Continental, General, Yokohama and Goodyear are among tire makers announcing price increases going into the New Year.
Goodyear upped the pricing of its consumer replacement tires by 6 percent at the beginning of the month.
Increases of up to 5 percent are to be enacted by Continental and General on Jan. 1, which also marks implementation of Yokohama’s increases of up to 6 percent on its lines of car, performance and light truck tires.
“It was a difficult decision to raise prices, and we held off as long as we could,” says Shawn Denlein, Yokohama’s director of sales for consumer products. “Unfortunately, the costs of some raw materials, energy and transportation continue to escalate, leaving us no option.”
Denlein reports that there will also be some in-line adjustments, which will be announced later. Off-the-road and commercial tires will not be affected by the increase at this time. Yokohama last raised its pricing in July of 2008.
“We continually strive to keep costs down while bringing the best products to market at competitive prices,” says Jim MacMaster, Yokohama’s COO and executive vice president. “Our operational efficiencies, environmental procedures and the latest technology help, but today’s business climate makes it a challenge to contain costs.”
Continental’s Dana Zamalloa says the amount of pricing increases in store for its Continental, General and proprietary car and light truck tires will vary by market line and/or tire size.
For more information, visit www.goodyear.com, www.yokohamatire.com, www.conti-na.com and www.generaltire.com.
