If you want to exchange your summer tires for winter tires or all-season tires this year, you may not get the chance to do so. The stock of winter tires and all-season tires has not been as low in the past ten years as it is now.
Tires in Stock, a B2B portal for garages, among others, reports that the stock of winter tires in the last ten years was not as low as it is now. This could mean that not all drivers who want to switch to winter tires or all-season tires this year can actually do so.
According to Tires in Stock, there are several reasons for the possible shortage of winter tires. Container rates for containers from Asia shot up in April, just as importers usually order their winter tires. According to the tire site, it was initially thought that the rates and therefore the transport prices would fall again, but that did not happen.
Another factor is the fact that – just like in Germany – there is a winter tire obligation for the first time in the French Alps and Pyrenees, with the result that many winter tires and all-season tires from the Netherlands are disappearing to France. According to Tires in Stock, winter tires for commercial vehicles in particular are becoming scarce. Sander Bertou, General Manager of Tires in Stock, says he expects that more all-season tires than winter tires will be sold in the Netherlands this year for the first time. “[…] “Partly because all-season tires now bear the 3-peak mountain symbol. That makes these tires suitable for countries where winter tires are compulsory.”
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl