RMA Reports US Tyre Shipments Way, Way Down

Tire shipments in the United States through the first half of 2009 posted perhaps their worst performance in history, according to new data from the RMA. OE passenger tyre shipments through the first six months fell an incredible 54.3 per cent versus the same period last year. By comparison, OE shipments for the first half of 2008 were down 10.8 per cent year-over-year. The replacement side wasn’t much better, off 11.9 per cent versus the same period last year. 2008’s first half saw shipments off a meager 0.7 per cent versus the first half of 2007.

LT-metric OE shipments for the first half of 2009 were off 11.8 per cent year-over-year, and the replacement side was off 18.8 per cent. For the year prior, OE was down 39.6 per cent and replacement was off 7.1 per cent.

First half 2009 shipments of medium truck tyres fell a massive 45.5 per cent at OE, and 21.7 per cent at replacement. By comparison, 2008 shipments for the period were off 19.1 per cent at OE and 6.9 per cent at replacement. (Tire Review)