AKRON, OHIO - Tire prices continue to increase as 2010 closes out and 2011 starts up, according to Modern Tire Dealer.

Tire manufacturers that announced price hikes starting this month include:

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations raised prices on its Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand passenger, light truck, medium truck, bus, agricultural and off-road tires by up to 8 percent.

• Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. raised its passenger, light truck and commercial truck tire prices up to 6 percent.

• Falken Tire Corp. increased prices on its passenger, light truck and medium truck tires up to 8 percent.

• Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. hiked prices on its consumer and medium truck tires up to 6.5 percent.

• Hankook Tire America Corp. raised its consumer and commercial tire prices up to 6.5 percent.

• Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. increased consumer tire prices in North America by as much as 6.5 percent.

Effective Dec. 1:

• Pirelli Tire North America will hike its consumer tire prices in the U.S. up to 7 percent, effective Dec. 1.

• Michelin North America Inc. is raising prices on its passenger, light truck and medium truck replacement tires sold in the U.S. In addition, Michelin and BFGoodrich brand medium truck tire prices will increase by an average of 8 percent on Dec. 1. On the same day, Michelin Retread Technologies Inc. retread prices will increase by the same amount.

Effective Jan. 1, 2011:

• Yokohama Tire Corp. will increase prices on its light and medium commercial truck and off-the-road tires in the U.S.

• Commercial tire prices will increase by up to 6 percent, while OTR (bias and radial) will increase by up to 5 percent. There will be in-line adjustments, as well, which will be announced at a later date. The company had previously announced it would raise its consumer tire prices up to 8 percent, effective Dec. 1, 2010.

Effective Feb. 1, 2011:

• Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, private and associate brand passenger and light truck tire prices will increase. Hikes will vary by product line, according to Michelin officials.