The comedy and creativity of the tyre business

The sharp-eyed amongst you will have noticed that in 2025 we have once-again witnessed both the comedy and creativity of the tyre business via a fresh batch of rubber-related April Fool’s jokes.

NtyresDA

(Image: NTDA)

The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) announced the launch of their own tyre brand, NtyresDA, with a new manufacturing facility in Aylesbury. Promising high-quality, all-season tyres, they cheekily claimed their goal is to rival LEGO, the “largest tyre manufacturer in the world.” A playful jest in the direction of scale and ambition, this social media post had tyre distributors commenting virtual orders before the day was out.

Vaculug’s plant-based tyres

Vaculug took sustainability to a new level with their “world’s first plant-based tyre.” Infused with chlorophyll for extra traction and capable of self-repairing through photosynthesis, these green (literally) tyres come with one catch—you’ll need to water them. A clever April Fools’ nod to eco-friendly trends, Vaculug left fleets wondering if they’d trade diesel for a watering can.

(Image: AI)

Self-regenerating tyres

Here at Tyrepress.com, supposed start-up Lipra Lofo unveiled a futuristic vision: 3D-printed, self-regenerating tyres with in-wheel extruders and nanotechnology to repair tread wear and punctures in real-time. Complete with an optional vacuum to feed the system with wear particles, they promised “infinite mileage.” Launched with pre-orders on 1 April, this “brake-through” technology had everyone treading carefully around the pun-laden pitch.

German government’s tyre size regulation

Supposed insights from Germany’s coalition talks suggested the future government was said to be planning a drastic reduction in the variety of car tyre sizes to boost retreading and simplify storage. Inspired by the Allianz Zukunft Reifen (AZUR), the idea mirrored the EU’s USB-C standardization but stumbled over practicalities – like what to do with new vehicle designs needing unique sizes. A bureaucratic twist that rolled out just in time for April Fools’ day.

These tyre-themed pranks brought a mix of absurdity and ingenuity to the information superhighway, proving the tyre business doesn’t just spin material necessary for casing plies, but can also spin a good yarn!