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Register now for the 57th Tire Mechanics Short Course, which will run from September 21-24, 2026, in conjunction with the 45th Annual Tire Society Conference at the University of Akron, Ohio.

Designed specifically for vehicle and tire engineers, chemists and scientists, this immersive four-day course bridges foundational mechanics with cutting-edge insights into modern tire design and performance. The basic and practical aspects of the mechanics of pneumatic tires will be introduced via extensive and detailed course notes prepared by each instructor, which will be provided for all participants along with a 700-page e-book, The Pneumatic Tire, edited by Professors A Gent and J Walter.

Continue reading Sponsored: Master tire science and technology at the 57th Tire Mechanics Short Course at Tire Technology International.

Yokohama Rubber has developed and begun full-scale operation of a proprietary generative AI system using RAG (retrieval-augmented generation), which searches various technical documents accumulated internally and presents responses based on their content. This new system reportedly accelerates and enhances tire development by providing rapid and accurate access to technical information necessary for decision-making during the tire development process, including material development.

Yokohama Rubber developed this new system to expand the practical environment of its proprietary HAICoLab AI utilization framework, which was established in October 2020. The company has previously developed AI systems that predict a rubber compound’s physical properties and tire characteristics, generate new rubber compounds, and support mold design, and is increasingly using data to create material and tire designs.

Continue reading AI system supports faster tire development at Yokohama Rubber at Tire Technology International.

Ahead of the 38th America’s Cup, Pirelli is expanding its brand presence on Luna Rossa’s boats. The company’s logo, which is already featured on the mainsail, will also appear on the foils and rudder of the AC40 and AC75 boats.

The foils and rudder of the AC75 were also developed with Pirelli’s technological contribution, using innovative materials designed to enhance the Italian boat’s performance.

The foils generate the lift needed to raise the hull above the water, enabling the vessel to reach the high speeds characteristic of this type of boat.

Pirelli has brought its expertise to bear on the hydrodynamic performance of the boat’s appendages, helping to optimize their behavior.

Continue reading Pirelli to increase presence on Luna Rossa boats ahead of America’s Cup at Tire Technology International.

An agreement has been signed by Pirelli and the Abet Group for the joint development of technologies aimed at the creation of remote-controlled electric ground vehicles for rescues on land and in particularly rugged and extreme environments.

Pirelli will contribute expertise and technologies developed for its Cyber Tyre, as well as the use of optical sensors, which will enable the transmission of information to the vehicle in real time – enabling maximum grip in different environmental conditions and optimizing the remote control of the vehicle.

The collaboration also calls for the development of a dedicated tire for the vehicle based on Pirelli’s proprietary RunForward technologies.

Continue reading Pirelli and Abet Group to develop RC ground rescue vehicle technology and tire at Tire Technology International.

As part of a strategic partnership, Continental has developed a highly efficient tire for Renault Group‘s innovation teams with up to 35% lower rolling resistance than required for the EU tire label’s top A rating. For a vehicle with a battery range of 500km, this translates to approximately an additional 30km of range per charge – roughly the distance from Paris to Versailles.

The starting point for the tire was Continental’s EcoContact 7, which was then adapted to Renault Group’s requirements. The tire maker combined a specially modified tread compound with a customized sidewall design and an optimized tire construction.

Continue reading Continental develops bespoke tire for Renault that delivers up to 35% lower rolling resistance at Tire Technology International.

Hankook Tire has hosted a kick-off event for the ‘Development of Tire Manufacturing Technologies Using Sustainable Materials’ project carried out out as part of South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE)’s 2026 Environmental Technology Development Program.

The initiative seeks to accelerate Korea’s circular economy by securing high-quality recycled raw materials from end-of-life tires and advancing their commercialization in tire manufacturing. It consists of two key workstreams: the development of technologies for producing premium recycled feedstock from waste tires; and the establishment of tire manufacturing technologies using sustainable materials.

Participation in the national project expands existing private-sector research into a broader collaborative ecosystem involving industry, academia and research institutions.

Continue reading Korean consortium launches project to advance sustainable tire manufacturing and circular economy at Tire Technology International.

Goodyear is to supply advanced lunar tires for the NASA Artemis program’s Lunar Outpost Pegasus Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which is expected to support astronaut missions on the moon beginning in 2028.

Designed for operations at the lunar South Pole, Pegasus will enable astronauts to travel farther, operate longer and unlock new scientific exploration capabilities in one of the harshest environments known. Goodyear’s lunar tires are built to meet this challenge – engineered to withstand extreme temperature swings, rocky surfaces and low-gravity conditions while helping astronauts move safely and confidently across the lunar surface. Drawing on advanced science and decades of experience, these tires build on Goodyear’s work in extreme environments on Earth and in space.

Continue reading Goodyear to supply tires for NASA’s Pegasus lunar terrain vehicle at Tire Technology International.

The Yokohama Rubber Company has developed a proprietary tire mold design support system that uses simulations (FEM – finite element method) and the company’s AI technology.

The new system supplements the knowledge and experience of the company’s development staff and reportedly makes it easier for less-experienced staff to design new molds by providing information (such as changes in tire characteristics due to different mold design factors) obtained by conducting a large number of virtual experiments.

According to Yokohama, this system accelerates mold development while reducing costs and the reworking often required to realize a new mold design.

Continue reading New system from Yokohama speeds up tire mold design at Tire Technology International.

Bespoke versions of the Pirelli P Zero R have been developed for the new Audi RS 5 and RS 3 Competition Limited. Designed to balance everyday usability with track performance, the tires have been developed with a focus on improved grip and shorter braking distances. Audi RS was among the first to adopt the P Zero R. The fitments build on more than 25 years of collaboration between Pirelli and Audi Sport in developing tailored tires for high-performance vehicles.

Ad-hoc development

Audi’s primary objective was braking performance. The P Zero R has been designed to approach the levels of performance of the semi-slick Trofeo R, delivering very short stopping distances and consistent deceleration under demanding conditions.

Continue reading Audi RS models get bespoke Pirelli P Zero R tires at Tire Technology International.

Bridgestone Corporation has launched a joint research project with Universitas Indonesia, Public University Corporation Yokohama City University (Yokohama City University) and Public University Corporation Maebashi Institute of Technology (Maebashi Institute of Technology) for the genetic analysis of para rubber trees. This collaboration will leverage trees and genetic information from Bridgestone’s natural rubber farm in Indonesia.

The joint project aims to create a marker-assisted selection technology that enables early identification of elite trees (high-yielding, stable performers). Through this effort, Bridgestone and the partner universities seek to contribute to improvements in the productivity and stable supply of natural rubber.

Masashi Otsuki, executive director, Institute of Advanced Technology, Bridgestone Corporation, said, “By co-creating with stakeholders across the natural rubber industry and promoting the sustainable use of natural rubber, Bridgestone strives to achieve the corporate commitment of ‘Ecology: Committed to advancing sustainable tire technologies and solutions that preserve the environment for future generations’ described in its Bridgestone E8 Commitment.”

Stable yet sustainable

While natural rubber is a renewable resource, its source, the para rubber tree, grows only in geographically limited regions near the equator and is susceptible to external factors such as climate change and disease.

Continue reading Bridgestone and three universities collaborate on genetic analysis of para rubber trees to boost natural rubber production at Tire Technology International.