R18 and Larger Wheels Reach 57.1% of Russian New-Car Sales
The share of Russian new-car sales fitted with R18 or larger wheels rose from 27.3% in 2021 to 57.1% in 2026. The shift reflects the exit of Western brands, the arrival of Chinese models and the growing weight of crossovers and SUVs.
Large wheels become the market standard
Russia’s new-car market has moved rapidly toward larger wheel diameters. Wheels measuring R18 and above accounted for 57.1% of new passenger-car sales in 2026, compared with 27.3% in 2021, according to data cited by Sergei Tselikov, head of the Autostat analytical agency. The share has therefore more than doubled in five years, leaving most new cars sold through Russian dealerships equipped with 18-inch or larger wheels.
The publications describe the underlying measurement slightly differently. KP.RU reports that the figures cover R18 wheels and larger sizes, while Rambler Auto refers to the share of R18 wheels. Both reports identify the same movement toward bigger diameters and cite the same percentages. For tire and wheel suppliers, the distinction matters because demand is spreading across several premium-size categories rather than necessarily concentrating on one diameter.
Vehicle mix drives the change
Tselikov linked the shift to the broader transformation of Russia’s passenger-car market. Western automotive brands withdrew, Chinese manufacturers expanded their presence, and crossovers and SUVs gained a substantially larger share of the fleet. These vehicles are generally larger and commonly leave the factory with wider tires and bigger rims than the sedans and compact cars that previously formed a greater part of Russian sales.
The change in wheel size creates consequences beyond initial vehicle assembly. Every new car fitted with R18 or larger wheels eventually generates replacement demand for summer and winter tires, damaged rims, balancing equipment and related service work. Suppliers must therefore adjust product ranges, inventories and workshop capabilities to a fleet in which larger dimensions are no longer a specialist segment. The shift may also require retailers to carry a broader selection because R18-and-above demand includes multiple widths, profiles and vehicle-specific specifications.
Seasonal habits shape replacement demand
Russian drivers’ seasonal tire practices add another layer to the market. According to the survey cited by KP.RU, almost 40% of drivers keep a second set of tires already mounted on separate rims. A further 54% use one set of rims and have their tires changed each season. The first group supports demand for complete additional wheel sets, while the second generates recurring mounting, balancing and inspection work for tire-service businesses.
The figures indicate that the expanding installed base of large wheels can affect tire producers, rim manufacturers, distributors and service centers in different ways. Producers and importers need greater availability of larger sizes, while distributors face more capital tied up in higher-value inventory. Workshops serving the 54% who remount tires seasonally must handle the physical and technical requirements of larger wheels. With 57.1% of new passenger cars now reported in the R18-and-above category, the supply chain must treat large-diameter products as the core of the Russian new-car replacement market rather than as a premium niche.
