Related: Tire Maintenance: It's Not Just Checking Tire Pressure
Truck Tire Production Projected to Rise in the Next Five Years
Remember how the tire market was doing in the first quarter of this year? No? I’m guessing that is the result of selective memory. It was pretty slow, and that is an understatement.
by Bob Ulrich
December 28, 2017
Ding Yuhua (right), Triangle Tire chairman, talks with Tony Copeland, North Carolina Dept. of Commerce secretary (center) and Phil Berger, state senator. Triangle Tire USA VP of Sales Rick Phillips and CEO Manny Cicero are in the background behind Ding.
2 min to read
For any commercial truck tire dealers and manufacturers, remember the first quarter of this year? No? I’m guessing that is the result of selective memory. It was pretty slow, and that is an understatement.
Market demand has picked up since then, to the point where shipments in the U.S. will be higher this year compared to last year. Much higher.
The turnaround may have started when the International Trade Commission voted against imposing tariffs on truck and bus tires manufactured in China and imported into the U.S. last February. But increased imports from China wouldn’t increase shipments if not for demand.
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) predicts domestic replacement truck tire shipments will finish 2017 at 19.4 million units, not only a 4.3% increase over last year, but also a record.
New players are taking notice. The Dec. 19, 2017 announcement by Triangle Tyre Co. Ltd. to build a new consumer tire plant in Edgecombe County, N.C., will lead to two plants built in two phases. The first is consumer tire production. The second, to be completed by 2023, is a truck tire plant, to be built next to the first facility.
The importance of Phase Two is not surprising. Earlier this year, Triangle Tire USA hired Rick Phillips away from Yokohama Tire Corp. to be its vice president of sales. Phillips was instrumental in the building of Yokohama's new commercial truck tire plant in West Point, Miss.
When Hankook Tire America Corp. held the grand opening of its consumer tire plant in Clarksville, Tenn., in October, future medium truck tire production was mentioned to me as a possibility by more than one Hankook employee (although Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. CEO Seung Hwa Suh said the company is not looking beyond the first two phases, which center on consumer tire production).
USTMA also estimates domestic original equipment truck tire shipments will be up 8% this year. With overall demand for truck tires at an all-time high, maybe we’ll see more manufacturers building truck tire plants in the U.S.
Editor's note: Bob Ulrich is the editor of Modern Tire Dealer, a sister publication of Work Truck.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Safety & Compliance
Fleetworthy Expands Expedited Inspection to 5 States
Following its industry-first launch in Nevada, Fleetworthy’s automated inspection technology is now live in California, Michigan, Vermont, and Maine.
Read More →
Crossing State Lines in a Light-Duty Work Truck? Check These Rules First
Crossing state lines in a lighter work truck? J.J. Keller's Kathy Close explains when IRP registration, trip permits, and towing rules come into play.
Read More →
GeoFencing Adds to Your Truck Security Arsenal
Geofencing is a familiar fleet tool today, but its early adoption marked a major shift in vehicle tracking, route monitoring, and the debate over employee privacy.
Read More →From Our Partners
Recalls You Need to Know About in October 2026
In October 2026, what recalls might impact your fleet? Work Truck has the answers in this comprehensive overview of recent NHTSA recalls.
Read More →
Construction Fleets Show Telematics Adoption Alone May Not Reduce Driving Risk
SambaSafety found construction fleets monitor roughly 92% of their vehicles but recorded the highest severe speeding rate among industries studied.
Read More →
Lytx Launches 360 Hub Kit for Expanded Fleet Camera Visibility
Lytx’s new AI-ready gateway and HD auxiliary camera ecosystem, the Lytx 360 Hub Kit, extends visibility across side, rear, cargo, and blind-zone views to help fleets see more and respond faster.
Read More →
Mack Defense Achieves Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2
After an assessment conducted by an authorized Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO), Mack Defense has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2.
Read More →
When Work Trucks Under 26,001 Pounds Need IRP Registration
Think trucks under 26,001 pounds are automatically in the clear when it comes to IRP? Not always. Learn where lighter vehicles can still run into trip permit, apportioned registration, and IFTA compliance requirements when crossing state or provincial lines.
Read More →
Smith System Wants Work Truck Fleets to Look Beyond the Driver Alert
Smith System’s new Driver Risk Management program is built to help mixed work truck fleets turn telematics alerts and observations into specific behaviors, coaching actions, and measurable follow-up.
Read More →
Volvo Trucks Releases New Safety Recommendations for Traveling with Pets
One of the most important recommendations for professional drivers traveling with pets is to ensure pets are properly restrained while the truck is moving. Other tips are available in the new guide from Volvo Trucks North America and Center for Pet Safety.
Read More →