Tire report: The big picture

The tire industry is in a state of rapid change in terms of technology, geographic distribution, legislation and raw materials. Compared to ten years ago, when the industry was short of cash, moribund and complacent, everything has changed

These multiple channels of change have produced widely different strategies among the leading companies, and have afforded opportunities for new entrants to the big league of tire makers. As is inevitable with a changing environment, the probability of mergers and acquisitions is growing as differing corporate responses to these changes strengthen some companies and weaken others.