AKRON (Sept. 23, 2016) — Overproduction of truck and bus tires in China and other countries has put the U.S. tire market in flux, especially the retread market, according to Aaron Murphy, vice president of commercial tire sales for TBC Corp. “Retreads became less competitive against new tires as manufacturers reduced new tire pricing,” said Mr. Murphy, a former vice president of China Manufacturers Alliance L.L.C., who has made nearly 60 trips to China for sourcing and product development.
In 2002, there were approximately 20 truck and bus tire factories in China, producing about 10 percent of world supply, he said at the recent International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC) in Akron.
By 2015, China had more than 120 truck and bus tire factories — some with multiple brands — and boasted 14 of the top 40 tire manufacturers in the world, he added.