Anti-dumping headlines gave way to branding shifts, fresh R&D capacity and real-world digitisation stories this week. Here's what mattered for sourcing, product roadmaps and day-to-day fleet operations across the UK and beyond.
The Circuit de la Sarthe's famous Dunlop Bridge will be replaced by a new Goodyear bridge ahead of the 2026 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, reflecting changing brand rights and a refresh of the structure itself. Coverage indicates the current arch will be removed and a new installation erected carrying Goodyear branding. For tyre marketers and OE teams, trackside visibility at endurance racing's biggest stage still travels far beyond the circuit.
Endurica will stage its Community Conference in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg on 5–6 May 2026, with a theme centred on "Dimensions of Durability – Elastomer Characterisation, Simulation, Sustainability." Expect OEMs, rubber part manufacturers and material suppliers to compare modelling and test methods that feed earlier design decisions and faster material validation. Registration details and the agenda preview are now live.
A fresh explainer on QR coding in tyre manufacturing and distribution put city-level traceability in practical terms, from plant-floor marking to retail scan points. In parallel, computer-vision inspection continued to scale in workshops: Anyline confirmed it surpassed 100 million digital tyre inspections in 2025, signalling widespread adoption of guided tread-depth and DOT/TIN capture workflows across retail and fleet channels. Together, the stories show inspectors and procurement teams leaning into repeatable documentation and faster decisions.
JK Tyre expanded its off-the-road line-up at EXCON 2025 in Bengaluru, unveiling four application-specific products aimed at construction, mining and industrial handling. Third-party coverage points to sizes and patterns tuned for durability and cut resistance in demanding duty cycles.
OCSiAl opened a silicone applications laboratory in Serbia focused on LSR and RTV systems, equipped for formulation through pilot-scale work. The programme targets conductive, durable, flexible silicone parts—think EV connectors, antistatic robotics and wearable sensors, enabled by graphene nanotubes.
Michelin secured a renewed, data-rich tyre management contract with Go-Ahead, covering roughly 6,750 vehicles across the group's UK operations, an instructive template for outcome-based service levels in bus tyre programmes. "Connected Solutions" plays prominently in the new deal, according to sector reports.
Retail integration continued as HiQ Tyres & Autocare joined forces with HPL Motors to operate a dual-branded sales and servicing hub in Stockport, bringing tyre fitting, MOT and aftersales under one roof at a high-volume used-car site.
Public-safety narratives stayed timely: new research suggests 2.6 million UK motorists will set off for Christmas trips without basic vehicle checks, clear scope for pre-journey tyre pressure and tread reminders at point of sale and on social channels.
Audience development had a digital twist as Formula E launched its Electric Lap experience on Roblox to engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha through gameplay built around energy management, useful inspiration for motorsport-adjacent tyre education.
Continental will remain co-chair of the Tyre Industry Project through 2029; Christian Kötz said the role helps drive shared science on wear, end-of-life tyres and supply-chain transparency, inputs that shape procurement criteria and product disclosures.
And in people news, retreader Vaculug marked long-service milestones, another reminder that casing management and quality systems live or die by experienced teams.
Tagged with: Le Mans Dunlop Bridge, Goodyear branding, Endurica Conference, tyre durability, QR code traceability, Anyline tyre inspections, JK Tyre OTR, OCSiAl silicone lab, Michelin Go-Ahead contract, UK tyre safety
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