Astutus Research has launched a new market intelligence service covering the generation, management and export of used and end-of-life tires across Europe. The platform combines a database updated twice a year with an annual report, “Tire Recovery & Recycling in Europe, 2032,” and is designed for tire manufacturers, EPR schemes, recyclers, pyrolysis developers, cement producers, investors and policymakers. According to Astutus, Europe generated approximately 4.4 million tonnes of used tires in 2025, with passenger car and light truck tires accounting for about 2.8 million tonnes, truck and bus tires 1.2 million tonnes and specialty tires roughly 0.4 million tonnes. Replacement demand generated around 92% of total used tire volumes, while vehicle scrappage contributed the remaining 8%. The service also tracks exports, treatment systems and regulatory developments, with Astutus forecasting European used tire generation to rise by almost 350,000 tonnes by 2032 to more than 4.7 million tonnes.

Database covers 27 European tire markets

The service covers 27 countries, comprising 24 EU Member States together with the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland. Across all markets, Astutus tracks used tire generation by country, tire segment and source channel.

The three principal segments are passenger car and light truck tires, truck and bus tires and specialty tires. Generation is also divided between replacement activity and tires arising from end-of-life vehicle dismantling.

Western Europe generates more than 80% of volumes

Astutus estimates that Western Europe generated approximately 3.18 million tonnes of end-of-life tires in 2025, representing more than 80% of the total European market covered by the analysis.

While Western Europe remains the largest source of tire volumes, Astutus identifies Central Europe as the main contributor to net growth, supported by expansion of the vehicle parc and increasing road freight activity.

PCLT tires dominate European used tire generation

Passenger car and light truck tires represented around two-thirds of European used tire generation in 2025, totaling approximately 2.8 million tonnes. Truck and bus tires contributed about 1.2 million tonnes, while specialty tires accounted for roughly 400,000 tonnes.

The dominance of PCLT tires makes developments in passenger vehicle fleets, replacement intervals, tire dimensions and electric vehicle adoption particularly important for forecasting future end-of-life tire volumes.

Replacement market accounts for 92% of used tires

The research estimates that approximately 92% of used tire generation originates from tire replacement, while only 8% comes from end-of-life vehicle dismantling.

This distinction is important for tire recycling because replacement demand tends to provide a more continuous feedstock stream, while ELV-related tire volumes depend more heavily on vehicle scrappage rates and dismantling activity.

Exports reach around 1.7 million tonnes

Reported exports of used and waste tires from Western Europe to destinations outside Europe reached approximately 1.7 million tonnes in 2025, according to Astutus. This represents an increase of around 75% compared with 2019.

India accounts for almost half of these exports, followed by Turkey and Morocco. The scale of these flows makes exports a critical component of the European end-of-life tire market and an important factor for domestic recyclers seeking reliable feedstock.

Export rules and traceability could reshape ELT flows

Astutus expects international tire flows to face increasing disruption from tighter traceability requirements and regulatory changes affecting waste shipments. Greater scrutiny of end-of-life tire exports could redirect more material toward domestic recycling and recovery markets within Europe.

This could influence feedstock availability for mechanical recycling, tire pyrolysis, recovered carbon black production and other material recovery technologies.

Artificial turf infill ban creates additional market pressure

The report also identifies the EU restriction on intentionally added microplastics, including the forthcoming phase-out of rubber infill in synthetic sports surfaces, as an important factor affecting existing markets for recycled tire rubber.

The loss of a major crumb rubber outlet could increase pressure on the tire recycling industry to develop alternative applications in roads, construction, molded products, devulcanization and other higher-value markets.

Emerging pyrolysis capacity could change treatment patterns

Astutus also highlights expanding tire pyrolysis capacity as a factor likely to alter the European recovery mix. New pyrolysis facilities can create additional demand for end-of-life tire feedstock while producing tire-derived oil, recovered carbon black and recovered steel.

The scale and location of new plants will therefore influence regional competition for tires and the balance between mechanical recycling, energy recovery, exports and chemical recycling.

European used tire generation forecast above 4.7 million tonnes by 2032

Astutus forecasts that European used tire generation will increase by almost 350,000 tonnes between 2025 and 2032, pushing total annual volumes above 4.7 million tonnes.

Passenger car and light truck tires are expected to drive most of the increase. The company attributes this trend to factors including larger and heavier vehicles, increasing rim sizes, faster tire wear associated with some electric vehicles and a recovery in vehicle scrappage rates.

Truck and bus tire growth expected to be more moderate

Growth in truck and bus tire generation is expected to be more limited than in the passenger and light truck segment. Road freight activity, tire replacement rates and retreading practices will remain important variables influencing future volumes.

Retreading can significantly extend the useful life of commercial tire casings and therefore affects when truck and bus tires ultimately enter the end-of-life recycling stream.

Service provides deeper data for 16 Western European markets

For 16 Western European countries, the platform provides more detailed information covering used tire volumes by segment, end-of-life tire generation and waste rubber exports by both country of origin and destination.

The service also evaluates Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and tracks differences in regulatory scope and treatment outcomes between national tire management systems.

Bottom-up model combines tire and vehicle market data

Astutus says its estimates are developed using a bottom-up methodology. Replacement tire volumes are calculated using fitment data for new, retreaded and part-worn tires, while end-of-life vehicle tire volumes are derived from vehicle dismantling statistics.

The modeled results are cross-checked against EPR reports, government collection and treatment data and international trade statistics. Forecasts also incorporate proprietary projections for vehicle kilometers travelled, vehicle parc development and tire replacement rates.

Intelligence service targets investment and recycling decisions

The service is intended to provide a clearer view of where end-of-life tires are generated, how they are managed and where material moves across borders. This information can support investment decisions involving recycling capacity, pyrolysis plants, recovered carbon black production and other tire-derived material markets.

As European tire recycling faces regulatory change, shifting export routes and new processing capacity, more detailed market data could help companies assess regional feedstock availability and identify where additional recycling infrastructure or end markets may be required.

Original report by Astutus research.