Tire Materials: Kai Hauvala Speaks with David Shaw

We are excited to announce that Kai Hauvala, CEO of Black Donuts, was recently interviewed by David Shaw, owner and Chief Executive of Tire Industry Research. In this exclusive conversation, Kai announces the launch of a new Material Research Centre, a cutting-edge platform designed to drive future industry advancements.

Kai highlights Black Donuts’ ongoing collaborations with tire manufacturers to refine product ranges and long-term planning for the next decade using more sustainable materials. He also addresses the need to reformulate new high-sustainability materials, ensuring they deliver maximum performance in tire applications. By using in-house expertise and fostering close client partnerships, Black Donuts is accelerating the adoption of more sustainable materials while reducing development times.

While many established tire manufacturers prefer proven compounds and drop-in replacements, Black Donuts is proactive, giving clients a competitive edge with innovative materials. This forward-thinking strategy will accelerate the industry’s transition to sustainability. On the topic of innovation, Hauvala shared:

“Our innovation replaces synthetic rubber, carbon black, and silica, mostly in the tire tread.”

The interview also explores the challenges and opportunities of creating a more eco-friendly tire industry, tires without 6PPD, new material models, and Black Donuts’ turnkey projects for fast-growing, ambitious companies nicknamed the Jackals (the full interview: Page 1, Page 2).

Read the January 2025 issue of Global Tire Intelligence Report.