TIA, RMA 'still talking' about industry-wide PR program

WASHINGTON (June 19)—The Tire Industry Association and the Rubber Manufacturers Association are "still talking" about a possible collaboration to fund an industry-wide public relations program to inform the public about the safety, quality and value of today's tires, according to Roy E. Littlefield III, TIA executive vice president. Littlefield made a presentation to the RMA executive board June 13 about the program, which was first discussed in November at the Specialty Equipment Market Association/International Tire Expo in Las Vegas. If approved, the PR campaign would be funded by a "check-off" of a tiny percentage of the proceeds of each new tire sold in the U.S. Congress has approved about 60 such industry-wide programs since passing legislation allowing them in 2000. Milk, pork, plastics and home heating oil are among the industries funding PR programs through the check-off law.