April 2026

Special Brief: Impact of the Middle East Conflict on European Miles Driven

What higher fuel prices, inflation, and prolonged disruption mean for miles driven and downstream tire demand in 2026

Cover of Special Brief: Impact of the Middle East Conflict on European VKMT

Geopolitical shocks don’t stop at borders. They ripple through fuel markets, household budgets, and ultimately how far Europeans drive. The conflict in the Middle East is already reshaping fuel prices, inflation expectations, and economic forecasts across Europe.

Astutus Research has rapidly assessed how these pressures translate into changes in Miles Driven (VKMT), with knock‑on effects for passenger car and light commercial tire demand. Drawing on fuel price data, macroeconomic revisions, and historical crisis patterns, this briefing cuts through the noise to quantify real‑world impacts.

Whether you’re planning volumes, managing risk, or reassessing 2026 expectations, this analysis shows where, when, and how VKMT is most exposed — including scenario‑based outcomes depending on how long hostilities persist.

Use this briefing to pressure‑test forecasts, align commercial plans, and respond faster to a rapidly evolving external shock.

Stress‑test your 2026 assumptions

See how conflict‑driven fuel and inflation shocks could reshape European driving demand
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What’s inside

  • A clear assessment of how fuel prices, inflation, and supply disruption affect VKMT during and after conflict
  • Evidence of diverging petrol vs diesel price dynamics across Europe
  • Updated GDP and inflation expectations and their implications for driving behaviour
  • Scenario analysis showing potential VKMT outcomes in 2026 under different conflict durations
  • Historical context from prior crises to distinguish short‑term disruption from long‑lived impact
  • Specific implications for passenger car and light commercial tire replacement demand


What you’ll learn

  • Why VKMT impact often outlasts the end of hostilities
  • How rising diesel prices and refining constraints disproportionately affect commercial and high‑mileage drivers
  • Which periods of the year are most exposed to demand destruction
  • How crisis‑driven changes in miles driven translate into delayed but unavoidable tire replacement
  • The range of plausible VKMT outcomes for Europe in 2026 — and the assumptions that sit behind each one



Key Facts