FULLERTON, CA - Yokohama Tire Corporation announced it will implement a price increase of an average of 8 percent on all of its light and medium commercial truck tires sold in the U.S., effective July1. There will be in-line adjustments, as well, which will be announced at a later date.

The rising cost of raw materials was cited as the primary reason for the increase, according to Rick Phillips, Yokohama director of commercial sales. "Further, other factors also influenced the increase, such as the costs associated with manufacturing and transportation, which continue to escalate."

Phillips said that despite the cost increase, "Yokohama will continue to bring the best commercial tires to market at competitive prices using our operational efficiencies and latest technology."

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company's complete product line includes the dB Super E-spec - the world's first tire to use orange oil to reduce petroleum - as well as tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.