“配不上”新能源车的轮胎：橡胶科技代差式落伍｜“315"特别策划

Core Viewpoint - The rapid development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is leading to significant quality issues in the tire sector, which is struggling to keep pace with the increasing penetration of NEVs [1][3]. Group 1: Quality Issues in Tires - A report from Chezhinet indicates a dramatic increase in tire complaints, with 3,365 cases reported, marking a 111.5% year-on-year rise, making it the fastest-growing complaint category in automotive parts [2]. - Over 60% of tire issues arise within 1 to 3 years of vehicle purchase, a rise of 18.6% year-on-year, predominantly from domestic NEV brands [2]. - The types of complaints are highly concentrated, with tire cracking being the most common issue, followed by bulging, deformation, and abnormal wear, accounting for over 90% of total complaints [5][6]. Group 2: Technical Mismatches - There are three major technical mismatches affecting tire performance for NEVs: weight and load mismatch, power and torque mismatch, and range and performance mismatch [8]. - NEVs are generally heavier than traditional vehicles, with electric cars weighing around 2.1 tons, leading to increased vertical load on tires that are not specifically designed for such weight [8]. - The torque output of electric motors can be 2-3 times greater than that of gasoline engines, requiring tires to withstand higher friction and stress, which current tire designs do not accommodate [8]. Group 3: Industry Challenges - The Chinese tire industry, which holds a 35% global market share, has seen average profit margins decline from around 5% in 2020 to 3% in 2023, leading to compromised production standards [11]. - In 2024, the profit of the rubber tire industry fell by 8.5% to 31.1 billion yuan, prompting tire dealers to advocate against industry "involution" [12]. - The quality issues are exacerbated by the competitive landscape, where cost-cutting measures have led to a decline in tire quality, affecting both NEVs and traditional vehicles [11][12]. Group 4: Future Directions - The implementation of the new national standard for electric vehicle energy consumption in 2026 will require the development of specialized tires for NEVs, addressing the unique demands of high torque and heavy loads [12]. - There is a significant technological gap of about 10 years between Chinese tire brands and their international counterparts, but with focused R&D, domestic brands can catch up [13].