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Tyre shortage hits uck builders

15th September 1988
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Page 4, 15th September 1988 — Tyre shortage hits uck builders
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Britain's leading tyre manufacturers cannot supply the country's booming truck market. Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone, S P Tyres and Goodyear all admitted to Commercial Motor this week that they cannot meet the commercial vehicle industy's spiralling demand.

According to an official statement from Michelin: "Substantially increased and sustained demand for new commercial vehicles has outstripped forecasts. This, coupled with increased demand for replacement Michelin tyres, has led to a shortfall in supply with some of the company's products."

Michelin has traditionally dominated the truck tyre market in Britain, and its problems seem correspondingly more acute. The French-owned firm now says: "We strongly recommend to users that they extend the life of their Michelin tyres by regrooving, and returning their casings to us for the Remix process wherever possible."

Geoff Lawrence of Goodyear says UK truck operators are also opting for a new range of tyre sizes, in line with their Continental competitors. "The 12R 22.5 tyre is much more popular here nowadays. It will soon be as popular in the UK as it is in the rest of Europe." The sudden burst of demand for this size of tyre has left Goodyear struggling. "We're scrambling for tyres all the time," says Lawrence.

Wide single tyres are in short supply with Goodyear, as well as Bridgestone, and Pirelli. "Demand is outstripping supply right across the board at times," says Bridgestone.

Pirelli is allocating extra resources to its truck tyre production lines. "We haven't been able to keep up with demand in all the key sizes," sa3 Pirelli's marketing director Pe r Roberts. The company was eeting at its Burton-on-Trent :tory earlier this week to dele how many extra people Ld resources it would allocate the production lines. Goodyear decided to inease CV tyre production more than 18 months ago, when it took on 350 extra staff and went from a five-day trucktyre production week to a seven-day week. Even so, Goodyear says that new OEM customers cannot expect to get tyres before the New Year.

Truck manufacturers like Leyland Daf say they have been experiencing problems getting hold of tyres this year and some believe that the shortfall is holding back the industry. Manufacturers estimate that 66,000 commercial vehicles will be registered in the UK this year and that that total would be 2,000 higher if there were no supply constraints.

Tyre sizes which are in short supply include the 215/75 R17.5; the 265/70 R19.5; the 285/70 R19.5, the 12R 22.5 and the 15R 22.5.

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People: Geoff Lawrence

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