42 minute read
On the Rise
from Modern Tire Dealer - November 2018
by EndeavorBusinessMedia-VehicleRepairGroup
EMERGING LEADERS BUILD THE FUTURE
In 2018, it seems there’s no stability left in the tire industry’s playbook. There are disruptions in every channel. The turmoil scares some, but not the 25 people profiled on these pages.
For the third year in a row, Modern Tire Dealer is highlighting young leaders On the Rise. They’re not scared of the changes taking place. They embrace them, crave them, and are looking ahead to the revelations yet to come.
Some are new and paving fresh paths in the industry, while others have grown up tagging alongside their parents and grandparents working in tire dealerships, warehouses and manufacturing companies. They aren’t yet 40, but they see a future in tires. Some already are anticipating the day their children join them in the family business.
So soak up their optimism and enthusiasm, and let it propel you through another day. And look for full-length profiles of each young leader on our website. — Joy Kopcha
WHO & WHERE... Neil Bockrath … 26 Justin Cogdill … 31 Ron Cottrell … 24 James Crouch … 23 Patrice Fitte … 36 Chuck Flannagan … 26 Nick Fox … 38 Natalie Griffin … 31 Richie Howard … 34 Jeremy James … 38 Brandon Johnson … 23 Riley Kentfield … 28 Jarret Kruse … 28 Dave Miller ... 36 Hayley Milne … 28 Robert Pritchett … 34 Laura Richards … 22 Michael Shivers … 31 Boris Shtamm … 30 Joshua Singer … 30 Cari Solano … 36 Andrew Svenson … 23 Mitch Tate … 34 Seth Ten Broeke … 26 Trula Womack … 24
Laura Richards CATEGORY MANAGER, TIRES ICAHN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LLC (PEP BOYS) PHILADELPHIA, PA. AGE: 30
What was your first job in the industry? When I was 12, I learned that if I wanted something, I needed to figure out how I could make the money to get it. Near where I grew up, there is a lake where upper class citizens from the city visit during the spring, summer and fall months. I watched these people schlep their families, suitcases and pets to and from the lake in their Suburbans and Escalades and also noticed that the closest car wash was 30 minutes from the lake. I went home and made colored posters and left one in every mailbox and on their windshields providing the details and pricing for Laura’s Detailing Service. I would walk to the lake, and schedule multiple vehicles a day. My dad had given me buckets of detail accessories and an old shop vac to get started, so everything I made was pure profit. What song do you crank up loud and always sing along to? Any Alanis Morrissette or No Doubt song! A true ’90’s child!
What habit do you wish you could break? Stressing out over things where I can’t control the outcome.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? The industry has really changed this past year. From retailers running distribution to mergers that no one would have previously seen coming. To retain market share, everyone in the industry needs to learn how to advance themselves while being aware of the ever-changing environment we now reside in. My own personal issue with the tire industry is innovation is tough when you are dealing with tires, which are commonly purchased in sets of four and are typically a dreaded purchase for a consumer. It’s hard to try to develop a technique or idea that will change that dread for customers and get them excited about a tire purchase.
James Crouch NATIONAL PRODUCT MANAGER, AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE TIRE GROUP SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. AGE: 31
How do you spend your work day? I am responsible for maintaining our agriculture product portfolio. This comes with several different responsibilities, some of which are training (both internal and external), tire testing and field survey, pricing, product releases and defining the future product strategy. Our product offering in ag tires is very extensive and we bring new products to market at an incredible rate so most of my day is spent making that process as smooth of a sequence as possible. The rest of my time is spent more on the strategic side of the ball, planning for new products and coordinating with our engineering teams and manufacturing teams. I spend well over 75% of my time in the field. I try to get as close to the farmer and retail tire dealer as possible. It’s completely impossible to know what is needed and will be needed in the market if I’m not physically in it. The connection with the farmer is also critical. I have made some very good friends over the last several years by visiting farms and ensuring they’re set up properly or working to resolve an issue. The farming community is inherently fraternal and farmers trust one another. Being the tire guy that’s top-of-mind to the ultimate end user guarantees repeat business and brand stability.
Messy or neat freak? I’m a clean freak to a fault. I’m pretty sure you could eat off of any surface in my house, office or truck.
What song do you crank up loud and always sing along to? Pretty much anything by Led Zeppelin. I don’t think I have ever listened to Immigrant Song at a healthy level.
If we gave you $1,000 and one hour, how would you spend the money? I have recently moved into a new home from an apartment so I need furniture badly. My downstairs looks like a dance hall. There isn’t a stitch of furniture down there. I could at least land a few rugs and end tables for $1,000. Let’s get this set up.
Brandon Johnson CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER EAGLE TIRE PROS JACKSBORO, TENN. AGE: 24 What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? Finding new talent. We are sending more students than ever to four-year universities, and not nearly enough students to the trades. We are going to find a major crisis when there aren’t enough mechanics to meet the demand. How should the tire industry attract and retain more young talent? We need to keep reinforcing that this industry is a wonderful one to be in. It’s full of innovation and opportunities to help someone. The trades are filled with the most honest, selfless employees on earth.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. My 1996 Ford Explorer — dubbed the Exploder by everyone who rode in it. The doors wouldn’t open from the inside, so you had to roll down the window and let yourself out.
Growing up, what was your dream job? For sure, a Jedi.
What advice would you give your high school self? Listen to your dad a lot more — he’s not always wrong.
If you could spend a day supporting a charity, what would you do? I’m currently the District Governor of Lions Clubs in east Tennessee. That means I lead over 40 clubs and 1,000 Lions Club members. So I support them a lot, and love to help those in need.
If you could start a new career tomorrow, what would it be? I wouldn’t change a thing. I love business, and helping folks. The tire industry is the perfect combination of that.
Andrew Svenson CHIEF ENGINEER TRUCK AND BUS TIRE DEVELOPMENT BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC AKRON, OHIO AGE: 37
What attracted you to the industry? Being born and raised in the Akron, Ohio, area, I had exposure to the industry my entire life. My grandfather was an engineer in manufacturing for BFGoodrich, but based on his advice I wasn’t convinced the tire industry was for me. I became involved with the Formula SAE program at the University of Akron where students design a race car to compete against other schools. Being in Goodyear’s backyard, they supported us tremendously through a sponsorship that included free tires, time on their test track, and
tips from their engineers covering everything from driving to design, and for the first time I could see myself in the tire industry. In my final year at school, I was the president of the student chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and went to Bridgestone’s Americas Technical Center in Akron to pitch a sponsorship opportunity. This led to a tour of their Akron facilities where I learned a lot more about the company and what an engineer in a tire company really did. I left these meetings and applied for a job there several months later.
How do you spend your work day? I am responsible for managing truck and bus tire development for the Americas. I spend most of my day interacting with engineering, product planning, manufacturing, procurement, sales, supply planning and others to ensure we are developing high quality tires that meet the demands of our customers.
What keeps you up at night? I sleep pretty soundly, but my I am always concerned when a customer has a negative experience, and immediately start thinking about what we can be doing to continuously improve our product.
Messy or neat freak? I like to maintain an organized mess.
Trula Womack DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND BRAND EXCELLENCE INDY TIRE CENTERS INC. DBA BEST-ONE OF INDY INDIANAPOLIS, IND. AGE: 39
What’s your biggest accomplishment in the industry? I joined our team five years ago and planted the fund raising seed. Since then we have raised more than $50,000 for a local children’s hospital.
What habit do you wish you could break? Over-analyzing everything. Life would be less stressful and I would have fewer greys.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? Starting at square one with a company that had thought its brand was well known in the market, and elevating it within two or three years. We have had record-breaking months and years.
Messy or neat freak? I prefer messy neat freak. My piles may seem out of control for some, but I know where everything is. Just don’t move my piles. What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? Employment. Whether you are a tech or working the sales counter, it’s hard work. As our company and others like us expand, we are all pulling from the same talent pool. We need more people to consider this industry as a career.
Ron Cottrell INSTALLATION COORDINATOR SIMPLE TIRE LLC TREVOSE, PA. AGE: 37 What was your first job in the industry? I was working at a Midas in Roxborough, Pa., as an assistant manager. My day-to-day duties included hiring and training new employees, managing the mechanics, and ordering parts such as brakes, oil filters, wiper blades and, of course, tires. One of my greatest achievements there was more than doubling store sales.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. My first car was a 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. I loved that car because I saved my money all summer working at a water park to buy it.
What advice would you give your high school self? Just stay focused and don’t mind what other people say. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is what you think.
If we gave you $1,000 and one hour, how would you spend the money? I would use that money to take my son to Disney World.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? The tire industry is 10 years behind other industries in innovation.
If you could spend a day supporting a charity, what would you do? I would spend a day with Habitat for Humanity and help build houses.
Seth Ten Broeke ACCOUNT MANAGER RHD TIRE INC. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. AGE: 35
How do you spend your work day? I am on the road Monday through Friday. I am the face of the company for about 75 Ford, Chrysler and GM dealers. It is my responsibility to do anything in my power to grow their sales.
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*MAIL-IN REBATE GIFT WITH PURCHASE OFFER: Valid only with qualified purchase made in the 50 United States, D.C., or Puerto Rico between 11/01/2018 and 11/30/2018 or while supplies last. Void where prohibited by law. No rain checks. Valid with the original, dated, paid receipt for the purchase of four (4) new qualifying CONTINENTAL TIRE Passenger or Light Truck tires from a participating retail dealer and a completed redemption form. Off er may not be combined with any other off er, discount, rebate, or promotion. Tires must be purchased in a single transaction. Off er form must be postmarked or submitted online by 12/31/18. Off er not valid on purchase by wholesalers, dealer, fleets, OEM customers, or other commercial entities. Requests from those with an invalid or undeliverable mailing address will be denied. Limit two (2) Continental Tire Visa Prepaid Cards per household. Visa prepaid card is given to you as a reward, refund, rebate or gift and no money has been paid by you for the card. Card is issued by MetaBank®, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 12 months: unused funds will be forfeited at midnight EST the last day of the month of the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply, see MyPrepaidCenter.com/site/visa-promo. Not responsible for late, lost, stolen, misdirected, illegible, mutilated, or postage due mail or inability to connect to the website. Any taxes, fees or costs are sole responsibility of the recipient. Allow 8-12 weeks for fulfillment. Each time you use the card, the amount of the transaction will be deducted from the amount of your available balance. Card will be issued in the name on the redemption form only. Expiration date of card is stamped on the front of card and listed on card carrier. Subject to applicable law. Card is non-transferable and non-refundable. Additional terms and conditions apply to the card. See card program website for details. WARNING: Tampering with, altering, or falsifying purchase information constitutes fraud and could result in state and federal prosecution. Visit WWW.CONTINENTALTIRE.COM for redemption form and complete off er conditions and restrictions. Questions about your rebate? Call: 1-833-396-8078
November 1 - 30, 2018 Consumer Promotion
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? Green technology is becoming more popular. I’m not sure that we are green enough, yet.
What was your first job in the industry? I worked as a commercial tire on-the-road service tech.
If you could start a new career tomorrow, what would it be? I would be a travel writer. I don’t really want to be on TV, but traveling and sharing my experiences would be an amazing career.
Tell us about your family. Carolyn, my wife, is an occupational therapy assistant, which means she helps people gain back motor function. Usually, it takes a lot of coaxing, so she has a lot of patience, which comes in handy when being married to me. Kayla, 13, is the socialite. Jaymie is 9, gets straight A’s and enjoys playing soccer. Sophy is 4, and is the epitome of a youngest child. She is spoiled by her sisters, and maybe her parents at times.
Neil Bockrath MASTER BLACK BELT COOPER TIRE & RUBBER CO. FINDLAY, OHIO AGE: 36 What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? Leading a global effort to drive aggressive new levels of tire performance. I’ve really enjoyed working with colleagues across the world and sharing in the excitement as we achieve new levels of performance together. The most rewarding part for me is learning from our experts across each of our technical centers in Europe, Asia and North America and doing my part to help them share their knowledge by fostering collaboration.
How do you spend your work day? Right now about half of my job revolves around project management activities: communicating between groups and planning next steps. The other half is mostly focused on training engineers and chemists about how to set up and analyze experiments and mentoring Lean Six Sigma Green Belts and Black Belts.
How should the tire industry attract and retain more young talent? We should reach out to young talent by demonstrating the challenges and complexity that go into all aspects of the industry — from tire design, manufacturing and marketing. Before I started with Cooper I assumed tires were simple products where rubber was poured into a mold and that every tire was basically the same thing.
What keeps you up at night? My 19-month-old son.
Growing up, what was your dream job? Taking over the family farm from my dad. I grew up on a hog farm with my brother and three sisters.
Chuck Flannagan MANAGER, MARKETING AND EVENTS CONTINENTAL TIRE THE AMERICAS LLC FORT MILL, S.C. AGE: 37
What attracted you to the industry? The stability of working for a major manufacturer, the global footprint of the organization, and the opportunity to grow were and remain enormous factors for me. With a young family, I really value the opportunity to grow and advance, along with the long-term stability of remaining in one place.
Messy or neat freak? It depends on who you ask. My kids would say I’m a stickler for neatness. My wife and teammates would say I’m messy. I suppose the truth is somewhere in between.
Growing up, what was your dream job? I was raised a St. Louis Cardinal fan, and I had the good fortune early in my career to work for them for four seasons in their minor league group. I always wanted to run the Cardinals. In my dreams, I’m their GM and John Mozeliak is my mentor.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. Nothing!! I got my first car when my grandmother quit driving. It was a 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. It ran, drove and smelled like a grandmother’s car.
What’s your secret superpower? I’m a (self-appointed) world-class smoker and consumer of smoked meats.
If you could start a new career tomorrow, what would it be? I’d be the chief customer service officer for hire by anyone. I think we’ve lost our ability in the business world to remember the impact of human interaction. Smile at people. Be nice. Remember that you are a reflection of the brand on your shirt/business card. That’s what makes Chick-fil-A so special. They value the person first, and then, they sell them chicken.
Jarret Kruse VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BELLE TIRE DISTRIBUTORS INC. ALLEN PARK, MICH. AGE: 36 Who has had the biggest influence on your career? My father’s influence is immeasurable. (Jeff Kruse retired from Belle Tire as senior vice president of retail operations.) His career in the tire industry spanned 40 years. When I think about my father, the first thing that comes to mind is integrity. He was great at instilling that sense of team in everyone, and made everyone feel a part of something bigger.
How do you spend your work day? On a day-to-day basis my team is responsible for our go to market strategy, specifically maintaining our pricing and product strategies. We are in the midst of entering many new markets, so we are quite busy developing the launch strategies for those markets. We also spend a lot of time looking at business and consumer data trends and patterns and developing insights and recommendations for the organization.
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Home alone watching college football from noon until midnight on a Saturday!
What’s your secret superpower? To make Don Barnes III laugh at opportune times by telling an inside joke or two. This is not easy!
How should the tire industry attract and retain more young talent? We have to aggressively compensate, develop more formalized retention programs (cultural, benefits, etc.) and promote the opportunities to innovate.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now? Opening a Belle Tire store on another continent.
Hayley Milne MARKETING MANAGER AMERICAN KENDA RUBBER COLUMBUS, OHIO AGE: 27
Growing up, what was your dream job? When I was a little kid I wanted to be a dolphin trainer. Going into middle school I was convinced I’d be a writer. By the time I got to college I had taken internships in the music industry and was set on working in brand management at a major record label. Instead, I was offered an amazing opportunity to start my career at a full-service digital agency as an account manager which allowed me to dabble in many industries.
What attracted you to the industry? I love this industry for its uniqueness. As a marketer, we love to solve challenges, and the tire industry has a lot of unique and complex challenges to reach the end consumer. We are one of the few industries that has the distribution channels of wholesale distributor to retailer to consumer.
What advice would you give your high school self? You literally don’t know anything yet.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. 1996 Toyota Tacoma, a rusty old beater pickup that was black with yellow racing stripes. It had a tape player that I made my own custom mix tapes for. Totally wasn’t what you’d picture a teenage girl driving. I loved it for that.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? Introducing e-commerce and more digital solutions will require the industry to pivot. We’re already seeing some of that where dealers are relying more on profits coming from service offerings versus their product margins.
Riley Kentfield OWNER TAKE OFF TIRE LLC LINCOLN, NEB. AGE: 22 What was your first job in the industry? Servicing tires in a small tire shop.
What attracted you to the industry? It’s my dream to customize cars with rims and tires that make the vehicle pop!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? My biggest challenge is finding the right people to help grow my business.
My customers. They are incredibly loyal to those they trust and I know if we do the right thing for our customers everything else will take care of itself.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry? Owning and growing my business from my dad’s shed selling tires online at age 18 to selling tires to some of the biggest companies in Lincoln, Neb., at age 21. This means a young man can step into the tire industry and be successful even without anyone’s help. We are not a fifth generation tire shop; we are just people who work hard and want to help others get the right tires on their vehicle.
Boris Shtamm VENDOR SPECIALIST MYERS TIRE SUPPLY AKRON, OHIO AGE: 30
What attracted you to the industry? I started reading car magazines in second grade.
Tell us about your family. My family is small and they live in Kazakhstan, where I am from.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. My first car was a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. I loved that it was a combination of rear wheel drive with a powerful engine. My winter driving style changed significantly toward drifting rather than driving straight.
What song do you crank up loud and always sing along to? Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone featured in Top Gun. Regardless what mood I am in at the moment, this song provides a lot of energy.
How should the tire industry attract and retain more young talent? Technology will be the answer. More technology advancement in our industry will attract young talent. The traditional perception of screwdriver and wrench will be replaced by tire diagnostic tools and service equipment. It is happening today: TPMS and diagnostic tools are everyday necessities at the shop. A few tire changers on the market are capable of changing tires almost fully autonomous, leaving a young generation to interface with a display, rather than a pry bar.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? Lack of young employees joining our industry, and knowledge transfer. A very limited amount of experience is being transferred from people working 20, 30, 40 years in the industry to new millennials. Joshua Singer WAREHOUSE MANAGER K&M TIRE INC. WICHITA, KAN. AGE: 33
Growing up, what was your dream job? Stunt driver for film and television. Still is and I believe it could still happen someday.
Tell us about your family. My wife of nine years, Stephanie, and I have four children together. Two are still with us: Skysan, 8, and Avryn, 3; and two are waiting for us in heaven: Ellowyn and Aden.
Best way to spend a Saturday night: I’m an outgoing introvert, so while I can sometimes be the life of the party, I very much value my alone time to recharge. You’ll usually find me playing a video game long into the night after the rest of the family is in bed.
What’s your secret superpower? I used to be a gymnast, so I’m pretty flexible and can walk on my hands proficiently — not sure I can do the back flip anymore, though.
What game show would you most likely win? Probably Wipeout. I was a stunt tester for the show once and considered the obstacles rather easy.
If you could spend a day supporting a charity, what would you do? I would volunteer my time for Bridget’s Cradles, whose mission is to provide hospitals with knitted and crocheted cradles to hold babies who were born into heaven in the second trimester of pregnancy. I can’t knit or crochet, but they have other services that they need volunteers for. My wife volunteers a lot and I help out when I can.
Natalie Griffin PRESIDENT BEST-ONE TIRE OF CROSSVILLE INC. CROSSVILLE, TENN. AGE: 33
Growing up, what was your dream job? I always wanted to be a country music singer.
Tell us about your family. I’m married to my husband Bobby, who I am also lucky enough to work with every day. We have three wild and wonderful little boys, Tucker, 11, Taylor, 8, and Tripp, 3.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Eric Steward. Most people won’t know who he is, but he’s one of the most influential people in my life. Eric passed away July 2, 2018, after a 10-month battle with cancer at only 39. Eric and I have a child together and were previously married. He was always my best friend and my first phone call no matter the situation. Eric battled many rare medical issues and never let his sickness define him or hold him back. I want to always live with the passion that Eric did every day.
If we gave you $1,000 and one hour, how would you spend the money? I’ve always wanted to pay someone’s grocery bill, so I would go pay for groceries until the money is gone.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now? I hope to be training my boys to take over as the third generation of our business.
Michael Shivers PRODUCTION SYSTEMS MANAGER COOPER TIRE & RUBBER CO. FINDLAY, OHIO AGE: 29 What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? One of the biggest challenges I have faced in my career is my transition from project leader to manager. I want to be involved in the details and help drive projects. My most recent role has forced me to delegate and coach projects to success.
How should the tire industry attract and retain more young talent? The tire industry needs to demonstrate what it can offer. This is a highly complex field with highly complex problems that need solved. These problems range across engineering disciplines, business units, marketing, and supply chain and will not truly be solved until we work across these disciplines to solve problems. There’s a niche job for everyone. What’s the best way to spend a Saturday night? Staying in with friends playing one of my new board games.
Tell us about your family. My wife and two daughters, ages 3 and 1, are all about Disney right now.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? The biggest issue facing the tire industry is sustainability. Natural rubber is single “specie” sourced and we use predominately petroleum products. The first tire company that can make an affordable green tire will have a product that is desired from the market.
What keeps you up at night? Wondering if the Detroit Lions will ever break through to become the elite football team they are. Go Lions!
Justin Cogdill MANAGING DIRECTOR BORDER TIRE LLC EL PASO, TEXAS AGE: 30
What’s your biggest accomplishment in the industry? The rapid growth of our company in the last year. We have gone from about 10 employees with one location to five full-service commercial tire locations, an Oliver retread plant, and over 60 employees. And we are not planning on slowing down.
What keeps you up at night? Nothing. I sleep like a rock! I start early and try to do as much as possible in a day so I can pretty much fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far in your career? The recent acquisition of two TCi locations in Arizona. We have grown very quickly but we are still a relatively small group. Adding two full-service locations in Phoenix and Tucson at one time has been extremely demanding.
Early bird or night owl? Definitely an early bird! I am at the gym at 4:30 a.m. every weekday!
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? As a retreader, I would say import tires.
Checking All the Boxes
TBC announces exclusive US-distribution of the all-new Sailun Inspire, an impressive combination of touring tire comfort and all-season performance
hen it comes to tires, the
WSailun brand continues to push the envelope of true value and real-world performance, placing a fi rm focus on where things are going and how to get there for both consumers and tire dealers.
Enter the all-new Sailun Inspire, an impressive tire that delivers a balanced formula of premium comfort and performance engineered into a very versatile all-season touring tire. Although touring tires don’t oft en evoke the same thrilling images and excitement of ultra-high-performance tires, they aren’t meant to be bland and boring either. The Sailun Inspire fi lls the gap somewhere in between fun and functional.
Sailun set out to create a great touring tire with the all-new Inspire. It was essential to produce a product that can capitalize on the growth of replacement tires within the value tier segment by recognizing where the tire industry is headed. These value tier tires are quickly outpacing more costly brand options with consumers on vehicles in North America. With independent tire dealers owning 70% of the replacement tire market — Sailun wanted to deliver the perfect tire for them to sell to consumers.
GROWING DEMAND The initial thought behind the Sailun Inspire started several years ago when Sailun’s own research, coupled with a study by the experts at GFK, indicated a growing demand for well-balanced all-season tires. More specifi cally, a demand in the touring tire category — where popular compacts, sedans, crossovers and SUVs make up an increasing majority of car sales. The mass market appeal of family-friendly crossovers and SUVs account for 44% of new car sales in North America, a trend we’ve seen for nearly a decade now.
This is precisely why Sailun plans to offer the Inspire in a wide range of 45 popular sizes ranging from a 175/65R14 all the way up to a 235/40R19 designed for passenger cars, crossovers and SUVs in speed ratings from T to W. The entire line will come with a UTQG rating of 520 AA.
A LIFESTYLE CHOICE The same study found today’s consumers are choosing compacts, crossovers and SUVs to meet their more utilitarian lifestyle, which means their tires need to meet that lifestyle too. North American drivers are seeking greater practicality and value than ever before, in addition to a strong balance of everyday comfort and performance. “Expertly engineered and developed here in North America, our dedicated team set out to design the Inspire to the highest of standards,” says Christine Rouleau, Director of Corporate Sales, Sailun Tire. “It’s a forward-thinking tire design made for our customers’ needs now and into the future. The Inspire delivers true value in the touring tire category, and we’re thrilled to have TBC on board as our exclusive US-distribution partner. The goal was to produce a great performing tire that’s an easy sell for dealers and a smart buy for consumers. We think we’ve done just that with the Sailun Inspire.” PREMIUM FEATURES If you ask the team at Sailun, the Inspire is more than just another touring tire in their wide range of consumer products. It off ers premium features and uses advanced technology to help get more out of the vehicle for years to come. Sailun’s Inspire project required over two years of extensive market research, product development and rigorous testing — resulting in a fi nished product everyone could really get behind. Engineered to be quiet, comfortable and secure on the road, the Inspire offers
Advanced Rubber Compound Proprietary SetraGrip TM compound increases traction, control and longevity in wet and dry conditions All-New Tread Pattern SilentTread TM pattern uses staggered tuning technology and hnology and va riable pitch sequence for quiet, comfort and safe fe ty. ty. 3D Sipe Technology Expands and expels elements/substances between the en the road and tire, providing confi dent multi-sipe all-season ason traction, braking and steering control that regenerates tes with tire wear.
Large Square Shoulder Design Increases directional stability and precise steering response by making maximum road contact under hard acceleration, braking, and cornering.
70,000 Mile Warranty Worry-free 70,000 mile limited tread life protection with high quality construction and long-lasting performance.
confi dent all-season performance with a worry-free 70,000 mile limited tread life protection warranty.
“Just like the engineering eff orts put behind our Sailun Iceblazer winter tires and the popular Terramax LT/SUV lineup, our proven design philosophy meant we weren’t satisfi ed until we had something to rival the best touring tires on the road,” says Wayne Cuculuzzi, Director of Consumer Products, Sailun Tire. “We’re tremendously proud of what we came up with aft er testing a variety of new compounds, formulas and advanced construction techniques. The new Sailun Inspire really checks all the boxes.”
Created with the latest tire technology and advanced construction at Sailun’s state-of-the-art R&D facility, engineers formulated a new long-wear-life SertaGrip™ rubber compound. With it, Sailun is able to increase traction, control and durability with responsive performance measured to outperform competitors in both wet and dry brake testing. “We challenged the professionals at Automotive Driving Solutions and a leading US-based tire testing lab, who work closely with top automotive manufacturers and tire brands, to put the Inspire through a variety of performance, comfort and durability tests,” says Mark Pereira, Marketing Communications Manager, Sailun Tire.
“Our blind comparison test format means the manufacturer’s names are hidden on every tire to ensure drivers weren’t infl uenced by any brands for honest and unbiased feedback. They measured the Inspire against its predecessor, along with several notable competitors with far higher price tags. What we soon discovered, based on the data recorded and third-party test results, is that the new Inspire clearly came out on top, beating out best-in-class competitors and outperforming top tier brands costing nearly twice as much.”
ADVANCED TREAD DESIGN The all-new SilentTread™ pattern found on the Inspire uses staggered tuning technology to eff ectively reduce road noise and vibration while also enhancing levels of ride comfort and safety. The variable pitch pattern and tread block sequence of the Inspire make it a very quiet tire with impressive stopping performance and wearresistance. “The advanced 3D multi-sipe technology of the Inspire is engineered to provide extra tread block rigidity by its interlocking action,” explains Andrew Li, North American Director of Engineering, Sailun Tire.
“The 3D sipe design provides extra biting edges for wet and snowy roads, with interlocking action to deliver confi dent all-season traction, braking and steering control that regenerates with tire wear for
70%
share of the replacement tire market is owned by independent tire dealers.
longer lasting performance. The large, square shoulder design and optimized casing profi le help increase steering input by making maximum road contact under hard acceleration, braking and cornering. During real-world road tests conducted by professional drivers, the Inspire earned the highest category marks in cornering stability, steering response and braking performance in both city and highway driving versus comparable and higherpriced touring tires.”
RAISING THE BAR Expect to see and hear more about the all-new Sailun Inspire soon, as it makes its way into tire shops across the United States. The Sailun brand has already kicked off extensive retail customer training and valuable support to further fuel the excitement for the all-new Inspire and the complete lineup found at GoSailun.com.
“The all-new Sailun Inspire was made to refl ect the trends and order of importance to retailers and consumers when it comes to making smart choices on real features, comfort and practicality, not just brand and image,” says Cuculuzzi. “No one likes the feeling of paying more for less, which is why the Inspire represents such compelling value-driven performance, well ahead of the competitors we’ve tested it against.” Outperforming the competition and building upon the success of previous Sailun products was no easy task. Yet, the all-new Sailun Inspire does just that, representing the evolutionary next step towards anticipating where the tire market is going, not just where it is today.
For more information about the Sailun Inspire and the full Sailun Tire lineup, call 866-822-4968 or visit GOSAILUN.COM
Richie Howard GENERAL MANAGER BRUCE’S TIRE INC. SAN JOSE, CALIF. AGE: 27 What was your first job in the industry? I was raised cleaning our showrooms and rest rooms but my first official job was as a general service tech at Bruce’s Tire. I believe starting as a technician has helped me value, and respect, every employee at Bruce’s Tire and the hard work that it takes to accomplish our company’s goals.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in the industry? My proudest accomplishment in the industry is becoming general manager of Bruce’s Tire at age 24. At the time I was managing our highest volume store and I could not imagine leaving the store for someone else to manage. Now I am involved with every aspect of our business and continue to learn and grow.
Tell us about your family. Both of my grandfathers were in the tire industry as well as my father and uncle. My wife has become accustomed to the long hours and the grease that comes along with being in the industry and running a family business. My wife Nikol and I were married just over a year ago and we just had our first child in July and are enjoying being new parents.
What’s your secret superpower? I have two secret superpowers. The first one is my family. They help motivate me and help me succeed. The second is coffee.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? Technology and lack of interest from the millennial generation. There are fewer and fewer young people interested in the industry. I also believe technology will drastically change our industry in the next 20 years.
Robert Pritchett REGION GENERAL MANAGER CONSUMER REPLACEMENT TIRES BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC DALLAS, TEXAS AGE: 32 Who has had the biggest influence on your career? I have been fortunate to work with amazing leaders and coaches at Bridgestone, but if you are truly dedicated to your dealers they will have a bigger influence on you. My first dealer visit is also the individual who has had the biggest influence on me. Ed Westmoreland, founder of Westmoreland Tire Co. in Fort Payne, Ala., not only taught me about the industry but why to love it. Ed’s passion for his customers, team members, and community reinforce how great this industry can be.
What keeps you up at night? My people — both at work and at home. I care deeply about people and want to ensure everyone I interact with feels supported and heard.
Growing up, what was your dream job? I always loved trucks and wanted to start my own car dealership. The closest I came to that dream was as an actor in a car dealer commercial when I was a kid.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. My first car was a teal colored Chevrolet S-10. We named it the “Teal Tiger.” I loved that truck.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now? I’ll be somewhere selling tires — even if it’s to a driverless vehicle!
Mitch Tate DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TATE BOYS TIRE & SERVICE LLC BARTLESVILLE, OKLA. AGE: 26
What keeps you up at night? The thought of customers going to other auto centers and not getting to experience the service our team could be delivering to them.
How do you spend your work day? I oversee the operations at our six (soon to be seven locations), as well as our warehouse. The majority of my day is spent in the stores interacting with customers, coaching our store managers, driving business results, and ensuring the Tate Boys standard is upheld at all of our locations.
Early bird or night owl? Early bird! Most days I wake up at 4 a.m. and hit the ground running.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? I would love to grab a hot dog at a ball game with my grandpa and talk about the early days of the business, and make sure he sees the impact of the legacy he created.
What game show would you most likely win? Family Feud. Tate Boys is a family-owned and operated company, and now the third generation (my sister, cousins and brother-in-law) is working in the family business. We are all very passionate about our company and this had led to many memorable experiences and arguments over who is correct.
If you could start a new career tomorrow, what would it be? Without hesitation, I would be a high school football coach.
Patrice Fitte MANAGER OF DISTRIBUTION AND OPERATIONS PLANNING COOPER TIRE & RUBBER CO. TEXARKANA, ARK. AGE: 36
How do you spend your work day? I am responsible for all aspects of Cooper’s distribution operations in Texarkana, Ark.: shipping tires to Cooper facilities and customers, inventory management, budget planning and control, staffing, monitoring trailer pools, and managing storage trailers and outside storage facilities.
Tell us about your family. Growing up my grandmother cooked dinner every Sunday for our entire family. She had nine children with my grandfather. They were married for 70 years before she passed away in 2017. My grandparents taught me the importance of a strong foundation and family. I am married with three amazing step-children and a little girl on the way.
What habit do you wish you could break? I love reality TV. My husband thinks it is so bad to watch because of the drama, but I just can’t help it.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry? I think the biggest issue is the same issue facing many industries: labor shortages. This includes finding entry level employees, skilled trade workers, and drivers to transport product. What’s your secret superpower? My gift of persuasion.
Dave Miller DIRECTOR OF SALES K&M TIRE INC. DELPHOS, OHIO AGE: 37 What was your first job in the industry? My first job was at the Discount Tire Co. in Novi, Mich.
What attracted you to the industry? I had a couple friends of mine working at that Discount Tire store. I was a bit jealous when they were consistently talking about how great it was to work there, plenty of hours and nice pay. I had to apply and join in on the fun.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? I think my biggest challenge would have to be staying on my toes and accepting the urgency of accountability and change. I feel as though we naturally want to be comfortable and resist change, but the thriving, world class businesses and professionals all seem to be constantly evolving their businesses and business practices.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career? The biggest influence in my career would have to be Jon Schadl of K&M Tire. The reason he would stand out as the biggest influence for me would be his stance on continuous improvement and the importance of a winning company culture.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in the industry? My biggest accomplishment in our industry cannot be pinpointed to just one individual accomplishment. Simply being a part of the growth of a company that believes in making a positive difference in our communities — that’s something I feel significant pride about.
Cari Solano CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER ROUTE 66 TIRE AND RUBBER LLC FORT WORTH, TEXAS AGE: 32 Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. A Ford F-150. It was a hand-me-down. I loved that it was my sister’s and my father’s before being mine.
What was your first job in the industry? Straight out of college I was given the
opportunity to start and partially own a new company with my father and uncle, Route 66 Tire and Rubber LLC. My responsibilities, beyond setting up the initial company itself, included keeping the books, payroll, customer service, price calculations and comparisons, and logistics... to name a few. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? Stepping out from the shadow of my father and grandfather to create my own relationships and build my own trust and loyalty with our customers.
What advice would you give your high school self? Don’t change a thing! If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? My family. What habit do you wish you could break? Social media!
What’s your biggest accomplishment in the industry? My biggest accomplishment, although small, will always be my first sell.
Nick Fox VICE PRESIDENT JMH INC. DBA POINT S CAPITAL CITY TIRE & AUTO AND POINT S J&J TIRE & AUTO HELENA, MONT. AGE: 32
How do you spend your work day? In our business we have two retail locations and a warehouse. I could be selling on the counter; I could be out representing our company at a community event. I could be cutting a radio or TV ad, wiping down counters and vacuuming rugs. I may be picking up customers or delivering a customer’s vehicle. I help with our company goals and payroll. Heck, from time to time I’m even in the shop performing tire work or helping with other repairs or vehicle inspections. My job is to give our team the tools and help it needs to be successful.
Messy or neat freak? Messy. My desk looks like a bomb went off. But, I assure you that I know where everything is! Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. My first car was a 1981 Chevy LUV. A small, four-speed manual yellow truck with a topper, oversized tires and chrome wheels. I loved that truck! It wasn’t very fast, but it would go anywhere. It had a state-of-the-art sound system, so you could hear me coming from a mile away. If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? There are an endless number of people I would eat with to learn from their success. But, at the end of the day I would just rather gather my closest friends and family. What game show would you most likely win? The Price is Right.
Jeremy James OWNER TIRES TO YOUR SPOT LEESPORT, PA. AGE: 37
Who has had the biggest influence on your career? My two sons are the reason I started the business. I was a single parent and had to get my tires changed about seven years ago. Two-and-a-half hours with young children in a tire service center is brutal.
Describe your first car and what you loved most about it. 1989 Honda Accord LXI I bought with my own money when I was 15 and it had 212,000 miles on it. My favorite part was it was stick shift.
How do you spend your work day? My day consists of everything from quoting jobs, ordering tires, ordering tire supplies, getting new customers, changing tires, and pretty much all things related to running a business. I am the sole owner and operator of my mobile tire business. What advice would you give your high school self? Make as many friends as possible and do as many different afterschool activities I could.
The best way to get and retain young people would be to get involved with high school students and show them how many opportunities there are in the tire industry — from manufacturing to sales to installation.
