The tyre industry growth that recently outstripped the planet’s GDP now slowly scales back but still remains in a constant state of flux in its every component – from introduction of new materials to manufacturing specifics and to dramatic impact of internet retails. The last factor, according to the experts from the UK online tyre dealers mytyres.co.uk and 123engineoil.co.uk, can be mentioned among the industry’s biggest pressures along with abundant supply of low-end tyres from China and fuel saving standards.
‘Online’ tyres squeeze the ‘brick-and-mortar’ ones
Movement of the tyre industry online was a great milestone big tyre manufacturers spotted and leveraged. The part of online sales is going to reach 40% in the years to come. With a richer assortment (you can find solutions for any kind of vehicle and driving conditions – from diagonal to radial tyres and from off-road to supersport road products) and more liberal prices, online shops are slowly turning their brick-and-mortar counterparts into dinosaurs (similarly to music shops) leaving them to survive mostly due to their fitting and fixing services. But even here online shops press. Big tyre manufacturers (such as Michelin or Goodyear) persistently edge their way into online business by entering into agreements with local dealers that handle the instalment for their clients.
New materials and technology trends in tyres
Presently, over 100 materials are being used in the tyre production. Their configuration is constantly changing as it is dependable on the type and size of cars in demand and fuel prices. Current low fuel prices slightly compromise the newest significant trend in the tyre industry – producing more fuel-efficient tyres thanks to the low rolling resistance (LRR) technology which big tyre manufacturers tried to incorporate as a permanent industry standard. Now that the oil prices remain low, people tend to drive more increasing the need in affordable replacement tyres this way.
The growing SUV vehicle market is still the biggest tyre industry’s inspiration dictating the increased demand in light-truck tyres with balanced off-road and on-road properties. Big manufacturers keep seeking for new natural rubber sources. Bridgestone has recently presented their new tyres made out of guayule rubber instead of the Hevea rubber they used previously.
2016 became the year of tremendous improvements in all-season tyre technologies as proved by new products by Nokian and Toyo. This plays into the hands of the UK drivers that can now enjoy superb handling on both wet and dry, summer and wintry roads avoiding the routine switch between summer and winter tyres.
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