Tiremaker raises rubber prices

FULLERTON, Calif. — Yokohama says it will hike prices on all products starting Oct. 1, 2006 because of soaring raw materials costs.

The continued record escalation of petroleum-related material costs and energy have made cost increases a necessity, says the tiremaker.

Thanks to improvements in operational efficiency that has partially offset higher materials costs, the increases will be up to 7 percent on consumer tires, up to 7 percent on medium radial truck and bus tires and commercial light trucks, and up to 8 percent on off-the-road radial and bias tires. The increase will be on all products and all brands produced by Yokohama, including associate brands and private brands.

Specific details, including in-line adjustments, will be announced at a later date, the company says.