European Replacement Tyre Demand Slips as Agricultural Sales Fall 34%

European replacement tyre sales weakened in the third quarter of 2026, with consumer volumes falling 1% year on year and agricultural tyre sales declining 34%, according to the latest figures from Tyres Europe.

The figures, published on 11 November, show a slowdown following stronger second-quarter performance. Consumer replacement sales had increased 3% in Q2, while truck and bus volumes grew 13%.

Despite the weaker third quarter, consumer tyre sales remained 1% higher over the first nine months of 2026. Truck and bus volumes were also ahead of the previous year, while agricultural tyres recorded the largest decline among the reported segments.

Tyres Europe members sold 56.79 million consumer replacement tyres during Q3, compared with 57.51 million in the same quarter of 2025.

All-Season Tyres Continue to Outperform

All-season tyres remained the strongest-performing consumer category, with member sales increasing 13% during the quarter and 10% over the first nine months.

Summer tyre volumes declined 1% in both periods, while winter tyre sales fell 11% in Q3 and were 9% lower over nine months.

The figures underline a continuing shift towards all-season products, although the quarterly results do not establish how much of the winter tyre decline reflects changing consumer preferences rather than seasonal purchasing patterns or stock movements.

Tyres Europe also reported a further reduction in light-vehicle mileage during the quarter. The association linked weaker driving activity to elevated fuel prices and subdued consumer confidence amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

However, the decline in mileage was approximately half the rate recorded during Q2.

The changing product mix remains relevant for wholesalers and retailers planning seasonal stock, particularly where winter and all-season tyres compete for replacement sales.

Agricultural Tyre Sales Fall Sharply

Agricultural tyres experienced the steepest contraction, with replacement sales falling 34% in Q3 to approximately 59,000 units, compared with 90,000 a year earlier.

This followed declines of 11% in Q1 and 7% in Q2, indicating a marked deterioration in third-quarter sales.

Across January to September, agricultural replacement volumes fell 17%, from approximately 300,000 to 250,000 units.

The results point to continued pressure on agricultural tyre suppliers, although the figures alone cannot determine the extent to which lower purchasing reflects delayed replacement decisions, agricultural investment conditions or distributor inventory movements.

Truck and Bus Tyres Show Greater Resilience

Truck and bus replacement tyre volumes were broadly unchanged in Q3, at approximately 2.97 million units.

This followed 13% growth in the second quarter, leaving sales 4% higher over the first nine months at 8.34 million units.

Tyres Europe said freight volumes had held up better than expected during 2026, supporting commercial replacement tyre demand.

Motorcycle and scooter tyre sales, meanwhile, declined 5% during Q3 but remained 2% higher across the nine-month period.

Chinese Imports Decline as South-East Asian Supply Expands

The quarterly report also identifies significant changes in European tyre sourcing.

Passenger-car and light-commercial tyre imports into the EU27 and UK fell 7% to 108 million units during January to August 2026.

Imports from China declined 32% over the eight-month period and more than halved year on year during July and August, following the introduction of definitive EU anti-dumping duties.

The European Commission imposed duties ranging from 4.3% to 45.3% on the affected Chinese tyres in July.

At the same time, imports from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia increased from 5.8 million to 22.3 million units, according to Tyres Europe's report. China's share of the recorded import market fell from approximately 72% to 53%, while ASEAN suppliers increased their share from 7% to 24%.

The import figures cover the EU27 and UK combined, whereas the anti-dumping duties apply to EU imports. They therefore should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalent UK trade restrictions.

Truck and bus tyre imports also increased, rising 26% to 6.0 million units during January to August, with Thailand and Vietnam accounting for most of the growth.

For the replacement trade, the results highlight contrasting conditions across tyre categories. All-season products continue to record growth, agricultural sales remain under pressure, and import sourcing is changing significantly.

Nevertheless, Tyres Europe's data measure member sales and recorded imports rather than complete retail sell-out, making it important to distinguish supply-chain movements from underlying end-user tyre demand.

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