Tire shipments to the U.S. replacement market were mixed in May, with those for light truck and medium and wide-base truck tires growing from the month before and those for passenger and heavy truck tires declining.
Tire production, meanwhile, climbed in all tire segments, according to the latest Rubber Manufacturers Association data.
Aftermarket shipments of light truck tires grew 2.6 percent during the month and were 7 percent ahead of last year to date, the data showed.
Replacement shipments of medium and wide-base truck tires also improved, climbing 3.7 percent in May and 6.5 percent for the five-month period.
In passenger tires, replacement shipments fell 5 percent in May but remained 2.4 percent ahead of last year for the five-month period. Replacement shipments of heavy truck tires fell 25 percent in May and fell 16.4 percent through the first five months.