Toyo Tires‘ Open Country SUV tires helped the Japanese motorsport team Wisteria secure the XC-2S class victory at the third round of the XCR Sprint Cup Series on June 13, 2026, competing in a Subaru Forester.

Revived in 2022, the XCR Sprint Cup is a cross-country rally championship for off-road vehicles. Previously held only in Hokkaido, the series expanded to Honshu in 2026 following growing participation and national interest.

In the race, adaptability to the varied surfaces, especially on narrow forest roads, is crucial. In addition to the unique friction changes of rough unpaved roads, precise line setting and stable traction performance on narrow, technical sections will determine the outcome. Therefore, tires require high handling stability, durability and driving force.

After winning the XC-3 class championship in 2025, Wisteria with Toyo Tires moved up to the XC-2S class in 2026 with a new Subaru Forester. The team won its class in the third round, extending its winning streak to three consecutive races.

In the XC-3 class, the Highbridge First with Toyo Tires achieved a one-two finish, taking first and second place.

XC-2S class winning driver Hideyuki Fujino said, “Thanks to the cooperation of Toyo Tires and everyone involved, we were able to successfully compete in the XC-2S class with the new Forester. Despite the heavy rain, Open Country performed well and was able to finish and win, which makes us very happy.

Co-driver Shina Tamaki added, “Since the new vehicle behaves differently from before, I was worried about navigation. Although it was a grueling race with many cars retired, Open Country was stable in both durability and grip, and I truly feel it led to the finish.”

The Open Country series is Toyo Tire’s flagship SUV tire range. Developed and proven in international motorsport, the tires are designed for high durability, cut and chip resistance and strong all-terrain performance. The series is also recognized for its aggressive tread design, with select models in Japan featuring white-letter sidewalls that highlight the product and brand names.

In related news, Toyo Tires breaks ground on R&D center in Serbia

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Following a joint tender process conducted by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Goodyear has been selected to remain the exclusive tire supplier to the FIA World Endurance Championship‘s LMGT3 class for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons.

The tender evaluation considered a range of criteria, including tire performance across varying track and weather conditions, safety, sustainability, cost, the manufacturer’s experience in supplying tires for LMGT3 competition and the level of technical and operational support provided to teams.

The refreshed range will continue Goodyear’s current single-specification philosophy, with one Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium slick and one wet-weather tire developed around three key priorities: instant confidence, a wide operating window and an enhanced range of sustainable materials.

Both the slick and wet compounds will contain 66% sustainable materials, which will make them the tires with the highest sustainable content in top-level endurance racing.

The new compounds combine recycled and bio-based materials, including recycled steel, rice husk silica, recycled zinc oxide and ISCC-certified polymers and carbon black, with bio-based processing aids and sustainable natural rubber.

The tires will also debut new Eagle-branded sidewalls, bringing Goodyear’s Eagle performance identity more prominently to the track.

Related news, No tire change for Formula 1 as Pirelli signs on through 2028

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Pirelli will remain the exclusive tire supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship through 2028 after the FIA exercised an option to extend its existing agreement with Formula One Management and the Italian manufacturer by one year.

It will also continue to be the exclusive tire supplier to the the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship and F1 Academy. It has been the exclusive partner of Formula 1 since 2011, having been present in the series since the inaugural race in 1950.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said, “Pirelli has been an important partner to the FIA Formula One World Championship for many years, providing a consistently high standard of performance, innovation and safety at the highest level of our sport. This extension through to the end of 2028 provides stability for the championship and reflects the strong collaboration between the FIA, Formula One Group and Pirelli.”

Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, added, “We’ve enjoyed an incredible history and partnership with Pirelli, relying on their technical brilliance and focus on performance, innovation and sustainability for many years, so I’m delighted that the FIA and we will continue that relationship for another year. As we continue to push boundaries across the technical regulatory framework, Pirelli’s commitment to quality gives all the teams and series it supplies peace of mind as they know they are working with some of the most advanced tires in the world.”

Marco Tronchetti Provera, executive vice chairman of Pirelli, said, “We are pleased to extend our presence in Formula 1 by a further year, to 2028. Last year, we surpassed the milestone of 500 Grands Prix, taking on and winning significant technological and innovation challenges throughout our long involvement. Pirelli is not just a supplier but instead a strategic partner that has been able to support the constant growth of the championship, driven by the joint work of the Federation and the promoter. Formula 1 represents the best laboratory for us to innovate, test cutting-edge technical solutions and continually improve research and development processes, for the benefit of tomorrow’s road tires.

“The extension of the partnership also allows us to continue supporting F1 Academy, contributing to the growth and development of new talent in motorsport,” he concluded.

In related news, Pirelli and McLaren Trophy have extended their official tire supplier partnership

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McLaren Trophy has extended its official tire partnership with Pirelli, with the tire maker supplying tires and on-track technical support across all McLaren Trophy series in both Europe and North America for the next three years.

The renewed partnership focuses on delivering optimal performance, consistency and safety for competitors, while enabling close cooperation in tire development, trackside engineering, logistics and data sharing to enhance race weekend operations.

“We are delighted to continue our close relationship with Pirelli as our official tire supplier partner,” said Giorgio Sanna, head of motorsport, McLaren Automotive. “McLaren Trophy is a growing platform and tire performance is central to the competitiveness and safety of our championship. Pirelli’s reputation for innovation, technical excellence and motorsport experience makes them an ideal partner. This three‑year agreement gives teams and drivers certainty and access to best‑in‑class tire support as the series continues to grow.”

The collaboration between Pirelli and McLaren Automotive that has seen the auto maker’s road cars equipped with Pirelli tires was extended into McLaren Trophy when the European series launched in 2023, and later expanded with McLaren Trophy America. The new agreement strengthens long-term stability for teams and drivers in the championships, which now form an integral part of the McLaren Motorsport factory driver program.

For both series, Pirelli will supply its benchmark GT tire range: the P Zero DHG for dry conditions and the Cinturato WHB for wet weather. The natural rubber of both tires is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and carries the logo. This indicates that all the natural rubber used comes from plantations that are managed to ensure biodiversity, as well as benefiting the people who live and work in these areas.

The McLaren Trophy Europe season will start on home soil for Pirelli, with rounds one and two taking place at Monza on May 29-31.

“Working with McLaren in both Europe and America is a prestigious commitment for us,” said Dario Marrafuschi, motorsport director, Pirelli. “It’s and an important opportunity to further strengthen our expertise in GT racing, while also partnering with one of the most prestigious brands in the automotive world, with which we have long-standing ties on the road car side as well.

“This year’s calendar is especially demanding, with a packed schedule of challenging events, and we are ready to support it with a product that is already proven and highly regarded, while continuing to deliver our customary level of trackside service.”

Related news, Goodyear expands portfolio for historic race cars

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Continental has expanded its SportContact family with the SportContact 7 Force, an ultra‑ultra‑high‑performance summer tire engineered for selected high‑performance sports cars and which has will equip the new Brabus BODO, the global tuning company’s latest high-performance supercar.

The SportContact 7 Force was developed for maximum control at high speed on the road and on the racetrack. The dedicated derivative carries the BB sidewall identification, manufactured exclusively for Brabus.

Drawing on Continental’s tread concept seen in the SportContact 7, the SportContact 7 Force responds quickly to changing loads to keep control high and reactions precise even at high speeds. In practice, this supports predictable lane change behavior, stable highway running and repeatable grip under successive braking and acceleration on track.

“With the SportContact 7 Force, we are taking the performance of our most successful UUHP tire to an even sportier level,” said Dr Marian Graßmann, senior tire developer Continental Germany. “The combination of adaptive tread pattern, advanced Harmonized BlackChili compound and vehicle-specific design enables handling that remains precise, stable and controllable under extreme conditions. Balancing everyday use with racetrack competence was our development target. Our tires are the first with specification marking for Brabus showing that not only is the vehicle tailored made but the tires are special too.”

Continental and Brabus have collaborated for more than 25 years. “The Brabus BODO embodies modern coachbuilding at the highest level – down to the very last detail,” said Dipl.-Ing. Jörn Gander, chief technology officer at Brabus. “Together with Continental, we created a bespoke tire technology that perfectly combines performance, control and character. The BB signature on the sidewall makes visible what sets this project apart: genuine individual development rather than compromise.”

The design story pairs a “sentimental heritage with a modern performance brief”, Continental said, adding that the SportContact 7 Force delivers “predictable grip, steering precision and high‑speed stability that translate power into confidence.”

Developed jointly with Brabus, the tire supports the supercar’s engine performance and axle‑load distribution, ensuring that the car’s intended driving power is transmitted to the road.

Related news, Goodyear expands tire portfolio for historic race cars

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Goodyear has expanded its Blue Streak range, which spans everything from vintage American machinery to modern classic Le Mans prototypes and touring car icons.

The company has unified its historic racing products under a single Goodyear-branded portfolio, expanding the range with 57 additional sizes and specifications.

“Historic racers don’t choose tires because of nostalgia alone,” said Xavier Fraipont, vice president of Goodyear Racing. “They choose our tires because they continue to deliver the authentic performance, confidence and consistency these legendary cars demand on track. Bringing the entire range under the Goodyear name reflects the scale of our commitment to historic motorsport and reinforces the role racing heritage continues to play in shaping our brand worldwide.”

In line with strict FIA Appendix K homologation requirements, all approved production methods, molds, specifications and performance characteristics will remain fully preserved to maintain period authenticity.

Goodyear Blue Streak branding will cover pre-1980s competition cars, while Goodyear Eagle branding will support historic categories from the 1980s to the present day. The expanded Blue Streak range supports a broader spectrum of 1950s-1970s formula, touring and sports racing cars.

Recent additions include tires for pre-war and vintage-era racers, fitting the likes of Bentley, ERA and Alfa Romeo machines from the 1920s and 1930s. Wider specifications have been developed for 1960s and 1970s World Sportscar and Le Mans machinery, defined by Ferrari 512 and Porsche 917 rivalries. Sizes developed for the lightweight, giant-killing sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s, including Matra, Lola and Chevron have also been added.

These additions form a key part of the expanded Blue Streak range, while the recent return of tires for 1990s and 2000s GT2, LMP2, LMP1 and Super Touring machinery further strengthens the Goodyear Eagle historic portfolio.

Fraipont added, “Goodyear’s racing record stands among the most formidable in motorsport history, from 368 Formula 1 victories to 14 overall wins at Le Mans and more BTCC victories than any other tire manufacturer since the championship began in 1958. Goodyear has also been a tire supplier to NASCAR for more than 70 years, and exclusive supplier to NASCAR’s three national series since 1997. Our range now includes tires from these eras of each of those championships. As we continue building Goodyear for the future, expanding the Blue Streak range is about more than honoring our heritage, it’s about ensuring some of the most iconic racing cars ever built continue competing on the tires that helped define their era.”

In related news, Hankook returns to super-sport tire segment with Ventus evo Z

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After more than a decade away from the segment, Hankook Tire has returned to the super-sport tire market with the Ventus evo Z, a high-performance summer tire designed for both track and everyday road use. The company says the tire offers greater tread depth and durability than a semi-slick tire while maintaining grip and handling characteristics suited to track driving.

The Hankook Ventus evo Z (Z001) is a sporty summer tire with an ECE approval number, meeting all statutory requirements, including having a minimum tread depth of greater than 1.6mm. It is intended for drivers of sports cars, the tuning community, motorsport enthusiasts and competitors in junior racing series.

The development of the Ventus evo Z draws on the company’s experience in motorsport. The tire passed its test runs on the HWA Evo – a reinterpretation of the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II racing car from the 1990s. Lessons learned from the tests were incorporated directly into the standard design.

The Ventus evo Z features an asymmetric tread design with grooves of varying depth and width for maximum stability. The aramid-reinforced belt is designed for high tread rigidity and dimensional stability under heavy load stress.

The outer shoulder is equipped with closed-cut lateral grooves, designed to maximize the contact surface with the road and increase block rigidity when cornering. The tire mixture is based on the use of liquid resin and a high-temperature-resistant resin mixture, inspired by developments in motorsport.

The size range covers the requirements of different vehicle models in the high-performance segment, including the Porsche 911, BMW M models, Audi RS, Mercedes-AMG and others. The tire will eventually be available in sizes from 18-21in, with a width of 225-355mm and an aspect ratio from 25 to 45.

Nearly all 25 tire sizes carry the (Y) speed rating, indicating approval for speeds above 300km/h; the remaining sizes are rated Y for speeds up to 300km/h.

Related news, Pirelli introduces medium rear tire for WorldSBK in Czech Republic

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Pirelli has announced that it will introduce the F0468 rear specification for the WorldSBK round in the Czech Republic, which is held at a circuit known for being particularly demanding on tires.

The tire maker will introduce the new F0468 medium rear specification for the fifth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the Czech circuit of Most, which is known for placing high mechanical stress on tires. The solution uses the same compound as the D0922 but features a new structure designed to improve performance consistency over race distance and enhance stability. It represents an evolution of the E0829, sharing the same compound but incorporating updated construction for improved performance.

Alongside the Superbike class, riders in the Supersport and SportBike World Championships will also compete at Most. Supersport competitors will have the same front tire options as the premier class – soft SC1 and medium SC2 – while at the rear they will use the soft SC0 and medium SC1. The SC1 rear has also been used throughout the season at both axles by SportBike competitors.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli‘s motorcycling racing director, said, “Over more than two decades as supplier to the Superbike World Championship, Pirelli has built an extremely solid and versatile tire range. The SCX supersoft rear solution now represents an absolute benchmark for riders and is used in most races on the calendar, with the soft SC0 becoming a valid alternative on some occasions. There are, however, some circuits that are particularly demanding on tires, such as Phillip Island and Most, which by virtue of their layout and intrinsic characteristics require more specific solutions and more durable compounds, typically medium options.

“In these cases, development work focuses on improving key parameters such as performance and consistency over race distance, objectives that guided the design of the new rear solution in F0468 specification. To complete the allocation, riders will in any case also have the well-proven D0922 option available, which has shown that it can effectively handle the particular stresses imposed by this circuit. It will be interesting to assess whether the new F0468 medium will be able to raise the performance level beyond that of the D0922 further still.”

In related news, CIV continues with Dunlop as exclusive tire supplier and development partner

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Dunlop Motorcycle Europe has renewed its role as title sponsor and exclusive tire supplier for the Campionato Italiano Velocità (CIV) for another season. This marks its third consecutive year providing tires across all classes in the championship.

Under the agreement, Dunlop supplies the entire grid with slick and wet tires from its KR racing range, which includes both established race specifications and development tires. Around 130 riders are using Dunlop tires in the championship, with the Superbike class being the largest field at 37 riders.

At the Misano round, different classes receive specific tire allocations. In Superbike, riders can select from two front KR109 options and three rear KR108 options, including a qualifying tire. In the SS600 NG category, a new front tire (G2_01 VAL3) is being introduced alongside existing KR108 rear tires. This same development tire has recently been used in endurance racing, including the FIM EWC 24 Heures Motos.

CIV also functions as a development platform for Dunlop, where data from racing conditions is used to test and refine new tire technologies before they are introduced to other racing series and eventually made available for track-day use. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with CIV for another season, supporting one of Europe’s most competitive and exciting national championships,” said Roberto Finetti, marketing manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe. “It is exciting to support riders at all levels in CIV, from young future stars to the most skilled Superbike racers, each of whom benefits from our race-proven KR tire range and expert trackside support. We look forward to getting the new season underway this weekend at Misano.”

In related news, Dunlop introduces ScootSmart 2, with improved wet grip, handling and wider size range

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Pirelli has developed a specific P Zero R for the Porsche 911 Turbo S. The ultra-high-performance tire has been designed for everyday driving in sports cars and features a compound derived from Pirelli’s experience in motorsport. The product’s technological origins share the same DNA as Pirelli’s racing solutions, ensuring outstanding dynamic response for the most high-performance vehicles.

The 911 Turbo S’s P Zero R has been designed to effectively transfer the 523kW (711 hp) delivered by the engine to the ground. Its specific design enables it to handle torque of 800Nm, enhancing both the model’s dynamic capabilities and driving pleasure. In addition to optimal grip in dry conditions, the tire also offers consistent traction across different surfaces and a wide range of weather conditions, with particular attention to safety and control in wet conditions. The tread pattern has been engineered to minimize noise for improved comfort, while optimized rolling resistance contributes to the vehicle’s overall efficiency.

In line with the Pirelli Perfect Fit philosophy, each tire has been designed to precisely match the technical characteristics of its target vehicle. This well-established collaborative approach between Pirelli and Porsche has already led to the development of specific P Zero R fitments for other models in the 911 range, such as the Porsche 911 GTS, the first with a hybrid powertrain.

The new P Zero R tires for the Porsche 911 Turbo S feature the ‘N’ marking on the sidewall, symbolizing joint development to achieve optimal fitment for every version of the 911. To optimize the contact patch and traction of the new car, the rear axle uses 325/30 ZR 21 tires, 10mm wider than the previous generation. The front axle retains 255/35 ZR 20 tires.

Related news, Geobrugg recognized with top FIA environmental accreditation

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