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Uniroyal(R) Light Truck Tire Sales up Dramatically

28 September 2000

Uniroyal(R) Light Truck Tire Sales up Dramatically

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 27 With five Uniroyal(R) tire
lines approved by Ford as replacements for recalled Firestone tires, Uniroyal
Tire's light truck division saw a sales increase of 100 percent in August
compared to the same month a year ago.  The tire brand overall recorded a
double-digit increase in sales versus a year ago.
    Uniroyal Tire Brand Manager Joe Herget said a significant portion of the
sales increase was in the 235/75/15 size affected by the Firestone recall, but
the brand experienced a sales boost in other sizes as well.
    The Uniroyal tire lines authorized by Ford for Firestone recall
replacements are:  Tiger Paw(R) AWP, Laredo(R) All Season AWP, Laredo with
NailGard(R), Laredo All Season, and Laredo AWT.
    "We have increased production of at our plants by 400 percent and shifted
production from original equipment tires for new vehicles to replacement tires
to help meet this extraordinary consumer demand," said Herget, noting that
Uniroyal has also speeded up tire deliveries to its dealers.
    In addition to increasing production of tires for pick-ups and sport
utility vehicles, Uniroyal Tire is helping address consumer questions through
its consumer hotline (1-877-UNIROYAL) and has placed pertinent information on
the Uniroyal Web site (http://www.uniroyal.com ).  The Web site provides information
on the correct Uniroyal replacement tires and a dealer locator service to
assist consumers in finding their closest Uniroyal dealer.
    Uniroyal tire dealers have also been working overtime.  Monty Everhart of
American Tire & Wheel in Hot Springs, Ark., said he expanded his daily store
hours by three hours after the recall was announced.  "We're doing everything
we can to help our customers get the tires they want as quickly as possible,"
Everhart said.
    Consumers are also coming into Uniroyal dealers for tire inspections and
are very interested in tire maintenance information.  Uniroyal dealer Olin
Mott, president of Olin Mott Tire Stores in Tampa, Fla., said his store
personnel are conducting numerous tire inspections and are providing
information on tread depth, proper inflation and rotation directly to
consumers and through the news media.