On March 5, the Tire Technology Expo 2025 opened grandly in Hanover, Germany. The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2025 was also presented during the exhibition. This award is recognized as the highest honor in the industry and aims to recognize the best tire innovations and new technologies in the world.
It is reported that the award is coordinated by Tire Technology International magazine, judged and hosted by a panel of international journalists and industry experts. It aims to celebrate the latest advances in tire technology and the move towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable industry, and provide an opportunity to recognize the personal achievements of some outstanding individuals.
1. Tire Manufacturer of the Year
This year, after the jury compared the overall contributions of seven tire makers across the last 12 months, Continental came out on top - the fourth time the Hannover-based tire maker has won this category.
Continental triumphed in 2025 because the jury panel acknowledged the scale and breadth of the company's achievements over the last year, including the work at Lousado, further rollout of PET in its tires, development of the Cokoon technology with Kordsa, expansions and sustainability certifications across its manufacturing network, and a number of other accomplishments.
2. Environmental Achievement of the Year
To recognize the increasingly prominent role of sustainability in tire manufacturing, the awards feature three categories focused on environmental development.
The first celebrates advances in tire design and was won by Goodyear for its ElectricDrive Sustainable-Material (EDS) tire, which represents a significant milestone in Goodyear's journey toward a more sustainable future.
The tire's ISCC-certified sustainable materials exceeds 70%. The company is committed to launching the industry's first 100% sustainable material tire by 2030.
The award for Environmental Achievement of the Year in manufacturing was presented to Continental for the company's achievements at its Lousado plant in Portugal. In 2024, Continental announced that it can now produce tires CO2-neutrally at the plant - an accomplishment that plays a key part in the tire maker's efforts to achieve completely CO2-neutral production.
In the category for Environmental Achievement - Industry Contribution, the jury recognized the achievements of Nokian Tyres. In 2024, the tire maker inaugurated the world's first full-scale tire factory with zero CO2 emissions.
3. Materials Innovation of the Year
Bekaert received the Materials Innovation of the Year for its Mega Tension, a next-generation reinforcement solution that offers a range of sustainability benefits.
Mega Tensile is more than just a breakthrough in strength - it enables a step change in efficiency and sustainability. This award is a testament to the company's passion for driving innovation forward.
4. R&D Breakthrough of the Year
Sumitomo Rubber Industries won the R&D Breakthrough of the Year award for its Active Tread technology, which switches the mechanical properties of the tread compound based on changes in road conditions.
With Active Tread, the company successfully launched the next generation of all-season tires in Japan, which can safely drive on either wet or icy roads.
5. Industry Supplier of the Year
The next category was Industry Supplier of the Year, traditionally a closely contested award. As in previous years, only a few points separated the nominated companies, with each having proved its value to the tire industry.
The 2025 winner was confirmed as ARP Technologies, with jurors pointing to its many innovations in the tire curing sector, including servomotor-driven manipulators, new insulation technologies, automated AGV-based mold exchange and automatic bladder exchange technology.
ARP Technologies (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. was founded in 2005, is a high quality tire curing press manufacturer that integrates design, manufacturing, sales, and service.
6. Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year
VMI received the award for Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year. Jurors were impressed by the company’s integrated quality monitoring for the MAXX and MILEXX platforms - a full drum monitoring system for the carcass package.
7. Tire Concept of the Year
The Tire Concept of the Year celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking conceptual designs from the last 12 months. The winner was Bridgestone's Lunar concept tire, an impressive combination of tire technologies designed for use in the most inhospitable of conditions.
8. Tire of the Year
The Tire of the Year award has become one of the most anticipated categories in recent years. A shortlisted field of five outstanding designs led to another closely fought result, with Michelin edging out the competition with its Primacy 5.
This new major tire line, sold worldwide, demonstrates an increase in lifespan of 18%, an improvement in energy efficiency of 5%, while maintaining an excellent level of safety - new and worn - in order to decrease the environmental impact of this tire by 6%.
In addition to recognizing the impressive accomplishments of manufacturers and suppliers, the awards are an opportunity to highlight the achievements of remarkable individuals within the industry.
9. Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2025, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Prof. Anke Blume, head of elastomer technology and engineering at the University of Twente. Not only did her peers and colleagues wish to celebrate her technical expertise and academic achievements, but those who know and work with Blume also praised her contributions to the wider tire industry.
10. Young Scientist Prize
The Young Scientist Prize for 2025 was given to Katerina Filzer, a PhD student at Twente University in the Netherlands, for her presentation titled 'An innovative method to incorporate a devulcanization aid into rubber'. The specialist jury panel - which is separate from the central categories - selected Filzer's work not only for its complex and sophisticated nature but also for her clear, well-presented delivery.
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