A year ago, the Rubber Manufacturers Association applauded a 4% overall increase in U.S. tire shipments for 2013, and called for a 2% boost in 2014.
Well, 2014 was up year-over-year, and by an estimated 4.4%. 2014 tire shipments should come in at a total of 310 million tires, up from 2013’s final count of 297 million.

The U.S. replacement market carried its weight for the first time in years; P-metric shipments were up 2.6% to 205.3 million tires, the RMA said, while LT-metric shipments rose 0.2% YoY, and medium truck tire shipments rose 8.6% from 2013 numbers.

OE tire shipments stayed strong, as well: P-metric was up 9.5%, LT-metric was up 4.3%, and medium truck tire shipments were up 9.3% year-over-year.

Going forward, the RMA predicts a much softer 2015. On the replacement side, P-metric shipments are expected to fall 0.6%, LT-metric is said to improve only by 0.3%, and medium truck shipments will slow to a 1.7% increase. The OE will also drop off, with P-metric shipments rising 2.5%, LT-metric climbing 2.1%, and medium truck rising 3.7% YoY.

Final 2014 figures won’t be posted until later this year.