Looking back, looking forward: 2022, tyres and the word ‘permacrisis’

This time last year we sought to sum up what can only be described as a tumultuous preceding 12 months by pointing to the Oxford English Dictionary word of 2021, which was “vax” – something that harked back to the heights of pandemic-related lockdowns. But for many it is still a current reality. The year before it the word of the year was “unprecedented”.

Together, that recent experience means we have all become quite well-practiced at adjustment – how we have needed to be creative and flexible! Three prime ministers in a matter of months, double-digit interest rates and a cost-of-living crisis has led to tyre price increases, factory closures and what can only be described as a Rexit – the decision of Western tyremakers to move on from their respective tyre production factories and investments in Russia.

With all that in mind, you can understand why Collins Dictionary plumped for “permacrisis” as its 2022 word of the year. Still, news, information and analysis has never been more valuable and the creative and entrepreneurial forces within the tyre business continue to shine amidst the external pressures, which is why December’s Tyres & Accessories reviews some of the biggest trends and news of 2022 and looks forward to what we might be able to expect next year.

We could of course have headlined the 2022 Review of the Year section with the Exodus of global tyre brand manufacturing capacity from Russia. However, we looked “Rexit” in this column last month and brought you the details of who is buying and selling what in the pages of the magazine.

Rather, we have opted to zoom out a bit more and have highlighted some other macro trends. The section kicks off with the latest developments in relation to anti-Chinese produced tyre tariffs – bringing you the latest comment from the European Commission, China Rubber Industry Associate (CRIA) and representatives of one of the leading Chinese tyre brands on page 24. From here we move to the news that China is relaxing its so-called “zero Covid” policies. Whatever your views on the quantities of Chinese-produced tyres being imported into the UK and Europe, the fact is that production and export of tyres from China has been impacted by the pandemic. If the zero Covid policy is being relaxed, both tyre production as well as international exports will increase – something that will have an undoubted impact on global tyre markets in 2023.

Indeed, during 2022, we set up a new venture into the world’s largest tyre production market – China. Written and produced in Chinese, Tyrepress China leverages Tyre Industry Publication’s considerable tyre publishing strengths in what is a mutually beneficial project. By enhancing our editorial team with tyre business expertise hailing from China, we have been able to produce a Chinese-language website for the large domestic Chinese tyre market. However, those same contacts and information also provide reciprocal benefits for those looking to export outside Chinese turf into the European and rest-of-world markets that Tyres & Accessories and Tyrepress.com specialise in. The project began with a weekly e-Newsletter and has now grown to include key Chinese social media networks such as WeChat and Weibo as well as a custom-built Tyrepress China website.

Our Review of the Year 2022 section continues with the birds-eye view of market trends offered by thought-leaders in the UK tyre distribution and retail sectors, before highlighting further examples of best-practice and success closer to home.

This month’s magazine also features a thorough review of the latest news and developments in the raw materials and manufacturing side of the business (see page 44 onwards).

This article is an example of the editorial comment that introduces every edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not a subscriber? No problem, click here to become one.