From overload crackdowns to specialized tire development, the global truck tire market is reshaping its landscape amid safety challenges and technological breakthroughs.

On the night of November 19, 2025, on Jiaxiu South Road in Guiyang, a green dump truck slowly approached—its tires screeching against the road surface, with billowing white smoke emerging the moment it braked -1. Police officers immediately signaled the driver to pull over for inspection, ultimately confirming this was a "hundred-ton king," with an overload weight directly exceeding 100 tons -1.

Just a few days later, on November 26, a foreign van suddenly experienced a tire blowout while entering the Gu'an South Toll Station on the Hebei Expressway -3. Fortunately, the toll station foreman quickly stepped forward, calming the driver while organizing personnel to set up a safety warning area and redirect traffic -3.

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01 Overload Hazards: Tire Safety Alarms Sound Frequently

Since November, frequent safety incidents related to truck tires have occurred across multiple regions in China, drawing heightened attention from the industry regarding tire safety.

When dealing with the "hundred-ton king," Guiyang traffic police pointed out that while truck overloading might seem to "make extra money," it is essentially gambling with one's own and others' lives -1.

Exceeding tire load capacity can easily lead to blowouts. Overloading causes tires to operate under excessive load for prolonged periods, with internal pressure and temperature continuously rising, far beyond normal tolerance ranges -1.

Once a tire suddenly bursts during high-speed driving, the driver struggles to control the vehicle in time, potentially triggering chain reactions such as multi-vehicle collisions or rollovers -1.

Unstable center of gravity is another major hazard of overloaded trucks. Overloading makes steering heavier, significantly increases centrifugal force during travel, and directly affects vehicle handling performance -1.

Meanwhile, braking distance is noticeably extended; distances where stopping in time was previously possible may, when overloaded, result directly in collisions with vehicles or pedestrians ahead -1.

02 Global Response: Trade Investigations and Safety Regulation Advance Together

While domestic tire safety issues attract attention, an international adjustment in trade and safety supervision regarding truck tires is simultaneously underway.

In early November 2025, the Eurasian Economic Commission's Internal Market Protection Department officially announced the initiation of two anti-dumping investigations targeting imported truck tires—one a repeat investigation concerning Chinese imports, the other a new case involving Thailand and Vietnam -2.

Almost simultaneously, across the Atlantic, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a notice approving Michelin North America's application for a compliance exemption regarding certain tires not fully meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards -4-9.

The products involved are approximately 160 Michelin X Multi D+ size 11R22.5 replacement tires, which, due to a mold error, lack the letter "H" indicating the tire load range -4.

After evaluation, NHTSA determined that although the marking was incomplete, other markings on the tires still provided necessary load information, thus not posing a safety threat -4.

However, not all tire safety issues receive exemptions. Recently, the European Safety Gate portal issued an announcement that Goodyear is recalling a batch of Goodyear Kmax D Gen-2 truck tires -10.

These tires were produced at Goodyear's Wittlich plant in Germany, with production dates concentrated in weeks 39 to 41 of 2025. The recall is due to insufficient carcass ply thickness, which may lead to tire pressure loss and increase the risk of vehicle loss of control -10.

03 Technological Breakthroughs: Specialized Tires Meet Diverse Needs

Facing complex safety challenges and diverse market demands, tire companies are actively seeking technological breakthroughs, launching various specialized tire solutions.

On October 27, 2025, Zhongce Rubber Group held a launch ceremony at its Jintan factory for the world's first super VAN-dedicated tire—the Green Warrior EV505 -6-8.

This is a groundbreaking product aimed at the new energy logistics vehicle market, with its core breakthrough lying in the ultra-strong, ultra-tough all-alloy steel cord developed jointly with Bekaert -6-8.

This steel cord's strength is 40% higher than ordinary steel cord and over 200% higher than polyester cords in semi-steel tires! -6

Combined with an industry-first dedicated tire forming process, Zhongce successfully created the world's first all-alloy tire body, enabling a single tire load capacity of up to 2 tons, exceeding the national standard for this specification by 70% -6-8.

Ge Guorong, Senior Vice President of Zhongce Rubber Group, pointed out that the new energy VAN market is ushering in a golden development period. Zhongce Rubber developed the dedicated EV505 tire targeting pain points like easy bulging and irregular wear of ordinary structure tires under heavy loads -6.

In the UK market, tire sales company Bohnenkamp has significantly expanded its truck and transport tire product portfolio, introducing not only the Pro series featuring Sailun's EcoPoint³ technology but also exclusively launching the Rovelo truck tire brand -5.

Sailun's EcoPoint³ liquid-phase compounding technology is a highlight of the Pro series tires. This technology aims to reduce heat buildup and rolling resistance, effectively saving fuel and increasing mileage without compromising wet grip -5.

04 Electric Transformation: Tire Technology Adapts to Vehicle Evolution

With the rapid development of electric commercial vehicles, the tire industry is facing new technical challenges and opportunities.

The unique attributes of electric commercial vehicles present new requirements for tires. Big Bus Tours has fully adopted Michelin InCity EV Z tires across its London fleet, comprising Ankai HFF6121 open-top double-decker buses converted from diesel to battery-electric power -7.

Vehicle electrification conversion increased each bus's weight by 800 kilograms and altered the weight distribution, raising questions about tire loading, particularly on the steering axle -7.

Michelin representatives subsequently conducted a weighing exercise, considering passenger numbers and axle loads to establish optimal tire pressure -7.

The final report confirmed the engineering concept but revealed that the previously used tires were no longer suitable for the converted electric vehicles, especially on the rear-steer axle -7.

Commenting on the change, Jon Reed, Head of Engineering – Europe at Big Bus Tours, said: "Michelin told us from a cost and duty cycle perspective, 'the Michelin InCity EV Z is the best tire for you.' And it has been." -7

"They are performing well, and we have had zero complaints of road noise. We seem to be getting less sidewall damage too. While we are paying more for them initially than our previous brand of tires, the cost is worth it. We are getting much longer life out of them." -7

Michelin added that the range incorporates several technologies to deliver the best in urban and suburban passenger transport. These provide increased resistance to sidewall kerbing and tire splitting -7.

Regen technology ensures grip in all conditions, coupled with low rolling resistance -7.

05 Market Layout: Global Brands Adjust Product Strategies

Facing diversified market demands, global tire brands are adjusting product strategies and targeting segmented markets.

Karsten Krückeberg, Head of Commercial Vehicle/Truck Department at Bohnenkamp, stated: "With the Sailun Pro and Rovelo series, we precisely meet two key market demands: fulfilling professional fleets' pursuit of ultimate efficiency while providing practical solutions for daily applications." -5

The Sailun Pro series is precisely positioned for urban, regional, and long-distance heavy-duty operations, particularly suitable for electric fleets with extremely stringent requirements on load and heat management -5.

For urban conditions, the City Pro Z tire in size 275/70 R22.5, with its reinforced sidewall design, perfectly adapts to frequently stopping and starting bus and delivery routes -5.

Regional transport operators can choose the Delivery Pro D tire in size 315/80 R22.5, whose drive wheels feature five ribs and 3D sipes, strongly ensuring traction stability -5.

For the long-distance transport sector, the Ecomax Pro S tire in size 315/80 R22.5 for steering axles uses biomimetic leaf-like sipes to stabilize wet grip performance -5.

The Ecomax Pro T tire for trailers in size 385/55 R22.5 achieves efficient drainage through circumferential and transverse grooves -5.

Besides the Pro series, the Rovelo truck tire exclusively launched by Bohnenkamp has also attracted attention -5.

This tire is positioned as a reliable and economical choice for professional users, supplied exclusively through the Bohnenkamp Group -5.

Rovelo tires are produced by Sailun Group in its Asian factories, leveraging Sailun's advanced technology and sustainable development processes -5.

Bohnenkamp particularly emphasized Sailun's ESG credentials, including an "A" rating from MSCI, and integrated them into the brand story -5.

06 Safety Warnings: Compliant Use and Daily Maintenance are Equally Important

While tire technology continuously advances, compliant use and daily maintenance remain key to ensuring safety.

Guiyang traffic police solemnly remind truck drivers: Do not be迷惑 by short-term economic interests or侥幸 take chances "overloading and speeding"—neglecting road traffic safety for oneself and others may ultimately cost lives -1.

Reject overloading, adhere to compliant and legal transportation, ensuring large trucks no longer become "disaster" vehicles threatening road safety, allowing every journey to reach its destination safely -1.

The blowout incident at Hebei Expressway's Gu'an South Toll Station also reminds us of the importance of daily inspection and maintenance -3.

In that incident, the toll station foreman, seeing the driver was very tired, arranged for the driver to rest at the convenient service station and proactively contacted nearby repair personnel -3.

During the wait, they patiently educated the driver on tire maintenance knowledge, reminding them to perform pre-trip inspections to avoid similar situations -3.

The Gu'an South Toll Station always focuses on driver and passenger needs, using常态化 services like repairs, push-starts, and temporary rest to build a "heartbridge" with them, filling the expressway with warmth -3.

For tire manufacturers, even small batches of non-compliant products require serious treatment.

After discovering that some X Works D tires had incorrectly marked maximum dual loads, Michelin North America proactively reported to NHTSA and submitted an exemption application -9.

These tires were marked with a maximum dual load of 5,590 pounds, while the correct value should be 6,005 pounds -9.

After evaluation, NHTSA determined that since the tires were designed and manufactured with a load capacity higher than the incorrect marked value, consumers using the tires according to the marked values would not cause overload, thus approving Michelin's application on November 28, 2025 -9.

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From the intercepted "hundred-ton king" in Guiyang to the tire blowout rescue on the Hebei Expressway; from Michelin's compliance exemption to Zhongce Rubber's all-alloy tire body, the truck tire sector is undergoing multiple transformations in safety, trade, and technology.

As Jon Reed, Engineering Head of Big Bus Tours, stated, choosing suitable tires, while involving higher initial costs, is a worthwhile investment from a lifecycle perspective -7.

As overload crackdowns, trade investigations, and technological breakthroughs advance simultaneously, tires have evolved from simple components into key factors influencing fleet safety, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability.