All-season demand lifts European replacement car tire market

Brussels – Replacement consumer tire sales in Europe rose 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, led by a 14% jump in all-season tire volumes, figures released by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) show.

According to ETRMA secretary general Adam McCarthy, the recovery in consumer tires that began in the second half of 2024 continued, with volumes now “close to those reached in the first quarter of 2019, before the impact of the pandemic.”

Consumer tire demand, including summer, winter and all-season passenger car tires, rose to 58.7 million units in the first quarter, up from 57.3 million units a year earlier.

While summer tire volumes fell 3%, the all-season segment continued to expand. Winter tire sales were up 5% year-on-year.

In contrast, truck & bus tire sales declined 4% to 2.7 million units, and down 11% compared to the first quarter of 2019.

ETRMA linked the decline to the 'significant impact' of economic and political uncertainty on demand.

Agricultural tire sales also dropped 4% year-on-year to 203,000 units, reversing the growth trend seen since March last year.

ETRMA noted that sales in this segment “remain far from those achieved” pre-pandemic.

Moto and scooter tire sales rose 7% year-on-year to 3.5 million units, though McCarthy noted this was against a weak 2024 comparison base.