How do you view the changes happening in tyre retailing, the way it goes more and more digital?

This is the inevitable outcome of the internet and the ease it provides for researching tyre types, performance attributes, pricing and communicating with a tyre store. The Covid-19 pandemic has fast-forwarded consumer use and acceptance of online purchasing and communication with retailers, in general, so I think this will occur with tyre retailing. In the U.S., it is estimated that traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are seeing more than 15% of tyre revenues coming from online sales. This is likely to grow, although the majority of replacement tyres likely will continue to be sold and serviced in the more traditional manner of customers interacting with the tyre store directly. Tyre retailers will have to offer both online and in-store operations to be able to service all tyre customers. 

How do you see retailing strategies changing in the changing business environment? 

I think convenience will be the buzzword going forward. Thanks to the growth of general online sales, consumers are becoming accustomed to purchasing products and services via the Internet and having products delivered directly to their homes. This also applies to tyre sales and service. Tyre dealers will need to have an effective website that includes information on various tyres and brands, tyre pricing and the ability to make an appointment. Tyre consumers also will come to expect periodic updates via texts as their vehicles are being serviced. Customers choosing to sit in the waiting room while new tyres are installed or serviced will want to be able to connect to the shop’s Wi-Fi to do work or surf the Internet. The waiting room will need to be clean and inviting. In addition, there likely will be growth in mobile tyre retailing and service, where the tyre shop comes to customer, either at home or work. Why? For convenience.

How is TIA involved in this sector as an industry organisation?

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) serves the tyre retailing sector primarily in two ways. It offers certified tyre service training to tyre technicians and serves as a watchdog for tyre dealers concerning local, state and federal legislation that could negatively impact their businesses. Safety is the watchword when it comes to training, both for the technician as well as the vehicle owner. Over the past two decades, TIA has trained more than 200,000 tyre technicians worldwide on the proper ways to mount, demount and service all types of tyres. Through this, TIA training has helped raise the professionalism of the tyre service operation by teaching technicians the proper ways to service tyres. This in turn has helped make the driving public safer.

Through its Government Affairs efforts, TIA focuses on representing the interests of tyre retailers and the tyre industry in tyre-related legislative issues that could negatively impact the industry and the driving public. Each year, the association monitors scores of proposed bills and legislation and weighs in to fight for the best interests of the industry and tyre retailers.

The association also offers various member benefits that help tyre dealers reduce costs and better run their businesses. 

What is your take on online retailing? What are its advantages as well as disadvantages?

Online retailing is here to stay and will continue to grow. The advantages are obvious. It allows tyre customers to make tyre service appointments any time day or night, to research products, do comparison shopping all without leaving their own home. There is a lot of upside to online retailing. The tyre dealer gains from online retailing because it generates business in a sense automatically and helps in tracking sales and inventory. But there are downsides, as well.

Today, many tyre makers have begun selling tyres direct to consumers via the Internet, bypassing the dealers and using them only as installers. This has upset many dealers, as they lose out on the tyre sale and only generate revenue via the installation charge. Thus, it is crucial for tyre dealers to have their own online tyre operation, in addition to their brick-and-mortar stores, so when consumers are searching the Internet to purchase a tyre, the tyre dealership can not only make the tyre sale online but also schedule the installation. In addition, savvy dealers will use the opportunity to turn that installation customer into their own tyre and service customer in the future. 

Another downside to online retailing is it is more difficult for dealers to build a personal relationship with the customer. One of the strengths of the independent tyre shop is the development of personal relationships and trust with customers. This customer loyalty has served tyre dealers well for over 100 years and kept the independent tyre dealer as the No. 1 channel for the purchase of replacement tyres in the U.S. I don’t see that changing dramatically. Tyres are a major purchase for most consumers and most vehicle owners don’t understand these products. They rely on their trusted independent tyre dealer to guide them in selecting the right tyre at the right price. Online retailing makes developing and retaining that personal relationship more difficult, but I expect the entrepreneurial spirit of tyre dealers to find a way to overcome this issue. 

What is your take on tyre manufacturers doing their own retailing? 

There is nothing wrong with tyre manufacturers operating their own retail tyre store chains. Many do, although this does put them into a competitive situation with their own independent tyre dealer customers. Independent tyre retailers are used to various types of competitors, from tyre company stores, to auto dealerships, to mass merchandisers, to auto service shops and oil change outfits that sell tyres. Now they are contending with online tyre sellers. Historically, independent tyre stores have overcome their competitors through their deep knowledge of the tyre business, their business savvy, their close relationships with customers and ability to evolve and make decisions quickly. I don’t see this changing, even with the growth in online tyre retailing. (TT)

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The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has initiated a pilot study in collaboration with the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority (SIAAP) and the sustainability consultancy ERM to assess the potential of wastewater treatment plants to remove tyre and road wear particles. The research is being conducted at the Valenton wastewater treatment facility near Paris, which ranks as Europe’s second-largest plant and features advanced treatment technologies representative of modern municipal systems. This investigation is scheduled to continue through 2026.

In numerous urban centres globally, stormwater and road runoff are channelled into wastewater systems prior to being discharged into natural waterways. A clearer understanding of how effectively these treatment processes capture TRWP could guide the broader adoption of optimised wastewater management practices. Currently, systematic data quantifying the removal of these particles within treatment plants remains scarce, and this project aims to generate comprehensive, end-to-end evidence to bridge that knowledge deficit.

The study represents TIP’s first real-world application of a priority mitigation strategy identified in its white paper on addressing tire and road wear particles. Over the coming months, researchers will collect and analyse samples from key stages of the Valenton plant’s treatment cycle using advanced pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The findings are expected to estimate the total removal efficiency across the entire process and will be submitted to a scientific journal, with publication anticipated in early 2027.

The scientific understanding of TRWP is complicated by a lack of standardised methodologies, the variable nature of the particles and their transformation products, and the diverse environmental pathways they traverse. In response, TIP and its member companies have committed to advancing research on quantification, characterisation, environmental migration and potential impacts while collaborating with value-chain stakeholders to support science-based interventions. A 2024 TIP publication reviewed over 50 mitigation measures and prioritised nine based on upstream and downstream potential, employing a prevention, containment and removal framework.

That review also concluded that no single measure has been proven effective specifically for TRWP and that on-ground validation is essential. Moreover, the paper stressed that no universal solution exists, requiring coordinated, large-scale implementation across multiple actors, including the tyre, road construction and automotive sectors, as well as municipal authorities, academia and other public and private entities. The Valenton pilot thus marks TIP’s inaugural effort to test wastewater management’s real-world efficacy, uniting diverse stakeholders from both the public and private sectors in this critical research.

Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director, TIP, said, “This pilot is an important step in going beyond understanding the subject in the laboratory to field-based evidence. We expect to identify best practices that can be applied far beyond this project, supporting TIP’s ambition to support science-based mitigation.”

Sabrina Guérin, Head of Innovation Department, SIAAP, said, “As the public authority responsible for wastewater treatment in the Paris region, SIAAP is committed to emerging science that protects waterways. By taking part in this TIP study, we will gain an early, science-based view of TRWP movement in solid waste. The findings can help inform and accompany future treatment planning and readiness for upcoming regulatory requirements.”

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Falken has been named the recipient of the prestigious BRV Service Award, as announced by the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association during its General Meeting on 8 June 2026. As a brand operating under Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, Falken emerged victorious from a competitive online survey where over 250 tyre trade members cast their votes to determine the industry’s most outstanding partner.

This accolade specifically recognises Falken’s superior service standards and its commitment to fostering a reliable and cooperative relationship with its retail partners. The overwhelming vote of confidence from the trade serves as a significant form of recognition for the company, while simultaneously acting as a powerful incentive for the entire Falken workforce to maintain their high-performance levels.

Thomas Langer, Sales Director Germany, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “The news of a top ranking in the BRV Service Award was already a special honour, as it comes directly from the specialist tyre trade. We are now even more delighted to celebrate the overall victory. We would like to express our sincere thanks for this recognition. First place confirms our commitment to offering Falken partners not only reliable and safe products, but above all, dependable service, personalised support and a truly partnership-based collaboration. The fact that the trade has voted the entire team’s efforts into first place motivates us to continue pursuing our goals with determination.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has concluded its participation at The Tire Cologne 2026 with a positive assessment, operating through a network of 19 affiliated organisations across Europe. Their shared exhibition space in Hall 7.1 emerged as a central meeting point during the industry's premier global gathering. Key episodes included a governmental visit, a strategic industry forum and recognition for emerging enterprises.

An immersive installation greeted visitors to the AZuR area, with the entire floor surface consisting of resilient tiles produced from recycled tyre rubber supplied by network affiliate MRH Mülsen. This practical display offered a compelling illustration of how discarded materials can be transformed into functional products. The collaborative exhibition model proved highly favourable among attendees and participating companies alike.

The initiative broadened its collaborative base during the fair, securing commitments from new entities in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to advance shared sustainability objectives. North Rhine-Westphalia's environment minister, Oliver Krischer, toured the exhibition as part of a broader initiative to spotlight regional excellence in circular practices, observing demonstrations spanning digital monitoring, alternative materials and recovery processes.

A dedicated assembly on tyre retreading drew roughly 40 specialists from manufacturing, materials supply and trade associations. Conversations revolved around the technology's track record and adaptation to market conditions, referencing recent environmental performance data. Survey feedback indicated robust confidence in retreading's financial and environmental merits, though participants identified competition from lower-cost imports as a primary obstacle.

The programme concluded with the LOOP THE TYRE competition awards. The top honour went to Machine-Vision.io from Reutlingen for its optical evaluation system streamlining used tyre assessment. Sustainable Rubber Solutions from the Netherlands received second prize for its chemical innovation enabling rubber reintegration into new compounds, while Austria's ReTyre project claimed third for developing a scalable devulcanisation method for tyre-to-tyre recycling.

Anna-Maria Guth, AZuR Network Coordinator, said, “TTC impressively demonstrated the high level of interest in a functioning tyre circular economy. We were particularly pleased with the exceptionally positive atmosphere at our joint stand. Our partners see themselves as equal contributors to a common goal and as partners in a strong alliance for the future.”

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Prinx Chengshan marked a significant milestone at The Tire Cologne 2026 in Germany on 9 June, where it officially introduced its Prinx-brand commercial vehicle tyres to the European market. The launch event, held during the prestigious trade fair, served as a commemorative highlight for the 50th anniversary of the Chengshan Group. While the company showcased its full portfolio of brands, including Chengshan, Austone and Fortune, the European debut of the Prinx commercial tyre line commanded the primary focus of industry attendees.

Senior company representatives provided comprehensive insights into the strategic initiative during the event. Officials from the Europe and Americas Sales Center, the R&D Center and the European Technical Center outlined the company's developmental trajectory, manufacturing scale and proprietary technological advancements. The presentations emphasised the integration of intelligent manufacturing systems and global research capabilities, with particular attention given to how the Prinx brand is developing future-oriented commercial solutions tailored specifically for European fleet operators.

The Prinx brand, positioned as a premium offering, leverages three intelligent manufacturing facilities located in China, Thailand and Malaysia, combined with the localised expertise of its European Technical Center. The company has concentrated its research efforts on six core technologies, including low rolling resistance and high wear resistance features, complemented by an intelligent tyre monitoring system. A strategic partnership with Marangoni, a prominent European retreading material manufacturer, further strengthens the brand's comprehensive service capabilities.

For its market entry, Prinx launched three initial product series covering nine tread patterns suitable for long-haul and regional mixed road conditions. Future product expansion plans include tyres for mixed-use applications, city buses, long-distance coaches and winter conditions. Since announcing its European passenger car tyre initiative in Milan in 2023, the brand has rapidly enhanced its product matrix and reinforced its market presence through branding initiatives and sponsorship of major racing championships.

With five decades of industry experience, Prinx Chengshan is accelerating its global strategy through a product-plus-service philosophy. The company aims to deliver customized solutions addressing the complete tyre lifecycle by combining Chinese manufacturing heritage with international research and development networks. This approach positions the company to precisely meet localised European market demands while inviting global partners to contribute to a sustainable transportation future.

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