While replacement light truck tire shipments are projected to drop 2% this year, LT original equipment shipments are expected to be way up -- 9.9%, according to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).
Replacement passenger tire shipments will remain flat, while their OE counterparts will drop 6.9%.
On the commercial side, replacement and OE truck tire shipments will be up significantly: 3.9% and 9.7%, respectively, according to USTMA projections.
Overall, USTMA projects that total 2017 U.S. tire shipments will decrease by less than 1% to 316.8 million units compared to 2016.
USTMA 2017 Projected Tire Shipments (in millions)
Replacement 2017 forecast 2016 final % Change
Passenger 209.4 208.6 +0.4%
Light truck 31.3 31.9 -2.0%
Truck 19.4 18.6 +3.9%
Total 260.1 259.1 0.03%
Original Equipment Tires
Passenger 45.9 49.3 -6.9%
Light truck 5.4 4.9 +9.9%
Truck 5.4 5.0 +9.7%
Total 56.7 58.2 -4.3%
USTMA, which changed its name from the Rubber Manufacturers Association in May, is the national trade association for tire manufacturers. In 2017, USTMA members accounted for 82% of the 317.3 million passenger, light truck and truck tire shipments in the U.S. USTMA press releases are available at www.ustires.org.
For more shipment information from USTMA, check out these links:
"Manufacturers Expect Fewer U.S. Tire Shipments in 2017."
"RMA's Initial Tire Shipment Projections Indicate 0.4% Growth."
