THE TIRE COLOGNE: Taking the Tyre Industry to the Next Level

The Tire Cologne 2026 is driving the transformation of the tyre and wheel industry.

With around 400 exhibitors from 33 countries and approximately 14,600 visitors from 110 countries, The Tire Cologne 2026 once again confirmed its position as the leading international trade event for the tyre and wheel industry. The show’s global relevance was underlined by the high proportion of international visitors.

The Tire Cologne (TTC) is increasingly developing from a product exhibition into a unique platform where the industry’s key topics are discussed, innovations are showcased and new perspectives for growth and competitiveness are presented.

Kontio Tyres showcasing its product range at THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026

Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, says: “The challenges for the industry are becoming more complex and global. All the more important are platforms that provide orientation, bring together knowledge and enable exchange between business, politics and science. TTC assumes precisely this role for the tyre and wheel industry.”

The Walk Of Services highlighted the extent to which the industry is evolving. Building on the strong core business of tyres and workshop equipment, digital solutions and additional services are opening up new opportunities for growth and success. The strong response was also reflected in a 5 per cent increase in the number of German visitors and greater participation from the specialised tyre trade and workshop sector.

With 147 participating companies, including 44 new exhibitors, the Walk Of Services developed into one of the most dynamic formats of the show, with a focus on employees, system and process solutions, tyre service and workshop technology, automotive services as well as disposal and sustainability.

Stephan Helm, Chairman of the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV), added: “With the Walk Of Services, The Tire Cologne has created a platform that offers concrete solutions and new perspectives for trade and workshops. The high level of participation and strong visitor interest underline how relevant this offering is for the industry.”

One particular highlight of the event programme was the cooperation with the OTR Conference, which brought together leading experts from the off-the-road segment and offered valuable insights into market trends, sustainability strategies, safety, digitalisation and future perspectives for special tyres.

The exhibition stand of Polish tyre manufacturer KABAT TYRE

The Innovation Lab also provided practical insights, including live demonstrations that made innovative technologies tangible and showed how digital solutions can contribute to greater efficiency and unlock new business potential. One particular area of focus was RFID-based ecosystems, which offer new possibilities for transparency, process control and data-driven services throughout the tyre lifecycle.

The participation of Oliver Krischer, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, underlined the increasing economic and political importance of these developments. During the trade fair, he emphasised the central role of circular value chains for a future-ready industry and praised The Tire Cologne as a platform for exchanging ideas on practical solutions and new economic perspectives.