The most popular tire sizes among Chinese automakers
Chinese cars are taking an increasingly significant share of the Russian market (61% in June 2024, according to data from "Autostat"), and this has led to difficulties due to some of them being equipped with tires of relatively rare sizes. The company Ikon Tyres has already seen an opportunity in this and has begun to develop sizes for Chinese cars, and recently, the Sohu portal reported, citing Car & Tire and data from Xiaobang, on the tire sizes used by Chinese automakers in the first half of 2024.
Statistics were collected on the equipment of the most popular cars on the Chinese market (passenger cars, SUVs, and minivans), and the most in-demand sizes were 215/55 R17, 235/55 R19, and 235/60 R18 (including models from both local and foreign manufacturers).
Analysts note that if 10 years ago, family cars in China were mainly equipped with 14-15 inch diameter tires, now the demand for them in the OE sector has decreased so much that it is almost non-existent. Currently, 16-17 inch diameter tires are more in demand, but although demand for them is increasing, its growth is gradually slowing down.
"The transition to larger tires is becoming a key trend in the market, and more and more cars are being equipped with such tires, especially if we talk about models of the middle and premium classes," experts say.
Tires of very large sizes, for example, 21 and 22 inches, are in limited demand, but they are also supplied for cars in the highest price category. In general, tire sizes are increasing, and, for example, at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show, 84% of new cars were equipped with tires with a diameter of 18 inches or more, and this year, 17-inch tires were almost nowhere to be found, and tires with diameters of 18, 19, and 20 inches were used.
A similar trend is noted by tire companies. For example, Hankook recently reported in its quarterly report that in China, 63% of its sales come from tires with a diameter of 18 inches or more, and by this indicator, the local market surpasses all other regions, and the company intends to increase it. Nexen, Kumho, Pirelli, Giti, and other manufacturers hold the same position.
Experts also note that if Chinese automakers purchase tires with diameters up to 17 inches, then in this segment, local brands dominate, but if the sizes are larger, then foreign ones do, and in the future, the growth in popularity of large-diameter tires in the OE segment is expected to only increase.