Aircraft Tire Market

Aircraft Tire Market Snapshot (2023 to 2033)

The global aircraft tire market is expected to attain a valuation of US$ 1.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 3.3 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period.

In recent years, the airline industry, especially commercial airlines, has experienced significant growth. This expansion can be attributed to increasing globalization and robust economic growth, resulting in a greater number of individuals opting for air travel as their preferred mode of transportation.

The rising demand for aircraft tires can be attributed to the rising air passenger traffic and subsequent increase in commercial aircraft deliveries across different countries. According to Airbus, their aircraft orders significantly rose from 133 in the previous year to 647 by September 2022. Additionally, Airbus reported a production backlog of 7,294 aircraft as of September 2022, indicating a strong demand for their products.

The implementation of fleet modernization strategies by airlines has resulted in a notable increase in aircraft orders. As commercial aircraft engage in heightened flight operations, the wear and tear on tires escalates, consequently driving the demand for aftermarket tires.

The sales of aircraft tires are expected to rise due to the expansion of the commercial aviation and defense industries. The rise in global air traffic has created a demand for highly efficient flight safety components, including tires, to enhance passenger safety. Aeronautical manufacturers are focusing on developing lightweight aircraft tires that incorporate advanced braking systems, thereby driving the market growth.

2018 to 2022 Aircraft Tire Demand Analysis vs. Forecast 2023 to 2033

The aircraft tire market was worth US$ 1.3 billion in 2018. It accumulated a market value of US$ 1.6 billion in 2022 while growing at a CAGR of 5.3% during the historical period.

The aircraft tires market have made significant gains in the recent past, owing to the expanding airline network and surging demand for military and commercial aircrafts the world. Furthermore, growing sustainability concerns have furthered the adoption of radial ply aircraft tires among prominent manufacturers. This has bolstered the growth of aircraft tire market.

The aircraft tire market is anticipated to witness impressive growth overcoming the challenges encountered in recent years, including complex manufacturing demand, banning of industrial application and disposal of rubber.From adopting radial tires to adoption of Kevlar - an aromatic polyamide, aircraft manufacturers are adopting hybrid composite materials for the manufacturing of military aircraft tires. This efforts are yielding credible results, with the market registering a growth at a 6.2% CAGR during the forecast period of 2023 and 2033.

In its new study, ESOMAR-certified market research and consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI) offers insights about key factors driving demand for aircraft tire. The report tracks the global sales of aircraft tire in 20+ high-growth markets, along with analyzing the impact COVID-19 has had on the automotive industry in general, and aircraft tire in particular.

How is Application in Military and Commercial Aircrafts Affecting Growth?

Surging production of military and commercial aircrafts has improved the growth prospects for the aircraft tire manufacturers. Also, rising production and usage of aircrafts led to higher maintenance cycles of aircrafts across the world, fostering the sales.

Technological advancements and increased research & development activities for the development of sustainable tire production is improving the growth of aircraft tire market. Increasing use of narrowbody and widebody aircraft in commercial and military sector has widened the scope of aftermarket tire sales, attributed to the constant need for maintenance services.

Opportunities also abound in the bias ply segment. Hence, the market is poised to embark on a positive growth trajectory until 2031.

A temporary setback was however experienced amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as government imposed lockdowns caused a pause in production activities, triggering a shortage of essential spare parts and accessories. However, as there were relaxations in the rules and international travels, the market experienced a resurgence with the recommencement of travel industry.

Nikhil Kaitwade

Principal Consultant

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How are Sustainability Concerns and Demand for Kevlar in Manufacturing of Aircraft Tires Pushing Sales?

Surging adoption of high-performance materials which also matches the demand set by regulatory bodies is one of the most important strategy for aircraft tire manufacturers. Using cross-linkable rubber material or synthetic elastomer has proven to bode well for aircraft tire market, followed by the adoption of hybrid composite materials into rubber used for manufacturing aircraft tires.

Hence, prominent manufacturers are constantly conducting research & development activities for the innovation in manufacturing. Key players are adopting the usage of Kevlar - a new aramid, for the manufacturing of aircraft tires used in the military as well as commercial aircrafts.

Kevlar has claimed to boost the performance of tires while providing sufficient friction, resistance and tensile strength. Aircraft tires used in the military application need enhanced heat resistance and lower elongation peak for better performance. Increasing demand for aircraft tires with the integration of Kevlar is expected to boost the market revenue over the forecast period of 2023 to 2033.

Demand for Helicopters & Freighters in the Military Sector to Drive Sales

Helicopter and freighter aircrafts are expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period. Growth is attributed to the surging popularity of wheeled helicopters and cargo aircrafts primarily used in the military sector.

Increasing applications from military sector such as surveillance, combat operations, emergency services, and others are expected to boost the production of helicopters. Furthermore, these helicopters offer better fuel economy and higher speed over long distances, which will improve the demand of aircraft tires.

Country-wise Analysis

What are the Opportunities in United States Aircraft Tire Market?

The United States aircraft tire market is poised to witness substantial growth throughout the forecast period. United States is expected to dominate the aircraft industry by growing at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. According to the Aerospace Industry in the United States, in 2018 the industry contributed US$ 151 billion in the export sales to the USA economy through its manufacturing industry. Also, in 2019, the USA aviation industry registered around US$ 387 billion sales revenue for aircraft and aircraft exports were valued at US$ 126.5 billion.

The scope of the United States aerospace industry grew by 15% registering the sales of around US$ 137 billion across Washington and US$ 119 billion sales across California. On the flip side, due to outbreak of COVID-19, the industry witnessed a set-back and registered a drop in production of aircraft of nearly 50% in the FY-20.

However, as the economy recovered, increased focus on the sustainable investment in research & development for the product innovation and recommencement of transportation industry fueled the growth of aircraft industry across the United States.

Furthermore, increasing number of passengers travelling internationally have widened the scope for aircraft tire manufacturers across the country. Heavy presence of manufacturers in the region and rising production of commercial as well as military aircrafts will drive the demand of aircraft tires in the United States.

How is China Spearheading the Growth in Asia Pacific Aircraft Tire Market?

While soaring demand for new aircrafts will continue to enable the growth in the United States, the report on the aircraft tire market presents an impressive growth outlook for China. China is expected to dominate the aircraft tire market in Asia Pacific by accumulating over 40% regional share by 2033. The market in this region is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. Technological advancements for aircrafts and rising demand from the military sector for narrowbody aircraft is expected to bolster the growth of aircraft tire across China.

As of 2019, around 600 million passengers travelled to international as well as domestic borders, representing an increase of 2% compared to 2018. However, the number reduced drastically due to pandemic registering a drop of almost 90%.

As airlines in this region continue to invest in procuring new and technologically advanced aircrafts despite the pandemic. Also, increasing disposable income coupled with rising business activity in the country has led to increasing number of domestic as well as international passengers in China. Furthermore, favorable regulations in the aviation industry and increasing number of budget airlines will propel the growth of aircraft tires in China.

With China being the second largest market for the manufacturing of aircrafts, despite of the slight setback due to coronavirus pandemic, the country is expected to witness a surge in the production of aircrafts backed by the surging demand from commercial as well as military sector.

How Lucrative is the Aircraft Tire Sales Opportunity in India?

The Indian aircraft tire industry is expected to grow with a significant CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. With rising initiatives for developing sustainable products and enhance fuel efficiency in aircrafts in addition to reducing weight on the aircraft tires, the Indian aviation industry are adopting new manufacturing trends to achieve market dynamics requirements and facilitate the demand of OEMs as well as aftermarkets. This has bolstered the growth of aircraft tire market across the country.

According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in 2019, passenger traffic in India stood at close to 316.5 million, out of which 63.59 million was international traffic and domestic passenger traffic stood at 252.92 million. Also, Indian government in 2020 invested around US$ 120 billion for the infrastructure development of aviation industry. Increased production of military and commercial aircrafts in India accelerated the sales of aircraft tires in the country.

Currently, it is estimated that the aviation industry in India contributes around US$ 72 billion to the GDP. Additionally, the government under union budget 2021 to 2022 lowered the custom duty from 2.5% to 0% on the components for manufacturing of aircrafts, reducing the operational and trade cost. Hence, the ease in international trade facilities is expected to boost the aircraft tire market in India.

What is Driving Adoption of Aircraft Tires in United Kingdom?

According to FMI, United Kingdom is expected to be one of the most lucrative country for aircraft tire market across Europe. The market in this region is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. According to International Civil Aviation Organization, United Kingdom has the most mature aerospace industry with its robust technologies and advanced infrastructure. Increasing research & development investments in aerospace domain for the manufacturing of commercial aircrafts, has enabled the production of aircraft tires in the region.

Soaring production and modernization of aircraft in both commercial and military sectors have improved the manufacturing of aircraft tires across the country. For example, in 2018, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense unveiled its plans to invest 17 new fighter jets F-35 by 2022-end. Likewise, in February 2019, United Kingdom based commercial airline, International Airlines Group purchased 42 B777x aircraft, including 18 orders and 24 options. These procurements are expected to create growth prospects for the aircraft tire manufacturers in the upcoming years.

How is Advancement in Technology across Germany Aiding the Market Demand?

The German aircraft tire market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. The development of Germany aviation and aerospace industry has been pointing upward for many years on the back of rising technological development in the region. The industry generated the approx. US$ 4.89 billion in 2017 backed by the increased production of military aircrafts in the country.

In 2019, according to International Aviation Transport of Germany, the air transport industry contributed US$ 68 billion of GDP in Germany. Increasing number of airlines and improved infrastructure is also aiding the growth of aircraft tire market in the country.

Soaring demand for new aircraft is continuously generating the demand for new aircraft tires across Germany. Also, the German aircraft landscape is being stimulated by several positive development in the infrastructure of airlines and passenger airports. Moreover, increasing sustainability concerns are fuelling the adoption of radial ply aircraft tires, offering energy efficient and light weight fuel efficient aircrafts.

Aircraft Tire Market Category-wise Insights

Which Ply Type Will Gain Traction in the Aircraft Tires Market?

In terms of ply, the aircraft tire market is bifurcated in two type, which are, bias ply and radial ply. Among both, bias ply are expected to emerge as key revenue powerhouse in the market. The demand for bias ply is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. Bias ply aircraft tires are made up of casing piles which run diagonally at right angles to one another.

The angle helps in providing high speed stability while dictating strength and load capacity. Also, they protect the casing piles from damage and can act as wear indicators on retread tires.

Considering this, some of the leading manufacturers such as Bridgestone Corporation and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have increased the use of bias ply for the production of military and commercial aircraft tires. Bias ply offers more ground control, enhanced stability and superior surface resistance as compared to the radial ply.

However, due to sustainability concerns and preference for lightweight, fuel efficient aircrafts, radial aircraft tires are expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period.

Why are Narrowbody Aircrafts Acquiring Popularity?

By aircraft type, narrowbody aircrafts are expected to generate maximum growth opportunities for leading aircraft tire manufacturers through 2033. The sales from narrowbody aircrafts is expected to grow with a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period. Surging demand for narrowbody aircraft from military & commercial sector is likely to propel future growth.

According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), around 4 million passengers travelled by commercial airlines for short & medium haul travel distance in 2019. Additionally, around 3 million passengers travelled in 2020 which was down to 96% from April 2019 due to the pandemic crisis across the globe. Among those, only 132,000 passengers travelled internationally. Hence, due to the declined rate of passengers for longer distance, demand for narrowbody aircrafts increased.

Furthermore, technological advancements in the aviation field have made it possible for narrowbody aircrafts to use them for long haul distance over the past few years. Thereby, increasing the production of narrowbody aircrafts and fuelling the growth.

However, with the recommencement of travel industry in most of the countries, there has been a spike in number of passengers travelling internationally. Henceforth, owing to the increasing number of air travel has necessitated the need for widebody aircraft in the commercial sector. Hence, widebody aircraft is anticipated to register steady growth over the forecast period.

Why is Aftermarket Sales Channel More Preferred?

In terms of sales channel, the market is divided into original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket. Demand for aircraft tires for the aftermarket sales channel is anticipated to be strong due to the high operational cost and increased frequency of tire replacement for an aircraft every year. As the global production of aircraft rises, manufacturers are looking to reduce operational costs to achieve economy. The aftermarket sales segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period.

According to FMI’s study, almost every other aircraft tire being manufactures in the global market will be sold through aftermarkets. Meanwhile, OEMs are anticipated to emerge as the fastest growing sales channel on the back of manufacturers forming strategic partnerships with the OEMs to create lucrative revenue and avoid added loss value from third-party distributors.

Start-ups in Aircraft Tire Market

Start-ups are crucial in identifying growth opportunities, including the aircraft tire market. They effectively translate inputs to outputs and adapt to market uncertainties, contributing to the industry's expansion. Some start-ups are expected to drive growth in the aircraft tire market.

• Collins Aerospace, a prominent provider of aerospace and defense solutions, specializes in the design, production, and maintenance of systems and components for a wide range of aircraft, including commercial, regional, business, and military planes, as well as helicopters and various other platforms.
• Tyrestore offers a comprehensive storefront solution catered specifically to tire dealerships. This innovative platform serves as a virtual marketplace for automotive tires, wheels, and rims, enabling dealerships to showcase and sell their products efficiently.
• Tire Management specializes in tire recycling solutions through a DEP compliant facility. They handle tire disposal and recycling, provide haul away services, and strictly adhere to NJDEP regulations for the proper recycling and disposal of junk tires.

Competitive Landscape

The market for aircraft tire is highly competitive, with numerous prominent industry players making substantial investments in their production. The key industry players are Bridgestone Corporation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited, Polymer Enterprises Inc., Michelin, Maxam Tire International, Specialty Tires of America, Petlas Tire Corporation, Aviation Tires & Treads.

Some recent developments in the market are

Bridgestone announced its plans to streamline the manufacturing of aircraft tire retreading in the Asia-Pacific region in July 2022. To enhance efficiency, they consolidated production at their Chonburi, Thailand facility (BAMT), which already produces retreaded aircraft tires, incorporating operations from Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Company Asia (BAA)

• In May 2022, Shuguang Rubber Industry Research & Design Institute, a subsidiary of ChemChina specializing in aircraft tires, joined forces with engineering company Haohua Chemical Science & Technology to establish a state-of-the-art production facility for civil aviation tires.
• In April 2022, Goodyear Tires made an exciting announcement to produce military aircraft tires using a unique and sustainable source of rubber derived from dandelions. As part of their commitment to using eco-friendly materials, Goodyear will harness natural rubber derived from the Taraxacum kok-saghyz species of dandelions for the manufacturing of these tires.
• In June 2020, a collaboration between Japan Airlines and Bridgestone Corporation was announced, focusing on the implementation of tire wear prediction technologies.

Report Scope

Key Segments Profiled in the Aircraft Tire Industry Survey

By Aircraft Type:

• Small Widebody Aircraft
• Medium/ Large Widebody Aircraft
• Narrowbody Aircraft
• Propeller Aircraft
• Helicopter
• Defense and Homeland Security Aircraft
• Freighters

By Ply Type:

• Bias Ply
• Radial Ply

By Sales Channel:

• OEM
• Aftermarket

By Region:

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