Modern Tire Dealer - July 2025

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VIEW FROM THE TOP

Photo: Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers

Mike Manges By

AWhat’s next? 10 THINGS TO WATCH DURING THE SECOND HALF OF 2025

s we enter the second half of the year, there are numerous tire industry developments that MTD is keeping an eye on. You’re probably watching them closely, as well. In the spirit of the MTD 100, our annual list of the largest independent tire dealerships in the United States, which you’ll find later in this issue, here are 10 things to monitor in the coming months, in no particular order:

What’s next for American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD)? What’s the next chapter in the ongoing ATD saga? Only ATD and its suppliers know. The nation’s biggest wholesale tire distributor emerged from bankruptcy, found a new owner and installed a new management team. But it recently lost several product lines and programs provided by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Michelin North America Inc. On June 2, Goodyear confirmed to MTD Managing Editor Joy Kopcha that ATD would no longer distribute its Mickey Thompson brand and that ATD would lose access to Goodyear’s Cooper Medallion and Mastercraft Century associate dealer programs. Two weeks later, Michelin informed customers that ATD will no longer be an authorized distributor of the Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal brands. (For more details, check out Joy’s in-depth report on page 10 of this edition of MTD.) Will more tire manufacturers follow suit? Your guess is as good as mine. I imagine ATD is working hard to shore up agreements with its other suppliers.

Upheaval at Monro. Following a disappointing fiscal fourth quarter, Monro Inc. announced that it would close 145 underperforming stores — a process that was continuing when I wrote this column. That figure represents a significant percentage of the company’s total number of locations. The closings are “expected to deliver meaningful improvement to profitability,” Monro President and CEO Peter Fitzsimmons said. Could your dealership benefit from access to a suddenly enriched labor pool in the event your neighborhood Monro store closes? That’s something to think about.

The impact of tariffs. It’s been more than three months since President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” and the long-term impact of tariffs is still unknown. Three tire manufacturers publicly announced price hikes after tariffs were declared and I imagine others have enacted increases without informing the public or MTD. Tariffs also are having an impact on the trucking industry. (See my June MTD editorial for more.) Are you paying elevated prices for imported tires? Do you expect to pay more in the future? What impact have tariffs had on your general operating costs? Like other sectors, the tire industry prefers stability. There’s a lot of instability right now.

A new day for Dunlop. Now that the Dunlop brand is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (SRI), how will SRI’s Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc. subsidiary position Dunlop, which Goodyear finally jettisoned, not only within the general marketplace, but also within its own product portfolio? For a preview, check out my recent interview with SRNA President and CEO Darren Thomas, available at www.moderntiredealer. com. “For North America, SRI has purchased blue sky,” Thomas told me, adding that his company is “starting with a clean slate” as it pertains to Dunlop. Expect to hear more as SRNA communicates its plans.

ADAS and AI. As vehicles become more complex, new scanners and diagnostic tools are entering the market, as is equipment for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) recalibrations. We’re also starting to see an influx of artificial intelligence-based tools and software that promise to make life inside your dealership easier. (More on that in the August issue of MTD.) These tools could create ways for you to develop new revenue streams, enhance your store’s operational efficiencies and more. We’ll keep you informed.

Rounding out the next five — again, in no particular order — are continued consolidation in both the tire dealership and tire distribution channels as bigger companies buy smaller ones and private equity firms continue to pour capital into the market; continued introduction of more new products in the “high value-added” (i.e. large-diameter) passenger tire category; possible fluctuations in demand for plug-in electric vehicles as government incentives and mandates change and more consumers discover hybrids; less government intrusion in the overall automotive industry; and the unceasing supremacy of independent tire dealers when it comes to meeting the needs of customers. (Yes, we’re keeping an eye on you, too!) ■

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at mmanges@endeavorb2b.com.

The long-term impact of tariffs is still unknown.

Photo: MTD

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Amid all the news about brands that will be leaving American Tire Distributors Inc. warehouse shelves, Tire Group International LLC has become an authorized distributor of Falken brand products in Florida.

Changes in distribution

Tire dealers are accustomed to bending with changes in the marketplace and news that two of the world’s largest tiremakers are moving multiple brands of their products out of American Tire Distributors Inc. warehouses will de nitely cause many dealers to make sourcing adjustments.

1. Goodyear pulls Cooper from ATD

2. Michelin to stop distribution through ATD

3. Monro to close stores and refocus core tire brands

4. Bridgestone releases Turanza EverDrive

5. TGI to distribute Falken brand tires

6. MTD Mid-Year Q&A: CEO Damon discusses what’s next for Bridgestone Americas

7. Telle Tire brings on private equity partner

8. Toyo adds sizes to M655 truck tire

9. Photos: Milestar dealers go to Moab

10. Bauer Built is acquiring Meekhof Tire

DIGITAL EDITION

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MTD READER ADVISORY BOARD

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Photo: TGI

Industry News

Goodyear, Michelin pull out of ATD

MOVES MAY GIVE A BOOST TO TIREMAKER-OWNED DISTRIBUTION

In the span of a couple weeks, both Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Michelin North America Inc. informed their customers and American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) that they were ending their distribution relationships with the nation’s largest distributor.

Goodyear was the first to announce its move on June 2. The tiremaker confirmed to MTD that Asphalt Buyer II, the company that bought ATD in March, “is not a wholesale distributor for its (Cooper) Medallion and/or (Mastercraft) Century dealer programs or Mickey Thompson tires and wheels.”

Goodyear says its Century, Medallion and Mickey Thompson customers “will continue to receive supply of Cooper, Mastercraft and Mickey Thompson product.” The tiremaker also noted that its “authorized wholesale distributors are committed to providing a seamless transition process for our customers, ensuring continued satisfaction and support for the full portfolio.”

Those authorized wholesale distributors include independents across the country, but they naturally would also include TireHub LLC, which Goodyear created in April 2018 in partnership with Bridgestone Americas Inc.

Three years after the launch of TireHub, Goodyear bought Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Cooper-branded products were added to TireHub warehouses in April 2022. Mickey Thompson brand tires landed on TireHub shelves in May 2023. In an email to customers Goodyear officials called this change “a rare opportunity to switch your Medallion/Century programming to direct (shipments.) Current ATD Medallion/Century dealers will receive an email requesting your choice of new WD (wholesale distributor).” Those wishing to switch to a direct account were advised to contact their customer development manager.

The email said Medallion/Century incentives earned by dealers and purchases to date will be counted towards the dealer’s annual program goals with

Both Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Michelin North America Inc. are pulling tires from the shelves of American Tire Distributors Inc.’s warehouses.

whomever they choose as their new wholesale distributor. And “any units purchased from ATD … through June 17, will still count towards their annual program incentives and goals.

“Dealers who switch to a new WD will receive a $750 bonus if they hit their annual program targets for 2025 by year end.

“ATD is permitted to continue SSP and car dealer deliveries until their inventory is depleted” through Sept. 30, 2025.

The email added that “it was a tough decision, but ultimately one that was made with growth, alignment and stability in mind. We now are looking to the rest of our distributors to immediately seize this opportunity to showcase their commitment to growing our brands and make sure all customers continue to receive full access to Cooper products during this brief transitional period.”

Two weeks after Goodyear’s announcement, Michelin informed its customers that ATD would no longer be an authorized dealer or distributor of its tire brands.

In letters to tire dealers on June 16, Stephen Hoeft, vice president of B2C sales at Michelin, said that as of July 1, ATD would no longer be an authorized distributor and dealer for Michelin brands.

Purchases of Michelin-branded prod ucts from ATD will not qualify for the company’s Alliance Associate Dealer program and will not earn dealer benefits under that program.

The change apparently covers all Michelin brands in passenger, light truck and commercial segments — Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal — as well as Camso and Tweel products. A separate letter noting those commercial-aligned brands was also distributed to dealers the same day. (Editor’s note: Michelin announced the sale of Camso to CEAT in December 2024.)

“We understand that changes to your supply chain require adjustment and we are committed to supporting you during this transition,” the Michelin letters noted.

The letter sent to Michelin, BFGo odrich and Uniroyal dealers added that “Michelin will monitor the transition process and will reassess as needed.”

The tiremaker also offered to assist dealers who might need help “identifying your nearest authorized distributor.” It did not specifically name NTW (National Tire Wholesale), the distribution com pany operated by TBC Corp. In 2018, Michelin became a co-owner of TBC.

Additionally, Alliance Associate Deal ers are being offered a “special campaign opportunity,” beginning July 1, valued at $20 per Michelin tire, $15 for each BFGo odrich tire and $10 per Uniroyal tire.

All of these changes come months after ATD emerged from its second bank ruptcy filing in six years.

In October 2024 when ATD filed its most recent bankruptcy case, it identified its 30 largest creditors. Goodyear was at the top the list and was owed $121.6 mil lion, plus another $6.1 million owed for Goodyear’s Mickey Thompson brand products. Michelin was ninth on the list and was owed $22.2 million.

Photo: ATD

Bites

STM acquires Dorsey

Southern Tire Mart LLC acquired Pooler, Ga.-based Dorsey Tire Co. on June 9. The deal includes Dorsey’s five locations and its Bandag retread plant. Southern Tire Mart says the Dorsey acquisition fills in some geography for the nation’s largest commercial tire dealership, which also recently opened two new locations in Boise, Idaho, and Macon, Ga.

Sun enters new state

Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. has made its first move into Alabama with the acquisition of five Fausak Tire and Service locations in the southern part of that state. The addition compliments Sun Auto Tire & Service’s existing market presence with Delta World Tires in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Straightaway Tire grows

Straightaway Tire & Auto’s Victory Tire & Auto brand has acquired AutoPro Auto Service in Brooklyn Park, Minn. The store is the brand’s 18th location in the region.

OK Tire names CEO

OK Tire Stores Inc. has appointed Brian Mielko as its new president and CEO. He has more than 13 years working in the tire industry, most recently working at Sailun Tire Americas, and leading the sales and marketing teams responsible for TBC Corp.’s Big O and Midas channels.

TGI adds Falken to mix Tire Group International LLC is now an authorized distributor for Falken brand tires in the state of Florida. TGI will also offer the Falken Fanatic program for dealers.

Burt adds bundles

Burt Brothers Tire & Service Inc. has created two service bundles. The goal of Burt CarCare and Burt PerformancePlus is to simplify vehicle maintenance for consumers.

Monro to close stores, refocus core tire brands

On the heels of a fiscal fourth quarter that resulted in a loss of $21.2 million, Monro Inc.’s new President and CEO Peter Fitzsimmons unveiled the initial steps of an improvement plan, which will include closing 145 unprofitable stores and scaling back its tire brand portfolio. The plan includes four key areas of focus:

• Closing unprofitable stores;

• Improving the customer experience and selling effectiveness;

• Driving profitable customer acquisition and activation, and;

• Increasing merchandising productivity and mitigating tariff risk.

Here’s how Monro outlined each of the four concentrations.

Closing unprofitable stores. In the time that Fitzsimmons has been on the job, Monro conducted a “comprehensive” review of its store portfolio and found 145 “underperforming stores” it will prioritize for closure.

With 1,260 total stores in its footprint as of the end of the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, the 145 closures represent 11.5% of Monro’s total rooftops.

The review included an evaluation of store performance, market segmentation and geographic area specific to each location. Plans were in process to close these locations by the end of June 2025.

“(The) closure of these stores will have a limited impact on total sales,” but they are “expected to deliver meaningful improvement to profitability,” said Monro officials. Improving the customer experience and selling effectiveness. Monro reviewed stores across its portfolio “to understand the store experience from both the customer and teammate perspective.” The company found that customers had “an uneven experience” mostly due to inconsistent execution of core processes, “including scheduling and appointments, communication and quality of service.”

Monro is working to develop an approach that addresses customer pain points in a way to “improve the customer experience and unlock value in selling effectiveness.” The company will continue to utilize its ConfiDrive initiative as part of the in-store experience.

Driving profitable customer acquisition and activation. A review shows a “recent decline” in quality and retention of customers. Monro believes the cause is less-than-optimal marketing. The company’s analysis shows that “Monro’s highest value customers deliver 25-times more profit than our lowest tier of customers.” Monro is reallocating marketing resources to target more of those customers and says the early results of those efforts are “encouraging.” The company will also do more testing of its marketing.

Increasing merchandising productivity and mitigating tariff risk. Monro will narrow its core tire brand offerings, “which will simplify the in-store selling process for both customers and teammates.” Fitzsimmons noted the company will still have access to any tire that a customer might specifically request, but this effort will focus on decreasing the size of Monro’s core portfolio.

Monro is also reviewing its pricing and promotions for both tires and services to provide both value to customers as well as “appropriate levels of profitability.”

Additionally, Monro has activated an internal team to focus on negotiations with top suppliers “to mitigate as much of the anticipated tariffs as possible” as Monro expects tariffs to drive cost increases in “most product categories.”

“We expect that we may need to adjust prices to our customers to counter the impact of tariff-related cost increases.” — Joy Kopcha

Monro Inc. plans to close 145 underperforming stores this year as part of its improvement plan.

Photo: MTD

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Prinx updates websites

Bites Charity replaces Caldwell at Continental A

Prinx Chengshan Tire North America Inc. has redesigned the websites for its Fortune and Prinx tire brands. The sites feature a tire advisor tool to help users find the right tire by either size or specific driving needs. The sites also feature a retail locator. Dealers can complete a retail form in order to be listed.

Michelin will close plant

Michelin North America Inc. is winding down production at its plant in Queretaro, Mexico. The plant currently makes fewer than 500,000 small BFGoodrich brand passenger and light truck tires annually. It also contains a truck tire retread shop. The plant is scheduled to close by the end of 2025.

Hubtrac ramps up

Hubtrac Tires is rolling out new products for the United States market, where it wants to grow. The tires were developed by the company’s European R&D center with its U.S. engineering team. The company sees the U.S. market as its engine for global growth.

Nexen is OE on Kia

The all-season N’Fera Supreme S from Nexen Tire Corp. has been selected as original equipment for the Kia EV4. Nexen also supplies OE tires on Kia’s EV3, EV6 and EV9 vehicles.

Rotary invests $5 million

The Rotary brand from Vehicle Service Group has announced an over $5 million investment in its Madison, Ind., facility to support the installation of a state-of-theart automated production line. Production ramp-up is planned for the first half of 2026.

In Motion Brands adds AI

In Motion Brands has launched AI Agent, which provides “real-time customer interactions” in English, French and Spanish.

fter more than two decades with Continental Tire the Americas LLC, Bill Caldwell is retiring as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Chris Charity will succeed him in leading the firm’s U.S. passenger and light truck tire replacement business. Charity is currently the vice president of sales for the U.S. PLT replacement business.

Caldwell led Continental’s U.S. passenger and light truck replacement tire market since 2009, after leading the company’s key OE account management team. Continental credits Caldwell with “significant growth in both the Continental and General Tire brands in the United States” and says “he has played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the business.”

Charity brings his own two-plus decades of experience at Continental. He joined the company in 2002 as a quality engineer and later moved into sales leadership, where Continental says “his deep understanding of the market, combined with his strong relationships across the industry, has made him a key driver of sales performance and dealer success.”

Caldwell says, “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together over the years. It’s been an honor to work with such a dedicated team and I’m confident that Chris will continue to lead with the same passion and commitment that has defined our success.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to step into this role and build on the strong foundation Bill has laid,” says Charity. “I look forward to working with our teams and partners to continue delivering value and innovation to our customers.”

Tansu Işık, head of Continental’s Business Area Replacement Tires, the Americas, says Caldwell “has made a lasting contribution to Continental’s success in the Americas. His leadership, integrity and commitment to excellence have helped shape the business and culture.”

Ralson names Sheehey president

Brian Sheehey is the new president of Ralson Tire North America (RTNA) after serving as the company’s senior vice president. Sheehey, who joined RTNA in 2022, is a 35-year tire industry veteran.

“Brian has played an instrumental role in our outstanding growth and the future looks bright for the Ralson and Accelus brands in North America under his leadership,” says Manjul Pahwa, managing director and CEO of Ralson Tyres Ltd., RTNA’s parent company.

“In today’s challenging market, Brian and the RTNA team have done a great job of helping our customers solve deficiencies in their supply base, improve their margins and address opportunities faster than most of the larger legacy brand competitors.”

Sheehey is taking over as president of Ralson Tire North America.

“I look forward to growing the Ralson and Accelus brands in North America,” says Sheehey. “Ralson Tire North America is focused on increasing cash flow for our partners” and “is committed to bringing back the personal touch in business relationships, combined with our laser focus on providing dealers and fleets (with) a high-quality product at a reasonable cost that they can depend on every day of the year.”

Brian

Photo: Ralson Tire North America

Chris Charity (right) is replacing Bill Caldwell (left) at Continental.

Photo: Continental Tire the Americas LLC

Bites

Bridgestone donates

Bridgestone Retail Operations has donated $100,000 to Wounded Warrior Project after a two-week campaign. Bridgestone Americas Inc. made a donation each time the My Firestone and Tires Plus apps were downloaded by customers.

Frank Kearing dies

Frank Kearing, founder of Potsdam Tire & Auto in Potsdam, N.Y., has died. He was 97. In 1968, he opened the first franchised tire center with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. as S&K Tire Co. Inc. The name eventually changed to Potsdam Tire & Auto Service. It is now owned by Kearing’s son, Pete Kearing, and is part of the Holyoke Tire Group.

Galileo earns certification

Galileo Wheel has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification from the United Registrar of Systems, validating the company’s quality management system for the development of off-road tires.

Traction Summit nears

Smithers’ Traction Summit will take place Aug. 12-13 in San Antonio, Texas, and will feature a full program of guest speakers, panel discussions, networking and more.

Coats updates branding

Coats Co. has revealed its new brand positioning and identity and has created group structures to simplify its product segments by application. The Pro Series includes diagnostic equipment for ride control and vehicle safety, such as balancers, aligners and inspection equipment. The Maxx Series has lifts and tire changers. Coats Connect includes hands-on remote coaching.

Ascenso appoints CFO

Ascenso Tires North America has named Sandeep Gundher its new chief financial officer. He will help Ascenso drive global expansion and optimize its performance.

SRNA promotes Stewart, de Rosales

Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc. (SRNA) has promoted Cliff Stewart and Christopher de Rosales to associate vice president roles.

Stewart will hold the title for four-wheel replacement sales, while de Rosales will serve as associate vice president of strategic planning.

Stewart has more than two dozen years of experience in the automotive industry and has held positions in business development, marketing and OE sales management and as director of passenger car and light truck tires, as well as director of commercial truck tires.

“His results-oriented focus is well-established and will help SRNA achieve its goals,” says Darren Thomas, SRNA’s CEO and president. “His competitiveness and ability to fight fiercely in the market is necessary to thrive despite the endless number of market challenges we face daily.”

De Rosales is a 13-year veteran at SRNA and most recently served as director of market intelligence. He will be responsible for creating, planning and executing longer-term goals for the business.

“In parallel to Cliff, Chris is also responsible for leading our strategy on a year-byyear basis as we drive sales to near-term goals,” says Thomas. “Considering the addition of Dunlop passenger car tires, Chris’ expertise, experience and participation are vital to SRNA’s success.”

Mavis closes Midas deal

Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. has completed the purchase of Midas from TBC Corp., which includes about 1,200 franchised locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Globally, there are more than 2,000 franchised and licensed Midas stores in about 20 countries, TBC said.

Mavis, already the nation’s largest tire dealership, says the addition of Midas gives its retail network more than 3,500 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Midas will continue to operate as a standalone brand and will maintain its headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

“We are excited to officially welcome Midas to the Mavis family,” says David Sorbaro, co-CEO at Mavis Tire Express Services Corp.

“This transaction reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding our portfolio of respected brands and establishing our presence in compelling new markets. We’re excited to partner with Midas’ talented team and franchisees to build on their legacy of exceptional service and to drive the next chapter of growth together.”

The parties have not shared financial terms of the deal.

As part of its strategic growth plan, Mavis says it will continue to evaluate opportunities to add and seamlessly integrate complementary locations onto its platform. TBC notes that it will continue to focus on innovation and growth in its core businesses.

The Midas franchise, with 2,000 locations worldwide, is now owned by Mavis Tire Express Services Corp.

Photo: TBC Corp.

Cliff Stewart (left) and Chris de Rosales (right) have both been promoted to associate vice president roles at Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc.

Photo: SRNA

Sentury launches Landsail Elyte program

Sentury Tire USA has launched the new Elyte Associate Dealer Program for its Landsail brand.

The program is designed to give independent tire dealers an opportunity to put some extra cash in their pockets and help distributors boost sales, according to Sentury Tire USA officials.

Dealerships that become part of the Elyte Associate Dealer network can earn up to $3 for every tire sold. To reward early participation, all second quarter 2025 purchases will count toward their earnings.

“This initiative underscores our dedication to building strong, collaborative partnerships with our independent dealers,” says Maxwell Wee, executive vice president of Sentury Tire USA, who says the program will be “a catalyst for shared prosperity.”

Bauer Built acquires Meekhof Tire

Bauer Built Inc. has acquired Meekhof Tire Sales & Service Inc., adding 14 retail and commercial locations as well as two retread plants.

The retail and commercials locations are in Michigan and Illinois and beef up Bauer Built’s Midwest footprint that also includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Indiana, as well as its home state of Wisconsin.

The two retread shops include one Michelin Retread Technologies facility and one Oliver retread shop. This gives Bauer Built a total of seven retread manufacturing plants and 49 retail and commercial locations.

Bauer Built says the deal represents a union of two long-standing, family-owned organizations with shared values and a commitment to exceptional customer service.

Tad Bauer, president of Bauer Built, said, “For more than 80 years, Bauer Built has grown by staying true to our mission of serving customers with integrity, reliability and top-tier products. Meekhof Tire is a well-respected company that has demonstrated these same values for over 50 years. We are excited to welcome their team into the Bauer Built family and look forward to building an even stronger presence in the Midwest together.”

Meekhof Tire was founded in 1971 and Bauer Built said it has developed a strong reputation for service and quality across the agricultural, commercial and retail tire markets. The combined strength of the two companies will allow for enhanced customer service, expanded product offerings, and continued investment in people and communities.

Jerry Bauer, chairman and CEO of Bauer Built, says that “Both Bauer Built and Meekhof Tire believe our success comes from putting people first — customers, employees and partners alike. This partnership honors that legacy while positioning us for future growth.”

Bauer Built officials say the work to integrate operations will begin immediately, while maintaining focus on continuity and customer service throughout the transition.

Numbers ThatCount

Relevant statistics from an industry in constant motion

91%

Automotive repair shops who said customers are more price sensitive than a year ago

Source: IMR

Photo: 102543797 © Syda Productions | Dreamstime.com

5.5%

Retail market share held by tire company-owned tire stores, which is down from the prior year

Source: MTD 2025 Facts Issue

MTD

20

Number of the 25 largest commercial tire dealers that carry the Continental brand

7.3 MILLION

Number of TBR tires imported into the U.S. through April, up 2% year-over-year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Brent

Source: MTD 2024 Top 25 Commercial Tire Dealers list

Continental AG

44%

Share of drivers who expect to spend more than $500 on vehicle maintenance in 2025

Source: Hankook Tire Gauge Index

Photo: 26271654 © Wxin | Dreamstime.com

Photo: Joey

Photo:

Photo:

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John Healy By

TTire demand and traffic on the decline

HALF OF DEALERS REPORTED PRICE INCREASES

he report from tire dealers suggests that retail sellout trends for May were again negative, marking the fourth consecutive month of declines. Dealers saw average sellout declines of 1.4% in May 2025, following a 0.9% drop in April.

Regionally, tire dealers in the Southeast reported the strongest trends, while dealers in the Midwest, Southwest and Northwest all saw declines. We believe this is an extension of the ongoing uncertainty related to tariffs, along with the continued environment where consumers are deferring unnecessary maintenance and tire replacement.

A PRICE INCREASE UPDATE

A majority of tire dealers — 56.2% — indicated that tire prices increased in the month of May, which matches the commentary we heard from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. executives and others in recent months.

Commentary from our check-ins with dealers suggests that tariffs are the main cause of these increases. And dealers indicate the tariffs are further accelerating consumer trade-downs to more affordable, lower tiered tires.

Miles driven trends were also flat in May, compared to a slightly negative April.

And it looks like June got off to a weak start, with the first week of the month down 2% against a soft comparable in

June 2024, when the trend was down 1.2%.

As for raw materials, the combined cost of the raw materials needed to build a basic replacement tire fell 4.6% in May, an increase of 0.3% from April.

If prices were to hold steady, we’d expect to see a 4.6% year-over-year decrease for raw material costs in the second quarter. In the first quarter, those costs dropped 1.6% year-over-year.

Natural rubber costs dropped 7.6% in May, compared to year-ago prices. Those prices are dropping as supply normalizes and laps elevated comparisons.

Oil prices decreased 21.8% yearover-year in May. Synthetic rubber and carbon black costs were both down, 4.7% and 3.6%, respectively, while tire fabric/ cordage costs increased 6.5% compared to year-ago prices.

We continue to think 2025 will be a year of ongoing moderating price movements, including some declines, as the index laps year-over-year increases. We see this as a potentially welcome shift toward stability.

A DIP IN TRAFFIC

Tire dealers indicated that consumer demand for passenger and light truck replacement tires was down — by low single digits — again in May compared to the same month a year ago. About half of dealers — 56% — reported negative demand trends for the month, more than

double the 20% of dealers who reported declines in April.

Dealers say traffic into their stores is slowing amid the larger economic environment, which includes concerns about tariffs and now price increases from original equipment manufacturers.

We believe dealers are still managing the continued wave of consumer deferment, along with trade-downs in the face of increasing tire prices.

Dealers report that tire shoppers still in the market largely continue to pick low-end options rather than tier-one or tier-two options.

MIX IN THE MARKET

In May 2025, tier-three tires were again the most in demand at the retail level. This marks the 12th month out of the last 13 where tier three has been atop the demand chart in the industry. Tier two usually is our long-running leader, but in May tier-two tires came in second place, while tier-one products placed last in our rankings.

We believe the type of consumer in the market right now is shopping for highvalue tires at the lowest possible price. Consumers’ wallets are stretched thin and tariffs continue to weigh heavily into their considerations when shopping for tires.

The typical volatility in these rankings has been outdone by lingering market conditions, so tier-three tires continue to sell well.

We’d expect this scenario to continue in the intermediate term, but we still expect tier-two tires to remain the overall top performer in the long-term. ■

John Healy is a managing director and research analyst with Northcoast Research Holdings LLC, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Healy covers a variety of subsectors of the automotive industry. If you would like to participate in the monthly dealer discussions, contact him at john.healy@ northcoastresearch.com.

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VIEW FROM THE TOP T

MTD 100 EXECS TALK TARIFFS AND OTHER MARKET FORCES

By Mike Manges

ari s, price hikes, deferred purchasing and other topics are top-of-mind among leaders of some of the largest independent tire dealerships in the United States. What are the most pressing challenges facing today’s MTD 100? What opportunities will the rest of the year bring? Top executives provide their thoughts in this exclusive lead-in to the 2025 MTD 100 list.

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“There is a lot of uncertainty in the economy right now,” says Dean Muglia, CEO of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Discount Tire, No. 3 on this year’s MTD 100, with more than 1,200 stores. Customers, he explains, “face an overwhelming amount of choices when it comes to their tires, which also means people in our stores are dealing with more SKUs than ever before.”

Staffing remains a critical challenge, says Chris Ripani, chief operations officer at Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc., which is based in Mesa, Ariz., and is the fifth largest dealership on the 2025 MTD 100, with more than 500 stores. “Customers today are more price-conscious. On the operational side, inflation has added complexity, but we’ve stayed disciplined on pricing and cost control.”

Ripani says that “tire sales tied to preventative maintenance (will) continue to grow, especially as customers look to extend the life of their vehicles. We’re also seeing sustained strength in the fleet and light commercial segments, where reliability and uptime matter most.”

“It is a very challenging market right now with the constantly evolving state of tariffs,” says Tom Fanning, an executive at Columbia, Miss.-based Southern Tire Mart LLC, No. 8 on the 2025 MTD 100 with 220 outlets. “Trucking is down and we see that in every quarterly update from fleets. Interest rates are affecting construction and overall consumer confidence is weak. The pricing and related volatility is creating a flight to value and fleet orders are on an as-needed basis. Everyone is tightening their belts, so the environment is challenging. I think there will be a balancing between USTMA (U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association) and non-USTMA supply throughout the year as sourcing is a huge topic. Manufacturers will struggle with sourcing to avoid some of the punitive tariffs in the global landscape.”

‘There is a lot of uncertainty in consumer behavior, with interest rates remaining high and tire costs increasing to keep up with it.’

Jamie Ward, CEO, Tire Discounters Inc.

Fanning says Southern Tire Mart sees opportunities “on the service side. The price inflation imposed by the tariffs on new tires will make it an even more compelling offer for fleets to reduce their tire program costs.”

“Right now, we are witnessing dealerships scramble to understand the impact to their business from tariffs,” says Jamie Ward, CEO of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Tire Discounters Inc., which has 215 locations and occupies the No. 9 spot on this year’s MTD 100. “There is a lot of uncertainty in consumer behavior, with interest rates remaining high and tire costs increasing to keep up with it. I’m concerned that retailers will reduce pricing unnecessarily in reaction to low demand. That will cause

Dean Muglia

Photo: Discount Tire

Chris Ripani

Photo: Sun Tire & Auto Service Inc.

Jamie Ward

Photo: Tire Discounters Inc.

Tom Fanning

Photo: Southern Tire Mart LLC

‘The U.S. tire market is currently experiencing mild replacement demand, driven in part by consumers’ concern about their household budgets, while they invest in their aging vehicles versus purchasing newer ones.’

Joe Zaccheo, CEO, Sullivan Tire Co. Inc.

a ripple effect that will reduce or compress gross margin and destroy retailers’ profits.”

Ward’s advice for other dealers? “Weather the storm and be disciplined in any price reductions.”

The market “certainly has been challenging,” says Don Barnes III, “chief tire guy” at Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire Distributors Inc., the 11th largest dealership on the MTD 100, with 185 stores. “We’ve been facing several headwinds. Economic pressure has certainly been at the forefront, which has led to a lot of deferment in tire replacement and a lot of deferment on mechanical repair. I think we all were spoiled by what happened in 2020, 2021 and 2022. We loved having 10%, 15% and 20% growth, year-over-year. We’re getting back to legacy, historical trends. With that said, every (challenge) poses an opportunity. What we’ve done is really lean into these challenging moments and headwinds and look for ways to improve our overall business.”

“The U.S. tire market is currently experiencing mild replacement demand, driven in part by consumers’ concern about their household budgets, while they invest in their aging vehicles versus purchasing newer ones,” says Joe Zaccheo, CEO and president of Norwell, Mass.-based Sullivan Tire Co. Inc., which has 103 stores and is No. 15 on the 2025 MTD 100.

“As a result, there’s pent-up demand for replacement tires. While consumers seek quality products at a reasonable price, we’re also seeing a continuation of a trend that started last year, where many are opting to purchase perceived value and performance at a reduced cost, i.e. flight-to-price. This indicates a market where reliability and brand trust are in conflict with value perception.

“We see several key opportunities in the market both now and through the remainder of the year,” says Zaccheo. “As vehicles stay on the road longer, proactive communication around upcoming service intervals and expected costs can add real value and build trust. Another opportunity lies in managing our inventory more strategically to ensure we’re aligned with current and anticipated demand.”

Daniel Horn, vice president of sales at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.-based McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc., which, with 76 outlets, holds the 20th spot on the 2025 MTD 100, says that “as of mid-year, we feel the market is somewhat stabilized, but is very dependent on the geographical region where you are located. While business is not back to the 2021 or 2022 numbers, it is drastically better than the soft market we had to deal with in 2023 and early-2024. Customer demand is starting to rebound due

Don Barnes III

Photo: Belle Tire Distributors Inc.

Joe Zaccheo

Photo: Sullivan Tire Co. Inc.

Daniel Horn

Photo: McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc.

to increased freight volumes, increased fleet maintenance activity and more normalized inventory levels at both fleet and dealer. The replacement market is outperforming OE at this point due to fleets holding on to trucks longer than ever.”

That said, “pricing is always a challenge and with impending tariffs, it has become even more complicated for dealers and for fleets. We all know how the talk of tariffs has affected us and the uncertainty it brings about pricing and availability. This will continue to be a hot topic of conversation as we move through 2025.”

Demand in Auburn, Maine-based VIP Tires & Service’s market has been “steady,” says CEO Tim Winkeler. With 76 locations, VIP Tires & Service is tied with McCarthy Tire Service at No. 20 on the MTD 100.

“Unit sales growth over prior year is modest,” notes Winkeler. “Demand for winter tires this past season was disappointing again, as the weather was not conducive to a strong selling season. Overall, we are satisfied with where things are on the tire side of our business.”

However, Winkeler observed that customers deferred “maintenance and tire replacement more often this spring than we’ve seen in a long time. Many customers are stretched financially further than they have been in the last several years. According to the Federal Reserve’s data, average consumer debt continues to grow and we see the effect of this in how some of our customers are approaching auto expenses.”

Commenting on the rest of 2025, “tariffs on imported new vehicles, if they stick, are likely to suppress new vehicle sales, which in turn means that many consumers will put off buying a new car and they will keep their current car longer. That would be a tailwind for our business, both on the tires side, as well as the mechanical service side. But the tariffs are also likely to cause inflation for the parts and tires that we purchase, which will translate into higher prices to our customers.”

“The buzzword is ‘tariffs’ and the uncertainty around it,” says Parham Parastaran, CEO of Champaign, Ill.-based Left Lane Auto LLC, No. 23 on the MTD 100, with 62 locations. “The reality is that tire prices have been rising disproportionately to other goods for decades, without any reversal. The demand for tires will not materially change as people have to drive vehicles. It can slow down a bit, but over time it will be flat for a while. The most significant thing happening now and something that will continue to happen is the

‘The reality is that tire prices have been rising disproportionately to other goods for decades, without any reversal.’

Parham Parastaran, CEO, Left Lane Auto

Parham Parastaran

Photo: Left Lane Auto LLC

Tim Winkeler

Photo: VIP Tires & Service

Larry Sutton Photo: RNR Tire Express

shift to tier-three and tier-four tires. This shift, coupled with too much competition, makes it very difficult to differentiate as a tire shop. Price will be king. This pressure isn’t unique, but I believe it will accelerate. The financial challenges the consumer faces will be our biggest battle and opportunity in how we manage that.” Customers holding onto their cars longer will translate into opportuni -

Dave Langerak

Photo: Wonderland Tire Co.

John Ziegler Jr.

Photo: Ziegler Tire

Beth Barron

Photo: Jared Navarre | Romph Pou Agency

ties, says Larry Sutton, founder of RNR Tire Express and chief officer SPF MGT CO LLC, which is No. 52 on the MTD 100, with 24 stores. “I really believe we will continue to see increase in demand throughout the year. At least 50% of our new installs have been with previous customers, so anyone with decent brand loyalty should be seeing at least an extra set per previous customer.”

“At this time, I feel like our market is being cautiously optimistic,” says John Ziegler Jr., vice president of Massillon, Ohio-based Ziegler Tire, which, with 28 stores, holds the 47th spot on the 2025 MTD 100.

“Business, in general, is relatively solid. Supply overall is pretty good, as well as demand. I have to say demand has still continued to shift to the lower-tier products for us and we think tier-three is taking the brunt of it, with pressure on tire-two. Profitability on lower-tier products remains strong. However, this may come under pressure as the tariffs are implemented.”

“Because of the tariffs, the market is a bit chaotic,” says Beth Barron, CEO of Morgan City, La.-based Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service, which holds the No. 59 position on the MTD 100. (Barron was MTD’s Tire Dealer of the Year Award recipient in 2024.)

“Once all the price increases are announced, dealers will be able to make better decisions on what to stock and where is the best place to buy product.”

“We’ve already experienced a pickup in both our commercial and wholesale businesses and had some significant OTR wins this spring,“ says Brooks Swentzel, president of Lexington, Ky.based S&S Tire, No. 64 on the 2025 MTD 100, with 17 stores.

“Tier-four sales are growing and challenging the highly competitive tier-one to tier-three space. Tariffs are unsettled and the impact is still evolving. Tier-four suppliers have adapted. The product is flowing and (is) in high demand.”

Looking ahead, Swentzel says S&S Tire sees “significant opportunity for OTR growth, specifically with the resurgence of the coal industry, along with the mining, energy and transportation businesses that support it.”

“We are seeing an uptick in demand for new medium truck tires and service over last year,” says Dave Langerak,

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‘Along with

and

market

commercial end users have little reason to buy in excess, which is forcing all of us to prove our value in the marketplace.’

Joe Pehanick, CEO, East Bay Tire Co.

chief operating officer at Byron Center, Mich.-based Wonderland Tire Co., No. 73 on the MTD 100, with 15 locations. “Retreading demand continues to be flat or even down. I believe this is due mostly to the influx of inexpensive tier-three and tier-four new medium truck tires being imported into the U.S. In addition, there has been considerable shrinkage in the over-the-road trucking industry since the COVID-19 rebound.

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Joe Pehanick

Photo: East Bay Tire Co.

Tony Grace

Photo: Alma Tire Companies

“It remains to be seen how tariffs will affect pricing of these imports and how this will affect retread demand. Typically, we have seen a nice uptick in retread demand when tariffs were implemented in the past.

“We are hopeful that these tariffs will stick and will be substantial. If so, they will have their intended effect — that of encouraging re-manufacturing in the U.S. and preventing unfair trade practices with other countries.”

Joe Pehanick, CEO of Fairfield, Calif.based East Bay Tire Co., which has 14 outlets and occupies the 81st spot on the 2025 MTD 100 along with several other dealerships, says that the “current state of the commercial tire market feels volatile. Tariffs are looming. These are creating hyperbole of discussion, but history tells us that the impacts on dealers and distributors will be minimal.

“Along with stock market fluctuations and interest rates, commercial end users have little reason to buy in excess, which is forcing all of us to prove our value in the marketplace. The reality is that the impact of the waves of change is likely less than we fear.

“The industry is challenged with the commoditization of the tire, as well as battling labor costs versus rates,” noted Pehanick.

“This was first seen in retail as new and private brands have begun to dominate the sector to create healthy margins. It’s a trend that is growing within the commercial space and rightfully so. Major manufacturers are leaving specific segments where profit is too challenging and focusing on premium applications where brand and performance have greater value. This can create a yo-yo effect.”

“The U.S. tire market is undergoing yet another year of ups, downs and unknowns,” says Tony Grace, CEO of 13-location, Alma, Mich.-based Alma Tire Companies, which shares the 88th spot on the MTD 100 with several other dealerships. “It’s hard to deny the feeling of trepidation that so many customers — fleets of any size — appear to have currently. 2025 will be a year in which a prudent strategy, efficient systems and the ability to demonstrate exceptional value to the customer will be of the utmost importance.” ■

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

MTD 100 DEALERSHIPS CONTINUE TO ADD STORES

By Mike Manges

Despite economic uncertainty, many of the dealerships on the MTD 100 added locations during the last 12 months — some by large amounts. Others plan to add locations soon. And some have — or will — shed locations. is past March, TBC Corp. announced that it would divest its Midas franchise portfolio, which consists of more than 1,200 locations, to Mavis Tire Express Services Corp.

Mavis, which is the largest dealership on the 2025 MTD 100, recently nalized that transaction.

Near the end of May, Monro Inc. announced plans to close 145 stores, more than 11% of the company’s total locations.

Up through the middle of May 2025, Discount Tire added eight locations, including a store in North Carolina that reopened. Discount Tire reports that it added 43 stores in 2024.

Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. entered the Nebraska market in February 2025 with the acquisition of Modern Tire Pros. at same month, it acquired Pete’s Road Service, a longstanding commercial tire operation in southern California. In late2024, Les Schwab bought Four States Tire and Service, which had outlets in Colorado and New Mexico.

Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. added several dozen locations across the country via new builds and acquisitions. Its biggest purchase was 24 Greulich Automotive Repair locations, all in the Phoenix, Ariz., market.

Big Brand Tire & Service used acquisitions to grow from 202 locations nearly 12 months ago to 253 locations at press time. e company most recently entered the Idaho market.

Tire Discounters Inc. added ve locations during the last 12 months, including three Tire Discounters stores in Ohio, Georgia and Kentucky; a Butler Tires and Wheels store in Georgia; and TD/EV by Tire Discounters, a store in Ohio that specializes in electric vehicle service.

Southern Tire Mart LLC went from having 178 locations last summer to owning and operating 220 locations today.

Pomp’s Tire Service Inc. also increased its store count by a considerable amount. Twelve months ago, the dealership had 141 total locations. As of mid-May 2025, it had 192 stores.

Belle Tire Distributors Inc. continued to grow its presence in the Chicago, Ill., market and now has a total of 185 stores across a multi-state network.

Gills Point S Tire & Auto Service added 66 stores in the last 12 months, including more than 50 Peerless Tyre locations that it acquired from longtime owner Sam Forbes in October 2024. Store count gains propelled Gills Point S to No. 12 on this year’s list.

Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. opened its 83rd retail store this past November — an

6/17/25 11:02 AM

Tire Discounters Inc. opened TD/ EV, a store near Cincinnati, Ohio, that specializes in electric and hybrid vehicle service.

Photo: Tire Discounters Inc.

Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. moved into Nebraska via the acquisition of Modern Tire Pros in North Platte.

Photo: Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc.

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outlet in Rochester, N.H., that previously operated under the Country Tire brand.

Northern Rock Automotive grew its footprint during the past 12 months and now reports having 96 locations.

Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc. nearly doubled its store count via several acquisitions, including 39 Conrad’s Tire Express and Total Car Care stores in northeast Ohio and ve Automotive Super Center stores in Longview, Texas.

Both states are new markets for Dobbs, which also opened and acquired stores in its native Missouri.

Straightaway Tire & Auto acquired four Integrity Tire stores in Colorado this past February and continued to make acquisitions throughout the rst half of 2025.

McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc. added a store in Williamsport, Pa. and closed a location in North Carolina. It also expanded an existing location in North Carolina.

VIP Tires & Service continued its growth by acquiring Center Automotive in Needham, Mass., in October 2024, acquiring another dealership in Connecticut, opening stores in Massachusetts and Vermont, relocating two stores in Augusta and Portland, Maine, and replacing another location in Maine.

Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. acquired Logan, Utah-based Jack’s Tire and Oil Management Co. Inc. shortly a er the 2024 MTD 100 was published.

Le Lane Auto LLC added more than 20 locations since the 2024 edition of the MTD 100 was published.

Goodturn Tire & Auto doubled its store count during the last 12 months, moving from 27 stores listed on the 2024 MTD 100 to 55 total outlets today.

Texas Tires LLC added a couple of locations since the 2024 MTD 100.

Steve Shannon Tire Co. added several locations in the last 12 months, including two in Pennsylvania, four in New York and one in New Jersey.

RNR Tire Express franchisee Rental Concepts LLC added a location, as did fellow RNR Tire Express franchisees Rims USA LLC, Summit Capital Partners Automotive Services LP and Gulf Coast L&P Inc.

Telle Tire & Auto Centers has added more than a dozen locations so far in 2025, including Miller’s Tire in Mexico, Mo.; Shore Tire in Lenexa, Kan.; a ve-

Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. acquired Logan, Utah-based Jack’s Tire and Oil Management Co.

Photo: Purcell Tire & Rubber Co.

VIP Tires & Service opened this retail store in Brockton, Mass.

Photo: VIP Tires & Service

Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers opened this store in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.

Photo: Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers

Burt Brothers Tire & Service Inc. opened its 29th store — a location in Pleasant View, Utah.

Photo: Burt Brothers Tire & Service

location dealership in Dyersburg, Tenn.; another ve-store chain in Iowa; and two locations in Topeka, Kan. It also took over an old Monro store.

Over the last nine months, Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service opened a store in Stow, Ohio, and another in Howland, Ohio.

Last November, Burt Brothers Tire & Service Inc. bought two Tire Buster’s Supreme Auto Care stores in Utah and the following month opened its 29th store — a green eld location in Pleasant View, Utah. Grismer Tire Co. increased its store count from 28 outlets last summer to 29 locations.

Earlier this year, Cassidy Tire & Auto Service opened its 18th store in Chicago, which replaced a former location in the city.

Van’s Auto Service & Tire Pros, which is based in Akron, Ohio, entered a new market, New York, via the acquisition of some locations in Bu alo.

Wonderland Tire Co. acquired a two-location tire dealership in Wisconsin that had locations in Green Bay and Appleton. Virginia Tire & Auto LLC sold its store in Chester eld, Va., in May and will break ground on a new outlet in northern Virginia this summer.

Chapel Hill Tire opened its 12th location this past February. e store is Chapel Hill Tire’s third location in the Durham, N.C., area.

Wilks Tire & Battery Service opened a new location in Dalton, Ga., that includes a retread plant.

Bauer Built Inc. announced it had acquired Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meekho Tire Sales & Service Inc., which had more than a dozen locations.

Newcomers to the MTD 100 in 2025 include Big O franchisees Steve Towers Enterprise LLC, based in Lebanon, Tenn., and Badwater Inc., which is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, plus Alma, Mich.-based Alma Tire Companies and Bill Williams Tire Center, which is based in Midland, Texas.

Dealerships that exited the MTD 100 within the last 12 months include Peerless Tyre; Conrad’s Tire Express and Total Car Care, now part of Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers; Robertson Tire Co. Inc., which was acquired by Big Brand Tire & Service; Meekho Tire Sales & Service Inc.; and Jack’s Tire and Oil Management Co. Inc. For more details on MTD 100 dealerships’ expansions, see www.moderntiredealer.com.

Cassidy Tire & Auto Service cut the ribbon at a new location in Chicago, Ill.

Photo: Cassidy Tire & Auto

Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service opened a store in the Akron, Ohio, suburb of Stow.

Photo: Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service

Chapel Hill Tire opened its 12th store — a location that serves the Durham, N.C., market.

Photo: Chapel Hill Tire

The Mr. Tire/Big 3 Tire Commercial Tire Dealer of the Year Award is designed to recognize the tire dealership that is quite simply “The Best” among independent commercial tire shops. K&M Tire has partnered again with Modern Tire Dealer to bring you the 9th annual Commercial Tire Dealer of the Year Award. The winner will be announced this January at the 2026 K&M Tire Dealer Conference.

Winner Receives:

 $2,000 in cash.

 $1,000 towards the charity of their choice.

 $1,000 towards a physical improvement project at their dealership.

 Trophy along with the distinction of being the Mr. Tire/Big 3 Commercial Tire Dealer of the Year.

 A feature story on the winning Commercial Dealer in a custom publication distributed at the K&M Tire Dealer Conference.

Nominations* will open July 1st, 2025 and will be accepted through September 30th, 2025. Please register by visiting the online registration site www.mrtirebig3tirectd.com and nominate your dealership today!

*This contest is for all eligible Mr. Tire and Big 3 Tire dealers only. Winner will be announced during the 2026 K&M Tire Dealer Conference!

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

1 Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. dba Cole Muffler & Brake, Dekalb Tire, Family Tire & Auto Service, Kauffman Tire, Mavis Discount Tire, Midas, NTB Tire & Service Centers, Savannah Tire, STS Tire & Auto Center, Tire Engineers, Tire Kingdom, Town Fair Tire, Weldon Tire 1 White Plains, N.Y.

Stephen and David Sorbaro, co-CEOs www.mavistire.com

2 Monro Inc. dba Allen Tire Co., Car-X Tire & Auto, Free Service Tire & Auto Centers, Ken Towery’s Tire & Auto Care, Monro Auto Service and Tire Centers, Mountain View Tire & Auto Service, Mr. Tire Auto Service Centers, Tire Barn Warehouse, Tire Choice Auto Service Centers, Tires Now, Tire Warehouse Tires for Less 2 Fairport, N.Y.

Peter Fitzsimmons, CEO and president, www.monro.com

3 Reinalt-Thomas Corp. dba Discount Tire, America’s Tire, Dunn Tire, Ellisville Tire & Service, Suburban Tire Auto Repair Centers, Tire Rack Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dean Muglia, CEO www.discounttire.com

4 Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. Bend, Ore.

Mike Broberg, CEO www.lesschwab.com

5 Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. dba Arnold Tire & Auto Care, Boyd’s Tire & Service, BrakeMax Tire & Service Centers, Bruce’s Tire & Auto Service, Burlington Automotive, Car Care Central, Coopers Auto Repair Specialists, Delta World Tire, Driver’s Edge Complete Tire & Auto Service, Evans Tire & Service Centers, Family Auto Service & Tire Centers, Gaynors Automotive, Goodguys Tires & Auto Repair, Greg’s Japanese Auto, Greulich’s Automotive Repair, Hogan & Sons Tire & Auto, Jeff’s Auto Repair, Lamb’s Tire & Automotive, Larry Harer Goodyear, Martin Tire Co., McCoy Tire & Auto Care, Oakdale Auto Care & Tire, Overseas Service Haus, Parra Car Care, Piedmont Tire, Plaza Tire Service, Ramona Tire & Service Centers, Reliable Automotive, Road Runner Lube & Tune, Rockwall Express, Ron’s Automotive, Sun Auto Service, Sun Auto Tire & Service, Sun Devil Auto Service, Tate Boys Tire & Service, TGK Automotive, Tire Max Total Car Care, Tire Outlet, Tire Works Total Car Care, Toscalito Tire & Automotive, T.O. Haas Tire & Auto, Wilhelm Automotive Repair 3 Mesa, Ariz.

Tony Puckett, CEO www.sun.auto

6 Big Brand Tire & Service 4 Moorpark, Calif.

Joe Buscaglia, CEO www.bigbrandtire.com

7 Best-One Tire Group Monroe, Ind.

Mark and Larry Zurcher, co-owners www.bestonetire.com

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Pirelli, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Achilles, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Dick Cepek, Dunlop, General, Goodyear, Falken, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Laufenn, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nokian, Ohtsu, Pantera, Paragon, Yokohama

Arisun, Arizonian, Atlas, Atturo, Barum, BFGoodrich, Braven, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Coker, Continental, Cooper, Corsa, DWT, Dunlop, E-Z-GO, Falken, Firestone, GBC Motorsports, General, Giti, Gladiator, GMZ, Goodyear, GT Radial, Hankook, Hartland, Interco, Ironman, ITP, Kanati, Kelly, Kumho, Laufenn, Maxxis, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Milestar, Mohave, Journey, Nankang, Nexen, Nitto, Nokian, Nordman, Ohtsu, Pathfinder, Phantom, Pirelli, Pitbull, Radar, Rage, Range Finder, Road Hugger, Rocky Mountain, Sentury, Sumitomo, Taskmaster, Tensor, Toyo, Trailfinder, Uniroyal, Vision, Vogue, Westlake, Yokohama, Zenna

Bridgestone, Caldera, Continental, Cooper, Dean, Double Coin, Falken, Firestone, General, Hankook, Laufenn, Mastercraft, Maxxis, Mazama, Michelin, Pirelli, Toyo, Vredestein

Achilles, BFGoodrich, Blackhawk, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Freedom Hauler, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Greenmax, GT Radial, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Lemans, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Milestar, Nexen, Nitto, Nokian, Ohtsu, Paragon, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Summit, Toyo, Uniroyal, Westlake, Yokohama, Zeetex

Continental, Goodyear, Ironman, Lexani, Michelin, Nexen, Nokian, Pantera, Summit, Toyo

Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Double Coin, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Ironhead, Mastercraft, Michelin, Nexen, Roadmaster, Sailun, Thunderer, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

NOT ALL TPMS SENSORS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

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MOTORCYCLE TPMS

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In a market saturated with one-size-fits-all aftermarket sensors, Walker Products brings you the OE alternative—designed specifically for the hard-to-reach, high-growth segments others skip:

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These aren’t universal-fit solutions. They’re genuine OE Tier 1 produced sensors—engineered to deliver out-of-the-box compatibility, trusted durability, and reduced install time.

Always OE Quality. Always Walker Products.

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

Thomas and James Duff, owners

9 Tire Discounters Inc.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Chip Wood, chairman www.tirediscounters.com

10 Pomp’s Tire Service Inc.

Green Bay, Wis.

Jim Wochinske, CEO www.pompstire.com

Camso, Continental, Double Coin, Falken, Firestone, General, Gladiator, Michelin, Toyo, Yokohama, Zenna

American Roadstar, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Calvary, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, GT Radial, Hankook, Kenda, Kumho, Lexani, Mastercraft, Michelin, Milestar, Mudder Trucker, Nankang, Nexen, Pirelli, Thunderer, Toyo, Uniroyal, Venezia, Vogue, Yokohama

Continental, Double Coin, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Gladiator, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Yokohama 11 Belle Tire Distributors Inc. Allen Park, Mich.

Jack Lawless, CEO www.belletire.com

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kenda, Kumho, Mastercraft, Michelin, Nexen, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Trailer King, Uniroyal

Bridgestone, Falken, Firestone, Fortune, Goodyear, Hankook, Nexen, Nokian, Toyo 13 Leeds West Groups dba Big O Tires and Midas Greenwood Village, Colo.

Derek Wessels, CEO www.leedswest.com

Los Angeles, Calif.

John Bowlin, Don Sabin and Matt Seaburn, partners, www.rentawheel.com

15 Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. Norwell, Mass.

Joe Zaccheo, president and CEO www.sullivantire.com

16 AAA Club Alliance Inc. dba AAA/Bob Sumerel Tire & Service, AAA Car Care, AAA Tire & Auto Service * Wilmington, Del.

Craig Sumerel, president www.bsts.com, www.aaa.com

17 Northern Rock Automotive dba Main Street Auto Atlanta, Ga.

Logan Leslie, CEO www.nrockusa.com www.mainstreetauto.com

18 Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc. dba Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers & Conrad’s Tire Express & Total Car Care 7 * High Ridge, Mo.

Frank Kneller, CEO www.gotodobbs.com

19 Snider Tire Inc. dba Snider Fleet Solutions * Fort Mill, S.C.

Marty Herndon, president, CEO and chairman www.snidertire.com www.sniderfleet.com

Continental, Cooper, Falken, General, GT Radial, Hankook, Hercules, Ironman, Kumho, Laufenn, Lexani, Michelin, Nitto, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Rolling Big Power, Toyo, Uniroyal, Venom Power, Yokohama

Arisun, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Michelin, Nexen, Nokian, Pirelli, Sailun, Starfire, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Goodyear, Kumho, Michelin, Nexen, Nokian, Pirelli, Uniroyal, Vredestein

Continental, Cooper, Dick Cepek, Falken, General, Hankook, Hercules, Ironman, Kumho, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Nitto, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Delta, Doral, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Kelly, Mastercraft Michelin, Multi-Mile, Pirelli, Sumitomo

Continental, General, Michelin, Sailun, Sumitomo, Triangle, Uniroyal, Yokohama 20 McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc. Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

John McCarthy Jr., president www.mccarthytire.com

20 Straightaway Tire & Auto dba All County Automotive, Auto Care Plus, EAS Tire & Auto, Victory Tire & Auto, Village Automotive 8 Bloomfield, Mich.

John Teddy, CEO www.gostraightaway.com

Continental, Defiance, Double Coin, Firestone, General, Hankook, Maxam, Yokohama, Zenna

Firestone, Toyo

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

20 VIP Inc. dba VIP Tires & Service 9 Auburn, Maine

Tim Winkeler, president and CEO www.vipauto.com

23 Left Lane Auto LLC dba Abbots Auto Care, Auto Plus, Big G Tire & Auto, Clark Warehouse Tire & Auto, Clay Dooley Tire & Auto Service, DeRe Tire & Auto, Don Duncan’s All American Tire, George’s Wholesale Tire, Gipson’s Tire Pros, Jim Grizzle Tire & Auto, Lee’s Tire, Logan Tire Service Inc., Mike Smith Tire & Auto, Modica Bros Tire & Wheel, Norris Tire & Auto Center, Pepper’s Lamont Auto Care, Scott’s Tire Center, Sexton Tire Pros & Service Center, West Tire and Auto, Woods Tire & Auto, University Tire Champaign, Ill

Parham Parastaran, CEO www.leftlaneautollc.com

24 Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. 10 Potosi, Mo.

Roger Lucas, CEO and president www.purcelltire.com

25 Black’s Tire Service Inc. dba Black’s Tire and Auto Service, BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors Whiteville, N.C.

Ricky Benton, president www.blackstire.com

26 Goodturn Tire & Auto dba Adelphia Auto and Tire, Apex Automotive, Atlantic Tire & Service, Chuck’s Garage, Collier’s Car Care Center, Great Bear Automotive, Golden Gate Tire & Service, Hal’s Auto Clinic, Johnny Myers Discount Tires, Scotty’s Auto, The Detroit Garage, Virginia Automotive Service, Walter Automotive 11 Wellington, Fla.

Christian Seem, CEO www.goodturnauto.com

27 Nebraskaland Tire Co. Inc. dba Nebraskaland Tire, Kansasland Tire, Coloradoland Tire, McWhorter’s Tire Lexington, Neb.

Gary Wright, president www.thetirestore.com

Commercial Tire Inc. Meridian, Idaho

Trent Schwenkfelder, CEO www.commercialtire.com

28 Service Tire Truck Centers Inc. Bethlehem, Pa.

Walt Dealtrey, CEO and president www.sttc.com

Texas Tires LLC * Fort Worth,

Bridgestone, Celimo,

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Maxam, Michelin, Toyo, Unicorn, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Alliance, Americus, BFGoodrich, Continental, Cooper, Double Coin, Dunlop, Falken, Galaxy, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Lexani, Mastercraft, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Roadmaster, Uniroyal

Goodyear, Hercules, Michelin, Nokian, Pirelli, Yokohama

Dunlop, Goodyear, Kelly, Mastercraft, Michelin, Titan

Cooper, Firestone, Galaxy, Goodyear, Milestar, Maxam, Westlake,

BFGoodrich,

Cooper, Continental, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin, Milestar, Nokian, Vredestein

Cooper, Continental, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin

THE SMART CHOICE IN TIRES

* MAIL-IN REBATE WITH QUALIFYING CONTINENTAL TIRE PURCHASE OFFER: Valid only with qualified purchase made in the 50 United States, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico between 07/01/2025 and 08/31/2025 or while supplies last. Void where restricted or prohibited by law. No rain checks. Submission must include copy or original, dated, paid, itemized receipt and invoice for the purchase of four (4) new qualifying CONTINENTAL TIRES from a participating retail dealer and a completed rebate form. For online purchases, an original, dated, itemized proof of installation also must be submitted. Offer may not be combined with any other offer, discount, rebate, or promotion. Tires must be purchased in a single transaction. Rebate form must be postmarked or submitted online by 09/30/2025. Offer not valid on purchase by wholesalers, dealers, fleets, OEM customers, or other commercial entities or on returned merchandise. Requests from those with an invalid or undeliverable mailing address will be denied. Limit two (2) Continental Tire Prepaid Mastercard cards per person, household, email or address. The Prepaid Mastercard is given to you as a reward, refund, rebate and no money has been paid by you for the card. Physical card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. No cash access or recurring payments. Card can be used where Debit Mastercard is accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Terms and conditions apply. Not responsible for late, lost, stolen, misdirected, illegible, mutilated, or postage due to mail or inability to connect to the website. Any taxes, fees, or costs, including but not limited to installation, are sole responsibility of the recipient. Allow 8 to 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

in the name on the rebate form only. Expiration date of

is on the front of card. Card is non-transferable. Visit

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

34 Bergey’s Tire and Automotive Centers * Souderton, Pa.

Mark Bergey, owner www.bergeys.com

35 AKH Co. Inc. dba Discount Tire Centers * Anaheim, Calif.

Andy Andonian, chairman www.discounttirecenters.com

36 Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc. dba Gateway Tire & Service * Batesville, Miss.

Robert Dunlap, chairman and CEO www.dktire.com

36 The Tire Guys dba Tire-Rama Billings, Mont.

Greg Passon, CEO and president www.tirerama.com

38 Earl W. Colvard Inc. dba Boulevard Tire Centers Deland, Fla.

Earl Colvard, president www.boulevardtire.com

39 MFA Petroleum Co. dba Big O Tires Columbia, Mo.

Charlie Alexander, vice president www.mfaoil.com

40 Kost Tire Distributors Inc. dba Kost Tire and Auto Service, Big E’s Tire & Auto Service * Clarks Summit, Pa.

Erwin Kost Sr., president www.kosttirepa.com

41 Colony Tire Corp. 14 Edenton, N.C.

Scott Creighton, president www.colonytire.com

41 Rental Concepts LLC dba RNR Tire Express Fayetteville, Ark.

David Harrison, president www.rnrtires.com

43 Flynn’s Tire Group dba Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service West Middlesex, Pa.

Joe Flynn III, president www.flynnstire.com

44 T&W Tire LLC * Oklahoma City, Okla.

Kane Russell, John Theissen and Steve Theissen, owners www.tandwtire.com

45 Burt Brothers Tire & Service Inc. 15 North Salt Lake, Utah

Brian Maciak, CEO www.burtbrothers.com

45 Grismer Tire Co. dba Grismer Tire & Auto Service, Detroit Tire and Dayton Tire Sales Dayton, Ohio

John Marshall, executive vice president (retail) www.grismertire.com

47 Heartland Tire Inc. Ramsey, Minn.

David Mitchell, owner www.heartlandtireservice.com

Continental, General, Michelin, Toyo,

Blackhawk, Bridgestone, Continental, Evoluxx, Falken, Goodyear, GT Radial, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Momo, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Americus, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Deestone, Firestone, Hankook, Kenda, Kumho, Maxxis, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Toyo, Uniroyal, Venom Power, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Firestone, General, Gladiator, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Nitto, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Big O, Bridgestone, Carlstar, Cooper, Crosswind, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook, LC Radial, Michelin, National, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Power King, Sailun, Sumitomo, Toyo, Uniroyal, Vogue

Cooper, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Nitto, Pirelli, Toyo

Blackhawk, Continental, Cooper, Cordovan, Falken, General, Kumho, Michelin, Nexen, Nokian, Pirelli, Radar, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, General, GT Radial, Hankook, Hercules, Ironman, Kumho, Laufenn, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Nitto, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Samson, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Laufenn, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Pirelli, Summit, Toyo, Uniroyal

Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental. Firestone, Fuzion, General, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Nokian, Pirelli, Primewell, Toyo, Uniroyal

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Kumho, Michelin, Nitto, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

47 Purple Square Management dba RimTyme Custom Wheels and Tires * Tampa, Fla.

Vik Patel, president and CEO www.purplesquaremgmt.com

47 Ziegler Tire & Supply Co. dba Ziegler Tire Massillon, Ohio

John Ziegler Jr., vice president www.zieglertire.com

50 Ben Tire Distributors Ltd. dba Neal Tire and Auto Service Indianapolis, Ind.

James La Neve, president and CEO www.nealtire.com (retail) www.bentiredistributors.com (wholesale)

50 Bob Sumerel Tire Co. 13 Erlanger, Ky.

Bob Sumerel, CEO www.bobsumereltire.com

52 Pete’s Tire Barns Inc. Orange, Mass.

Peter Gerry, CEO www.petestire.com

52 SPF MGT CO LLC dba RNR Tire Express Tampa, Fla.

Matthew Warren, COO www.rnrtires.com

54 Northwest Tire Inc. Bismarck, N.D.

Kory Grossman, president www.nwtire.com

54 Rims USA LLC dba RNR Tire Express * Spartanburg, S.C.

Chris Raffo, owner www.rnrtires.com

54 Summit Capital Partners dba RNR Tire Express * Anderson, Ind.

Robert Behr, owner www.rnrtires.com

57 Jensen Tire Co. dba Jensen Tire & Auto Omaha, Neb.

Matthew Jensen, owner and president www.jensentireandauto.com

58 SF Tire & Service Center Inc. dba Big O Tires * Benicia, Calif.

Chris Monteverde, owner www.bigotires.com

59 Central Arizona Auto Group LLC dba Big O Tires * Mesa, Ariz.

Tony Williams and John Niemiec, co-owners www.bigotires.com

59 Chabill’s Tire Service LLC dba Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service 16

Morgan City, La.

Beth Barron, CEO www.chabillstire.com

61 Wm. Cassidy Tire & Auto Supply Co. dba Cassidy Tire & Service

Addison, Ill.

Bryan Ahern, CEO www.cassidytire.com

Accelera, Americus, Arroyo, Atlas, Atturo, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Delinte, Dick Cepek, Dunlop, Eldorado, Falken, Firestone, Full Run, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Hercules, Ironman, Kelly, Kenda, Kumho, Landspider, Laufenn, Lexani, Lionhart, Mastercraft, Maxxis, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Multi-Mile, Nexen, Nitto, Nokian, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Predator, Radar, Rolling Big Power, Saffiro, Starfire, Sumitomo, Thunderer, Toyo, Uniroyal, Venezia, Venom Power, Vercelli, Versatyre, Vogue, Westlake

Apollo. Ascenso, BFGoodrich, Blackhawk, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Cosmo, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, General, GT Radial, Hankook, Michelin, Mitas, Nokian, Prinx, Ralson, RoadX, Samson, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, Multi-Mile, Sumitomo, Yokohama

API, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Yokohama

Ameristeel, BFGoodrich, BKT, Bridgestone, Camso, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Double Coin, Firestone, General, Giti, Goodyear, Greenball, Maxam, Michelin, Nokian, Trelleborg, Uniroyal

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Delinte, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Fuel, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Lexani, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Thunderer, Toyo, Uniroyal, Vogue, X Off-Road, Yokohama

Blackhawk, Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Nexen, Nokian, RoadX, Sumitomo, Titan, Toyo

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dayton, Delta, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, Goodyear, GT Radial, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Mastercraft, Michelin, Nankang, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Primewell, Yokohama

AMP, Atturo, Bridgestone, Cooper, Delinte, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Fuel, General, Goodyear, Hercules, Kumho, Lexani, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Toyo, Venom Power, Versa, Yokohama

Continental, Cooper, Cordovan, Dunlop, Fierce, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin, Multi-Mile, Sumitomo, Toyo, Uniroyal

Big O, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Nitto, Nokian, Pirelli, Radar, Sailun, Sumitomo, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Big O, Goodyear, Michelin, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Nitto, RoadX, Sailun, Toyo

Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Firestone, General, Michelin, Nokian, Prinx, Toyo

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

61 CJ’s Tire & Automotive Inc. Birdsboro, Pa.

Paul Levengood Jr., president www.cjtire.com

61 Katz Tire & Wheel * Columbus, Ohio

Tarik Hamed, owner www.katztires.com

64 Golden West Tire Centers LLC dba Big O Tires * Matthew Greco and Robert Curry, co-owners Los Alamitos, Calif. www.bigotires.com

64 Perfection Tire & Auto Repair * Spokane, Wash.

Terry Schillinger, owner www.perfectiontire.com

64 S&S Firestone dba S&S Tire Lexington, Ky.

Brooks Swentzel, president www.sstire.com

64 St. Lucie Tire & Battery Co. * Fort Pierce, Fla.

Doug Miller, president www.slbattery.com

64 Steve Towers Enterprise LLC dba Big O Tires * Lebanon, Tenn.

Steven Towers, owner www.bigotires.com

64 Van’s Auto Service & Tire Pros Akron, Ohio

Joshua Baughman, owner www.vanstirepros.com

70 Farmers Cooperative dba Nebraska Tire * Plymouth, Neb.

Allan Zumpfe, CEO www.farmerscooperative.com

70 Gulf Coast L&P Inc. dba RNR Tire Express * Moss Point, Miss.

Shannon Strunk, owner www.rnrtires.com

70 Southside Tire dba Soutside Tire, Garrett Tires & Treads, Platte Retreaders * Antigo, Wis.

Tim and Craig Husnick, owners www.southsidetire.com

73 Bill Williams Tire Center Midland, Texas

Kyle Williams, owner www.billwilliamstire.com

73 Custom Bandag * Linden, N.J. www.custombandag.com

73 Daniels Tire Service Inc.

Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Arden Douglas Daniels, president and CEO www.danielstireservice.com

73 Graham Tire Co.

Sioux Falls, S.D.

David Mickelson, president www.grahamtire.com

BFGoodrich, Blackhawk, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, GT Radial, Hankook, Heritage, Kelly, Kumho, Laufenn, Michelin, Ohtsu, Nexen, Nokian, Pirelli, Prinx, Uniroyal, Yokohama

AMP, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Firestone, Fortune, General, Hankook, Hercules, Ironman, Kenda, Kumho, Landsail, Maxxis, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Nitto, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Toyo, Uniroyal, Venon Power, Vogue, Yokohama

Big O, Continental, Cooper. Dunlop, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Nitto, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Cooper, Falken, Nokian,

Alliance, Bridgestone, Caraway, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Double Coin, Dunlop, Dynatrail, Firestone, Freedom Hauler, Fuzion, Galaxy, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Laufenn, Mastercraft, Mastertrack, Maxxis, Michelin, Roadmaster, Road One, Pirelli, Primewell, Supercargo, Toyo, Westlake, Yokohama

Continental, Cooper, Firestone, Kumho, Pirelli, Michelin, Toyo, Yokohama

Atturo, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Falken, General, Goodyear, GT Radial, Mastercraft, Nexen, Radar, Yokohama

Galaxy, GBC, Goodyear, Leao, Mastercraft, Primex, Samson, Sumitomo, Titan, Yokohama

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Delinte, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Fuel, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Lexani, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Thunderer, Toyo, Uniroyal, Vogue, X Offroad, Yokohama

Continental, Falken, Firestone, Michelin, Uniroyal

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Kumho, Michelin, Roadmaster, Sumitomo, Uniroyal

Continental, Cooper, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Michelin, Yokohama

Cooper, Falken, Goodyear, Michelin, Roadmaster, Sumitomo

Blacklion, Bridgestone, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho, Nokian, Thunderer, Titan

$

MORE Synchrony Car Care cardholders spend on average than non-cardholders.* 148

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

73 Holyoke Tire Group West Springfield, Mass.

Pete Kearing, president www.springfieldtire.net

73 Valley Tire Co. Inc. * Charleroi, Pa.

Jim Stankiewicz, president www.valleytireco.com

73 Warren Tire Service Center Inc. Queensbury, N.Y.

Bob Kellogg, president www.warrentiresvc.com

73 Wonderland Tire Co. Byron Center, Mich.

Jon Langerak, chairman and CEO www.wonderlandtire.com

81 Badwater Inc. dba Big O Tires * Salt Lake City, Utah

Kent Coleman, owner www.bigotires.com

81 East Bay Tire Co. * Fairfield, Calif.

Joe Pehanick, CEO www.eastbaytire.com

81 King Tire Service Inc. * Bluewell, W. Va.

Matt King, owner www.kingtireservice.com

81 Parkhouse Tire Inc.

Bell Gardens, Calif.

Jim Parkhouse, CEO www.parkhousetire.com

81 Pueblo Tires Ltd. dba Pueblo Tires & Service, Slik Pitt * McAllen, Texas

Ricky Ivey, general manager www.pueblotires.com

81 Virginia Tire & Auto Service LLC McLean, Va.

Mike and Julie Holmes, co-CEOs www.vatire.com

81 Western Tire Centers Inc. dba Jack Furrier Tire & Auto Care * Tucson, Ariz.

Jack Furrier, president www.jackfurriers.com

88 Alma Tire Companies Alma, Mich.

Tony Grace, CEO www.almatirecompanies.com

Advanta, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Camso, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Kenda, Michelin, Milestar, Nokian, Uniroyal

Americus, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Double Coin, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodride, Goodyear, GT Radial, Kelly, Kenda, Kumho, Michelin, Ohtsu, Pirelli, Roadmaster, Starfire, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Venezia, Vercelli, Wind Power, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Carlisle Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Mastercraft, Maxxis, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Nokian, Sumitomo

Dawg Pound, Duro,

Goodyear, Maxam, Michelin, Titan, Toyo, Trelleborg, Uniroyal

Firestone, General, Mastercraft, Michelin, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Zenna

Bridgestone, Continental, Firestone, Michelin, Uniroyal

Bridgestone, Capitol, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Greenball, GT Radial, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nankang, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Primewell, RoadX, Sailun, Sumitomo, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Nokian, Pirelli, Ralson, Yokohama 88 Donald B. Rice Tire Co. dba Rice Tire Frederick, Md.

Chris Chase, CEO www.ricetire.com

88 Greatwater 360 Auto Care dba Tire Tracks USA * Joliet, Ill.

James Dykstra, CEO www.tiretracksusa.com

88 Shrader Tire & Oil Co. * Toledo, Ohio

Joe Shrader, CEO and president www.shradertireandoil.com

Continental, Doral, Eldorado, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Sumitomo, Suretrac, Toyo, Vogue

Continental, Dynacargo, General, Kumho, Michelin, Uniroyal

2025’s LARGEST U.S. INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIPS

92 Action Tire Forest Park, Ga.

Rick Stewart, president www.actiontireco.com

92 Adirondack Tire & Service Co. * Colonie, N.Y.

Larry O’Shea, owner www.adirondacktire.com

92 Barnwell House of Tires Central Islip, N.Y.

Jim, Kevin and Bill Gorman, owners www.barnwelltire.com

92 Chapel Hill Tire Chapel Hill, N.C.

Marc Pons, owner www.chapelhilltire.com

92 RNR Tire of Missouri * St. Louis, Mo.

Larry Carrico, CEO www.rnrtires.com

92 Wilks Tire & Battery Service

Albertville, Ala.

Shane Wilks, president www.wilkstire.com

98 Appalachian Tire Products Inc. * Charleston, W. Va.

Jennifer Dial, president www.apptire.com

98 Eastern Iowa Tire Davenport, Iowa

Gary VanBlaricom, president and CEO www.eitire.com

98 F&F Tire Service Co. dba F&F Tire World and Service Center

Janesville, Wis.

Jeff DeVries, president www.fftireworld.com

98 Mock-Beroth Tire Inc. dba Mock Beroth Tire & Automotive * Winston-Salem, N.C.

Carey Mock, president www.mockberothtire.com

98 Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Centers

Las Vegas, Nev.

Ted Wiens Jr., president www.tedwiens.com

98 Victor’s Tires * Salt Lake City, Utah

Victor Galindo, owner www.victorstires.com

* Estimated This year’s list slightly exceeds 100 dealerships. There is a six-way tie for the final spot.

1. Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. finalized its acquisition of 1,200 Midas locations last month.

2. Monro Inc. was in the process of closing more than 140 stores when the July 2025 MTD went to press.

3. Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. recently entered the Alabama market.

Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, Galaxy, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho, Maxam, Michelin, Roadmaster, RoadX, Sailun, Setco, Sumitomo

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Delinte, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, Fuel, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Lexani, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Thunderer, Toyo, Uniroyal, Vogue, X Off-Road, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, Goodyear, Kelly, Hankook, Michelin, Nitto, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Dunlop, Dynacargo, Falken, Kelly, Michelin, Sailun, TBC Brands, Uniroyal

Advanta, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Camso, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Kenda, Michelin, Milestar, Nokian, Uniroyal

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Capitol, Continental, Cooper, Dick Cepek, Dunlop, Falken, Federl, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Hercules, Kelly, Kumho, Mastercraft, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Primewell, ProComp, Sunny, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

Bridgestone, Michelin, Uniroyal

Bridgestone, Falken, Firestone, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin, RoadX, Toyo

4. Big Brand Tire & Service told MTD that it wants to have 1,000 locations by 2030.

5. Southern Tire Mart LLC boosted its store count via the recent acquisition of Dorsey Tire Co., which was based in Pooler, Ga.

6. Gills Point S Tire & Auto Service acquired longtime MTD 100 dealer Peerless Tyre Co. in October 2024.

10.

11. Goodturn Tire & Auto wants to have 65 stores by the end of 2025.

12. Bauer Built Inc. recently acquired Meekhoff Tire Sales & Service Inc.

13. Telle Tire & Auto Centers has made a number of acquisitions this year.

14. Charlie Creighton, Colony Tire Corp.’s founder and 2007 MTD Tire Dealer of the Year Award recipient, died this past May.

15. Burt Brothers Tire & Service Inc. opened its 29th store in December 2024.

16.

Falken, Goodyear, Ironhead, Michelin, Titan, Trelleborg

7. Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc. acquired Conrad’s Tire Express & Total Care Care in March 2025.

8. Straightaway Tire & Auto formed in 2023. 9. VIP Tires & Service recently relocated two existing stores in Maine.

Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. acquired Jack’s Tire and Oil Management Co. Inc. in August 2024.

Beth Barron, CEO of Chabill’s Tire & Auto, was named MTD’s Tire Dealer of the Year in 2024.

Aaron Telle, CEO of Telle Tire & Auto Centers (pictured with his wife, Laura), says the dealership plans to expand into new

Telle Tire brings on private equity partner

CEO SAYS RETAINING ROLE, CONTINUING GROWTH STRATEGY WERE GOALS

Mike Manges By

Telle Tire & Auto Centers is in growth mode. The 43-store dealership, based in Webster Groves, Mo., has added 15 locations this year and is ready to “go regional” with the help of Next Horizon Capital, a private equity firm that’s acquired a stake in the company.

Next Horizon Capital, headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., describes itself as “a middle-market, growth-oriented private equity firm that focuses on investing in business services, technology and information services company” and “partners with entrepreneurs and leadership teams to enable business transformation.”

Telle Tire & Auto Centers wasn’t necessarily in need of a “transformation,” Aaron Telle, the dealership’s CEO,

recently told MTD. But a few years ago, he recognized that the dealership could benefit from an influx of capital to accelerate its growth and update some internal systems.

ENTER NEXT HORIZON CAPITAL

Aaron become owner of Telle Tire & Auto Centers in 2009. At the time, the dealership had one location. “Fast forward to 2023 and 2024, we were up to 26 locations,” most of which were acquired stores. “I had created a network of shop owners reaching out to me, saying, ‘I’m interested in selling my business. I’ve heard great things about you and Laura,’” Aaron’s wife.

“One of the things that became a reality for me was, ‘We’re growing this

business. We’re integrating acquisitions well. We’re keeping up with it.’ But I was also running everything on my personal balance sheet. I was running out of room (on) what I was borrowing from the bank. I had a decision to make: ‘Am I going to continue to grow or am I going to tell dealers who want to sell their businesses to me no?’ That’s something I had to think about and ultimately, I said, ‘I want to continue to grow our business. I believe in our organization. What we’re doing is working. And I want to continue that.’ I said, ‘If I’m going to bring on a financial partner, what does that mean for me?’”

Whatever form that would take, retaining the leadership role at Telle Tire & Auto Centers was paramount, according to Aaron. “I did not want to join just another platform. I wanted to continue to be CEO. I wanted to continue to work with my management team. I wanted to continue our philosophy and strategy.

“So I engaged with an investment bank and starting exploring. The investment bank said, ‘We can put a process together for you. You could have 25 different offers and people bidding for you.’ I said, ‘I’m not interested in getting the highest dollar. I have a long-term perspective. I’m only 42 years old. I love what I do.’ I said, ‘What this is about is finding the right partner who aligns with my values (and) benefits (our) associates, customers and the communities we work in.

“This was in April 2023. About three months later, this person called me and said, ‘I think I have the right potential partner that will fit that mold.’”

That partner was Next Horizon Capital, whose background and expertise intrigued Aaron. “We started to get to know each other. They started to learn about my business and I learned about them. We talked about Telle Tire’s culture, we talked about strategy and I started to feel more and more comfortable with them.”

Next Horizon Capital invested in

Photo: Telle Tire & Auto Centers

Telle Tire & Auto Centers in April 2024, forming what Aaron calls “a special purpose vehicle,” a separate entity with its own legal status, assets and liabilities. “The investor group for Telle came into our specific deal understanding our thesis and long-term goals. We feel we have an excellent alignment with our investor group.”

SCALING UP AND OUT

Telle Tire & Auto Centers’ partnership with Next Horizon Capital will help the dealership expand into new geographies, Aaron told MTD. “We’ve been growing throughout the state of Missouri. We’ve been growing in St. Louis and Kansas City — sprinkling into Kansas and Illinois. This will allow us to take a more regional approach and start growing more regionally,” without feeling the pressure to “buy 150 stores just to have 150 stores and then sell them. We truly believe we shouldn’t grow just to grow. Acquisitions have to make sense for us. I don’t want an investor saying, ‘Go buy 300 stores as fast as you can.’

“Another thing I realized is that we grew really fast over the last 10 years,” but because of that, Telle Tire & Auto Centers’ field management team was stretched thin. “We also needed to make some real investments in technology. Our back-office systems needed some upgrades. Between technology and team investments, we’re talking seven figures of investments. That factored into my decision” to partner with Next Horizon Capital.

“That’s what we’ve been focusing on: building out that back-office, investing in our people and investing in our field management team. When we were smaller, I didn’t want to have a person between me and my store managers. When we had 10 stores, I could do that. When we had 26 stores, I couldn’t do that in an effective way. Next Horizon Capital has allowed us to scale up quicker, add a good amount of payroll, promote people from within the organization and improve and build out our supply chain. Having someone who could help us with that and put that in a

lot faster than I would have been able to allows us to continue strong operations.” Next Horizon Capital’s investment also will free Aaron to allocate his time and energy to different parts of Telle Tire & Auto Centers. “I think I will transition from a family business-oriented CEO to more of a traditional CEO, focusing on culture and strategy.”

And he believes Telle Tire & Auto Centers will attract more tire dealers who are looking to sell their businesses. One of the dealerships that Telle Tire & Auto Centers acquired is a five-store chain in the Midwest. “The owner reached out to me and said, ‘I’m ready to sell. We’ve heard great things about you and your business.’ We started going through the process.” While that was happening, Aaron finalized his deal with Next Horizon Capital. “The dealer called me and said, ‘What’s this all about?’ I said, ‘Nothing’s changing. The same people who run and operate Telle Tire will continue to operate Telle Tire. But I would have had no way to purchase your business if I didn’t have a financial partner.’" ■

Auto service

Oil changes that pay

NEW TECH AND OIL FORMULATIONS

RESULT IN ADDED REVENUE

Kim Klimas By

With new engine oil formulations constantly evolving, oil and lube services remain a tried-and-true way to consistently drive revenue. Staying up to speed with the latest oil technology and tools can help you serve more customers and grow margins

We spoke with industry experts from Valvoline Global and DEVON Industries to get their take on what’s new, what’s working and what tire dealers should be paying attention to right now.

MTD: What are the most innovative current or emerging advancements in engine oil technology?

MICHAEL WARHOLIC, senior global R&D director, light duty lubricants at Valvoline Global: As the automotive industry continues its push toward higher fuel economy and lower emissions, engine designs have evolved dramatically. Smaller displacement engines are now the norm and technologies like gasoline direct injection (GDI) have become widespread, delivering on e ciency goals but also introducing new challenges. GDI engines,

while e cient, create a more intense combustion environment. is severity places greater stress on engine components and demands more from engine lubricants. To keep up, today’s oils must deliver more than just lubrication. ey must protect under extreme conditions, maximize fuel economy and manage heat and deposits e ectively. To meet these challenges, lubricants now rely on premium base oils and advanced additive chemistry. inner oil viscosities help improve fuel economy, while modern synthetic formulations are engineered to handle extreme heat. However, one critical issue continues to push the limits of innovation: deposit control. Even the best synthetic oils can struggle to prevent the buildup of harmful deposits on pistons and other internal engine parts. at’s why Valvoline launched Restore & Protect, a premium full synthetic motor oil with proprietary technology to remove deposits from pistons and other critical engine components. It also has Liqui-Shield Technology to prevent future deposit formation.

DAVID PARTON, director of operations and sales at DEVON Industries: We

manufacture equipment for oil service, so while there are advancements in oil products themselves, our specialty is in the oil change process, speci cally the equipment used. Last year, we introduced a new topside evacuation system, the DSD4000 Topside Evacuator, that reduces bay times, claims and warranties, while streamlining the oil changing process. In addition, we are rolling out a portable version in the coming months.

MTD: What are best practices to market these services to customers to drive sales or as add-ons to other auto repair and/or preventive maintenance services?

JOHN STOTZ, senior brand manager, light duty lubricants at Valvoline Global: Customers o en seek better engine protection and are willing to spend more for additional bene ts. However, employees may be reluctant to engage their customers on the bene ts of premium motor oil. We’ve observed that the following practices make broaching this conversation easier: customer-focused advertising, deploying a consistent oil change selling approach that simpli es presentation and empowering the process through employee training. Valvoline Global supports our partners in these e orts through selling programs, ASE-certi ed employee training and the industry’s most comprehensive lubricant portfolio, all of which build sales growth and customer satisfaction.

PARTON (DEVON Industries): We attend trade shows as our primary direct-to-customer marketing strategy. is allows us to show o new products and have one-onone conversations with our customers and potential new business. We set up some of our newer or more popular equipment for some hands-on experiences for our visitors. We have also been leveraging new technologies to overhaul our website and print materials with high resolution 3-D renderings of our equipment to generate better, clearer pictures without the use of a studio for imaging.

MTD: Any tips to remain fool-proof as market prices rise from a sales perspective?

STOTZ (Valvoline Global): While consumer and market data demonstrate customer demand for quality vehicle care, pressures of inflation and other

Tire dealers can invest in new oil formulations, as well as new equipment, to boost their oil and lube services.

Photo: 136436058 © Monthira Yodtiwong | Dreamstime.com

economic factors make customer value critically important. We know the primary driver of customer satisfaction and selection of a service provider is a good customer experience, so best practices start there. Successful operators also frequently evaluate service pricing and benefits to deliver a strong value proposition. When the number of customers relying on do-itfor-me oil changes decreases, operators often raise prices to fill in margin. We support our installer partners with data, tools and training to communicate and deliver compelling service benefits and value that account for pricing pressures. In fact, despite market challenges, many Valvoline partners have indicated they have grown same-store sales in this highly competitive environment.

PARTON (DEVON Industries): Being open and clear with the customer about products, and what, if any, materials are affected as tariffs and other variables change. We strive to have our dedicated business account managers speak with our customers weekly and provide week-

to-week updates as the market shifts in today’s climate.

MTD: What product lines provide a competitive edge and why?

STOTZ (Valvoline Global): As more and more vehicles qualify as high mileage, there is greater demand for high-quality motor oils that address specific needs. Operators that seek to win and retain customers recognize that products and services must deliver compelling benefits that their customers value. A product like Valvoline MaxLife high mileage motor oil maximizes engine life in vehicles with 75,000 miles or more, addressing the need for consumers who want to keep their vehicle running as long as possible. Additionally, Valvoline’s entire full synthetic portfolio offers wear and heat protection ... (and addresses) the need for consumers who want to reduce the risk of costly engine repairs resulting from excessive wear and protect their engines from extreme heat or cold environments. Valvoline Restore & Protect turns back time in engines,

restoring engines by removing harmful deposits from critical parts and protecting against future damage with continuous use. This gives consumers maximum engine life and encourages repeat visits and customer retention. Overall, Valvoline products give operators an important competitive advantage: oil changes that help their customers maximize engine life, build customer satisfaction and drive revenue and margin growth.

PARTON (DEVON Industries): Our portable oil evacuation system is perfect for tire dealers. The system allows operators to perform oil service without the need for lifts, zip pits or basements. They include a front collection tank, so the customer can see the oil being extracted and be confident a full service was performed. The portable system allows a store to purchase one unit to service many bays, as their primary business will be in tires, alignments, etc. This adds an additional service or add-on to a service that takes minutes and can be performed in conjunction with regular tire service for additional revenue. ■

By

Dennis McCarron

MSilent killers HOW TO MANAGE DECEPTIVE, DIFFICULT EMPLOYEES

ost people who have read this column over the last several months by now are familiar with the woodpecker analogy. Most of us, if we dealt with a woodpecker in our stores, would be justifiably annoyed at the stubbornness and noise created by this personality type.

Woodpeckers, whether customers or employees, just don’t belong in a tire dealership. Not only are they annoying, but they keep doing what they do, seemingly no matter what the owner or management says or does.

Most people would associate woodpecker behavior by the loud and oftentimes obnoxious bullying and defiant nature. That’s the angry woodpecker.

I’ve recently commented on the social woodpecker, too. This woodpecker often is told to do something or meet a goal and agrees readily, but never follows through. At the end of the month, the goal isn’t achieved, but they sure have a lot of reasons why it didn’t happen.

This month, we are going to focus on the silent employee woodpecker. These woodpeckers are very curious birds. They don’t seem to enjoy their job. They don’t hide their disdain for customers. They meet new ideas with skepticism.

They don’t agree or disagree with what they are told to do. They provide half answers and vague commitment. They may say “OK,” but it’s four syllables long and drenched in sarcasm. Their words say they agree, but their body language is a very telling “no.”

Silent woodpeckers use deception and miscommunication as their weapons of choice. They plant doubt in other employees’ minds and don’t challenge a goal directly — just its viability.

When asked to engage in conversation, silent woodpeckers use a strategy called catastrophizing, frequently asking self-serving questions drenched in disgust. “Oh, I think we tried that two years ago. Didn’t you almost get fired because of it?”

Sometimes they lay a series of mines masquerading as sincere questions, but are building to a statistically irrelevant question, such as, “What if we don’t meet that goal? What if there’s snow/a hurricane/a tornado? What happens if aliens invade on Independence Day?”

A silent woodpecker’s goal isn’t to ask relevant questions. It’s to sow a growing seed of doubt in your leadership. Their greatest weapon is saying nothing. When directly confronted, they shut down so completely and swiftly you might as well be talking to a wall.

Some stare. Some avoid eye contact. But make no mistake about it, they’re pecking wood in their head.

Silent woodpeckers have two issues going on. They care only for their own well-being, not yours, and they are deceptive about it. This combination is very effective for them.

‘It really is easier to just inform the silent woodpeckers on your team that their services are no longer needed.’

Angry woodpeckers often use loud noise to stoke the fear of escalation — that the ruckus will get worse or more out of control. Silent woodpeckers use fear, as well, but it’s the fear of the unknown.

Silent woodpeckers should simply be terminated. It’s difficult enough to challenge an employee who is hostile or deceptive. It’s an entirely different battlefield strategy to work on improving both negative behaviors.

From a mere financial perspective, this employee does not produce work needed to ensure success and has the attitude of a porcupine that just found out it’s trapped.

Much less money will be spent onboarding someone new with less skill, but a good attitude. And much less damage will be done to your team when the silent woodpecker is absent from stoking the flames of fear behind your back.

The silent woodpecker was probably done wrong by management at some point and is just scared of trying new employment elsewhere. They have realized they still get a paycheck for doing absolutely nothing. Why go to a place that may not deal with their attitude and behavior?

If you insist on keeping this type of woodpecker around, that employee needs to know this will be his or her last ride.

They need to take the opportunity to change or go now. If they change and it sticks, all sins are forgiven — and they really have to be forgiven — and you can then start with a clean slate.

However, the employee needs to be informed that moving forward, resistance to change is going to become increasingly difficult and unsavory. Their hostility will be met with equal doses of hostility.

This tactic works and can be successful if carried out until change happens.

Unfortunately, most owners and managers back down or sabotage their own plans.

It really is easier to just inform the silent woodpeckers on your team that their services are no longer needed, starting immediately. ■

Dennis McCarron is a partner at Cardinal Brokers Inc., one of the leading brokers in the tire and automotive industry (www.cardinalbrokers.com.) To contact McCarron, email him at dennis@cardinalbrokers.com.

Cole Strandberg By

WYour dirt may be worth more than you think

HOW REAL ESTATE CAN UNLOCK HIDDEN VALUE

hen most tire dealers begin thinking about selling their business, their focus is often on operations: clean books, strong margins and retaining key technicians. Frankly, that’s where much of the focus should be. But there’s a powerful, often overlooked value lever hiding in plain sight: real estate.

The truth is, for many sellers in today’s market, the real estate on which their dealership sits can be worth just as much — if not more — than the business itself. And the best way to unlock that value? A well-structured long-term NNN lease with a high-quality tenant after your exit.

THE MARKET HAS SPOKEN

Well-located auto service real estate with strong tenancy and long lease terms is drawing significant attention from real estate investment trusts, private capital and 1031 exchange buyers. These are often buyers who would have little to no interest in your property today, but tremendous interest if you had a longterm lease signed by your acquirer in the eventuality of an exit from your business.

The most sought-after assets are those backed by absolute NNN (triple-net) leases with 10 to 15 years of term remaining. In these cases, cap rates are compressing into the 6% to 7% range. Some are trading even tighter, depending on tenant strength, demographics and property quality. It’s not just about brand names — though those don’t hurt. It’s about certainty of income, quality of lease and marketability of the asset.

A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT

If you’re generating $250,000 in annual rent and can sign a 15-year NNN lease with a well-regarded operator — or with the buyer of your business — you’ve just turned your property into a highly desirable income-producing asset. At a 6.25% cap, that’s a $4 million property. If you hadn’t locked in that lease, the building might be appraised as a general-use commercial property or discounted due to perceived risk. This is why many owners are now structuring a lease in advance of a sale, treating the business and the building as two separate — but complementary — assets. This approach not only boosts enterprise value in a sale, but also opens the door to sale-leaseback transactions, partial equity recaps or even long-term passive income streams post-exit.

NOT JUST FOR MULTI-UNIT CHAINS

You don’t need 100 locations to play this game. In fact, some of the most attractive opportunities in today’s real estate investment landscape are single-unit, high-performing stores with clean,

assignable leases. Independent tire dealerships that control their real estate have a unique opportunity to monetize both sides of their operation. If you’re operating in a growing metro area, a major corridor or a tax-friendly state and you have strong storelevel performance, investors and strategic buyers are likely to show interest in both the business and the real estate. The key is presenting each in the right light.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY

The most effective approach starts well before you go to market. First, get clear on what your property is really worth — not as a vacant building, but as a leased asset with stable, predictable income. That means understanding current market rent, average cap rates, lease term expectations and how tenant strength plays into perceived creditworthiness.

Next, structure a lease that aligns with what investors are looking for — typically 10 to 15 years, annual escalations, tri ple-net terms and minimal landlord responsibilities. Whether you’re leasing back to your own business, to a consolidator acquiring your operation or simply setting up for a future trans action, this structure will increase the pool of interested buyers . Finally, make sure your advisors understand both M&A and real estate strategy. The most successful transactions are those where both assets are positioned strategically, but flexibly — allowing you to sell them together, separately or retain one.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Too many sellers approach the sale process in absolutes, perhaps wanting to be totally done and requiring a buyer to acquire both the business and the property. In the case of real estate — especially when there is an opportunity to have a long-term lease with a national credit tenant — it might behoove you to have a bit of patience. A difference in the ultimate value of your real estate may ultimately be a deciding factor in who you sell to, assuming multiple options.

Real estate isn’t just where your business operates. It’s a vehicle for wealth creation. In today’s market, automotive retail locations with well-structured leases are trading like blue-chip financial instruments. For tire dealers who are thinking about a sale in the next one to three years, the smart move is to treat your real estate like the asset it is — not just the box your business sits in. If you’re looking to maximize your exit, don’t just sell your store. Sell its story. And make sure your real estate plays an appropriate role in the transaction. ■

Cole Strandberg is a managing director with Focus Investment Banking’s automotive aftermar ket team, specializing in mergers, acquisitions and capital raising for multi-location tire dealer ships and automotive service businesses. Email him at cole.strandberg@focusbankers.com.

Dealer Development

Randy O’Connor By

FA lurking problem IT’S TIME TO REVIEW YOUR PAYROLL PROFITABILITY EQUATION

lat rate pay has long been a foundational compensation structure in tire dealerships. Designed to reward productivity, it operates as a form of informal profit sharing — anchored in the principle of quid pro quo: you produce, you earn. This system incentivizes technicians to work efficiently and delivers a win-win outcome when implemented correctly. Technicians have the opportunity to increase their earnings beyond a fixed hourly rate and dealerships benefit from faster turnaround times and higher output.

At its best, flat rate compensation drives a high-performance culture. Each job is assigned a standard book time and technicians are paid based on how many of these jobs they complete. A technician who finishes a two-hour job in 1.5 hours still gets paid for the full two hours, creating a powerful incentive to work efficiently. For highly skilled technicians who are organized, precise and motivated, this system can be very lucrative. Historically, our industry has used the flat rate system for a portion of its technicians, usually only those turning out mechanical work that is referenced against one of several labor guides, while another portion of technicians have been paid an hourly wage with or without some sort of incentive. These incentives have ranged from traditional spiffs for selling a particular set of products or services to any number of financial rewards to reinforce particular behaviors.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many independent tire dealerships, like other businesses, faced acute labor shortages, rising inflation and increased employee expectations around compensation. In response, many owners began raising base hourly wages across the board — often out of necessity to remain competitive in the labor market. But in doing so, a critical mistake crept in: giving out raises without tying them to production or performance.

This shift, while understandable in the short-term, is now causing a measurable imbalance. Across the industry, payroll expenses as a percentage of gross profit are rising more rapidly than gross profit itself. In other words, labor costs are increasing faster than the revenue those labor hours are generating. This undermines the very logic of flat rate pay, which has served tire dealerships well for decades. When technicians are given higher guaranteed hourly wages without an accompanying expectation — or structure — for productivity, the pay-for-performance model breaks down.

What was once a flexible, performance-based system now risks becoming a bloated, less sustainable cost center. The danger is that some employees may no longer feel the same incentive to maximize efficiency or quality. The alignment between technician motivation and profitability weakens and a dealership’s culture of accountability begins to erode.

‘Technicians should be proud to earn their pay through strong performance.’

Dealership owners and managers must now re-evaluate how they structure pay and incentives to regain control of profitability. This doesn’t mean reversing wage increases — today’s labor market requires competitive compensation — but it does mean ensuring that increases are justified and supported by metrics. Here are some key considerations for re-establishing balance:

• Tie raises to measurable output. If a technician is getting a raise, it should correspond with improvements in productivity, quality scores or ASE certifications. Compensation should reflect contribution.

• Invest in training. Many technicians want to produce more, but lack the training or tools to do so efficiently. Dealerships that invest in skills development often see a strong return in the form of better, faster work.

• Reinforce quality standards. Build quality control into the flat rate model. Technicians should know that comebacks will affect their performance metrics and future pay adjustments.

• Monitor labor-to-gross-profit ratios. Keep a close eye on how payroll costs are trending relative to gross profit. If that ratio is widening, investigate whether it’s due to wage creep, declining productivity or both.

• Maintain accountability. Culture matters. Technicians should be proud to earn their pay through strong performance. Regular performance reviews, clear metrics and transparent communication will help reinforce expectations.

Ultimately, flat rate pay is still one of the most effective ways to motivate technicians and align their goals with the financial health of the dealership. But its effectiveness hinges on thoughtful execution. When owners and managers step away from performance-based principles — especially by handing out raises without tying them to output — they risk damaging both their profitability and their dealership’s culture. By refocusing on accountability, quality and the link between pay and production, you can preserve the value of flat rate pay while navigating the realities of a changing labor market. It’s not just about paying more. It’s about paying smarter. ■

Tire and auto industry veteran Randy O’Connor is the Owner/Principal of D2D Development Group (Dealer to Dealer Development Group.) He can be reached at randy@d2ddevelopmentgroup.com. For more information, please visit www.d2ddevelopmentgroup.com.

From micronized carnauba to the latest graphene and ceramic formulas, our full spectrum of BRIGHTLINE professional car appearance products has everything you need to make your customers’ cars – and your business – shine. So whether you run an automatic, self-serve or hand-wash and detail operation, make the smart choice with BRIGHTLINE.

Should you install an EV charger at your dealership?

THE ANSWER IS YES — AND HERE’S WHY

Craig Van Batenburg By

With many companies selling and installing Level II destination chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) at low prices, why would you not offer an electric car customer the convenience of “topping off” their EV? I imagine they can charge their phone, grab a coffee and surf the World Wide Web while waiting at your store, too.

I have taught EV and hybrid repair classes all over the United States since 2000. My company added EV classes as soon as Chevy and Nissan offered plug-in cars in 2010. What do you pay for one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity at your dealership? At many of the dealerships I visit, the number is zero. At some, solar panels on the roof cover their electrical usage, plus extra. And if you rent electrons, that number can be anywhere from 10 cents to 25 cents per kW. I was in Maui teaching at the local college a few years back and the teacher paid about $0.40 per kWh. With that information, you can do the math and see what you will be “giving away!”

There are over 150 businesses selling Level II charging stations in the U.S. These require a 240-volt single phase power input that can handle 30 to 80 amps of service. The more current (or amps), the faster the EV can charge. Even though these devices are called “chargers,” they are, in reality, expensive extension cords bringing alternating current (AC) to a charger installed in their electric vehicle. The onboard charger changes the AC to direct current (DC) and recharges the car.

By the way, what is the proper term for the charger — that corded thing we are talking about? It is an EVSE, which stands for electric vehicle service equipment. But we will continue to call it a “charger,” even though it is not.

Who makes chargers? ChargePoint has the largest share of Level II charging ports, followed by Tesla’s chargers, then followed by EVgo, Electrify America, Blink, Wallbox and many more. Any licensed electrician who can install a 240 plug should be able to take care of the installation.

Before you pay for a charger at your store, check with your electricity provider and see if there are any incentives that may offset the cost. Collaborating with charging providers can sometimes also offset installation costs, with providers potentially installing and maintaining chargers in exchange for a share of revenue.

You can contact the IRS for information on federal tax credits. Your tax professional also can find them for you. Each state has different programs. Check with your state’s Department of Energy.

Part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 offered a tax credit to businesses that plan to install charging stations through the year 2032.

The location of at least one charger needs to be visible from the street and must be turned on 24 hours a day. Don’t block it with any other cars. I suggest a “pay-for-a-charge” system that you can use for marketing. And you can offer charging for free inside your shop to customers, when their cars are being serviced.

‘Offering EV chargers can create a memorable experience for customers.’

One way to do that is by having multiple 240-volt outlets within 15 feet of each bay. You can then move a couple chargers around, as needed. This will save you some extra expense.

As a bonus, here are some non EV-related customer incentives your dealership can offer. In the 15 years of working with the EV aftermarket and over 25 years running my own shop, I can tell you that these work. (Some of them have been used by other shops.) Think of the cost versus benefit of each.

A shop I know in Wisconsin has a car wash on its property, offering a free car wash with any service. In every shop I visit, there’s a Keurig coffee maker — with coffee always free. The kids often get lollipops. High-end shops may offer breakfast and sandwiches. Some offer ice cream. Northern shops give out ice scrapers. Others hand out free ink pens. Older shop owners even offer a free calendar. What about pint-sized tire pressure gauges, key fobs, sticky notes, bumper stickers and paper floor mats?

Does all this help your bottom line? Hard to know, but we keep doing it. Oh, and don’t forget baseball hats and T-shirts! I’m sure I’ve missed a few more items. When I bought a new Honda Civic years ago, the salesman at that dealership asked me to drive to the rear of the facility and he filled my gas tank. I remember that all these years later!

Offering EV chargers can create a memorable experience for customers. It also gives them another reason to come back to your dealership for future service. I urge you to consider installing an EV charger at your store. It’s an investment that’s well worth making. ■

Craig Van Batenburg is the CEO of Van Batenburg’s Garage Inc., dba Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC), which is based in Worcester, Mass. A 50-year automotive service industry veteran, Van Batenburg provides training for facilities that service — or want to service — electric and hybrid vehicles. For more information, see www.fixhybrid. com or email him at craig@fixhybrid.com.

X COMP H/P

SIZES: 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

TREAD DEPTH: 8-10

SPEED INDEX: W, Y

ASPECT RATIO: 25-50

UTQG: 200 AA A

X COMP H/P

60,000 MILE WARRANTY

SIZES: 15-20, 22, 24, 26

SPEED RATING: H, V, W, Y UTQG: 420 AA A

X COMP H/T ASII

55,000 MILE WARRANTY (60,000 P METRIC SIZES)

SIZES: 15-20, 22

SPEED RATING: H, S, T, V LOAD RANGE: E

X COMP A/T

55,000 MILE WARRANTY (60,000 P METRIC SIZES)

SIZES: 16-18, 20, 22

SPEED RATING: H, Q, R, S, T LOAD RANGE: E, F

X COMP X/T

45,000 MILE WARRANTY

SIZES: 16-18, 20, 22, 24, 26

SPEED RATING: H, Q LOAD RANGE: E, F

X COMP M/T

M&S RATED

SIZES: 15-18, 20, 22, 24, 26

SPEED RATING: P, Q LOAD RANGE: C, D, E, F

Focus on Industry

Growing with products and programs

MILESTAR RIDE-AND-DRIVE SHOWCASES BRAND’S INVESTMENTS

Mike Manges By

Tireco Inc.’s Milestar brand is on the rise thanks to investments in its products, programs and dealer network, a point the company drove home via a recent ride-and-drive event in Moab, Utah.

Over a day-and-a-half, Milestar distributors and dealers put two off-road light truck tires — the Milestar Patagonia X/T and the Milestar Patagonia M/T-02 — to the test by driving across 25 miles of extreme, unforgiving terrain.

A first for the Milestar brand, the rideand-drive was designed “to highlight the comprehensive benefits that Milestar brings to the table,” while giving dealers and distributors an opportunity “to experience first-hand the performance, durability and real-world capability of the Patagonia M/T-02 and the Patagonia X/T in an environment they were designed for,” Andrew Hoit, president of Milestar Tires, told MTD during the event.

“The event isn’t just about driving. It’s about building confidence. We’re showing our partners that Milestar isn’t just a brand — it’s a performance brand. The message we’re sending is that we stand behind our products, we invest in our partnerships and we’re here for the long-haul.

“Independent tire distributors and dealers remain essential to our growth strategy,” said Hoit. “They’re the ones connecting with consumers, making recommendations and ultimately shaping the perception of our brand at the ground level.”

EXTREME PERFORMANCE

Hoit told MTD that while neither product is brand new to the market, the Milestar Patagonia X/T and the Milestar Patagonia M/T02 “have quickly established themselves as stand-out options in their categories.

“The Patagonia X/T is our hybrid solution that fills the gap between all-terrain and mud-terrain — what the industry now refers to as the rugged-terrain (R/T) segment. It combines aggressive styling and off-road capability with daily drivability and comfort.”

“We’ve been very intentional about where Milestar sits in the market,” Andrew Hoit, president of Milestar Tires, told MTD during a recent ride-and-drive event in Moab, Utah. “It’s not just about price. It’s about delivering real performance and reliability at a price that makes sense. That’s allowed us to earn the trust of both dealers and end users who are looking for quality without compromise.”

Photo: MTD

Available in 42 sizes and fitting wheels ranging from 15 inches to 22 inches in diameter, the tire, which targets light trucks and SUVs, “features an aggressive tread pattern and a robust shoulder design, making it ideal for those who want weekend trail performance without sacrificing weekday ride quality.”

The Patagonia M/T-02, which comes in 33 sizes, is the Milestar brand’s “maximum-traction tire, engineered specifically for off-road enthusiasts. It’s built with serious capability in mind (and is) available in true enthusiast sizes, up to 42 inches in overall diameter. This tire delivers tier-one performance in traction, durability and reliability at a price point that’s much more accessible.”

The R/T segment, in particular, has experienced “tremendous growth in the past few years,” said Hoit. “Consumers are demanding more versatility from

their vehicles. They want something that looks aggressive (and) can handle off-road adventures,” while delivering a comfortable ride during daily commutes.

“When we launched the Patagonia X/T, it was early in the R/T revolution. Now, R/T has become the definition of the (light truck tire) segment.”

Ride-and-drive participants told MTD they were impressed by the performance of both tires.

“This just gives me more confidence selling them,” said Josh Allen, manager of Washington, Iowa-based Washington Discount Tire, during the event. “We sell a lot of Milestars. People like them. Our customers who buy Milestar continue to buy Milestar.”

Carson Heath, service advisor at Iowa City Tire in Iowa City, Iowa, said he was “thoroughly impressed” by the tires’ performance.

Garie Damer, who runs the sales counter at Karmark Tire & Automotive in Galesburg, Ill., and Ed Roberts, sales manager at Roberts Tire Center in Burlington, Iowa, echoed Heath and Allen’s comments.

“They’re all-around good tires,” said Damer. “I’m impressed.”

Roberts’ dealership has sold Milestar brand products for a number of years. The Patagonia M/T-02 is well-positioned for “off-road enthusiasts” and the Patagonia X/T, he noted, will appeal to “a broader spectrum” of customers.

BUILDING MOMENTUM

Hoit told MTD that Milestar Momentum, an associate dealer program that Tireco launched in October 2024, has been one of the key drivers of the Milestar brand’s growth.

Among other features, Milestar Momentum provides quarterly bonus incentives at multiple pay-out levels; a wide array of distributor and dealer resources and support tools, including online training offered through the

Milestar Academy; inclusion in Milestar’s online dealer locator; advanced performance tracking and more.

“We’ve had incredible engagement” with Milestar Momentum, said Hoit. “You want 70% or plus of your associate dealers to qualify for payout and we’ve exceeded that every quarter so far.”

Milestar Momentum’s payouts, he added, “are on par with any tier-two associated dealer program.”

Milestar Momentum represents “a sizable investment. It’s a long-term commitment to the independent tire dealer and the Milestar brand.”

Tireco “is very excited” about the Milestar brand’s growth, said Hoit. “You have to have components for each leg of distribution. We have a great program for our distributors. Then we have Milestar Momentum, which is there to incentivize loyalty and (boost) the profitability of the dealer. And then for the consumer, we have rebates for the Milestar brand, which has been a significant differentiator for us. We’re focused on sell-in, sell-through and sellout.

“We’re acting like a tier-two brand in every sense, but we still have the tierthree value proposition and acquisition cost. We feel like we’re standing out in the third tier and everyone is starting to see the Milestar value proposition.

“We’ve been very intentional about where Milestar sits in the market,” Hoit told MTD. “It’s not just about price. It’s about delivering real performance and reliability at a price that makes sense. That’s allowed us to earn the trust of both dealers and end users who are looking for quality without compromise.

“Our growth wouldn’t be possible without our distributor and retail partners. Programs like Milestar Momentum, volume-based incentives and national consumer promotions have helped drive engagement and loyalty. We listen closely to our partners and make decisions that support mutual growth. We want them to get a better understanding of who Milestar is, how our products perform, how we’re listening to them and how we’re bringing programs and benefits to the table that help us both sell more tires.” ■

Focus on Dealers

Meet Bethel Park’s car count champion

SCOTT BRUCE CALLS 2025 AN ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ YEAR SO FAR

Mike Manges By

Bethel Park, Pa.-based Bruce Brothers Tire Pros services around 80 cars a day through 15 service bays. The dealership also installs an average of 80 tires per day.

What’s the secret to Bruce Brothers Tire Pros’ remarkable productivity? “Great service,” says Scott Bruce, the company’s owner and sole proprietor.

“We’re known in our area as the place to go” for new tires and auto repair — a hard-earned reputation built on “how we treat our customers. We’re very personable. We do the job right. And we give customers great service for their money.”

‘A GREAT TEAM’

Located 10 miles south of Pittsburgh, Bethel Park is next to U.S. Route 19, a busy north-to-south highway. Pennsylvania Route 88, another thoroughfare, runs through the municipality.

Both roads ensure a steady flow of cars and customers.

Bruce Brothers Tire Pros’ retail store, which features 10 service bays, is next to a busy shopping plaza. An overflow facility, which contains five bays, is just a few minutes away.

Bruce started his tire industry career when he was 12 years old. “My dad had a small shop and I worked for him. My first job was studding winter tires.”

He bought his father’s business in 1993 at the age of 18. “I had $14,000 saved up. My first day (as an owner), I sold one used tire and made $10.95. I thought, ‘Maybe this is a big mistake.’ But over the years, it’s turned out very well for me and my family.”

Bruce Brothers Tire Pros was a tiresonly operation until 2015. Since then, the company’s sales mix has evolved. Fifty-five percent of its revenue now comes from auto repair. The rest is derived from tire sales and related services.

The dealership has 20 employees. “I couldn’t do it without them — from our service writers and the people who answer the phones to the people who change tires,” says Bruce. Many have been with

“We’re

the company for a long time. “We train them very well. We have a great team.”

He credits Store Manager Jesse Whitney for much of Bruce Brothers Tire Pros’ success. Whitney “started with me 25 years ago. He does a very good job of making sure everybody’s happy with everything they’re doing and getting.”

‘OUR CUSTOMERS LISTEN’

“We’re known as a very honest shop and our customers trust us,” says Bruce. That level of confidence extends to the tire recommendations Bruce and his

employees make. Many of the dealership’s customers are less brand-oriented than in the past. A growing number are focused on price. “As far as service work, they aren’t pricing as much, but as far as tires, we’re getting more price-shoppers.”

His dealership’s spacious showroom features individual work stations and massage chairs for customers.

After customers leave the store, he makes a point to stay in contact with them. “We follow up to keep them coming back. We send out something as soon as they leave and thank them for their business. We follow up after three months to thank them again and make sure everything’s going well with their vehicles.”

Bruce says competition in Bethel Park can be tough. “There are a lot of independent (tire dealers) in the area and a lot of big box stores. Within a few miles, I probably have 10 competitors.”

At the moment, Bruce Brothers Tire Pros has no plans to expand. The dealership’s current volume of business provides plenty of regular, profitable work.

Business this year “has been exceptional,” says Bruce, who targets yearover-year revenue growth of 5%. “We’re on track to meet that goal.” ■

“We give customers great service for their money,” says Scott Bruce, owner of Bruce Brothers Tire Pros in Bethel Park, Pa.

Photo: Bruce Brothers Tire Pros

Business this year “has been exceptional,” says Bruce, who targets year-over-year revenue growth of 5%.

on track to meet that goal.”

Photo: Bruce Brothers Tire Pros

BUYERS’GUIDE

OEM Wheels

1-800EveryRim OEM Wheels

12078 Florence Ave., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

(800) 383-7974

Text 951-RimText (951) 746-8398

Email: sales@1800EveryRim.com

Chase Potter, manager

www.1800EveryRim.com

Products: OEM replacement wheels; used, new, take-offs, reconditioned; alloy and steel, buy and sell.

31 Inc.

100 Enterprise Dr., Newcomerstown, OH 43832 (740) 498-8324 or (800) 438-3302

www.31inc.com

Products: Professional tire repair materials, tire pressure monitoring (TPMS) sensors and tools, tire valves, tire gauges, tire repair tools, air hose and accessories and tire mounting lubricants.

ACDC Hybrid EV Training

24 Wells St., Worcester. MA 01604 (508) 826-4546

www.FIXHYBRID.com

Products: J1772 Break-Out Box, battery charging & testing equipment, diagnostic equipment, material handling equipment, consulting, management programs, personal protection & safety products, training programs.

Advance Tire Inc.

1000 Rike Dr., Millstone, NJ 08535 (800) 445-6647

www.advancetires.com

Products: Specialty tires, OTR tires, industrial tires, tire exporter/importer.

ADVICS North America Inc.

1650 Kingsview Dr., Lebanon, OH 45036

www.advicsaftermarket.com

Products: Brake products, chemicals.

Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc.

2706 Treble Creek, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 492-4868

www.autovalue.com

www.bumpertobumper.com

Products: Supplier of automotive parts, tools, equipment and related services, including sales, marketing, online sales and training support.

AirPro Diagnostics

11737 Central Pkwy., Jacksonville, FL 32224 (904) 717-1711

www.airprodiagnostics.com

Products: ADAS equipment, diagnostic equipment.

Allen Rubber Co. Inc.

2000 Campus Ln., East Norriton, PA 19403 (610) 631-0124

www.allenrubber.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, tire repair materials, TPMS sensors, tire valves, wheel weights.

Alligator

1715 Joe B. Jackson Pkwy., Murfreesboro, TN 37127 (888) 215-4575

www.alligator-valves.com

Products: TPMS sensors, tire valves, TPMS diagnostic and programming tools.

AME Intl.

2347 Circuit Way, Brooksville, FL 34604 (352) 799-1111

www.ameintl.net

Products: Lifts and jacks, service trucks and associated equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tools and tool accessories.

American First Finance

P.O. Box 565848, Dallas, TX 75356 (972) 992-3560

www.yesville.com

Products: Advertising & marketing programs, consumer credit & financing, financing & credit programs, point-of-sale/ retailing, trade show representation, website & other online assistance.

Buyers’ Guide

American Pacific Industries Inc.

8320 E. Hartford Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (480) 387-5980

www.apitire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/importer.

Andreoli Software

13801 Reese Blvd. W, Suite 200, Huntersville, NC 28078 (704) 895-2780 ext. 320 or (800) 438-4487 ext. 32

www.hitstiresoftware.com

Products: Computer software, online sales systems, point-of-sale/retailing, website and other online assistance.

Anyline

2125 Center Ave., Suite 507, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Email: hello@anyline.com

www.anyline.com

Products: Tire identification, computer software.

American Roadstar Tires

2875 Pomona Blvd., Pomona, CA 91768 (562) 340-6252

www.americanroadstar.com

Products: Passenger tires, performance tires, SUV/light truck tires, radial medium/ heavy truck tires, HD ST radial tires, allterrain tires, commercial TBR tires, tire exporter/importer, advertising & marketing programs, tire retailer support programs.

Bui lt For Th e Amer ican Road

Americus

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.americustire.com

www.american-omni.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

Amp Tire

1050 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91764 (866) 894-3351

www.amp-tires.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires, light truck tires, Retreading — medium & heavy truck tires, light truck tires; TPMS sensors, wheels & accessories.

AOT (American Omni Trading Co. LLC)

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.american-omni.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, ag/ farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires.

Apollo Tires (US) Inc.

6 Concourse Pkwy., Building 6, Suite 2920, Atlanta, GA 30328 (877) 234-0867

www.vredestein.com

www.apollotrucktires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, ag/ farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires.

Arroyo Tires

2875 Pomona Blvd., Pomona, CA 91768 (562) 340-6252

www.arroyotires.com

Products: Passenger tires, performance tires, SUV/light truck tires, radial medium/ heavy truck tires, HD ST radial tires, allterrain tires, commercial TBR tires, tire exporter/importer, advertising & marketing programs, tire retailer support programs.

ASA Automotive Systems, Inc.

800 S. Industry Way, Suite 150, Meridian, ID 83642

(Offices in Illinois and New Hampshire, too) (800) 657-6409

www.asaauto.com

Products: ASA offers ‘All-in-One’ Point-of-Sale (POS), accounting and inventory software for independent tire dealers and automotive service providers in retail, wholesale, commercial and retreading enterprises. We also offer retailer support and loyalty programs, websites, digital marketing services and integrations to help single and multi-site stores improve operations, reduce costs and increase profitability.

Ascenso Tires North America

4637 Allen Rd., Stow, OH 44224 (330) 374-1000

www.ascensotiresna.com

Products: Ag/farm tires, industrial tires, OTR tires, medium & heavy truck tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/ importer, wheels & accessories.

Astro Tires

7500 N.W. 35th Terr., Miami, FL 33122 (833) 566-5528

www.astrotires.com

Products: Light truck, ag/farm, industrial, radial AG, military NDMS, golf cart tires, ground service equipment tires, solid industrial tires, port tires, implement and flotation tires, tire flaps, tubes, advertising and marketing programs.

Atlas Automotive Equipment

2727 Interstate Dr., Lakeland, FL 33805 (866) 898-2604

www.atlasautoequipment.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/ farm tires, motorcycle tires, air compressors, alignment equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts & jacks, service trucks & associated equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, wheel repair equipment, pointof-sale/retailing, trade show representation, website & other online assistance.

Atrium Solutions Inc.

55 Ruijs Blvd, Brantford, ON N3T 0E2 (226) 779-6251

www.atrium.app

Products: Artificial intelligence solutions, computer software, online sales systems, website & other online assistance.

Atturo Tire Corp.

3250 N. Oak Grove Ave., Waukegan, IL 60087 (855) 632-8031

www.atturo.com

Products: Muscle car performance tires, light truck tires, 4x4 tires, Jeep tires, plug-in hybrid/EV tires, powersports SxS/UTV tires and trailer tires.

Autel

36 Harbor Park Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050 (855) 288-3587

www.autel.com

Products: TPMS sensors, ADAS equipment, alignment equipment, battery charging & testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools.

B&J Rocket America, Inc.

4912 Rondo Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76106 (574) 825-5802

www.bj-rocket.com

Products: Retreading materials, tire repair materials, retreading equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

Bartec USA

6475 19½ Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48314 (855) 877-9732

www.bartecusa.com www.ritesensor.com

Products: TPMS replacement sensors, TPMS service kits and diagnostic tools.

BendPak

30440 Agoura Rd., Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (805) 933-9970

www.bendpak.com

Products: Lifts and jacks, air compressors, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, hose reels, shop heating/cooling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, TPMS diagnostic/ programming tools, work benches.

BFGoodrich Tires, a brand of MNA Inc. 1 Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615 (877) 788-8899

www.bfgoodrichtires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, antique/classic tires.

BKT USA, Inc.

202 Montrose W Ave., Suite 240, Copley, OH 44321 (330) 836-1090

www.bkt-tires.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs, advertising & marketing programs, social media, trade show representation, training programs, website & other online assistance.

Bosch Automotive Service Solutions

15000 N. Haggerty Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170 (800) 533-6127

www.boschdiagnostics.com

www.otctools.com

www.robinair.com

Products: ADAS equipment, battery charging & testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts & jacks, service trucks & associated equipment, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tools & tool accessories, suspension equipment, training programs.

Buyers’ Guide

Bridgestone Americas

200 4th Ave. S, Nashville TN 37201 (615) 937-1000

www.bridgestoneamericas.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/ farm tires, specialty tires, motorcycle tires, Retreading — medium & heavy truck, OTR, casings, equipment and materials, suspension components, TPMS sensors, tire display racks, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tire repair equipment, advertising & marketing programs, consumer credit & financing, financing & credit programs, online sales systems, POS/retailing, roadside assistance programs, training programs, company-owned retail tires and services, fleet management.

Cardinal Brokers

41 Clara Dr. Pedricktown, NJ 08067 (585) 310-2466

www.Cardinalbrokers.com

Products: Tire and auto business brokers.

CEAT Specialty Tires Inc.

308 E. High St., Suite 110, Jefferson City, MO 65101 (866) 683-2328

Email: CSTI@ceat.com

www.ceatspecialty.com

Products: Ag/farm tires, OTR tires, forestry tires, specialty tires, ag and industrial/construction tracks.

CEMB USA

2873 Ramsey Rd., Gainesville, GA 30501 (678) 717-1050

www.cemb-usa.com

Products: Tire mounting & balancing equipment, alignment equipment.

Challenger Lifts

2311 South Park Rd., Louisville, KY, 40219 (800) 648-5438

www.challengerlifts.com

Products: Lifts & jacks.

Chariot Concepts LLC

1860 Saratoga Ct., Yuba City, CA 95993 (800) 448-1876

Clore Automotive

9401 Indian Creek Pkwy., Suite 680, Overland Park, KS 66210

(913) 310-1050

www.cloreautomotive.com

Products: Battery charging and testing equipment, jump starters, LED work lights.

Coats

1601 J.P. Hennessy Dr., LaVergne, TN 37086 (800) 688-6359

www.coatscompany.com

Products: Alignment equipment, lifts & jacks, tire mounting & balancing equipment, lift inspections.

Carlisle TyrFil

140 Sheldon Rd., Berea, OH 44017 (800) 821-4147

www.CarlisleTyrFil.com

Products: Tire fills and sealants.

www.ChariotConcepts.com

Products: Material handling equipment, tire display racks, tire handling equipment, tools & tool accessories.

CIMS Tire Registration

P.O. Box 1610, Akron, OH 44309-1610 (330) 794-9190 or (855) 444-5120

www.cimstireregistration.com

Products: Tire registration and recall systems for tire dealers, tire manufacturers and tire importers.

Coker Tire

1317 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402 (800) 251-6336

www.cokertire.com

Products: Passenger tires, antique/ classic tires, specialty tires, motorcycle tires, tire flaps, tire valves, tubes, wheels & accessories, tire exporter/importer.

Commercial Equipment Finance Intl.

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 300, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (248) 941-2050

www.cefiusa.com

Products: Financing & credit programs.

Continental Tire the Americas — Commercial Vehicle Tires

1794 MacMillan Park Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707 (800) 726-7113

X: @contitrucktires

www.continental-truck.com

Products: Light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, motorcycle tires, Retreading -- medium & heavy truck, OTR, equipment and materials, Tire identification, TPMS sensors, tire retailer support programs, tire display racks, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, advertising & marketing programs, point-of-sale/retailing, roadside assistance programs, social media, trade show representation, training programs, website & other online assistance.

Continental Tire the Americas — Passenger/Light Truck Tires

1794 MacMillan Park Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707 (704) 583-3900

Facebook: www.facebook.

com/continentaltire

X: @continentaltire

Instagram: @continental_tire

www.continentaltire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, financing and credit programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation.

Convirza

706 E. Technology Way, Suite E11-A, Orem, UT 84097 (855) 655-8324

www.convirza.com

Products: Computer software.

Cooper Tire

200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316 (330) 796-2121

www.coopertire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, advertising and marketing programs.

Cosmo Tires

7500 N.W. 35th Terr., Miami, FL 33122 (833) 566-5528

www.cosmotires.com

Products: High performance tires, passenger tires, light, medium and heavy truck tires, extreme off-road tires, specialty and trailer tires, motorsports tires, commercial tires.

Dealer to Dealer Development Group (D2D Dev. Group)

Hendersonville, NC 28791 (704) 572-7492

www.d2ddevelopmentgroup.com

Products: Peer-to-peer retail and commercial 20 groups, one-on-one consulting, management, sales and service manager training.

Delphi

3000 University Dr., Auburn Hills, MI 48326 (877) Go-Delphi

www.delphiaftermarket.com

Products: Electrical/ignition products, fuel system components, steering components, suspension components, training programs.

Crop Max

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.american-omni.com/crop-max-3/ Products: Ag/farm tires, specialty tires, OTR tires.

Dawg Pound Tires

2200 Huntington Dr., Unit C, Fairfield, CA 94533 (707) 437-4700 or (800) 831-8473

www.dawgpoundtires.com

Products: Commercial truck tires, construction tires/OTR tires, material handling tires, agricultural tires, specialty tires, tire flaps and tire tubes.

DeRonde Tire Supply Inc.

2010 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14207 (716) 897-6690

www.etrucktire.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, tire exporter/importer.

Dill Air Controls

1500 Williamsboro St., Oxford, NC 27565 (919) 692-2300 or (800) 815-3455 (TPMS Tech Line)

www.dillvalves.com

Products: Dill Air Controls Products continues to provide the automotive, RV, fleet, off-road, and trucking industry with leading valve stems and hardware, OTR valves and valve hardware, tire inflation devices, TPMS and hand tools. Many products are proudly made in the USA.

Buyers’ Guide

Dobermann North America

4302 89th St., Davenport, IA 52806 (210) 599-1222

www.tubeandsolidtire.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tubes.

Double Coin Tires

406 E Huntington Dr., Suite 200, Monrovia, CA 91016 (888) 226-5250

www.doublecointires.com

Products: Light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires.

East Bay Tire Co.

2200 Huntington Dr., Unit C, Fairfield, CA 94533 (707) 437-4700 or (800) 831-8473

www.eastbaytire.com

Products: Major brand passenger, light truck, commercial and heavy truck, industrial, earth mover, agricultural, ATV, lawn and garden, golf cart, trailer tires, specialty tires, tracks, tire flaps, tire tubes, and wheels.

EasyPay Finance

P.O. Box 2549, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 718-1824

Falken Tire Corporation

8656 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (800) 723-2553

www.falkentire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires.

Dunlop Tires

8656 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (800) 723-2553

www.Dunloptires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Duramas Tires

7500 N.W. 35th Terr., Miami, FL 33122 (833) 566-5528

www.cosmotires.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires.

Duro Tire and Wheel

14290 Lochridge Blvd., Covington, GA 30014 (770) 788-2060

www.durotire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, motorcycle tires.

www.easypayfinance.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires, antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets & seals, belts & hoses, brake products, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ ignition products, exhaust system components, filters/filtration systems, fuel system components, oil products & lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, transmission/ drive line products, suspension components, wiper blades, financing & credit programs.

FASEP 2000 SRL

Via Faentina 96, 50032 RONTA (FI), Italy +39 055 8403126

www.fasep.it

Products: Car wheel balancers, truck and moto wheel balancers, car wheel aligners, truck wheel aligners, alignment equipment, car tire changers, truck and moto tire changers, mobile tire changers, lifters and lifting platforms, scissor platforms, diagnostic, air conditioning recycling, rim repair system.

Federated Auto Parts/The Group

508 Greenville Ave., Staunton, VA 24401 (540) 885-8460

www.federatedautoparts.com

ENSO

Sustainable Workspaces, County Hall, 5th Floor, Belvedere Rd., London, SE1 7PB, UK +44 0203 846 5600

www.ensotires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, specialty tires.

Products: Supplier of automotive parts, tools, equipment and related services, including sales, marketing, online sales and training support.

First Choice Sourcing Solutions

1310 Devalera St., Akron, OH 44310 (419) 359-4002

www.gofcss.com

Joshua Benson, vice president

Products: Light truck tires, passenger tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

Fittipaldi Off Road

2004 McGaw Ave., Irvine, CA 92614 (714) 463-7229

www.fittipaldioffroad.com Products: Wheels & accessories.

FOCUS Investment Banking LLC

7371 Atlas Walk Way, #259, Gainesville, VA 20155 (561) 400-1015

www.focusbankers.com

Products: Mergers and acquisitions advising, capital raising.

Foreign Tire Sales

2444 Morris Ave., Suite 206, Union, NJ 07083 (908) 687-0559

www. foreigntire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/ farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires.

Forklift Tire Company Inc.

6543 Las Vegas Blvd. South, #200, Las Vegas, NV 89119 (866) 313-2180

www.ForkliftTire.com

Products: Industrial tires, OTR tires, tire flaps, tubes, wheels & accessories.

Fortune

Tires

100 North Barranca St., Suite 1000, West Covina, CA 91791

www.fortunetireusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, performance tires, CUV/SUV tires, ST trailer tires, Retreading — medium & heavy truck tires, tire exporter/importer, advertising & marketing programs, point-of-sale/retailing, roadside assistance programs, social media, trade show representation, training programs, website & other online assistance.

Freedomsoft

P.O. Box 4306, Asheboro, NC 27204 (888) 750-8473

www.tireshopsoftware.com

Products: Computer software.

Fury Tires

9010 N. Royal Ln., Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063 (855) 575-3879

www.furytires.com

Products: Light truck tires.

Gabriel Ride Control

39300 Country Club Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48331 (800) 251-5932

www.Gabriel.com

Products: Suspension components.

Galileo Wheel

P.O. Box 2024, York, PA 17405 (888) 280-0851

www.galileowheel.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires.

Gaither Tool Co. Inc.

2255 W. Morton Ave., Jacksonville, IL 62650 (217) 245-0545 or (800) 452-5010

www.gaithertool.com

www.winntec.net

Products: Bead Bazooka, Winntec

Professional Lift Equipment, tire handling equipment, tire demounting/mounting and balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

General Tire

1794 MacMillan Park Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707 (704) 583-3900

Facebook: www.facebook.com/generaltire

X: @generaltire

Instagram: @general_tire

Website: www.generaltire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, OTR tires, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation.

Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.

10404 Sixth St., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (909) 980-0968 or (866) 488-4737

www.giti.com

Products: Passenger tires, truck tires, specialty tires.

GMB North America Inc.

1804 River Rd., Burlington, NJ 08016 (800) 421-5019

www.gmb.net

Products: Bearings, gaskets & seals, fuel system components.

Buyers’ Guide

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316 (330) 796-2121

www.goodyear.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, retreading: medium/heavy truck tires, advertising/ marketing programs, financing and credit programs, online sales systems, POS/ retailing, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs.

Greenball Corp.

222 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 700, Anaheim, CA 92805 (714) 782-3060 or (800) 946-9412

www.greenballtires.com

Products: GBC Powersports, Kanati, Centennial & Tow-Master tires, special trailer, light truck, ATV & UTV, lawn and garden, golf cart, mobile home.

Gremax Industrial Inc.

18503 Pines Blvd., #204, Pembroke Pines, FL 33029 (469) 222-0881

www.gremaxtire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/ farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires.

GRI Incorporated

600 Park Offices Dr., Suite LL-52, Durham, NC 27709 (978) 434-7514

www.gritires.com

Products: Ag/farm tires, specialty tires, OTR tires, construction tires, material handling tires, solid tires, aperture tires.

Gripmax Tires Inc.

100 N. Howard St., Suite R, Spokane, WA 99201 (971) 703-8919

www.gripmax.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, antique/classic tires.

GT Radial

10404 Sixth St., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (909) 980-0968 or (866) 488-4737

www.gtradial.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, specialty tires.

Hamaton Inc.

47815 West Rd., Suite D109, Wixom, MI 48393 (248) 308-3856

www.hamatonusa.com

Products: TPMS sensors, tire valves, tire gauges, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools.

Hankook Tire

333 Commerce St., Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 432-0700

www.hankooktire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company

12200 Herbert Wayne Court, Suite 150, Huntersville, NC 28078 (800) 677-9535

www.herculestire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, ag/ farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tire retailer support programs.

Hofmann

309 Exchange Ave., Conway, AR 72032 (800) 225-5786

www.hofmann-equipment.com/us

Products: ADAS equipment, alignment equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, lifts & jacks, tire measurement technology.

Horizon Tire Inc.

4818 4th St., Irwindale, CA 91706 (323) 622-1920

www.horizontire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, specialty tires.

Hubtrac Tyre

Jevrejska 1, Zrenjanin, 23000, Republic of Serbia 00447592 172791

www.hubtractyre.com

Products: Light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires.

Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG)

P.O. Box 3651, Tequesta, FL 33469 (561) 630-8737

www.itdgusa.com

Hunter Engineering Co.

11250 Hunter Dr., Bridgeton, MO 63044 (314) 731-0000

www.hunter.com

Products: ADAS equipment, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, inspection lane equipment, lifts & jacks, service trucks & associated equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment.

IMI

3183 Black Gap Rd., Chambersburg, PA 17202 (800) 233-7086

www.imiproducts.com

Products: Aluminum & steel wheel cleaning, adaptive/internal wheel end balancing, steel wheel refinishing and powder coating, tire sealants, wheel safety system, retread tire paint and dual tire height measuring tool.

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, ag/farm tires, antique/classic tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets and seals, belts and hoses, brake products, chemicals, cleaners and polishes, cooling/ air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, filters/ filtration systems, fuel system products, gloves, oil products and lubricants, personnel protection and safety products, retreading materials, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire identification, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/driveline products, truck and SUV accessories, truck bed products, wheel weights, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, material handling equipment, nitrogen inflation equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, work benches, consulting, financing and credit programs, insurance programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, website and social media, as well as other computer and software and online related support.

Induction Innovations

1175 Jansen Farm Ct., Elgin, IL 60123 (877) 688-9633

www.theinductor.com

Products: Equipment, tire repair materials, scrap tire disposal/recycling equipment, service trucks & associated equipment, shop maintenance equipment, suspension equipment, tire handling equipment, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories.

In Motion Brands

55 Ruijs Blvd., Brantford, ON N3T 0E2 (226) 779-6251

www.inmotionbrands.com

Products: Advertising & marketing programs, artificial intelligence solutions, online sales systems, website & other online assistance.

Innova Electronics Corp.

17352 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, CA 92614 (800) 544-4124

www.innova.com

Products: Digital multimeters, inspection cameras, diagnostic equipment, tools & tool accessories, including OBD2 scan tools, tablets and dongles. Innova also offers other online and app-based support, including the RepairSolutions2 and RepairSolutions PRO companion apps created to assist, simplify and augment the vehicle diagnostic process.

Integrated Supply Network (ISN)

2727 Interstate Dr., Lakeland, FL 33805 (800) 966-8478

www.isnweb.com

Products: Alignment equipment, battery charging & testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts & jacks, shop heating/cooling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, service trucks & associated equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories, welding equipment, wheel repair equipment, work benches.

Ironhead Tires

1310 Devalera St., Akron, OH 44310 (419) 359-4002

www.gofcss.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, specialty tires.

Buyers’ Guide

John Bean

309 Exchange Ave., Conway, AR 72032 (800) 225-5786

www.johnbean.com/us

Products: ADAS equipment, alignment equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, lifts & jacks, tire measurement technology.

JohnDow Industries

151 Snyder Ave., Barberton, OH 44203 (330) 753-6895

www.johndow.com

Products: Repair facility shop equipment for the automotive, heavy-duty, agricultural, construction, off-road, landscaping and industrial markets to include fuel storage and handling equipment, used oil and fluid handling equipment, auto service equipment, vehicle exhaust extraction systems, automotive hardware and supplies, service kits, tire repair materials, tire studs and valves, tire handling equipment, supplies storage, TPMS sensors, kits, diagnostic/programming tools, interior protection, professional work lights, shop chemicals and electric/ hybrid repair and safety equipment.

JS Products

6445 Montessouri St., Las Vegas, NV 89113 (702) 212-1300

www.steelmantools.com

Products: Tire repair materials, TPMS sensors, tire valves, tire marking products, tire gauges, brake service equipment, hose reels, lifts & jacks, material handling equipment, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories, personal protection & safety products.

K&M Tire Inc.

965 Spencerville Rd., Delphos, OH 45833 (419) 695-1061

www.kmtire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, exhaust system components, tire fills and sealants, tire marking products, TPMS sensors, tire valves, tubes, wheel weights, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, advertising/marketing programs, consumer credit and financing, financing and credit programs, Website and other online assistance.

Kelly Tires

200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316 (330) 796-2121

www.kellytires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires.

Kelsey Tire, Inc.

P.O. Box 564, Camdenton, MO 65020 (800) 325-0091

www.Kelseytire.com

Products: Antique/classic tires.

Kenda Tires

7095 Americana Pkwy., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 (866) 536-3287

www.kendatire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, specialty tires, motorcycle tires.

Ken-Tool

768 E. North St., Akron, OH 44305 (330) 535-7177 or (888) 536-8665

www.kentool.com

Products: Tire mounting and balancing equipment, tools and tool accessories.

Keter Tire USA, Inc.

4900 Centennial Blvd., Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37209 (615) 535-1358

www.ketertireusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/ farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires.

Klipboard

751 Arbor Way, Suite 215, Blue Bell, PA 19422 (610) 336-9045

www. klipboard.com/en-us

Products: computer software, computer systems, point-of-sale/retailing.

Kontio Tyres Ltd.

Nokia, Finland +358447339366

www.kontiotyres.com

Products: Passenger tires, antique/classic tires.

K-Tool International

2727 Interstate Dr., Lakeland, FL 33805 (800) 762-6002

www.ktoolinternational.com

Products: Battery charging & testing equipment, shop heating/cooling equipment, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories, welding equipment, work benches.

Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc.

1001 Summit Blvd. NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, GA 30319 (800) 445-8646

www.kumhotireusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, advertising/ marketing programs, POS/retailing, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation, training programs, website and other online assistance.

KYB Americas Corp.

850 N. Graham Rd., Suite C, Greenwood, IN 46143 (630) 620-5555

www.kyb.com

Products: Suspension components.

Latin Tyre & Auto Parts Expo 9840 S.W. 77th Ave., Suite 203, Miami, FL 33156 (786) 293-5186

www.latintyreexpo.com

Products: Trade show representation.

Laufenn Tires

333 Commerce St., Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 432-0700

www.laufenn.com/us

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

LendPro

195 Riverbend Dr., Suite 4, Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434) 202-0137

www.mylendpro.com

MaddenCo Inc.

4847 E. Virginia St., Suite G, Evansville, IN 47715 (812) 474-6245

www.maddenco.com

Products: Computer software, point-ofsale/retailing, computer systems.

MAHLE Aftermarket Inc.

Products: Consumer credit & financing, consulting, online sales systems.

Leverege

9200 Corporate Blvd., Suite 430, Rockville, MD 20871 (301) 873-2413

www.leverege.com

23030 MAHLE Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48335 (662) 892-6400

www.mahle-aftermarket.com

Products: Bearings, gaskets & seals, cooling/air conditioning products, filters/ filtration systems, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts & jacks, battery charging & testing equipment.

Products: Computer software.

www.lexanitires.com

Lexani Tires Worldwide, Inc.

5793 Martin Rd., Irwindale, CA 91706 (626) 856-1400

LingLong Americas, Inc.

1484 Medina Rd., Suite 118, Medina, OH 44256

www.linglongtire.com

Lionhart Tires

www.lionharttires.com

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Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires.

5793 Martin Rd., Irwindale, CA 91706 (626) 856-1400

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Lyna Manufacturing Inc.

1125 W. 15th St., North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7P 1M7 (604) 990-0988

www.stallionmfg.com

Products: Chemicals, tire fills & sealants, tire repair materials.

Marangoni Tread N.A.

708 Myatt Dr., Madison, TN 37115 (615) 868-4050

www.mtna-us.com

Products: Retreading – medium/heavy truck tires, equipment, materials.

Martins Industries

1200 Industrial Blvd., Farnham, Quebec J2N 3B5 (450) 293-9000

www.martinsindustries.com

Products: Tire gauges, wheel weights, lifts & jacks, material handling equipment, nitrogen inflation equipment, tire display racks, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tools & tool accessories.

Mastercraft Tires

200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316 (330) 796-2121

www.mastercrafttires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Buyers’ Guide

Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc.

800 East Canal St., Suite 850, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 780-0060

www.matrixcmg.com

Company Description: Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. is an independent, advisory focused, privately-held investment bank. Since 1988, Matrix has provided merger & acquisition and financial advisory services to privatelyheld businesses, publicly traded companies and capital providers. Matrix professionals are dedicated and experienced in serving the investment banking needs of all segments of the automotive aftermarket, including: tire dealers, automotive service centers, quick lube oil change facilities, car wash chains, collision and glass repair, brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retailers of automotive parts and accessories, distributors of tires and automotive parts, and manufacturers of OEM and aftermarket parts.

Maxam Tire North America

300 Rosewood Dr., Suite 102, Danvers, MA 01923 (844) 629-2662

www.maxamtire.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

Maxxis Tires

545 Old Peachtree Rd., Suwanee, GA. 30024 (678) 407-7600

www.maxxis.com/us

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, trailer tires, industrial tires, ATV/UTV tires, motorcycle tires, tire retailer support programs.

McGard LLC

3875 California Rd., Orchard Park, NY 14127 (716) 662-8980

www.mcgard.com

Products: Truck bed products, wheel accessories.

McGee Company

1140 S. Jason St., Denver, CO 80223 (800) 525-8888

www.mcgeecompany.com

Products: Retreading — equipment, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, casings, materials; antifreeze, belts & hoses, cooling/ air conditioning products, fuel system components, oil products & lubricants, tire gauges, TPMS sensors, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, wheel weights, wheels & accessories, wheel repair & chrome plating, ADAS equipment, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging & testing equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts & jacks, hose reels, material handling equipment, service trucks & associated equipment, shop heating/cooling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories, welding equipment, wheel repair equipment.

Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels

4651 Prosper Dr., Stow, OH 44224 (330) 928-9092

www.mickeythompsontires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, all-terrain tires, wheels and accessories.

Mighty Distributing System of America (Mighty Auto Parts)

650 Engineering Dr., Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 (800) 829-3900

www.mightyautoparts.com

TIRES

Megalodon Tire Inc.

11100 Valley Blvd., Suite 216, El Monte, CA 91731 (949) 561-2409

www.megalodontire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/importer.

Michelin, a brand of MNA Inc.

1 Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615 (864) 458-5000

www.michelinman.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires, motorcycle tires, retreading: medium/ heavy truck and OTR tires, wiper blades, tire retailer support programs, training programs.

Products: Antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets & seals, belts & hoses, brake products, chemicals, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, filters/filtration systems, oil products & lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, wiper blades, tire gauges, tire marking products, TPMS sensors, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, wheels weights, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hose reels, lifts & jacks, material handling equipment, nitrogen inflation equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, welding equipment, work benches, online sales systems, personnel protection & safety products, training programs.

Milestar Tires

500 W. 190th St., Suite 600, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 767-7990

www.milestartires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires.

Mohawk Lifts Inc.

65 Vrooman Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010 (518) 842-1431

www.mohawklifts.com

Products: Lifts & jacks, material handling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, ADAS equipment, alignment equipment, diagnostic equipment, brake service equipment, tire repair equipment, wheel repair equipment.

MOMO Tires Americas LLC

755 Main St., Monroe, CT 06468 (949) 377-5390

www.momotires.it

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Myers Tire Supply Co.

1293 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44301 (330) 253-5592 or (800) 998-9897

Email: sales@myerstiresupply.com www.myerstiresupply.com

Products: Chemicals, cleaners and polishes, cooling/air conditioning products, gloves, oil products and lubricants, personnel protection and safety products, retreading materials, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire identification, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, wheel weights, wiper blades, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, material handling equipment, nitrogen inflation equipment, oil/lubrication equipment, retreading equipment, service trucks and associated equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire display racks, tire handling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, work benches.

NAMA Tires Inc.

939 S. Atlantic Blvd., Suite 212, Monterey Park, CA 91754 (626) 234-7668

www.namatire.us

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/importer.

Net Driven

4949 Meadows Rd., Suite 150, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (570) 207-2005

www.netdriven.com

Products: Website & other online assistance.

Norbar Torque Tools, Inc.

36400 Biltmore Pl., Willoughby, OH 44094 (440) 953-1175

www.norbarusa.com

Newbustar (Cambodia) Tire Co. Ltd.

Kratie Special Economic Zone, Kratie Province, Cambodia 100203 +86 532 8095 8024

Email: overseas@doublestar.com.cn

www.doublestartyre.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, tire exporter/importer, tire disposal/recycling/ shredding, scrap tire disposal/recycling equipment, advertising & marketing programs.

Nexen Tire America Inc.

4014 Wheatley Rd., Richfield, OH 44286 (909) 923-4011 or (800) 576-3936 (NEXEN)

www.nexentireusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, roadside assistance programs.

Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc.

3565 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 252-0007

www.nittotire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Products: Tools & tool accessories.

Nokian Tyres, Inc.

520 Nokian Tyres Dr., Dayton, TN 37321 (800) 565-2525

www.nokiantires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires.

North America Tire Trader (NATT) 8401 John W. Carpenter Fwy., Dallas, TX 75247 (469) 855-4125

www.nattusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, ATV tires, tire exporter/importer.

Odyssey Battery by EnerSys

2366 Bernville Rd., Reading, PA 19605 (800) 964-2837

www.odysseybattery.com

Products: Batteries, battery charging & testing equipment.

OE Wheels

1906 72nd Dr. E, Sarasota, FL 34243 (941) 921-0065

www.OEWheelsLLC.com

Products: Wheels & accessories.

Buyers’ Guide

Omni Cargo

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.american-omni.com/omni-cargo Products: Medium & heavy truck tires.

Omni United (S) Pte Ltd.

4 Shenton Way, #08-02 SGX Centre II, Singapore 068807 +1 707 260 5755

www.omni-united.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, antique/ classic tires, tire retailer support programs, tire exporter/importer, advertising & marketing programs, apparel & uniforms, social media, trade show representation, training programs, website & other online assistance, transportation & logistics.

OneRail

8427 SouthPark Circle, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32819 (407) 792-6327

www.onerail.com

Products: transportation & logistics.

Openbay

10 Canal Park, Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 398-8888

https://app.openbay.com

Products: website & other online assistance.

Optimize Digital Marketing

3510 Hopkins Place N, Suite W249, Oakdale, MN 55128 (855) 676-1212

www.whyoptimize.com

Products: Digital marketing/advertising, social media, reputation, directory management, website & digital dashboard.

OTR Engineered Solutions

195 Chatillon Rd., Suite 4, Rome, GA 30161 (706) 235-9781

www.otrwheel.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tire fills & sealants, tubes, wheels & accessories.

Paytomorrow

PayTomorrow

9920 Kincey Ave., Suite 190 Huntersville, NC 28078 (866) 531-7674

www.paytomorrow.com

Products: Financing & credit programs.

Petlas Tire Industry and Trade Co.

Sogutozu Mh 2178, Cd No 6, Ankara, Turkey +903123093030

www.petlas.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, tire exporter/importer.

Pirelli Tire LLC

100 Pirelli Dr., Rome, GA 30161 (800) 747-3554

www.us.pirelli.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires, antique/classic tires, specialty tires, medium & heavy truck tires, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs.

Plus Sizing Guide

213 N. Stephanie St., Suite G - #303, Henderson, NV 89074 (310) 357-7293

www.plussizingguide.com

Products: The Ultimate Wheel and Tire Plus Sizing Guide. Tire and wheel fitment information for OE and plus size applications for both current and vintage vehicles.

Point S USA DBA Point S Tire & Auto Service

6102 N. Marine Dr., Portland, OR 97203 (503) 283-6494

www.Pointstire.com

www.JoinPointStire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, ag/farm tires, advertising & marketing programs, computer software, consumer credit and financing, online sales systems, POS/Retailing, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, training programs, website and other online assistance.

Pre-Q Galgo Corporation

4329 Bronze Way, Dallas, TX 75237 (214) 330-7300

Fax: (214) 331-2222

www.pre-q.com

Products: We provide world class retread solutions to independent retreaders throughout the United States and Canada that include over 72 different precured tread designs, commercial & OTR extruder strips, AZ, cushion, repair materials and technical support.

Prinx Tires

100 North Barranca St., Suite 1000, West Covina, CA 91791

www.prinxtireusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, performance tires, SUV/CUV tires, ST trailer tires, Retreading — medium & heavy truck tires, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs, advertising & marketing programs, point-of-sale/retailing, roadside assistance programs, social media, trade show representation, training programs, website & other online assistance.

Pro-Cut International

10 Technology Dr., West Lebanon, NH 03784 (800) 543-6618

www.procutusa.com

Products: Brake service equipment including rotor matching systems, on-car brake lathes, validated brake service systems, mobile bench lathes, bench lathes.

Ralson Tire North America Inc.

725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 330, Franklin, TN 37067 (844) 985-TIRE (8473), (201) 247-2085 (Brian Sheehey)

www.ralsontires.com

Products: Ralson and Accelus brand medium & heavy truck tires.

REDI-Sensor TPMS Sensors

Continental Automotive

6755 Snowdrift Rd., Allentown, PA 18106 (800) 564-5066

www.redi-sensor.com

Products: TPMS sensors, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools.

Regitar USA Inc.

2575 Container Dr., Montgomery, AL 36109 (334) 244-1885 or (877) REGITAR (734-4827)

www.regitar.com

Products: Electrical/ignition products, fuel system components, TPMS sensors, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tools & tool accessories.

RelaDyne

8280 Montgomery Rd., Suite 101, Cincinnati, OH 45236 (888) 830-3156

www.reladyne.com

Products: Antifreeze, chemicals, filters/filtration systems, oil products & lubricants, wiper blades, advertising & marketing programs.

Rema Tip Top / North America Inc.

RideStyler

P.O. Box 3768, Wilsonville, OR 97070 (844) 394-8994

www.ridestyler.com

Products: Computer software, consulting, online sales systems, point-of-sale/retailing, website and other online assistance.

Roadmaster Tires

200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316 (330) 796-2121

www.roadmastertires.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires.

Robbins LLC

3415 Thompson Dr., Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 (256) 383-5441

www.robbinsllc.com

Products: Retreading — materials.

Rolling Big Power Tires

5793 Martin Rd., Irwindale, CA 91706 (626) 856-1400

www.rbptires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires.

Rotary Solutions

2700 Lanier Dr., Madison, IN 47250 (812) 273-1622

www.rotarysolutions.com

Products: Alignment equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts & jacks, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, wheel repair equipment, shop maintenance equipment.

Prometeon Tyre Group

Commercial Solutions LLC

1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2219, New York, NY 10020-1806 (833) 784-8762

www.prometeon.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires.

300 Tice Blvd., #250, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 (800) 225-REMA (7362) www.rematiptop.com

Products: TPMS sensors, tire gauges, tire fills & sealants, tire marking products, tire valves, tubes, tire studs, tire repair materials, lifts & jacks, TPMS diagnostic/ programming tools, wheel repair equipment, tools & tool accessories.

Schrader TPMS Solutions

1960 Research Dr., Suite 100, Troy, MI 48083 (800) 288-1804

www.SchraderTPMS.com

Products: TPMS sensors, tire valves, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tools & tool accessories.

Buyers’ Guide

Sentury Tire USA

3850 W 108th St., Suite 1, Hialeah, FL 33018 (305) 621-5101

www.senturytireusa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, specialty tires, advertising/marketing programs, tire retailer support programs.

Shamrock Marketing Inc.

13127 Middletown Industrial Blvd., Louisville, KY 40223 (502) 266-7403

www.shamrockmarketinginc.com

Products: Light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires; Retreading — medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, equipment, materials, light truck tires; tire repair materials; air compressors, diagnostic equipment, material handling equipment, shop heating/ cooling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, transportation & logistics.

Specialty Tires of America

1600 Washington St., Indiana, PA 15701 (724) 349-9010

www.stausaonline.com

Products: Ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires.

Speedmax Tires

343 S. River St., Hackensack, NJ 07601 (908) 275-1470

www.speedmax.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires.

Shopmonkey

155 E. Main Ave., Suite 150, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (408) 675-2304

www.shopmonkey.io Products: Computer software, point-of-sale/retailing.

Snap Finance

1193 W. 2400 South, West Valley City, UT, 84119 (866) 372-0193

www.snapfinance.com/partner Products: Consumer credit & financing.

Stellar 190 State St., Garner, IA 50438 (800) 321-3741

www.stellarindustries.com

Products: Air compressors, hose reels, service trucks & associated equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories.

Sumitomo Tires

SPF MGT CO, LLC

13922 Monroe’s Business Park, Tampa, FL 33635 (813) 977-9800

www.RNRtires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, brake products, wiper blades, TPMS sensors, wheels & accessories, air compressors, alignment equipment, lifts & jacks, Nitrogen inflation equipment, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools, tire repair equipment, advertising & marketing programs, point-of-sale/retailing, roadside assistance programs, social media, trade show representation, training programs.

4260 Design Center Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 (866) 822-4968

www.sumitomotire.com

Products: Advertising/marketing programs, passenger tires, performance tires, high performance tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, radial medium/heavy truck tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel truck and trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, Web and other online assistance, roadside assistance programs, road hazard protection plan.

Sutong Tire Resources Inc.

33402 Highway 290, Hockley, TX 77447 (713) 690-5500

www.sutongctr.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/importer, tubes.

TIRE EXPRESS RN es TIRES• WHEELS ALIGNMENTS

Synchrony Financial

777 Long Ridge Rd., Stamford, CT 06902 (844) 880-2009

www.synchronybusiness.com/auto

Products: Consumer credit & financing, financing & credit programs.

TCS Technologies

4949 Meadows Rd., Suite 150, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (888) 449-8473

www.tcstire.com

Products: Point-of-sale/retailing.

TECH

200 E. Coshocton St., Johnstown, OH 43031 (740) 967-9015 or (800) 433-TECH

www.techtirerepairs.com

Products: Tire repairs & chemicals, tire & tube valves, TPMS sensors, valves & programmers, wheel weights, balance beads, garage equipment, hand & power tools, carbide cutters & buffers, wire brushes & abrasive pads, pneumatic tools, adaptors & chucks, impact sockets, torque extensions, air inflating hoses, gauges & chucks, retreading enveloping systems, rubber extruder guns, mount & demount tools, tire inflation cages, bottle & floor jacks, lug nuts, tire spreaders, safety & protection equipment, hand cleaners, instructor led & on-line tire repair training.

Tesche Tire Co.

JinDing Mansion, No. 83, Haier Rd., Room 2501, Qingdao, Shandong 266000 China

+86 1 9554 230170

www.teschetire.com

Products: Light truck tires.

Texa USA

292 Fernwood Ave., Edison, NJ 08837 (855) 200-8392

www.texausa.com

Products: ADAS equipment, diagnostic equipment, TPMS diagnostic/ programming tools, tools & tool accessories, computer software.

Thunderer

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.thunderertireusa.com

www.american-omni.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

Tire Agent

80 River St., Penthouse N, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (833) 847-3463

www.tireagent.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, medium & heavy truck tires, TPMS sensors, wheels & accessories, point-of-sale/ retailing, consumer credit & financing.

Tire Base Inc.

Las Vegas, NV 89102 (844) 518-8473

www.tirebase.io

Products: Computer software, computer systems, consulting, management programs, online sales systems, pointof-sale/retailing, training programs, website & other online assistance.

TIRECO Inc.

500 W. 190th St., Suite 600, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 767-7990

www.tireco.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, specialty tires, tire flaps and tubes, wheels and accessories.

TireConnect by Bridgestone

254 – 30 Via Renzo Dr., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4S 0B8 (888) 792-7072, ext.101

www.tireconnect.ca

Products: Computer software, online sales systems, POS/retailing, tire retailer support programs, website and other online assistance.

Tire Group International LLC

7500 N.W. 35th Terr., Miami, FL 33122 (833) 566-5528

www.tiregroup.com

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Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, ag/farm tires, motorcycle tires, OTR tires, specialty and trailer tires, ground service equipment tires, solid industrial tires, port tires, implement and flotation tires, motorsports tires, commercial tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, wheel weights, wheels and accessories, consulting, financing and credit programs, insurance programs, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation, web and other online assistance.

Buyers’ Guide

TireHub

1 Ravinia Dr. NE, #1300, Dunwoody, GA 30346 (833) 847-3482

www.tirehub.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, tire identification, tire retailer support programs, tire display racks, transportation & logistics, advertising & marketing programs, online sales systems, training programs, website & other online assistance, social media.

The TireJobs Company

8007 Captains Ct., Frederick, MD 21701 (301) 662-7223

www.tirejobs.com

Products: Tire industry recruiter, employment services.

Tire Pros

12200 Herbert Wayne Ct., Huntersville, NC 28078 (800) 632-1897

www.TirePros.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, wheels and accessories, advertising/ marketing programs, consulting, online sales systems, training programs.

Tire Rack Wholesale

7015 Vorden Pkwy., South Bend, IN 46628 (574) 287-2316 or (800) 445-0179

www.tirerackwholesale.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, brake products, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, truck and SUV accessories, wheel weights, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, tire display racks, trade show representation.

Tire Service International LLC

3451 S. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040 (800) 223-4540

www.buytsi.com

Products: Cheetah and Viper bead seaters, tire service, recycling and waste equipment, manual tire changers, bead breakers, siping and truing equipment, tire cutters and wheel crushers, small footprint aluminum can baler.

Tire//SMART (powered by JMK)

703 S. Glover Ave., Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 384-8891

www.tire-smart.net

Products: Computer systems, computer software, consulting, point-of-sale/retailing.

TireTutor

55 Court St., Floor 2, Boston, MA 02108 (617) 766-0447

www.tiretutor.ai

Products: Advertising & marketing programs, computer software, online sales systems, point-of-sale/retailing, website & other online assistance, social media.

Titan International

2701 Spruce St., Quincy, IL 62301

Titan/Goodyear: (800) 872-2327

Carlstar: (800) 827-1001

www.titan-intl.com

www.carlstar.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

3565 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 236-2080

www.toyotires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires.

TRAC

14894 Brighton Rd., Unit C, Brighton, CO 80601 (720) 231-1839

www.liftwithtrac.com

Products: Lifts & jacks, shop maintenance equipment, service trucks & associated equipment, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tire handling equipment, tire repair equipment, tools & tool accessories.

Transamerica Tire Co., Ltd.

5118 Park Ave., Suite #601, Memphis, TN 38117 (832) 891-2821

www.transamericatire.com

Products: ST trailer tires, ultra-high performance tires, summer and winter passenger tires, light truck tires (all-terrain, rugged-terrain and mudterrain) and other specialty tires.

Trelleborg Tires

107 Audubon Rd., Bldg. 2, Suite 205, Wakefield, MA 01880

Ag: (866) 633-8473

Material handling and construction: (800) 948-8473

www.trelleborg-tires.com

Email: info.twsa@yokohama-tws.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, forestry tires, port tires, tubes.

Transmax

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.american-omni.com/transmax Products: Medium & heavy truck tires.

® Tread Partners

P.O. Box 3866, Cary, NC 27519 (270) 570-2375

www.TreadPartners.com

Products: Advertising & marketing programs, website & other online assistance, digital marketing: PPC & SEO.

TreadWare

P.O. Box 617, Lake Katrine, NY 12449 (845) 802-5191

www.treadware.biz

Products: Retreading — equipment, computer software.

Triangle Tire USA

113 Seaboard Ln., Suite A-180, Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 610-5050 or (888) 847-3745

www.triangletireus.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires, OTR tires, specialty tires.

Trimax Tire- Maxon International

335 N. Puente St., Suite H, Brea, CA 92821 (330) 592-2325

www.trimaxtire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

TVS Eurogrip Off Highway Tyres

237 Industrial Park Rd., Piney Flats, TN 37686 (513) 633-8181

www.tvseurogripoht.com

Products: OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tubes.

UniAuto Inc.

751 W. Warm Springs Rd., Suite 150, Henderson, NV 89011 (888) 763-2549

www.uniautousa.com

Products: Suspension components, TPMS sensors, wheel weights, wheels & accessories.

Unicorn Tire

4045 Willow Lake Blvd., Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 547-5866

www.unicorntire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, specialty ST trailer tires, medium/heavy truck tires.

Uniroyal, a brand of MNA Inc. 1 Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615 www.uniroyaltires.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires.

Unverferth Mfg. Co. Inc.

P. O. Box 357, Kalida, OH 45853 (419) 532-3121

www.unverferth.com

Products: Wheels & accessories.

Vee Rubber America Inc.

3602 Browns Mill Rd. SE, Atlanta, GA 30354 (404) 305-9394

www.veerubber.co.th

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/classic tires, motorcycle tires, tire exporter/importer, tire flaps, tubes.

Vercelli

1221 Park West Green Dr., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 600-8473

www.vercellitire.com

www.american-omni.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires.

Buyers’ Guide

Versatile Credit

4900 Ritter Rd., #100, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (800) 851-1281

www.versatilecredit.com

Products: Consumer credit & financing.

Vipal Rubber Corp.

2601 N.W. 89 Ct., Miami, FL 33172 (305) 640-0330

www.VIPAL.com

Products: Retreading — light truck, medium & heavy truck, OTR, equipment and materials.

Vision Wheel

3512 6th Ave. SE, Decatur, AL 356003 (800) 633-3936

www.visionwheel.com

Products: Specialty tires, tire valves, wheels & accessories, TPMS diagnostic/ programming tools, tire mounting & balancing equipment, tools & tool accessories.

Vogue Tyre & Rubber Co. 1101 Feehanville Dr., Mount Prospect, IL 60056 (800) 323-1466

www.voguetyre.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, wheels and accessories.

Walker Products Inc.

525 West Congress St., Pacific, MO 63069 (636) 257-2400

www.walkerproducts.com

Products: Electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, fuel system components, TPMS sensors, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools.

Wegmann automotive USA Inc.

1715 Joe B. Jackson Pkwy., Murfreesboro, TN 37127 (888) 215-4575

www.wegmann-automotive.com

Products: Wheel weights.

Western Tires Inc.

222 Pennbright Drive, Suite 135, Houston, TX 77090 (281) 919-1944

www.jktyre-usa.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, motorcycle tires, antique/ classic tires, tire exporter/importer.

Wheel Consultants Inc.

See listing for Plus Sizing Guide.

WheelerShip

850 Washington Ave., Carlstadt, NJ 07072 (877) 788-8283

www.wheelership.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, brake products, wiper blades, headlights, tail lights, other lighting, EV charging products, TPMS sensors, tire gauges, wheels & accessories, center caps.

WHI Solutions / Nexpart 2145 Hamilton Ave., San Jose, CA 95125 (914) 697-9301

www.nexpart.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets & seals, belts & hoses, brake products, chemicals, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, filters/filtration systems, fuel system components, oil products & lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, transmission/ drive line products, wiper blades.

Wold Rim & Wheel

103 Industrial Park Dr., St. Ansgar, IA 50472 (800) 443-9653

www.woldinc.com

Products: Ag & construction wheels.

Xcellent Tire & Wheel Inc.

3102 Miller Park South, Suite 100, Garland, TX 75042 (469) 222-0881

www.xcellenttire.us

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, specialty tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America Inc.

2815 Coliseum Centre Dr., Suite 180, Charlotte, NC 28217 (339) 900-8080

www.yokohama-atg.com

Products: Medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires.

Yokohama Tire Corp.

1 MacArthur Pl., Suite 900, Santa Ana, CA 92707 (800) 423-4544

www.yokohamatire.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, specialty tires.

ZAFCO International

4220 W 104th St., Suite 11, Hialeah, FL 33018 (305) 406-3811

www.zafcointernational.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, Retreading — medium & heavy truck tires, passenger tires, light truck tires.

ZC Rubber America Inc.

661 Brea Canyon Rd., Suite 7, Walnut, CA 91789 (909) 598-5585

www.zc-rubber.com

Products: Passenger tires, light truck tires, medium & heavy truck tires, OTR tires, ag/farm tires, industrial tires, specialty tires, antique/ classic tires, motorcycle tires, TPMS sensors, tubes, TPMS diagnostic/programming tools.

Is there a young superstar in your midst?

Modern Tire Dealer is searching for young leaders in the tire industry who are On the Rise.

Our industry thrives on the hard work of its people, and MTD is looking forward to celebrating another crop of young employees who are leading the way. Maybe that’s you? Or maybe it’s your coworker? Either way, we want to get to know the under-40 superstars of the tire industry.

Submit the nomination form yourself, or share the link with your deserving teammate! Deadline for 2025 nominations is August 22.

Honorees will be profiled in the November issue of MTD!

Associations

NATIONAL

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)

1503 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Suite 401, Leesburg, VA 20176

(703) 669-6600

Email: contactus@ase.com www.ase.com

Chairman: Jason Rainey

Auto Care Association

2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 440, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 654-6664

Email: info@autocare.org www.autocare.org

President and CEO: Bill Hanvey

Automotive Lift Institute Inc.

3699 Luker Rd., Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 756-7775

Email: info@autolift.org www.autolift.org

President: R.W. (Bob) O’Gorman

Automotive Service Association

8209 Mid Cities Blvd., Suite 100, North Richland Hills, TX 76182-4712 (817) 514-2900

Email: info@ASAshop.org www.asashop.org

Executive director: Julie Massaro

MEMA The Vehicle Suppliers Association

79 TW Alexander Dr., 4501 Research Commons, Suite 200, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (919) 549-4800

Email: info@mema.org www.mema.org

President and CEO: Bill Long

Retread Tire Association (RTA)

P.O. Box 6, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 (831) 620-5345

Email: info@retreadtire.org; jeffrey@retreadtire.org www.retreadtire.org

Managing director: Jeffrey Parks

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

1575 S Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765 (909) 610-2030

Email: members@sema.org www.sema.org

President and CEO: Mike Spagnola

Tire and Rim Association Inc.

4000 Embassy Parkway, Suite 390, Akron, Ohio 44333

Phone: (330) 666-8121

Fax: (330) 666-8340

Email: tra@us-tra.org www.us-tra.org

Officer: D. Mason

Tire Industry Association (TIA) 1532 Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite G, Bowie, MD 20716-1883 (301) 430-7280

Email: info@tireindustry.org www.tireindustry.org

CEO: Richard “Dick” Gust

Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau (TRIB)

2202 18th Street NW, Suite #177, Washington, DC 20009 (703) 533-7677

Email: info@retread.org www.retread.org

Managing director: David Stevens

Tread Rubber and Tire Repair Materials Manufacturers’ Group (TRMG) (330) 714-0663 www.tireindustry.org/ resources/reference-materials/ trmg-recommended-practices/ TRMG Chairman: Michael Diehl

U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) 1400 K. St. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 682-4800

Email: info@ustires.org www.ustires.org

President and CEO: Anne Forristall Luke

CANADA

Ontario Tire Dealers Association P.O. Box 1178

Port Dover, Ontario N0A 1N0 (289) 887-4046

Email: amoffatt@otda.com www.otda.com

Executive director: Adam Moffatt

Quebec Tire Dealers and Mechanics Association

CP 89022 - CSP Malec, Montreal, Quebec H9C 2Z3 (866) 454-0477

Email: info@aspmq.ca www.aspmq.ca

Executive director: Marie-Josée Aubé

Tire and Rubber Association of Canada 5409 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 208, Etobicoke, Ontario M9C 5K6 (437) 880-8420

Email: info@tracanada.ca www.tracanada.ca

President and CEO: Carol Hochu

Tire Dealers Association of Canada P.O. Box 1178, Port Dover, Ontario N0A 1N0 (289) 887-4046

Email: amoffatt@otda.com www.tdacanada.ca

Executive director: Adam Moffatt

Western Canada Tire Dealers Association 65 Woodbine Rd., Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4A7 (780) 554-9259

Email: rayg@wctd.ca www.wctd.ca

Executive director: Ray Geleta

STATES

Alabama Tire Dealers Association 11245 Chantilly Parkway Ct., Pike Road, AL 36064 (334) 834-1848

Email: denise@aaas.us www.alatiredealers.com

Executive director: Denise Webb

Alliance of Automotive Service

Providers of Illinois

1005 W. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60642 (630) 561-3041

Email: ed@aaspi.org www.aaspi.org

Executive director: Julie Lombardo

Arkansas Independent Tire Dealers Association

2201 Miramonte Dr., Sherwood, AR 72120 (501) 940-5979

Email: chucky1938@gmail.com www.aitda.net

Executive director: Charlie Edens, Sherwood Tire Pros

Automotive Service & Tire Alliance

316 W. Millbrook Rd., Suite 105, Raleigh, NC 27609 (919) 322-0609

Email: info@astausa.org www.astausa.org

Executive director: Ryan Ragan

California Tire Dealers Association

2235 Park Towne Cir., Second Floor, Sacramento, CA 95825 (650) 357-0600

Email: mconnerly@ connerlyandassociates.com www.catiredealers.com

Executive director: Marc Connerly

Georgia Tire Dealers & Automotive Association

P.O. Box 801378, Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 947-2323

Email: ga_tiredealers@bellsouth.net www.gtdaa.com

Administrative director: Stacy Jarrett

Mid-America Tire Dealers Association

— Kansas/Nebraska/Oklahoma P.O. Box 8014, Topeka, KS 66608 (804) 712-4112

Email: wes@matda.org www.matda.org

Executive director: Wes Tatum

Louisiana Tire & Automotive Service Association

620 Florida St., Suite 210, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 (225) 343–2776

Email: info@ltasa.org www.ltasa.org

Executive director: Julie Fuselier

Maryland - Chesapeake Automotive Business Association

4174 Ridge Rd., Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 264-1163

Email: info@caba.biz www.caba.biz

Executive director: Tim Hollenshade

Michigan Tire & Vehicle Services Association - A division of Michigan Retailers Association

603 S. Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 372-5656

Email: whallan@retailers.com

Email: mra@retailers.com www.retailers.com

President: William J. Hallan

Missouri Tire Dealers Association P.O. Box 1326, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573) 636-2292

Email: dsoverfelt@gmail.com

Email: motireindustry@gmail.com www.mtia4u.org

Executive director: David Overfelt

Montana Tire Dealers Advisory Council, part of the Montana Retail Association 1645 Parkhill, Suite 6, Billings, MT 59102 (406) 256-1005; (800) 388-0236

Email: Brad.griffin@mtretail.com www.mtretail.com

President: Bradley Griffin

New England Tire & Service Association (serving Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut) P.O. Box 320166, West Roxbury, MA 02132 (855) 638-7248

Email: netsapros@aol.com or Katie@netsa.org www.netsa.org

Executive director: Katie Maguire

New York Tire Dealers Association Inc. 18 Riverleigh Pl., Amityville, NY 11701 (631) 598-3201

Email: ecaramanic@aol.com www.nytda.com

President: Ernie Caramanico

Ohio Tire & Automotive Association

50 W. Broad St., Suite 1111, Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 221-7950

Email: info@ohiotire.org www.ohiotire.org

President: Jon Boyd (New president on Aug. 4, 2025: Jamie Ward)

Northwest Auto Care Alliance P.O. Box 99907, Lakewood, WA 98496 (253) 676-9222

Email: brenda@nwautocare.org www.nwautocare.org

Executive director: Brenda Jorgenson

South Carolina Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association Inc. PO Box 2836, Summerville, SC 29484 (803) 419-0804

Email: sctdraed@gmail.com www.sctiredealer.com

Executive director: Hannah Lorace

Texas Tire and Automotive Association 4600 Spicewood Springs Rd., Suite 103, Austin, TX 78759 (512) 343-8608 or (800) 844-8748

Email: chuck@space-amc.com www.texastiredealers.org

Executive director: Chuck Space

Virginia Automotive Association P.O. Box 29069, Henrico, VA 23242-0069 (804) 739-1400

Email: office@vaauto.org www.vaauto.org

Executive director: Bo Keeney

Products

Bridgestone adds size to Firestone truck tire

Bridgestone Americas Inc. has added a new size to the Firestone FS509, a steer tire for long-haul and regional-haul applications. The tire is now available in size 11R22.5. Among other features and benefi ts, the product boasts 19/32inch tread depth with a tread pattern designed to resist irregular wear. Sipes in its tread are made to absorb stresses. The belt package of the Firestone FS509 also offers sidewall protection for enhanced durability and retreadability.

BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS INC. www.fi restonetire.com

Maxxis unveils Victra Sport All-Season

The Victra Sport All-Season is the newest ultra-high performance tire from Maxxis International — USA. Designed as a UHP tire that can deliver in even less-than-ideal weather, the Victra Sport All-Season offers an asymmetric tread pattern and traction with its arranged sipes, multi-directional biting edges and a nano-silica compound. The tire also features a dual-cord casing design for extra rigidity and responsiveness. The Victra Sport All-Season is available in 25 sizes, fi tting wheels ranging from 17 inches to 20 inches in diameter. Sizes include W and Y speed ratings. The tire also comes with a 50,000 mile warranty.

MAXXIS INTERNATIONAL — USA

www.maxxis.com

Autel announces ADAS software updates

Autel U.S. has released alignment and ADAS calibration software updates for a wide range of 2025 vehicle models, including those from General Motors, Honda, Dodge, Jeep, Subaru, Toyota and Hyundai. The Autel IA900WA aligner system, paired with the MaxiSYS Ultra ADAS advanced diagnostic tablet, gives technicians maximum alignment accuracy and superior workfl ow efficiency. The ADAS calibration software updates and expands the Autel calibration coverage of ADAS components and vehicle brands and is available on MaxiSYS tablets upgraded with ADAS calibration software.

AUTEL U.S. www.autel.us

Transamerica launches all-terrain truck tire

Transamerica Tire Co. Ltd.’s Venom Power lineup now includes the Venom Power AT-Co ALLSeason tire for commercial vehicles. The AT-Co ALLSeason is a drive-position, all-terrain tire that features a durable tread compound that helps resist irregular wear and scrubbing to extend tire life and reduce vehicle downtime. Key features of the new tire include siped tread blocks for grip in wet and snowy conditions, three wide circumferential grooves for water and slush evacuation and more.

TRANSAMERICA TIRE CO. LTD. www.venompowertires.com

Michelin updates commercial LT offering

Michelin North America Inc. has updated its commercial light truck tire offering with the Agilis CrossClimate 2. The all-weather tire debuts in 18 sizes with more planned for release in October 2025. It features Michelin’s CurbGard technology to defend against curb damage and it is designed to offer maximum tread life to help fl eets maximize uptime. The CrossClimate 2 also is backed by Michelin’s Agilis Family Guarantee, which promises 20% more mileage than a driver’s current tires.

MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA INC. www.michelinman.com

Pirelli unveils P Zero Trofeo Track tire

Pirelli Tire North America has unveiled the P Zero Trofeo Track, a Department of Transportation-marked, track-focused tire engineered specifically for the United States market. Designed to excel in dry conditions, the new tire incorporates Pirelli’s ultra-high performance road tire technology, among other features. The new P Zero Trofeo Track was developed for club racers and other amateur motorsports enthusiasts. The product’s range includes sizes that span 17 inches to 21 inches for optimal performance segment coverage, according to Pirelli officials. The tire is made in the U.S.

PIRELLI TIRE NORTH AMERICA www.pirelli.com

Products

Toyo expands Toyo M655 sizes

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. is adding two new 22.5- and 24.5-inch sizes to its Toyo M655 medium truck tire power line. The M655 is an all-weather, on- and off-road commercial tire with durable construction for local and regional operations. The tire comes in 17- and 18-inch sizes for light-duty trucks and 19.5-, 22.5- and 24.5-inch sizes for medium-duty trucks. These new sizes 265/70R19.5 G/14, 11R22.5 H/16, and 11R24.5 H/16 are available, and three more sizes will be available later this year.

TOYO TIRE U.S.A. CORP. www.toyotires.com

Hunter offers ADAS educational site

Hunter Engineering Co. has unveiled a website that breaks down sophisticated ADAS procedures and terminology.

Available for free, Hunter’s interactive ADAS Learning Tool works on touchscreen tablets or desktop computers. It was designed to assist employees at the sales counter, or for a customer to explore. The tool separates ADAS procedures into four main categories — camera, radar, ultrasound and internal — and provides brief overviews and images for each type to aid with in-person discussions. A user can learn about the specific functions and locations of ADAS components, and when calibrations are recommended or required.

HUNTER ENGINEERING CO. www.hunter.com

TBC adds RT tire to CrossWind lineup

TBC Corp. is expanding the CrossWind portfolio by adding sizes to existing products and offering the new CrossWind RuggedTraxx, a rugged-terrain tire. The RuggedTraxx tire provides traction in both muddy and soft surfaces, and is specifically designed for climbing surfaces and is available in 28 sizes. It comes with a 50,000-mile tread warranty. The CrossWind TrailTraxx is an all-terrain tire with a new tread design. It is available in 34 sizes with a 55,000-mile tread warranty. The CrossWind Ultra Sport+ is for ultra-high performance, all-season tire fi tments on sports cars, luxury vehicles and high performance sedans. It’s available in 40 sizes with a 50,000-mile tread warranty.

TBC CORP. www.tbcbrands.com

TGI launches Cosmo Kurrent

The Cosmo Kurrent from Tire Group International LLC (TGI) was designed with Quiet Kat Technology, advanced compounding and a modern sidewall design. It also features a patented treadwear indicator on the center rib, allowing drivers to monitor tread life easily. Other features of the Kurrent include Directed Super Silica, a proprietary compound delivering long life and enhanced wet and dry traction. Plus, it has an extra load rating and is covered under a road hazard warranty, a 70,000-mile limited warranty (or 40,000 miles when used on electric vehicles). The Kurrent launched in 22 sizes in its fi rst phase, with an additional 22 sizes to follow.

TIRE GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC www.cosmotires.com

Goodyear rolls out Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 6

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has introduced the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 6 to the U.S. and Canada markets. This premium summer tire is designed for ultra-high performance driving and offers grip, handling and comfort. It is engineered for sport and luxury cars, plus CUVs and SUVs. The tire’s tread compound maximizes road contact and provides stability and responsiveness to driving. The asymmetric tread pattern ensures quick response and traction in turns, and with the tire’s lightweight construction road noise is minimized.

GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. www.goodyear.com

Titan releases Savage for UTVs

Titan International Inc. has introduced the Savage brand tire line for UTV applications. The line was created for UTV customers with recreational and sporting applications. Tires in the Savage range feature Titan’s RG2 compound, the company’s new Hyper-Adhesion Rubber Compound, an aggressive tread pattern for rocky hills and other challenging surfaces, reinforced sidewalls to fend off cuts, a protective rim guard that defl ects debris and more. Savage UTV tires are available now in seven sizes for use on several UTV models, including a 16-inch option for the newly launched Can-Am Maverick R. TITAN INTERNATIONAL LLC www.titan-intl.com

DESIGN TO SHELF IN 60 DAYS?

JIM FLECKNER

Tire Discounters needed a complete redesign of their top off road tire and it had to be on shelves for fall selling season. We sourced options, reviewed designs, fast-tracked engineering and even got customer performance data. In two months, the tire made it to market just in time for their fall rush.

YOUR CHALLENGE?

Toyota Rav4 ■ 2019

FUNCTION & PRECAUTIONS

The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may be disabled under the following conditions. When the condition returns to normal, the system will work properly.

• When electric devices or facilities using similar radio frequencies are nearby.

• When a wireless device or other equipment operating at a similar frequency is in use in the vehicle.

• When a window tint that a ects radio wave signals is installed.

• When there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, particularly around the wheels or wheel housing.

• When non-genuine wheels are used.

• When tire chains are used.

• When a ermarket tire repair sealant is used. (A er use of tire repair sealant, replacement of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is required to ensure normal system operation. Normal system operation cannot be ensured by only repairing or replacing the tire.

The tire inflation pressure display function displays the position and pressure of each tire on the multi-information display. If the position and pressure of each tire is not displayed, the problem may be alleviated by driving the vehicle to a location where the signal reception is better.

Procedures when replacing parts:

• When replacing the tire pressure warning valve, transmitter, tire pressure warning ECU and receiver, perform ID registration for the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

• A er performing ID registration for the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter, make sure to initialize the tire pressure warning system.

• A er performing ID registration for the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter and initializing the tire pressure warning system, perform tire position identi cation.

TPMS

REGISTRATION

e transmitter ID is written on the tire

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

pressure warning valve and transmitter. It is not possible to read the transmitter ID a er installing the tire onto the wheel. erefore, make a note of the transmitter ID before installing the tire.

Make sure to perform ID registration using the Techstream a er replacing the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver. Before registration, and when replacing the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver: Read the transmitter IDs and number of the transmitters (4 or 5) stored in the old ECU using the Techstream and write them down before removal.

If reading the stored transmitter IDs is impossible due to malfunctions of components such as the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver, remove the tires from the wheels and check the IDs located on the tire pressure warning valve and transmitters.

When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and transmitter: Make a note of the 7-digit number (transmitter ID) written on the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

Register transmitter ID (using Techstream)

The previously registered IDs will be cleared from memory when registration is completed. If the ID registration step is not completed within 300 seconds, ID registration will be canceled.

• Set the tire pressure to the speci ed value.

• Turn the ignition switch o .

• Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.

• Turn the ignition switch to ON.

• Turn the Techstream on.

• Enter the following menus: Chassis/

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Images: Mitchell 1

Tire Pressure Monitor/Utility/ID

Registration/Tire Number Registration.

• Perform the procedure displayed on the Techstream.

e number of registered tire pressure warning valve and transmitters can only be set to four when the value is currently set to ve. e number of registered tire pressure warning valve and transmitters should only be changed from the default value when requested by the customer.

A er all transmitter IDs are registered, DTC C2126 is stored in the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver and the tire pressure warning light blinks for one minute and then illuminates. When the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver successfully receives signals from all the transmitters whose IDs are stored in the ECU, DTC C2126 is cleared and the tire pressure warning light goes o .

Confi rmation of registration (using Techstream)

Enter the following menus: Chassis/Tire Pressure Monitor/Data List.

It may take a few minutes until the values are displayed. If the values are not displayed a er a few minutes, perform troubleshooting according to the inspection procedure for DTCs C2121 to C2124.

• Reduce the tire in ation pressure of each tire by 5.8 psi or more, and check that the “ID Tire In ation Pressure” data is updated and that the actual tire in ation pressures are displayed.

• A er con rming that all of the tire in ation pressure values (except the compact spare tire) have been updated, adjust the tire in ation pressure to the speci ed value, operate the steering pad switch assembly and perform initialization.

During registration, DTC C2128 is stored by the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver and the tire pressure warning light blinks for one minute then illuminates. When the tire pressure warning ECU and receiver successfully receives signals from all the transmitters whose IDs are stored in the ECU, DTC C2128

is cleared and the tire pressure warning light turns o .

Register transmitter ID (using automatic ID function)

When registration is complete, all previously registered IDs are cleared. If DTCs C2176, C2179 and U0129 are stored, registration mode cannot be entered.

If the Techstream is being used to display the Data List, registration mode cannot be entered. If it is used to display the Data List during registration, registration will be canceled.

If DTCs C2176, C2179 and U0129 are stored during registration, registration will be canceled. If the ignition switch is turned o before the vehicle is driven a er entering registration mode, registration will be canceled.

• Adjust the tire pressure in all tires to the speci ed pressure.

• Turn the ignition switch o and stop the vehicle for 15 minutes or more. (A er stopping the vehicle for 15 minutes or more, the frequency of electrical wave

signals sent by the tire pressure warning valve and transmitters increases to eight times the normal frequency for the first few minutes of driving.

• Select “Change Wheel” on the multi-information display and press and hold the “OK” switch (steering pad switch assembly) until the tire pressure warning light blinks three times.

During registration, the tire pressure warning light blinks for one minute before turning on, the multi-information display tire pressure displays as “- - -” and “Tire Pressure Recalibrating Please Wait until Complete” is displayed.

• Drive at approximately 25 mph for approximately 10 to 30 minutes during one trip. While driving, also make two or more right or left turns.

• When registration is complete, the tire pressure warning light turns off, the normal tire pressure is displayed and “Tire Pressure Recalibrating Please Wait until Complete” stops displaying. Registration may take longer than normal in these situations.

• The vehicle is stopped frequently or for a long period of time.

• The vehicle is driven in reverse.

• The vehicle is driven on rough roads or uneven surfaces

• The vehicle is driven in close proximity to another vehicle for a long period of time with the same type of tire pressure warning valve and transmitter installed.

• The vehicle was not stopped for 15 minutes or more before registration.

• The vehicle is driven at 25 mph or less for a long period of time.

• The ignition switch is turned off during ID registration.

MEMORIZING THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ID

Initialization

Before initialization, set the tire pressure to the specified value.

• Turn the ignition switch to ON.

• Select “Set Pressure” on the multi-information display and press and hold the “OK” switch (steering pad switch

assembly) until the tire pressure warning light blinks three times.

• Turn the ignition switch off.

• Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.

• Turn the ignition switch to ON.

• Turn the Techstream on.

• Enter the following menus: Chassis/ Tire Pressure Monitor/Data List. (It may take a few minutes until the values are displayed. The wheel position cannot be determined from ID1 through ID4 on the Data List.)

• Check that initialization has been completed and confirm the tire pressure data of all tires is displayed on the Techstream screen.

SENSOR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

Removal

1. Remove front wheel, then rear wheel.

2. Remove full size spare (when applicable).

3. Remove tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. (for type A) A. Remove, but keep, the tire valve cap. B. Remove the valve core to release the air from the tire.

TPMS

C. Using a tire remover, remove the tire from the disc wheel. Be careful not to damage the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter due to interference between the valve and the tire bead.

D. Using a T10 “TORX” socket wrench, remove the bolt and tire pressure monitor sensor from the tubeless tire valve.

E. Cut the tubeless tire valve and remove it by pulling from the outer side of the disc wheel as shown in the illustration.

4. Remove tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. (for type B)

A. Remove, but keep, the tire valve cap.

B. Remove the valve core to release the air from the tire.

C. Using a 11 mm deep socket wrench, remove the nut and washer.

D. Drop the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter with grommet into the tire. (The grommet may remain attached to the rim.) Be careful not to damage the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter due to interference between the valve and the tire bead.

E. Using a tire remover, remove the tire from the disc wheel.

F. Take out the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter with grommet from the tire.

G. Remove the grommet from the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

H. Using a T10 “TORX” socket wrench, remove the bolt and tire pressure monitor sensor from the tubeless tire valve.

5. Remove tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. (for type C)

A. Remove, but keep, the tire valve cap and valve core to release the air from the tire.

B. After ensuring that a sufficient amount of air has been released, remove the nut and washer used to secure the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. Then drop the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter with the grommet into the tire. (The grommet may remain attached to the rim.) Be careful as the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter may become damaged due to interference between the sensor and tire bead.

C. After dropping the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter into the tire, disengage the bead using the shoe of a tire remover.

D. Separate the upper bead.

E. Take out the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter with the grommet from the tire and separate the lower bead.

F. Remove the grommet from the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

Installation

1. Install tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. (for Type A)

A. Using a T10 “TORX” socket wrench, install the tire pressure monitor sensor to the new tubeless tire valve with a new bolt.

B. Write down the seven-digit transmitter ID number shown in the illustrations.

• Make sure the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is installed so that the printed surface can be seen. If installed upside down, it may be damaged or fail to transmit signals when driving at high speeds.

• Check for damage to the valve and transmitter.

• Check that there is no foreign matter on or around the rim hole.

C. Install the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter from the inside of the rim.

• Position the main body of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter in the area shown in Fig. 8. If the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is positioned outside this area, it will interfere with the tire bead and may be damaged.

D. Set the tire and disc wheel onto the mounting machine.

E. Apply a sufficient coat of soapy water or equivalent to the bead and rim.

• Make sure that the tire bead and mount tool do not interfere with the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

• Make sure that the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not clamped by the bead and rim.

F. Using a mounting machine, install the tire to the disc wheel.

G. Install a new valve core.

H. Inflate the tire to the specified tire inflation pressure.

I. Check the surroundings of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter for air leaks with soapy water or equivalent.

• If air is leaking from the valve core, press the valve core several times to remove foreign matter. Replace the valve core as necessary.

• If air is leaking from around the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter, check if the tubeless tire valve is not deformed, damaged or contaminated with foreign matter. Replace the tubeless tire valve as necessary.

• Install the tire valve tire valve cap.

2. Install tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. (for type B)

A. Using a T10 “TORX” socket wrench, install the tire pressure monitor sensor to the new tubeless tire valve with a new bolt.

Note: A new tire pressure warning valve and transmitter comes with a grommet installed. Make sure not to install an extra grommet.

B. Install a new grommet to the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

C. Write down the seven-digit transmitter ID number.

D. Insert the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter with grommet from the inside of the rim.

E. Install the washer to the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter from the outside of the rim, and using a 11 mm deep socket wrench, tighten the nut. (No further tightening is required once the nut is tightened to the specified torque. Check that there is no foreign matter on the grommet, washer and nut.)

F. Set the tire and disc wheel onto the mounting machine.

G. Apply a sufficient coat of soapy water or equivalent to the tire bead and rim.

H. Using a mounting machine, install the tire to the disc wheel.

I. Install a new valve core.

J. Inflate the tire to the specified tire inflation pressure.

K. After the tire is inflated, the nut may be loose. Using a 11 mm deep

socket wrench, retighten the nut to the specified torque.

L. Check the surroundings of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter for air leaks with soapy water or equivalent.

• If air is leaking from the valve core, press the valve core several times to remove foreign matter. Replace the valve core as necessary.

• If air is leaking from around the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter, check if the grommet, washer and nut are not deformed, damaged or contaminated with foreign matter. Replace the grommet, washer or nut as necessary.

M.Install the tire valve cap.

3. Install tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. (for type C)

Note: A new tire pressure warning valve and transmitter comes with a grommet installed. Make sure not to install an extra grommet.

A. Install a new grommet to the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

B. Record the 7-digit number transmitter ID printed on the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter at the position shown in the illustration.

C. Insert the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter into the valve installation hole from the inside of the rim so that the printed surface can be seen.

D. From the outside of the rim, install the washer to the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter, which has the grommet installed. Afterward, using an 11 mm deep socket wrench, tighten the nut.

Note: If the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is positioned outside this area, it will interfere with the tire bead and may be damaged. If the use of lubricant is required when installing the bead, do not apply lubricant directly to the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter.

E. Set the wheel onto a mounting machine and install the lower bead.

F. Install the upper bead.

G. Install a new valve core.

H. After the tire is inflated, the valve nut may be loose. Retighten the nut to the specified torque.

I. Check for air leaks with soapy water. If there is air leakage, push the valve core two or three times to remove any dirt attached to the valve core. If air continues to leak, replace the grommet, washer and nut.

J. Install the tire valve cap.

4. Install front wheel.

5. Install rear wheel.

6. Install full size spare tire (if equipped).

7. Inspect tires.

8. Register transmitter ID.

9. Inspect tire pressure warning system.

10. Perform initialization. ■

Information for this column comes from the tire pressure monitoring systems data in ProDemand, Mitchell 1’s auto repair information software for domestic and import vehicles. Headquartered in San Diego, Mitchell 1 has provided quality repair information solutions to the automotive industry since 1918. For more information, visit www.mitchell1.com.

Ad Index

VEHICLE SYSTEMS SERVICE GUIDE

nformation on wh aintenance for fiv

Information on what systems do and why technicians suggest maintenance for five key vehicle systems: brakes, starting/charging, steering/suspension, engine management, and climate control. at systems do and why technicians e systems: start and climate c

BRAKING SYSTEMS

BRAKE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

The brake system on a modern vehicle is complex and requires meticulous care to maintain properly. Multiple components ensure your vehicle is safe and roadworthy, and brake system components are at the top of that list. Every piece of the brake system, such as the master cylinder, fluid quality, and brake pad wear, should be checked by a professional automotive technician to ensure the vehicle is meeting the minimum safety standards. Continue reading to expand your knowledge of common braking system components and good practices to preserve the overall braking system. Also, learn potential braking system service items a vehicle may need.

DISC BRAKE CALIPERS

Most modern vehicles are equipped with four-wheel disc brakes. Many components at the wheel need to be maintained for proper brake function. If something at the wheel seizes or fails, issues such as uneven brake pad wear or even brake failure can occur. A brake caliper uses a piston to squeeze the brake pads on a brake rotor to stop the vehicle. Brake calipers contain hardware that helps brake pads slide. In some instances, this hardware can fail due to local climate conditions, ripped rubber boots that cover the slide pins, or going long periods of time without driving the vehicle. The caliper piston may also seize. All these conditions will cause premature and uneven brake pad wear. If you have a brake caliper that needs replacing, it is best to replace them in pairs to ensure even stopping power.

DISC BRAKE ROTORS

When replacing brake pads, it is also responsible to either resurface or replace the brake rotors. As time goes on, it is becoming more costeffective to replace brake rotors instead of paying to resurface them. Duralast® rotors offer original equipment (OE) or better stopping power to ensure top braking quality. Rotors may also need replacement if a brake pad wears too thin and damages them. Just like brake calipers, rotors should also be replaced in pairs to ensure even wear.

BRAKE CALIPER

BRAKE PAD

BRAKE HARDWARE

BRAKE ROTOR

BRAKE PAD SELECTION

ABNORMAL BRAKE PAD WEAR PATTERNS

TAPERED LINING

SYMPTOM:

Irregular wear

CAUSE:

Worn or damaged caliper bushings and/or brake hardware

GROOVED LINING

SYMPTOM:

Noise, increased stopping distance

CAUSE:

Rotors that have become scored or damaged

CRACKED OR CHIPPED LINING

SYMPTOM:

Irregular wear

CAUSE:

Calipers not working properly, causing constant friction

OFFSET LINING

SYMPTOM:

Irregular wear

CAUSE:

Caliper or slide not working properly

WORN THROUGH LINING

SYMPTOM:

Noise

CAUSE:

Disc pads worn beyond safe point

STEPPED LINING

SYMPTOM:

Noise, irregular wear

CAUSE:

Worn pads not making full contact with rotor

ABNORMAL ROTOR WEAR PATTERNS

PAD MATERIAL TRANSFER

SYMPTOM:

Vibration

CAUSE:

Heavy loads/towing; faulty caliper

UNEVEN SURFACE WEAR

SYMPTOM:

Increased stopping distance

CAUSE:

Worn pads/hardware; binding caliper

STEPPED SURFACE

SYMPTOM:

Noise, vibration

CAUSE:

Pads out of position; worn hardware

SCORED/GROOVED SURFACE

SYMPTOM:

Noise, increased stopping distance

CAUSE: Inconsistent pad contact

There are several options when selecting the brake pad material for your vehicle. Normally, this would be based on the OE brake pads that were installed. The two most common compounds available are ceramic and semi-metallic. Ceramic brake pads are very durable and provide a high amount of stopping power at normal temperatures. Semi-metallic brakes can be used in higher-performance applications but tend to wear more quickly than ceramic brakes. Duralast offers a selection of replacement brake pads with material matching OE quality or better. Select the right brake pads for your vehicle and driving habits to ensure safety and optimal performance.

BRAKE FLUID AND HOSES

The entire brake system must be inspected to ensure complete vehicle safety. If your brake fluid is found to be contaminated, a system flush is necessary. If your vehicle’s fluid is contaminated with oil, you will need to replace all the rubber components — including brake hoses — on the vehicle due to contamination. Brake hoses that need replacement will have cracks, swelling, or fluid leaking from them.

EMERGENCY BRAKING FEATURES

Many newer model vehicles come equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and emergency braking system (EBS) features. These updates are changing the industry and may require more purchases for further vehicle service, including a recalibration of the cameras for the EBS system. Knowing what ADAS systems your vehicle is equipped with can make the difference when taking it in for service.

STARTING & CHARGING SYSTEMS

BATTERIES AND CHARGING SYSTEMS

Batteries are in every single vehicle on the road, and the technology in them has come a long way in the last 100+ years. It is natural to want to blame a no-start condition on a bad battery, but this isn’t always the case. There is a whole system of components to consider when looking at starting, charging, and battery system issues. Sometimes a simple jump start may be a solution, but modern no-start concerns can, on occasion, take hours for a technician to diagnose in certain situations.

Continue reading to learn about emerging battery technology, battery system service and maintenance, and common charging and starting system problems.

MODERN BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

Batteries are more durable and easier to maintain compared to several decades ago. Nofill, no-spill batteries are safer to handle and don’t require the trouble of manually filling with distilled water to balance the acid levels. The evolution of AGM (“Absorbed Glass Mat”) batteries has not only added to this simplicity and peace-of-mind for the consumer, but have harnessed more, longer-lasting power for their vehicles.

With the increasing variety of batteries offered on the market, testing processes have become more complex. The testing procedure for a traditional flooded lead-acid battery will differ from that for an AGM or enhanced flooded battery. No matter what battery a vehicle has, it is always a good idea to have a technician use professional testing equipment to verify the state of the battery.

AGM BATTERIES

AGM batteries continue rapid growth in the market. They provide a more stable source of power compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. A saturated glass mat replaces free-flowing liquid acid in AGM batteries. AGM batteries generally have a higher cycling capacity compared to standard “flooded” batteries, which adds longevity when supporting power-hungry vehicles. These batteries have proven themselves to be a worthy alternative to traditional batteries and in many cases are required by specific vehicle manufacturers. Duralast ProPower® AGM batteries meet or exceed OE specifications and are backed by a four-year free replacement warranty. Duralast ProPower AGM Elite batteries provide the highest quality and durability and are backed by a five-year free replacement warranty

CHARGING SYSTEMS

The charging system must be intact for the battery to maintain its proper charge. The alternator is the main component of the charging system, managed in many modern vehicles by the electronic control module. If either of these components fails, it can result in the battery not charging and the vehicle not starting. If the battery was already weak to begin with, then it may be necessary to replace it as well as the charging components. Sometimes charging issues can appear as a bad battery, or a battery will degrade so much that it will no longer charge. Keep in mind that sometimes battery issues can be complex, and multiple components may need to be serviced.

STARTING SYSTEMS

Starters and their related components should be considered when discussing battery systems. If a vehicle starter draws too much current, it will wear a battery down quickly or even cause a slow-crank condition, eventually causing the battery to fail. Another aspect of battery service and maintenance is the start/stop system. Many new vehicles are equipped with a second battery to power the starter in a stop/start event. Some vehicles may even be considered mild hybrids and have secondary starting features built into their alternators.

ALTERNATOR

FUNCTION:

• Charges the battery and powers the electrical system while the engine is running

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Battery losing its charge

• Poor accessory and light operation

• Erratic engine operation

• Dashboard warning lights illuminating

IGNITION SWITCH

FUNCTION:

• Activates the vehicle’s main electrical system and starter to start the vehicle

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Vehicle does not start

• Starter does not make noise

• Intermittent loss of electrical power

• Inability to turn the key

FUSE BOX

FUNCTION:

• Protects various electrical circuits within the vehicle

• Prevents damage from overloads and/or short circuits

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Total or intermittent power disruption to electrical components

• Visual discoloration or dark spots within transparent casing

BATTERY CONNECTIONS

FUNCTION:

• Ensure the electrical power from the battery is delivered to the vehicle’s electrical system

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Loose or corroded battery cables and terminals The vehicle is not starting

BATTERY

FUNCTION:

• Provides the electrical power needed to start the engine

• Powers the electrical components when the engine is off

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Dim headlights, dashboard lights, and interior lights when starting

• The vehicle is not starting

STARTER

FUNCTION:

• Engages the engine flywheel to start the engine

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Clicking sound when turning the key

• Slow or labored starting

• Dimming lights when attempting to start

RELAY/SOLENOID

FUNCTION:

• Completes a circuit, sending power to components which require more current than a switch can handle on its own

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

BELT

FUNCTION:

BATTERY WARNING LIGHT

FUNCTION:

• Indicates problems with battery or charging system

• Drives the alternator and other engine accessories

SIGNS OF FAILURE:

• Squealing sound

• Noisy alternator

• Alternator not charging

• A specific, electrical-related system will not function

STEERING & SUSPENSION

RIDE CONTROL AND RIDE HEIGHT

Ride height and suspension component health can be easily overlooked when considering general vehicle maintenance. Ride height is the level at which your vehicle sits when it is on level pavement. Several suspension-related issues can cause further damage to the vehicle and lead to abnormal tire wear if not addressed.

Learn about the common suspension component failures, how ride height can affect them, and what you can do to avoid unnecessary repairs.

RIDE HEIGHT CHANGES

There are many reasons why someone may change their ride height. Natural wear of suspension components and either lowering the suspension for aesthetics or raising a vehicle for off-road use could cause the ride height to change. If the ride height of a vehicle changes, it will be necessary to verify that the suspension alignment hasn’t changed. In most cases, the alignment will need to be readjusted. Failure to fix the alignment can cause abnormal tire wear patterns and extra wear on suspension components. Control arm bushings, ball joints, shock absorbers, and struts are all susceptible to excessive wear from mismatched alignment angles.

SUSPENSION DESIGN AND TYPES OF REPAIRS

Today’s vehicles are equipped with a variety of suspension configurations, each with its own unique features. Most modern passenger cars are equipped with rack-and-pinion steering systems and MacPherson strut-style suspensions. Older vehicles, as well as larger pickup trucks/SUVs, have conventional steering systems and use shock absorbers in their suspension setup.

RACK & PINION STEERING, FWD

OUTER TIE ROD END

STRUT MOUNT

STRUT

COIL SPRING

SWAY BAR BUSHING

RACK & PINION BOOT (BELLOWS)

SWAY BAR

RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY

OUTER CV JOINT/BOOT

RACK MOUNT BUSHINGS

INNER TIE ROD END

INNER CV JOINT/BOOT

CONTROL ARM BUSHING

SWAY BAR END LINK

CONTROL ARM

When driving the vehicle, you can hear indicators of failing suspension parts. A distinct clunk when going over bumps is commonly a sway bar link or ball joint issue, regardless of what suspension configuration is equipped. However, if there are ride quality issues, they may be caused by a failed shock absorber in a conventional suspension or a faulty strut in a modern passenger car. To ensure the overall integrity of the replacement parts, when ball joints of specific designs fail, the entire control arm must be replaced as an assembly per manufacturer recommendations.

REPLACING WORN STRUTS

Some of the most common suspension issues your vehicle may experience are strut-related failures. Struts are components that help cushion the impact of bumps and imperfections in the road. When a strut fails, the vehicle’s ride quality will begin to suffer greatly. This may be accompanied by noises coming from the corner of the vehicle where the strut has failed. These noises will be most noticeable when driving over a bump or pothole.

When having struts replaced, it is wise to replace them in pairs. This can ensure the vehicle handles the road’s impacts evenly and of the highest quality. Using a Duralast-loaded strut, sometimes called a “quick strut,” ensures original equipment (OE) ride quality or better. Replacing your struts before they fail completely can help prevent further repair costs and restore your vehicle’s suspension to factory specifications.

ADVANCED RIDE CONTROL SYSTEMS

As vehicles continue to develop and advance, so will the services needed to keep them on the road. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are becoming the standard for today’s vehicles. These systems include advanced cruise control, lane keep assistance, and emergency braking features. If your vehicle’s ride height is purposely altered, you must have the ADAS system components recalibrated. Make sure you consider the technology your vehicle is equipped with before having the ride control system serviced or altering the ride height.

PROBLEM:

Excessive bounce and harsh ride on rough surfaces

PROBLEM:

Excessive play in steering wheel

PROBLEM:

Excessive lean or sway in turns

PROBLEM:

Rattling, grinding, popping, or clunking noise under vehicle

PROBLEM:

Dips, sways, and dives when braking

UPPER BALL JOINT

PROBLEM:

Steering wheel vibrates

PROBLEM:

Uneven or premature tire wear

PROBLEM: Drifts left or right

PROBLEM: Veers in crosswind

PROBLEM:

Squealing or squeaking when turning

CONVENTIONAL STEERING, RWD

UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING

UPPER CONTROL ARM

COIL SPRING

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING

SWAY BAR BUSHING

LOWER CONTROL ARM SWAY BAR

LOWER BALL JOINT

OUTER TIE ROD END

CENTER LINK

PITMAN ARM IDLER ARM

INNER TIE ROD END

SWAY BAR LINK

TIE ROD ADJUSTING SLEEVE

STRUT ROD BUSHING

ENGINE MANAGEMENT

ENGINE MANAGEMENT OPERATION

The main goals of engine management on fuel-injected vehicles are to optimize efficiency and monitor the conditions surrounding the engine. Modern engines are controlled closely by an electronic control module (ECM) to help achieve optimum performance, peak fuel economy and lower emissions output. The ECM calculates optimal operating conditions, such as air/fuel ratio, by using a stream of sensor data. The ECM also operates various actuators, such as the throttle plate or exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve.

Read on to learn about engine management sensors and actuators, how the ECM strategizes based on these components, and common engine management issues.

SENSORS AND INPUTS

ACTUATORS AND OUTPUTS

When it comes to actuators, think “action.” Once the sensors have communicated with the ECM, the ECM can better make its decisions. Actuators, also known as outputs, take commands from the ECM and then carry out that specific task. This completes what is called a feedback loop. Electronic throttle plates are an example of a common actuator. In the past, a throttle had to be connected physically to the gas pedal with a cable. As time has progressed, these physical connections have been replaced with electronic throttles that can be actuated. An electronic throttle can be moved with greater precision, resulting in improved control over airflow, smoother cruise control operation, and allowing new technologies such as start/stop technology and hybrid engines to exist.

ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONCERNS

Engine management sensors can be compared to our five natural senses. Our brains are constantly paying attention to what our bodies perceive through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. In a similar way, sensors (sometimes called inputs) report all sorts of data back to the ECM. Sensors such as mass airflow (MAF), manifold absolute pressure (MAP), and electronic coolant temperature (ECT) all help the ECM calculate how much fuel to inject into the engine. Oxygen (O2) sensors help the ECM fine-tune fuel calculations even further. The crankshaft position sensor (CKP) and camshaft position sensor (CMP) monitor the physical timing of the engine. All of these inputs are crucial in ensuring optimal fuel economy and helping the engine run more efficiently.

There are other outputs that must be considered as well. Ignition coils need to be controlled for the air fuel (A/F) mixture to burn properly. The ECM controls how long an ignition coil is charged as well as when it is fired. Variable valve timing (VVT) solenoids are yet another ECM controlled actuator that will vary the engine timing for changes in driver demand and airflow. Other examples of actuators controlled by the ECM would be fuel injectors, EVAP purge and vent solenoids, or an EGR valve.

An engine management issue can present itself in various ways. Whether it’s a check engine light or your vehicle is running rough, the solution is not always cut and dry. There may be multiple steps a technician takes to properly diagnose an engine management fault. Replacement sensors and actuators need to have the same precision and accuracy as the original parts. Duralast offers a wide variety of engine management sensors and actuators of original equipment (OE) quality or better. The Duralast line offers components, such as purge solenoids, that are purposely redesigned to improve on issues found with OE parts. Usually, when sensors or actuators fail, a warning light is displayed. However, in some cases, a technician may need to spend extra time diagnosing the problem. Diagnostic equipment such as scan tools, multimeters, or even specialty tools like an oscilloscope may be used.

IGNITION COILS

FUNCTION:

Provides the electrical current for the plug to spark, which tes fu

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR (MAF)

FUNCTION:

FUNCTION:

FUNCTION:

Monitors the mass of air entering the engine to balance the amount of fuel needed for engine demand

KNOCK SENSOR

KNOCKSENS

Detects vibrations in the engine to prevent engine knocking which is a metallic ping or knocking sound caused by uneven fuel combustion in the cylinders

MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR (MAP)

Measures pressure in engine intake manifold to calculate the correct air-fuel mixture for optimal engine performance

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR (ECT)

FUNCTION:

Monitors the temperature of the coolant circulating through the engine

VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID (VVT)

FUNCTION:

Controls the timing of the intake and exhaust valves on the camshaft

ABS SENSOR

FUNCTION:

Sends signal to the ABS computer to determine if the system needs to activate

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

FUNCTION:

Monitors and reports the RPM of the crankshaft to the computer which is used to precisely control fuel injection and ignition timing

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

FUNCTION:

Measures the camshaft's rotational position which the computer uses to precisely control fuel injection and ignition timing

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB)

FUNCTION:

Controls how much air flows into the vehicle's engine which determines how much power the engine produces

TPMS

FUNCTION:

Sends signal to indicate low tire pressure

OXYGEN SENSOR

FUNCTION:

Measures oxygen to notify the computer to increase or reduce fuel supplied to the engine

CLIMATE CONTROL

CLIMATE CONTROL AND PASSENGER COMFORT

In an era focused on enhancing the driver’s experience, it’s no surprise that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) issues are among the most common concerns experienced. The integrity of the components in air conditioning (A/C) and cooling systems is important to the climate control operation inside a vehicle.

Learn more about common A/C refrigerant types and services, vital A/C componentry, air distribution necessities, and cooling system maintenance best practices.

AC SERVICE ESSENTIALS

All new vehicle models since 2021 are equipped with 1234yf refrigerant. Many vehicles on the road still use 134a refrigerant as well. Regardless of which refrigerant your car needs, it is wise to have it serviced by a certified technician with a professional-grade recovery machine. Technicians can use specialized equipment to identify the type of refrigerant in your vehicle, recover the system contents, and recharge it after the repair is complete. Be aware that simply recovering the refrigerant and recharging it is not a proper repair, and the technician will need to find the cause of the leak prior to recharging the vehicle’s A/C.

In some instances, if debris is found inside the system or an A/C component is being replaced, the accumulator or receiver drier should also be replaced. These components are meant to keep the system free of moisture and collect debris. If debris is found, it is also important to perform any flushing procedures recommended by the manufacturer.

A/C COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER

The A/C compressor is one of the most critical parts of the A/C system. It is the main component that moves the refrigerant through the system. When an A/C compressor starts to wear out, you may notice the air conditioning performance suffers inside the cabin. When an A/C compressor is replaced, it is also a good practice to replace the accumulator or receiver drier.

A/C condensers are located at the front of the vehicle and act as a point in the A/C system where the refrigerant can turn from gas to liquid. These are weak points in the system since condensers are mounted on the front of the vehicle and the radiator, where they are very susceptible to collecting debris. This can cause a few problems, such as overheating and underperformance of the vehicle’s A/C. To remedy the issue, a technician must thoroughly clean the condenser and radiator.

AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

A lack of heating or cooling in the vehicle cabin is not always caused by issues with the A/C system itself, but rather the air distribution system inside the vehicle. In some cases, doors or levers inside the dashboard can get stuck or wear out. This results in the temperature getting stuck in one position or the mode position, such as floor or vent. Usually, parts of the dashboard need to be removed to service these doors, levers, and switches. Depending on the vehicle, the air distribution box may need to be removed to service them.

COOLING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Maintaining your vehicle’s cooling system is also crucial to its HVAC health. Change your coolant based on manufacturer recommendations and check for any leaks that may arise. If there is an overheating or A/C performance concern, verify that the cooling fans are operating properly. A few different cooling system components can cause overheating issues; in some cases, a faulty thermostat can prevent your vehicle’s cabin from heating up efficiently.

SERVICE PORT

FUNCTION:

• Connect service equipment for maintenance tasks like recharging refrigerant or checking system pressure

EXPANSION VALVE

FUNCTION:

• Regulates the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator, ensuring it evaporates at the right rate to cool the air effectively

COMPRESSOR

FUNCTION:

• The heart of the A/C system, responsible for compressing the refrigerant and circulating it through the system to remove heat from the vehicle’s interior

BLOWER MOTOR

FUNCTION:

• Powers the fan that circulates air through the vehicle's ventilation system

SERVICE PORT

TRANSDUCER

SERVICE PORT

CONDENSER

ACCUMULATOR

FUNCTION:

• Stores excess refrigerant, filters debris, removes moisture, and protects the compressor by preventing liquid refrigerant from entering FAN

CONDENSER

FUNCTION:

• Dissipates heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator, releasing it to the outside air

EVAPORATOR

ORIFICE TUBE

FUNCTION:

• Regulates refrigerant flow controls of refrigerant into the evaporator for efficient cooling

• Maintains pressure balance of high-pressure liquid refrigerant and low-pressure vapor for effective cooling

That’s what every set of Duralast brakes is. How does Duralast do it? Reverse engineering. It shows us every material and detail that went into the original so we can make our own version equal to or better than OE quality— without breaking the bank for your shop.

CHAMFERS

OE-MATCHED FRICTION FORMULATIONS

OE-STYLE 2-LAYER SHIMS