The platform, which includes rubber producers, processors, tire makers, and automotive OEs and NGOs, will be a full year in existence in March, noted the environmental lobby group and GPSNR founding member. However, while there has been some good work and increased cooperation among stakeholders, “much more remains to be done,” according to a Jan. 16 statement from the Washington-based group.
Evolution of all-season and winter tire technologies outlined in new report from Smithers
Important trends and technologies in all-season and winter tires are detailed in a market report recently released by Smithers. All-Season vs Winter Tires to 2024: A State-of-the-Art Report (Members of TRAC receive 15 per cent discount on all rubber industry market reports produced by Smithers) assesses the key technologies, materials and market drivers that enable tire performance in these two critical product segments, including regulatory, end-use (passenger cars and light trucks) and regional outlooks.
In terms of performance, several technologies account for the differences in all-season vs. winter tires, including materials, physical design, noise control technologies, processing, and modeling/simulation.
These technologies are ranked and detailed in the state-of-the-art report.
Region differences
The large temperate climate regions of the US and China make all-season tires a standard for most areas except for the northern most regions. Even in many of those areas, and in parts of southern Canada, all-season tires have a high market share, and season-specific tires are less important. This is in contrast to regulatory requirements in Europe and in severe winter weather provinces in Canada where laws or incentives have led to the market bifurcation between summer tires and winter tires.
The role of fuel economy standards
The most important regulatory driver for all-season tires is the OEM vehicle fuel economy standards. These standards are increasing for vehicle OEMs in the EU, Japan, China and North America. Targets for the EU and Japan in the 2025 time frame are rising to over 60 mpg. Originally, US CAFE standards were scheduled to increase to 54.5 mpg in 2025 for passenger cars and 47 mpg as a fleet average, but the standards have been revised downward to 44 mpg and 47 mpg as a fleet average.
The US vehicle market is moving dramatically toward fewer fuel-efficient SUVs/light trucks, which now make up 55% of light duty vehicle sales, even though the US has fuel economy improvements to make to reach new targets. Because tires contribute directly to vehicle fuel economy, automakers will prioritize low-rolling resistance all-season tires in the US for fuel economy gains. In other regions, higher fuel economy standards will drive toward super low-rolling resistance tires.
Winter tire regulation
Europe leads in winter tire regulation, with Germany’s winter tire mandate leading the way. Other EU countries have their own regulations, but because travel among countries is prolific, most consumers use winter tires. In North America, the US does not have a winter tire regulation, and demand for winter tires is concentrated in the northern states. Only in Quebec, Canada, are strict winter tire requirements mandated.
In Asia, Japan’s winter liability laws have encouraged extensive winter tire adoption, while no regulation exists in China. Winter tires are designated by the Alpine snowflake 3MPSF and M+S designations. Winter tire performance is segmented between Nordic/high snow and ice conditions and more moderate Central European winter conditions.
All-weather tires
All-weather tires are a new market development gaining interest in Europe; they have also been introduced in North America. They offer winter tire labelling with the Alpine snowflake 3MPSF and year-round performance. Market potential exists to expand the all-weather/four-season tire category in south Central Europe, the northern US, Japan and eventually China.
Climate change
Climate patterns over the past 50 years have shown increasing temperatures. This is especially important for the future of winter tires and, to some extent, all-season tires. Increasing temperatures have been significant in northern climates, such as the northern US, where the average temperature has increased over 5° Fahrenheit, putting more cities in moderate winter vs. severe winter climates. The temperature change has generally led to decreases in snowfall and increases in rain; these trends are projected to accelerate over time.
The overall long-term trends mean winter tires will need to focus more on wet grip, grip on black ice films, and wet snow performance around freezing instead of heavy and dry snow with thick ice conditions at temperatures significantly below freezing.
A brochure on the All-Season vs Winter Tires to 2024: A State-of-the-Art Report is available at: https://www.smithers.com/services/market-reports/transportation/all-season-vs-winter-tires-to-2024.
Sumitomo Rubber sets up rubber procurement company
After considering a number of factors, such as a changing business environment as well as growing awareness of human rights and environmental considerations, Sumitomo Rubber Group has established its own local organisation for procuring natural rubber. It has done so via its member company Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which this month set up Sumitomo Rubber Singapore Pte. Ltd. This entity, located in the world’s largest natural rubber trading hub, will commence operations in April.
It is not easy to lift the bottom of the rubber out of the mud
Although the price of rubber prices is not easy to rise, the bottom may rise: the supply and demand structure in 2020 has not yet undergone a substantial change, and it is not easy for a sustained offensive increase. But the bottom may rise upwards: previously seen bottom opportunities may be difficult to see.
Halcyon Agri project focuses on sustainability
YAOUNDE, Cameroon—Halcyon Agri, the world’s largest natural rubber producing company, is undertaking a major project in Cameroon to address sustainability and human rights issues at its operations there.
IRSG focus stays steady throughout its evolution
SINGAPORE—Seventy-five years after its founding, the International Rubber Study Group continues to evolve as an analytical, statistical and forecasting body serving the natural and synthetic rubber industries, according to its current secretary general.
Sustainable natural rubber a big goal for industry
That was the message from Whitney Luckett, founding president of Southland Rubber USA—which produces 200,000 metric tons of latex annually throughout its six manufacturing sites—at the 2019 International Latex Conference, held recently in Fairlawn, Ohio.
Another year of slowdown for China’s rubber industry
Beijing, China – The number of companies in China’s sizeable rubber sector, including tire makers, reduced by 79 in 2018 to total 3,565 in 2018, following a drop of 324 companies in 2017.
The sector’s main business revenue remained flat in 2018 at €92 billion (698 billion yuan). Export delivery value rose by 4.4% from 2017 to €20 billion; total profit increased by 2.1% to €4 billion, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
GRI joins International Rubber Study Group panel
SINGAPORE—Global Rubber Industries, the Colombo, Sri Lanka-based maker of agricultural, construction and other specialty tires, has joined the Panel of Associates of the International Rubber Study Group.
Improving Brazilian NR competitiveness
The Brazilian Natural Rubber Productive Chain has evolved a lot over the last 30 years. The country has planted about 250,000 hectares (of which just over 150,000 are in production).
Good productivity levels
Despite the average Brazilian productivity, according to the National Institute of Statistics (IBGE) data, the regions where the crop advances the most have good productivity levels. It is revealed that there is still a lot of potential for improvement.