In a candid interaction with Tyre Trends, freelance tyre testing specialist Juuli Raatikainen shares her views on the intricacies of tyre testing, the role of women in the industry, simulation and the road ahead, reports Nilesh Wadhwa.

“Women have been driving cars for decades, so why not be part of the tyre and automotive testing industry? I believe the bigger question and challenge is how the industry (tyre and automotive) can think beyond gender. The tyre testing industry is huge, but there are not many direct studies to learn about it and become part of it,” remarked Juuli Raatikainen, the 28-year-old test driver and mechanic who has been offering freelance services for tyre testing for the last four years.

INITIAL JOURNEY

It is no secret that tyre testing is not a widely known field. A simple internet search for the world’s top 10 racers or motorsport celebrities will return mostly male sports personalities.

For Raatikainen, the journey into tyre testing began as a test assistant in Lapland, Finland.

“I started my career as a test assistant. My passion for testing grew, and I was eager to learn more, working hard to gain knowledge. My efforts were noticed, and I received the necessary support. The decision to start my own company and operate as a freelancer was quite easy for me. In the first two years, I focused on gaining experience, testing time and learning as much as possible. I wanted to see tyre testing from different angles, companies and drivers. Today, I am happy to say that I have experience in tyre testing operations as a tyre mechanic, test assistant, instrumentation specialist and objective test driver. I am also engaged in testing tyres and vehicles for events and magazines,” she shared.

THE EVOLVING ROLE OF TYRE TESTING

Tyre testing has evolved over the years, from physical and mechanical assessments to indoor methods, including Tyre-in-the-Loop (TiL) testing, a form of hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulation. However, despite technological advancements, many tests still need to be conducted in real-world conditions to determine optimal solutions.

For example, a vehicle travelling in a sandy environment at a particular tyre pressure will have different braking times even at the same speed. The steering response, traction at different corners and slippage will also vary.

“I find simulators to be a good tool for all drivers and for hardware development. However, no one knows exactly how they will impact testing in the future. Many questions remain, and some conditions and types of tests cannot yet be simulated accurately. As a test driver, my main expertise is in winter testing. From my experience, winter conditions are particularly difficult to replicate artificially. Winter is a living, breathing element of nature, making it hard to forecast, as conditions can change very quickly,” she explained.

For tyre manufacturers, real-world testing is essential for finding the right conditions and weather. For instance, summer tyres cannot be tested in winter, nor can Nordic spike tyres be tested in warm conditions. “It is a challenge for companies to run tyre tests year-round and across different locations. Agility is key,” Raatikainen added.

Tyre testing falls into two main categories: objective and subjective. Objective testing relies on instruments to assess tyre performance, while subjective testing depends on the driver’s evaluation.

“As a freelancer, I work across different processes. Transparency with clients is my priority. It’s about what I do and how I do it. Trust is one of the key values I bring to the table,” she explained.

KEY LEARNINGS & TYRE SAFETY

As a test driver, Raatikainen has firsthand experience of how tyre choices impact performance and safety in different conditions.

“Statistics show that one of the most common mistakes drivers make is using the wrong type of tyres for their environment and weather conditions. When selecting tyres, it’s crucial to consider two key questions: Where will I be driving, and in what weather conditions? These simple considerations can significantly impact safety,” she added.

Most tyres have a wear indicator on the tread to signal when they need replacement, but these warnings are often ignored.

According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), India recorded 461,312 road accidents in 2022, resulting in 155,781 fatal cases. Despite tyres having a significant influence on vehicular control, they are rarely cited as a primary cause of accidents.

When replacing tyres, it is also crucial to check their manufacturing date. Raatikainen emphasises that even a ‘new’ tyre must be evaluated based on its production date, as rubber degrades over time, regardless of use.

“Regularly checking tyre condition is just as important as choosing the right type. Ensure tyres have adequate tread depth, are free from cracks or bulges and are properly inflated. These simple maintenance habits can extend tyre life and improve safety,” she added.

FUTURE TRENDS IMPACTING THE TYRE INDUSTRY

New-age vehicles and tightening regulations are pushing industry players towards sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint.

For the tyre industry, environmentally friendly sourcing, production and materials remain key focus areas. From a tester’s perspective, what does the future hold?

“I am excited about advancements in simulation technology and their impact on the tyre industry. Another major trend is the growing emphasis on indoor testing for winter tyres, which addresses unpredictable weather challenges and helps distribute testing workloads more efficiently,” she said.

A third emerging trend is smart tyre technology.

“While modern vehicles are equipped with advanced systems, tyres have yet to integrate similar innovations. The questions of when this technology will arrive, how it will develop and what features it will bring are incredibly exciting. I look forward to seeing how smart tyres will enhance safety, performance and the driving experience,” Raatikainen concluded.

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CarbonX has announced that Daniela Sordi, its Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, has been appointed a Fellow of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering, the country’s leading body representing excellence in engineering, technology and applied scientific innovation.

Sordi is one of 15 experts selected for the Fellowship, which recognises engineers who have demonstrated significant impact in their fields and who contribute to major societal transitions.

Sordi is internationally recognised for her work on advanced three-dimensional structured carbon materials designed to improve lithium-ion battery performance. She has more than 17 years of experience across research and industry, translating chemistry and materials science into manufacturing technologies.

At CarbonX, she has led the development of battery materials that the company says charge faster, last longer and are up to five times more sustainable than conventional synthetic graphite. Under her technical leadership, the company has secured funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator and advanced efforts to strengthen Europe’s autonomy in energy-storage materials.

“Daniela’s appointment to the NAE is an outstanding recognition of her ability to bridge groundbreaking science with high-impact industrial innovation,” said Rutger van Raalten, chief executive of CarbonX. “Her work lies at the core of our mission to enable cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable energy technologies on a global scale.”

The appointment also highlights Ms Sordi’s role as a visible advocate for engineering careers, particularly for women entering deep technology and advanced materials. Her career is frequently cited as an example for students pursuing technical and innovation-led professions.

The Netherlands Academy of Engineering brings together senior engineers from academia, industry and applied research. Its members contribute to national and international innovation agendas and advise on technological responses to challenges such as climate, energy, health and digitalisation.

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Toyo Tires has achieved a new benchmark in sustainable tyre design with a concept model composed of 96.5 percent renewable and recycled materials. This marks the company’s highest sustainable content to date, surpassing its own previous 90 percent sustainable concept and demonstrating ongoing progress in substituting traditionally hard-to-replace components without sacrificing performance.

The materials are categorised as either renewable, constituting 61.5 percent of the tyre, or recycled, making up the remaining 35 percent. Renewable inputs are derived from biomass and plants, including specialised rubbers, polyester fibres, silica from rice husk ash and oils. The recycled portion incorporates carbon black, steel components and a novel CO₂-derived rubber developed with the University of Toyama. A key technical breakthrough involved successfully integrating recycled sulphur and zinc oxide, which are vital to the tyre manufacturing process and have historically presented significant replacement challenges. This integration was accomplished using the company’s established production and compounding expertise.

This concept represents a critical step toward Toyo Tire’s publicly stated goals of utilizing 40 percent sustainable materials by 2030 and achieving full 100 percent adoption by 2050. Beyond its material composition, the tire has also earned a top-tier ‘AAA’ rolling resistance rating in Japan. This high rating signifies extremely low energy loss during operation, which can help extend electric vehicle driving range and reduce overall lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.

Moving forward, Toyo Tire intends to advance its research and technical development with the objective of transitioning these innovative material applications and design principles into future commercial products. This effort is part of the company’s broader commitment to fostering a more sustainable mobility ecosystem.

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Shakti Cords Pvt. Ltd has appointed Purushothama Kini as managing director of Shakti Cords and its group companies, marking a leadership transition at the textile reinforcements manufacturer.

Kini brings more than three decades of experience in the industrial and technical textile sector. His background includes manufacturing excellence, operational transformation, quality systems and global customer engagement.

The company said his leadership experience in driving sustainable growth, strengthening processes and supporting organisational development would be a key asset as Shakti Cords continues to position itself as a reliable partner to customers.

Shakti Cords was established in 2003 and manufactures textile reinforcements for the rubber industry. Its product range includes single-end dipped cords, industrial hose yarns and single-end tyre cords made from polyester, aramid, PVA, nylon 6/66 and rayon. These materials are used in power transmission belts, industrial hoses and performance tyres.

The company said the use of high-modulus, low-shrinkage dipped cords and high-tenacity braiding yarns improves strength and operational performance across these applications.

Shakti Cords, as per the company website, has a total production capacity of 3,000 tonnes a year for single-end dipped cords and dipped industrial hose yarns. It holds the largest share of the Indian market for dipped single-end yarns and cords.

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OTR Engineered Solutions has named Oscar Torres as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 5 January 2026. With over 25 years of executive leadership, primarily within private equity–backed aerospace aftermarket firms, Torres possesses substantial industry expertise.

His extensive career was largely spent at Kellstrom Aerospace, where he progressed through roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and ultimately Chief Executive Officer. In these capacities, he was instrumental in enhancing operational performance and fostering sustainable growth. His strategic direction included overseeing several acquisitions and divestitures, which solidified the company's position as a premier global supply-chain solutions provider for a wide range of aviation clients.

Torres's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Accounting from Florida International University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. The organisation anticipates that his leadership will guide OTR in maintaining its commitment to delivering high-quality solutions and exceptional service to its clientele.

Hector Ramirez, Interim President of OTR, said, “Oscar’s proven leadership, collaborative approach, and deep industry knowledge make him exceptionally well suited to lead OTR into its next phase of growth. We are excited to welcome him and are confident in the value he will bring to our customers, partners and stakeholders.”

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