January opened with hard numbers that signal where the tyre trade is heading in 2026. Product portfolios grew. UK distribution footprints widened. Off-highway channels reorganised. And safety moved up the policy agenda. Here is a concise, data-first read on the figures behind the month’s most consequential tyre stories and why they matter for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and fleets.
Mid-month, PRINX expanded its European offer with 56 new sizes across all-season and summer lines, targeting car and light commercial fitments alongside EV-compatible dimensions. The company highlighted TÜV SÜD certifications and EUDR-ready supply chain claims as part of the rollout, pointing to broader European coverage for 2026.
GSF Car Parts set out plans to add around 20 UK branches in 2026, lifting its network from 206 to roughly 226 locations, with 12 sites due by the end of April and eight more under consideration for the second half. Management cited three years of 20%-plus sales growth against a softer independent aftermarket as context for the push. “Our ambition is clear: to become the UK’s number one independent aftermarket distributor,” said CEO Steve Horne.
Alliance Tire Group appointed GB Tyres as its UK distribution partner from 1 January, with first shipments due in early February. The agreement routes agricultural and forestry tyres through GB Tyres’ Nordic Tyres brand, broadening availability for farmers and contractors. “We are proud to be associated with a significant brand like Alliance,” said GB Tyres executive director Jay Singh.
LAMMA 2026 drew more than 45,000 visitors and over 800 exhibitors across two days at the NEC (both record figures) underscoring investment appetite in high-horsepower machinery, precision tools and lower-carbon solutions that depend on advanced tyre technology, including VF constructions and central tyre inflation.
Triangle Tyre approved RMB 3.219 billion (about £360 million) for a new Cambodia plant with annual capacity of 6 million passenger car radial tyres and 1 million truck and bus radials. Ground-breaking is scheduled for March 2026 with a ~17-month build, adding diversified capacity that could support European customers with supply chain resilience.
The Tire Technology International Awards 2026 shortlist highlighted recycled and renewable content claims of 70–75% in nominated products, plus digital R&D such as tyre digital twins and TRWP collection methods. Free visitor passes remain available ahead of the 3–5 March expo.
ALLDATA Europe added “Maintenance Schedules” to its platform, consolidating OEM service plans across 61 vehicle manufacturers into guided, model-specific workflows. Independent garages report faster diagnosis and fewer reworks when OEM procedures are embedded into first-step checks.
TyreSafe opened entries for its 20th-anniversary awards ahead of a June gala at The Belfry, keeping attention on compliance, community engagement and enforcement. The timing aligns with the UK’s new road safety strategy published on 1 January 2026, which sets ambitious casualty-reduction targets and underlines the role of proven safety technologies (including tyres) in a Safe System approach.
Tagged with: UK tyre market, aftermarket distribution, tyre sizes, VF agricultural tyres, OE data and diagnostics, tyre safety UK, tyre manufacturing investment, trade fairs Hannover, recycling materials, EV-ready tyres
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
