WASHINGTON: Total U.S. tire shipments will reach 312.1 million units in 2015, up 0.4 percent from 2014, according to the latest forecast from the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
The biggest increase by category in 2015 will be in original equipment passenger tires, which should go up to 50 million from 2014’s 47.8 million, the RMA said. OE truck tires also will rise in 2015, to 6.2 million from 5.7 million, it said.
Replacement truck tires will rise 3 percent in 2015, to 18 million from 17.4 million in 2014, the association said. Replacement light truck tires also should do better in 2015, rising 0.7 percent to 28.9 million from 2014’s 28.7 million, it said.
However, OE light truck and replacement passenger tires will fade slightly in 2015, according to the RMA. OE light truck tires will go from 4.6 million to 4.4 million, replacement passenger tires from 206.5 million to 204.7 million, it said.
