In a news release on Monday, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire will lay off up to 158 employees at its plant in LaVergne due to a decrease in demand for tires.

Reports say the tire company will lay off 148 hourly and up to 10 salaried workers at the facility beginning Dec. 21.

Company officials say the cuts will start with workers having the least amount of seniority with the company.

Bridgestone Corp. is also is considering halting consumer tire manufacturing at the LaVergne plant on or before June 30, a move that would eliminate all total, 500 hourly and salaried jobs.