99,800 km. 92 countries. Two sets of tyres. A VW ID.Buzz has just completed a record-breaking world tour — including Australia — setting a new world record for a continuous global journey in a battery-electric vehicle. And when the tyres came off for final inspection, they still had over half their tread depth remaining.
That’s the story every driver wants to hear: tyres that go the distance.
The journey
Led by professional globetrotter Rainer Zietlow and partnered with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the expedition set out from Hannover, Germany on 1 July 2025 and rolled through Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South and North America and the Middle East over 16 months. It ended at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover on 14 September 2026, where Zietlow was presented with a certificate officially recognising the new EV world record.
Sixteen months across six continents — from long highway stages to heavy South-East Asian downpours — in a single continuous journey.
The tyres
The ID.Buzz ran on Giti Tire’s GitiSynergy H2 — 235/60 R18 up front and 255/55 R18 at the rear, as per Giti’s original-equipment agreement with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Just two sets were used for the entire 99,800 km, swapped at the halfway point to keep the record itinerary on track.
The AA European-label-rated tyre uses a new-generation tread compound engineered to slash rolling resistance without giving up wear life or the safety fundamentals of wet and dry braking and handling. The payoff was measurable: around 400 kilometres between charges, and — in Zietlow’s words — driving “through some insanely heavy rain, especially in South East Asia, where there was zero aquaplaning.”
“Having driven almost 100,000kms I have no hesitation in saying the GitiSynergy H2 tyres deliver a premium quality driving experience,” said Zietlow. “All this was achieved with a top tier tyre. Amazing.”
“We wanted to demonstrate our advanced EV tyre technology by proving performance under real-world conditions and showing long-term commitment to durability and safety, as well as innovation and sustainability,” added Chris Bloor, Executive Director at Giti Tire. “This has been proven, again.”
What it proves — and what it sells
World records are marketing, but this one carries a message your customers instinctively understand: durability is not a claim, it’s a number. 99,800 kilometres. Two sets. Half the tread left. When a customer asks whether a tyre is “worth it,” longevity measured in continents is a persuasive answer.
EV drivers in particular need to hear it. Heavier vehicles and instant torque wear rubber faster, and range anxiety makes rolling resistance a hip-pocket issue. That makes regular rotation, correct pressures and the right load rating part of every EV tyre conversation — and the HILO size finder is a quick way to check what fits.
Looking for passenger, SUV and light-truck tyres at trade prices? HILO is held in Cypress Tyres’s Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast and Melbourne warehouses. Talk to us about wholesale pricing, bulk orders and delivery to your postcode.
Source: AAP/PRNewswire, “Giti Tire steers ‘VW ID.Buzz World Tour’ into record books” (24 September 2026).
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