The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), has unveiled ‘Tread Boldly: Advancing Tire Recycling Through Collective Innovation’ as the official theme for its 10th Tire Recycling Conference. Scheduled for 12–14 May 2026 in Denver, Colorado, the event will focus on the urgent need for a unified effort to transform end-of-life tyre management into a truly circular and sustainable model. This vision depends on shared commitment, bold action and the latest technological advancements.

The 2026 conference is designed to engage all stakeholders across the value chain. The agenda will feature keynote addresses from industry pioneers, strategic discussions on accelerating market growth and panels examining emerging recycling technologies and regulatory policies. Specialised sessions will explore specific markets like rubber-modified asphalt, with updates from state agencies. Ample networking opportunities will allow participants to connect with leaders from every sector of the industry, fostering the collaboration essential for progress.

While USTMA notes that tyres are among the nation's most recycled products, a significant challenge remains as the volume of end-of-life tyres continues to exceed the consumption of recycled materials. Achieving full circularity requires a strengthened focus on developing and sustaining end-use markets. A prime example is rubber-modified asphalt, which not only helps reduce tyre stockpiles but also delivers long-term environmental and economic advantages, including more durable infrastructure and job creation.

Anne Forristall Luke, Board President, TRF, said, “For over 20 years, the biennial Tire Recycling Conference has been a gathering for industry leaders and stakeholders to learn and foster innovative programs to address ELT management and grow tyre recycling markets. The 2026 conference will build on this legacy and galvanise an entire system of national and local businesses, governments and state officials towards effective market-based programmes.”

Stephanie Mull, Executive Director, TRF, said, “Expanding end-use markets for recycled tyres demands bold action rooted in research, education, effective state programmes and collaboration. The conference’s theme, ‘tread boldly’, is a call to action for every stakeholder in the tyre recycling ecosystem and the critical role they play in shaping a future where every end-of-life tyre enters a sustainable and circular programme.”

John Sheerin, Senior Director – End-of-Life Tires, USTMA, said, “This milestone event will showcase the strengths of end-use markets and power of collective innovation. Whether you are a manufacturer, processor or recycler, policymaker, researcher, retailor or distributor, there is a place for you to work alongside industry partners and amplify efforts in advancing tyre recycling.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced a dominant performance for its flagship ADVAN racing tyres at the seventh round of the 2025 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series. During the demanding three-hour race at the AUTOPOLIS circuit, the podium for the GT300 class was exclusively claimed by teams equipped with ADVAN tyres, marking the brand's fourth class victory of the season.

The winning car was the No. 666 seven × seven PORSCHE GT3R, which achieved a dramatic come-from-behind victory. In a tumultuous race featuring multiple safety car periods and penalties, the Porsche steadily advanced through the field after other ADVAN-shod cars, specifically the No. 7 CARGUY FERRARI and the No. 0 VENTENY Lamborghini, battled for the early lead. The Porsche ultimately seized the top position, securing a historic first SUPER GT win for the seven × seven Racing team. This result powerfully demonstrated how critical tyre performance and management are to success in such a long-distance race.

The superiority of the ADVAN tyres was further underscored by the complete lockout of the top five finishing positions in the GT300 class. Following the podium finishers, the fourth and fifth place cars from KONDO RACING and VELOREX were also fitted with Yokohama’s high-performance rubber. This overwhelming result at Autopolis provides significant momentum for Yokohama Rubber as the series approaches its final round. The company has confirmed it will continue its technical support for multiple teams, with the clear objective of clinching a second consecutive GT300 class championship title in November.

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Linglong Tire has unveiled a monumental achievement in off-the-road (OTR) tyre manufacturing: the 59/80 R63 LXD Master Pro. This 63-inch tyre stands as the largest of its kind in the world, a physical testament to the company's independent innovation and advanced engineering capabilities. Manufactured in Changchun, China, the tyre's scale is staggering, with a diameter exceeding four metres and a weight of over six tonnes. It is engineered for extreme duty, boasting a load capacity of 100 tonnes to support the largest mining dump trucks, including models from Caterpillar and Komatsu. These tyres are destined for the most demanding environments, primarily operating in open-pit mines across continents such as Australia, South America and Africa.

This flagship product is the result of nearly four decades of specialised experience. Since producing its first cross-ply agricultural tyre in 1987, Linglong has methodically cultivated deep technical expertise across its core product lines, which include mechanical, agricultural and industrial tyres. The accumulated knowledge from this long history was directly applied to overcome significant challenges in the structural design, material science and manufacturing processes required for the 59/80 R63 LXD Master Pro.

The successful launch of this giant radial tyre is a strategic milestone for Linglong. It completes the company's portfolio by filling the critical 63-inch segment and, more importantly, demonstrates a technological parity with what was once the exclusive domain of a few leading international premium brands. This accomplishment firmly establishes Linglong Tire as a top-tier global manufacturer in the OTR sector. To strategically support its ambitions in this market, the company has already optimised its production capacity. As part of a broader global strategy, a dedicated plan is in place to manufacture these specialised tyres at three domestic facilities in China and three additional production sites located outside of the country.

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ContiTech, a group sector of Continental AG, has announced a major investment exceeding USD 85 million to significantly expand its manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Central to this expansion is the construction of a new, state-of-the-art compounding centre. This advanced facility will consolidate production, warehouse and office functions into a single, integrated operation. The project is designed to substantially enhance the company's internal capabilities for creating specialised rubber compounds, which are the fundamental materials for its core products, including industrial hoses and belts.

This strategic investment is expected to create around 50 new high-quality jobs in the region and has received support from the Iowa Economic Development Authority through an incentives package from its High-Quality Jobs programme. By establishing this new compounding centre, ContiTech aims to optimise its North American manufacturing footprint, ensuring consistent quality and improved efficiency.

The facility will feature advanced mixing lines and an automated warehouse, enabling the production of uniform, high-performance materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions. These materials are critical for reliable conveyance systems across diverse industrial applications. Scheduled to break ground in the second quarter of 2026, the expanded Mount Pleasant plant will reinforce its key role within ContiTech's global supply chain and strengthen the company's competitive position as a leading provider of material-driven solutions.

Philip Nelles, Member of the Continental Executive Board and CEO of ContiTech, said, “In today’s dynamic economic environment, we are investing in advanced capabilities not only to drive innovation and competitiveness across our industrial product lines but also to meet the evolving needs of our customers. This expansion reflects our long-term commitment to the US and the North American markets in general and our confidence in the strength of our team in Iowa. This project also contributes to local economic development, reinforcing our role as a reliable partner to the community we work and live in.”

Andreas Gerstenberger, CEO of ContiTech USA and Head of Business Area Industrial Solutions Americas, said, “At ContiTech, our commitment to customer centricity is foundational, and this expansion enables us to respond more quickly and effectively to our customers’ needs. By investing in this facility, we’re not only enhancing our operational capabilities, competitiveness and supply chain resilience; we are also reinforcing our ability to deliver material-driven solutions. This expansion is a critical part of that process and a key enabler in our vision to become the first choice for our customers.”

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NEXEN TIRE has earned a ‘Good’ rating for its N'BLUE 4Season 2 all-season tyre in size 215/55 R 17 by German motor magazine AUTOBILD Allrad in a comprehensive 2025 all-season tyre test (issue 40/2025). This accolade reinforces NEXEN TIRE's strategic positioning as a global manufacturer committed to premium-level innovation and engineering that meets the demands of performance-oriented drivers.

Developed for year-round use on European roads across a wide temperature range, the N'BLUE 4Season 2 is a versatile performer. It demonstrates significant improvements over its predecessor, offering enhanced braking performance in all conditions, along with superior grip and traction on both wet and snowy roads. The tyre provides predictable handling that inspires confidence in diverse driving scenarios, delivering dependable traction and stable behaviour on snow while maintaining solid dry road capabilities, including good dry braking.

Furthermore, it ensures a comfortable driving experience with low rolling noise. This combination of reliable all-weather competence and everyday comfort establishes the N'BLUE 4Season 2 as a high-performing tyre that instils confidence for all vehicle categories.

Jeff Roh, Vice President of Europe Sales & Marketing, NEXEN TIRE Europe, said, “This test result is further proof of our technological development behind the N'BLUE 4Season 2 all-season tyre. We are proud that our investments in research and development and intensive product testing have resulted in an all-season tyre that delivers exceptional performance in all weather conditions, as well as consistent handling and reliable performance.”

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