Four in 10 new tyres fitted in EU now come from abroad

Imported tyres accounted for 40 per cent of all newly fitted tyres in the EU in 2024, according to a new Oxford Economics study commissioned by Tyres Europe. That growing reliance comes despite a substantial European industry, with Tyres Europe members operating more than 70 production plants and 20 R&D centres in Europe. The study says tyre makers are also massively dependent on imported materials: imports represent 11.9 per cent of EU tyre production value, versus a seven per cent economy-wide average, while the EU relies entirely on imports for natural rubber.