Australia risks becoming a dumping ground for poor-quality tyres as overseas standards tighten

Tyre Stewardship Australia was recently featured in a Drive.com.au article examining how Australia is becoming a destination for poor-quality tyres that wear quickly, shed more material into the environment, and fail to meet tightening overseas standards.

The piece quotes Lina Goodman, CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia, and Dr Linda Mitchell, who outline the safety, environmental and end-of-life risks associated with tyres that wear faster, shed more material into the environment, and can contain higher levels of harmful chemicals.

Written by automotive journalist Kathryn Fisk, the report explores how Australia is increasingly becoming a destination for tyres that no longer meet tightening international standards. It contrasts Australia’s current regulatory settings with developments in the European Union, where new requirements are being introduced to address tyre durability, abrasion emissions and chemical content.

The EU’s forthcoming Euro 7 framework, due to come into force in 2026, will for the first time set minimum durability requirements and limits on tyre abrasion emissions. Australia does not currently have equivalent benchmarks for tyre abrasion, chemical content or in-service performance — particularly for tyres imported loose and sold as replacements.

Dr Mitchell notes in the coverage that, without up-to-date standards, there is a risk Australia continues to import significant volumes of poor-quality tyres. These tyres tend to wear out more quickly, reaching end-of-life sooner and increasing downstream pressures associated with stockpiling, disposal and illegal dumping.

The piece also examines how broader vehicle trends are compounding these challenges. Heavier vehicles — including large SUVs and electric vehicles — place greater stress on tyres due to increased weight and torque, accelerating wear and material loss over a tyre’s lifetime. When combined with lower-quality imports, this further intensifies end-of-life pressures.

As Ms Goodman observes, “We can’t turn back the clock on Australian vehicle preferences, but we can help consumers understand that bigger vehicles come with bigger responsibilities for tyre care and end-of-life management.”

The reporting highlights the growing burden on local councils and communities, with end-of-life tyres frequently unaccounted for and clean-up costs borne by ratepayers. Faster tyre wear not only accelerates these challenges, but also increases the amount of tyre material dispersed into the environment over time.

The coverage comes ahead of the forthcoming House of Representatives inquiry into the Australian tyre industry, which will examine issues including standards, market behaviour and end-of-life management. The inquiry represents a pivotal moment to consider how Australia’s tyre settings can better align with international developments and address long-standing downstream impacts.