Tyre-makers to bypass drop in rubber rates

Mumbai: Along with the civic authority’s proposal to introduce a fourfold increase in parking charges, motorists in the city have to cope up with unrealistic tyre rates despite the decrease in prices natural rubber from Rs 142 to Rs 106 per kg in the last few weeks. Between March and September, tyre manufacturers increased the rates of tyres for scooters by an average Rs 270, passenger cars by Rs 500, SUVs by Rs 700 and truck & bus tyres by Rs 1,900. For instance, tyre prices of Hero Honda, Bajaj and TVS motorbikes increased by 32 per cent from Rs 830 to Rs 1,100. While tyres for passenger cars such as Tata Indica increased by 26 per cent from Rs 2,100 in March to Rs 2,300 in August. Hyundai Santro hiked 27 per cent from Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,400. “In spite of tyre prices falling by nearly 33 per cent in the last few weeks, tyre... [read full story]