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The Evolution of the Automotive Tire Industry   

The tire industry has been evolving at a quick and speedy pace for the past four decades. The truth of the matter is that tires are in more demand from consumers and fleets than ever before. With increasing numbers of vehicles in use globally, the number of total tires on the road will only continue to increase in size.

With this increase in tire demand has come an evolution in tire technology for manufacturers to stay compliant with new safety regulations and create the safest and most efficient and grippy tires for vehicles.

Thanks to advancements in tire manufacturing and rubber compounds, finding the best rated tires for your car can be a little more complicated than it was in previous years. This is simply due to the fact that there are more tire manufacturers than ever, and hence, more tires available for consumers and fleets to choose from.

The tire market is extremely saturated, and fiercely competitive with manufacturers and vendors competing for any and all market share. It can be harder than ever to choose the right tires for your car, truck or SUV. Today we will look briefly into some of the attributions to the tire industry’s rise as a whole and reasons why the trajectory of automotive tire sales is at its most accelerated pace in history.

Tire Technology and Digital Culture

Tire technology, along with our digital culture, has amplified rapidly which allows more consumers access to better quality tires than they have ever used on any roads before. No longer do you need to stroll down the street and summon one of the few local tire stores to find the best tires and wheels your vehicles.

Tires have become more widely available to consumers, with digital tire storefronts expanding at a rapid pace. With so many tire manufacturers, brands, tire models and sizes, there are very few warehouses out there that could carry every single tire in existence. This is why many local brick and mortar tire shops will only carry their most popular brands and sizes to attempt to accommodate their customers.

Truth of the matter is that sometimes, a customer needs a tire that is not in-stock locally which will require special ordering to obtain. With this scenario happening more and more than ever, many consumers have switched entirely to online tire buying.

The Internet has completely transformed the way drivers and fleet managers buy their tires. This is only one of the ways that the tire industry has been transformed in recent years. Keep reading to learn about some of these significant technological contributions, its impact on the tire industry, as well as speculations on future trends.

Tire Environmentalism

One of the most important ways that tire manufacturers are saving the environment is by making tires that last longer. This means that fewer tires need to be produced, which reduces the amount of resources that are used and wasted in the tire production process. Reducing waste is one of the easiest ways to help the environment.

With the environment in mind, tires are manufactured to be kinder to the earth than ever before! Not only with the variety of synthetic materials, like silica, that make them more efficient and longer lasting, but with the added eco-features like limited rolling resistance to provide better fuel economy for long hauls down the expressway. 

Self-Sealing and Run-Flat Tires

Tire companies have also been working on making tires that are self-sealing and run-flat over the past four decades. Self-sealing tires are not a permanent fix but can allow drivers to exit the highway safely to find the nearest tire repair station in the instance that their tire is punctured. This means that if and when a tire is punctured, it will be able to seal itself and still be able to be driven on for a short amount of time. This is a very important safety feature that can help to prevent accidents. 

The evolution of run-flat tires has gone from clunky and extremely expensive tires to more affordable and lighter in weight to help with fuel savings and handling. Run-flat tires are not very common, in the grand scheme of things, however their improved accessibility over the past four decades is indicative of the tire industry as a whole.

Again, not to be used as a permanent fix–run-flat tires can be helpful in assisting drivers away from busy roadways in the case their tire becomes punctured. Run flats can sometimes run flat for extended periods without issues however this is not recommended as tires can sometimes become overheated when operating in these conditions for extended periods of time.

These types of tires are simply designed to give a longer grace period for repairs and are not the end all be all, eternal gobbstopper of tires. Keep in mind that these types of tires with puncture resistance and run-flat technology will be heavier and less effective than a conventional tire.

Tire AI

Tire companies have also begun using artificial intelligence for modeling and quality control purposes. This helps to make sure that tires are as safe and environmentally friendly as possible. AI also helps to graph out the array of sizes and assortments of a specific tire line, to visualize tread patterns and other visual design elements.

As AI continues to improve as it models itself over time, we will eventually start to see tire designs become more fine tuned and perfected than they have ever been. We are only in the beginning of AI engineered tire designing and manufacturing so the future to come will truly be impressive.

Tire Industry Innovations

Overall, the tire industry is evolving in a number of ways that are helping to save the environment. Tires are being made with more environmentally friendly materials and processes, and companies are working on making tires that last longer and are more efficient. This is good news for the environment and for drivers who want to be as safe and fuel-efficient as possible.

There are many brands you can rely on when it comes to new tires for your car, truck, SUV, CUV or Semi, but make sure you do your research and find the one that is right for you and your ride!