Many tyre makers opting out of 2009 SEMA Show

ERJ staff report (TB)

Las Vegas, Nevada -- As many as a dozen prominent tyre makers and marketers that have exhibited in past Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Shows have opted out of this year's show, most citing the down economy as their reason.

Among those 2008 exhibitors not on the list for 2009 are: Continental Tire North America Inc., Goodyear/Dunlop; East Bay Tire Co.; Federal Corp.; GITI Tire USA Inc.; Tire Kingdom International; Titan International Inc.; Toyo Tire USA Corp.; Treadways Corp.; and Yokohama Tire Corp.

They join Kumho Tire USA Inc. and Michelin North America Inc. - which opted out last year - and Bridgestone Americas Inc., which hasn't exhibited in several years, as leading tyre maker/marketers not present at the show this year.

The exodus leaves Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Falken Tire Corp., Hankook Tire America Corp., Maxxis International, Nexen Tire USA and Pirelli Tire North America Inc. as the largest tyre makers exhibiting this year, based on booth size.

Cooper has two booths covering 2,500 square feet each - one for Cooper-brand products and one for its Mickey Thompson business unit - while Hankook and Pirelli have 4,500-sq.-ft. booths, Falken has reserved 3,000 square feet and Maxxis and Nexen will occupy 2,500-sq.-ft. booths.

Other prominent tyre suppliers exhibiting, based on booth size, will be:

API Inc.; BKT (USA) Inc.; Duro Tire & Wheel Corp.; Falken Tire Corp.; Greenball Corp.; Hercules Tire & Rubber Co.; Kenda USA; Nankang Rubber Co./Tireco Inc.; Nitto Tire USA Inc.: Sentaida International, Triangle Tyre Co. Ltd./GPX International and Vredestein Tyres North America Inc.

In all, SEMA lists 78 companies offering tyres and/or tubes, down from about 90 last year.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)