Airless Tires Market

Airless Tires Market Growth Outlook (2023 to 2033)

The global airless tires market is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 5.4% and hit a valuation of US$ 85 million by 2033, up from US$ 50 million in 2023.

The airless tire also referred to as a flat-free tire or non-pneumatic tire (NPT), does not depend on air pressure for support, removing the requirement to routinely re-inflate the tire. It is made of rubber and functions as a flexible cushion, absorbing vibrations and softening the automobile's shock.

Tires induce numerous accidents worldwide since they primarily govern a vehicle's motion.

• For example, in the United States alone, tire-related problems cause around 700 fatalities each year. As per studies, the fatality rate due to tire-related problems has been higher than the rate of cell phone driving fatalities.

The most typical problems with pneumatic tires are worn-out tires, tire blowouts, and flat tires. Over 400 flat tires are reported each minute in the United States alone. This equates to more than 200 million flat tires per year. Furthermore, various surveys conducted throughout the world show that a large majority of people, particularly millennials, do not know how to fix a flat tire. The likelihood of a flat tire is reduced by using airless tires.

Frameworks such as CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) and standards imposed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), and others throughout the world require higher mileage figures to minimize vehicle emissions. Automakers are making significant efforts to lower the total weight of vehicles to accomplish this.

Spare tires can be eliminated from automobiles using airless tires that will not go flat. A standard spare tire, combined with the necessary tools to change it, weighs between 40 and 50 pounds. This additional weight can be removed from a vehicle, increasing MPG ratings.

Increasing electric vehicle sales and a transition toward sustainable automotive solutions are expected to open up new potential prospects for market players. As a result, many players are testing airless tires on electric vehicles.

• For example, Goodyear revealed in November 2021 that it tested airless tires on the Tesla Model 3. These experiments were carried out as part of Goodyear's assessment of airless tires.

Airless tires are rapidly gaining traction in the automotive industry, particularly at a time when many automakers are implementing sustainable solutions to reduce their carbon impact. These tires, which are made from bio-sourced and recycled components, can help reduce the overall environmental footprint of the tire industry.

Report Attributes	Details
Airless Tires Market Size (2023)	US$ 50 Million
Projected Market Value (2033)	US$ 85 Million
Global Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	5.4% CAGR
Asia Pacific Market Value (2033)	US$ 33.5 Million
Leading Product Segment	Radial Tires
Key Companies Profiled	Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co Michelin Group Continental AG Hankook Tire & Technology Group Bridgestone Corporation Toyo Tire Corporation (Japan) Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)

Why is Demand for Airless Tires Inflating?

“Increased Demand for Maintenance-free Tires”

Even though it seems to be pneumatic, an airless tire is built of solid polyurethane and has a saw-toothed tread. It has equivalent bounce and load-carrying characteristics as an air-filled tire but without the necessary upkeep of routinely reinserting air into the tire to keep it from flattening.

Unlike foam-filled tires, the solid rubber of the airless tire enables it to roll smoothly and silently, with additional cushioning against shocks. The airless tire can roll over a mound of glass, nails, and stones without getting deflated, as there is no tubing. Moreover, airless tires' solid rubber is chemical and heat-resistant compared to pneumatic tires and will not break or degrade.

The tire's tread offers a smooth ride, making it an excellent option for floor protection. Airless tire addresses the weaknesses in noise level, roll-ability, and overall floor protection found in air-filled and foam-filled tires.

Country-wise Insights

Why are Japan and South Korea Key Markets for Airless Tire Manufacturers?

“Increasing Production of Passenger Vehicles and Collaborations between Automotive Firms and Tire Makers”

According to Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the Asia Pacific market is expected to garner US$ 33.5 million by 2033.

Asia Pacific is spearheading the global market for airless tires owing to the presence of manufacturers, easy supply of raw materials, and growing automobile ownership in the region. Moreover, given the rapid growth of the automobile industry in countries such as Japan and South Korea, the region has one of the major automotive aftermarkets.

Sales of airless tires are increasing in Japan and South Korea due to expanding production of passenger vehicles. Moreover, many automotive companies are collaborating with tire makers to develop innovative automotive tubeless tires and airless tires for technologically advanced vehicles.

• Hankook Tire & Technology, South Korea's leading tire maker, debuted the airless tire i-Flex at CES 2022, which was used for the Hyundai Motor Group's most current robotics module Plug & Drive. According to the company, a 10-inch tire has a biomimetic construction and does not require air inside like a standard tire. According to the tire maker, i-Flex used a multi-layer interlocked spoke design to assist the load-carrying framework and shock absorption. The device also does not require routine air pressure checks, and it prevents road accidents caused by flat tires.

What Aspects are Fueling the Sales of Airless Tires in the United States?

“Strong Focus on Developing Superior & Eco-friendly Airless Tires“

North America is experiencing considerable growth in the worldwide market due to the growing use of airless tires in terrain, utility, and military vehicles, as well as market participants' continued emphasis on delivering products for military and defense reasons.

• Resilient Technologies and Michelin provide these wheels to the United States military so that they can move in uneven and tough terrain.

Manufacturing firms in the United States are concentrating on developing superior airless tires that can improve the efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles. Furthermore, governments and other organizations in the country are striving hard to reduce automotive emissions by promoting the use of fuel-efficient automobile components.

Which Country is Majorly Contributing to European Market Growth?

“Germany to Make Major Contributions to Regional Market Progress”

The European market is expanding at a rapid pace. Germany is making major contributions to the regional market due to the presence of prominent tire manufacturers and the increasing need for fuel-efficient technologies.

Category-wise Insights

Why are Radial Airless Tires the Most Popular across the World?

“Superior Strength & Structure of Radial Tires Give Them an Edge”

Radial tires are made up of several cords that join the beads to the tread. This allows the belts to be set exactly below the tread and the cords to be nearly perpendicular to the tread's centerline and parallel to one another. This network adds to the tire's strength and structure.

Bias tires are made by weaving nylon and polyester cords and belts at angles ranging from 30 to 45 degrees from the tread's centerline. On the flip side, radials have crisscrossing steel belts below the tread to strengthen the structure and solid side walls to provide more resistance to cuts and damage.

Why are Airless Tires Widely Being Deployed in Passenger Vehicles?

“High Demand for Fuel-efficient Passenger Vehicles”

The global market is greatly benefitting from the increasing demand for passenger vehicles in developed and developing countries. Growing demand for passenger vehicles with increased fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and better performance is raising the usage of airless tires in them.

Airless tires are also finding significant usage in commercial vehicles. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are supporting the sales growth of airless tires owing to expanding LCV sales in emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil as a result of increasing industrialization, fast urbanization, and an expanding middle-class population. These factors are expected to increase product demand in the next years.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in the airless tires market are constantly pursuing marketing tactics such as collaborations, technological innovations, acquisitions, investments, and R&D activities to maintain and improve their market share and presence. Moreover, several start-ups are focusing on new developments to create innovative airless tires.

• SMART, a start-up based in the United States, has a Space Act Agreement with NASA and is part of the agency's official Star-tup Program, which tries to commercialize some of its inventions. In March 2021, the new company unveiled its first product: An airless bicycle tire developed by NASA researchers to make future lunar and Martian rovers more robust.
• The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company began testing an airless tire on delivery robots at Ohio's Bowling Green State University in January 2022.
• Michelin unveiled The Uptis airless tires in October 2021, comprising fiberglass and rubber and claiming to be fuel-efficient, longer-lasting, and recyclable.
• Toyo Tires began commercializing airless tires that do not require air filling in April 2021. A line of manufacturing for airless tires was installed at the Sendai Plant, and production tests were carried out. Since airless tires are not permitted on public highways, the commercialized product is mostly for small mobile applications like golf carts.

Key Segments of Airless Tires Industry Research

• By Product :

  • Radial
  • Bias

• By Vehicle :

  • Military Vehicles
  • Passenger Vehicles
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Terrain Vehicles
  • Utility Vehicles
  • Two-wheelers

• By Material :

  • Rubber
  • Plastic

• By Sales Channel :

  • OEMs
  • Aftermarket

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific & China
  • Middle East & Africa