China’s tire industry produced more than 456 million tires in 2011, up 3 percent over 2010. Of these, 398 million were radial tires, CRIA said, and of those, 90.5 million were all-steel radial truck tires.

A key focus for the Chinese industry is to build brand strength, the report said.

Other priorities CRIA outlined for the country’s tire industry included:

• Investment priorities should be steered toward developing high-performance, high value-added green tires such as those for electric vehicles, aircraft tires, giant OTR and agricultural tires.

• Encourage consolidation of the industry, as enterprise groups have a competitive advantages of integration of resources and brand advantages.

• Ban investment in new or expanded capacities for bias-ply tires and eliminate capacities for bias tires of 500,000 units a year or less.

• Encourage industry, academia and research to work together on basic research and development of major technology projects and to speed up the construction of a national comprehensive tire proving ground;

• Support efforts to develop green tires, especially considering integration with the European Union tire labeling law;

• Encourage efforts to promote the coordinated development of related industries and the tire industry;

• Support the development and application of new materials in green additives, carbon black, steel cord, rubber, rubber machinery and equipment and other related enterprises; and

• Continue to advocate against trade barriers, both those directly affecting tires and those affecting raw materials, especially natural rubber.