From a billion-won factory investment in Poland to a record-breaking lightweight truck wheel, February 2026 has delivered a compelling set of figures that illustrate the scale and momentum of the global tyre industry. Here are the numbers driving the headlines this month.
That is the sum approved by Kumho Tire’s board of directors for the construction of a brand-new passenger and light commercial vehicle tyre plant in Opole, southern Poland. The project, Kumho’s first European factory, represents a major manufacturing commitment in European tyre production and underlines continued confidence in the continent as a manufacturing base despite ongoing economic headwinds.
Maxion has broken through a significant engineering barrier with the development of its 22.5 x 9.00 steel truck wheel, which weighs less than 30 kilograms – the lightest wheel of this type the company has produced. For fleet operators focused on payload efficiency and fuel economy, even marginal weight savings at the axle level can translate into meaningful operational gains over time.
Cambodia’s tyre export sector has surged in recent years on the back of new manufacturing capacity, including major Chinese-backed projects, and the trend continued into early 2026. January also saw the official commissioning of the Autogreen facility in Svay Rieng, a smart manufacturing base that underscores how overseas investment in Southeast Asian production is reshaping global tyre supply chains.
That is the proportion of British motorists that Best Choice, the company behind the Autogreen brand – calculates now choose its products. The figure, published by the brand following the Cambodia plant’s inauguration, points to its growing foothold in the UK replacement market.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) began selling Dunlop tyres in Europe under its own structure from the start of 2026, following the transfer of the regional Dunlop business. Early trading has outperformed internal expectations, and for the full year SRI plans to move slightly more than four million Dunlop tyres across the continent, combining inherited offtake inventory with newly developed in-house ranges.
Elite Garages continues its expansion drive, reaching 24 branches across its network following the addition of new locations in Croydon and Poole at the end of 2025. Three further openings are planned for early 2026, as the group pushes on with its growth strategy in the UK fast-fit and tyre retail sector.
VMI, the specialist supplier of tyre manufacturing machinery, recently passed the 75-year mark since its founding in the mid-1940s, underlining its longstanding role in shaping modern tyre production. The company’s decades of innovation in tyre-building technology come at a time when demand for new manufacturing capacity – as evidenced by projects like Kumho’s Opole plant – continues to drive investment in production equipment worldwide.
Pyrum Innovations, the German pyrolysis tyre recycling specialist, secured a cash capital increase after placing 473,846 new shares at €27.50 per share, raising gross proceeds of around €13 million. The funding will support partner projects and the further development and modernisation of its recycling operations at a time of growing regulatory and commercial pressure to find scalable solutions for end-of-life tyres.
Go-Ahead Group, one of the UK’s largest public transport operators with a fleet of around 6,750 vehicles, has renewed its long-term partnership with Michelin. Under the new agreement, Michelin will continue to supply, fit and manage tyres across Go-Ahead’s bus network, using connected tyre monitoring technology to support uptime, safety and sustainability.
Pirelli is reducing the width and overall diameter of its 18-inch P Zero and Cinturato Formula 1 tyre range in line with the updated technical regulations governing the 2026 Formula 1 season, while retaining the same rim diameter. From 2026, the front tyres will be 25 millimetres narrower and the rears 30 millimetres narrower, reflecting the ongoing collaboration between tyre manufacturers and motorsport’s governing bodies to align product specifications with the sport’s evolving car architectures.
Tagged with: tyre industry February 2026, Kumho Poland plant, Opole tyre factory, Cambodia tyre exports, Maxion lightweight truck wheel, Michelin fleet tyre management, bus tyre contract, Pyrum Innovations capital increase, tyre pyrolysis recycling, Dunlop Europe offtake, Formula 1 2026 tyres, digital waste tracking UK
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