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On June 17, Vipal Rubber participated in the NCPT (North Carolina Pupil Transportation) – an event targeted at school transportation, held in Asheville, North Carolina. The meeting gathered public managers, fleet operators, manufacturers, vendors and specialists connected to school bus operation and safety in pupil transportation.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that it has begun supplying its ADVAN Sport EV tires as original equipment (OE) to Porsche AG of Germany for its fully electric Cayenne Electric and Cayenne Turbo Electric SUV models that were launched worldwide in November 2025. The tire sizes are 255/55R20 110Y for the front and 305/45R20 116Y for the rear.

Yokohama-sponsored drivers, competing on ADVAN tires, shattered records and captured multiple division titles at the recent Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Led by Robin Shute, who has brought Yokohama two overall “King of the Mountain” titles, the tiremaker claimed four division wins and broke several records during the 104th running of the iconic “Race to the Clouds.”

Hanover, Germany, June 23, 2026. Continental has supplied road bike tires to six teams competing in this year’s Tour de France. From July 4 to 26, over a quarter of the peloton will ride on tires made at Continental’s Korbach plant in Hesse, Germany. More than 1,000 road bike tires will be used over the course of the three-week event, with every tire produced and tested in Korbach. Teams riding on Continental tires at the 113th Tour de France include Groupama-FDJ United, UAE Team Emirates – XRG, Movistar Team, Bahrain-Victorious, Decathlon CMA CGM and Uno-X Mobility. The race spans 21 stages and 3,333 kilometers, starting in Barcelona, Spain, and finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France

“The trust placed in us by the six teams is both an honor and an incentive. The Tour is decided by the smallest details: on every stage, in every kind of weather and on every surface. That is why we put so much time and effort into developing our tires in close collaboration with the professional racing teams. And ultimately, recreational riders benefit as well,” said Hannah Ferle, Continental product expert for bicycle tires.

Four tires for different stage demands
The teams can choose from four different Continental tires to meet the demands of each stage. The main tire is the Grand Prix 5000 S TR, which weighs between 250 and around 365 grams, depending on the size. This tire offers the optimal balance of rolling resistance, puncture protection and weight, making it suitable for a wide range of stages. For example, it features an integrated puncture-protection layer to help guard against punctures while riding.

In variable weather conditions, teams use the all-season Grand Prix 5000 AS TR, which provides enhanced grip, especially on wet asphalt.

The Grand Prix 5000 TT TR is the lightweight tire in the road bike range and is used primarily for time trials thanks to its low weight and rolling resistance. For windy stages, teams turn to the Aero 111 tire, whose aerodynamically optimized tread pattern on the front wheel helps guide airflow and reduces turbulence. All four models are tubeless-ready, which means they can be set up to run without an inner tube. In a tubeless setup, sealant added to the tire automatically seals small punctures while riding.

Since the first Tour de France in 1903, average speeds have risen from around 25 to over 40 kilometers per hour, even as the stages have become more challenging. “Sometimes a race is decided by a fraction of a second. To focus on our legs, we need to be able to rely on tires that deliver top performance at all times,” said Pelayo Sánchez, a rider on the Movistar team.

Pro-level technology for recreational riders
The tires used in the Tour are commercially available. That means recreational riders can buy the same tires used by the professionals. They feature the rubber compound developed in Korbach, an integrated puncture-protection layer and the tubeless-ready design. Experience gained in racing helps shape the ongoing development of these tires.

The Tour as a source of development data
Continental develops its road bike tires using data from the lab and insights from racing. In the lab, test rigs measure rolling resistance, grip and durability. The tires rotate on a steel drum while sensors measure forces and temperatures. The results can be reproduced and help guide decisions on materials. In racing, professional riders provide additional information about grip, handling and puncture resistance under varying asphalt conditions, in heat, in rain and through high-speed corners. “Professional cycling exposes us to conditions that we cannot replicate in the lab. These experiences flow directly into development – for use in racing and for everyday use on the road,” said Hannah Ferle.

A road bike tire must meet several requirements at the same time that are often at odds with one another. Low weight, high grip, low rolling resistance and advanced puncture protection are all essential. However, lower rolling resistance usually reduces grip, while greater puncture protection adds weight. Continental balances these competing properties through the composition of the rubber compound and the tire’s construction. The arrangement of reinforcing layers beneath the tread determines stability and puncture protection. The composition of polymers and fillers determines how the tire behaves in hot, wet and cold conditions.

Continental also equips support vehicles and motorbikes
Continental’s presence at the 2026 Tour de France extends beyond the racing bikes. More than 70 support vehicles and around 30 motorbikes will run on Continental tires from the first stage to the last. These include the EcoContact 6, PremiumContact 7 and UltraContact NXT. Continental is also an official main partner of the Tour de France and will present the stage winners with their trophies on the podium

Precision Roll Grinders president and CEO, Ed Gumina, has announced the promotion of Larry Butkovich to the position of chief operating officer (COO). As chief operating officer, Butkovich will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations and work closely with executive leadership to carry out strategic initiatives, drive operational excellence, and support continued growth. In his new role, he will lead efforts to ensure efficient and effective processes across all areas of the business while maintaining Precision Roll Grinders’ commitment to quality, customer service, safety and continuous improvement.

LANXESS Corporation announced that Palmer Holland will become the exclusive distributor for its Bayferrox and Colortherm brand inorganic pigments in Canada, effective August 1, 2026.

This new agreement expands Palmer Holland’s long-standing distribution relationship with LANXESS Inorganic Pigments, which currently includes the Northeast, Midwest, and Western United States.

Pirelli North America announced the launch of the Scorpion™ AS 4, the next evolution in its successful Scorpion all-season family. The new Pirelli tire delivers next-level performance with exceptional wet braking, precise handling, reduced noise, and outstanding mileage, engineered specifically for North American roads. Designed for crossovers, SUVs, and pick-up trucks, the Scorpion AS 4 continues Pirelli’s commitment to innovation and market-focused development, raising the bar in the touring all-season segment with a balanced combination of durability and comfort.

eon Corporation announced that, through Zeon Ventures Inc. its subsidiary that manages
corporate venture capital (CVC) activities, it has invested in Kanvas Biosciences, (“Kanvas”), a Princeton, New Jerseybased spatial biology company developing therapeutics that leverage the gut microbiome—a community of microorganisms that coexist in the human intestinal tract. Through this investment, Zeon will advance the exploration of new business opportunities related to this area.

Axtra3D announced a major expansion of its European operations with the acquisition of a significantly larger facility in Vicenza, Italy. The new 17,000 square foot (1,600 sq. meter) facility will become the central hub for Axtra3D’s European operations and a cornerstone for the company’s next phase of growth. Designed to support increasing global demand, the site will integrate material validation, advanced application development, product engineering, manufacturing, and customer support operations under one highly connected ecosystem. Since its founding in 2021, Axtra3D has experienced sustained momentum, achieving more than 55% repeat

LyondellBasell earned a sustainability award from Toyota Motor Europe for advancing circular material solutions for automotive applications.

Toyota Motor Europe presented the award at its Annual Business Meeting May 7, 2026, in Belgium. The company recognized LYB innovation and long-term collaboration to develop postconsumer recycled (PCR) polymer solutions made from end-of-life fishing nets. Toyota plans to incorporate the materials into future vehicles, supporting sustainability goals while maintaining high performance and quality standards.