Tyre manufacturers & invasion of Ukraine

[richtea]

Tyres are probably your major spend after petrol and paying the man (BMW).

At risk of dragging the forum into tricky areas, before buying your next set of lovely sticky tyres it's worth considering where each tyre manufacturer stands on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, since Russian is a major tyre manufacturing country.

As of 13th March 2022:
- Pirelli appear to continue manufacturing in Russia, but they have donated 500,000 Euros to good causes in Ukraine.
- Michelin 'expresses its full support for the victims of this conflict' and have paused manufacturing in some parts of Europe. But I see no specific details on Russian manufacturing.
- Metzeler don't manufacture in Russia
- Dunlop don't manufacture in Russia
- Avon don't manufacture in Russia
- Bridgestone manufacture in Russia, but I couldn't find any details of their position
- Continental have stopped production in Russia

Note these apply to the companies as general tyre manufacturers, as opposed to specifically motorbike tyres.

I expect the positions to change over time, so please post any changes to policy that you spot, and I'll update the page.
If I've missed a press release, do let me know.

General article:
https://www.rubbernews.com/war-ukraine/listing-tire-rubber-industry-companies-stopping-business-russia

[raesewell]

Because of the quickly changing list of manufacturers pulling out of Russia on a daily basis this thread will become dated very quickly.

[richtea]

Good point. I look forward to that and will remove the thread if that happens, Rae.

[andym2]

Are Avon still made in Wiltshire somewhere? Or were they ever? I've got some on my Triumph and they seem quite good.

[richtea]

Correct, Andy! Melksham:

http://www.cambriantyres.co.uk/avon-motorcycle-tyres-history/
'To this very day, the majority of their motorcycle tyres are still made in Melksham, excluding their scooter and lightweight commuter products.'

https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/news/d/!/3990/3d-supersport
'Designed, developed and made in the UK at the Cooper Tire European Technical Centre in Melksham...'

[Costas]

Bridgestone continues production . They too donated an undisclosed sum .
The issue now is the delivery time .

[flatfour]

I'm told that tyres are already becoming difficult to obtain, so have decided to have mine changed before the summer starts (now reserved at the dealer, ready for fitment). I don't want to find myself in good riding weather and held back by worn tyres, the past two years have seen so many of my activities cancelled due to COVID that I don't want to lose another season, at my age!

[Matt]

Thanks Richard. I'll be avoiding anybody using Russia. I'll post and cite any updates I find/read.

[chriscanning]

Thanks Richard. I'll be avoiding anybody using Russia. I'll post and cite any updates I find/read.

+1

[richtea]

Here's the latest from the Yale School of Management - a trustworthy site, a comprehensive list of companies plus references:
https://som.yale.edu/story/2022/over-450-companies-have-withdrawn-russia-some-remain

Status:
- Pirelli: BUYING TIME (https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/pirelli-puts-brake-russian-activities-2022-03-17/)
- Michelin: SUSPENSION (not listed by Yale) (https://www.european-rubber-journal.com/article/2091123/michelin-suspends-tire-production-in-russia)
- Bridgestone: SUSPENSION (https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022/bridgestone-suspends-manufacturing-and-sales-activities-in-russia)
- Continental: SUSPENSION (https://www.tirebusiness.com/russia-war-ukraine/continental-suspends-tire-production-russian-plant)
- Metzeler don't manufacture in Russia
- Dunlop don't manufacture in Russia
- Avon don't manufacture in Russia

Angels are wonderful tyres, but right now Pirelli doesn't seem to be adhering to that name particularly well.



Yale's criteria are:
1) WITHDRAWAL - Clean Break: companies completely halting Russian engagements/exiting Russia;
2) SUSPENSION - Keeping Options Open for Return: companies temporarily curtailing operations while keeping return options open;
3) SCALING BACK - Reducing Activities: companies scaling back some business operations while continuing others;
4) BUYING TIME - Holding Off New Investments/Developments: companies postponing future planned investment/development/marketing while continuing substantive business;
5) DIGGING IN - Defying Demands for Exit: companies defying demands for exit/reduction of activities

[Costas]

Pirelli manufactures only the Scorpion Trail outside italy, am referring to K complied tyres only , all other are made in Italy. Just ordered new Rocco Corsa IV . Was going for the Diablo Rocco IV but the 4000kms limit given os out of the question and at 450€. The more conservative Corsa  will sent me back around 440€ (fited) and will last (hopefully ) around 5500 like the model iii curently in the bike. That includes more than 20 track days for clarification.

[Matt]

Pirelli manufactures only the Scorpion Trail outside italy, am referring to K complied tyres only , all other are made in Italy. Just ordered new Rocco Corsa IV . Was going for the Diablo Rocco IV but the 4000kms limit given os out of the question and at 450€. The more conservative Corsa  will sent me back around 440€ (fited) and will last (hopefully ) around 5500 like the model iii curently in the bike. That includes more than 20 track days for clarification.

If they're only making one elsewhere/Russia then they've even less of an excuse to continue.

It added that "activities of the factories in Russia will be progressively limited to those needed to guarantee the financing of salaries and social services for employees."

They're a big company, they don't need every factory to be independently profitable to pay their staff. No Pirelli for me.

[richtea]

The latest from the Yale School of Management:
https://som.yale.edu/story/2022/over-600-companies-have-withdrawn-russia-some-remain

Status:
- Pirelli: SCALING BACK (https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/pirelli-puts-brake-russian-activities-2022-03-17/)

In Yale terms that's a move in the right direction, but still not up there with most other motorbike tyre manufacturers.

And from https://rubberworld.com/pirelli-halts-investments-in-russia/?doing_wp_cron=1649416505.1618320941925048828125 Pirelli said:

"The activities of the factories in Russia will be progressively limited to those needed to guarantee the financing of salaries and social services for employees.”

[Matt]

After my Wales jaunt the KTM is in need of new tyres. When I bought it roughly 2,000 miles ago it had a pair of Pirelli Angel GT II on it. They're now nearly dead, but - and I must say I forget what the GS looked like here but it was probably similar given how much I enjoyed throwing it about - I've got the smallest budgerigar strips at the edge of the rear of any bike/tyre I've had.

Today I'm aiming to decide on what tyre next. Annoyingly this old fleet article from MCN suggests much hilarity from the Pirelli Diablos Supercorsa SPs. Until we see Pirelli fully doing the D of BDS in Russia then I'll be doing the B part.

Given we all have our own thoughts on everything (dogs can't look left), I feel that the 'SUSPENSION' companies are acting much like Renault where they are virtue signalling whilst keeping the seat warm to buy back in. As these enterprises are quite obviously far from attempting a Kaesong Industrial Park style 'influencing' spin on money making, but just plain money making, I'm skipping them too.

I've had Roadtec 01 on the K previously, but after reading the above MCN article I am tempted to go for something more idiot/sporty for the summer. I've a Scotland trip in the offing for June/July and I can come to terms with replacing whatever I get earlier than usual, if it means I can pretend the tyres made me have a much better time.

Metzeler, Avon, Dunlop. From what I can tell their silly/sport spec. tyres are (that they list when I put the KTM in):
Avon - 3D Ultra Evo
Metzeler - Sportec M9 RR
Dunlop - Either the Sportsmart TT or Sportsmart Mk3

I'm thinking the Metzeler M9 RR at the moment. For little reason other than the Roadtec 01 were decent, and a Bennetts article likes them.

[chriscanning]

 Run Michelin Power RS on the both the GT and the X/R