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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Apollo Tyres plans to invest INR 35 billion in FY2026-27, with nearly 80 percent of the capital expenditure earmarked for growth and capacity expansion projects across India and Europe, as the tyre maker seeks to meet strong demand despite escalating raw material costs and geopolitical disruption.

Most of the planned investment will be directed towards expanding truck and passenger car tyre capacity in India, while the remainder will support passenger car tyre expansion at the company’s Hungary plant.

Apollo Tyres said capacity utilisation across both India and Europe had reached about 90 percent, with demand remaining strong in replacement and original equipment markets. The company added that April volumes had continued to show strong momentum despite recent price increases.

The company reported consolidated revenue of INR 73.4 billion for the fourth quarter, up more than 14 percent year on year, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation margin improved to 14.6 percent from 13 per cent a year earlier.

Revenue from Indian operations rose 14.3 percent to INR 52.4 billion during the quarter, supported by high-teen volume growth in both replacement and original equipment segments.

Neeraj Kanwar, Vice-Chairman And Managing Director, said geopolitical developments in West Asia continued to create uncertainty and volatility across raw material, energy and logistics costs.

The company expects raw material costs to rise by mid- to high-teens sequentially during the current quarter, led by a sharp increase in natural rubber prices. Apollo Tyres said natural rubber prices had risen to about INR 250 per kg from around INR 200 per kg during the fourth quarter.

To mitigate the pressure, Apollo Tyres has announced price increases of 6-8 percent across product categories in India during the current quarter and indicated that further increases may be necessary.

Gaurav Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, said the inflationary environment remained highly volatile.

“Mid to high teens is the current reality,” Kumar said. “We’ve taken about half the price increase that is needed.”

The company said it was also implementing cost-control measures across operations, including reductions in discretionary spending, as it sought to protect margins from higher commodity and logistics costs.

Apollo Tyres continues to restructure its European manufacturing operations as part of efforts to improve profitability. The company said the closure of its Enschede plant in the Netherlands remained on schedule, with production expected to cease by June 30.

Management said the decision was driven by persistently weak European market conditions, elevated energy costs and unusually high wage inflation in western Europe.

Apollo Tyres has taken a non-cash write-off of EUR 43 million related to the plant closure and expects total restructuring-related cash outflow, including social plan payments and legal costs, to exceed EUR 55m.

The company said the restructuring should begin improving European margins during the second half of FY2026-27 as production shifts towards lower-cost facilities in Hungary and India.

Apollo Tyres added that India and Europe would remain priority markets for future capacity allocation decisions, although export demand in some overseas markets had softened amid broader macroeconomic uncertainty.

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Linglong Tire has appointed Pradeep Karat as Sales Director OTR for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, effective from the beginning of May 2026.

Karat will oversee strategy and sales for the company’s specialty tyres division across the MEA region and report to Jeffrey Hughes, director EMEA. He will work with product and marketing teams to expand the group’s presence in the off-the-road (OTR) tyre segment, develop strategic partnerships and support growth in new markets.

Before joining Linglong, Karat worked at Hankook Tire, where he most recently served as senior manager for truck tyre sales in the Middle East and Africa.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has held sales and marketing management roles at tyre manufacturers including Bridgestone, Goodyear and Continental.

“I am very pleased to be part of the Linglong team with immediate effect and to start as Linglong Sales Director Middle East Africa. I will do everything I can to use my experience and expertise to successfully advance Linglong in the MEA region,” said Karat.

Linglong said Karat would focus on strengthening the company’s position in India and key African markets. He will also work closely with Sherif Degheidy, who joined the company in February.

“I have worked with Pradeep in the Middle East in the past and am very pleased that he is now joining Linglong to help us continue to grow our off-highway business,” Hughes said.

“He brings extensive knowledge of the region, knows how to find new distributors and build strong partnerships. Pradeep will seek to expand Linglong's presence in India as well as in key African markets.”

Karat holds a master’s degree in marketing and economics and speaks Arabic, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam, in addition to English. He will be based in Dubai.

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CAMSO Construction has announced the appointment of Stefan Bartella as Area Sales Manager for the DACH region. Bartella brings solid sales experience and a deep understanding of regional market dynamics to the role. Company officials stated that his expertise will support the organisation’s continued growth in the area. The appointment reflects CAMSO Construction’s commitment to strengthening its commercial team in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Bartella’s knowledge of local customer needs and market trends is expected to drive further business development and reinforce the company’s position across the DACH territories.

The company statement read: “We’re pleased to welcome Stefan Bartella to CAMSO Construction as Area Sales Manager for the DACH region. With solid experience in sales and a strong understanding of regional market dynamics, he brings valuable expertise that will support our continued growth. Welcome aboard, Stefan!”

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Nokian Tyres has appointed Glenn Arbaugh as the new Head of Research and Development for North America, marking a strategic move to strengthen product innovation for drivers in the United States and Canada. He will lead the region’s R&D efforts from the company’s manufacturing and research hub in Dayton, Tennessee.

Bringing nearly 35 years of global tyre industry experience in technical leadership, product engineering and design, Arbaugh will oversee next-generation tyre development while enhancing product quality and manufacturing standards at the Dayton Factory. His role supports close collaboration between the North American R&D team and Nokian’s global research operations in Finland.

Since opening in 2019, the Dayton Factory has dedicated all production to the North American market and earned recognition as the first tire plant worldwide to achieve LEED v4 Silver certification. Nokian Tyres, inventor of the winter tyre, continues to offer premium all-season, all-weather and light truck tyres across the region.

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