Michelin to re-launch farm tyres in Mexico

Queretaro, Mexico -- Michelin North America Inc. plans to begin selling Michelin and BFGoodrich brand radial farm tyres in Mexico next year.

The company will sell the tyres through a network of "select" dealers throughout Mexico.

"Michelin is committed to advancing the radialisation of the agricultural tyre market across North America, and we want to extend the benefits offered by our radial tyres to farmers throughout Mexico," said Bill Schafer, vice president of marketing and sales for Michelin North America Agricultural Tires.

The announcement represents Michelin´s return to the farm tyre market in Mexico. It stopped selling agricultural tyres there about three years ago, a spokesman said, but does sell a line of agro-industrial tyres for backhoes and similar equipment.

Michelin estimates the replacement market for farm tyres in Mexico at about 40,000 units annually, with radials accounting for only about 5 percent.

The company will source tyres for Mexico from Europe, where it now obtains all its farm tyres for the US and Canada as well. Sizes in Mexico are largely the same as those in the US and Canada, the spokesman said.

Michelin will target its Michelin Ag Radials at the premium segment and its BFG Ag Radials at the value-priced segment for secondary and/or older equipment. The tyre maker operates in Mexico through its AutoPartes Internacionales de Queretaro subsidiary.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)