Roskachestvo checked tires for carcinogen content

On September 1, 2025, a GOST (Russian national standard) regulating the use of hazardous materials in the tire industry came into effect in Russia, and next year a new eco-fee will be introduced, with a rate depending on the carcinogenic safety of tires. The increased fee for hazardous tires is introduced to finance their future safe disposal, so that toxic rubber particles and waste do not harm the environment and human health.

In anticipation of the changes in regulations, Roskachestvo conducted a study, examining passenger tires of ten brands from Russia and China for the key parameter of the new GOST, namely the percentage content of "hydrogen bay" (% HBay) (bay protons), which allows evaluating the degree of use of high-aromatic oils, the main source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Roskachestvo notes that until September, there were no regulations in Russia for PAH content in tires, and "buyers chose them, in fact, blindly, not knowing how harmful the rubber dust from worn-out tires was to the environment and their health." It is reported that "the lack of control has already led to a disturbing situation. A significant part of imports could pose a carcinogenic hazard," and the new regulations should correct the situation.

For the tests, popular tires from Russia and China were selected, and the Hifly HF201 model was of particular interest, as Austrian experts had already found an increased content of hazardous substances in it back in 2010, and it was possible to check if this had changed today. In addition to Hifly, the following Chinese brands were taken from the assortment: Goform AT01, Kustone Quiet Q7, Mirage MR-162, Ovation VI-682, and Sunfull SF-688, and the following Russian-made tires were also tested: Cordiant Snow Cross, Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV, Kama NU 301, and Pirelli Scorpion Ice Zero 2.

The tests were carried out according to the national standard GOST R ISO 21461-2024 "Rubber. Determination of oil aromaticity in vulcanized rubber compounds" (corresponding to the international method ISO 21461) in an accredited testing laboratory of the Testing and Analytical Center of the Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky.

The indicator of the percentage content of bay protons was chosen because it "directly characterizes the amount of aromatic structures in rubber, which come from certain oil fillers." A high value indicates the use of hazardous high-aromatic oils, the main source of carcinogenic PAHs, including benzo(a)pyrene, and a low value indicates the use of purified and safe oils. The GOST sets a clear limit: ≤ 0.25%, and all Russian tires met the regulations, while Chinese tires exceeded the limit, from 3.2 to 7.7 times.

"Our study is an assessment of the market at the zero level - at the moment when the GOST is already in effect, and the differentiated eco-fee has not yet been introduced. We show which manufacturers are already ready for the new rules and guarantee safety, and who are not. This is information for the consumer today and a clear signal to the market about the upcoming changes," notes Elena Saratseva, Deputy Head of Roskachestvo. "Preliminary data from the developer of the GOST indicated that 89% of domestic tires already meet the standard, and among imports - only 60%. Our data show the real picture on the shelves: all the Chinese tires we tested exceed the GOST level by several times. Among the tires tested by Roskachestvo, Russian production has no excess. This demonstrates that modern safe technologies are available at Russian factories."

The agency adds that the high price of tires does not always indicate their carcinogenic safety, and, for example, Ikon and Kama have an average cost, but they fully meet the standards. Moreover, the best result was shown by the Cordiant tire, which was the cheapest among those recognized as safe.

"This refutes the myth that only expensive tires can be environmentally friendly, and also demonstrates that Russian manufacturers are able to produce products that significantly exceed the minimum safety requirements," Roskachestvo says, adding that in the budget segment, there is a systemic problem, namely, a low price can be achieved at the expense of cheap and carcinogenic oil, which creates a threat to both the ecology and human health.

As for Hifly, they showed the worst result, which exceeds the norm almost eight times, that is, "the problems with hazardous materials in this model are systemic and long-term."

"The study recorded the situation 'here and now': the market is polarized. On the one hand, there are safe tires that meet the GOST (all Russian models in the test). On the other hand, there is a product that poses a potential carcinogenic hazard (all Chinese models in the test)," notes Vyacheslav Fetisov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Chairman of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation. "A logical question arises: how to solve this problem and stimulate the transition of the entire industry to safe tires? The answer is given by two new tools, one of which is already in effect, and the second will come into force next year: GOST R 51893-2024, which has already entered into force and determines the indicators characterizing the carcinogenic safety of tires in relation to human life and health and the environment; a differentiated environmental fee (eco-fee) within the framework of the ROP from January 1, 2026, which will become an economic incentive for the entire market."

Fetisov emphasizes that "for the vast majority of car owners and honest businesses, the possible introduction of an environmental fee will pass almost unnoticed."

"The Russian tire industry is fully ready for the new requirements. Our factories are already producing tires that meet the strict GOST in full, covering the market demand. Consumers will still have a wide choice of safe tires in all price segments," he said.

Auto expert, member of the Presidium of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morzharetto also says that "the eco-fee will affect only a narrow segment of hazardous imports, creating an economic barrier for it."

"For the rest of the market, which is already working according to modern standards, the base rate will be preserved. This decision will support domestic manufacturers who have long been investing in safe technologies, and ultimately make the market fairer and the air cleaner," he noted.