I. Introduction
The 21st China International Tire Expo (Citexpo) was held from September 2 to 4, 2026, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition Center. The China tire expo attracted more than 15,000 professional visitors from over 140 countries and regions, along with over 400 exhibitors.
During the exhibition, the team engaged with more than 150 professional customers from Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa, and held in-depth discussions with buyers from key markets including Canada, the United States, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
II. Flagship Product Showcase
Forlander tire highlighted three precisely positioned products, demonstrating its expertise in tire solutions tailored to specific axles and seasonal adaptability.
1. SW518D – Drive Axle Winter Tire
Designed specifically for truck drive axles under severe winter conditions. This tire features a winter-specific compound and dense 3D sipes, ensuring excellent grip on ice and snow. The open deep tread pattern effectively evacuates mud, while the reinforced casing withstands high-torque wear. Its load capacity is 130% of standard load, making it suitable for a variety of operating conditions.
Available sizes: 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 295/75R22.5.
2. FR969 – Long-Haul Steer Axle Retreadable Tire
Designed specifically for steer axles in long-haul highway transportation. This tire adopts a steel-belted infinitely wound casing structure, providing an excellent foundation for multiple retreads. The reinforced tread compound resists irregular wear, and the optimized groove design enhances wet grip. Its load capacity is 150% of standard load, making it an ideal choice for long-haul transportation.
Available in sizes from 11R22.5 to 385/65R22.5.
3. BLUESNOW 06 – High-Performance SUV Winter Tire
Designed for SUVs and passenger cars under harsh winter conditions, this tire features a winter compound and fine siping design, ensuring good braking and handling performance on ice and snow.
Available sizes: 235/60R18 (primary), 225/55R17, 215/55R17.
Middle East: Market demand was mainly focused on heavy-load and off-road tires. FD797 (12.00R20-24) and FD339 (12.00R24 24PR) feature a 24PR super-heavy-duty structure, perfectly meeting the needs of mining and infrastructure construction applications. FR818E (13R22.5-20) won recognition from customers in Iran and Afghanistan. Pakistani customers showed strong interest in all-terrain tires such as ECOLAND M/T and ROADBREAKER A/T.
Europe and Russia: Russian buyers showed strong interest in the winter solution combination of SW518D and BLUESNOW06. ECOLAND 06 (325/30ZR21), with its ZR speed rating, attracted customers in the European modification market.
Asia: Light truck and microvan tires including TRACVANI, ECOLAND VANI, and LAND701 met last-mile delivery needs. FR967 and D856 received inquiries from customers in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, respectively.
In addition, the E-3 L-3 (7.00-16) off-road tire also received targeted inquiries, demonstrating that Forlander tire’s product coverage extends from passenger vehicles to heavy machinery.
IV. Market Insights
Through extensive exchanges with customers, Forlander validated several key industry trends:
Solutions tailored to different axles and seasons are becoming crucial: Fleet managers are increasingly inclined to choose different tire performance characteristics for drive axles and steer axles, with demand for winter tires particularly evident in cold regions. SW518D (drive axle + winter tire) and FR969 (steer axle + ultra-long-haul tire) are precisely designed for this trend.
Retreadability and high load capacity determine total cost of ownership: FR969’s infinitely wound casing and 150% load capacity make it a value choice for heavy-duty transport fleets in the United States, Brazil, and other markets.
The winter tire market demonstrates a “commercial vehicle + passenger vehicle” synergy: Buyers from Canada and Russia showed interest in both commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle winter tires, confirming Forlander’s ability to provide complete winter solutions for the same regional market.
Growing demand for mixed-use and light truck applications: Middle Eastern and South Asian markets are increasingly demanding durability on unpaved roads. SW518D’s “mixed-use” designation and the ECOLAND all-terrain series are precisely designed to meet this demand. Products such as TRACVANI and the LAND series have also received positive market feedback in the last-mile delivery sector in emerging markets.
V. Conclusion
During the 2026 Shanghai tire expo, Forlander tire engaged over 150 professional customers and established preliminary partnerships with distributors from Canada, the US, Brazil, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, validating its precise product strategy; the exhibition review confirmed strong demand for flagship products SW518D, FR969, and BLUESNOW06, as well as the ECOLAND, FD, and TRACVANI series, and Forlander will continue deepening its market layout in the Americas, Middle East, Russia, and South Asia with reliable, durable, and cost-effective tire solutions.
Upcoming Exhibition Preview
Forlander will next exhibit at the 140th Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) in Guangzhou. We warmly invite all partners and customers to visit our booth.
- Date: October 15–19
- Add: No. 382 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province
- Booth No.: 11.3E27
We look forward to meeting you there and exploring new cooperation opportunities!
