Prices of passenger car tires in March jumped 4.3 percent from 2001, according to the most recent Producer Price Index from the Department of Labor.
Radial tire prices also rose 4.2 percent from a year ago and were 1.6 percent higher than February. Likewise, tread rubber prices rose 4.3 percent from 2001 levels.
Prices of tread rubber, tire sundries and repair materials edged up 0.6 percent from February and 1.7 percent for the three-month period but jumped 3.5 percent than last year's prices. Conversely, other tire sundries and repair materials fell 2.1 percent for the three-month period and from a year ago.
Meanwhile, light highway, original equipment and replacement radial prices rose 2.5 percent from 2001.