Tyre Wear Review Finds Health Impact Evidence Inconclusive

A new independent scientific review has concluded that current evidence is not strong enough to quantify human health impacts specifically attributable to tyre wear emissions. The paper, supported by the Tire Industry Project, reviews human exposure to tyre and road wear particles and says inconsistent sampling and analysis methods continue to limit robust risk assessment.

A clearer but incomplete evidence base

The paper, Impacts of Tire Wear Emissions Compared to the Impacts of PM2.5 and PM10 on Humans, is the third and final instalment in a State of Knowledge series on tyre wear emissions. It was authored by Kathrin Müller, Julie Panko, Kenny M. Unice and Dr Stephan Wagner, and published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters in 2026.

The review says understanding of tyre and road wear particles, known as TRWP, has advanced. However, it also finds that direct evidence on human exposure remains scarce. The authors report that tyre wear particles represent less than 5% by weight of ambient PM2.5 and PM10, while available toxicology data does not show TRWP to be more harmful than other particulate matter fractions.

That finding matters for the tyre trade because non-exhaust emissions are attracting closer attention as tailpipe emissions fall. Tyre News has previously reported on [Bridgestone’s TRWP collection method to enhance environmental research], which highlighted the industry’s need for better particle capture and characterisation. Tyre News has also noted, in [Hankook’s 2026 UK truck tyre agenda], that non-exhaust emissions remain under scrutiny for fleets and suppliers.

Why methods matter

The review points to a central problem for policymakers and manufacturers: studies do not always measure the same thing in the same way. Differences in sampling, detection and characterisation make it difficult to compare results across regions, laboratories and exposure settings.

In practice, that means the science can identify important questions but cannot yet provide a settled risk profile. The authors say chemicals used in tyre manufacturing have been detected in human body fluids, but the sources and exposure pathways have not been clearly linked specifically to tyres. Many of those chemicals are also used in other products and industrial processes.

Dr Stephan Wagner said tyre wear emissions remain “a complex topic” that is only partly understood, especially in relation to human health. He said the current data is not robust enough to quantify health risks specifically linked to tyre wear, and called for aligned methods, shared data and more real-world studies.

A regulatory and procurement issue

For tyre manufacturers, fleet operators and retailers, the findings do not remove scrutiny from tyre wear. Instead, they sharpen the need for credible measurement. Future claims around lower wear, longer tyre life or reduced environmental impact will need evidence that can stand up across markets and testing regimes.

The issue also connects with procurement. Fleets and public-sector buyers are increasingly asking suppliers to evidence environmental performance. Tyre News recently reported on [Oak Tyres’ Ecologi carbon offset milestone], showing how sustainability reporting is already becoming part of trade relationships beyond product price and availability.

The State of Knowledge series calls for harmonised global methods, better exposure pathway research and studies covering realistic urban and suburban conditions. The Tire Industry Project says it has supported research into tyre lifecycle impacts since 2005 and continues to study long-term exposure, degradation and environmental transport of TRWP.

What the industry should take from it

The review is not a clean bill of health for tyre wear emissions. Nor does it support alarmist conclusions unsupported by exposure data. Its main value is to define what the tyre sector, scientists and regulators still need to know.

For the trade, that means tyre wear science is moving from broad concern to measurement discipline. The next phase will depend on whether researchers, manufacturers and regulators can agree methods that produce comparable results across real-world driving conditions.

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Tagged with: tyre wear emissions, tyre particles, TRWP, non-exhaust emissions, particulate matter, PM2.5, PM10, tyre sustainability, tyre testing, fleet emissions, tyre regulation, tyre research

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