AKRON (March 20, 2002) – Goodyear shipments of passenger and light truck tires to aftermarket customers in the first two months of 2002 lagged measurably behind the industry, which shipped 8 percent more tires than in January and February 2001.
Goodyear said its shipments were essentially unchanged, because Goodyear retailers had placed higher-than-normal orders in December ahead of Jan. 1 price increases and because Goodyear distributors were delaying purchases because of “modifications in the company's distribution model.”
Goodyear also attributed the rise in industrywide shipments to dealers ordering ahead of other companies' price increases for Feb. 1 or March 1. Included in Goodyear's shipments were 400,000 tires that were part of Ford Motor Co.'s Firestone Wilderness replacement program, Goodyear said.
Goodyear's shipments to commercial customers also lagged behind the industry for similar reasons, Goodyear said. Industrywide aftermarket truck and bus tire shipments were up 14 percent over 2001; Goodyear said its shipments were up, but not as much as the industry as a whole.
As for original equipment business, Goodyear said it outperformed the industry, which shipped 10 percent more consumer tires and 17 percent more commercial tires.