Yokohama will raise prices in Canada

May 29, 2012

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. will change prices on selected consumer and commercial tires effective July 1, 2012.

Average increases of 2.5% to 3% and "a number of significant decreases" will be implemented for Yokohama’s consumer tire line. Price increases averaging 5% will be applied to the Yokohama commercial tire line. Here are the specifics.

* An average increase of 2.5% will be applied to the Avid ENVigor line of all-season high performance touring tires.

* An average increase of 2.8% will be applied to Geolander H/T-S light truck tires;

* An average of 3% will be applied to car and light truck winter tire products.

Pricing on nine models of the new Avid Ascend, a premium all-season tire that incorporates orange oil to improve tread life and enhance fuel economy, will be reduced from 6% to 14%. Prices on the Avid ENVigor ZPS will drop between 14% and 24%, depending on the size.

The commercial tire line will experience an average increase of 5%, with the largest increase of 6% applied to selected products. The company also has announced the addition of the SmartWay-verified TY17MC2 premium on-highway drive-axle tire to the line-up.

"Yokohama tire prices will continue to be competitive despite fluctuations in raw material costs, increasing transportation costs and a changing valuation of the Canadian dollar," the company told dealers.

Yokohama is the latest tire manufacturer or marketer to implement or announce price increases in 2012.

Consumer

* Michelin North America Inc. increased prices up to 6% on Michelin compact and agricultural tires sold in the United States and Canada effective May 1.

*Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. raised prices on all its consumer tire brands effective April 1. Prices in the U.S. and Canada were raised up to 6%.

* Yokohama Tire Corp. increased prices by up to 8% on all of its consumer tires sold in the U.S. on March 1.

* Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. increased prices on passenger, light truck and commercial truck tires to a weighted average of 6% on Jan. 1.

* Falken Tire Corp. raised prices on Falken and Ohtsu brand passenger and light truck tires up to 5% -- with some inline adjustments -- on Jan. 1.

Commercial

* China Manufacturers Alliance LLC (CMA) raised prices on Double Coin radial truck and OTR tires on April 1. The increases were up to 5%, with some in-line changes.

* Goodyear increased commercial tire prices in the U.S. up to 6% on April 1.

* Continental Tire the Americas LLC (CTA) raised prices on all Continental, General and Ameri*Steel brand commercial truck tires up to 9% on Feb. 15. The increase affected all replacement sales channels in the U.S.

* Yokohama implemented a price increase of up to 8% on all of its commercial truck tires in the U.S., effective Feb. 1. The company also raised prices on its OTR tires up to 15% effective Jan. 1.

* Bridgestone Americas Commercial Solutions, a business unit of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC, also raised prices on its OTR tires effective Jan. 1. The 15% price increase applied to Bridgestone, Firestone and Continuum off-road tire products and Continuum pre-cure tread rubber and related retreading materials.

Canada only

* Toyo Tire Canada Inc. will increase prices on the Toyo winter passenger and winter light truck tires up to 3.5% effective April 1st, 2012.

* Continental Tire Canada raised prices on all Continental, General and Ameri*Steel brand replacement truck tires up to 9% on April 1, 2012.

* Bridgestone Americas raised prices effective Jan. 1. The 10% price increase applied to Bridgestone, Firestone and Continuum off-road tire products and Continuum pre-cure tread rubber and related retreading materials.