Tyre Wear in Focus: Euro 7 is just the Beginning

Tyres are the invisible polluters of modern mobility. While engines are becoming quieter and exhaust gases cleaner, one major environmental burden remains largely overlooked: tyre wear. That is now changing. At both the European and global levels.

With the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standard, the EU is opening a new chapter. For the first time, not only tailpipe emissions but also tyre and brake wear will be regulated. These particles enter the air, soil, and water as fine dust and microplastics, posing potential risks to human health and the environment.

This issue is particularly pressing with heavier electric vehicles, which generate more abrasion due to their weight. The EU is responding: starting in 2028, new limits for tyre wear will apply. A standardized test procedure has been developed. 8,000 km of convoy driving under controlled conditions. Manufacturers will have 30 months to comply.

A Global Problem without Global Solutions

As important as Euro 7 is, tyre wear doesn’t stop at national borders. There are still no globally harmonized standards for measuring and comparing tyre abrasion. Each manufacturer currently uses their own method, making objective comparisons nearly impossible.

The World Economic Forum has taken note. In collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and an expert committee of the UNECE, a proposal for a global standardised test procedure has been developed. It could be incorporated into international regulations by 2025 . This is a major step toward more transparency and global environmental accountability.

Microplastics in the Food Chain

The urgency is clear. Studies show that more than 500,000 tonnes of tyre wear particles are released in Europe every year. A portion of this is washed into rivers and oceans via rainwater. A significant but underestimated contributor to microplastic pollution. These tiny particles can enter the food chain, harm ecosystems, and endanger human health.

Invisible Threat Indoors

One important aspect is often overlooked: traffic-related fine particles don’t stay outside. Tyre and brake wear also enter offices, industrial halls, and public buildings, particularly in densely populated urban areas or places with high air exchange.

💬 Expert Comment – Airvolut:

“Tyre wear is primarily seen as an environmental problem, but it also affects indoor spaces. In urban or industrial environments, fine particles can enter the air people breathe every day. Our electrostatic filtration systems are designed specifically to capture and remove even these invisible pollutants from indoor air.”

— Airvolut Team

Toward Cleaner Mobility

Euro 7 and global testing protocols are key tools – but they must be part of a broader strategy:

• Innovative tyre technologies with reduced abrasion

• Sustainable driving behaviour, such as anticipatory driving

• Recycling solutions for used tyres and particles

• Indoor air filtration for healthier buildings