Tyre testing is not a new concept. In fact, is there any industry that can do without tests? However, what tyre testing does bring into consideration is an umpteen number of factors – everything from the road wear to the certification, the testing spots and, of course, the different types of testing and the very tyres themselves. Discussing these very aspects with Tyre Trends, Ismo Halén, Vice President at BD Testing Inc, spoke about Black Donuts, the subjective and objective views of tyre testing, the convenience of BD Testing having its own indoor testing facility and more. Read on…

The name Black Donut is self-explanatory, making it rather individualistic. A tyre resembles a donut and is black in colour – simplicity at its best. Black Donuts offers a range of solutions for tyre product development and testing, tyre factory construction, plant process design and process development. Therefore, Black Donuts has many business areas, and one of them is service in product development. When it comes to testing, Black Donuts owns 90 percent of another company, BD Testing Inc, which is into tyre testing and high-end customer service. Plus, Black Donuts also happens to be one of BD Testing’s customers.

BD Testing’s customers
When we caught up with Ismo Halén, Vice President at BD Testing Inc, he told us, “Black Donuts designs new tyres and new tyre models or improves existing tyres. That’s why they need testing in order to support the product development. Black Donuts Engineering was founded in 2011, and we were a test team within the company in the beginning. However, we separated in 2012 into an individual company, and now we have separate management and everything else that’s individually ours. We don’t have anyone from Black Donuts working at BD Testing. They are only one of our customers.”

And as customers, they can always decide who tests their tyres. “For instance, Black Donuts can use BD Testing for product development testing because we understand each other. However, the customer can  reach out to other companies to test their tyres as well. For example, when a product is finished, customers usually make homlogation tests somewhere else,” Halén explained.

When it comes to customers/clients, Halén mentioned that it’s not exactly easy to acquire new clients. However, he added, “I’m happy because we already have so many customers that even if somebody doesn’t order anything that others do, we are still in a very good situation.” When turning to his plans on approaching any Asian manufacturers, he responded that while they don’t have any plans for Asia, they would consider going there if there are proving grounds that can be used or rented.

BD Testing’s various focus areas
BD Testing goes beyond this and also issues certification. It has a quality system and is accredited for some R117 tests. “This includes rolling resistance, wet grip, noise measurement and snow performance,” Halén mentioned and continued, “Earlier, we would do wet grips, noise measurements etc. But just one year ago, we started focusing more on winter testing. We now conduct snow and ice tests for the label, which comes under the R117 tests. Additionally, we provide technical service to The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). RDW will issue many types of approvals for many tyre manufacturers, and we can conduct snow tests for them.”

“Furthermore, in Nordic countries, we use studs in the tyre, which has to be approved. Besides, we make road wear testing for studded tyres, which needs mandatory approval from the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, TRAFI,” Halén further explained.

Making it work
As far as testing and tyres go, BD Testing does both indoor and outdoor testing and is currently focusing on winter testing, winter tyres and studded tyres (conducting only product development tests for summer tyres). However, because the business is open all year, the winter tests are held in ice halls during the summer, Halén shared. As for snow testing, the indoor tests are conducted in Ivalo and Sweden.

However, most big tyre manufacturers conduct the majority of their tests themselves. Yet, that doesn’t stop a company like BD Testing. There are certain factors in testing that tyre manufacturers can’t carry out themselves and thus have to turn to the likes of BD Testing.

“For example, with road wear testing, it isn’t something they can do by themselves,” Halén asserted and added, “There are only five laboratories that can do that, and we are one of them. Similarly, indoor testing and snow testing is something they may not want to do – it’s a long way to travel and they don’t have the capacity to do so, which is where we come in.”

Indoor testing and outdoor testing
Speaking of indoor testing, it is the easier one to conduct over outdoor testing, Halén claimed. But since handling driveway in itself involves the car being built outdoors, there’s no choice over there, he informed.

What’s more, Halén asserted that usually they don’t test the same things indoors and outdoors – the two aren’t competing and are individual. “Their requirements too are different. But as for product development, some indoor testing is needed, like footprint or contact presser, which gives the designers a lot of information,” he enlightened.

BD Testing would, however, like to have its own indoor testing facility where tests can be conducted whenever needed. “Although, as of now, we have to rent for indoor testing, which can sometimes be fully booked,” Halén cited and added, “In fact, we want our own indoor testing facility that we can rent to other customers as well. However, it’s a huge investment and is too big for us at the moment.”

Objective and subjective testing
Another challenge that Halén spoke to us about, besides having an indoor testing facility, was in terms of manpower, where getting testing drivers is a challenge right now. When asked about the thought process behind selecting a testing driver (since the testing can be very subjective, from driver to driver), Halén highlighted that it’s the experience that plays a role. “And then, the drivers drive together and decide what works and what doesn’t. While these drivers do subjective tests, they, of course, also conduct objective tests. However, objective testing is easier, because you only have to know how to make the test,” he added.

Halén further said that with robots and automation, it’s possible that subjective testing will eventually get reduced in the future. “But in my opinion, with subjective driving, if a driver drives with a set of tyres, then we have a huge amount of information,” he pointed out. “Therefore, it’s a very fast way to have lots of information. If you try to have the same information with the help of machines, you’ll need several machines and it takes a long time. And if you need to analyse data, it takes a long time to develop a new methodology.”

A happy customer equals a successful company
While Halén gave us his clear visions in terms of BD Testing and the tyre testing industry as a whole, he also threw light on the company’s preparation for new regulations. “Additionally, we are focusing on what we are currently doing, targeting for higher quality and making our customers happy,” he expounded and added,
“Our strategy for that is based on the quality system we have. We have very close contact with our customers, so we try to understand what they need. Hence, I’m not trying to sell something to somebody if they don’t need it. Thus, I think our customers come to us themselves when they need something. So, ultimately, customer happiness has been our key to success.”

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.