[Nikhilb2008]

Guys, this is just to consolidate all the worries about tyre prices in one thread.

As you must have noticed, tyre prices are going up almost every month!

Reason is this:

Rubber - Monthly Price - Commodity Prices

If the rubber price goes up, the manufacturers increase the price accordingly. However, they never reduce the price when the price goes down.

So, the end result is that prices of tyres are forever climbing up.

There was an article in ET.

Rubber production fall may lead to further price increase - The Economic Times

Bucking the market trend, rubber prices were up nearly 40% in the current peak production season that started in October and ends this week.

With the production set to enter a lean period from February, the prices are likely to remain bullish in the coming months. “The price rise in the peak production season is likely to leave the industry with very limited options,” says Rajiv Budhraja, director general of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA).

“Both the price and availability will be an issue in the coming days,” he said, adding that the industry will have to think in terms of curtailment of production if such a situation arise. Natural rubber prices saw a major jump in the domestic market during the past few months from Rs 169 per kg on October 1 to Rs 235 per kg as on Monday.

The prices are likely to see a further rise in the coming weeks as the production enters a lean phase. The overall production in the current fiscal year is likely to be slightly higher than last year’s level. During the April-December period, the production was higher 2.8% compared to the same period last year.

“In October and November, the production was lower than last year’s level while in December and January it would be higher,” said a Rubber Board official. Still, the prices have remained bullish mainly because of the rise in international prices, which saw a 65% jump from Rs 161.65 per kg in October 1 to Rs 266.61 on Monday.

N Radhakrishnan, president of Cochin Rubber Merchants Association, attributes the price rise to the surge in international prices and withholding of stocks by growers. “Moreover, productivity of the domestic rubber plantations has come down as 30% of the area is overdue for replanting,” he said.

The domestic rubber production saw a slight dip in October and November due to unseasonal rains in the main centres of production in Kerala. However, the climatic changes had a much bigger impact on the international market as the production remained depressed in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia due to adverse weather patterns. Latest reports say that nearly 16,000 hectares in Thailand have been destroyed due to strong winds.

So, please dont expect prices to fall anytime soon.

With some new supplies expected by April-May this year from companies like Michelin and Yokohama, I expect a further increase irrespective of rubber price.

Yokohama will *hopefully* bring in the AD08s and they will definitely be priced higher than the Ad07s were. Similarly if Michelin do bring in the PS3s, they will be quite high priced.

[nirmaljusdoit]

Thanks for the info, Nikhil !

The tires on my swift are wearing out and will reach the 5 year mark soon in a few months. Im planning to replace them just before the start of the monsoon, in June.

Would it make sense for me to buy a new set of 4 right away & store them ? I'll get them fitted on in June.

Please advise your views !

[mithun]

The natural rubber prices had already crossed Rs.220 a number of times. The price per kg is about Rs.75 higher than the last Jan.

[sushrutha]

Had been to Millivisions to enquire tyres for my Civic.
Got to know from him that Yokohoma tyre prices will be increased from Feb 1(today), But didn't ask him the % of hike.
So that's bad news for us

[bblost]

Nikhil, would it be possible to put in the rough price range for tires based on size and type.

So it makes tire sense for us, though would be a little tiresome for you. (I am bad at making puns, sorry if I tired you).

[GTO]

For those interested in the subject, here is an extremely insightful thread : Ongoing Tyre Crisis in India

[kaushik_s]

Now, if the rubber prices in the domestic market is increasing and the international price not getting increased that much, then why the imported tyre prices are also going up?

[ghodlur]

With the rubber prices on the rise and so is the trye price the promotional offers on the set of tyres are soon going to dry off.

Would this have any impact on the car manufacturers in terms of raising the car prices. Already the car manufacturers are battling a lot of other raw material like steel, plastic etc price rise issues and this rubber price is going to add to that list.

[IndianNomad]

Not sure if this is the appropriate thread to ask this.

What would be the dealer margin on the tyres of the regular brands like JK, MRF, Bridgestone…….etc.

Just curious

[WasavaTyres]

Yokohama to increase prices from 14th of this month,so those planning to purchase tyres of that brand would do well to plan their purchase prior to it.

[ndinesh]

Recently I saw news in TV that rubber prices are going down. Does this has any impact on tyre prices?
Any related news?

[Ragul]

Originally Posted by ndinesh

Recently I saw news in TV that rubber prices are going down. Does this has any impact on tyre prices?
Any related news?

This would be for Kottayyam rubber? Not sure if Yokohama and other Tyre majors use Kottayam rubber. Hindustan Lever and other manufacturers might enjoy the price drop though... for their latex products. The public will continue enjoying irrespective of the price of rubber

Cheers