Italian multinational tyre manufacturer Pirelli has released an advisory on winter tyres to help its customers sail through the cold season worry-free. The advisory takes into account every aspect of the challenging cold season and presents some useful suggestions on choosing the perfect tyres for the winter season, as well as the specific regulations governing winter tyres in different European countries. The company also briefs on its latest winter tyres, the P Zero Winter 2 and the Cinturato All Season SF3, which will face their first winter on the road.

Which tyres to choose?

The ideal choice for cold weather is always winter tyres, which are made with specific compounds to offer optimal grip and increased traction on both dry and wet surfaces, reducing the risk of aquaplaning.

On both winter and all-season tyres, it’s important to check the markings on the sidewall. The M+S symbol denotes a tyre that has been specially designed for tricky surfaces, but even higher levels of safety are indicated by the 3PMSF logo (representing a mountain with three peaks, along with a snowflake). This logo means that the tyre has passed all the tests associated with the most challenging conditions in winter.

So the level of safety is clearly illustrated by the markings, but the choice to fit winter or all season tyres comes down to a number of different factors. Above all, it depends on how the car is used. Intense use with higher mileage (in excess of 25,000 kilometres a year) as well as more powerful and bigger cars, or frequent drives in mountainous areas, call for a full winter tyre. Predominantly urban driving and smaller vehicles (from city cars to compact SUVs) allow for the use of all season tyres.

Swapping between summer and winter tyres is the best choice for the majority of drivers, but the other option is an all-season tyre, such as the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3. This meets the needs of more urban drivers perfectly, as many comparative tests recently won by the new Pirelli have already proven.

Driving advice for winter

As well as having the right tyre, it’s important to have the right driving style. Whenever it’s dry in winter, the same approach can generally be taken as in summer, but it’s important to remember that there’s less grip and so it’s advisable to maintain a bigger margin of safety.

Wet or snowy conditions are a different proposition, where the same sort of driving style should be adopted as for fuel-saving. In other words, no harsh acceleration, which can cause wheelspin on snow, while braking should be kept to a minimum, with engine braking preferred instead. Maintaining a healthy stopping instance is also more important than ever, to avoid running into the car in front. When it comes to parking, diagonally is best if possible: especially when snowploughs dump snow by the side of the road.

Drivers of electric cars need to pay particular attention: battery life tends to diminish in winter, which means that it’s better to rely on tyres with low rolling resistance. This is a fundamental characteristic to guarantee a longer range, which Pirelli caters for thanks to its bespoke ‘Elect’ technology. The very first winter car tyre to score ‘A’ for rolling resistance has been recently launched by Pirelli: the P Zero Winter 2 for the BMW i7.

European legislation around winter tyres

Those travelling around Europe need to know about individual regulations that apply to each country. Both Germany and France are changing their rules about winter tyres this year, for example.

France: From 1 November to 31 March, winter tyres with M+S and 3PMSF markings are compulsory in mountainous regions and areas that are specifically signposted.

Germany: The use of winter tyres, which are identified with M+S and 3PMSF symbols in Germany, are compulsory for wintry roads and conditions.

Austria: For roads in winter conditions, M+S marked tyres with a tread depth of at least four millimetres on all four wheels are compulsory from 1 November to 15 April.

Switzerland: Winter tyres are not mandatory, but anyone who causes traffic congestion by driving on summer tyres in winter conditions, or anyone who has tyres judged to be defective, can be punished.

Croatia: In winter conditions from 15 November to 15 April, it’s compulsory to fit winter tyres with M+S markings and a tread depth of at least four millimetres on all the wheels.

Greece: From 15 October to 15 March, it’s obligatory to fit M+S and 3PMSF winter tyres on all four wheels on roads that are covered in snow, specifically signposted, or in the case of specific public announcements.

Spain: M+S tyres have to be used at least on the driven wheels if it snows, and chains can be used in indicated areas, up to a maximum speed of 50 kmph, if there is snow on the road.

Sweden: All vehicles must use M+S and 3PMSF winter tyres with a minimum tread depth of three millimetres from 1 December to 31 March in winter conditions.

Italy: It’s compulsory to carry chains in the car or fit winter tyres with M+S markings from 15 November to 15 April. The rule applies outside of urban areas, but it can also be requested within them by local authorities.

Pirelli’s winter tyres

Pirelli has developed a comprehensive range of winter and all-season tyres to respond to all requirements and driving conditions. Two new Pirelli winter and all-season products make their debut for this winter in 2024: the P Zero Winter 2 and Cinturato All Season SF3, both of which have obtained winning results in comparative tests conducted by specialist publications. Those looking for maximum performance and safety in winter conditions can rely on the P Zero Winter 2, which took the top score (A) on the European tyre label for wet grip, with excellent braking on snow.

The latest all-season tyre from Pirelli is the Cinturato All Season SF3, which offers year-round control as shown by the Performance Mark: a seal of excellence issued by certifying body TÜV SÜD. The new Pirelli all season tyre features the 3PMSF marking, which guarantees safe driving even on icy and snowy surfaces. These continuous safety and performance improvements – even in the most extreme winter conditions – stems from the unstinting work of Pirelli’s engineers, who use the most advanced virtual modelling techniques as well as artificial intelligence and driving simulators.

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KraussMaffei has appointed Xinting Ren as Managing Director of its extrusion business, effective 1 September, 2026, combining the role with his existing leadership of the group’s China operations.

Ren succeeds Ralf Benack, who left the company at his own request on 31^st August , ending a tenure of about two years.

The company said the dual appointment is intended to strengthen integration between its extrusion activities and international operations.

Ren has led KraussMaffei China for the past three years, overseeing cross-technology activities in the Chinese market. Before joining the group, he held several management roles in the chemical industry, including Assistant General Manager at KraussMaffei Company Limited, now operating as Sinochem Equipment Technology Qingdao Co., and most recently served as general manager of Shanxi China Coal Pingshuo Energy Chemical Co., Ltd.

Benack took over leadership of KraussMaffei Extrusion in 2024 and was responsible for the group’s global extrusion business. During his tenure, the company focused on operational processes and customer orientation, reducing delivery times and further developing the Technology Center at its Laatzen site.

The facility now offers 26 pilot lines for development and customer projects, and the company said it also expanded its extrusion technology portfolio.

From September, responsibility for the extrusion business and management of the China business will be combined under Ren’s leadership.

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Nokian Tyres plc has introduced a new premium summer tyre, the Powerproof E, designed for Central and Southern European markets, with A-class ratings in all three European Union tyre label categories across its full range.

The company said the tyre achieves top grades for rolling resistance, wet grip and external rolling noise, reflecting a development approach aimed at balancing efficiency, safety and comfort within a single product.

“Whether the priority is maximizing range and efficiency or achieving confidence and comfort in wet conditions, drivers should not have to compromise on safety. The new Nokian Tyres Powerproof E is designed to deliver outstanding performance in the areas that matter most to drivers,” said Tommi Alhola, Senior Vice-President for Passenger Car tyres in Central Europe.

Samu Lepistö, development manager at the company, added: “Achieving A-class ratings in all three EU tire label categories across the entire range is a significant result. These characteristics are all important to today's drivers yet improving one can often affect another. Nokian Tyres Powerproof E was developed to deliver balanced performance across all three areas.”

The tyre incorporates what the company calls Motion Control Technology, combining tread design, compound development and structural engineering to support efficiency and wet-weather performance.

Depending on size, between 40.9 percent and 42.8 percent of the tyre’s material content consists of recycled and renewable inputs, including rice husk ash, recycled carbon black and recycled steel.

Production takes place at the group’s factory in Oradea, Romania, which opened in 2024 and operates with zero direct carbon dioxide emissions, powered by renewable energy.

The Powerproof E is designed for passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and crossover vehicles, including electric, hybrid and internal combustion models. It will be available in sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches for the 2027 summer season in Central and Southern Europe.

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Continental Tire Canada has appointed Frank Buntinx as its new Managing Director, effective 17 August 2026. In this executive capacity, he assumes comprehensive oversight of the organisation’s entire Canadian tyre portfolio, which encompasses passenger and light truck vehicles, commercial truck lines and specialised tyre segments. His leadership will guide the strategic direction and operational performance across these diverse business units.

A native of Belgium, Buntinx brings over two decades of tenure with Continental, having commenced his career there in 2003 within logistics and supply chain management. Over the years, he has accumulated a broad commercial skillset through successive roles in marketing, pricing strategy, business analytics, fleet operations and sales. His professional trajectory later elevated him to senior leadership positions in the Benelux region, where he directed marketing efforts and subsequently headed Fleet Solutions and Truck Tires, thereby acquiring multifaceted management expertise.

This transatlantic appointment signifies a pivotal career transition for Buntinx, offering him the chance to infuse the Canadian market with an international vantage point. His arrival is anticipated to bolster Continental’s regional presence, leveraging his extensive cross-functional background to navigate the complexities of the domestic tyre industry and drive organisational growth.

“I am truly excited to join Continental Tire Canada and begin this new chapter. Continental has built a strong business and reputation in the Canadian market, and I look forward to working alongside our talented team to build on that success, strengthening Continental's position while supporting the growth and success of our customers,” said Buntinx.

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Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., which operates the Dunlop brand, will discontinue the supply of karting tyres by the end of 2027 as part of a strategic review of its business and allocation of management resources.

The company said it would continue supplying products to existing customers until December 31, 2027.

Dunlop has produced karting tyres since 1976, supplying products homologated by the Commission Internationale de Karting-FIA (CIK-FIA), under the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, as well as tyres accredited by the Japan Automobile Federation.

The company said its products had supported a wide range of users, from recreational drivers to young drivers aiming to compete at higher levels, and had contributed to the development of karting participation.

It added that the decision followed a review of its medium- to long-term management strategy and changes in the business environment.

The group said it would continue to contribute to motorsport activities, while expressing appreciation to customers and organisations that had supported its karting tyre business.

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