The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has released its year 2000 tire shipments numbers.
"Tire manufacturing can be considered a reasonable barometer of overall economic conditions," says RMA President and CEO Donald Shea.
Passenger tires:
198.9 million units (replacement);
60 million units (OE)
Light truck tires:
34.3 million units (replacement);
7.3 million units (OE)
Medium truck tires:
15 million units (replacement);
5.6 million units (OE)
The RMA predicts auto and truck tire shipments will increase over the next five years, breaking the 350 million unit mark in 2006.