Goodyear Tire & Rubber says it will integrate European commercial truck tire and mold production within the recently completed joint venture with Sumitomo Rubber Industries. The global alliance gives Goodyear control of SRI's Dunlop tire operations in North America and Europe.

Goodyear will discontinue truck tire production at the Dunlop Tyres UK plant in Birmingham, England, and shift production to other joint venture plants in Europe. The Birmingham plant also produces passenger vehicle and racing tires. Mold production will move to Goodyear's facility in Luxembourg.
"This rationalization is part of our plan to integrate Goodyear and Dunlop operations in Europe," said Vernon Dunckel, Goodyear's senior vice president of global product supply. "As we combine the businesses, we will take full advvantage of synergies that allow us to become more efficient and to grow."
Goodyear earlier announced plans to close tire plants in Argentina and Italy as part of the global rationalization plan.