Winter tires are key to safe driving in the coldest regions. Used mostly in northern Europe, the Nordics begin to feel that winter will be more complicated. The reality is that some suppliers cannot guarantee optimal supply, and their prices have risen.
Many customers use winter tires in their cars. Its great grip characteristics provide great safety in snow and in the coldest regions where ice is practically permanent on the road, not requiring chains to drive. In northern Europe, in the Nordic countries, they become the real star from autumn. But this year there are major problems ahead.
And it is that the ukrainian war and, especially the sanctions imposed on Russia, where the big tire suppliers –Continental, michelin, Nokian Y Pirelli– manufacture this type of rubber, both without nails and the so-called Nordic, which have nails, are already causing some damage that is being transferred to workshops and customers.
Winter tires will be scarce in some sizes
The colleagues of «Teknikensvarld» have asked those responsible for these brands, with the aim of knowing the real situation they face. Despite the image they try to give is of normality and that there will be no problems, some do pray that winter enters normally and not with a heavy snowfall.
Those of Nokian are transferring production from Russia to Finland, although they already warn that there will be availability problems with concrete measuresand that some countries will not receive winter tires, as Sweden has been given priority. At Continental, the situation is similar, as the Russian production has been relocated to other European factories, warning that the production of studded winter tires is further behind.
Winter tires will be more expensive
Quite the contrary, they point out from Michelin, who say they have no problem in the supply of any type of winter tire. Along the same lines, one of the Pirelli subsidiaries has manifested itself. Those from Däckia are in the same position as the French, in conditions of supplying tires almost like a year ago. And it is “almost”, because everyone has agreed that not all the measures that customers will demand will be available.
However, there is one key factor that all tire manufacturers agree on: prices have gone up for the cost of raw materials, energy, transport and fuel, which means that customers will pay a twenty% more than last year.