'Changing market conditions' push Pirelli price hike

ROME, Ga.—Pirelli Tire North America Inc. will increase prices by up to 10 percent for car and light truck tires sold in the U.S. on April 11.

The increases, which will vary by line and tire size, are due to changing market conditions, Pirelli said.

The Pirelli sales team will contact customers to provide more detailed information about the changes.

Pirelli last raised prices Jan. 17 on car and light truck tires in the U.S. by up to 10 percent.

Pirelli is the fourth tire company to announce price increases for April 1.

The others are;

• Bridgestone Americas Inc.—up to 10 percent on non-winter Bridgestone-, Firestone- and Fuzion-brand passenger and light truck replacement tires sold in the U.S. and Canada.
• Continental Tire the Americas—by as-yet undisclosed percentage on select Continental and General passenger and light truck tires in the U.S. market;
• Michelin North America Inc.—up to 5 percent across its brands on "select" passenger and light truck replacement tires, up to 9 percent on motorcycle tires, up to 8 percent on road-going (only 19.5 rim diameter and smaller) commercial tires (19.5-inch rim diameter and smaller) and by up to 19 percent on off-road tires, due to "market dynamics."

Other recent increases include:

• Sumitomo Rubber North America—raised prices March 1 in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean on Falken- and Ohtsu-brand passenger, light truck and medium truck tires by undisclosed amounts;
• Yokohama Tire Corp.—raised prices Feb. 1 by undisclosed percentages on on consumer replacement tires and commercial truck tires sold in the U.S.