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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Epsilon Carbon Pvt. Ltd. has announced the appointment of Munish Kumar Rathi as its new President and Business Head for Carbon Black.

With more than 25 years of extensive global leadership experience, Rathi brings a strong background in profit and loss management, multi-site manufacturing leadership, strategic planning and business transformation. His career is marked by a demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and foster sustainable growth across various international markets.

The company is anticipating that his leadership will play a key role as Epsilon Carbon continues to expand its global footprint and accelerate innovation within the carbon black business segment. The organisation has formally welcomed Rathi to the team, expressing confidence in his capacity to guide future strategic initiatives. This move underscores Epsilon Carbon’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team in pursuit of long-term global competitiveness.

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TVS Srichakra has approved capital investment of up to INR 2.2 billion to expand production capacity at its manufacturing facilities in Vellaripatti, Madurai.

The expansion will cover the company’s two-wheeler tyre and off-highway tyre plants, with investment of up to INR 1.1 billion allocated to each facility.

TVS Srichakra said the two-wheeler tyre plant currently has capacity of about 21 million to 23.5  million tyres a year and operates at utilisation levels of around 80 to 85 percent. The company plans to add about 5 percent capacity, with completion targeted in the first half of FY2028-29.

The off-highway tyre plant has existing capacity of about 75 to 85 metric tonnes a year and operates at utilisation levels of 75 to 80 percent. TVS Srichakra plans to increase capacity at the plant by about 25 percent, with the addition scheduled for the first half of FY2027-28.

The company said the investment would be financed through a combination of internal accruals and debt.

TVS Srichakra said the expansion is intended to meet growing demand for its two- and three-wheeler tyres and off-highway tyre products.

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JK Tyre & Industries reported record consolidated revenue of INR 163.84 billion for FY26, registering an 11 percent year-on-year increase, supported by strong domestic demand and volume growth across key tyre segments.

The company’s consolidated EBITDA rose 25 percent to INR 20.89 billion, with EBITDA margin improving to 12.8 percent.

Profit before tax increased 46 percent to INR 10.43 billion, while profit after tax climbed 52 percent to INR 8.60 billion during FY26.

For the fourth quarter, consolidated revenue rose 12 percent year-on-year to INR 42.33 billion.

Quarterly EBITDA surged 42 percent to INR 5.46 billion, with margin at 12.9 percent, while Q4 PAT nearly doubled, rising 94 percent to INR 1.99 billion.

Chairman and Managing Director Dr Raghupati Singhania described FY26 as a year of robust performance, highlighting record volumes in both truck and bus radial and passenger car radial categories.

Domestic sales volumes during Q4 grew 21 percent overall. Truck and bus radial replacement volumes increased 53 per cent, while OEM demand in the segment rose 23 percent. Passenger car radial replacement volumes were up 26 percent and OEM demand increased 10 percent.

The company said growth momentum was expected to continue into FY27, supported by new vehicle launches, infrastructure development and sustained replacement demand.

JK Tyre also highlighted strong traction in electric mobility. More than 70 per cent of electric buses operating in India currently run on its tyres, while the company supplies EV tyres to nearly eight two-wheeler OEMs and has secured orders for electric passenger vehicle models including Renault Duster EV, Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Motors’ Nexon and Punch EV variants.

Its Mexico business, operated through JK Tornel, contributed nearly 20 per cent of consolidated revenue and is expected to maintain growth across Mexican, Latin American and US markets.

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has elected David Cichocki, Managing Director, Americas, and chief sales officer, Americas Consumer, at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, to its board of directors.

“I’m pleased to welcome David to our Board. His extensive experience and expertise across the tire and consumer goods industries will be invaluable as we navigate today’s complex industry,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and chief executive. “His proven leadership will strengthen our ability to seize emerging opportunities.”

Cichocki joined Goodyear in early 2026 and is responsible for overseeing the Americas region and leading the company’s Americas Consumer sales business.

He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across industrial and consumer goods companies to the USTMA board.

Before joining Goodyear, Cichocki served as senior vice-president of US sales at Whirlpool, where he managed a portfolio valued at more than $10bn across retail and direct-to-consumer channels.

He also spent more than 20 years at Kraft Foods and Nabisco in a range of senior leadership roles.

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