What does ‘Tyre Labelling’ guarantee? It shows schematically the classification of tyres in terms of fuel consumption, noise and wet performance. The tyre manufacturer is obliged to demonstrate the values ​​indicated on the label in tests carried out in accordance with the test method described in EU regulations. This essentially means that the performance parameters of the tyres in question are at least exactly at this level or above the positive side of the limit scale, but only when the tyres are new, i.e. at the beginning of tyre installation. It is technically expected that the stated performance values ​​will not change until the end of the first 10,000 kilometres or until wear of approximately 1.5 mm occurs.

Who knows what the actual grading of tyres will be after the second 10,000 kilometres or at 3 mm down wear stage? No one can correctly estimate what the wet noise and traction will be after most of the mini-kerf or notches are eliminated or reduced, but only when the tyre is tested it can be monitored. Or if the tyre's grooves are completely ‘V’ type, and after a period of time the tyre's traction forces change significantly, then rolling resistance and wet braking behaviour will become significantly different.

The performance level of worn tyres might be therefore quite uncertain and must be taken into account on a legal basis. The wet performance of worn tyres will be a check point for ‘wet grip class’ grading on EU Tyre label after 1st July of 2024, which is in line with the demand of tyre industry parties asking more sustainability.  Thanks to the introduction of a new EU regulation R117-04, tyres sold in EU distribution channels meet the same minimum wet braking performance requirements not only when new but also when worn down to the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm.

EU is the most sensitive and advanced market to sustainability in the world. It is driven at any time by the increasingly aspiring regulatory agenda and there is always a constant development in this respect. Requirements of consumers or the automotive industry are more demanding by a more conscious society. Tyres’ life cycle contributing to a more sustainable future proactively identifies and addresses the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the industry. Therefore, safer and more environmentally sound mobility options are always geared towards resource conservation and fuel economy amongst the focus points of innovations.

Thanks to the introduction of a new EU regulation R117-04, tyres sold in EU distribution channels meet the same minimum wet braking performance requirements not only when new but also when worn down to the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. They must therefore be tested both as new and as worn tyres before receiving the 'wet grade’ on the label. This means that EU drivers can now buy safer tyres that meet the legal minimum standards for wet braking performance, even when worn down to the legal minimum tread depth.

As a weak point of R117-04 regulation, it only covers wet braking of new and worn-out tyres. It does not cover ‘noise’ and ‘rolling resistance’ items given on labelling or more simply endurance performance level of especially cheap tyres in the market with a 1.6 mm tread depth assuming they will not change!

Informal wet braking tests conducted by ETRTO show that the wear rate of group ‘C1’ tyres can decrease by up to 50 percent, while the loss rate of group ‘C2’ and ‘C3’ tyres remain in 10 percent. The new regulation R117-04 therefore does not apply to group ‘C2’ and ‘C3’ tyres, as they normally have a greater tread depth and it is assumed that the level of wet braking does not change during the wear phase. However, since group ‘C1’ tyres have a smaller tread depth, it is assumed that their contact patch is more subject to negative changes, so that the wet braking performance also changes more after use. 

As a weak point of R117-04 regulation, it only covers wet braking of new and worn-out tyres. It does not cover ‘noise’ and ‘rolling resistance’ items given on labelling or more simply endurance performance level of especially cheap tyres in the market with a 1.6 mm tread depth assuming they will not change!

The new R117-04 regulation may mainly be considered as sustainability issue rather than total safety. It promotes tyre usage until defined min tread depth creating a room to consumers to trust the tyres above minimum tread depth level. However, it should still be positively considered a step forward to the worn tyres’ safety regulation. It accepts that wet braking level of worn tyres are more critical and important safety issue and should be regulated. By the way, consumers may use their tyres in longer stage, giving a contribution to a greener world.

The transparency provided by the new regulation, which came into force on 2024 July, is even more essential, as some performances deteriorate over time, especially in terms of safety. R117-04 in this term guarantees enhanced safety, better respect for the environment and the protection of motorists’ purchasing power. 

Common consumer behaviour shows that 50 percent of car tyres are demounted before reaching a residual depth of 3 mm and replaced with a new set of tyres.

Michelin has studied the safety margin of used tyres since 2018 and has stressed the importance of tyres to be used until 1.6 mm remaining tread depth. The best way was to test worn tyres because it can easily reflect the real risks a driver can face on the road. During the study, the results were surprisingly varied. It was shown that some worn tyres performed better than new tyres when braking on wet roads. This was exactly what Michelin has been saying for a long time. The performance of different tyre brands also varies considerably.

Common consumer behaviour shows that 50 percent of car tyres are demounted before reaching a residual depth of 3 mm and replaced with a new set. In global scale, this makes around 400 million tyres are prematurely scraped every year. A quarter of this amount, or almost 100 million tyres, would save at least 6 million tonnes of CO2 instead of reproducing it. The implementation of this regulation will certainly have an impact on the demand for new tyres in Europe.

R117-04 presently focus mainly on only tread depth attribute, while aspects such as ageing or rubber structural integrity degradation remain outside the scope of this amendment.

In addition, in the hope that higher performance requirements will not result in higher costs for consumers, the changes are designed to encourage consumers to continue using sustainable tyres instead. Once drivers are confident in their tyres, they will drive to a tread depth of 1.6 mm, potentially saving EUR 6 billion a year by not complying with proposals to reduce tread depth to less than 3 mm.

R117-04 presently focuses mainly on tread depth attribute, while aspects such as ageing or rubber structural integrity degradation remain outside the scope of this amendment. We also mentioned some additional weak points above. However, imposing these standards, will increase the driver’s awareness for worn tyres performance limits and let them to make more informed decisions when purchasing tyres.

On the other hand, understanding the ‘NEW AND WORN PHASE TESTS CONCEPT’ will become the standard mentality of the customer, who will be able to assess the attitude towards the initial performance of the tyres, which may change over time, but should not! The new challenge will be to weed out products that are not gripping in the wet when worn and have not met these expectations for years..!

Titan International, a major global manufacturer of wheels and tyres for off-highway equipment, has secured expanded production rights for the Goodyear brand across multiple segments while renewing its existing farm tyre licensing agreement.

The deal extends Titan’s Goodyear brand manufacturing rights to include light construction, industrial, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), lawn and garden and golf tyre categories, significantly broadening the company's market reach.

The Illinois-based firm will continue to produce agricultural tyres under the Goodyear Farm Tyres brand, maintaining its presence in a sector where it manufactures products ranging from small implement tyres to the massive Goodyear Optitrac LSW1400/30R46, which features the company's proprietary Low Sidewall Technology.

"We are excited to expand our rights into new segments, as this positions us to serve our customers better and seize emerging market opportunities. Our research and product development teams are already working on new tyre designs incorporating innovative tyre technologies for the lawn and garden segment," said Paul Reitz, President & CEO of Titan International, Inc. "In addition to our newly acquired rights, we are reaffirming our commitment to the farm tyres segment, a vital part of our business."

Industry analysts note the expansion comes as demand for specialised off-highway tyres remains robust across construction, agriculture and recreational sectors despite broader economic headwinds.

Strategic growth initiative

The licensing expansion aligns with Titan's strategy to offer comprehensive wheel and tyre solutions across forestry, powersports, outdoor power equipment, agricultural, earthmoving, and light construction markets throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa and Oceania.

The company did not disclose the financial terms of the licensing agreement with Goodyear.

Titan International has manufactured Goodyear-branded farm tyres since 2005, when it acquired Goodyear's North American farm tyre business. It has gradually expanded these rights to other regions, including Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Australia.

Targets International Expansion With Robust Fy25 Performance

CEAT Ltd, the RPG Group’s flagship tyre company, reported a capital outlay of INR 9–10 billion  for FY2025–26, keeping with its capacity expansion strategy and global integration. This follows a strong FY25 performance of record revenues and double-digit growth across segments despite headwinds in overseas markets.

The business ended FY25 with consolidated revenue of INR 132.18 billion, up 10.6 percent year on year, and Q4 revenue at INR34.21 billion, up 14.3 percent compared to the corresponding quarter previous year. The standalone full-year EBITDA was INR 15 billion, and the Q4 operating margins improved by more than 100 basis points sequentially at 11.5 percent.

"We incurred capex of INR 9.46 billion in FY25 and expect a similar investment of INR 9–1.0 billion in FY26," said Kumar Subbiah, Chief Financial Officer of CEAT. “Our focus will remain on expanding capacities, particularly at the Ambarnath and Chennai facilities, and funding the integration of the recently acquired Camso compact construction business.”

In FY25, CEAT depreciated assets amounting to INR11.40 billion. Much of its FY26 capex will also fund equipment modernisation and normal maintenance at its Sri Lankan operations under Camso, putting a cost estimate of INR1-1.25 billion a year over the next two years.

The Camso acquisition, which is effective from Q2 FY26, is likely to significantly enhance CEAT's global presence. "Integration work has started in full acceleration," said Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO. “Initial focus will be on customer retention and business continuity, with consolidation expected to double Camso’s current capacity utilisation over the medium term.”

Despite international uncertainties, CEAT renewed its medium-term global growth forecast. Exports are expected to form 25–26 percent of the revenue post-Camso integration. Turbulence still exists in Latin America and North America due to tariff policies and exchange rate weakness. CEAT, however, has reported consistent performance in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

CEAT also indicated a likely raw material cost stabilisation in Q1 FY26, potentially softening by Q2, to support its margin growth initiatives. The gross margin was 37.5 percent in Q4 FY25, and the target was above 40 percent in the near term.

Banerjee signaled ongoing activity in electrification, premiumisation, and digitalisation. "With our technology outlays and new product introductions, we are hopeful of sustaining 20–25 percent market share in electric vehicle segments," he asserted.

The debt levels of the company are under control. The gross debt as of 31 March 2025 was INR 19.28 billion with a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.3x and debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44x. Subbiah added that CEAT's strong cash generation will allow it to finance both organic and inorganic growth without materially diluting leverage metrics.

Black Swan Graphene Inc. (Black Swan) has appointed Jobin George as Technical Sales Manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with immediate effect. This significant move, which supports Black Swan's worldwide commercial team as it promotes adoption of its graphene-enhanced products, follows Dan Roadcap’s appointment as Head of Technical Sales and Business Development.

George has an MBA from ICFAI University in India, a Post Graduate Diploma from the Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology in India and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He brings with him more than 20 years of global expertise in project management, business development and technical sales. George has had positions at Sands International Plastics and Sojitz Corporation in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Aquapak Polymers and H-Pack Global Ltd.

Simon Marcotte, President and Chief Executive Officer, Black Swan Graphene, said, “The addition of Jobin to our commercial team marks another important milestone in our global expansion strategy. His international experience, particularly in the EMEA region, and his proven ability to translate technical capability into commercial success make him an ideal fit as we continue scaling our graphene business.”

George said, “Black Swan is positioned at the forefront of advanced materials innovation. The opportunity to contribute to the adoption of such a transformative technology across the EMEA region is tremendously exciting. I look forward to engaging with our existing customers and partners, along with exploring opportunities for new clients as well, to showcase the performance and value of Black Swan’s graphene solutions.”

The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), has appointed Stephanie Mull as its Executive Director.

Mull will spearhead the organisation's initiatives to promote innovation and invest in the circular tyre economy, expand the market for end-of-life tyres and support studies to fill in the gaps in the sustainability and tyre recycling supply chain in her new role at TRF. Mull brings a wealth of experience in the sustainability field and a broad understanding of fleet management and decarbonisation, including converting fleets to electric and alternative fuel vehicles. In her role as PepsiCo's Sustainability Senior Manager, she oversaw major electrification projects, obtained grant money and spearheaded efforts to lower Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions throughout Pepsi and Frito-Lay's North American fleets. Mull oversaw the local government's efforts to upgrade municipal vehicles to greener technology and volunteered to help the Red Cross electrify its fleet.

Anne Forristall Luke, TRF Board President, said, “Stephanie Mull brings the passion, in-depth expertise and history of excellence that will drive TRF and its partners to achieve critical tyre recycling and reclamation milestones. We are thrilled to have her join the Foundation as we advance tyre sustainability while tackling the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Mull said, “I’m honoured to join the Tire Recycling Foundation and support its sustainability mission to achieve 100 percent end-of-life tyre circularity. TRF is a vital nexus of expertise and leadership, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders in developing tyre recycling solutions that pave the way for a more sustainable future.” 

The Tire Recycling Foundation is dedicated to achieving 100 percent circularity for end-of-life tires by advancing innovation, building partnerships and supporting scalable recycling and reclamation solutions. Consisting of 15 global industry leaders with expertise in the manufacturing, recycling and transportation industries, TRF’s Board primarily focuses on the acceleration and adoption of emerging end-of-life tyre market technologies like rubber-modified asphalt (RMA).