Cruising into the 1990s. (Light Truck Tires)

Cruising into the 1990s

Remember when the station wagon reigned supreme as the family workhorse, piled high with groceries and full of screaming kids? In this day contemporary sylishness, the bland, archaic wagon has been replaced by sportier mini vans and "heavy duty" vehicles like Cherokees, Troopers and Pathfinders.

And that old rustbucket pickup Dad used to keep buried in the garage until something needed to be hauled has now become a sleeker, cleaner, more sophisticated ride to and from the office.

These new "Yuppiemobiles" are breathing life back into the light truck/utility vehicle market, and this, in turn, is having an overwhelming impact on the LT tire market, increasingly sales and manufacturing possibilities at a rapid pace.

The growing market

According to statistics gathered by the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, more than 1.5 million light trucks (trucks less than 14,000 pounds) were sold in the U.S. during the first quarter of 1990. And with manufacturers using more light truck tires as …