The tyres carrying hard enduro’s elite are having quite a year. Plews Tyres, the exclusive tyre partner of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, announced that it has extended its official tyre partnership with Romaniacs, marking a third consecutive year at the legendary Sibiu rally.
Three Years at one of the World’s Toughest Rally
Romaniacs sits outside the World Championship calendar, but as a proving ground its a great test: a multi-day format, extreme Carpathian terrain and thousands of riders from around the world. "For a tyre brand, there is no harder test and no bigger statement," said Plews’ Steve Mills in the announcement. Founder Josh Plews added that the company wants "to be part of every story, from the Gold class podium to the first-timer who just wants to make it to the finish."
The Rubber Doing the Winning
The championship pedigree is real. Two FIM Junior Hard Enduro World Championship titles have been won on Plews rubber, Mitch Brightmore in 2024 and James Moore in 2025, both on the EN1 Tough One, and both riders now sit in the 2026 HEWC top ten. Mario Roman, currently fifth in the standings, made Plews his exclusive tyre partner this season in the biggest rider deal in the company’s history.
The UK-designed range has been earning independent attention too. Enduro21’s recent "Closer Look" at The Beast, Plews’ 18mm-tread enduro/trail hybrid, highlighted how Roman used its deep tread blocks to win the Ballbreaker round of the British Extreme Enduro Championship in brutal mud — noting the tyre finished the race "ready to go again," a durability rare among super-soft hard enduro options. For Romaniacs, Plews recommends the Tough One Spec B, with a 15mm tread built to dig through mud and loose ground, paired with the Grand Prix front in its UTAC compound.
Service in Sibiu
Riders heading to Romania can pre-order tyres through the official Romaniacs partner portal and get free fitting all week at the Plews service area, alongside a hospitality zone, giveaways and rider signings throughout the event.
Then It’s Back to Championship Business
Once the Sibiu dust settles, attention returns to the world title fight, on FIM-approved rubber, at Forza Orza, August 20-22 at Orsa Grönklitt, the first FIM Hard Enduro World Championship round ever held in Sweden. Manuel Lettenbichler leads on 88 points from Mitch Brightmore (75) and Teodor Kabakchiev (68), with Plews-shod Roman lurking on 48. See the full championship standings ahead of the Scandinavian showdown.