A new series of scientific papers calls for stronger research and harmonized methods to measure and assess tire wear emissions. The series, “State of Knowledge: Tire Wear Emissions During the Use Phase,” analyzes more than 850 peer-reviewed papers published in the last 40 years. It reveals that the current knowledge base on tire wear emissions remains scattered, inconsistent, and inconclusive. Researchers said that’s due to varying approaches and assumptions.
Supported by the Tire Industry Project (TIP), the series consists of three papers. The first two cover the characterization of tire wear emissions and their environmental impacts. A third paper, expected in late 2025, will focus on potential health impacts.
“The topic of tire wear emissions is extremely complex, multi-dimensional, and unfortunately only partially understood,” said Dr. Stephan Wagner. “While notable progress has been made over the years in analyzing such emissions, significant knowledge gaps and inconsistencies prevent a full understanding of their behavior and impact. There is a growing concern that decisions about tire emissions could be based on incomplete science.”
He added that resolving these challenges requires academia, industry, and policymakers to collaborate on shared research and models.
Industry Perspective on Tire Wear Emissions
“Our mission has been to strengthen scientific foundations to drive industry action. The SOK underscores why we need a concerted, multi-stakeholder response to close the knowledge gaps, now more than ever,” said Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director, TIP. “It reinforces our ambition to build a more open, collaborative research ecosystem.”
Findings from Paper 1: “Tire Emissions During the Use Phase of Tires — Current and Future Trends”
- Characterization is essential: Researchers said they need clear data on what emissions are released, how they occur, and where they end up.
- Multiple types of emissions: Emissions include particulate matter, volatiles, and dissolved compounds. Tire and Road Wear Particles (TRWP) combine tire tread, pavement, brake dust, and mineral dust.
- Conceptual exposure model: The paper proposes a model to guide risk characterization, showing how emissions form, where they disperse, and who or what may be exposed.
- Factors that influence emissions: Driving style, vehicle load, and road conditions all play a role, researchers said.
- Standardization is critical: Authors recommend a tiered measurement framework and call for robust, consistent testing protocols.
Findings from Paper 2: “Risk Assessment of Tire Wear in the Environment — A Literature Review”
- Current data is insufficient for a complete environmental risk assessment, especially regarding volatiles and leachables.
- Inconsistent testing methods prevent reliable comparisons, highlighting the need for harmonized guidelines.
- Existing microplastics frameworks may serve as a foundation for tire wear emissions risk assessment, with modifications.
- A tiered hazard assessment approach should start with lab materials such as Cryogenically Milled Tire Tread (CMTT) and progress toward real-world scenarios.
- Collaboration among industry, policymakers, and scientists is essential to create universal guidelines for sampling and analysis, researchers said.
Independent Scientific Review
To maintain objectivity, external scientists participated in discussions and review. These included TIP Assurance Group members Dr. J. Spengler (Harvard University) and Dr. How Yong (Beijing Normal University), along with Advisory Panel expert Dr. T. Mincer (Florida Atlantic University).
“We are happy with how the SOK project has evolved and the role it can play in ensuring a collective understanding of tire wear emissions, cutting through the misinformation,” said. Dr. Wagner. “It has been an intense team effort for the past two years. We appreciate how TIP supported this project, while maintaining our independence and autonomy. We hope that these papers will encourage the scientific community and serve as a catalyst for further research and standardization.”
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