Thanks to many factors – pandemic supply chain disruptions, strong sales of all-weather tires, unpredictable snowfall amounts among them – the winter tire market in the U.S. has been largely flat in recent years. However, Denise Koeth, contributing editor to Tire Review magazine, says that tire dealers in snowy regions like the northern U.S. and Canada still should plan ahead to meet consumer demand in the segment — particularly for the new subsegment of tires for electric vehicles (EVs).
In talking with marketing experts from Nexen Tire America, Nokian Tyres and Hankook Tire America Corp., Koeth explains that winter tires offer unique sales opportunities, especially in the growing EV market.
Winter tires are purpose-built, from compounding to tread features, to deliver safety for drivers in wintry weather conditions. A large part of delivering safety in adverse weather conditions includes winter tires’ ability to enable grip, braking and handling. Experts say that, if the need is there, winter tires should never be replaced by an all-weather tire.
