Shorter supply times for tyres

Global demand for tyres remains strong, driven in part by continued growth in mining activity.

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Construction and mining operators were among the many businesses impacted by supply chain disruptions during and after the COVID pandemic.

The good news is that the market has stabilised, with supply conditions continuing to improve through 2026.

According to OTR - Tyres Wheels Axles Sales Manager Luke Slywa, one of the sectors to reflect this trend has been the tyre supply industry.

“In the early 2000s, it was difficult to source tyres, with lead times for large haul truck tyres stretching to six to eight months,” he said. “Smaller tyres were less affected because that segment has a far larger supplier base.

“In a normal market environment like we are seeing today, smaller tyres are typically available off the shelf. Even when they need to be ordered from the manufacturer, lead times are usually around only two months.”

Luke said that raw material supply continues to evolve, as global conflicts influence shipping routes and the cost of key inputs.

“Those factors are still having an impact on logistics and material pricing,” he said. “However, mining asset managers have developed strategies to manage tyre supply risks, particularly for haul trucks, where downtime is not an option.”

Streamlined inventory management