The U.S. Tire Manufacturer Association reported slight increases in tire shipments in 2018. Data is based on information provided by USTMA and industry replacement figures contain the estimations of non-USTMA member activities. Note that November and December estimations were not yet validated against U.S. imports data.
For passenger tire shipments, OE saw an increase of 4.1% over 2017, and replacement tire units shipped enjoyed a slight increase of 3.4%. Light Truck OE shipments saw 3.8% year over year growth, while LT replacement tire shipments were somewhat flat at 0.5% with USTMA LT exports down by 3.3%. Truck and Bus (TBR) tires showed the greatest growth by comparison as a category overall with an OE increase in 2018 over 2017 by 19.1%, replacement units shipped increase of 20.9% and an increase in USTMA tire exports of 14.3%.
Both the original equipment and replacement tires market saw an increase in shipments in the passenger, light truck and truck and bus categories.
The data below delves into those categories:
Passenger Tire Shipments (in millions of units)
Industry Original Equipment
Total 2017: 45.2
Total 2018: 47.1
% change: 4.1% increase
Industry Replacement **
Total 2017: 209.7
Total 2018: 216.7
% change: 3.4%
USTMA Exports
Total 2017: 24.4
Total 2018: 24.9
% change: 2.1%
Total Passenger
Total 2017: 279.3
Total 2018: 288.7
% change:
Light Truck Tire Shipments (in millions of units)
Industry Original Equipment
Total 2017: 5.4
Total 2018: 5.6
% change: 3.8%
Industry Replacement **
Total 2017: 31.3
Total 2018: 31.6
% change: 0.7%
USTMA Exports
Total 2017: 5.8
Total 2018: 5.6
% change: -3.3%
Total Light Truck
Total 2017: 42.5
Total 2018: 42.7
% change: 0.6%
Truck and Bus Tire Shipments (in millions of units)
Industry Original Equipment
Total 2017: 5.4
Total 2018: 6.5
% change: 19.1%
Industry Replacement **
Total 2017: 19.7
Total 2018: 21.4
% change: 8.1%
USTMA Exports
Total 2017: 2.5
Total 2018: 2.9
% change: 14.3%
Total Truck and Bus
Total 2017: 27.6
Total 2018: 30.7
% change: 10.9%
