RMA maintains conservative forecast for tire shipments.

The U.S. tire industry will post small but positive gains in 1997 over last year's record replacement passenger tire shipments, according to the Tire Market Analysis Committee (TMAC) of the Rubber Manufacturers Association. The replacement passenger tire market is expected to reach 176 million this year, slightly outpacing the 175.3 million tires shipped in 1996. Growth for replacement light truck tires is expected to be somewhat stronger, with 1997 industry shipments expected to reach 28.5 million units compared to the record level of 27.6 million tires shipped in 1996. Markets for original equipment tires are expected to post similar, small gains in 1997. OE passenger tire shipments should reach 58 million in 1997, nearly 25 million of which will be fitted on light truck vehicles including pickups, minivans and sport utility vehicles. OE shipments of light truck tires will decrease slightly, from 5.83 million in 1996 to 5.79 million in 1997. While the number of passenger tires imported in 1997 is expected to increase slightly from 42.6 million in 1996 to 43 million in 1997, TMAC expects passenger tire exports to increase from 23.7 million in 1996 to 28 million in 1997. The light truck tire balance of trade was expected to move in the same direction, with imports increasing only 2%, while exports will increase over 15%, from 3.43 million in 1996 to 4 million in 1997. Medium and wide-base truck tires are also expected to post gains in 1997, with combined OE shipments increasing from 4.3 million in 1996 to 4.5 million in 1997. Combined replacement shipments are expected to increase from 11.7 million units in 1996 to 12.4 million in 1997. TMAC is comprised of forecast professionals from a group of tire manufacturers, who together account for over 90% of all U.S. tire shipments.