Mid-range resurgence? How truck tyre brand segmentation is evolving

The UK truck tyre market has long been a dynamic and competitive landscape, driven by significant scale, diverse customer needs, operational demands and evolving industry trends. Historically, market segmentation was relatively straightforward. But now there are many more brands to choose from. And therefore, brand segmentation plays a pivotal role in shaping how tyre manufacturers position themselves to capture market share – from premium players emphasizing performance and durability to budget brands targeting cost-conscious fleets. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the quality of some lower-cost imports has increased over the years while others haven’t so much. Meanwhile, there’s the all-important and integrated retread market, which has also been in a state of transition with several independent players retiring, ending their business or restarting with new suppliers or different strategies. That, in-turn, impacts product choice in the new market to some extent. Then there’s one more curveball. The Trump administration’s tariffs have made the USA as unattractive as ever for Chinese-produced truck tyres. And that means an influx of Chinese-produced tyres into the UK and Europe is likely in the months and years to come – something that adds further complication.