Chaoyang Tire's newly developed "Optimus" filled tire now boasts a single tire load capacity of 15 tons, providing a solid and reliable "footing" for 60-ton级 modular transport vehicles. Meanwhile, Linglong Tire successfully produced a giant full-steel radial engineering tire with a diameter exceeding 4 meters, model 59/80R63, filling the domestic gap in the 63-inch giant engineering radial tire segment.

Behind these technological advancements, the global tire market is undergoing profound changes. Starting in November, multiple tire companies announced price increases, with hikes reaching up to 6%. Furthermore, new US tariffs on medium and heavy-duty vehicles and key components officially took effect on November 1st.

Major Breakthroughs for Domestic Tires: From "Optimus" to the World's Largest Giant Tire

October brought good news from China's tire manufacturing industry, with two major technological breakthroughs marking milestone progress in the high-end engineering tire sector.

ZC Rubber (Chaoyang Tire) successfully developed and began mass production of the 355/65-15-40PR CL621 filled tire, specifically designed for the ultra-high load requirements of 60-ton级 modular transporters.

Dubbed "Optimus," this innovative product effectively addresses industry pain points like frequent blowouts and insufficient load capacity for ultra-heavy-duty applications under traditional pneumatic tires by utilizing high-performance, high-load polyurethane fill material.

Almost simultaneously, thrilling news came from Linglong Tire's factory in Changchun, Jilin – the successful production of the first 59/80R63 "Linglong" brand giant full-steel radial off-the-road tire.

The specifications of this tire are astounding: over 4 meters in diameter, weighing more than 6 tons per tire, it is currently the largest tire product globally by size, primarily intended for large mining dump trucks.

This single tire has a maximum load capacity of 100 tons and can be fitted to mainstream large mining dump trucks like the Caterpillar 797 and Komatsu 980.

This achievement not only fills a domestic void but also signifies that the company has broken through the technological barriers long monopolized by leading international brands, possessing the comprehensive strength to compete with world-class tire enterprises in the giant tire sector.

Technically, both breakthrough products reflect the technological progress of China's tire manufacturing industry.

ZC Rubber's technical team conducted precise validation of the tire and rim's load capacity using advanced finite element simulation technology.

Linglong Tire, meanwhile, employed a high saturation pattern design, combined with a multi-blade heat dissipation groove structure and an ultra-low temperature vulcanization process, significantly enhancing the rubber compound's resistance to cutting and durability while improving heat dissipation efficiency.

The Rise of Smart Tire Technology: From Inflated Rubber to Digital Revolution

While Chinese companies are making breakthroughs in tire size and load capacity, the global tire industry is undergoing a technological revolution centered on intelligence and digitalization.

Nokian Tyres released the Nokian Tyres Intuitu™ 2.0 intelligent tire technology on October 30th, the industry's first award-winning smart tire system with load-sensing capability.

This technology uses sensors embedded within the tire to calculate the tractor's actual operational weight and usage conditions, then provides tire pressure recommendations directly to the user via a mobile application.

"Typically, this time-consuming process requires detailed calculations and expensive equipment, but Nokian Tyres Intuitu™ 2.0 provides data to the user in a fast and simple way," explained Matthew Crocker, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres.

Correct tire pressure can minimize soil compaction, helping agricultural professionals make the most of their equipment, improve work efficiency, reduce operating costs, and extend tire life.

Concurrently, a more fundamental tire technology revolution is brewing.

Global Air Cylinder Wheels (GACW) has developed a steel wheel that completely replaces the traditional tire – the Air Suspension Wheel (ASW).

This innovative product doesn't improve upon the tire but entirely replaces it, designed to address the challenges traditional rubber tires face in extreme environments like mining.

GACW's solution can reduce costs by up to 60% – potentially saving mines millions of dollars over a truck's operational lifespan.

"Where rubber tires overheat, explode, and wear out – often requiring replacement in months – GACW's wheels are designed to last as long as the vehicle itself," a company spokesperson stated.

The wheel is 100% rebuildable and recyclable, has biodegradable tread options, and eliminates the deadly tire assembly process that has caused worker fatalities in global mining operations.

Market and Trade Environment: Parallel Trends of Price Hikes and Tariff Barriers

Amidst continuous technological innovation, the global tire market is also experiencing changes in prices and trade policies.

Starting early November, multiple tire companies announced price increases. Among them, Wanli Tire (Guangzhou) Development Co., Ltd. will increase TBR product prices by 2%-4% starting November 15th.

Zhongyi Rubber Co., Ltd., citing continuously rising raw material prices, increased TBR product prices by 1%-2% starting November 1st;

Qirun Tire (Dezhou) Co., Ltd. also increased prices for all TBR brand series products in the domestic replacement market by 2%-3%.

International brands are no exception. Dunlop announced that starting November 1st, passenger car tire (including winter tire) product prices would increase by 3%;

Sumitomo Rubber North America also increased prices for certain Falken brand passenger car and light truck tires in the US and Canada on November 1st, with increases up to 6%.

Regarding trade policy, on October 17th, the Trump administration issued a significant announcement imposing new Section 232 tariffs on Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (MHDVs) (like trucks); MHDV parts; and buses. These tariffs took effect on November 1st.

Covered items will be subject to a 25% tariff.

Additionally, buses and similar vehicles under HTSUS 8702 classification, including school buses, transit buses, and motorcoaches, are subject to a 10% tariff.

The complexities extend beyond the US. On October 21st, Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism announced in the official gazette that, following an application filed on behalf of Goodyear Colombia by the Colombian Entrepreneurs Association, it initiated an anti-dumping investigation into new rubber tires for trucks and buses originating from China.

These changes are creating a more complex trade environment for the global tire industry.

Sustainable Development and Industry Prospects: A Future Driven by Green and Smart Technologies

Facing increasingly stringent environmental regulations and sustainable development demands, the tire industry is focusing its innovation efforts on green technologies and intelligent systems.

In Europe, the tire industry is facing revolutionary, not gradual, regulatory changes. Tire-specific regulations like R117 are combined with broader EU measures such as EUDR, EcoDesign, Euro 7, and VECTO/WLTP.

Steve Horvat, General Manager of Technical Service at Continental, noted at the 2025 Tire Industry Conference that these regulations aim to enhance sustainability but present compliance challenges.

Ecodesign requires tires to be more durable and recyclable, and RFID tags may become standard.

As deadlines approach, the industry needs to reach a consensus.

Nokian Tyres' CEO, Paolo Pompei, shared the company's vision: "Our goal is to lead the world to drive smarter."

"By launching Nokian Tyres Intuitu™ 2.0, we provide agricultural professionals with a breakthrough technology that brings clear, practical benefits to their daily work. This innovation brings Nokian Tyres one step closer to fulfilling that vision."

In the future, tires' intelligent functions will further increase, and smart systems will also become available for passenger cars.

Mika Penttilä, Head of Digital Technology at Nokian Tyres, envisioned: "In the near future, the tire will communicate continuously with the vehicle's braking and assistance systems, generating real-time data on road surface conditions and overall driving conditions."

"Furthermore, all data can be compiled, and this information can be provided to fleet owners, vehicle repair shops, authorities, and road maintenance departments, not only improving vehicle safety but also protecting all road users."

Against this backdrop, Aeolus Tyre Co., Ltd. obtained a patent for an invention titled "Fuel-Saving Tread Pattern Specifically Designed for Long-Distance Drive Wheels" on October 31st.

This technology features a high-saturation, uniform small mahjong-block pattern design, enabling a 5%-8% increase in tire mileage, an 8%-10% improvement in rolling resistance performance, and providing stronger driving force.

In the first half of this year, Aeolus Tyre invested 159 million RMB in R&D, a year-on-year increase of 20.1%.

The competitive landscape of the global tire industry is being reshaped. Chinese tire companies, through continuous technological innovation, have already secured a place in the high-end market;

whereas European and American companies are focusing more on intelligent and digital solutions.

Tires are no longer just rubber products; they are becoming integrated carriers of high-end manufacturing and digital technology.

The future of the tire industry is being driven by the scale advantages of "Made in China" and the intelligent concepts of "European Innovation," pushing the global logistics and transportation system towards safer, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly directions amidst the dynamics of competition and cooperation.