About Tyres
Enabling Mobility, Safety & Sustainability
Tyres are essential for the transport and mobility of people and goods, found on a wide range of vehicles, from cars and bikes to buses, trucks, and agricultural machinery. As the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, tyres play a critical role in:
Enhancing road safety
Improving driving comfort
Reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
Ensuring mobility in all weather conditions
The European tyre market leads the world in technological innovation, driven by strict regulatory standards and evolving demands from consumers and the automotive industry.
A Technologically
Advanced
Product
Courtesy of U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association
Tyres are manufactured using a precise combination of rubber compounds and advanced materials to meet critical performance requirements, including safety, durability, fuel efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
Innovation for sustainability
Tyre Materials: What’s Inside a Tyre?
Tyres are made from a complex blend of materials, including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, reinforcing fillers, textiles, and steel. The composition varies depending on whether the tyre is designed for summer, winter, or all-season use.
Passenger / light truck tyres
Truck
tyres
Natural rubber
Synthetic polymers
Steel
Textile
Fillers
Antioxidants, antiozonants, curing systems
Natural Rubber
Natural rubber is indispensable to the tyre industry due to its unique elasticity, strength, and durability. It accounts for 73% of global natural rubber consumption, with tyres containing 20–40% natural rubber by weight.
Synthetic polymers
The two main synthetic rubber polymers used in tire manufacturing are butadiene rubber and styrene butadiene rubber. These rubber polymers are used in combination with natural rubber. Synthetic rubber, derived from petrochemical sources, provides:
Enhanced durability and weather resistance
Improved fuel efficiency through optimised rolling resistance
Better grip and handling in various driving conditions.
The tyre industry invests heavily in sustainable alternatives and bio-based synthetic rubbers to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Steel
Steel wire is used in tyre belts and beads, and in the plies of truck tyres. The belts under the tread serve to stiffen the tyre casing and improve wear performance and tyre handling. The bead wire anchors the tyre and locks it onto the wheel.
Textiles
Polyester cord fabrics, rayon cord fabric, nylon cord fabric, and aramid cord fabric are used in tyre manufacturing to provide dimensional stability and help support the vehicle weight.
They serve as the primary reinforcing material in the tyre casing and they also help the tyre keep its shape in different road conditions which provide added endurance and performance characteristics to the tyre.
Fillers
Both carbon black and silica are fillers that reinforce the rubber, that is, improve properties such as tear, tensile strength and abrasion. This results in improved wear performance and traction. Silica use improves rolling resistance.
Curing systems
Sulfur and zinc oxide, are crucial ingredients to transform rubber into a solid article during vulcanisation or tyre curing.
Antiozonants
Antiozonants are used to impede the effects of exposure to ozone on the surface of the tyre.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help to keep rubber from the breaking down due to the effect of temperature and oxygen exposure.
Natural Rubber Sourcing and Supply Chain
Derived from the Hevea brasiliensis tree, primarily grown in Southeast Asia, West Africa, and South America.
The EU is entirely dependent on imports, mainly from Indonesia, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, and Malaysia (85% of EU imports).
The supply chain involves millions of smallholder farmers, making traceability and sustainability a priority.
Rubber latex is harvested daily, processed, and transported through multiple layers before reaching tyre and rubber goods manufacturers.
Natural rubber’s storage and transportation involve extensive logistics, with a significant portion coming from within a 150-200 km radius of processors. This material, if correctly stored, can have a long shelf-life, and the “first-in first-out” principle is not always followed, allowing for long-distance travel of the rubber.
Explore the Natural Rubber Supply Chain:
The Tyre Industry’s commitment to a Sustainable Natural Rubber Supply Chain
Actively engaged in the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to ensure sustainable sourcing.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging) Regulation
Industry Collaboration for Safer Tyre Materials
Tyres Europe works closely with regulatory bodies such as the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and national authorities, as well as cross-industry groups to drive safe chemical management.
To this end, Tyres Europe supports the implementation of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation through seminars, guidance documents, and collaboration with the European Commission, ECHA, and national authorities.
6PPD and Tyre Manufacturing
6PPD (CAS: 793-24-8) is a chemical additive used in tyres to help protect rubber from cracking caused by ozone and UV exposure, supporting durability and integrity in real-world conditions. In the EU, 6PPD, like other chemicals used and placed on the EU market in quantities above 1 tonne, is registered under REACH.
6PPD regulatory timeline and FAQs
POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) Regulation
Tyres Europe’s Engagement in Cross-Industry and Expert Groups
Chemicals and Substances:
CheMI Platform
Tyres Europe is a founding member of this platform, representing downstream users of chemicals in converting substances into articles. CheMI includes 18 European industry associations, representing about 400,000 companies and over 7 million employees, and participates as industry in the CARACAL (Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP) expert group.
CheMI Platform
Global Automotive Declarable Substances List (GADSL)
The International Material Data System (IMDS) is the standard global reporting tool for automotive materials. The tyre and rubber industry actively engages with automotive manufacturers to ensure the IMDS system remains functional and the GADSL is updated appropriately.
GADSL
ERCA
The European Rubber Chemicals Association, ERCA, is a CEFIC´s sector group and Tyres Europe collaborate in this group to share best practices and information on regulatory developments within the rubber chemicals value chain.
ERCA
Alliance for Sustainable Management of Chemical Risk (ASMoR)
The Alliance for Sustainable Management of Chemical Risk (ASMoR) is an alliance of over 30 corporations and trade associations who have joined together around their common position on the Essential Use Concept in EU chemical legislation and the common goal to ensure that safe uses of hazardous substances remain permitted.
ASMoR
Nanomaterials Expert Group
The NMEG aims to seek common ground among experts on scientific and technical issues relating to the implementation of REACH, CLP and the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) for nanomaterials.
European Commission’s Expert Groups:
Waste Expert Group
tasked with providing the Commission with advice and expertise regarding the development and implementation of EU waste legislation.
CheMI Platform
Working Group on Motor Vehicles
Devoted to discussions between all stakeholders from governments, industry and consumer associations interested in the regulatory activities concerning motor vehicles.
Working Group on Motor Vehicles
Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World’s Forests
Fostering exchange on best practices across stakeholders/operators and EU Member States to increase ownership and awareness raising and track
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Expert Group (Ecodesign Forum)
Supporting the implementation of the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).