“They robbed us, it goes very fast.” At this garage in the Paris region, Nami Bilel’s customers flocked to winter or four-season tires. Of a hundred pairs a week ago, this mechanic only has six left in stock.
“People who leave for Germany, from Clermont-Ferrand,” explains Nami Bilel. Normally they are the ones who go to the mountains, but here, overnight, since there was snow, they asked us for snow tires.
+30% on sock sales
Figures confirmed at Point S centers. “In 2024, Point S centers observed an acceleration in sales in the first half of January due to the weather phenomenon: this acceleration in sales was especially strong this year,” explains a sales representative . .
After the difficulties that occurred on the roads last week, especially in the Paris region, there have also been sock thefts in recent days.
At Norauto, another specialized network, sales of chains and socks increased by 30% compared to the same period last year. The same goes for winter and all-season tires, sales of which increased by 15% during the same period.
Between 2022 and 2023, despite the Mountain Law, which makes winter equipment mandatory in 34 departments during the winter, sales of winter tires remained stable, products especially appreciated among “mountain people and big rollers,” he explains. Dominique Stempfel, president of the tire union that brings together the entire sector. These tires are especially effective on snow and ice and perform very well when the temperature drops below 7°C.
All-season tires that attract
In more temperate regions, such as Île-de-France, customers are turning to all-season tires. Popularized in Europe since 2015, these tires are more versatile, although they are still less effective, especially on ice. They now represent 30% of the market.
“When retrofitting, customers switch from summer tires to all-season tires,” summarizes Dominique Stempfel.
Like this customer from Nami’s workshop: “The snow is coming, the cold is starting to slip a little with the grip of the summer tire, which is a little worn out. So I switched to all-season tires.”
Source: BFM TV
