The difficult situation in the Russian tire market that arose in the spring of 2022 raises many questions regarding the upcoming winter season. Many manufacturers have suspended production or deliveries to the Russian Federation, others have left the market completely. Have alternative tire supply chains started working in our country? Will the imported stocks of winter tires be enough for everyone? “Behind the wheel” asked these questions to the expert.
Roman Timashovservice director Avtodom Altufyevo:
Few new cars are sold, so the need for winter tires will be moderate.
In addition, the average demand for tires is 4 million units per year.
From the stock of previous years, the volume will be sufficient for 1.5 – 2 years. So you should not expect a shortage of tires.
Chinese manufacturers supply tires for a quarter of the Russian market. The tires are of good quality and affordable price. There are also sufficient tires in the premium segment to meet current demand.
Tire prices have stabilized. It was not until April 2022 that a significant price increase was observed and then the decline started. The average price of tires in July fell by 10.6% and became the lowest in six months.
This assessment is also in line with a recent study by Chestny Znak, which found that at the start of the current season, the stock of winter tires in Russia is 33 million units, which is 43% more than before the start of last winter. This, taking into account the relatively shrinking new car market, completely excludes the possibility of a shortage.
- All tire imports account for about 35% and now come mainly from three countries.
- “Behind the Wheel” can be seen on RuTube.