Winter tires are becoming significantly more expensive. Anyone who needs new slippers for their car in the coming weeks will have to pay around a fifth more than a year ago, according to figures from the Check24 and Alzura portals. The tire trade association BRV is also observing rising prices because manufacturers are struggling with rising costs from several sides.
In a survey available to the German Press Agency, Check24 calculated a price increase of almost 21 percent for the 100 winter tires best sold via the portal. All-season tires have also become more expensive, but not to the same extent at 16 percent. At Alzura, an increase of 18.9 percent in the retailer’s purchase prices was observed. On average, these were 83.27 euros per tire in the first days of September. A year ago it was a good 70 euros.
These are the reasons for the inflation
At BRV, the main drivers of the price increase are the corona crisis and the war in Ukraine. “Until a few months ago, the tire industry still largely obtained important raw materials such as carbon black and synthetic rubber from Russia and the Ukraine,” says Managing Director Technology, Michael Schwämmlein. Here the manufacturers would now have to look for new suppliers. In addition, high oil, gas and electricity prices drove up production costs. Over the year, the BRV expects an inflation rate in the low double-digit percentage range.
And in addition to the price increases for the tire itself, according to Schwämmlein, retailers must “of course try to pass on the cost increases for their own business operations”. These are in particular exploding energy costs, but also rising personnel costs.
Enough tires available
At least with the availability of tires, however, the BRV does not expect any problems across the board. In the case of special versions, “as in the past, there could be occasional delivery problems,” says Schwämmlein. However, “an alternative permissible tire can be found in the short term”. However, when raw materials are scarce, premium manufacturers may produce larger, more expensive tyres, as these have significantly higher margins than quality or budget brands and smaller tyres.
At Continental, the largest German tire manufacturer, it is said that no general statement can be made about the development of tire prices. Depending on regional conditions, decisions are made about necessary price adjustments. Changes in production costs, for example due to rising raw material prices or energy costs, “we cannot escape and therefore keep an eye on them constantly”.
