Facts section: Shipments

It was one heck of a

roller coaster ride!
In 2011, shipments ebbed and flowed,
while prices only went one way: up
By Bob Ulrich only 48.1% of the wholesalers believed Chart 1
their sales would be up. The percentage 2011 U.S. REPLACEMENT

T ire shipments were up. Tire

shipments were down. Tire
shipments leveled off. Dealer
inventories — full of winter tires at year’s
end — followed the same pattern.
among retail respondents was slightly less.
When the 2011 ride was over, replace-
ment consumer tire shipments were flat.
However, they totaled a record $30.1
billion in sales, up more than 15% from
Passenger
tires:
TIRE SALES
(a $38.4 billion industry)

$ 25.0 billion

Light truck
There was an earthquake, then a tsu- the previous year (see Chart 1). $ 5.1 billion
tires:
nami in Japan that not only slowed tire A 2.1% increase in light truck tire Truck tires: $ 7.2 billion
production but also led to a vehicle parts shipments and a 13% increase in truck
Farm tires: $593 million
shortage. Massive flooding in Thailand in tire shipments helped increase sales (see
October also limited imports, although Chart 2; for Canadian shipments, which OTR tires $553 million
the country still increased its consumer trended similarly, see Chart 3 on page In 2010, U.S. replacement tire
tire exports to the U.S. by more than 23% 26). But skyrocketing prices were the key. sales totaled $32.1 billion.
(see Chart 5 on page 26). Passenger tire prices were up an average
Say “goodbye” to 2011, a year when of 15% last year, while light truck tire
the flickering economy combined with prices were up 16%. Medium truck tire Chart 2
U.S. UNITS SHIPPED
Mother Nature to give retailers one heck pricing rose 24%.
2007-2011 (in millions)
of a roller coaster ride. Still, many of the According to tire and chemical indus-
30,000 independent tire dealers adapted tries analyst Saul Ludwig, they had to go PASSENGER TIRES
and fared well where it counted: their up because the estimated raw material cost Year Replacement OE
bottom lines. per tire increased an average of 26.6%!
2011 198.0 36.0
Modern Tire Dealer’s exclusive “State- And the final total doesn’t include
of-the-Industry Survey” is conducted on retreading; truck tire retreading alone 2010 198.7 34.6
a quarterly basis. After the first quarter, accounted for $3.8 billion in 2011. 2009 184.0 25.0
45% of the independent tire retailers and
2008 195.0 39.0
61.2% of the independent tire wholesalers What about shipments in 2012?
said unit sales were up. Ludwig, a managing director at North- 2007 205.0 48.0
After the first half, those numbers coast Research Holdings LLC, predicts LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
dropped to 40.2% and 52%, respectively, growth in consumer tire shipments in 2011 28.6 4.1
as demand plummeted. However, thanks 2012 (Ludwig’s shipment numbers for
to price hikes, many more dealers were 2011 and estimates for 2012 appear on 2010 28.0 3.5
up in dollar sales year over year. And page 21). There will be slight growth in 2009 26.0 2.6
with drivers holding on to their vehicles replacement passenger and light truck 2008 30.0 3.0
longer, necessary automotive service tire shipments, 1% and 1.4%, respectively.
work helped the bottom line profitability Growth in original equipment ship- 2007 35.7 4.9
of many retail dealers. ments will be more significant. He projects MEDIUM/HEAVY TRUCK TIRES
Nine months into the year, inventories OE passenger tire shipments will increase 2011 17.3 4.7
were full, demand had leveled off and 5.7%, to 37 million units, while LT ship-
wholesaler distributors in particular were ments will grow 4.9%, to 4.1 million units. 2010 15.3 3.0
suffering. Dealers seemed split between After a 4.4% increase in 2011, according 2009 12.7 2.1
optimism and pessimism. to Ludwig, medium truck tire shipments 2008 15.5 4.3
When asked, “How do you project will remain at 16.5 million units this year.
your full-year tire sales in units to be?” At OE, they will grow by 10.3%. 2007 16.7 5.0

All figures in the 13-page Facts Section are Modern Tire Dealer figures unless otherwise noted. For all market share charts:
Because numbers are rounded to the nearest one-half percent, the total may not equal 100%.

24 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Shipments
The Rubber Manufacturers Association In contrast, OE LT tire shipments are consumer tire exports to the U.S. last
(RMA) is guardedly optimistic about projected to decrease by 7%, from 4.2 year (see Chart 5).
its predictions for 2012 because U.S. million units to 3.9 million units. The Truck tire imports from China increased
economic growth is anticipated to remain drop “is a consequence of a trend towards from 4.2 million to 5.5 million units (see
slow. Overall tire shipments are forecasted light trucks built on car-based platforms Chart 6). ■
to increase by more than 2%, reaching instead of truck-based platforms, owing to
a total of more than 290 million units. increased vehicle fuel mileage standards
Chart 3
“Persistently high fuel costs, a de- and consumer demand.”
CANADIAN TIRE
crease in miles driven by consumers plus Original equipment truck tires are UNITS SHIPPED
moderating growth in the commercial forecast to increase 10% in 2012 to nearly 2007-2011 (in millions)
replacement tire sector have led to a 5 million units. PASSENGER TIRE
restrained outlook,” says the RMA’s Tire
Year Replacement OE
Market Analysis Committee. Chinese imports and tariffs
Here are the RMA’s domestic tire In 2008, prior to the implementation 2011 16.0 7.9
shipment predictions, in millions of of a 35% tariff , 46.5 million consumer 2010 16.5 8.0
units, for 2012. tires were exported from China to the 2009 20.0 6.0
U.S. The addition of the tariff, which 2008 19.0 8.1
Replacement 2012 2011 % change increased duties on passenger and light 2007 17.4 10.7
Passenger 196.0 197.0 0.5% truck tires from 4% to 39% in the first LIGHT TRUCK TIRE
Light truck 28.1 28.1 0.0% year, has reduced imports from China by
2011 3.0 .10
Truck 17.7 16.9 4.7% 41% (see Chart 4). On Sept. 26, 2011,
the tariff fell to 29%, but shipments still 2010 2.7 .02
The RMA forecast for OE passenger reached their lowest total since 2006. 2009 2.8 .01
tire shipments is nearly 40 million units, Overall consumer tire imports to the 2008 2.6 .04
up approximately 13% from 2011. U.S., however, have increased by 3.5% 2007 2.7 .75
over the same period. MEDIUM/HEAVY TRUCK TIRE
Chart 4 The top 10 exporting 2011 1.8 .19
U.S. CONSUMER TIRE IMPORTS FROM CHINA countries, including
(in millions) 2010 1.4 .15
China, accounted for
2009 1.4 .13
Year Units Yr./yr. change more than 90% of the
total consumer tire 2008 1.3 .30
2011 27.3 -11.9%
imports. 2007 1.4 .38
2010 31.0 -27.9% Seven of the top 10 Sources: Rubber Association of
2009 43.0 -7.5% countries were up in Canada; MTD estimates

2008 46.5 +14.8%

2007 40.5 +50.0% Chart 6
2011 U.S. TRUCK TIRE IMPORTS FROM CHINA
Sources: U.S. government, MTD figures

Chart 5
U.S. CONSUMER TIRE IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
2011 Rank/ % change vs.
country 2010 rank 2010
1. China 1 -11.9%
2. S. Korea 3 +4.6%
3. Canada 2 +1.5%
4. Japan 4 -9.2%
5. Indonesia 5 +15.1%
6. Mexico 7 +35.3%
7. Thailand 6 +23.3%
8. Taiwan 9 +8.7%
9. Brazil 8 -26.0%
10. Germany 10 +28.0%
The top 10 countries account for 90.6% of all
consumer tire imports in the U.S. Sources: U.S. government, MTD figures

26 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Market share

Major brands continue

to gain market share
They account for nearly 180 million in
passenger and light truck tire shipments

M ajor brands gained consumer tire market

share in the U.S. at the expense of both
private and associate brands in 2011 vs.
2010. Major brands jumped from 78.2% to 79.4%,
while private brands fell from 11.9% to 10.8%. As-
PASSENGER TIRES
Chart 9
2011 U.S. REPLACEMENT CONSUMER TIRE
BRAND SHARES
LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
(based on 198.0 million units) (based on 28.6 million)
sociate brands dropped one-tenth of a percentage
Brand % of total Brand % of total
point (see Chart 7).
A number of factors contributed to the increase, Goodyear 14.0% Goodyear 11.5%
despite the loss of overall market share by the Big Michelin 8.5% BFGoodrich 9.0%
Three manufacturers (see Chart 8). They included: Bridgestone 8.0% Bridgestone 8.0%
• the removal of low-cost tire production in the Firestone 7.0% Michelin 7.0%
U.S. over the last 10 years. Labor costs made it hard BFGoodrich 5.0% Firestone 6.5%
for domestic tire makers to profitably manufacture Cooper 5.0% Cooper 6.0%
low-cost radials here. So they farmed that segment
out to countries with less expensive labor costs, Hankook 5.0% Multi-Mile 4.5%
and emphasized their flagship brands. General 3.5% General 4.0%
Yokohama 3.5% Yokohama 4.0%
Chart 7 Falken 3.0% Hankook 3.5%
2011 U.S. CONSUMER TIRE Kumho 3.0% Toyo 3.5%
BRAND SHARE
(by type; based on 226.6 million units) Pirelli 2.5% Falken 3.0%
Uniroyal 2.5% Kumho 2.5%
Continental 2.0% Uniroyal 2.5%
Dayton 2.0% Cordovan 2.0%
Dunlop 2.0% Kelly 2.0%
Hercules 2.0% Mastercraft 2.0%
Kelly 2.0% Nexen 2.0%
Multi-Mile 2.0% Pirelli 2.0%
Nexen 2.0% Continental 1.5%
Chart 8 Toyo 2.0% Dayton 1.5%
2011 U.S. CONSUMER TIRE
MARKET SHARE Cordovan 1.5% Dunlop 1.5%
(by company, three top brands; based on Mastercraft 1.5% Hercules 1.5%
226.6 million units)
Sigma 1.5% Maxxis 1.5%
Big O 1.0% Big O 1.0%
Delta 1.0% Delta 1.0%
Fuzion 1.0% Eldorado 1.0%
Nitto 1.0% Pro Comp 1.0%
Sumitomo 1.0% Sigma 1.0%
Others 6.5% Others 4.5%

28 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Market share
• rising raw material costs, which led to
double-digit price increases and made all
tires much more expensive. How many
people simply said, “Well, as long as I’m
spending this kind of money, I might
as well spring for (fill in major brand
here) tires”?
• tire tariffs, which significantly reduced
consumer tire imports from China. A
35% tariff on passenger and light truck
tire prices was added to the existing 4%
duty on Sept. 26, 2009. The additional
tariff has since dropped to 25%, and is
scheduled to disappear on Sept. 26, 2012.
Since the tariff was implemented,
Chinese passenger and light truck tire
shipments to the U.S. have dropped 36.5%.
It took awhile for other countries to pick
up the slack (not all the Chinese imports
were low-cost radials), but consumer tire
imports to the U.S. reached a record 144
million units last year, up 2% from the
previous year.
China had the tariffs to blame for its
decrease in imports. Japan had a natural
disaster, the Great East Japan Earthquake,
and a strong yen versus the U.S. dollar
with which to deal. The result was a 9.2%
decrease in consumer tire imports from
the Land of the Rising Sun.
Yokohama Tire Corp. was able to in-
crease market share anyway, thanks to
added capacity at its Salem, Va., plant.
The Bridgestone brand gained share as
Bridgestone Americas Inc. grabbed from
Peter (Firestone) to pay Paul (Bridges-
tone). Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. struggled
with supply (see Chart 9 on page 28 for
U.S. market share by brand).
Survival of the fittest
Private brands are defined as tires
marketed and owned by a company or
organization other than the one that
manufacturers them. (A gray area exists
where a tire manufacturer and private
brand marketer market the same generic
tire. This is more prevalent with less
popular sizes or smaller market seg-
ments because it is cost-effective to the
private brand company that wants to fill
out its line.)
In 2011, they had a 10.8% replacement
consumer tire market share in the U.S.,
broken out as follows: 10.5% passenger,
13% light truck.
In 1991, private brands accounted
for 27.5% of the passenger tire market.
30
OE market share
Chart 10
2011 U.S./CANADIAN Just to keep up with market share at the
OE CONSUMER TIRE original equipment level, an OE supplier
BRAND SHARE had to increase its shipments in the U.S.
(excluding imported vehicles; and Canada by 4.3% last year. In the U.S.
based on 48.1 million units) alone, it was 5.2%.
The major OE brand share gainers
Brand 2011 2010 in 2011 were Michelin, Bridgestone,
Goodyear 27.5% 28.8% Continental, Firestone, Hankook and
Kumho (see Chart 10).
Michelin 22.9% 22.2% As part of its Industrial Plan and Vision
Bridgestone 14.5% 14.3% to 2015, Pirelli & Cie SpA has changed its
approach to supplying OEMs in North
Continental 9.9% 9.8% America. The new strategy is to slightly
increase brand share by taking a selective
BFGoodrich 5.5% 5.8%
approach to European OEM transplants
Firestone 5.0% 4.9% while reducing sales to mass market
vehicles.
Hankook 4.3% 3.9% Our “2011 Retail Tire Customer Sur-
Pirelli 3.4% 3.4% vey” addressed the original equipment
loyalty issue brand by brand for both
General 2.5% 3.0% the first and second replacement sets.
Kumho 2.0% 1.5%
Michelin is number one in customer
loyalty. Vehicle owners replace Michelin
Dunlop 1.2% 1.2% OE tires with the same brand 32.3% of
the time for the first replacement. No
Others* 1.3% 1.2%
other OE brand in our study received
* “Others” includes Yokohama loyalty ratings close to that percentage.
(Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz), Goodyear is second at 24.3%, meaning
Uniroyal (General Motors), Nexen
(Kia) and Toyo (Toyota). nearly one-quarter of domestic vehicle
owners replace their Goodyear OE tires
with the same brand the first time around.
The largest private brand was Sears, with Bridgestone is third at nearly 23%, fol-
5.5%, and that was down from 11% in lowed by Firestone (19%), BFGoodrich
1978. Last year, Sears private brand tires (17.6%), Yokohama (13.2%), Continental
held less than a 1% share of the market. (12.7%) and Toyo (11.8%).
As major brands have increased in Rounding out the OE brands are Han-
strength — 11% since 2007 — private kook (11.1%), Dunlop (11%), Pirelli
brands has suffered. Here is the combined (10.2%), Kumho (10.2%) and General
passenger and light truck tire market (9.1%).
share differential over the last four years. When customers replace their tires
for the second time, all the OE brand
Major vs. private: U.S. market share loyalty percentages are lower — except for
Brands 2008 2009 2010 2011 Hankook (11.7%) and General (9.3%).
Major 72.6% 73.8% 78.2% 79.4%
Private 14.4% 13.8% 11.9% 10.8% Light vehicle sales
Light vehicle sales in the U.S. totaled
The four largest domestic private brand close to 12.7 million units in 2011, up 10%
marketers have increased their brand from the year before. LMC Automotive,
share since 1991. They are TBC Corp. part of LMC International Ltd., projects
(Multi-Mile, Cordovan, Sigma, Big O), sales to reach 13.8 million in 2012.
Treadways Corp. (Eldorado, Jetzon, Tim Rogers, president of the Polk busi-
Telstar), Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. ness unit of R.L. Polk & Co., told 2011
(Hercules, Ironman) and Del-Nat Tire SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market
Corp. (Delta, National). TBC and Tread- Association) Show attendees that light
ways, although run as separate units, are vehicle sales will grow to nearly 16 million
owned by Sumitomo Corp. of America, units by 2015.
the largest wholly-owned subsidiary of “We believe the relatively new CUV
Sumitomo Corp. segment — the crossover SUVs like
MTD January 2012
 Facts section: Market share
the Chevy Equinox or the Ford Edge, Canadian shipments: down Walmart Canada Corp. has approxi-
will be a main part of what drives new After a 5.5% increase in 2009 com- mately 300 outlets that sell tires, including
vehicle sales over the next several years. pared to 2008, Canadian replacement 156 Super Centres with Tire & Lube
Not only do these vehicles meet the size consumer tire shipments decreased 15.8% Express Auto Centres. Walmart Canada
requirements of the typical family, but in 2010 and 1% in 2011. Passenger tire promotes six brands: Nexen, Firestone,
technology changes in four-cylinder shipments fell 3% last year, with winter Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone and
engines gives the owner the desired fuel tires accounting for about 35% of the 16 Rovelo, a winter tire from Dynamic
efficiency while not sacrificing much in million units shipped. Light truck tire Tire Corp.
the way of power.” shipments rose 11.1% Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. has
Despite the increase in new vehicle Motomaster, a private brand produced 82 outlets in Canada. It became the
sales, Rogers said the aftermarket stands for Canadian Tire Corp., is the most popu- only warehouse membership club in the
to gain more than $3 billion in do-it- lar replacement brand in Canada (see Chart country when Walmart closed its six Sam’s
for-me business over the next three to 11). It owns 13% of the passenger and Club warehouses in 2009. Costco offers
four years, in part because vehicles are 10% of the light truck tire market share. three brands: Michelin, BFGoodrich and
outlasting their warranties. Canadian Tire is one of two mass Bridgestone.
“Even as new vehicle The largest indepen-
sales come back, there are Chart 11 dent dealer in Canada is
simply fewer cars and light 2011 CANADIAN REPLACEMENT Kal Tire Inc., with more
trucks on the road likely CONSUMER TIRE BRAND SHARES than 230 locations. Kal
to be repaired in the OEM PASSENGER TIRE LIGHT TRUCK TIRE Tire offers 13 passen-
channel.” (based on 16.0 million units) (based on 3.0 million units) ger and light truck tire
According to the Na- Brand % of total Brand % of total brands: BFGoodrich,
tional Automobile Deal- Motomaster 13.0% Goodyear 16.0% Bridgestone, Falken,
ers Association, General Michelin 12.0% Michelin 12.0% Firestone, Goodride, Mi-
Motors Corp. was the sales chelin, Multi-Mile, Nitto,
Goodyear 10.0% Motomaster 10.0%
leader with 19.7% of the Nokian, Pirelli, Sonny,
market. Bridgestone 8.0% BFGoodrich 9.0% Uniroyal and Yokohama.
Ford Motor Co. was BFGoodrich 6.0% Bridgestone 8.5% It also sells Bridgestone,
second at 15.9%, although Hankook 6.0% Firestone 5.5% Continental, Double
the Ford F-Series pickup General 4.0% Yokohama 5.5% Coin, Firestone, Kumho,
once again was the best- Firestone 3.5% Hankook 5.0%
Michelin and Yokohama
selling light truck with truck tires.
sales of nearly 585,000 Nexen 3.5% General 4.5% The largest indepen-
vehicles. Toyota Motor Toyo 3.5% Toyo 4.0% dent tire dealer group in
North America Inc. was Yokohama 3.5% Kumho 3.0% Canada is OK Tire Stores
third, with the Camry the Cooper 3.0% Uniroyal 3.0% Inc., with more than 270
best-selling car in 2011. Kumho 3.0% Dayton 2.0% outlets. Each store is in-
Here are some other dividually owned and
Uniroyal 3.0% Hercules 2.0%
fast-facts from NADA: operated. OK Tire sells
Continental 2.5% Kelly 2.0% 13 brands: Bridgestone,
• The CUV segment was Dayton 2.0% Pirelli 2.0% Continental, Dayton,
the largest segment in Dunlop 2.0% Dunlop 1.5% D u r u n , Fi re s to n e,
the industry at 24.6% Falken 2.0% Continental 1.0% Fuzion, General, Han-
on sales of 3.1 million. kook, Kumho, Pirelli,
Hercules 2.0% Multi-Mile 1.0%
Volume increased 10.3% Primewell, Winterquest
for the year. Kelly 1.5% Others 4.0% (TBC) and Toyo.
• The SUV segment ex- Nokian 1.5% Motomaster is the largest pri- The next largest in-
perienced the largest Delta 1.0% vate brand tire in Canada, with dependent tire dealer
13.4% of the replacement con-
volume increase: 24.6% Pirelli 1.0% sumer tire market. It is sold by
groups are Alliance
on sales of 998,000 units Others 4.0% Canadian Tire Corp. Tire Professionals, a
(led by the new Ford Canadian network of
Explorer and the Jeep certified Michelin locally
Grand Cherokee). merchandisers in Canada that sell tires. owned independent dealers (more than
• BMW for the first time claimed the Each of its 485 stores is operated by an 160 stores; Michelin, BFGoodrich and
title as the largest luxury brand with independent business owner. In addition Uniroyal brands) and Fountain Tire Ltd.
sales of 247,907, edging out Mercedes to Motomaster, Canadian Tire offers 10 (148 stores, including three in Ontario;
by just more than 2,000 units. Lexus brands: Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly brands).
had been the top-selling brand for the Pirelli, BFGoodrich, Dunlop, General, Goodyear Canada Inc. has a minority
last 11 years. Uniroyal, Hankook and Fierce. interest in Fountain Tire. ■

32 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Sales and pricing
Chart 12

$82 billion
WORLD LEADERS IN NEW TIRE SALES
(fiscal year 2011; in billions
of U.S. dollars)
Company 2011 2010

in tires! 1. Bridgestone
Corp.
2. Groupe
$31.2

$28.3
$27.0

$22.2
That’s just the Michelin
3. Goodyear Tire $22.3 $18.4
top 3 tire makers & Rubber Co.
4. Continental AG $11.9 $9.3
5. Pirelli & C. SpA $7.8 $6.3

T here are more than 150

consumer tire brands sold
in the U.S. aftermarket. That
number increases when adding in
dedicated truck tire brands.
and Westlake brands. MTD was
unable to verify the company’s global
tire sales for 2011 at presstime.
On its website, the company
forecast it would have total sales
6. Sumitomo Rub-
ber Industries Ltd.
7. Hankook Tire Co.
8. Yokohama
$7.3

$5.9
$5.7
$5.8

$4.7
$4.5
Rubber Co.1
But when ranking the tire compa- revenue of $4 billion in 2011. If so,
9. Cooper Tire & $4.0 $3.4
nies that manufacture those brands, Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber may Rubber Co.
three stand out because of their have reached number 11 on the list.
size. That is why Bridgestone Corp., 10. Cheng Shin $3.9 $3.1
Rubber Ind. Co.
Groupe Michelin and Goodyear Tire Tire pricing: no more ‘4 for $99’ Ltd.2
& Rubber Co. are often referred to Skyrocketing tire prices were a
as the Big Three. big reason all the global players’ 11. Kumho Tire Co. $3.4 $3.0
Inc.
Together, they account for nearly signifcantly increased sales in 2011.
$82 billion tires sold, more than Here were the average tire prices 12. Toyo Tire & $3.0 $2.4
the next nine manufacturers, at (see sidebar) in 2011: Rubber Co. Ltd.3
$53 billion, combined (see Chart U.S./CANADIAN LEADERS
12). They also are the Big Three in Passenger: $126.16. IN NEW TIRE SALES
North America, especially in the Light truck: $179.15. (fiscal year 2011; in billions
of U.S. dollars)
U.S. and Canada. Truck: $416.18.
Perhaps notably missing from Company 2011 2010
the list of top 12 manufacturers is The good, better, best advertised 1. Bridgestone $11.1 $9.6
Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. tire prices for size P225/60R16 Firestone
Ltd. Based in Hangzhou, China, the in 2010 were $65.99, $94.65 and 2. Goodyear $9.3 $7.7
company produces the Goodride $136.36, respectively. ■ 3. Michelin North $8.5 $6.7
America
4. Cooper Tire $2.7 $2.3
‘$155 a tire? I wish!’ 5. Continental Tire $2.6 $2.0
Pricing hurts deep in the heart of Texas the Americas
Average tire prices in 2011 took into account both the amount of the 6. Yokohama Tire $1.5 $1.1
Corp.1
increases and the time they became effective.
For example, Michelin implemented its first consumer tire price 7. Sumitomo $1.3 $1.1
increase of 2011 on Feb 1. It was up to 8%. A second increase up to Rubber Industries4
8.5% went into effect on May 1. 8. HankookTire $1.2 $1.0
On October 3, a third increase raised prices up to 9%. At their most America Corp.
liberal, the price increases totaled 25.5%. So a Michelin passenger or 9. ToyoTire Holdings $1.0 $.84
light truck tire may have cost 25.5% more at the end of the year than it of Americas Inc.3
did at the beginning of the year. 10. Kumho Tire $.81 $.73
The average pricing for the year, however, would have been much U.S.A. Inc.
less, even if all the price increases stuck completely. 11. Pirelli Tire North $.61 $.49
It’s also a nationwide average. When I wrote in an editorial last year America
that the average price of a replacement LT tire was $155 in 2010, a Yokohama’s fiscal 2011 was nine months long
1

dealer from Texas was amused. so it could change to a January-December fis-

cal year in 2012. Totals include January-March
“Please tell me where light truck tires retail for an average of $155,” 2011 sales.
Todd Schindler, owner of Texas Tire & Accessory LLP in Hallettsville, 2
Doing business as Maxxis International.
Texas, wrote back. “I need to find out who their distributors are. In Texas,
3
Fiscal year ending March 31, 2011.
4
Sumitomo Corp. of America is run indepen-
that is our average cost!” Perhaps he’s happier this year. — Bob Ulrich dently of Sumitomo Rubber Industries.

34 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Tire dealer profile

Independent tire
dealers dominate
They own 61% of the retail market
and even more when they wholesale

T he replacement consumer tire

market is worth $30.1 billion.
A breakdown of the distribution
channels through which those tires were
sold shows signficant movement in 2011
compared to 2010.
Independent tire dealers, tire company-
owned stores and auto dealerships gained
market share at the expense of mass mer-
chandisers, warehouse clubs and service
stations (see Chart 13). Tire dealers com-
mand 61% of the passenger tire market,
up from 54% 20 years ago. That’s more
than $18.3 billion in replacement sales.
Single-store owners make up 68% of
the 30,000 independent retail, wholesale
and commercial tire dealer locations in
the U.S. In 2011, more than ever, the mid-
size dealers, both retail and wholesale,
felt profitability pressure brought on by
the combination of a struggling economy
and the aggression of the larger retailers
targeting them.
Auto dealerships again gained market
share last year, continuing a trend that
began in 1999. Since then, their market
share has more than quadrupled, despite
a corresponding 21% drop in franchised
dealerships, according to the National Au-
tomobile Dealers Association (NADA).
Ford Motor Co. has been particularly
active courting the tire-buying public,
not only at its dealerships, but also at
its more than 600 Quick Lane Tire &
Auto Centers.
Through October, NADA data shows
service and parts sales at the average car
dealership are up 7.8%. Saul Ludwig, a
managing director at Northcoast Research
Holdings LLC, says car dealers have been
particularly aggressive in selling tires.
“Because cars have improved and need
less service work, auto dealers are trying
to get more revenue from their service
departments. They have intensified their
efforts to sell tires and other related
products and services.”
When you take wholesaling into ac-
count, independent tire dealers have an
even greater share: 77% (see Chart 14).
That is because they are the main suppliers
to car dealer franchisees (think Dealer Tire
LLC), muffler shops and service stations.
Wholesale distributors represent 13%
of the 30,000 dealers.
Independent tire dealers help the tire-
buying customer choose the brand 79%
of the time, according to MTD’s most
recent “Retail Tire Customer Survey.”
As you might expect, the percentage of
customers requesting and sticking with
the original equipment brand is higher
for the first replacement set of tires than
it is for subsequent sets.
Oil changes average $20.55
According to DesRosiers Automotive
Consultants Inc., oil changes drive the
aftermarket, particularly tire sales.
“If the (car dealer) or independent
does the oil change, they get the tire
work, and it doesn’t matter what age
of vehicle they service,” says President
Dennis DesRosiers.
Some 80% of independent tire dealers
offer oil and lube service. They average
133 jobs a month.
The advertised cost of a standard oil
(synthetic blend), lube and filter was
$20.55, up 2% from last year ($20.16)
and 21% from five years ago.
Service 2011 2009 2007
Oil change $20.55 $19.83 $16.98
Tire dealers in the U.S. perform more
than $20 million a year in automotive
services (mounting and balancing is
the most popular service). They employ
almost 150,000 technicians, more than
50% of whom are ASE-certified. They
also average six bays per store, which
means they control 180,000 service bays.
Independent retailers average between
$1.9 million and $2 million per outlet.
Auto service accounts for 47% of their
sales and 44% of their profits.

Chart 13 Chart 14
U.S. CONSUMER TIRE RETAIL MARKET SHARE CONSUMER TIRE DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL
(based on retail sales) MARKET SHARE
Distribution channel 2011 2010 Initial channel 2011 2009 2007 2005
Independent tire dealers 61.0% 60.0% Independent tire 77.0% 75.0% 74.0% 74.0%
dealers
Mass merchandisers 14.0% 14.5%
Tire company 8.0% 8.5% 8.5% 8.0%
Warehouse clubs 8.5% 9.5%
stores
Tire company-owned 7.5% 7.0% Miscellaneous* 15.0% 16.5% 17.5% 18.0%
stores
* “Miscellaneous” includes mass merchandisers,
Auto dealerships 6.5% 6.0% warehouse clubs, car dealers, auto parts chains and oil
companies/service stations.
Miscellaneous outlets 2.5% 3.0%

36 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Tire dealer profile
Tires and tire sizes the top 10 OE LT sizes represented 86.8% “The 215/60R16 has been around
A typical tire dealer handles 11.4 dif- of the total, down from 90.7% in 2009. awhile,” says Rick Brennan, vice president
ferent brands, which is in line with what The most popular OE P-metric and of marketing for Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc.
dealers on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 list LT sizes for 2010 and 2009 are listed in “In the early to late ’90’s, it was used on
offer (see Chart 15). He or she sells an Chart 16 to give tire dealers a better idea large American sedans like the Buick
average of 15 to 16 tires a day per outlet. of what to look for and stock in 2012. LeSabre and Park Avenue, Pontiac Bonn-
Successful retail tire dealers turn their For example, dealers will continue to see eville, Grand Prix and Olds Ninety-Eight.
tire inventories at least seven times a year, vehicles with size P215/60R16 roll into “In 2002 it began life on the Camry
according to Norm Gaither, president of their dealerships over the next few years. and still is the base (i.e., stripped down)
Dealer Strategic Planning Inc. The best That size has been the most popular Camry OE tire size. It is also used on
way to determine tire inventory turns “is P-metric OE size since 2004. It also the Nissan Altima base model and the
to take the annual cost of sales and divide nearly doubled its growth at the replace- Chevy Cruze in 2011.
them by the average inventory,” he says. ment level in 2011, and is the second “Expect this size to hang around for a
Average inventory is determined by most popular replacement size, next to while until the base model cars move to
adding the inventory at the beginning P225/60R16 (see Chart 17). the 17-inch option size: 215/55R17!”
of the year to the inventory at the end There wasn’t much movement in the
of the year and dividing by two. Chart 16 P-metric OE sizes in 2011 except for
Probably the biggest single issue for MOST POPULAR DOMESTIC P225/50R17, which jumped from seventh
dealers is SKU count. Although earch OE PASSENGER AND to third. Also, P245/70R17 entered the
dealer purchases tires from an average LT TIRE SIZES top 10. In the replacement segment,
of five wholesale distributors, knowing 2010 OE P-Metric/metric P195/65R15, made a little noise, moving
the most popular sizes remains crucial. Size % of total into the top five.
The top 10 P-metric original equipment Size LT245/75R16 was the top OE
tire sizes in 2010 accounted for 36% of P215/60R16 7.0% LT size for 18 consecutive years entering
total sizes, according to the RMA. That P265/70R17 5.8% 2011. However, size LT245/75R17 had
is down from 41.2% in 2009. In contrast, P215/55R17 4.1% been trending upward for years, and was
a close second in 2010. Now the 17-inch
Chart 15 P235/70R16 3.5% size is number one (see Chart 18).
BRANDS LISTED AS BEING P275/55R20 3.1% The top t wo replacement LT
OFFERED BY MTD 100 sizes remained LT245/75R16 and
2009 OE P-Metric/metric
(Total outlets: 5,296) LT265/75R16.
Size % of total
Rank by number # dealers The top OE and replacement medium
of dealers 2011 (2010) P215/60R16 9.0% truck tire size was 295/75R22.5, followed
1. Michelin 85 (83) P265/70R17 5.5% by 11R22.5 and 11R24.5. ■
2. Goodyear 77 (71) P235/70R16 4.5%
Chart 17
3. BFGoodrich 72 (70) P215/55R17 4.2% TOP U.S. PASSENGER
4. Bridgestone 66 (62) P225/50R17 3.4% TIRE SIZES, 2011
5. Continental 56 (55) 2010 OE Light truck (LT) Replacement OE
6. Firestone 55 (44) Size % of total 1. P225/60R16 1. P215/60R16
7. Dunlop 52 (52) LT245/75R16 19.5% 2. P215/60R16 1. P265/70R17
7. Uniroyal 52 (47) LT245/75R17 18.4% 3. P265/70R17 3. P225/50R17
7. Yokohama 52 (46) LT225/75R16 11.7% 4. P235/75R15 4. P215/55R17
10. General 46 (48) LT275/65R18 8.2% 5. P195/65R15 5. P235/70R16
11. Cooper 44 (40) LT265/70R17 7.9%
11. Kelly 44 (36) 2009 OE Light truck (LT) Chart 18
13. Pirelli 40 (34) Size % of total TOP U.S. LIGHT TRUCK TIRE
SIZES, 2011
14. Hankook 36 (32) LT245/75R16 23.4%
Replacement OE
15. Toyo 34 (35) LT245/75R17 13.8%
1. LT245/75R16 1. LT245/75R17
16. Falken 29 (20) LT225/75R16 11.6%
2. LT265/75R16 1. LT245/75R16
16. Kumho 29 (18) LT265/70R17 10.5%
3. LT265/70R17 3. LT265/70R17
18. Fuzion 16 (13) LT275/70R18 9.2%
4. LT235/85R16 4. LT225/75R16
Source: Modern Tire Dealer 100, Source: Rubber Manufacturers
2010-2011 Association 5. LT225/75R16 5. LT265/70R18

38 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Plant capacity
Chart 19
NORTH AMERICAN TIRE PLANT CAPACITIES
as of January 1, 2012 (in thousands of units)
Light
Passen- truck Truck Others
Plant location/ Non- ger per per per
Year constructed union ISO1 QS2 per day: day: day: day: Total
Bridgestone Americas Inc.
La Vergne, Tenn., 1972 x x 7.1 2.3 6.2 0.0 15.6
Warren County, Tenn., 1990 x x 0.0 0.0 8.0 0.0 8.0
Bloomington, Ill., 1965 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.26 0.26
Des Moines, Iowa, 1945 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 4.5

Capacity
Wilson City, N.C., 1974 x x x 33.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.1
Aiken County, S.C., 1999 x x x 17.3 7.7 0.0 0.0 25.0
Joliette, Quebec, 1966 x x 9.3 7.2 0.0 0.0 16.5

falls 3.2% Monterrey, Mexico, 2007

Cuernavaca, Mexico, 1980
Total:
x
x x
7.0
11.0
84.8
0.0
4.4
21.6
0.0
0.0
14.2
0.0
0.0
4.76
7.0
15.4
125.36
But help is on Jackson, Tenn., 2009
Carlisle Tire & Wheel Co.
x 0.0 0.0 0.0 26.0 26.0
the way Clinton, Tenn. (Dico), 1974 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.0 15.0

T
Total: 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.0 41.0
ire capacity, not produc-
tion, in North America Continental Tire the Americas LLC
totaled 307.5 million Mount Vernon, Ill., 1973 x x x 28.0 3.0 5.0 0.0 36.0
tires at 51 plants as of Jan. 1, 2012. Total: 28.0 3.0 5.0 0.0 36.0
That’s down 3.2% compared to Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
12 months ago. (The total does Findlay, Ohio, 1917 x 7.0 16.0 0.0 0.0 23.0
not include race or aviation tires.) Texarkana, Ark., 1964 x 24.0 8.0 0.0 0.0 32.0
U.S. capacity is 246.7 million
Tupelo, Miss., 1984/1960 x x 42.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 42.0
tires, a 4.5% decrease over last
year and 80.2% of total North Total: 73.0 24.0 0.0 0.0 97.0
American capacity. The majority Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
of the decrease can be attributed Buffalo, N.Y., 1923 x 4.3 5.4 1.75 4.55 16.0
to the closing of Goodyear’s Union Danville, Va., 1966 x x 0.0 0.0 10.0 0.0 10.0
City, Tenn., plant last July. (Titan Fayetteville, N.C., 1969 x x 30.5 10.5 0.0 0.0 41.0
International Inc. purchased the Gadsden, Ala., 1928 x x 15.0 12.0 0.0 0.0 27.0
facility last November, and plans
Lawton, Okla., 1978 x x x 70.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 70.0
to utilize it as a mixing plant for
farm and OTR tire production.) Topeka, Kan., 1945 x x 0.0 1.0 5.5 1.6 8.1
There are 36 tire manufacturing Medicine Hat, Alberta, 1960 x x 14.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.0
facilities in the U.S., down from 48 Napanee, Ontario, 1990 x x x 19.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 19.0
plants in 2001. Less than half of Total: 152.8 28.9 17.25 6.15 205.1
them are unionized (see Chart 19). GTY (General/Yokohama)
Canadian tire plant capacity is Mount Vernon, Ill., 1988 x x x 0.0 0.0 3.9 0.0 3.9
27.7 million tires, a slight year-to-
Total: 0.0 0.0 3.9 0.0 3.9
year decrease. In contrast, Mexican
plant capacity entered 2012 at 33 Michelin North America Inc.
million tires, 4.6% higher than it Ardmore, Okla., 1969 x x x 40.5 3.5 0.0 0.0 44.0
was a year ago. The opening of Dothan, Ala., 1979 x x 1.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 5.0
Pirelli Tire North America Inc.’s Fort Wayne, Ind., 1961 21.0 9.5 0.0 0.0 30.5
plant in Guanajuato, Mexico, added Greenville, S.C., 1975 x x 28.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 28.0
4,000 tires a day to the country’s Greenville, S.C. (C3M), 1997 x x x 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0
capacity.
Lexington, S.C., 1981 x x 19.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 19.0
Premium consumer, truck
and OTR tire capacity in North Lexington, S.C., 1998 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.09 0.09
America is expected to increase Spartanburg, S.C., 1978 x x 0.0 0.0 7.0 0.0 7.0
significantly in the near future. Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1945 x 23.0 7.0 0.0 0.0 30.0

40 MTD January 2012

 Light
Passen- truck Truck Others
Plant location/ Non- ger per per per Bridgestone will invest $1.2 billion
Year constructed union ISO1 QS2 per day: day: day: day: Total in U.S. tire production in South
Bridgewater, Nova
Carolina over the next four years.
Scotia, Canada, 1973 x x 11.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 14.0 That includes a new OTR tire
facility near its existing consumer
New Glasgow, Nova
Scotia, Canada, 1971 x x 7.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 8.0 tire plant in Aiken County, S.C.
The first OTR tire will roll off the
Waterville, Nova
Scotia, Canada, 1982 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 4.5
assembly line in the first quarter
of 2014. The plant tentatively will
Queretaro, Mexico x 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0
be completed by 2016.
Total: 163.5 28.0 7.0 4.59 203.09 Plant expansions at the Aiken
Pirelli Tire North America Inc. County plant will increase capacity
Rome, Ga., (MIRS), 2002 x x 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.7 by more than 50%, from 25,000
Guanajuato, Mexico, 2011 x 2.8 1.2 0.0 0.0 4.0 passenger and light truck tires per
Total: 4.0 1.7 0.0 0.0 5.7 day to 37,750 tires a day in 2015.
Specialty Tires of America Inc.
Bridgestone is investing an ad-
ditional $36.6 million in its Warren
Indiana, Pa., 1915 x 0.0 0.4 0.0 4.6 5.0
County, Tenn., truck tire plant. The
Unicoi, Tenn., 1997 x 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6 expansion will expand capacity
Total: 0.0 0.4 0.0 6.2 6.6 by more than 11%, or 900 truck
Titan Tire Corp. tires per day.
Bryan, Ohio, 1967 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.33 0.33 Mitas Tires North America Inc.,
Des Moines, Iowa, 1943 x 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.25 11.25 a subsidiary of Mitas a.s., soon will
Freeport, Ill., 1964 x x 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.1 8.1
begin producing radial agricultural
tires at its new plant in Charles City,
Total: 0.0 0.0 0.0 19.68 19.68
Iowa. When the facility reaches
Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. full capacity late in 2013, it will
White, Ga., 2005 x x 12.2 2.0 0.0 0.0 14.2 be able to produce close to 500
Total: 12.2 2.0 0.0 0.0 14.2 ag tires a day, according to MTD
Yokohama Tire Corp. estimates. “The reason for building
Salem, Va., 1968 25.7 1.1 0.0 0.0 26.8 the new tire factory in Iowa is the
Total: 25.7 1.1 0.0 0.0 26.8
proximity to original equipment
manufacturers such as Case IH,”
Grupo Carso/Euzkadi (Continental AG)
says Project Director Vladimir
San Luis Potosi, Mexico 15.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 Dusanek.
Total: 15.0 5.0 0.0 0.00 20.0 Pirelli says its new consumer
JK Tyre & Industries (formerly CIA Hulera Tornel) tire factory in Mexico will have a
Mexico City, Mexico 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.64 3.64 production capacity of five million
Tultitlan, Mexico 7.0 1.5 0.5 0.4 9.4 high and ultra-high performance
Tacuba, Mexico 2.5 2.5 0.0 0.0 5.0
tires a year for light vehicles by 2016.
Continental expects to begin
Total: 10.0 5.0 2.0 1.04 18.04
construction of its $500 million
Corporacion de Occidente SA de CV (Cooper Tire) consumer tire plant in Sumter,
Guadalajara, S.C., in mid-2012 and complete the
Mexico, 2005 x x x 10.0 7.2 2.8 0.0 20.0 facility in 2013. Continental also is
Total: 10.0 7.2 2.8 0.00 20.0 investing $224 million to expand
its Mount Vernon, Ill., facility by
U.S. Totals 456.9 93.9 47.35 77.88 676.03 four million passenger and light
Canadian Totals 60.3 11.2 0.0 4.5 76.0 truck tires per year in three years.
Michelin is investing $200
Mexican Totals 61.8 22.8 4.8 1.04 90.44
million in its Lexington, S.C.,
TOTAL: 579.0 127.9 52.15 83.42 842.47 consumer tire plant. All the new
equipment will be installed by the
2011 vs. 2012 -3% -6.7% -0.7% 0% -3.2% second half of 2013.
2010 vs. 2011 +0.6% +2.4% 0.0% -1.2% +0.8% Construction of Kumho Tire
Footnotes: U.S.A. Inc.’s plant in Macon, Ga.,
1
Plants that are ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2000 certified (www. iso.org). which began in 2008, remains on
2
QS (Quality System) 9000 certification, required by suppliers to Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp.
and Chrysler LLC (www.qscertification.com). hold, says the company. ■

www.moderntiredealer.com 41
 Facts section: Commercial

Everyone scrambles
for usable truck tires
More than 32 million new and
retreaded truck tires weren’t enough

N ew vs. retreaded truck tires

was not so much a compe-
tition in 2011 as a cry for
supply. There was a shortage of new
truck tires in the U.S. because demand
last year, up 63%) and replacement
truck tire shipments bode well for
casing availability.

Retreaded truck tires: up 7%

the total truck tire retreads produced.
The top 25 retreaders accounted for
more than half (59.2%)of the indus-
try’s output.
Bridgetone Commercial Solutions
dictated it. Original equipment ship- However, casings were in short Group, which oversees Bandag retread-
ments alone were up more than 56%! supply last year, particularly out of ing, owns 42% of the domestic truck
More truck tires were imported Japan. Still, 15.3 million truck tires tire retreading market share, down from
compared to 2010 — 22% more. In worth $3.8 billion were retreaded in 45% in 2005 (see Chart 20). Bandag
addition, domestic production was 2011, up from 14.3 million in 2010. retreads are sold through 1,600 outlets
stretched to the limit. Continental, The average price of a retreaded truck throughout North America.
for one, increased its truck tire capac- tire, including the cost of the casing, Goodyear is the second largest
ity at its Mount Vernon, Ill., plants, was $247.55, compared to $416.18
including its GTY (“G” for General, for a new truck tire. Chart 21
“T” for Toyo and “Y” for Yokohama) Until 2003, more retreaded truck 2011 U.S. REPLACEMENT
joint venture facility. tires were produced annually than MEDIUM/HEAVY TRUCK
(As of the end of the year, Toyo is new truck tires. At that point, their TIRE BRAND SHARES
no longer part of the joint venture. trend lines crossed. Since then, new (Based on 17.3 million units)
That gives Continental and Yokohama truck tires have outnumbered retreads Brand 2011
another 280,000 tires to split between six of the last eight years. (In 2003,
themselves.) nearly 16.5 million retreaded truck Michelin 18.0%
The result was a 13% year-to-year tires were produced.) Bridgestone 17.0%
increase in replacement truck tire ship- The retreaders on Modern Tire Goodyear 14.0%
ments in the U.S., from 15.3 million Dealer’s “Top 100 Retreaders in the
Yokohama 9.0%
to 17.3 million. U.S.” list, which appeared in our April
Down the road, the increase in Class 2011 issue, represent 304 of the esti- Firestone 7.5%
8 commercial vehicles (ACT Research mated 680 retreading plants in the U.S. Continental 5.5%
Co. estimates 252,000 were produced In 2010, they accounted for 89% of
General 4.0%
Chart 20 Double Coin 3.5%
2011 U.S. MARKET SHARE, RETREADED TRUCK TIRES Hankook 3.0%
(based on 15.3 million units)
Dunlop 2.5%
BFGoodrich 2.0%
Dynatrac 2.0%
Hercules 2.0%
Kelly 2.0%
Roadmaster 2.0%
Toyo 2.0%
Gladiator 1.0%
Kumho 1.0%
Sumitomo 1.0%
Others 3.0%

42 MTD January 2012

 Facts section: Commercial

Chart 22 Chart 23
2011 U.S. REPLACEMENT FARM TIRE MARKET SHARES 2011 U.S. OE REAR FARM
TIRE MARKET SHARE
REAR RADIAL (293,000 units) SMALL FARM (1.37 million units) (653,000 radial and bias units)
Goodyear 29.0% Firestone 28.5% Firestone 41.1%
Firestone 27.0% Goodyear 19.0%
Goodyear 36.3%
BKT 19.5% BKT 15.5%
Michelin 10.5% Titan 15.5% Titan 13.9%
Titan 7.0% Am. Farmer 6.0% Others 8.7%
Alliance 3.0% Harvest King 4.5%
Trelleborg 2.5% Alliance 3.0% distribution network, according to Clif
Armstrong, director of marketing for
Others 1.5% Carlisle 3.0%
Continental commercial vehicle tires.
REAR BIAS (480,000 units) Trelleborg 2.0% With the addition of a major player in
BKT 31.0% Akuret 1.0% the retread market and the demand for
Firestone 26.0% Others 2.0% retreads increasing, will there be a new
Goodyear 18.0% retread event in the U.S.? According to
retreader with a 28% market share, fol- TRIB Managing Director David Stevens,
Titan 13.0%
lowed by Michelin (which includes the the possibility exists.
Harvest King 2.5% Oliver brand) at 23%. Marangoni Tread At the TRIB (Tire Retread & Repair
Alliance 2.0% N.A. Inc. is fourth with 4% of the market. Information Bureau) fall membership
American Continental, which introduced its meeting in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 31,
Farmer 2.0% ContiTread retread products in 2009, 2011, Stevens said a recent membership
Trelleborg 2.0% signed its first licensee in the U.S. last survey revealed that 65% of the respon-
Akuret 1.5% September: King Tire Service Inc. in dents favored a retread conference tied
Bluefield, W.Va. The tire manufacturer to another trade show. “We just need to
Others 2.0%
is looking to expand its ContiTread find the right venue.” ■

Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 11123

44 MTD January 2012
 Facts section: Index

46th annual MTD

Facts Section Index
Everything you wanted to know
about 2011, from A to Z
In order to make our 46th annual the charts to the text! And it is al-
Facts Section more user-friendly, phabetical, to boot! Check out the
we have created a corresponding beginning of our 12-page section
index of all the information, from on page 24.

A Market share, U.S. farm... 44 Shipments, consumer... 24, 26

Associate brands... 28 Market share, U.S. consumer... 28 Shipments, commercial... 24, 26, 42, 44
Automotive service stats... 36 Market share, U.S. truck... 42 Survey, State of the Industry... 24
Market share, wholesale Survey, Retail Tire Customer... 30, 36
B distribution... 36 Survey, wholesalers... 24
Brands, number of... 34 Mexico... 40-41
T
C O Tariffs, China... 26, 30
Canada... 26, 32, 40-41 OE tire shipments, Canada... 26, 30 Technicians per store... 36
Chinese imports... 26, 30 OE tire shipments, U.S.... 24, 30 Tire brands, MTD 100... 38
Oil changes... 36 Tire brands, U.S.... 34
D Tire plants, North America... 40-41
Distribution, Canada... 32 P Tire sales, global... 34
Distribution, U.S.... 36 Plant capacities, Tire pricing... 34
North America... 40-41, 42 Tire sales, units... 24, 26
F Plant certification... 41 Tire sales, U.S./Canada... 34
Farm tires, OE market share... 44 Plant investment... 41 Tire shipments, Canada... 26, 32
Farm tires, replacement market Pricing, consumer tires... 24, 34 Tire shipments, U.S.... 24, 26
share... 44 Pricing, oil changes... 36 Tire sizes, replacement... 38
Pricing, retreading... 42 Tire sizes, OE... 38
G Pricing, truck tires... 34, 42 Truck tires, imports... 26, 42
Global tire sales... 34 Private brands, Canada... 32 Truck tires, market share... 42
Private brands, U.S.... 28, 30 Truck tires, retreading... 24, 42
I Truck tires, shipments... 24, 42
Imports, consumer tires... 26 R
Imports, truck tires... 26, 42 Replacement tire sales... 24 U
Inventory... 38 Retread plants... 42 Unionized plants... 40-41
Retreading, market share... 42
M Retreading, shipments... 24, 42 V
Major brand market share... 28, 30 RMA forecasts... 26 Vehicle manufacturers... 30, 32, 36
Market share, Canada... 32 Vehicle sales... 30, 32
Market share, by company... 28 S Vehicle shipments, trucks... 42
Market share, OE... 30 Sales, tires... 24
Market share, retail distribution... 36 Service bays... 36 W
Market share, retreading... 42 Shipments, 2012... 24, 26 Wholesale distribution... 24, 36, 38

46 MTD January 2012