Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/104319
Facts section: Tire sizing Is size proliferation over? It's not hard to believe, unless you need a P285/30R20 H as the proliferation of tire sizes plateaued? In the last fve years, the number of radial passenger and light truck tire sizes has increased less than 3%, from 519 in 2008 to 533 in 2012. From 2004 to 2008, the number of sizes increased 42%, according to the Tire & Rim Association (TR). Executive Vice President Joe Pacuit says there is room for more. "In 2005, in order to develop a plan to 'harmonize' passenger car tire loads and dimensions in our organizations, TR , ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) and JATMA ( Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association Inc.) developed a matrix of existing and conceivable tire sizes. "Tere are 2,561 tire sizes in that list. Since then, we have expanded the list to include larger rim diameters and some wider section widths." In Chart 15, we have listed the most popular OE P-metric and LT sizes for 2011 and 2010 to give tire dealers a beter idea of what to look for and stock in 2013. Original equipment size popularity tends to change slowly year-to-year, especially in LT sizes. Fact: Tere are dramatic exceptions, however. For example, the top original equipment size from 2004 to 2011 was P215/60R16, the base size on the Toyota Camry, the bestselling car in the United States. Te 2012 and 2013 model-year Camrys are fted with size P205/65R16 tires. In 2012, P215/60R16 dropped to third on the most popular OE size list (see Chart 16), while P205/65R16 cracked the top fve. Tat's hardly a coincidence. A corresponding change in the replacement market will occur as the OE tires on the new Camrys are replaced. In Chart 16, P215/60R16 was the fourth most popular replacement size, behind P235/75R15, 205/55R16 and 225/60R16. Te top three replacement and OE LT sizes remained the same in 2012 vs. 2011 (see Chart 17). In 1935, there were 15 consumer tire sizes. Te number grew to more than 150 sizes in 1977, when the top 10 replacement radial passenger tire sizes covered more than 90% of the radial market. In 2012, the top 10 P-metric/metric sizes represented only 18% of the replacement market, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association. ■ Chart 16 TOP U.S. PASSENGER TIRE SIZES, 2012 New sizes in 2013 P285/30R20 P205/50R18 P335/30R19 P295/30R18 P305/35R19 P165/70R14 P175/60R15 LT355/65R18 LRE LT275/55R20 LRD 40x15.50R24LT LRE 7.50R15LT LRE 7.00R16LT LRE Chart 15 MOST POPULAR DOMESTIC OE PASSENGER AND LT TIRE SIZES 2011 OE P-Metric/metric 2011 OE Light truck (LT) Size % of total Size 9.1% LT245/75R17 22.3% P265/70R17 5.1% LT245/75R16 15.6% P215/55R17 4.2% LT225/75R16 11.9% P235/70R16 3.2% LT265/70R17 7.8% P275/65R18 3.0% LT265/70R18 7.0% 1. P235/75R15 1. P265/70R17 2. 205/55R16 2. P215/55R17 3. P215/60R16 4. 215/60R16 4. P225/50R17 5. P225/60R16 5. P275/65R18 5. P265/70R17 5. P205/65R16 % of total P215/60R16 OE 3. 225/60R16 Source: Tire & Rim Association Replacement 2010 OE P-Metric/metric 2010 OE Light truck (LT) Size % of total Size % of total P215/60R16 7.0% LT245/75R16 19.5% P265/70R17 5.8% LT245/75R17 18.4% P215/55R17 4.1% LT225/75R16 3.5% LT275/65R18 3.1% LT265/70R17 OE 1. LT245/75R16 1. LT245/75R17 2. LT265/75R16 1. LT245/75R16 3. LT265/70R17 3. LT225/75R16 4. LT235/85R16 4. LT265/70R18 5. LT225/75R16 5. LT265/70R17 8.2% P275/55R20 Replacement 11.7% P235/70R16 Chart 17 TOP U.S. LIGHT TRUCK TIRE SIZES, 2012 7.9% Source: Rubber Manufacturers Association 52 MTD January 2013