Major U.S. tire manufacturers warn tariffs will drive up tire prices

When we put the words “jacking” and “tires” in the same sentence, it usually leads to a mental picture of a flat. In this case, the “flat” may be your wallet after paying for the cost of new tires for your RV or your passenger car. Major U.S. tire manufacturers say tariffs will jack tire prices. How badly will you be hit?

Tariffs will jack tire prices for RVs—First, about motorhomes

In the RV arena, motorhome owners will see some nasty hits. Motorhome tires are already expensive, but the effect of import tariffs will be even more noticeable.

Motorhomes use medium- or heavy-duty truck tires, which contain more natural rubber (a key input heavily impacted by tariffs and global price increases). There were 10% price hikes already announced by Yokohama and Sumitomo for truck tires, with more expected.

Supply chain issues could also rear their ugly heads. Several U.S. truck tire plants have closed, limiting domestic production (e.g., Sumitomo NY, Bridgestone TN). The closure of domestic tire plants exacerbates the tire availability situation. Imported tires are now more expensive and harder to source, affecting availability and cost for RV owners.

Bottom line: Long-distance RV travel now has higher cost uncertainty due to potential tire failure or replacements. Got a big motorhome? You may need to budget significantly more for tire maintenance and replacement.

What about pickup and trailer tires?

While tow vehicle and towable tires cost less than motorhome tires, the “good news/bad news” works out this way. Light truck tires (used on many pickups) are seeing price increases of up to 25% (for example, Sumitomo). These are affected especially if tires are imported or sourced from Asia. Plenty of towable tires, as found on travel trailers and fifth wheels, are Asian imports.

Is your around-town car or “toad” car going to get away from tire tariffs? Afraid not. Up to 25% price hikes are expected on passenger vehicle replacement tires (read, Sumitomo, Goodyear). Imported tire brands (especially from Thailand, China, Vietnam, etc.) face tariffs as high as 145%, which will raise retail prices significantly.

Maybe you don’t need to give your car “new shoes.” You may still be impacted by those that do have to change their tires. Budget-conscious drivers may delay tire replacement or opt for lower-tier or retread tires, potentially impacting safety.

Here’s the fine print of the story

On April 24, Yokohama Tire announced tariffs will jack tire prices on its brand. As of May 1, a price increase of up to 10% on its commercial truck tires and, likewise, consumer tires came into play.

The company’s COO said the price increase is due to an “unparalleled rise in costs associated with materials and finished goods.” Yokohama rolls its big tires from its West Point, Mississippi, plant.

Sumitomo Rubber North America raised prices on its tires May 1. Commercial truck tire prices went up by 10%, while passenger and light truck tires could see increases of up to 25%.

Goodyear is also planning to raise prices on some of its passenger vehicle tires in the U.S. and Canada due to rising costs, the company said in a recent statement. However, prices for Goodyear’s truck tires will stay the same for now, according to a spokeswoman who spoke to Transport Topics on April 24. Goodyear produces its commercial truck tires at factories in Topeka, Kansas, and Danville, Virginia.

Price of raw materials increases, and tariffs on same

Compounding the issue of tariffs on imported tires, or on raw materials used for U.S.-made tires, is the actual price of raw materials. The U.S. does not produce natural rubber—the climate doesn’t allow for it. Natural rubber comes from foreign sources, including Thailand, which accounts for 35% of exports to all countries.

Following behind Thailand in export production are Indonesia, Vietnam, India and China. On April 2, the White House announced reciprocal tariffs that could hit all these countries. Rates could go as high as 37% for Thailand, 32% for Indonesia, 46% for Vietnam, and 26% for India. Already a 145% tariff has been slapped on China.

Trucking publication Transport Topics leaves us with some numbers on just how big the issue could be.

“A record 63.4% of tires sold in the U.S. were imported in 2024.

“Thailand was the No. 1 exporter of tires to the U.S., accounting for nearly one in four tire imports, Indonesia was the No. 3 exporter of tires to the U.S., Vietnam the No. 4 exporter to the U.S., and South Korea the No. 5 exporter, according to JP Morgan analyst Ryan Brinkman,” says the publication.

Rubber costs and tariffs will jack tire prices. Be sure to include that in your travel cost calculations.

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