appropriate measures, earnings forecasts for FY2025 remain unchanged,” the company stated, maintaining its dividend payout ratio target of 30 percent  or higher.

Production and Expansion

The tyre maker plans to increase production volume by 6 percent in FY2025 compared to the previous year, with significant growth in both Japanese and European operations. First-quarter global production volume was 59,100 tons, representing 98 percent of the previous year's level.

Capital investment for FY2025 is projected at 35.6 billion yen, up from 25.6 billion yen in FY2024, signalling continued expansion despite market headwinds. The company has invested 194 billion yen in capital expenditures over the past five years.

Market Conditions and Raw Materials

Raw material costs continue to pressure margins, with the company projecting a negative impact of 10.5 billion yen for FY2025. Natural rubber price increases are expected to cost 7.4 billion yen, while petroleum products will add 2.0 billion yen in costs, and other materials will contribute 1.1 billion yen to the cost pressure.

First-quarter sales volume showed strong recovery in the Japanese replacement tyre market, reaching 97 percent of the previous year’s level. In comparison, North America demonstrated robust growth at 105 percent year-over-year.

Product Innovation and Corporate Initiatives

The company recently launched premium tyres for high-roof kei cars in Japan with enhanced wet grip performance. These tyres feature eco-friendly materials that improve wet braking performance by 12 percent while reducing rolling resistance by 9 percent.

In March, the company introduced new SUV tyres designed specifically for quiet city driving that meet the “Low Car Exterior Sound Tyres" voluntary standard established by the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association.