The automotive world is replete with exhilarating speed records, groundbreaking technology, and head-turning designs. But beneath these high-profile aspects lies a component that keeps the world literally moving, yet often goes unnoticed—the tire.
Tires are the unsung heroes of our daily commute and epic road trips, providing the critical link between our vehicles and the road. However, their importance goes far beyond just keeping cars on the move.
In this article, we dive into the intriguing world of tire statistics, revealing the trends and numbers that shape this pivotal automotive industry segment. From global sales figures and safety data to insights on tire lifespan, recycling, and the growing market of specialized tires, we will roll out the facts and figures that drive the tire industry forward.
Table of Contents
Key Stats
- Total tire sales were $264.0 billion in 2021 [1], growing at a CAGR of 4.3%
- Of the largest tire producers (by revenue) in 2023, Bridgestone was #1 [2], Michelin was #2, and Goodyear was #3
- Out of the most popular tire brands, Firestone has had the most recalls with a whopping 127 (individual recalls and not total tires) [3]
- Lego is the largest tire manufacturer and holds a world record for producing over 300 million tires a year (they still make that much) [4]
- In 2022 alone, overall shipments of U.S. tires amounted to around 335 million units [5]
- The cheapest time to purchase tires is October for winter tires and April for summer tires
- In the United States alone, approximately seven tire punctures occur every second, resulting in 220 million flat tires annually [6]
- In a small survey of US drivers, 42% were confident in replacing a flat tire, while 21.8% were clueless [7]
- Tire repair kits outnumber spare tires now. Repair kits are now standard in 30 percent of vehicles (since 2017), with less than 15% of cars having a run-flat tire [8]
- Inflating your tires properly can save you almost 11 cents per gallon, but only 19% of people do so [9]
- Underinflated tires are 3 times as likely to cause a tire-related crash than properly inflated tires [10]
- 414 fatalities, 10,275 non-fatal injuries, and 78,392 crashes occur annually due to flat tires or blowouts before tire pressure systems were installed in vehicles [11]
- The NHTSA projected that 42,915 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021. Up 10% from 2020 [12]
- Each year, about 33,000 passenger vehicle tire-related crashes occur, resulting in about 19,000 injuries [13]
Tire Brands With The Most Recalls
The bullet list below recalls are individual types of tires and not the total tires recalled.
| Brand | Recalls (Tire Type) |
| Michelin | 36 |
| Bridgestone | 34 |
| Goodyear | 60 |
| Continental | 66 |
| Sumitomo | 11 |
| Firestone | 127 |
| BF Goodrich | 7 |
| Yokohama | 21 |
Goodyear had an RV tire recall of over 170,000 tires.
Firestone had the largest tire recall in history with over 14.5 million tires being recalled
https://harbert.auburn.edu/binaries/documents/center-for-ethical-organizational-cultures/cases/firestone.pdf
In 1978, Firestone recalled 14.5 million tires—the largest tire recall in history— because the excess application of the adhesive that binds the rubber and steel had caused 500 tread separations and blowouts. Firestone paid a $500,000 fine for concealing safety problems.
How Old is Each Tire Brand
- Michelin will be 134 years old in 2023
- Bridgestone is 93 years old in 2023
- Goodyear is 124
- Continental is 151
Most Expensive Tires in the World
- The Caterpillar 797 model has the most expensive tires, costing more than $40,000
The tires are taller than the average human, for comparison.
Number of Tires Produced/Manufactured a Year
| Company | Tires produced (2011) |
|---|---|
| Lego* | 318 million |
| Bridgestone | 190 million |
| Michelin | 184 million |
| Goodyear | 181 million |
https://www.statista.com/topics/3769/tire-market-in-the-us/#topicOverview
- Akron, Ohio, is known as the “Rubber Capital of the World,” a moniker given by Goodyear
Tire Industry
- The US shipped over 342M tires in 2022 alone
| Year | US Tire Shipments |
| 2019 | 332.7M |
| 2020 | 333.2M |
| 2021 | 335.2M |
| 2022 | 342.1M |
- The US market for replacement tires was over 61 billion dollars in 2022 [14]
The countries that produce the most rubber tires in the world are:
- China (18%) – US$15.1 billion
- Thailand (7.6%) – $6.3 billion
- Germany (6.8%) – $5.7 billion
- Japan (6.1%) – $5 billion
- United States (5.4%) – $4.5 billion
Goodyear Tire is the leading producer of tires in the US.
Are Tires in High Demand?
The global tire industry is expected to be valued at over $330 billion by 2027. So yes, they are in demand.
Average Hourly Earnings of Tire Related Careers
Tire-Related Accidents Statistics
What percentage of accidents are caused by tire blowouts?
As reported by NHTSA, tire blowouts cause more than 2000 crashes per year.
What percentage of accidents are caused by tires?
Over 2 million car accidents occur each year, but less than 1% are directly related to tires.
The most common cause of a tire blowout is an underinflated tire. Always keep an eye on tire pressure and make sure it is appropriately set.
Spare Tire Statistics
- 30 percent of new cars come without a spare tire, according to AAA research
This is mainly due to car manufacturers trying to keep up with fuel economy standards. A 30-pound spare tire can put a small but measurable drag on fuel efficiency. The removal allows for more space and more money saved.
Cars are now usually stocked with a tire repair kit.
- Spare tires can only be reliably used for 50-70 miles. But getting it replaced ASAP is what most experts recommend
Demographics
What percentage of people know how to change a spare tire?
Surprisingly, a Cooper Tires survey found that 78% of Gen Xers and 77% of millennials say they can change a tire. Only 71% of baby boomers reported being able to change a spare.
Perhaps more surprisingly, Skiers (91%) and snowboarders (87%) were far more likely to know how to change a spare than other demographics.
- 47% of female drivers have changed a tire, while 88% of men have done it
- A third of women say they don’t know how to change a tire
Interestingly, 78% of women have checked their car’s oil level, and 75% have jump-started their car. Meaning that a large percentage of women are familiar with basic car maintenance.
With cars now warning drivers about under-inflated cars and roadside assistance being able to change your tire for you, this stat could suggest the need to change tires is overall low.
- The gender distribution in the tire buying market is regularly 60/40 (male to female), according to Statista
How long does it take the average person to change a tire?
According to Priority Tire, “If you are changing all four tires, the installation will take between 45 minutes to an hour. This will vary based on the experience of your mechanic, the quality of the tires, how well the tires balance, etc. Installing a single tire takes about 10-15 minutes.”
What is the fastest time to change a tire?
The fastest time to change four wheels on a car is 49.03 seconds.
Tire Savings
- Properly inflating tires can save you up to 11 cents per gallon, but only 19 percent of people will do so
- Properly inflated tires will also extend the lifespan of a tire by nearly 4700 miles, leading to savings in the long run [NHTSA]
Tire Waste Statistics
- 1 billion ELTs (End of Life Tires) are generated each year globally
- 4 billion of these tires are sitting in landfills and stockpiles around the world
It’s not all bad, though. Tires can be used as an alternative to coal and other fuel sources, surprisingly reducing emissions. Tires have a high energy content and are an equal or better source of energy than many other solid fuels.
- ELTs are 2% of global waste.
- Car tires create a high amount of pollution, with 6.1 million tons of tire dust ending up in our atmosphere and are one of the most common microplastics in the ocean
Can tires be recycled?
Tires are commonly recycled, and most, if not all, of the material it is made of, can be recovered from a tire. You should always recycle your used tires instead of discarding them.
Burning tires (when done correctly and not done by random citizens) is actually quite beneficial for the environment.
Flat Tire Statistics
In the United States alone, approximately 7 tire punctures occur every second, resulting in 220 million flat tires per year. Statistics also show that every driver will experience on average up to 5 flat tires in their life time.
https://www.torquenews.com/14093/consumer-reports-analysts-recommend-which-flat-tire-sealants-actually-work
Your rear tire is not only more likely to cause tire-related accidents but is also more likely to get punctured by debris.
Winter Tire Stats
- Just two in five American motorists use winter/snow tires
- Michelin found that three out of four drivers are nervous about driving in snow
- Winter tires prevent about 575 road-accident injuries per winter in Quebec (according to the Quebec Government)
- On average, 445 drivers die per year on snowy or icy roads. Michigan is the most dangerous state for winter driving
- Wyoming is the worst state for winter driving fatalities, with 34 fatal crashes per one million drivers
- About 17% of vehicle crashes occur in snowy conditions
- Around 70% of the population in the United States lives in places that have snowy and icy conditions during the winter [source]
- bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter [source]
- 2020 had 374 fatal crashes, and an estimated 25,000 injury crashes that occurred in wintry conditions
Impact of Electric Vehicles on Tires
- EVs could wear standard tires at a rate 30% faster than what the average gas-powered vehicle does. Real-world conditions could be even more extreme, with some drivers reporting mileage of only 20,000 kilometers per tire set! Compared to 50-60k miles of normal tires.
The instant torque and increased weight from batteries are all contributors.
- The electric vehicle tire market reached $40 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow 8.6% annually (double the regular tire market)
Run Flat Tires
- 15% of cars have run-flat tires. The majority come from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini
What is the average life of run-flat tires?
About 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Run flat tires have the same lifespan as your average tire, although factors like road conditions, driving habits, and air pressure could shorten it, just like any other tire.
In conclusion, the tire industry, often overlooked, plays a crucial role in our daily lives and the broader automotive sector. Understanding these tire statistics offers valuable insights from safety considerations to environmental impacts and market trends to technological advancements. As we navigate the future, these numbers will continue to evolve, influencing our decisions and shaping the automotive landscape.
We will update and add more stats to this page as time goes on. Feel free to contact us if you have any relevant stats that can be added here.
