The double bonds in the structure of certain types of rubbers, such as NR, NBR and SBR, make them vulnerable to damage from exposure to oxygen and ozone. Tyre makers use chemicals known as aminic stabilisers, including p-phenylenediamines like IPPD and 6PPD, to protect these rubbers.
Hubtrac Tires officially unveiled 10 new tread patterns designed specifically for the European market during the recent Autopromotec exhibition. According to the company, the showcase was “a milestone in Hubtrac’s strategic localization efforts, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to the philosophy: ‘Europe is Home.’”
The booth – double the size of its 2024 appearance at the Tire Cologne trade event – featured an open layout and a giant branded installation, designed to create a high-impact visual experience. The exhibit drew “strong interest from global buyers and partners”, company representatives reported, adding that the product launch attracted “large crowds and numerous partnership inquiries”.
After nearly 20 years as main sponsor of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, Evonik is “moving to the sidelines.” The specialty chemicals firm is relinquishing its leading sponsorship role to become a Champion Partner of the German football team.
Between 2007 and 2015, Continental supplied over twelve million engine control units with manipulated software to VW and other manufacturers. The ‘Dieselgate’ scandal surrounding falsified emissions values cost the automotive supplier 100 million euros in fines, as well as high legal costs and a considerable loss of reputation. Research by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung suggests that Continental is now looking for someone to cover these costs.
Former German footballer Felix Magath, perhaps best known in the UK as Fulham F.C. manager during the 2014 season, has signed on as a brand ambassador for Pyrum Innovations, effective immediately. Magath has also become an investor in the pyrolysis tyre recycling specialist, however Pyrum has not disclosed the extent of this investment.
On 5 February 2025, Accuride Wheels Europe & Asia GmbH applied to initiate insolvency proceedings for its plants in Solingen and Ronneburg, Germany. The proceedings opened on 1 May, with Dr Jan Markus Plathner from legal firm Brinkmann & Partner appointed insolvency administrator. While operations will continue at the Solingen facility, the plant in Ronneburg will be wound up.
Denglish is a word Germans use to describe their unique relationship with the English language, with familiar words pressganged into a baffling context. Our Denglish radar pinged this morning when the organiser of The Tire Cologne shared news of the ‘Walk of Services’ concept it is introducing in 2026. No, we couldn’t make heads or tails either – but fortunately, Koelnmesse has provided an explanation.
Nexen Tire held its global partnership event, dubbed ‘Purple Summit 2025’ in Munich, Germany from 25 to 27 April. Since 2016, Nexen has used Purple Summit as “a key worldwide marketing platform” to communicate with “major partners from all over the world to share its long-term vision and collaborative roadmap”. This year’s event took place in Germany for the first time, after the company’s recent partnership with FC Bayern München.
At the start of the year Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) confirmed its intention to acquire the Dunlop tyre brand from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and since that time we’ve awaited official approval from competition authorities. Earlier this month, the European Commission gave its blessing.
During The Tire Cologne 2024, Kenda unveiled its new Specialty business unit and the company’s vision for strengthening the Kenda brand in Europe. The vision includes reinforcing aftermarket activities in various countries; most recently, this involves a “major step forward” for Kenda Europe Specialty in the DACH region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Moving forward, this will also benefit customers throughout Europe.
Continental AG has announced that it will “discontinue” its Agricultural Tires segment “by the end of 2025”, with job losses likely at the company’s Lousado, Portugal factory. At the same time, Continental will focus its Commercial Specialty Tires business on material handling, earthmover and port tyres.
Germany’s Continental AG, a firm we know best for the tyres it produces under its own and half dozen other brand names, will soon say auf wiedersehen to its Automotive group sector. The company’s Supervisory Board approved the Automotive spin-off last week and has confirmed that the independent business will set up its headquarters at a current Automotive site in Frankfurt am Main.
An explosion has been reported at a site in Germany belonging to tyre maker and automotive supplier Continental. According to German media reports, the Hannover fire department responded to an incident this morning. Fire department representatives initially assumed some minor injuries had occurred, with a Contitech spokesperson later confirming that one person has suffered minor injuries and six others were examined by the company’s medical officers.
Pyrum Innovations shares the news that it has completed the mechanical assembly of a new grinding plant at its main site in Dillingen, Germany. The pyrolysis tyre recycler is now installing the cabling that will supply power to the plant ahead of its scheduled start of operations in April 2025.
The ‘Advan Bogen’ has been a fixture of the Nürburgring since 2008 and fans have long grown accustomed to seeing the Yokohama flagship range’s highly visible signage at the Nordschleife circuit’s long high-speed right turn. But from January 2025 a new tyre brand is in town, with Falken Tyre Europe assuming sponsorship of section signs along the Nordschleife. No less than 31 signs at well-known Nordschleife sections now feature the Falken logo – and when reverently speaking of turn 14, diehard fans will whisper the name ‘Falkenbogen’.
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