In a discussion with Tyre Trends, Chief of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Information Unit Jean Rodriguez detailed how the Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) is driving international regulations on tyre safety, noise and sustainability. From pioneering micro-plastic emission measurement to strengthening wet-grip requirements and updating studded and retreaded tyre rules, Rodriguez emphasised UNECE’s role in shaping a harmonised global framework that balances consumer safety with environmental protection.

What is the role of the Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) within UNECE?

As one of the six subsidiary bodies of the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations, hosted by UNECE, the Working Party on Noise and Tyres continues to spearhead globally harmonised standards through UN Regulation No. 117, covering tyre rolling resistance, noise, wet grip and, with recent developments, abrasion measures. These UN Regulations form the backbone of safety and environmental tyre specifications adopted by numerous countries and a substantial share of tyre producers globally.

What were the key regulatory changes between 2022 and 2025?

In early 2024, the Working Party adopted the first-ever methodology to measure particle emissions from tyres, critical for tracking micro-plastic emissions via two protocols including real-world 8,000 kilometres convoy tests and 5,000 kilometres rolling-drum lab tests. These are slated for integration into a new UN Regulation by September 2025 for passenger tyres, expanding into heavier vehicle categories (C2, C3) into 2026 and 2027.

Once in force, these regulations will contribute to significantly reducing micro-plastic pollution. In 2016, tyre abrasion was estimated to represent 78 percent of the 1.3 million metric tonnes of microplastics entering the ocean.

The UNECE methodology to measure particle emissions from tyres will become the reference methodology of the Euro 7 proposal of the European Union. Moreover, EU tyre regulation and labelling covering noise, wet grip, rolling resistance and environmental transparency build directly on UNECE’s standards.

How has UNECE addressed tyre safety at legal minimum tread depth?

GRBP introduced requirements ensuring that tyres at the legal minimum tread depth (1.6 millimetres) retain a minimum wet-grip level relative to new tyres. This is a shift towards safety and sustainability by permitting consumers to drive worn tyres safely, potentially reducing waste. It obliges manufacturers to design tread compounds and patterns that preserve wet performance over the tyre’s life, not just when new.

What regulations were introduced for studded tyres in 2022?

In September 2022, a new UN Regulation to cover performance requirements and marking of studded tyres entered into force to increase road safety by introducing harmonised snow grip requirements for studded tyres. It simplified the legislative situation in several countries that allowed the usage of studded tyres on public roads, introduced strict requirements and procedures for testing their snow grip and allowed consumers to benefit from more coherent winter tyre markings.

What additional areas has UNECE been working on to align safety and environmental goals?

By refining noise standards, updating testing protocols and promoting tyre lifecycle efficiency, UNECE is steadily shaping regulations to match environmental and safety objectives. This includes work on enhanced noise testing for tyres (UN Regulation No. 117) and motorcycles (UN Regulation No. 41) and vehicle alert systems (UN Regulation No. 138/51)

How does UNECE ensure global relevance, transparency and participation in its work?

All this work in setting technical specifications testifies to UNECE’s high relevance in providing a global harmonisation framework. Its expanding scope, especially in environmental dimensions such as micro-plastic emissions, is helping it maintain policy leadership and normative force, shaping tyre safety, noise and environmental performance worldwide.

A very important aspect of UNECE work is that it prevents fragmentation of the tyre regulatory landscape. GRBP is open to governmental experts from any member country of the United Nations and to any regional economic integration organisation set up by member countries of the United Nations including experts of governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

UNECE provides secretarial support to WP.29 and its working parties, facilitating negotiations between contracting parties to the 1958, 1997 and 1998 agreements. More than 100 experts participate in the sessions of GRBP and all documents considered by GRBP are available in the public domain.

What are UNECE’s priorities going forward to support safety and the circular economy?

Leveraging its technical authority and norm-setting capacities, UNECE is uniquely positioned to foster a globally harmonised tyre labelling framework that covers rolling resistance, wet grip and, for the first time, tyre abrasion. This framework promotes consistency, environmental protection, consumer transparency and ultimately supports worldwide regulatory alignment.

At its session in September 2025, GRBP will consider the proposal for a new UN Regulation on the uniform provisions concerning the approval of tyres with regard to abrasion performance.

UNECE is also updating UN Regulations no. 108 (passenger car/towed vehicle Retreaded tyres), 109 (commercial vehicle retreaded tyres) and 172 (snow performance of retreaded tyres) to ensure retreaded tyres meet the same safety standards as new tyres, even in challenging winter conditions but in a way that makes regulatory processes smoother and more conducive to circular economy practices.

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Nokian Tyres has announced the appointment of Ville Mansikkamäki as Senior Vice President for Heavy Tyres, effective by 1 October 2026. The executive, who holds an Executive MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Logistics, will also join the company’s management team. Based in Nokia, Finland, Mansikkamäki will report directly to President and CEO Paolo Pompei.

Mansikkamäki joins the Finnish tyre manufacturer from Ponsse Plc, a global producer of cut-to-length forest machines, where he served as Vice President for Europe. His background includes senior business leadership roles at CNH, Valtra and AGCO, bringing extensive experience in heavy equipment and logistics.

He succeeds Tron Gulbrandsen, who has been managing Nokian Heavy Tyres on an interim basis. Gulbrandsen will continue his regular duties as Senior Vice President for Passenger Car Tyres in the Nordics.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “I am pleased to welcome Ville Mansikkamäki to Nokian Tyres. His deep expertise in machinery industry and strong international leadership background will significantly support the continued development of our heavy tyres business. I would like to thank Tron for his leadership and valuable contribution to Nokian Heavy Tyres.

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Kumho Tire USA has appointed Carolina Wagner as its new Vice President of Marketing, a move aimed at reinforcing the company’s brand strength and competitive edge across the passenger, light truck and commercial vehicle segments in United States.

Wagner will take charge of all marketing operations for Kumho Tire USA, including brand strategy, product marketing, digital outreach, demand generation and sales support. Working alongside executive leadership and the sales team, she will focus on aligning marketing efforts with the firm’s ambitious growth objectives in the American market.

With over 25 years of executive experience at global tyre companies such as Continental Tires the Americas and Goodyear, Wagner has led growth and brand initiatives across the tyre, mobility, SaaS and material handling sectors. Her career began in Rio de Janeiro, advancing through leadership roles in Brazil and Latin America before moving to United States. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidade Santa Úrsula and an MBA from IBMEC Rio de Janeiro.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "Carolina's arrival marks a pivotal moment for Kumho Tire. Her deep expertise in the tyre industry, combined with her proven ability to build integrated marketing strategies that deliver measurable results, makes her the ideal leader to drive our next chapter. We are confident that she will be a key force in taking Kumho Tire's brand positioning to the next level."

Wagner said, "I am incredibly excited to join Kumho Tire and work alongside the executive leadership team to continue elevating the brand in the US. The company has tremendous growth potential with high-quality new products on the roadmap that deliver on its performance without compromise mantra. I'm excited to execute integrated, data-driven strategies to increase brand awareness and ultimately fuel growth."

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Mahatma Gandhi University’s School of Polymer Science and Technology has announced the opening of admissions for its Executive M.Tech programme in Polymer Engineering and Nanotechnology for the 2026–27 academic year, targeting working professionals and industry-sponsored candidates seeking advanced technical specialisation.

The programme will be conducted at the Convergence Academia Complex, located on the second floor of the university campus at Priyadarshini Hills, P.O. Kottayam, Kerala. The university, which is graded as a Category 1 autonomous institution by the University Grants Commission (UGC), is positioning the course as an industry-aligned offering designed to bridge academic research and industrial application.

Admissions are currently open, with the last date for submitting applications set as 30 April  2026.

Designed For Industry Professionals

The Executive M.Tech programme is tailored specifically for working professionals, reflecting the growing demand for flexible, advanced education pathways within technical industries. Sponsored candidates from organisations, as well as direct applicants with relevant professional experience, are eligible to apply.

Candidates must hold either an M.Sc. or B.Tech degree in relevant science or engineering disciplines. While preference will be given to employed candidates, others may also be considered subject to seat availability.

The programme offers a total of 24 seats, including 20 allocated for Indian candidates and four reserved for international applicants, signalling the university’s intent to attract a diverse cohort.

Interdisciplinary Focus

The curriculum emphasises an interdisciplinary approach, combining Polymer Engineering, Nanotechnology and Materials Science. This structure reflects broader shifts within manufacturing and materials industries, where cross-domain expertise is increasingly critical.

Courses will be delivered by a mix of academic faculty and industry practitioners, ensuring exposure to both theoretical frameworks and real-world applications. The university highlights that this dual approach is aimed at equipping professionals with practical insights alongside advanced technical knowledge.

Programme Highlights

Among the key features of the course are its focus on industry relevance and its alignment with evolving technological demands. The programme is structured to support professionals in enhancing their capabilities without stepping away from their careers.

The university notes that the course is particularly suited to those looking to deepen expertise in polymer science and nanotechnology while remaining engaged in industrial roles.

Application Process

Applications for the programme must be submitted online via the official application form:
https://forms.gle/yfTeeevAVLzmuK8P9

Prospective candidates can access additional information through the School of Polymer Science and Technology’s website at spst.mgu.ac.in.

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TVS Srichakra Limited has assumed contractual rights and obligations from its US subsidiary under an agreement with Bristol Motor Speedway LLC.

The Madurai-based company said in a regulatory filing that it executed an assignment and assumption agreement on April 10, 2026 with Super Grip Corporation and Bristol Motor Speedway. Under the arrangement, TVS Srichakra takes over all rights, duties and obligations previously held by Super Grip Corporation under a suite licence agreement dated February 16, 2024 and a sponsorship agreement dated April 5, 2024.

The company will pay USD 1,033,250 in instalments over the remaining term of the agreements. No consideration is payable to Super Grip Corporation for the transfer.

The original terms of the licence and sponsorship agreements remain unchanged, and the arrangements are set to run until December 31, 2028.

TVS Srichakra said the move was intended to enhance the visibility and reach of its brands in global markets.

Super Grip Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, while Bristol Motor Speedway is an unrelated third party. The assignment between TVS Srichakra and Super Grip Corporation qualifies as a related party transaction and has been conducted on an arm’s length basis.

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