The National Tyre Distributors Association's 2025 conference brought together UK tyre industry leaders on 9 October at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Milton Keynes, for a comprehensive examination of the sector's evolving landscape. The day-long event explored how remanufacturing, OTR service models, and data-driven tyre management are reshaping operations as the market recalibrates.
Ian Andrew delivered his inaugural address as CEO, emphasising member value and industry standards whilst maintaining the NTDA's core mission. The exhibition floor generated considerable energy as suppliers and customers exchanged insights on costs, uptime, and compliance challenges.
Session One featured Jason Chamberlain, Graham Mitchell, and Andy Fern, who examined shifting consumer behaviour, wholesale pricing discipline, and the operational advantages of enhanced data capture across retail and fleet operations. The subsequent Q&A highlighted strong demand for actionable improvements—from stock visibility and technician training to streamlined digital workflows that reduce administrative burden and downtime.
Trevor Adams of T&C Site Services drew on field experience to characterise the OTR market's current state, noting that sensors and digital inspection are enabling a fundamental shift from reactive breakdown response to proactive tyre management. He emphasised that realising these benefits requires robust customer planning, site access coordination, and consistent data sharing. When executed effectively, proactive OTR strategies deliver fewer stoppages, enhanced site safety, and tighter whole-life cost control across mining, construction, recycling, and waste sectors.
Michelin's Andrew French presented compelling data on remanufacturing's role in reducing costs and carbon emissions in truck and bus operations. UK retread fitments have declined from approximately 800,000 pre-pandemic (roughly one in three TBR tyres) to around 500,000 in 2025 (approximately one in four). French argued that the economics remain sound when fleets implement rigorous casing management and commit to multi-life policies, supported by training in regrooving, pressure control, and load management.
Steve Howat, Trevor Adams, and Andrew French explored product development and the operational discipline required to convert technology into measurable uptime. Alexandra Thompson, Andy Butterfield, and Nick Molden concluded the day with evidence-based presentations on testing, assurance, and emissions, prompting robust discussion on balancing safety, sustainability, and cost considerations.
The convergence of remanufacturing and proactive service models with policy and procurement represents a significant shift. Recent policy momentum around remanufacturing and retreads in public fleets, alongside new product launches, is creating practical pathways to reduced whole-life costs.
Operators should also monitor evolving UK regulatory measures, including the July 2025 trade remedies notice adjusting anti-dumping duties on certain new and retreaded bus and lorry tyres from China (effective through October 2028), alongside ongoing tyre age, labelling, and inspection requirements.
The NTDA 2025 conference underscored a clear message: the UK tyre trade is transitioning from reactive problem-solving to strategic, data-informed management—a shift that promises measurable benefits for those prepared to adapt.
Remanufacturing and proactive service models are converging with policy and procurement. Recent Tyre News coverage shows policy momentum around remanufacturing and retreads in public fleets, while product launches and retreaded drive tyres point to practical routes to lower whole-life costs. See our report on Vaculug’s call to mandate retreads in public fleets and Bandvulc’s new BDR5 drive retread for regional and long-haul applications.
Operators should also note evolving UK measures affecting TBR markets, including the July 2025 trade remedies notice adjusting anti-dumping duties on certain new and retreaded bus and lorry tyres from China, in force through October 2028. Procurement and compliance teams will want to track these changes alongside tyre age, labelling and inspection requirements.
Tagged with: NTDA conference, UK retreading, truck and bus tyres, OTR tyre management, tyre remanufacturing, fleet uptime, tyre husbandry, casing management, digital tyre monitoring, whole-life cost
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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