Research and Markets: Trends in the Global Tire Industry

DUBLIN, Ireland--Aug. 4, 2004--

Analysis and Discussion on the Most Important Trends in the Global Tire Industry

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of Trends in the Global Tire Industry to their offering.

There have been changes, some important, but with few exceptions these changes have been incremental, not revolutionary. Mergers and acquisitions, improvements in materials, changes in design have all helped to make tires cheaper, more effective and longer lasting but tires have remained an unexciting commodity product.

The companies involved in the industry have shown poor growth and low returns on investment.

Several unconnected developments are now occurring which have the potential to change the industry dramatically and which will have major implications for the tire industry.

The growth of global brands is changing the market and this in turn is affecting the brand owners and their relationships with competitors

New designs of tires, the development of run-flat tires (such as the Michelin PAX concept) will have a major effect on the design of vehicles and on the future size of the market National and regional legislation, partly prompted by the Firestone recall, is changing the product specification, the whole life cost of the tire and the relationship between manufacturers and VMs

New manufacturing techniques are revolutionising the way tires are made and altering the economics of the industry Any one of these changes would have a profound effect on the industry - taken together they point to a radical restructuring of the sector.

This wide-ranging and detailed report analyses and assesses the changes that are taking place in the tire industry. It examines the situation as it is today, looks at each of the components of change and analyses the effect these will have both on the industry as a whole and the companies within the industry. Not just the major manufacturers but also the scores of smaller producers and the suppliers of materials to the industry. How are the multinationals reacting? Who are the leaders and who are the followers? Which firms are exiting the industry? What threat is posed by the low-cost producers in China and India?

The report provides a balanced and perceptive analysis of the tire industry and forecasts the changes that will take place in the next decade.

The report includes forecasts for car and truck tire sales for OEM and replacement markets in each of the major regions.

This major new report is of interest to all involved in the international tire business, in distribution, wholesaling, production, and among suppliers of materials, machinery and services.

This report contains detailed analysis and discussion under the following headings:

Trends in the Global Tire Industry

1 THE TIRE MARKET

2 REGIONAL ANALYSIS

3 THE COMPANIES

3.1 Bridgestone

3.2 Goodyear

3.3 Michelin

3.4 Continental

3.5 Pirelli

3.6 Sumitomo

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c3497