How did COVID-19 affect the demand for Tyres in the UK?
Demand for tyres throughout the COVID pandemic here in the UK has been mixed. While fewer drivers and traffic were on the roads during the lockdown, this changed as things got back to normal. As the country opened back up and people returned to work, traffic on roads increased once more.
Home Working is a Major Reason why UK Searches for Tyres Fell 5%
More specifically, when people were asked to work from home if possible and homeschool their kids, there was little reason to leave home. Add to this travel restriction and limits on socialising, and it’s clear why the demand for tyres had dropped.
In contrast, when children returned to school on the 4th January and 8th March this year, demand naturally increased, as tyres were subject to more wear and tear.
Searches for ‘Commercial Tyres’ may have Risen 15% Due to Greater Delivery Demand
It’s clear to see that searches for commercial tyres during the first lockdown weren’t anything out of the ordinary. However, when the UK government introduced home working and a second lockdown, interest increased.
By the third lockdown, the demand for commercial tyres seems to have increased once again. This could be because essential retailers were scheduling deliveries more frequently, placing a greater demand on the number of delivery drivers required.
Was Return to Work and School Responsible for the 7% Search Increase for New Tyres?
It could have played a part, especially as searches for the term increased for the whole of March when kids returned to school. Interestingly, although searches for this term initially dropped at the beginning of the first lockdown, it began to slowly increase until 23rd June when the country got back to normal.
Plus, people were still searching for new tyres at the end of September, a time when more and more people were encouraged to work from home. The following section sheds some light on why this might have happened.
Safety Considerations Could be why ‘Tyre Fitting’ Searches Increased 16%
Although people didn’t travel much during the lockdown, it appears that keeping their car maintained throughout this period remained important. At least, this is what Kwik Fit’s communications director, Roger Griggs, is claiming.
More and more of us realise that if we leave our cars sat in front of our homes for long periods without being used, the risk of an accident can increase. Specifically, it seems that more people are searching for ‘tyre fitting’ because tyres are one part of a vehicle that can become damaged when idle. Rubber tyres can harden, then crack, forming weaknesses. When you consider just how heavy the average car weighs, it’s no surprise that burst tyres can result!
Burton Upon Trent Showed Most Interest in Tyres Throughout COVID
Perhaps you’re wondering why this low key market town with a modest population of 72,299 people was so interested in tyres during the pandemic. We think it could be down to its location. It’s close to many other major towns and cities, mainly Birmingham, which may serve as a commuter town.
This could also be the case for Nottingham, Leicester and Derby. Burton Upon Trent is home to a Pirelli factory. While this may be another reason people frequently searched tyres there, the brand has said they struggled through the pandemic. They even had to lay off staff permanently.
Could Demand for Certain Tyre Services and Products Increase when Restrictions are Eased?
More people are expected to be holidaying within the UK this year. As a result, there’s been an over 50% increase in caravan park bookings. In short, demand for caravan tyres may go through the roof!
On a separate note, consumers are now used to the convenience of home deliveries, potentially helping to increase demand for commercial tyres for delivery vehicles. In a similar vein, this could also happen for mobile tyre-fitting.