The Road Transport Expo 2026 (RTX), held at NAEC Stoneleigh from 30 June to 2 July, brought together more than 13,000 transport professionals, fleet managers and buyers for three days of networking and exhibition. With more than 350 exhibitors representing the commercial vehicle supply chain, the event provided a broad snapshot of the technologies, products and services being offered to today’s fleet operators.
For the tyre sector, RTX provided a broad representation, from established premium manufacturers and retreaders to distributors introducing new products and services. Across the stands, several themes were evident: the continuing importance of mileage and durability, the pressure to reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption, the development of dedicated products for electric vehicles, and the increasing integration of tyre management and digital services.
A recurring message was that the commercial tyre is increasingly being viewed as part of a wider fleet proposition rather than simply a replacement component.
Prometeon was one of our first stops at the show, with the company’s R02 Proway product occupying a central position on the stand. The company’s flagship truck tyre is designed for regional and long-haul operations, with emphasis on mileage performance, wet handling, even wear, durability and retreadability.
The company was also using RTX to demonstrate Pro Management, its centralised tyre management platform. The system is intended to reduce administration while giving fleets greater visibility of tyre activity, job histories, approvals and costs. Prometeon was using the show to promote a more structured approach to tyre selection, based on factors such as vehicle application, routes, terrain and operational priorities.
Meanwhile, on the Kirkby Tyres stand, Kirkby Tyres’ commercial director Michael Rosenthal and Sailun fleet relationship manager Phil Hinks highlighted the development of Sailun’s second-generation truck tyre range. Products covering mixed-service, on/off-road, steer, highway, regional and long-haul applications were on display.
The latest additions included the Ecomax Pro Series, aimed primarily at highway applications, and the Terra Pro Series for mixed-service operations. Sailun’s EcoPoint3 compound technology was a particular focus, with the Ecomax Pro available in key road-haulage sizes with A-rated rolling resistance.
Hinks also highlighted the Transport Pro Series, explaining that EcoPoint3 was intended to improve efficiency and performance without the usual trade-off in mileage. Alongside the expanding tyre range, Kirkby Tyres was also launching Kirkby Tyres Assist, a nationwide fleet service designed to provide 24/7 roadside assistance and tyre management support.
Michelin used RTX to showcase the latest addition to its X Multi family of tyres, the X Multi D2 295/80 R22.5. Ahead of its official September launch, the tyre was being shown for the first time at the event. Michelin says the new generation offers up to 15% more mileage than its predecessor through the use of its Regenion technology and an efficient rubber mixture, while rolling resistance is reduced by up to 7%.
Michelin also displayed the X Multi Energy Remix 295/80 R22.5, manufactured at its Stoke-on-Trent facility as part of its local-to-local retread production approach. The company’s four-lives concept, involving regrooving and retreading, reinforces the emphasis being placed across the industry on extending casing and tyre life.
At the same time, Michelin was highlighting a different form of technology. Its Connected Fleet activities included Michelin AI Assistant, AI Cameras and Automated Inspection. The focus was on using data and artificial intelligence to provide operational insights, support proactive risk detection and driver coaching, and monitor tyre wear, pressure and compliance.
The presence of UK retreader and fleet management specialist Vaculug added another dimension to the tyre offering. Managing director Jorge Crespo described RTX as an important meeting point for the fleet and manufacturing sectors and said the company was using the event to showcase sustainability and its remanufacturing activities.
“We are trying to showcase sustainability, which is in our DNA,” Crespo said. He also highlighted Vaculug’s work on manufacturing automation and the development of products aimed at newer applications, including tyres with reduced rolling resistance and products designed for electric vehicles.
Vaculug is also working with government on proposals to mandate retread use in the public sector, demonstrating that the retreading industry continues to seek a larger role in fleet sustainability.
Hankook likewise used RTX to present a broad commercial vehicle offering. European marketing director for truck and bus, Richard Bezzant, described the event as the UK’s biggest show and one that is particularly close to the company’s existing and potential customers.
“The show is the biggest one in the UK. It’s the one that’s closest to our customers, both current and target customers,” Bezzant said. He explained that Hankook’s presence was focused on demonstrating the breadth of its offering and how it could address fleet requirements.
The company’s display included its TL50 long-haul range, AL and DL50 hybrid products, AH and DH51 products and TH31 regional tyre. Hankook was also promoting management services in the UK, including central billing.
Electric vehicles were another important element of the company’s proposition. Its e-SMART City AU56, developed specifically for electric buses, was on display alongside other commercial products. Hankook says the tyre combines low rolling resistance with reduced noise and a construction designed to cope with the increased weight and torque associated with electric buses.
Kumho Tire used the event to introduce new products including its KD31 and XT31 ranges. National sales account manager Tony McHugh explained that the KD31 is replacing the XD10 and is initially available in 315/70, with 295/80 and 315/80 sizes also planned. The new design incorporates additional sipes and tie bars intended to strengthen the tyre during cornering.
The XT31 TB extends Kumho’s trailer range in 385/65 size. It features a more modern tread pattern and is marked as a free-rolling tyre, meaning it cannot be fitted to the front axle. The 385/65 was already in the market and undergoing testing, with the XT31 expected to become available by the end of the year.
At the Westlake stand, UK country manager Andrew Reitzner and Richard Allen of International Tyres, Westlake’s exclusive UK importer and distributor, were presenting the WTR Pro to the UK market for the first time. A key objective was to demonstrate the difference between the new product and more economy-oriented tyres in the market.
Reitzner highlighted the WTR Pro’s 325 mm width and 18 mm tread depth, describing it as one of the technically advanced products in the marketplace. The tyre also builds on the carcass strength of the existing WTR1, with Westlake expecting the new product to deliver a higher level of performance.
The stand was being used to engage directly with fleet users, with Allen describing the event as an opportunity to discuss the product’s positioning with operators and service providers. The emphasis on differentiating the WTR Pro from economy products added another dimension to the wider RTX theme of moving beyond a simple tyre-price comparison towards consideration of performance and overall value.
Bridgestone provided perhaps the clearest illustration of the shift towards a wider fleet proposition. Its RTX offering combined premium tyres with Bandag retreading, Fleetcare and Webfleet, while the company’s TCO Calculator was designed to allow operators to use their own operational data to identify potential savings.
The company’s Ecopia range was being promoted for fuel efficiency, while Duravis was positioned around mileage and reducing premature tyre removals. Bandag’s hot and cold retread solutions were also central to the proposition, alongside Webfleet’s fleet-management capabilities and AI-powered Fleet Advisor.
Taken together, the tyre exhibits at RTX 2026 illustrated how the commercial tyre proposition is broadening. Mileage, durability and wet performance remain fundamental, but manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly addressing rolling resistance, fleet management, digital monitoring, electric vehicles and retreading alongside the tyre itself.
For fleet operators, that means the choice of tyre is increasingly connected to the wider question of how tyres are selected, monitored and managed throughout their working life. RTX offered a useful opportunity to see that evolution at close quarters, with products and services increasingly being presented as parts of an integrated approach to commercial vehicle operation.
