Euro 7: The Fight Against Microparticles

Tires are generally underestimated. They are the vehicle’s only point of contact with the road, and their total contact area is only about the size of four palms. Yet they not only transfer the force of acceleration to the asphalt, but also provide braking power and keep the car on track when cornering. Furthermore, tires influence how much energy a car consumes to move forward; low-rolling-resistance tires are therefore particularly in demand for electric cars. And tires are a very important factor in a car’s noise emissions, as rolling noise accounts for a significant portion of it.

However, tires also pose an environmental burden. Car tires constantly shed tiny rubber particles that are worn away while driving. Worldwide, this results in approximately six million metric tons of rubber abrasion entering the environment each year. In Switzerland alone, this amounts to around 8,900 metric tons of particles annually. This makes tires the largest source of microplastics in our country. Now, with the upcoming Euro 7 standard—which applies to type approval for entirely new vehicle models starting November 29, 2026, and becomes mandatory for all new production vehicles one year later—the EU is introducing clear abrasion limits for the first time. Following passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, the regulations will also apply to trucks and buses starting in May 2028. Furthermore, the new regulations cover not only tire wear but also brake wear, as brake rotors and brake pads also emit harmful microparticles every time the vehicle decelerates.

Electric cars are making the problem worse

Tire manufacturers are thus under pressure to develop new tires that generate less abrasion. Unfortunately, the growing number of electric cars is simultaneously exacerbating the problem, as purely electric vehicles—due to their large and heavy high-voltage batteries—place significantly more weight on the wheels than comparable cars with internal combustion engines. The result: According to studies, their tire wear—and thus tire abrasion—is up to 50 percent higher.

Tire manufacturers are taking different approaches, but many are focusing primarily on the materials they use. Instead of petroleum-based synthetic rubber, sustainable materials are increasingly being used. Continental, for example, uses rubber derived from Russian dandelions. This is expected to reduce wear and rolling resistance by about 25 percent.

Michelin, too, is pursuing the goal of bringing tires made from 100 percent biologically produced and recycled materials to the market, which are expected to have significantly lower wear rates. Natural rubber, recycled plastics, and vegetable oils are used in their production. There are already tire models on the market today that consist largely of sustainable materials, such as Pirelli’s P Zero E, which is made from 55 percent sustainable materials. U.S. manufacturer Goodyear has already unveiled a road-approved prototype made from 90 percent sustainable materials.

New Responsibilities – New Opportunities

However, it’s not just the materials in the tires that matter; the rubber particles that are inevitably generated while driving should, as far as possible, not end up in the environment at all. Startups like The Tyre Collective are therefore working on systems that capture tire wear directly at the wheel, thereby keeping it out of the environment as completely as possible. It remains to be seen, however, when such collection systems will be ready for the market. In addition, tire manufacturers are researching ever-new tire designs and architectures intended to further reduce rubber abrasion. One approach involves tires that are no longer filled with air but instead consist of a structure made up of many individual sipes. These are designed to better compensate for uneven road surfaces, be less prone to punctures, and generate significantly less wear.

The requirement to develop tires with lower wear presents a challenge for tire manufacturers, but it is also an opportunity. According to a study by BCC Research, the market for «green» tires will grow from 70 billion Swiss francs in 2024 to an estimated 123 billion Swiss francs in 2029, representing an annual growth rate of nearly 12 percent. Tire manufacturers that meet the new Euro 7 limit early can establish a strong presence in this emerging market and can expect to be prioritized by automakers. This is because every new vehicle delivered comes equipped with a set of tires from the factory—an indispensable market for tire manufacturers.