Rubber News reports that, despite a dismal global economy, the tire industry worldwide has experienced the highest one-year total for tire production expansion. Bridgestone, Michelin, Hankook, and Goodyear lead the expansion investments. The previous record year was 2007-08. Asia-Pacific accounts for nearly 2/3 of the expansion. Investments support 16 new plants and 370k units/day of new tire capacity to offset three factory closings in the past 12 months, representing about 80k units/day of tire capacity.