Demand for bigger cars accelerates sales of wider tyres

Everything seems like it is getting bigger in the auto industry these days - right down to the wheels. Wider tyres on passenger vehicles, both cars and SUVs, with 18-22 inch diameters and 245/255 mm width have seen double-digit growth since 2020, while the share of smaller tyres is shrinking rapidly.

In CY 2020, the share of 12-inch wheel rim diameter was 6.3%, which fell to 1.2% in 2023, while the share of the 17-inch rims grew from 9.5 to 12.7%. In the same period, 18 inch rims have increased share from 1.3% to 6.5%, according to Jato Dynamics data.

One factor influencing this shift is the body types of vehicles that are now popular. With SUVs and MPVs now accounting for more than 55% of the passenger vehicle market, the demand for wider tyres (for better performance and ground clearance) used in such vehicles has shot up . In 2018-19, SUVs constituted just 29% of the PV market. Vehicle segment demand and the tyre marker are strongly connected, say experts

Interestingly, wider tyres lower fuel efficiency. Yet, "with the changing socio economic scenario, the buying criteria of consumers is changing with the car buyer of today giving larger weightage to performance, design and technology and lesser to fuel efficiency , said Shashank Srivastava, senior executive director, Maruti Suzuki,

Sudershan Gusain, GM-technical marketing Bridgestone India, says aesthetics as well as performance of the vehicle also plays a part. Over the last 2-3 years, "several car models have switched tyre size from 13, 14 and 15 to 14, 15 and 16 inch rim size," he says.

"The Indian consumers are becoming more aware and discerning about the role of tyres in their cars' performance and appearance. They are ready to pay more for tyres that offer them better handling, fuel efficiency, comfort, safety, and aesthetics," said Ravi Bhatia, president, Jato Dynamics.

Also with EVs gaining pace , the need for larger rim diameters is gaining traction. It's making tyre manufacturers and OEMs step up focus on high-torque requirements, which helps improve the vehicle's range.