Press Release
Europe’s winter tyre market is booming – but
consumers are concerned about tyre markings
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Demand increasing further; obligation to change to winter tyres about to be
introduced in France and Luxembourg, too
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Tyre markings unclear to consumers
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Legal regulations differ widely throughout Europe
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Winter tyre range becoming increasingly diverse
Hanover, march 2012. The European winter tyre market continues to grow, with the industry
to supply around 80 million to tyre dealers and car dealerships last year – more than ever
before. Attributing this solely to drivers’ growing awareness of safety overlooks the fact that
lawmakers are increasingly making it mandatory for citizens to change over to safe winter
tyres. In Scandinavia – with the exception of Denmark – this has been set in stone for some
time now. Such obligations exist in the Baltic states as well, while Germany and Austria
prescribe the use of winter tyres in “wintery conditions”. France and Luxembourg will
introduce legal regulations this year, and even in Mediterranean Italy, local governments
have made winter tyres compulsory in northern regions.
All this means dynamic growth in the winter tyre trend throughout Europe. last year, around
18 million more tyres were sold in Europe than in 2007, the year before the economic and
financial crisis. In contrast, 2011 has seen the summer tyre segment return to 2007 levels for
the first time. The specialist market for the cold season is therefore above-average growth. In
2010, the industry sold a total of 224 million passenger car tyres in Europe; last year, market
researchers at Continental expect this figure to hit 236 million. At 80 million, winter tyres
already make up more than one third of this total, increasing by six million year on year.
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Consumers are converting even without winter tyre laws
Germany is traditionally the “heavyweight” among the European sales markets. last year,
dealers from Flensburg in the north to Freilassing in the south alone ordered around 35
million – one and a half million more than in the previous boom year of 2010. Almost 90% of
motorists in this country change their tyres. But even citizens in countries yet to introduce
general tyre changeover obligations want to drive safely. For this reason, around 8.6 million
winter tyres were sold 2011 in Italy, which has around 37 million registered passenger cars,
while five million were sold in France, which has some 31 million cars. Continental’s market
researchers have identified growth here as well, which they attribute to the fact that
consumers are increasingly well informed and feel the need for greater safety.
Uncertainty regarding winter tyre markings
Despite ever increasing regulations regarding winter tyres, there are still no fixed, Europewide or even national specifications regarding a winter tyre’s performance. The problem is
that the oft-quoted M+S marking is not linked to a performance certificate. And since it
indicates tyres that are designed for driving on “Mud and Snow”, this marking can be applied
equally to winter and off-road tyres. However, 4x4 off-road tyres are not suitable for driving
on typical winter roads, which means that consumers who use this traditional lettering as a
guide may not have winter tyres on their car. A survey conducted in October 2011 on
www.motortalk.de, Europe’s leading online community, clearly illustrated this uncertainty.
When asked whether they felt sufficiently informed about legal regulations for winter tyres,
47% of participants responded with either “No” or “To some extent”. Most were also unclear
on the legal specifications regarding winter tyre markings: 77% of those surveyed were not
correctly informed, with just 23% knowing that the M+S marking alone is currently sufficient
in Germany. Many were also unsure of the safety benefits of winter tyres. A total of 38%
believed that winter tyres reduced braking distances on snow by 20% or 30% – they actually
reduce braking by more than 40%, although 62% did know the correct answer. In fact, the
difference is as high as about 100% – when braking on snow, winter tyres halve braking
distances compared with summer tyres.
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Legal regulations for winter tyres inconsistent in Europe
The snowflake symbol, which originated in Canada, would help redress uncertainties
regarding tyre markings – even if it does envisage a comparison between an “aspiring” winter
tyre and a standard reference tyre. In Europe, however, only the small country of Bosnia and
Herzegovina stipulates that its around 450,000 vehicle owners must use winter tyres with
M+S and snowflake markings. The other European countries with winter tyre obligations use
a mixture of M+S markings, “wintery road conditions” as well as time frames in which winter
tyres have to be fitted. For example, the Austrian authorities prescribe the use of tyres with
M+S markings and a tread depth of at least four millimetres from November 1 to April 15 in
winter road conditions. If there is no snow or ice, even summer tyres with tread depths worn
down to 1.6 millimetres are sufficient, even if temperatures dip well below zero. For those
determined to do without winter tyres, the legislative body states that they can bypass this
obligation by attaching snow chains to their summer tyres. However, experts have criticised
the fact that on icy stretches such as junctions or before bends, as well as on roads that are
completely iced over, this combination extends braking distances considerably compared
with winter tyres.
Winter tyre range is becoming increasingly diverse
The range of winter tyres available is becoming increasingly unclear for end consumers.
There are no longer any “all-rounders” who can at least supply tyres for passenger cars and
vans under one roof, because experts also differentiate between tyres for passenger cars,
vans and trucks. And even here there are big differences: For passenger cars, a distinction
must now be made between tyres for compact, mid-range, luxury, sports and 4x4 vehicles,
such are the hugely diverse requirements regarding vehicle usage, handling, horsepower,
weight and drive type. But even these varying winter tyre models can only win over
customers in specific regions at best. This is why different types are offered in Central and
Northern Europe. While winter tyres for Central Europe are produced with a – comparatively
– harder compound to safeguard mileage and driving properties throughout the whole of late
autumn and winter at the prevailing temperatures in Germany, Austria and Switzerland,
leading manufacturers such as Continental look to the “Nordic” models in Scandinavia and
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Russia – winter tyres with a softer compound or with spikes that provide maximum grip on
the usually icy roads found in the far north. As with the Central European winter tyres, they
are produced for all segments (compact series, mid-range and luxury segment, sports cars
and 4x4 vehicles). Continental also manufactures winter tyres for special uses such as on
bicycles. And the Hanover-based company even offers two solutions for trucks: The standard
tyre, which has a high-traction pattern for the drive axle, and the special all-round winter tyre.
While the standard solution provides sufficient grip for loaded vehicles travelling on winter
motorways and trunk roads without extreme gradients, the all-round winter tyres for trucks
and buses maintain good grip even when empty vehicles have to travel to Scandinavia.
There, however, transportation companies traditionally fit spiked tyres on all wheels –
although once they have done so, the trucks cannot even leave the ferry from Stockholm
once it reaches Germany, as spikes were banned from the roads here back in the 1970s.
Continental Corporation
With sales of €30.5 billion in 2011, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide.
As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis,
instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomer products,
Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an
expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has approximately
164,000 employees in 46 countries.
www.continental-corporation.com
Tire Division
The Tire division includes the Passenger and Light Truck, the Commercial Vehicle Tire and the
Industrial Tire business units, as well as the Two-Wheel Tire activities. As one of the world’s leading
tire manufacturers with more than 41,000 employees, the division achieved cumulative sales of more
than €8.8 billion in 2011. The Tire division currently has 22 production and development locations
worldwide. The broad product range and continuous investments in R&D make a major contribution to
cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility.
Passenger and Light Truck Tires
Continental is one of the leading manufacturers of passenger and light truck tires in Europe and the
world’s fourth largest passenger tire manufacturer in the original equipment and replacement market.
The product development focus of the Continental premium brand is to optimize all safety-relevant
characteristics, while simultaneously minimizing rolling resistance.
www.continental-reifen.de
Commercial Vehicle Tires
The Commercial Vehicle Tire business unit had sales of more than €1.8 billion in 2011, making it one
of the largest manufacturers of truck, bus and industrial tires worldwide.
www.continental-truck-tires.com
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Sponsorship
Continental’s Tire division is an official sponsor of the German DFB Cup, the UEFA EURO 2012 TM in
Poland and the Ukraine, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
www.ContiSoccerWorld.de
Contact:
Alexander Bahlmann
Head of PR, Passenger/Light Truck Tires
Continental AG
Tire Division
Büttnerstraße 25, 30165 Hanover, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 511 938 2615
Fax: +49 (0) 511 938 2455
alexander.bahlmann@conti.de
www.continental-reifen.de
Media Database
www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com
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Klaus Engelhart
Press Spokesman
Passenger and Light Truck/Two-Wheel Tires
Germany/Austria/Switzerland
Continental AG
Tire Division
Büttnerstraße 25, 30165 Hanover, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 511 938 2285
Fax: +49 (0) 511 938 2455
klaus.engelhart@conti.de