The latest analysis of the replacement passenger car and light truck (PCLT) tyre market in Western and Central Europe by leading sector analyst Astutus Research demonstrates the importance of high rim diameter (HRD) tyres to the market.

In 2017, China was supplying 65 per cent of all imports in this market, which at that point measured a little more than 7 million units. With Turkey the source of around 10 per cent, and Korea and Japan supplying around 5 per cent each, only around 15 per cent of CV tyre imports were sourced outside these four countries.

China dominates as origin of EU27+UK car tyre imports, having grown its share considerably since the Covid pandemic

Using its broadest possible definition as tyres with rim diameters of 17” or more, the ultra-high performance tyre segment is the only engine of growth within the replacement passenger car and light truck (PCLT) tyre segment in West and Central Europe, the latest data and projections from leading tyre business analyst Astutus Research demonstrates.

European truck tyre imports have grown considerably as sources diversified

The United Kingdom and European Union is importing an increasing tonnage of Off-The-Road (OTR) tyres, as the sector responds to internal and external trends.