WASHINGTON—Shipments of passenger and medium and heavy truck tires to the U.S. replacement market slipped in September, compared with year-earlier levels, but shipments of light truck tires continued to grow, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Through the first nine months of 1999, however, aftermarket shipments were comfortably ahead of 1998 levels in all tire categories except heavy truck.
Replacement passenger tire shipments edged down just 0.3 percent for the month. Those of medium and wide-base truck tires skidded 0.7 percent, as a 2.4-percent increase in radial shipments were more than offset by a 27.4-percent decrease in non-radials.
Shipments of replacement light truck tires climbed 4.5 percent in September, while those to original equipment manufacturers leapt 15.4 percent.
In Canada, replacement passenger tire shipments by Rubber Association of Canada members jumped 15.9 percent, while truck/bus tire shipments rose 8.7 percent.