What tires do automotive companies in China choose
The Tire China portal has compiled a rating of tire brands that were the most popular among automakers in China in 2024. The analysis showed that last year, the capacity of the primary equipment segment of the Chinese market was around 104.6 million tires (data on passenger cars with annual sales of at least 5,000 units were taken into account), and the first place was taken by the local company Linglong, which outpaced international giants such as Michelin, Continental, and Bridgestone.
During the year, Linglong supplied 15.6 million tires to automakers, occupying 14.9% of the OE segment, and another Chinese brand, Chaoyang, owned by ZC Rubber, took third place with a share of 10.3%. According to analysts, although foreign manufacturers still dominate the top ten, Chinese brands such as Wanli, Sailun, Doublestar, Sentury, and Triangle have strengthened their positions.
"In 2024, the Chinese automotive industry maintained a positive trend, and a particularly rapid growth was noted in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, which led to significant changes in the OE tire market segment," experts note. "In the face of intensifying price, brand, and technological competition, foreign brands with their traditional advantages faced unprecedented challenges, and Chinese manufacturers are now actively changing the industry landscape."
Linglong also became the leader in terms of the number of car models (99) equipped with the company's tires, which, as analysts emphasize, indicates that the manufacturer can offer high-quality tires for a wide range of vehicles, from economical family cars to luxury SUVs.
According to the published data, the most popular tires among automakers in China were 18-inch tires, with a share of 26.54%. Next come 19-inch tires, which, together with 18-inch tires, occupied almost 50% of the market, and these figures, according to experts, reflect the growing popularity of premium-class cars, including sports cars and NEVs.
The most popular size among automakers in the country was 235/50 R19, and in seven out of ten most popular tire sizes, the rim diameter was from 18 inches. Thus, companies that are also switching to the production of larger tires in accordance with market trends are benefiting.
