In Perth, Australia, Sailun and Rio Tinto signed a five-year supply agreement and global framework agreement for the Simandou project in Guinea from 2025 to 2030. Sailun said that its Maxam brand would provide a complete set of tyre solutions for Rio Tinto’s 230-ton mining trucks and supporting auxiliary equipment for the Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea and will gradually start cooperation with Rio Tinto’s other global projects.
Australian construction materials company Boral has debuted a proprietary crumbed rubber asphalt bitumen that replaces common crumbed rubber with that from off-highway tyres. Claiming a local market first with the launch of this material, it reports that the alternative asphalt mix has a higher cracking resistance and extends the life of pavements by up to two times compared with conventional road treatment.
Pirelli is ready for the opening round of the 75th FIA Formula 1 World Championship in Australia, supplying it’s C3, C4 and C5 tyre compounds, as well as a new podium hat collaboration. The action will take place at the semi-permanent street circuit in Melbourne’s Albert Park, starting a 24 race season, matching the record number of grands prix reached for the first time in 2024. Pirelli and F1 will visit five continents by the final weekend on 5-7 December.
Thanks to the recent agreement to transfer of brand rights, Dunlop is a name that’s been mentioned a lot lately. But one company may wish to hear less of it. In a refreshingly honest statement, Australia and New Zealand’s largest independent tyre importer and distributor has described its most recent financial results as “poor and unacceptable,” and while the Dunlop brand isn’t solely responsible for this predicament, it certainly hasn’t helped.
Sydney-based rugby league club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has named Kumho Tyre its Official NRL Men’s Head Coach Partner and Official Tyre Partner. The two-year partnership will not only see the Kumho Tyre logo adorned on NRL Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo’s gameday attire but also engage with the Bulldogs’ community through the Game Changers Road Safety Program, with a focus on educating students on the importance of road safety.
Following a strategic review, digital marketplace CAR Group Limited has decided to exit its Australia-based Tyres business unit, which comprises both the wholesale division tyreconnect and the e-commerce platform tyresales.com.au. It has reached an agreement to sell certain tyreconnect assets to a third party and expects this sale to be completed at the end of February. From today, the tyresales.com.au platform is closed.
Uncertainty surrounds the distribution of Dunlop tyres in Australia and New Zealand, with the Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres subsidiaries in both countries (collectively Goodyear ANZ) notifying NTAW Holdings Limited on 8 January that it will terminate the distribution agreements both parties entered into on 20 September 2023. The termination will take effect upon the completion of Goodyear’s Dunlop brand rights sale to Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI). NTAW now intends to “engage with Goodyear ANZ and SRI in relation to the future distribution of Dunlop branded tyres in Australia and New Zealand.”
From this year, Pirelli will be the Official Tyre Partner of the Australian Open, which will start on Sunday 12 January in Melbourne. The Italian brand thus fills a tyre-shaped hole left by the departure of Maxxis, official tyre for several years last decade. Pirelli is also in good company, with the Dunlop brand continuing as Official Ball Partner, a status it has held since 2019.
Nexen Tire has entered “a strategic global marketing partnership” with Sydney FC, Australia’s most successful football club. By doing so, Nexen aims to expand its marketing reach beyond Europe and the United States, “enhancing brand recognition in the global market”.
From 1 January 2025, Warwick Hay will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer at NTAW Holdings Limited, the largest independent importer and distributor of tyres and wheels in Australia and New Zealand. Hay, who is currently Chief Operating Officer at NTAW Holdings, will take on the CEO role as part of a strategic succession plan set in motion by the company’s Board in conjunction with existing CEO and Managing Director, Peter Ludemann.
Transense Technologies plc has partnered with German software firm Tiretask GmbH to release an “all-in-one tyre management solution to the UK, North America and Australia”.
According to the two companies, the collaboration introduces “a powerful, integrated tyre management system that combines Translogik’s highly respected tyre inspection tools with Tiretask’s advanced digital management software”.
On 18 September 2024, Australian tyre and wheel importer and distributor NTAW Holdings Limited announced an entitlement offer to raise AU$12.41 million (£6.52 million) in working capital to support its strategic expansion in Australia and New Zealand following appointment as regional Dunlop tyre distributor.
Next year, Hankook Tire & Technology will make a comeback as the official tyre supplier for the Bathurst 6 Hour race in Australia, replacing MRF Tyres, which has served in this capacity since 2019. Hankook Tire previously served as the tyre supplier for the inaugural race in 2016 and the two following years. As part of the new agreement, it will supply every competitor with Hankook Ventus R-Spec Medium compound tyres throughout next year’s event, which takes place from 18 to 20 April 2025.
Nexion S.p.A., the holding company of the Nexion Group, has signed an agreement to acquire Eagle SMF Distributors Pty Ltd, that will be finalized “in the next weeks”. Following the acquisition, Eagle SMF will preserve the same current local management and service team to ensure “no change to the customer experience”.
NTAW Holdings Limited, the holding firm for numerous tyre wholesale, retail and retreading businesses, reported mixed financial results for the Australian fiscal year that ended 30 June 2024, reflecting the challenging economic conditions in its key markets of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Despite these challenges, the company implemented initiatives aimed at positioning itself for future growth.
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