
The 24 Heures Motos 2026 results are in: Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team #116 completed 742 laps at the 49th edition of Le Mans, marking the team’s fourth consecutive finish in the world’s most demanding motorcycle endurance race. For racing enthusiasts and teams evaluating tire suppliers, the FIM Endurance World Championship provides one of the most demanding proving grounds available — and Kingtyre’s 2026 performance demonstrates measurable tire capability under extreme conditions.
The 49th edition of the 24 Heures Motos, the opening round of the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship, pushed every team to its limit. Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team #116 completed the race in a total time of 24 hours 2 minutes 21 seconds, with a fastest lap of 1 minute 44.147 seconds and 102 pit stops. The three-rider lineup — Bastian Ubl, Vincent Gauthereau, and Ludovic Cirard — maintained consistent pace across day and night stints.
For teams searching for 24 Heures Motos 2026 results and evaluating which manufacturers deliver race-proven performance, the data from this race offers clear signals about tire capability and engineering reliability. This article provides a complete race analysis, explores Kingtyre’s manufacturing and motorsport credentials, and details how four years of Le Mans participation have shaped the company’s tire development program. (FIM EWC official website)
Tianjin Kingtyre Group Co., Ltd. (Kingtyre) is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2015 that specializes exclusively in radial motorcycle tires. Headquartered in Tianjin, China, the company has established itself as a competitive supplier in the global motorcycle tire industry through a combination of radial manufacturing expertise, motorsport participation, and expanding international distribution.
Kingtyre operates an ISO 9001 certified production facility with an annual capacity of 300,000+ radial tires across 150 sizes, covering five major product categories: racing, adventure, off-road, cruiser, and commuter tires. Unlike many tire manufacturers that produce both radial and bias-ply tires, Kingtyre has focused entirely on radial construction since its founding — a strategic choice that has allowed the company to develop deep expertise in this technically demanding segment. Learn more about Kingtyre.
| Certification | Region | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| ECE R75 | European Union | Mandatory for road-legal motorcycle tires sold in EU member states |
| DOT | United States | Compliance with FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) |
| CCC | China | China Compulsory Certification for domestic market |
| ISO 9001 | International | Quality management system certification for consistent manufacturing |
These certifications are independently verified and regularly audited, providing partners with confidence in product legality and quality consistency across all markets. All Kingtyre tires sold in Europe and North America carry the required regulatory approvals — a non-negotiable baseline for any tire manufacturer serving these markets.
Kingtyre’s production facility in Tianjin is equipped with advanced radial tire production lines capable of producing multi-compound performance tires. Key manufacturing capabilities include radial tire construction with steel belt technology, multi-compound extrusion for performance tires, and computer-optimized tread profile design. The factory operates under ISO 9001 certified quality management systems, ensuring consistent product quality across all production batches. With an annual output exceeding 300,000 radial tires, Kingtyre has the production capacity to support growing global demand.
The 49th edition of the 24 Heures Motos took place at the Circuit Bugatti in Le Mans, France, from April 16-19, 2026. The Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team #116 entered the premier Formula EWC category aboard their Kawasaki ZX-10R, competing against endurance racing teams from around the world.
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Team | Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team |
| Entry Number | #116 |
| Machine | Kawasaki ZX-10R |
| Class | Formula EWC |
| Laps Completed | 742 |
| Race Time | 24h 02m 21s |
| Fastest Lap | 1:44.147 |
| Pit Stops | 102 |
| Riders | Bastian Ubl, Vincent Gauthereau, Ludovic Cirard |
| Race Dates | April 16-19, 2026 |
The team’s 742 laps completed and fastest lap of 1:44.147 represent consistent performance across a full day-night racing cycle. Each of the 102 pit stops involved tire changes, refueling, and rider swaps — with every tire change executed under race pressure in under 30 seconds. For tire manufacturers, the ability to supply consistent, predictable tire performance across multiple stints is the ultimate validation of compound engineering and quality control.
Kingtyre’s participation in the FIM Endurance World Championship began in 2022, and the 2026 race marks the team’s fourth consecutive finish at the 24 Heures Motos. This multi-year commitment to endurance racing is significant for several reasons.
Endurance racing is the most effective real-world tire testing environment available. Unlike laboratory testing or short sprint races, the 24-hour format exposes tires to continuous stress across varying track temperatures, surface conditions, and riding styles. Kingtyre’s K00 racing slick is available in four compound options — Super Soft, Soft, Medium, and Hard — each developed and tested at Le Mans across ambient temperatures ranging from approximately 15°C overnight lows to 45°C track surface temperatures during daytime stints.
Over the course of the 2026 race, the Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team accumulated 742 laps of tire performance data, including: wear patterns across each compound, heat cycle behavior over full race stints, temperature gradient management between front and rear tires, and degradation curves as tires approached their usage limits. This data directly informs compound formulation for both racing and road-going products.
The unpredictable nature of April weather at Le Mans means teams must be prepared for both dry and wet conditions. Kingtyre’s K01 rain racing tire — designed specifically for wet competition — was validated under full race conditions during the 24-hour event. Rain tire performance data collected includes water displacement rates, grip levels in standing water, tread wear at racing speeds, and transition handling when moving from wet to drying track conditions. A manufacturer’s ability to develop and prove both slick and wet-weather racing tires demonstrates comprehensive technical capability.
The engineering data collected at Le Mans directly benefits Kingtyre’s road-going product range. Race-proven compound technology from the K00 slick program has been applied to the K06 semi-slick tire, which combines track-derived compound formulations with road-legal tread patterns. Similarly, durability insights from 24-hour racing have influenced the compound design of adventure and touring tires, particularly in heat resistance and wear longevity.
This technology transfer pipeline — from race track to production line — is a critical distinction between tire manufacturers who treat motorsport as marketing and those who use it as genuine engineering R&D. Understanding which manufacturers have a genuine technology transfer program is essential when evaluating long-term supplier partnerships.
The same engineering team that supports the Fullgas Racing Team at Le Mans develops tires across Kingtyre’s full product range. Each category benefits from insights gained in endurance racing, and the 24 Heures Motos 2026 results provide measurable proof of tire performance.
| Category | Key Models | Race Technology Applied |
|---|---|---|
| Racing | K00 slick (4 compounds), K01 rain, K06/K905 semi-slick | Direct race tire; track-derived compound formulations |
| Adventure / Dual Sport | K60 (50/50), K61 (40/60), K66 (80/20), K67 (90/10) | Durability insights from 24h racing; heat management technology |
| Off-Road / Motocross | K81, K82, K83, X85, X86 | Compound durability from high-stress racing conditions |
| Cruiser / Touring | K91, K70, K909, K99 | Heat resistance and long-wear compound technology |
| Scooter / Commuter | K95 | Quality control consistency from race-grade manufacturing |
The K00 racing slick is the direct race tire used at Le Mans. The K06 semi-slick brings race compound technology to road-legal applications suitable for track days and sport riding. The K905 semi-slick offers an additional performance street option. For adventure riders, the K66 adventure tire and K60 dual sport tire benefit directly from durability insights gained in endurance racing — where tire longevity at high speed is tested to the absolute limit.
All Kingtyre products carry ECE R75 and DOT certification for global distribution. Browse the full product range or contact the distribution team for wholesale and partnership inquiries.
The 2026 24 Heures Motos marked Kingtyre’s fourth consecutive finish at the world’s most demanding motorcycle endurance racing event. The Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team #116 completed 742 laps with a fastest lap of 1:44.147 on their Kawasaki ZX-10R, demonstrating consistent tire performance across 24 hours of racing. These 24 Heures Motos 2026 results confirm Kingtyre’s commitment to motorsport-driven tire development.
Learn more about Kingtyre or contact the distribution team for partnership inquiries.
Data sources: FIM EWC official website, Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team.