Bridgestone-Firestone To Close Oklahoma City Tire Plant

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Bridgetsone-Firestone is announcing it's made a final decision to shut down the Oklahoma City tire plant, leaving about 1,400 employees out of work. <br/><br/>Officials with the

Thursday, July 13th 2006, 2:07 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Bridgetsone-Firestone is announcing it's made a final decision to shut down the Oklahoma City tire plant, leaving about 1,400 employees out of work.

Officials with the Nashville, Tennessee-based company say the plant known as the Dayton Tire plant will be closed on or about December 31st.

Bridgestone-Firestone officials had announced in April that they were considering closing the plant but would look for ways to make it more competitive.

Company Vice President Steve Brooks said Thursday that foreign competition and a shrinking demand for the tires produced at the plant make it virtually impossible for the plant to be competitive and stop losing money.