United States tread rubber shipments will increase 1.7% through 2006 due to "continued economic growth," according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
Tread rubber shipments rose approximately 1.9% during 2005, say RMA officials.
"The 2006 forecast will mark the fourth consecutive year that shipments will increase, and represents a total of approximately 16.35 million retreaded tires in the U.S."