With just over six weeks remaining until Tire Technology Expo 2026 opens its doors in Hannover, Germany (3-5 March), the organisers have announced the shortlisted nominations for this year's Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence.
The prestigious awards, determined by a panel of industry experts and academics from across the tyre sector, will see winners announced on the first day of the expo (3 March). The nominations showcase the breadth of innovation currently driving the industry forward, from sustainable materials to advanced manufacturing processes.
Sustainability features prominently across multiple categories, reflecting the industry's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. In the Environmental Achievement of the Year – Tire Design category, major manufacturers are competing with products boasting high proportions of recycled and renewable content.
Bridgestone's TBR tyre manufactured with 70% recycled and renewable content faces competition from Michelin's car tyre featuring 75% renewable and recycled materials, and Pirelli's P Zero, which incorporates 70% bio-based and recycled materials. Continental's Conti Urban HA 5 NXT and CEAT's SustainMax-VF tyre complete this highly competitive category.
Manufacturing innovations with environmental benefits are also well represented, with Continental's freshwater reduction initiative, VMI's Batch-Off Closed Air Circulation system, and Michelin's Specialty Materials Recovery (MSMR) plant in Chile amongst the nominees.
Industry-wide environmental contributions include Solvay's circular highly dispersible silica global industrialisation, Michelin's BioButterfly project, and Endurica's work advancing tyre retreading through oxidation science and predictive modeling.
The Materials Innovation of the Year category highlights developments in sustainable feedstocks, with Continental's synthetic rubber derived from used cooking oil competing against Cabot Corporation's rC Regen CGX1000 and Teijin Aramid's Twaron Next.
In Chemicals and Compounding Innovation, Flexsys's alternative to 6PPD – a compound under regulatory scrutiny due to environmental concerns – features alongside OCSiAl's Tuball, Silox's ActiECO+ Green, and Skyhem Chemicals' Ecosky-3103.
The R&D Breakthrough of the Year category demonstrates the industry's digital transformation, with Michelin's Tire Digital Twin competing against Continental's OLRAP (Online Laser Acoustic Pattern) technology and Goodyear's collaboration with TNO on integrating tyre intelligence with AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) systems. Bridgestone's TRWP (Tire and Road Wear Particles) vehicle collection method and Falken's motorsport application of Sensing Core technology round out this category.
Manufacturing innovation is represented by Color Service's automatic depalletising and AI handling robot for chemicals weighing systems, Comerio Ercole's Zeus, and VMI's automated materials handling solution.
The Tire of the Year category features a diverse range of products: Apollo Tyres' Aspire 5, Bridgestone's Potenza Sport Evo, Continental's VanContact A/S Eco, Michelin's Primacy 5 Energy, and Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 3.
Meanwhile, the Tire Concept of the Year shortlist includes some ambitious future-facing designs, from Goodyear's Eagle Xplore and Kumho's Volume to Michelin's Lunar Airless Wheel (MiLAW) – demonstrating that tyre technology innovation extends even beyond terrestrial applications.
The Tire Manufacturer of the Year category sees Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook, and Michelin competing alongside Nova Motorsport, whilst the Tire Industry Supplier of the Year award will be contested between Black Donuts, Color Service, Comerio Ercole, Uzer Makina, and VMI.
Free visitor passes for Tire Technology Expo 2026 remain available for industry professionals wishing to attend the three-day event in Hannover. Registration can be completed at tiretechnology-expo.com/visitor-registration
The shortlist demonstrates that innovation in the tyre industry continues at pace, with sustainability, digitalisation, and manufacturing efficiency emerging as the dominant themes shaping the sector's future.
Tagged with: Tire Technology International Awards, Tire Technology Expo, sustainable tyre materials, recycled content tyres, tyre digital twin, factory automation, compounding innovation, circular economy, tyre manufacturing, fleet safety
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