Tire Technology Expo 2025, held on March 4-6 in Hannover, Germany, once again cemented its reputation as the leading global event for tire design, development and manufacturing. The three-day event brought together top industry players, suppliers and researchers to discuss the latest technological advancements and regulatory challenges shaping the future of the tire industry. From groundbreaking product launches on the show floor to thought-provoking conference discussions on the most important and complex issues affecting the tire industry, the expo reflected the sector’s push toward sustainability, efficiency and digitalization.
Exhibition highlights
The exhibition floor highlighted innovation and high-performance from all 240+ exhibitors, with Bekaert, Rockwell Automation, VMI Group, HF Group, ARP Technologies, Kordsa and Black Donuts standing out due to their contributions to advancing tire technology:
Bekaert launched its latest tire reinforcement innovation at the expo. Mega Tensile – part of the Elyta range – offers tailored solutions for passenger car and light truck reinforcement. It is the company’s lightest and strongest reinforcement yet, enabling up to 20% less steel and 10% less compound in belt plies, reducing rolling resistance by 2-4%, improving efficiency and lowering CO₂ emissions by 15-20% per tire – all without compromising safety. “We are exhibiting at Tire Technology Expo to showcase our innovations, share expertise and engage closely with our partners in shaping the future of the tire industry,” said Jim Dobson, SVP of technology and quality – rubber reinforcement
At the Rockwell Automation booth, visitors explored a variety of advanced solutions designed to optimize tire manufacturing. Specialists demonstrated how MES technology enhances modern production, and how Kalypso’s AI-driven tools help reduce downtime. Also on display were the Digital Thread and future Digital Tire Passport, energy-efficient manufacturing techniques, autonomous mobile robots from Otto Motors, and strategies for asset management and sustainability. “With the current and future uncertainties in the industry, we are here to support our partnerships with our technology and services, highlighting how we can adapt these to suit our manufacturing partners,” said Dominique Scheider, industry strategy and marketing manager for transportation Europe, Middle East and Africa.
VMI spotlighted its latest tire manufacturing innovations at Tire Technology Expo 2025. With eight decades of expertise, the company is focused on delivering flexible, high-quality solutions that reduce environmental impact. VMI is committed to advancing sustainable tire technology, helping manufacturers achieve their performance and sustainability goals. “We have already been busier than ever before at Tire Technology Expo, and I have been in meetings all morning with high-class customers. I am looking forward to the rest of the event,” reported Mike Norman, chief commercial officer.
HF drew crowds at the expo with its latest advances in tire production technology. The company showcased its industry-leading Curemaster PCR and TBR tire curing presses alongside its cutting-edge digital solution for condition monitoring. Visitors also explored HF’s revolutionary electric tire curing technology, available for new curing presses and retrofits. “HF is at Tire Technology Expo every year to showcase its latest solutions, connect with customers and the tire industry, and gain valuable industry insights,” said Nora Grupe, the company’s head of marketing.
ARP Technologies presented its Electromagnetic Heating (EMH) System, which enhances electric curing technology and easily retrofits into existing molds. The company’s nitrogen circulation system improves efficiency, and the advanced PCI stack design prevents leakage, leading to superior tire quality. Visitors also learned about the SA-S400 platen insulator for heavy loads and the company’s AI-powered inspection machine that delivers exceptional defect detection. “This is a great event,” said the company’s president, David Chen. “The whole industry gathers together here every year, and we look forward to meeting our customers, partners and peers.”
Kordsa showcased its latest tire reinforcement solutions at the expo, emphasizing sustainability and innovation. The company introduced REV Technologies, designed to meet the demands of EV tires with high-performance reinforcement solutions, along with rPET cord fabric and RFID tire tags. With a global production network, Kordsa continues to shape the future of mobility. “We are here to meet and promote our wide range of reinforcement products to our tire customers – from high-performance, sustainable, industrial and smart reinforcement solutions, this is the place to meet our partners within the tire industry,” said account manager Beyza Karataş.
Black Donuts showcased its comprehensive tire solutions, including smart factory design, R&D and accredited testing. The company’s Digital Twin Tire Plant Simulation is a data-driven tool that reduces downtime and improves efficiency through real-time virtual modeling. Black Donuts also offered end-to-end finite element analysis (FEA) for precise tire performance simulations. “Everybody is here that we want to connect with to share the whole concept to the industry. Our products and services are suitable for investors and new players to plan ahead and see the process from concept to execution,” said Dali Krstic, marketing communications specialist.
Conference insights
The Tire Technology Expo Conference delivered deep industry insights, featuring expert-led discussions on regulatory challenges, sustainability strategies and emerging technologies.
The Plenary Opening Session kicked off the three-day conference, with Jorge Almeida and Prof. Burkhard Wies from Continental Tires discussing sustainability initiatives. Almeida stressed the importance of shifting away from a linear economy and outlined Continental’s aim to achieve 100% sustainable materials, green operations and sustainability across its value chain by 2050. Prof. Wies shared insights on ongoing studies in rolling resistance, tire temperature and tire particle research, underscoring the role of driver-in-the-loop simulation to enhance tire efficiency and reduce testing.
Claire Fioretti from Michelin then presented the tire Digital Product Passport (DPP), an EU-funded project aimed at providing full traceability throughout a tire’s lifecycle. This initiative is expected to offer significant transparency, though its implementation costs will likely be shared across the industry.
The final presentation in the opening session featured Dr Adam McCarthy of ETRMA, who discussed the “tsunami of regulations” coming in the next five years, particularly the EU’s Euro 7 regulations. He expressed concerns about regulators’ lack of understanding of tire complexity and emphasized the need for collaboration in addressing challenges posed by upcoming legislation, including tire wear particle regulation.
The topic of Euro 7 regulations, specifically in regard to TRWP, was analyzed in further detail during the Analyzing and mitigating TRWP: Implications of Euro 7 conference session on day 2 of the conference.
Dr Hiroshi Mouri, a rubber consultant and former Bridgestone executive, presented a new tire emissions collection method developed in collaboration with Ueshima. This innovative system, using electrostatic collection, improved the accuracy of TRWP measurements by collecting particles down to submicron levels, providing a cleaner study compared to traditional road tests.
The session also featured Prof. Günter Leister, CEO of TWMS Consulting, who introduced Kokusai’s new indoor tire abrasion test system, which refines the measurement process using sandpaper. This method replicates real-world wear conditions indoors while addressing challenges like rapid wear of test surfaces. By maintaining a consistent drum surface with fresh sandpaper, the approach ensures stable reference measurements, improving the reliability of results.
The conference also explored the implications of Euro 7 regulations, intended to support the European Commission’s aim of reducing microplastics by 30%, though some simulations suggested actual levels could exceed 50%. Questions were raised about the feasibility of the 30% target and whether the tire and automotive industries should engage with the EU Commission for further discussions. Another key topic was the significant impact of road surfaces on tire abrasion, with research showing that up to 50% of tire wear results from road surface interaction, furthering the conversation on refining testing methods and addressing the environmental impact of tire wear.
Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence
A highlight of the event was the prestigious Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2025. Comprising 12 categories, the awards are a celebration of recent advances in tire technology and progress toward a greener and more sustainable industry, and a chance to acknowledge the personal achievements of some remarkable individuals. The winners of this year’s awards:
- Goodyear won Environmental Achievement of the Year – Tire Design for its ElectricDrive Sustainable-Material (EDS) tire.
- Continental won the Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing award for its CO2-neutral tire production the Lousado plant in Portugal.
- Nokian Tyres was awarded the Environmental Achievement – Industry Contribution award for its inauguration of the world’s first full-scale tire factory with zero CO2 emissions in Oradea, Romania.
- Bekaert won the award for Materials Innovation of the Year for its next-generation reinforcement solution Mega Tensile.
- Sumitomo Rubber Industries received the R&D Breakthrough of the Year award for its Active Tread technology.
- VMI picked up the award for Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year award for its integrated quality monitoring for the MAXX and MILEXX platforms.
- ARP Technologies was named Industry Supplier of the Year for its many innovations in the tire curing sector.
- Bridgestone won Tire Concept of the Year for its Lunar concept tire.
- Michelin was awarded Tire of the Year for its Primacy 5 tire.
- Continental, for the fourth time, won the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award, in acknowledgement of the scale and breadth of the company’s achievements over the last year.
Two further awards were also given for individual achievements in the industry:
- Katerina Filzer, a PhD student at Twente University in the Netherlands, won the 2025 Young Scientist Award for her presentation ‘An innovative method to incorporate a devulcanization aid into rubber’.
- Anke Blume, head of elastomer technology and engineering at the University of Twente, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her remarkable contributions to the industry.
Short Course success
The Tire Modeling and its Application in Tire and Vehicle Development course at Tire Technology Expo 2025 saw increased participation from engineers at tire manufacturers, in a shift away from its traditionally automotive OEM-dominated audience.
The course covered topics like tire force generation, handling, ride, durability alongside niche areas such as terramechanics. George Mavros, leading the sessions, highlighted the ongoing challenge of modeling tire-road friction, and noted that while experimental data is still heavily relied on, both academia and industry are working on models to predict friction based on road conditions and tire compounds.
Mavros’s team at Loughborough University is advancing surface characterization and using machine learning to analyze friction data. The course emphasized understanding tire modeling’s complexities and applying them effectively, and Mavros also discussed the growing importance of tire sustainability modeling, particularly regarding wear and particulate emissions, pointing out the lack of research on the fate of lost tire material.
Looking ahead
Tire Technology Expo 2025 has set a bold trajectory for the tire industry, positioning innovation, sustainability and digitalization as critical pillars for the future. As tire manufacturers continue to embrace cutting-edge technologies, the industry’s drive toward efficiency and environmental responsibility becomes more evident.
The implementation of new regulation, such as Euro 7, and the associated challenges, promise to further shape the landscape, pushing companies to adopt smarter, greener solutions. With the success of the conference and the recognition of outstanding achievements through the Tire Technology International Awards, the event has underscored the tire sector’s commitment to tackling the most pressing issues. As the industry continues its drive toward sustainability, digitalization and smarter manufacturing processes, Tire Technology Expo will undoubtedly remain a key event for industry leaders to collaborate, innovate and lead the way toward a more sustainable and efficient future in tire technology.
