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.”

A decade after pioneering the first winter-approved summer tyre, Michelin pushes boundaries again with its groundbreaking MICHELIN CrossClimate 3 Sport. Designed specifically for high-performance sports cars, this innovative tyre merges the dynamic handling of summer sport tyres with certified winter capability – a first for the market.

Engineered for powerful gas and electric vehicles, the CrossClimate 3 Sport delivers year-round confidence with exceptional wet grip (rated ‘A’ on the EU label) and durability. Its advanced materials and motorsport-derived technologies achieve what was once deemed impossible: combining summer tyre responsiveness with Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) winter certification.

Available since 1 July in 29 sizes (205/40R18 to 315/35R20), with 30 additional variants coming in 2026, the tyre has already secured its first OEM partnership. The new Alpine A390 will feature a custom A39-marked version, optimised for the model’s sporty agility in 245/45 R20 sizing. Alpine selected the CrossClimate 3 Sport from three contenders, valuing its all-season precision and winter-ready 3PMSF performance.

Industry recognition followed swiftly, with Michelin winning the 2025 ‘Ze Award for Technological Innovation’ on 3 July. Judged by automotive experts and journalists, the accolade underscores Michelin’s leadership in the booming all-season segment, now representing 37 percent of the market. By redefining performance boundaries, the CrossClimate 3 Sport reaffirms Michelin’s commitment to innovation that meets evolving driver needs.

Serge Lafon Director of the Original Equipment Business Line, said, “When designing this tyre for Alpine, we paid close attention to the vehicle’s specific characteristics. Developed for the largest and most powerful Alpine ever built, this tyre combines winter performance, energy efficiency, optimal grip and sporty responsiveness. It delivers consistent performance, so drivers can count on the tyre throughout its lifespan. Alpine is the first auto manufacturer to select the brand-new MICHELIN CrossClimate 3 Sport.  We are confident that this tyre meets the vehicle's demands and the expectations of consumers seeking long-term safety, simplicity and sportiness. We’re very proud of Alpine’s trust in us.”

Dominique Stempfel President of the French Tyre Manufacturers Association (Syndicat du Pneu), said, “The jury chose to honour the MICHELIN CrossClimate 3 Sport for pioneering a new segment: an all-season tyre designed specifically for sports car drivers seeking the year-round advantages of an all-season tyre without compromising on performance or safety.”

Continental has received the 43rd KS Energy and Environment Award in the vehicle technology category from Germany's Automobilclub KS e.V., recognising its leadership in sustainable mobility. The honour highlights Continental's UltraContact NXT, its most eco-friendly series tyre to date, which contains up to 65 percent renewable, recycled and ISCC PLUS-certified materials.

As part of the award, Automobilclub KS e.V. is donating EUR 10,000 to Kleine Herzen Hanover, a charity supporting paediatric heart care at Hanover Medical School since 2006. The funds will aid therapies and facility improvements for young patients.

The UltraContact NXT combines sustainability with performance: up to 32 percent renewable content, five percent recycled materials and 28 percent ISCC PLUS-certified bio-based and circular-sourced components. All available sizes achieve the EU tyre label's top 'A' rating for efficiency, wet grip and noise reduction.

Established in 1981, the KS Energy and Environment Award has long promoted emissions-reducing innovations in transport. Under the patronage of Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection since 2022, the award underscores Continental's alignment with national sustainability goals through cutting-edge tyre technology.

Kristina Kumme, Continental Tires' Strategic Program Manager, EMEA, said, "With the UltraContact NXT, we have taken a significant step forward by combining maximum sustainability with excellent performance. We are pleased that the KS Energy and Environment Award jury recognised this innovative development, and we are honoured to support a significant charitable organisation with a EUR-10,000 donation through this award.”

Prof Dr-Ing. Dieter Anselm, a member of the expert jury, said, "For us, this volume tire is clear proof that Continental is working hard to promote innovative technologies and sustainable solutions throughout the entire value chain. Given that every car, regardless of its drive type, needs tyres today and will continue to need them in the future, this innovation has a significant impact.”

Bridgestone Corporation has reached an agreement to sell its subsidiary, Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (BSCB), to Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. and Thai Tokai Carbon Product Co., Ltd. This divestment aligns with Bridgestone’s strategy to enhance its global business resilience by adapting to market changes and focusing on high-value segments.

As part of its Mid-Term Business Plan (2024–2026), Bridgestone is optimising its operations to strengthen growth and competitiveness. The company is prioritising its premium tyre business, aiming to boost productivity and innovation across the entire value chain – from materials development to logistics and sales – with a focus on its Dan-Totsu (best-in-class) products. The sale of BSCB supports this strategy by allowing Bridgestone to collaborate with specialised partners like Tokai Carbon, which possesses deep expertise in carbon black production and supply chain management.

Beyond securing a stable carbon black supply, Bridgestone and Tokai Carbon are jointly exploring sustainable solutions, including producing carbon black from recycled tyres. This partnership will enhance Bridgestone’s long-term competitiveness while advancing its sustainability goals. However, the company will retain in-house carbon black production for strategic applications, such as premium and motorsport tyres, through its Japanese subsidiary, Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd. This ensures control over critical technologies that align with its core business and sustainability initiatives.

The transaction, part of Bridgestone’s second-stage business restructuring, is expected to have minimal impact on its current fiscal year financial performance. The company remains committed to sustainable growth, balancing strategic in-house capabilities with collaborative ventures to maintain its leadership in the tyre industry.

Investigation reveals coordinated theft by contractors and employees through bulk pilferage and excess loading schemes

Goodyear India Limited disclosed that a comprehensive investigation by Ernst & Young uncovered a sophisticated theft operation at its Ballabgarh manufacturing plant, resulting in the loss of 4,571 tyres valued at approximately INR 39.11 million.

The tyre manufacturer’s board reviewed the investigative findings during a meeting that concluded last week, revealing what the company described as “potential theft of tyres in bulk by contractual workers involved in security, warehousing and loading operations, acting in collusion.”

Dual Theft Operations Exposed

The Ernst & Young investigation, spanning October 2023 to November 2024, identified two primary theft methods that enabled the systematic pilferage of farm tyres from the Faridabad-based facility.

Bulk Theft Scheme: The more significant operation involved truckloads of tyres being removed from the plant through coordination between third-party loading supervisors, warehouse workers, security guards, and external accomplices. Electronic communications reviewed by investigators revealed references to 4,057 tyres across 20 dates between July and December 2024, with detailed SKU counts discussed among the conspirators.

Security records were deliberately manipulated to conceal the theft, with one security contractor admitting to accepting kickbacks from a loading supervisor to avoid recording truck details carrying stolen merchandise.

Excess Loading Operation: A secondary scheme involved loading additional tyres beyond invoiced quantities onto legitimate shipments, with the excess stolen during transit. The investigation revealed a significant increase in overweight dispatches during the July-November 2024 period, with 50 per cent of overweight trucks dispatched during this timeframe, compared to historical patterns.

Quality assurance protocols were compromised, with one employee admitting to receiving instructions from a third-party warehouse vendor to disregard overweight trucks and dispatch them without conducting mandatory quality studies. The employee estimated that 5-6 excess tyres were loaded per truck in select shipments to Goodyear warehouses.

Quality Control Manipulation

The investigation also uncovered systematic inflation of tyre rejection quantities during pre-dispatch inspections. A quality assurance employee acknowledged receiving kickbacks to artificially inflate rejected tyre counts in daily reports, despite no physical rejections having occurred, allegedly to help manage inventory shortfalls maintained by the third-party warehouse vendor.

Data analysis revealed an increase in rejection rates in 2024 compared to 2023, with the manipulation involving collusion between employees and third-party quality inspectors.

Operational Control Gaps

Beyond the theft schemes, Ernst & Young identified significant weaknesses in Goodyear’s inventory management and production processes. The manual production handover system lacked proper verification, with multiple employees admitting that the defined processes weren’t followed.

Production records maintained manually revealed discrepancies, with multiple spreadsheets containing different production numbers for the same periods. The investigation found that production during shutdown periods wasn’t recorded in the Production Management Information System, creating variances that couldn’t be validated due to unreliable manual records.

Financial Impact and Response

The financial impact of the inventory shortage identified in November 2024 was already recognised in Goodyear India’s financial statements for the quarter ended 31 December 2024. “The management has taken cognisance of the findings and initiated appropriate legal and disciplinary actions against those involved,” the company stated in its regulatory filing. “Proactive measures, including a site security assessment and tightened controls, have been implemented.”

Investigation Methodology

Ernst & Young’s fact-finding review employed comprehensive investigative techniques, including data analytics, transaction testing, background checks on suspected third parties, forensic imaging of electronic devices, and interviews with employees and contractual workers.

The investigation covered electronically stored information from the laptops and server backups of suspected individuals, utilising keyword-based searches to identify suspicious communications that proved crucial in establishing the theft patterns.

Regulatory Compliance

The disclosure fulfils Goodyear India’s obligations under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. The company initially informed stock exchanges of the inventory variance on 12 February 2025.

“The Company remains committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and safeguarding stakeholder interests,” Goodyear India stated in its filing.