Winter tires have risen in price by 8–14% over the year

The weighted average cost of winter tires increased by 8–14% over the year. At the same time, average prices for the most popular standard sizes, on the contrary, decreased slightly over the year, and the main increase was observed in the scarce large standard sizes. Demand for winter tires has already intensified, but market participants expect that the peak of sales this year will shift from mid-October to later due to the warm autumn.

The weighted average cost of studded winter tires for the year increased by 14%, to 6.65 thousand rubles, was calculated by the CRPT based on data from the “Honest Sign” labeling system. Over the past month alone, it has grown by 5%. Studless winter tires increased in price by 8% over the year, to 6.18 thousand rubles.

According to TiresAddict, which tracks market offers, average prices for popular tire sizes have been steadily increasing since the beginning of September, although a slight decrease in price was observed in the middle of last month. However, average prices in some cases remain slightly lower than last year’s level – mainly for the most popular standard sizes, while sizes from R17 and larger are noticeably more expensive than a year earlier. So, for example, the scarce R20 will now cost on average 12 thousand more than a year ago – about 40 thousand rubles. for the tire. In October, prices from sellers also continued to be actively updated – over the weekend alone, some offers of winter tires increased by 700 rubles. up to 4 thousand rubles, but on Monday a number of offers became cheaper.

The increase in the weighted average cost of tires is associated both with an increase in prices from final sellers and with the structure of demand. As the head of Ikon Tires (before the purchase of Tatneft – Nokian Tires) Andrey Pantyukhov told Kommersant in an interview, pre-season tire sales began just in September. He also noted that prices from manufacturers for this winter season were formed in the spring and were lower than last year.

The head of the “Spare parts and accessories” category at Avito, Alexander Kuroptev, also speaks about the growing demand for winter tires since mid-September: “Sales increased by 25% compared to the same period in 2022.” About half of classified sales are from new tires. Popular brands in Avito are Nokian Tires, Bridgestone, Michelin, Yokohama and Cordiant, but indicate a noticeable increase in sales of the Chinese Triangle and Sailun, as well as the South Korean Kumho and Hankook.

Droma says that in the western part of Russia and the Urals, Yokohama tires are leading in demand, in Siberia – Bridgestone, and in the Far East, Triangle has become the best-selling brand. They also note that the volume of supply of car tires from China increased by 18%, which allowed them to occupy up to 12% of the market. In September, the minimum cost of a new winter tire of size 195/65 R15 was 4.1 thousand rubles, Droma adds: for this amount you can buy a Russian-made tire, while offers from brands from other countries, except Asia, will cost on average about 3 thousand rubles. expensive. Avito has similar data: Cordiant tires will cost an average of 16 thousand rubles. per set, whereas, for example, Bridgestone – from 24 thousand rubles.

According to the labeling system, in July-September 25% more studless winter tires were put into circulation than a year earlier—more than 4.5 million units. Turnover of studded tires increased by 32%, to 6.2 million units. “The volumes of tires produced in the Russian Federation put into circulation exceed imports by several percentage points,” noted Kirill Volkov, head of the department of excisable product groups at the Central Regional Transport Center.

The retail tire market has a pronounced seasonality, recalls Kordiant JSC (after the purchase, Kordiant JSC became part of the industrial holding S8 Capital, the same company includes the former Continental plant). The company believes that the traditional peak of purchases – from mid-October to mid-November – will most likely shift due to the warm autumn in the central regions.

The main load on the sales channel for the winter season is already coming to an end, Cordiante adds, but “the production and sale of winter tires will continue at least until December.” Ikon Tires also said that they are now engaged in additional production of tires for the winter season. Cordiant notes that the winter range, adapted for Russian conditions, has traditionally been produced primarily locally.

Sergei Udalov from Avtostat notes that last fall the market situation was uncertain: “No one understood what would happen to the production and imports available in the Russian Federation, so prices were higher before the season.” Now the import of mass standard sizes has already been established, production is operating under new brands – for example, Ikon, and the situation as a whole has stabilized, he continues. Large standard sizes were traditionally supplied only for import in small quantities, which has become more difficult in the current conditions, the analyst notes, and their price is also affected by the ruble exchange rate.

Olga Nikitina