October 30, 2025

2025 Tire Industry Trends and 2026 Projections for Tire Shops | TSI

2025 Year-End Tire Industry Trends & What Tire Shops Should Expect in 2026

The tire industry has seen major shifts this year, from recycling regulations to EV tire innovations. In this blog, we’ll explore the 2025 tire industry trends and 2026 projections for tire shops, helping owners prepare for what’s next. At Tire Service International (TSI), we’ve supported America’s tire professionals for over 40 years with reliable, U.S.-made equipment that keeps shops efficient, compliant, and profitable.

1. Tire Sales Rebounded—But Margins Tightened

After a few volatile years, 2025 saw steady growth in tire sales, driven by an increase in electric and hybrid vehicles hitting the road. However, margins have remained tight due to rising material and freight costs. Many shops responded by optimizing workflow efficiency and adding service-based revenue streams—like tire recycling and retreading.

Pro Tip: Investing in shop equipment that saves time and labor is now more important than ever. Tools like TSI’s TC-15 Oil Filter Crusher, TC-300 Wheel Crusher, and Cheetah Bead Seater help technicians complete jobs faster and safer, boosting your daily throughput without adding overhead.

2. Tire Recycling Took Center Stage

With the EPA’s new waste-management guidelines rolling out mid-2025, proper tire disposal and recycling have become must-haves for compliance. States like California, Oregon, and New York have already introduced stricter recycling mandates—requiring detailed documentation of tire disposal and reclaimed materials.

Shops that have added tire-recycling equipment are seeing more than compliance—they’re seeing profit. Machines like TSI’s TC-710 Tire Baler and TC-125 Tire Cutter have enabled smaller shops to handle recycling in-house, turning a costly disposal process into a revenue-generating service.

3. Automation & Safety Continue to Drive Equipment Upgrades

Automation isn’t just for large dealerships anymore. Independent tire shops are increasingly upgrading to semi-automated tools to reduce technician fatigue, improve consistency, and attract younger workers to the trade.

TSI’s Viper Bead Seater Gen 3 series—designed and built in the USA—has been a standout in 2025, helping shops seat beads faster, safer, and more efficiently. Combined with our Wheel Crushers and Sipers, these tools allow shops to streamline operations while maintaining safety and compliance standards.

4. The Rise of the Green Garage

Eco-friendly operations have become a strong selling point for customers and fleet contracts alike. In 2025, we saw more shops market themselves as “green garages” by using energy-efficient compressors, recycling oil and filters, and minimizing tire waste.

TSI’s recycling line supports this green movement by helping tire centers reduce their landfill output and maintain compliance with state and federal environmental standards. American-made and built to last, these machines provide both environmental and economic returns.

5. What to Expect in 2026

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the tire and automotive industry.

  • Electric Vehicle Expansion: More EV-specific tire SKUs and larger wheel sizes will drive new service and storage demands.

  • EPA and DOT Regulations: Expect further updates to recycling and shop-safety standards—particularly regarding emissions and waste handling.

  • Data-Driven Shops: More tire dealers will adopt cloud-based service tracking and equipment monitoring to improve accountability and efficiency.

  • Made-in-America Momentum: U.S.-manufactured equipment will remain in high demand as shops seek reliability, parts availability, and support from domestic suppliers like TSI.

6. Preparing Your Shop for 2026

Now is the time to review your equipment lineup and ensure your shop is ready for next year’s demands. Consider upgrading older or unreliable machinery, optimizing recycling workflows, and taking advantage of year-end tax deductions for capital equipment purchases.

Whether you’re looking to increase productivity, meet EPA compliance, or expand into recycling, Tire Service International has the tools and expertise to help you stay ahead.

✅ Explore our full lineup: buytsi.com
✅ Talk to our team: Find out which TSI machines fit your shop’s goals heading into 2026.

Final Thoughts

2025 reminded us that innovation and adaptability are key to success in the tire industry. Shops that invested in efficiency, safety, and sustainability saw the biggest wins—and 2026 promises even more opportunity.

At Tire Service International, we’re proud to support America’s tire professionals with durable, U.S.-made equipment designed to meet the evolving needs of modern shops. Let’s make 2026 your most productive year yet.