US on course for record tire shipments

Washington – Total US tire shipments will exceed 315 million units in 2016, up 0.7 percent from 2015, according to the latest projections from the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).

Replacement passenger tire shipments should reach 206.8 million in 2016, up 0.3 percent from 2015 and exceeding the record set in 2014, the RMA said.

“Steady economic improvement, low fuel prices and increases in vehicle miles travelled this year should create favourable conditions for growth in total US tire shipments,” the RMA said in a 9 March news release.

Original equipment passenger and light truck tires will see the highest percentage increase in shipments during the year, according to the association. OE passenger tires will see a 2.7 percent rise over 2015, to 51.1 million units, while OE light truck shipments will grow 1.8 percent, to 4.5 million.

Replacement light truck tire shipments will increase 0.3 percent, to 29.2 million, and replacement truck tire shipments will rise 1.1 percent, to 18.1 million, the RMA said.

OE truck tire shipments will fall 2.9 percent, to 6 million, but 2015 shipments of 6.2 million were the highest since 2006, the RMA said.