For more than 30 years, Haluk Kizilay has built an impressive career that spans everything from tyre design and development to strategic planning, marketing and business development, both in Turkey and overseas.

He received BSc in mechanical engineering as well as another degree in Business Management (BBA) in Turkey.

At Brisa, Bridgestone Turkey, Haluk supported executive and functional level of tyre design, material development, production, field evaluation and management. He also engaged in strategic plan development, competitive intelligence, OEM programmes and benchmarking.

In 2011, Haluk moved on to become an ‘R&D Engineering Manager’ in Cooper Tire & Rubber. He took wide-range responsibility for Truck & Bus product development as well as Field Engineering & Business Development.

In addition to design direction at Cooper, he also participated in Product Planning and Global Technology Development and Merger and Acquisition activities in China and Europe.

Haluk is one of the registered researchers of TUBITAK – The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey – and he is also one of the authorised judges of EU Horizon work programme.

In 2019, he established his own consulting firm called ‘TICTire Industry Consulting’ to serve the tyre industry globally.

The global tyre market has been expanding annually at a rate of 2 to 10 percent, depending on the region. This growth is driven by global economic expansion, increased mobility demands and diversification, new business models and other factors. At the same time, the performance requirements for tyres have become more stringent than ever. As a result, the tyre industry is increasingly focused on advanced technologies, including innovative, light and green materials, enhanced modelling and testing methods, embedded systems, environmental sustainability and the development of smart tyres.

To meet these demands, the tyre industry must elevate its New Product Development (NPD) processes by intensifying research and development efforts. In the highly competitive market of the future, and in the new CASE mobility context (which stands for Connected Autonomous Shared and Electric vehicles), the new tyre technology and knowledge will be more critical than ever before.

One significant trend in NPD is the drive to reduce development time through the use of modern simulation and modelling techniques. At TIC-Tyre Industry Consulting, in partnership with Autoadmin Consulting, we emphasise the philosophy of ‘speed to market with the right modelling solutions and innovation’. Virtual modelling technologies are central to this approach, enabling companies to launch world-class products faster and more cost-effectively by eliminating the trial-and-error physical development approaches.

The role of virtual modelling technologies in smart tyre development

Virtual modelling technologies are indispensable for understanding how the various components of a tyre interact. By leveraging modelling and simulation, tyre manufacturers can predict the full range of potential outcomes, including complex and novel testing scenarios beyond what traditional mental models can anticipate.

As a critical vehicle safety component, the tyre significantly impacts overall vehicle performance and has now new ‘attributes’ like providing various data about the tyre status in real time. Therefore, designing high-quality, high-performance tyres require not only an understanding of their intrinsic properties – such as tread pattern, carcass structure, materials characteristics – but also the external running conditions like vehicle load and speed, wheel torque and road surface. Virtual tyre models, built with the FEA (finite element analysis) method, provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating and understanding the impact of these variables, particularly in the case of smart tyres applications.

Here are some examples of how tyre FEA simulation and tools can unlock the potential of virtual modelling technology:

• Component and system development: Creating models for tyre carcasses, plies, belts, reinforcements and tread patterns, including beyond tyre components (such as RFID or TMS sensors) for structural analysis.

• Predictions of footprint and stiffness characteristics: Simulating static or quasi-static footprint behaviour under normal, lateral and torsional forces.

• Predictions of force and moments: Simulating steady state rolling during braking, acceleration and cornering.

• NVH applications: Evaluating tyre cavity profile, tread block design, void areas, non-skid depth, groove angles and pitch sequencing.

• Emerging technologies applications: Addressing new tyre engineering challenges like traceable, silent, studded tyres with the integration of TMS or RFID sensors, innerliner foams or tread studs and EV-specific reinforcements requirements for high load capacity tyres.

The game changer: Adopting a 3D modelling approach first to tyre design

The tyre industry must fully transition to a 3D first mindset when designing products, just as other industries – such as automotive and aerospace – have done for parts and assemblies. Today, every component of a vehicle, whether for ICE vehicles or EVs, is first modelled in 3D space. From these models, 2D sketches, assembly and execution drawings are derived using cutting, cross-sectioning and projection techniques for manufacturing plans.

By adopting this approach, tyre designers can address the complexities of designing emerging technologies for smart tyre development, such as various sensors embedded in or glued to the tyre. Likewise for foam in tyre (FIT) and non-pneumatic tyres (NPT) technologies. This shift from traditional 2D design thinking to a comprehensive 3D space representation will enable the industry to better meet the challenges of smart tyre innovation.

Advancing FEA for proactive tyre development

To achieve higher levels of ROI in FEA simulations and tools, the industry must integrate the latest advancements in FEA technology. These efforts should be proactive, conducted well before manufacturing begins. The outdated 2D to 3D model creation approaches, involving the solver in the model creation stage, no longer suffices, besides having many limitations. Given the increasing complexity of tyre design and the massive data exploration required for simulations and testing various load cases, automations in post-processing should also be considered.

To succeed in this environment, manufacturers must rely on expert knowledge. Virtual modelling technologies provide the tools needed to address these challenges and seize new opportunities, empowering the tyre industry to lead in innovation and performance.

Support from TIC-Tyre Industry Consulting and Autoadmin Consulting

At TIC-Tyre Industry Consulting and Autoadmin Consulting, our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) bring extensive hands-on experience in the topics discussed above. We are ready to support R&D activities with tailored technical solutions designed to address unique challenges. We pride ourselves on adhering to the highest professional and ethical standards, a hallmark of our work for many years.

In addition to our consulting services, we offer Simulation and Modelling Technical Courses. These programmes are designed to equip your workforce with the skills, mindset and competencies needed to thrive in today’s competitive environment. Our expert trainers guide participants through an engaging learning journey, incorporating workshops, real-world case studies and cutting-edge educational technologies.

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Bridgestone India announced the winners of the 5th Edition of its Mobility Social Impact Awards (MSIA) 2025 in Pune, celebrating organisations that use mobility for social good.

The top honour in the Road Safety Innovation and Excellence category went to ALERT (Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team) from Chennai for empowering over 450,000 citizens with emergency response skills. Safety Research Foundation (SRF), based in Pune, received a Jury Commendation for its BRACE Project, which transforms school zones with safety audits and infrastructure upgrades.

In the Empowerment of Vulnerable Communities category, The Association of People with Disability (APD), Bengaluru, won the top honour for its Rehab on Wheels initiative, which provides last-mile rehabilitation services.

The winners were presented with their awards by social worker Dr. Girish Kulkarni, founder of Snehalaya.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Group President, Bridgestone Asia Pacific and Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said: “It is a privilege to honour these changemakers who are redefining mobility for social good. Their work reflects our shared commitment to building inclusive, safe, and empowered communities.”

Jeya Padmanaban, Founding Trustee, Safety Research Foundation (SRF), said, “We are truly honoured to receive the Jury Commendation at the Bridgestone Mobility Social Impact Awards 2025. The BRACE Project reflects our belief that road safety must begin at the community level, where awareness and infrastructure meet action. This recognition strengthens our resolve to continue building safer environments for children and fostering a culture of responsibility and care on our roads.”

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Linglong Tire has announced the promotion of Alessio Iacovelli to Deputy Director of Replacement Sales for Western Europe, effective 1 September 2025. In this elevated role, Iacovelli will take on leadership of the regional sales team with a mandate to accelerate business development. His key objectives will include forging strategic alliances and implementing programmes to strengthen customer loyalty. Iacovelli will report directly to Lisa Zhao, the Director of Replacement Sales for Western Europe, and will collaborate with her to manage key markets, including Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain.

Iacovelli, who began his career with Goodyear and Nexen, first joined Linglong Tire at the end of 2022 as a Sales Manager. In that capacity, he demonstrated significant success in developing the Southern European aftermarket, where he expanded the brand's footprint, defined effective growth strategies and secured robust partnerships with distributors. This strategic appointment and the restructuring of the sales leadership underscore Linglong Tire's intensified focus on achieving its ambitious growth targets across the European continent.

Iacovelli said, "I am very pleased to have been promoted to Deputy Director Replacement Sales West Europe at Linglong Tire. We have fantastic products such as the Sport Master 4S and the Sport Master Winter, both successfully tested in the recently published tyre tests. We have a state-of-the-art development centre in Germany and a new tyre plant in Europe and are successful in original equipment – ideal conditions for achieving our ambitious goals together with my team and the colleagues in Hannover and continuing to grow, especially in Europe."

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German synthetic rubber maker ARLANXEO has launched consultations with worker representatives over the potential closure of its Port Jerome facility in France, citing persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness in the European chemicals industry.

The company, which is majority-owned by Saudi Aramco, had begun an information and consultation period with the Works Council at the site, located in northern France. A final decision on the closure will be taken after the mandatory consultation process concludes and approval is obtained from the French labour authorities, DREETS.

“The European chemical industry continues to face persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness driven by rising costs, unbalanced global markets, and increased regulatory pressure,” said Stephan van Santbrink, ARLANXEO chief executive.

“These conditions have generated a significant burden on the sector across the regional value chain. ARLANXEO has not been an exception to these challenges. The Port Jerome site has remained in a structurally loss-making position. Despite numerous improvement efforts, we do not foresee a viable path to a sustained structural improvement.”

The company did not disclose how many jobs would be affected by a potential closure, nor did it provide details on the facility’s production capacity or annual output.

Van Santbrink acknowledged the impact on workers, saying: “We recognise the impact a potential closure may have on our employees, and we regret the need to consider these steps. We will continue to treat all employees with respect. If we decide to cease operations at the site, we will do our utmost to assist in finding alternative solutions for all impacted employees. In addition, we intend to provide impacted employees with a social plan which reflects their valued contribution to ARLANXEO.”

The announcement adds to a growing list of European chemical producers struggling with high energy costs, sluggish demand and competition from lower-cost producers in Asia and the United States.

ARLANXEO said it would work closely with all affected internal and external stakeholders to minimise the impact of the intended closure.

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Continental's Tires group sector has strengthened its leadership team with two key internal appointments, effective 1 September 2025. Jana Striezel has been named the new head of global purchasing for Continental Tires, while Dennis Bellmund has assumed leadership of the global original equipment business for both passenger and commercial vehicles. Both executives will report directly to Christian Kötz, the member of Continental AG's Executive Board who leads the Tires group sector.

In her new capacity, Striezel will oversee worldwide strategic and operational purchasing. She brings extensive experience from the automotive industry, having previously held several procurement management roles at Renault, where she led purchasing for the Renault brand and its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi in Europe. Her career began at Volkswagen in 2014.

Bellmund, who has a 25-year tenure with Continental, steps into his role following the departure of his predecessor, Manja Greimeier, to the ContiTech sector. His extensive background within the company includes recent responsibility for Continental’s tyre retail operations, alongside prior leadership roles in EMEA supply chain management and sales direction for the European replacement tyre business. These appointments signal a strategic reinforcement of Continental's tyre division leadership.

Kötz said, “We’re delighted to welcome Jana Striezel, a highly skilled manager, to our team. She brings extensive expertise in international procurement and will focus on driving forward our purchasing strategy. In Dennis Bellmund, our global original equipment business has gained a highly experienced leader. Thanks to his many years at Continental, he is familiar with our company and our customers’ needs from many different angles. On behalf of the entire management team, I wish both of them every success in their new roles and look forward to working together.”

“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank Manja Greimeier for her successful leadership of our original equipment business and wish her all the best and continued success,” added Kötz.

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