Key highlights
- Proposed changes could introduce minimum quality and durability standards for tyres sold in Australia.
- More than 100,000 tonnes of mining tyres are buried annually, with just 2% recovered.
- The Federal Government has 12 months to respond to the parliamentary inquiry’s recommendations.
Australia could introduce tougher regulations on tyre quality, with the Federal Government facing pressure to prevent cheap, low-quality imports from entering the local market.
A parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s tyre industry has recommended changes to the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), which govern the standards vehicles must meet to be sold in the country.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science handed down its report on October 15, 2026, making 12 recommendations to address problems across the tyre industry.
One of the key recommendations is to expand existing ADR requirements to cover tyre quality and durability, rather than focusing primarily on dimensions, weight and fitment.
Currently, ADRs 23, 95 and 96 cover different aspects of tyre compliance, but do not establish comprehensive quality requirements for the rubber itself.
The proposed changes could help prevent low-quality tyres that fail to meet suitable durability and safety standards from entering Australia.
Read more: How to choose car tyres? A simple buyer’s guide
Why cheap tyres are becoming a concern
The issue has gained attention following tighter tyre regulations in Europe, raising concerns that Australia could become a destination for lower-quality products.
From November 2026, the European Union’s Euro 7 regulations will introduce requirements covering tyre abrasion and particulate emissions. The region also has existing requirements for wet grip performance and tyre labelling.
Australia does not currently have equivalent requirements across these areas, creating concerns that manufacturers unable to meet stricter overseas standards could redirect cheaper products towards the local market.
The problem is not simply about how much a tyre costs.
Some budget tyres wear out faster than better-quality alternatives, meaning motorists could end up spending more on replacements over time.
There are also environmental and health concerns. Certain tyre compounds can release polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemicals that can be carcinogenic and harmful to people and the environment.
Tighter minimum standards could help address these concerns by ensuring tyres sold in Australia meet more consistent quality and durability requirements.
Mining tyres add to Australia’s recycling problem
The concerns around tyre regulation also extend beyond passenger cars, with Australia’s mining industry generating significant amounts of tyre waste.
According to the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association (ATRA), mining companies bury, stockpile or send more than 100,000 tonnes of used off-the-road (OTR) tyres to landfill every year. Just two per cent of these tyres are reportedly recovered.
Some of these massive mining tyres weigh between four and six tonnes each, containing substantial amounts of natural rubber.
ATRA estimates that the natural rubber buried at mining sites could be worth up to $200 million annually.
Recovering this material is becoming increasingly important as global rubber production struggles to keep pace with demand. The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries forecasts a natural rubber shortfall of 317,000 tonnes in 2026, partly due to unpredictable weather affecting plantations across Southeast Asia.
Australia has already invested in expanding its tyre recycling capacity. The Western Australian and Federal governments have contributed $20.7 million towards six recycling infrastructure projects, with another $62 million coming from industry.
However, recycling facilities still face challenges getting enough used tyres to process. A Tyrecycle facility in Port Hedland, which has an annual processing capacity of 30,000 tonnes, is reportedly handling just 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes.
The parliamentary inquiry has also recommended a staged, legislated reduction in the onsite burial of mining tyres over five years.
What other changes have been recommended?
The report goes beyond setting minimum standards for tyres fitted to new vehicles and replacement rubber sold in Australia.
Its 12 recommendations include a nationally consistent approach to managing end-of-life tyres, greater use of recycled tyre materials in road infrastructure and a mandatory tyre stewardship scheme.
The last proposal is particularly important because Australia’s existing tyre stewardship arrangements are voluntary.
The Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) currently oversees industry efforts to improve tyre recycling and responsible disposal. However, only 57 per cent of tyre importers and three per cent of car manufacturers contribute to the scheme.
A mandatory program could bring more businesses into the system and improve accountability for collecting, recycling and disposing of old tyres.
Australia generates more than 67 million end-of-life tyres every year, with around 25 per cent unaccounted for in Victoria alone, according to evidence presented during the inquiry.
Will the new tyre rules affect Australian drivers?
For Australian motorists, tighter regulations could eventually mean greater confidence when buying replacement tyres.
At present, choosing between budget and premium tyres often comes down to price, brand reputation and performance claims. Stronger minimum standards could give buyers another way to assess whether a tyre meets acceptable safety and durability requirements.
However, the recommendations are not new laws yet.
The Federal Government has acknowledged the committee’s report and said it will consider its findings before responding. It has up to 12 months to provide a response.
A spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said a tyre watchdog remains on the Government’s priority list.
There are also questions about how a mandatory stewardship scheme would operate, particularly for smaller tyre retailers, repairers and recycling businesses that could face additional compliance costs.
For now, Australian drivers will have to wait to see whether the Government turns the recommendations into actual regulations. If adopted, the changes could reshape how tyres are manufactured, imported, sold and recycled in Australia.
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