Modern Tire Dealer - July 2017

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2017 BUYER S’ GUIDE

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Modern Tire Dealer

SNAPSHOTS OF STORE GROWTH

How to attract millennials Map out the road to your business goals July 2017 | Vol. 98, No. 7 | $10 | A Bobit Publication | www.moderntiredealer.com

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Features 24 Brake system maintenance is essential to AEB technologies 26 Who is Wanli?

Industry analyst breaks down the Chinese company

30 E-commerce versus brick-and-mortar: Top 100 dealers find opportunities in traditional retailing The

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Modern Tire Dealer

43 2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100

The top independent tire dealers in the United States

2017 Buyers’ Guide 77 Manufacturers/marketers Serving the North American tire market

94 State/provincial associations Tire dealer organizations in the U.S. and Canada

96 National associations Industry-related associations Cover: Modern Tire Dealer 100 dealers (counterclockwise): Big O Tires in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma (Springfield, Mo.); Chabill’s Tire Service (Gonzales, La.); Mountain View Tire & Service (Palm Desert, Calif.); Sullivan Tire (Somerville, Mass.); St. Lucie Battery & Tire (Port St. Lucie, Fla., from left Edgar Ruiz, lead mechanic; Brooks Williams, store manager; Michelle Garcia, front desk; Destry Bittle, general service technician; Emilio Nieto, mechanic); Dunn Tire (Rochester, N.Y., warehouse); Commercial Tire (Ogden, Utah, from left Challis Venstra, outside sales; Amanda Murray, administration; Paul Hansen, manager).

The Industry’s Leading Publication July 2017, Volume 98, Number 7

Departments 4 Editorial Rating the tire-buying experience

6 moderntiredealer.com News and navigation tools for MTD ’s website

8 News/views Online sales are not taking over: From fleets to free trade, Pete Selleck answers our questions

18 On the Rise Steve Campanella, Alliance Tire Americas Inc., Wakefield, Mass.

20 Your marketplace Demand for passenger and LT tires increased modestly in May

22 Numbers that count Relevant statistics from an industry in constant motion

62 Counter intelligence I got schooled by a school teacher

64 European notebook A new era dawns for mobile tire fitting in Europe

66 Business insight Mapping out your road to success

Focus on dealers/industry 68 Sustainability is driving Michelin’s growth 70 Tire dealers share how to attract and employ millennials

72 TPMS Kia Sorento 2011-2017

102 Your turn No problem! Dealers plan to adapt to autonomous vehicle service

76 Products 98 Ad index 100 Classified

Modern Tire Dealer is a proud member of: TRIB

TIRE RETREAD & REPAIR INFORMATION BUREAU

Member An Industry Association

www.moderntiredealer.com

3

Editorial

Rating the tire-buying experience Consumer Reports seems to favor online retailers

C

onsumer Reports (CR) just released reAs for checking out online, what could be easier sults from its survey on the tire purchase than ordering tires on your smartphone while experience. Information on everything sitting on your couch? If after that the consumer from what drives tire purchases to the satisfaction has any problem getting the tires installed, that with tire buying was collected from more than reflects on the tire dealer, not the online tire seller.

48,500 of its subscribers.

Tire Rack Inc., by the way, is a different animal.

Most interesting to me was a ranking of the 35 It sells online, but also wholesales to retail tire retail chains at which the respondents bought their dealers. It works with more than 8,000 installers. tires. Were independent tire dealerships ranked It has a trained customer service department. first? Yes and no. In addition, when analyzing By Bob Ulrich It also has more than 2.2 million square feet of the results I came away with the impression the warehouse space. And if that isn’t enough, it has comparisons were not always apples-to-apples. its own 11.7-acre testing facility. It spends a lot of money All the major distribution channels were represented, to sell and deliver tires B2C and B2B. Modern Tire Dealer including mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, company- considers Tire Rack an independent tire dealer. owned stores, car dealerships and muffler shops. Online I have written in the past about Costco Wholesale Corp.’s sellers such as Tire Rack and Amazon.com also made the list. progressiveness and its tire-dealer-like approach. It just Independent tire dealers were listed in different ways. doesn’t sell tires like a wholesale club, and it even sells online.

Discount Tire and the large regional chains were ranked Readers of CR seem to agree. Costco had Excellent separately; others were included in a blanket group, scores in “price paid,” “quality of installation” and “returns Independent retailers. and exchanges.” It also had three Very There was a five-way tie for first.

Good scores, including one for “free Costco, Tirerack.com, Les Schwab perks.” (I wonder if sampling a new line Tire Centers, Discount Tire and of smoked sausage or cranberry goat Independent retailers each scored cheese would be considered a free perk 90 points. That is the order in which to a customer buying tires at Costco?)

CR listed them.

Based on survey results by category, Tied for second with 89 points were I would have thought Les Schwab Tire Fountain Tire, based in Edmonton, Centers would have finished with Alberta, Canada; Amazon.com; and the most points: It had six Excellent Tire Barn Warehouse, based in Rochscores, one Very Good and two Goods, ester, N.Y. although the two Good scores were for I’m not sure why Tire Rack, Amazon. “price paid” and “selection.” No one com and TireBuyer.com (88 points) with 90 points had a Fair or Poor score. made the list, because they didn’t even According to the accompanying story have scores in the majority of the nine categories. Not by Jeff Bartlett, CR’s deputy automotive editor, 21% of the surprisingly, they received blanks for “quality of instal- consumers purchased their tires from smaller independent lation,” “time for installation” and “waiting area.” A CR retailers, which was the highest share percentage for any spokesperson told me subscribers based those ratings on group or chain. Discount Tire tied for second with Costco the installers they used following their purchases, which at 15%.Car dealerships came in at 14%. is a testament to the quality service offered by tire dealers.

Mass merchandisers did not fare well. Walmart and Sears Amazon.com also had no ratings for “sales service,” “free Auto Centers finished near the bottom, as did Pep Boys. At perks” and “returns and exchanges.” It did, however — and the bottom were two large independent tire dealers, both if this doesn’t scare you, nothing will — receive Excellent of which received only Fair marks in “time for installation.” marks in “price paid,” “selection” and “checkout ease.” It was I will leave you with three final thoughts. First, the the only retailer with top ratings in those three categories. majority of tires were purchased from independent tire Let’s face it: Without excessive brick-and-mortar costs, dealers, not even counting Tire Rack. Second, the “cost online tire retailers have a price advantage over traditional per tire” category listings were not comparable because the tire retailers. vehicles were not comparable, and as such, irrelevant. And Although the average independent tire dealer offers 13 third, keep in mind CR’s audience base skews older. ■ brands, he or she is limited not only by inventory cost and space, but also wholesale delivery. Online retailers are only If you have any questions or comments, please email me limited by the tire suppliers who won’t partner with them. at bob.ulrich@bobit.com.

Online retailers are only limited by the tire suppliers who won’t partner with them.

4

MTD July 2017

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For what drives you.

moderntiredealer.com DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR THE INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER

Home office

Website keeps track of changes Change was the theme for the top 10 news items over that last month on www.moderntiredealer. com. Michelin Group looked to future changes in all modes of transportation at the Movin’On conference in Montreal. Investor Carl Icahn shakes up the auto care industry with the purchase of Precision Auto Care outlets. Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC increased its commercial tire prices in North America. And Wanli Tire Corp. Ltd. plans to invest at least $400 million in South Carolina for its first U.S. tire plant. That’s just a start. Here are our top 10.

1. Sustainability is driving Michelin’s growth now, and for the future 3. Carl Icahn strikes again, and now owns more than 1,000 stores 3. Bridgestone imposes another price hike on truck and OTR tires 4. Updated: Chinese tire maker Wanli plans U.S. factory 5. The RMA is changing its name 6. Dunn Tire marks move to larger Rochester warehouse with open house 7. Plaza Tire opens store No. 61 in Springfield 8. Monro: Comparable stores’ tire sales drop double digits in 4Q 9. Windom is out at Pep Boys, and heading to Uni-Select Canada 10. Michelin acquires a telematics company, and 7,000 fleet customers

MTD digital edition

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MODERN TIRE DEALER (ISSN 00268496) (CDN IPM #40013413) (USPS #369-170) is published monthly by Bobit Business Media, 3520 Challenger St., Torrance, California 90503-1640. Periodicals postage paid at Torrance, CA 90503-9998 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MODERN TIRE DEALER, P.O. Box 1068, Skokie, IL 60076-8068. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for address changes to take effect. Subscriptions in the U.S. and its possessions, $65; Canadian, $99; Int’l surface mail, $99; Int’l airmail, $198. Single copies, $10, except the January Facts Issue, $30. Address all subscription correspondence to MODERN TIRE DEALER, P.O. Box 1068, Skokie, IL 60076-8068. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks to receive your first issue. Please address Editorial and Advertising correspondence to MODERN TIRE DEALER, 3515 Massillon Road, Suite 350, Uniontown, OH 44685-6217. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without consent of Bobit Business Media. All statements made, although based on information believed to be reliable and accurate, cannot be guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission. For your information: We sometimes make our subscriber information (i.e. fax, e-mail or mailing address) available to carefully screened organizations whose products and services may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to have your information made available, please write MODERN TIRE DEALER, P.O. Box 1068, Skokie, IL 60076-8068.

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MTD July 2017

Discover www.kyb.com

News/views

Online sales are not taking over From fleets to free trade, Pete Selleck answers our questions We covered a lot of ground with Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America Inc., in an interview at Movin’On, a global sustainability conference. Read about the conference on page 68.

stops texting while driving — and also studies fuel management and fleet productivity. It specializes in fleets of small commercial vehicles (classes 3-5), ranging from two to 50 vehicles.

NexTraq has 117 employees, approximately 7,000 Online tire sales fleet customers and 116,000 individual subscribers.

This is a topic where consumers and tire dealers It will operate as an independent business unit. don’t see eye-to-eye, Selleck said. Dealers have Selleck said the addition of NexTraq relates to one been vocal in their opposition since Michelin started of Michelin’s core strategies: “We have to become selling BFGoodrich-brand tires online in September even more customer centric.

2016, but Selleck said Michelin isn’t making a “From a consumer standpoint we’re pretty good, strategic move to take business away from them. but from business-to-business, with dealers and “We’re responding to consumother businesses, we’re not as ers who say ‘I don’t understand good as we need to be,” Selleck why I can’t go to your website said. “We’ve got to better and do the transaction.’ understand the challenges that “We don’t think online sales dealers and fleet owners and are going to take over,” Selleck mining companies and aircraft said. “In today’s world, you can companies have. What are their no longer tell the consumer how larger problems?” they’re going to do it. ConsumNexTraq was particularly ers keep saying we want to buy attractive because it focuses the tire wherever we want to on small fleets. “We already buy it, whether it’s online, on deal with them on the tire side, Amazon, on a dealer’s website, but this gives us another way to Pete Selleck says Michelin has identified or by telephone. We want to help them move forward.” four priorities for its business: Be more have all those options.

Asked if this acquisition customer centric; become more simple; “The advantage for dealmakes small fleets a new focus empower lower-level employees to make decisions; and become more digital. ers is that very few people for Michelin, Selleck said, “We have mounting and balance are not as strong with small machines in their garage, so consumers are still fleets as we are with large fleets, so we recognize going to use dealers for the service aspect.” this gives us an opportunity.”

He thinks dealers “are realizing it’s not representing a significant amount of our sales.

Free trade “We’ve waited a long time. We’ve involved the deal- Michelin is one of three manufacturers building a ers in the process. We’re not overly promoting that tire plant in Mexico, and Selleck reiterated the comchannel. We don’t have a strategy to have a margin pany is “still building the plant.” He said he expects shift going on between dealers and manufacturers. the North American Free Trade Agreement to be Our strategy is first and foremost letting the conre-negotiated, but “I don’t think it will be changed in sumer buy the tire they want, and then making sure a major way.” the dealer is an integral part of that process.

Michelin currently has little production capacity in “Most consumers still prefer to research online, go Mexico, but operates three plants in Nova Scotia, to the dealer, have a discussion with the dealer and Canada. He pointed to the company’s Fort Wayne, make the decision.”

Ind., plant, which exports a quarter of the tires it produces. Michelin’s earthmover tire plants export Fleet services 80% of what rolls off the production line.

The same day of our interview, Michelin announced “I think society needs companies in the public its acquisition of NexTraq, a commercial fleet square. We are talking more openly about free telematics company. NexTraq’s technology focuses trade. We didn’t think we had to. We thought people on driver safety — it monitors reckless driving and understood.” — Joy Kopcha

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MTD July 2017

News/views

bites

Hunter earns OE approval Hunter Engineering Co.’s AutoComp Elite brake lathe has been approved by several original equipment vehicle manufacturers.

The company says Acura, BMW/ Mini, Fiat Chrysler Automobile, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen have endorsed the brake lathe, Belle hires first CMO Belle Tire Distributors Inc. has hired its first chief marketing officer, picking up Vivek Saran from the marketing agency the tire dealer hired a year ago. Saran spent 12 years as senior vice president and director of business strategy and innovation at Marc USA in Pittsburgh.

Volkswagen chooses Giti Giti Tire (USA) Ltd. has won an original equipment fitment on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The midsized SUV is being manufactured in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Nitro games feature Geolandar Yokohama Geolandar light truck tires will be the official tire of the 2017 Nitro World Games at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, this summer. NBC will televise the Nitro World Games in prime time on June 24.Yokohama is also the exclusive tire of the Nitro Circus Live Tour in the United States through 2010.

Sheehey jumps to Alliance Alliance Tire Americas Inc. has named tire industry veteran Brian Sheehey vice president of marketing. He was most recently senior director of Hankook Tire America Corp.’s commercial tire division.

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ITDG sets aggressive goals It’s all about ‘kaizen,’ says CEO and President Mike Cox The Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG) celebrated its continued growth during its annual meeting this year in Los Cabos, Mexico. CEO and President Michael Cox told attendees that the group had purchases exceeding $210 million in 2016 and was on track to top that total in 2017. He also spelled out the following goals: • $300 million in annual purchases in 2019.

• More than 700 locations nationally by the end of 2019.

Cox said the group was well on its way toward reaching these performance levels.

“This type of growth could TDG’s Mike Cox, center, touches base with not be possible without the Georgia dealers Brad Ward, manager of Rontremendous collection of nie Ward Tires Inc., left, and Bill Duckworth, owner of Duckworth Tire. professional independent tire dealers that make up the Group... and our many vendors/suppliers that support the Independent Tire Dealers Group.

“I had the fortune of working with many impressive executives during my years with Bridgestone/ A highlight of the annual ITDG event is the Firestone. One of these group’s annual “winner-take-all” beach volindividuals taught me about leyball tournament. This year, it was organized and run by ITDG’s Chris Berry (center). the Japanese term ‘kaizen.’

This is the Japanese word for ‘continual improvement.’ Year after year we have set new milestones for the group. As I look to the future, that’s all I see: kaizen.”

ITDG has 104 shareholders, with members representing 620 stores in 46 states. — Greg Smith

A new hurdle for Right to Repair?

The Auto Care Association and Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) are expressing concerns whether vehicle manufacturers will meet the Right to Repair requirements that take effect in 2018.

“Many car companies are doing a good job in meeting the current Massachusetts Right to Repair requirements,” says Aaron Lowe, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs for the Auto Care Association. “However, new requirements will be taking effect for MY 2018 that will mandate vehicle manufacturers make all of their diagnostic and repair software available from the cloud and interface with the vehicle using a device meeting industry J2534 or ISO22900 industry standards.”

Lowe recently testified on behalf of both groups during a hearing at the Massachusetts Statehouse.

MTD July 2017

News/views

bites

Simple Tire adds Wilson Simple Tire LLC has named Sean Wilson supply chain director for the online tire retailer. Wilson will work with suppliers to help them maximize the volume of their orders. Josh Chalofsky, chief operating officer, says Wilson is working on offering “the fastest delivery in the industry.”

Accuride realigns group Accuride Corp. has realigned its sales and marketing group following the May 1, 2017, acquisition of KIC LLC, a commercial wheel company.

The changes will help it provide better geographic coverage for the regional sales team as well as better connections to its original equipment customers. Chad Monroe will lead Accuride’s global sales and marketing efforts as the new senior vice president of sales and marketing and business development.

McCarthy buys Dooling Tire McCarthy Tire Service Co. has purchased P.J. Dooling Tire Co. Based in Philadelphia, Dooling Tire specializes in industrial and off-the-road tire sales and service.

Dooling Tire’s tire sales and service operations will be merged into McCarthy Tire’s current commercial location in nearby Trainer, Pa.

Pirelli bleeds Dodger blue Pirelli Tire North America Inc. is extending its relationship with the Los Angeles Dodgers with a new three-year partnership. It will feature a branded Formula One car that will be on display at Dodger Stadium, above the Pirelli-branded Dodger bullpen. The sponsorship, which spans 2017-2019, also includes in-stadium branding and retail promotions.

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Former Goodyear executive Ponton will take over at Monro Muffler Van Heel decides not to renew his contract John Van Heel is leaving Monro Muffler Brake Inc. after 15 years with the company, the last five as its CEO. He will be replaced by Brett Ponton, whose career includes time at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he rose through the ranks and eventually served as vice president of marketing for the North American tire division and managed more than 800 retail locations.

Ponton, 47, most recently served as CEO of American Driveline Systems Inc., the parent company of AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care.

He will succeed Van Heel as president of Monro effective Aug. 1, and as CEO on Oct. 2, 2017.

Van Heel, who also will resign from the board of directors as of Oct. 1, will remain with the company as an advisor for six months after that date. The company says Van Heel decided not to renew his long-term contract, which is set to expire in October.

Monro’s board of Additionally, the board of directors has elected directors targeted Brett Ponton after conductRobert Mellor as its independent chairman of ing a national search. the board. Robert Gross, executive chairman, will retire from the board and the company at the end of the annual shareholder meeting on Aug. 15, 2017.

“During his 15 years at the company, the past five as CEO, the company has grown from 550 stores and $250 million in annual sales to more than 1,100 stores and annual sales of more than $1 billion,” says Mellor.

“In Mr. Ponton we have found a worthy successor to Mr. Van Heel and his predecessor, Mr. Gross. Mr. Ponton’s strategic vision and proven in-store operational expertise will help drive our long-term success.”

Monro has 1,118 company-owned stores and 114 franchised locations in 27 states. Of its company-owned stores, 576 are retail tire stores and nine are combination retail/commercial tire outlets.

In fiscal 2017, the company’s annual sales topped $1 billion, an 8% increase over the prior year — though its monthly comparable store sales figures haven’t been that strong. The company’s sales increases have come from its aggressive streak of acquisitions. Monro says it has completed 42 acquisitions, and the company expects the stores it acquired in fiscal 2017 to contribute $150 million in additional annualized sales over fiscal 2016.

According to information provided by Monro, Ponton was “instrumental in orchestrating a turnaround for American Driveline Systems, and recently led its successful sale to Transom Capital Group.” He joined the company in 2013 from Heartland Automotive Services Inc., the largest operator of Jiffy Lube stores in North America. He was recruited to Heartland by its owners, The Blackstone Group, to improve revenues and profitability.

Prior to joining Heartland in 2009, he served as the managing director for the Asia-Pacific region for Veyance Technologies Inc., an Akron, Ohiobased company that was spun out of Goodyear and was owned by The Carlyle Group. He also worked for Goodyear for 18 years.

MTD July 2017

ALSO COMES IN BLACK The Firestone DestinationTM M/T2 is bigger than ever with 29 sizes, up to 37" for maximum TRUCK STUFF. F IRESTONE TIRE.COM

News/views

bites

Pep Boys buys PJ’s Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Icahn Automotive Group LLC, has acquired an automotive and tire center in New York, and opened a new Pep Boys Service & Tire Center in Bordentown, N.J. The acquisition is PJ’s Auto & Tire Center in Franklin Square, N.Y., a family-run, six-bay store in business since 1980. It will also operate as a Pep Boys store.

King’s picks up GroundSpeed King’s Tire Wholesale has added Sentury Tire North America LLC’s GroundSpeed line to its list of tire offerings in California. “We have always offered luxury, name-brand tires in our inventory, but this is our first time including a quality, entry-level tire,” says Sam Batanian, president of King’s Tire Wholesale.

Kumho supports survivors Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. supported Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta by sponsoring the survivor area during the recent 2017 5-K Race for the Cure. It also provided gifts to 1,000 cancer survivors. Kumho’s involvement in breast cancer causes began in 2012 in Korea, where the tire maker’s parent company participated in a fund-raising campaign to raise breast cancer awareness.

Conti hikes prices again Continental Tire the Americas LLC increased the prices of Continental, General and AmeriSteel-brand truck tires in the U.S. and Canada by as much as 7% on July 1.

“The increase is the result of the continued escalation of raw materials, energy and logistics costs affecting the production and distribution of radial truck tires,” said the company. Continental also raised truck tire prices by 8% on March 1, 2017.

Yokohama hires Alonzo Yokohama Tire Corp. has hired Rick Alonzo as senior director of supply chain and logistics. Alonzo comes to Yokohama from Roche Diagnostics, where he was a director of the company’s global supply chain management.

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ATD wants 250 of its workers to focus on one job, not two Years of acquisitions by American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) meant many of its employees were splitting their time between sales calls and work inside one of the company’s 140 distribution centers. ATD wants those 250 workers to focus on just one of those jobs.

During a training session last month, the company began what it called a transformation of those jobs into specialized critical roles within the sales and supply chain functions. The company is providing professional development and training for members on both the sales and supply chain teams.

A company spokeswoman says the 250 people who had been wearing multiple hats were offered specialized positions based on their skill set and experience. “It’s really about how we’re functioning to serve that customer better,” she says.

“Our goal is to equip our sales team to anticipate the needs of each customer today and tomorrow supported by our breadth and availability,” says Stuart Schuette, CEO and president. “We are on our journey of transformation because we believe it is the right direction for our company, our associates, our customers and our suppliers — at exactly the right time.”

Tires boost sales for Midas in Canada; is the U.S. next?

The owner of the two busiest Midas locations in Canada says offering an extensive tire inventory and more than a dozen tire brands has transformed his business. Jeff Hall says he’s offering consumers what they want: one-stop car care and name-brand tires at “sharp” prices.

Hall’s stores are the busiest of any of the 148 Midas locations in Canada, and they are among the top 10 for sales in the 1,300 stores in North America.

According to Hall, tires account for three times as The 40-foot-high ceilings at Jeff Hall’s Midas much business as mufflers store on Gardiners Road in Kingston, Onand exhaust work. And tario, give it a modern look and feel.

Midas, which joined TBC Corp. in 2012, says that’s “a harbinger of things to come at Midas.”

Hall owns two stores in Kingston, Ontario. The second, located on Gardiners Road, was built from the ground up. It features four express drive-through lanes and six additional bays. The tire showroom accounts for 900 of the outlet’s 6,400 square feet.

When customers pull into the store’s express lanes, they are greeted by attendants who collect vehicle information and walk them to a viewing area to observe the work. Every customer receives a detailed report on the health of the tires and any alignment needs.

“My vision is to surpass car dealers’ service,” says Hall, who previously worked as an operations manager at a new car dealership.

MTD July 2017

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News/views

dates

August 4-5 Missouri Tire Industry Association Annual Conference, Old Kinderhook Golf Resort, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. (573) 616-2065 www.mtia4u.org August 21-23 China International Tire Expo 2017 (CITEXPO 2017), Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, Shanghai, China +86 10 85898181 www.citexpo.com.cn August 24-26 The Great American Trucking Show, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas (888) 982-2629 www.truckshow.com September 10-13 CAN Connect, Custom Automotive Network Conference (formerly the Performance Warehouse Association Conference), Embassy Suites Anaheim - South, Anaheim, Calif.

(760) 346-5647 www.customautomotivenetwork. com October 1 Tire Dealers Association of Western Pennsylvania Annual Rubber Ball, Meadows Casino & Conference Center, Washington, Pa. (412) 469-6269 www.tdaofwpa.org October 31-November 3 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week including AAPEX, the SEMA Show and TIA’s Global Tire Expo, Las Vegas, Nev. (800) 876-8372 www.tireindustry.org www.semashow.com February 21-24, 2018 Tire Industry Association’s Off-theRoad Tire Conference, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (800) 876-8372 www.tireindustry.org

16

Bridgestone Americas hires Venezia to run retail operations The 2,230 retail stores owned and operated by Bridgestone Americas Inc. have a new leader. Joe Venezia is the president of Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC (BSRO).

He replaces Stu Crum, who served as president of Bridgestone’s retail stores from August 2013 to October 2016. Damien Harmon has served as interim president since October.

“In recent years, BSRO has developed and executed a singular focus on driving operational excellence and delivering a consistent, world-class customer experience across our retail store network,” says TJ Higgins, president of the North America integrated consumer tire group for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC. “Joe’s diverse retail and operational backJoe Venezia brings more than 20 ground will help us build upon our years of consumer goods and progress in those critical areas.” retail experience to Bridgestone.

Venezia most recently served as executive vice president of global store operations at Toys”R”Us Inc. He joined the more than 850-store chain as senior vice president of store operations. Prior to Toys”R”Us, Venezia was senior vice president of operations and head of stores for The Pantry, an independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S. He also has held leadership positions with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

Michelin plans a global reorganization, with job cuts A planned reorganization by Groupe Michelin will “significantly impact jobs” in the U.S. and France. But there’s one part of the business that won’t be affected: Michelin’s production facilities.

“The purpose of this in-depth transformation is to improve customer satisfaction, empower the teams, simplify operating modes and digitalize the group,” says the company.

Michelin will create 10 regions in charge of sales development and customer relationship management: Africa, India and the Middle East; Central America; Eastern Asia and Australia; Central Europe; Southern Europe; Northern Europe; Eastern Europe; South America; North America; and China.

In the U.S., approximately 450 jobs would be reduced between 2018 and 2021. “The large majority would result from natural attrition and retirement. Actually, 1,500 employees would leave the company in the same period,” the company says.

In France, Michelin says 5,000 employees are expected to leave the company by 2021, the majority of them due to retirement. The company will actively recruit more than 3,500 people to replace them.

“Michelin wishes to seize this opportunity to successfully transform its organization while supporting each employee during this evolution.” ■

MTD July 2017

INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW

The all-new GEOLANDAR M/T G003™ is built to dominate with rock-solid GEO-SHIELD™ technology that delivers strength, crushing performance and merciless traction. And with over 90% market coverage and intimidating good looks, this new Yokohama tire will change everything.

8% LONGER TREAD LIFE

†

2.3 dB QUIETER ON THE ROAD

STOPS 51’ SHORTER ON WET ROADS

All performance results are based on third-party commissioned tests using a pick-up truck equipped with LT265/70R17 LR E tires. Tires were tested against other leading brands under controlled conditions and at various speeds. The data reported at 40 mph for wet braking and 44 mph for interior noise. Individual results may vary depending on vehicle type, tire maintenance, driving style and road condition. For complete test results write to Yokohama Tire Corporation at 1 MacArthur Place, Suite 800, Santa Ana, CA, 92707.

© 2017 Yokohama Tire Corporation

STEVE CAMPANELLA Director of Business Solutions Alliance Tire Americas Inc. Wakefield, Mass.

What was your first job in the industry?

My first position was the business intelligence manager at Alliance. The role was a new one for the company and focused on developing processes for pricing strategy, competitor research, studying general market trends, and financial analysis for sales and marketing programs.

What attracted you to the industry?

I started looking for a job in the Boston area once I decided to move from Connecticut. I had been working in personal insurance on product management and pricing analytics for three years, but wanted to dive more into marketing and business intelligence for a tangible product. I assumed if insurance could turn out to be interesting through analytics, then tires could be as well, and I’ve loved the tire industry ever since.

Steve Campanella, 28, is reviving one tire statistics committee for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and wants to create another, for construction tires.

D

o you have a bright leader working in your organization? Modern Tire Dealer wants to get to know the smart young leaders making a difference in the tire industry.

Point those who are On the Rise to our nomination form: www.moderntiredealer.com/ontheriseform

18

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced, and continue to face, is testing the established “tire-guy” way of making decisions that are typically based more on gut feelings than quantitative analysis. I have enormous respect for the men and women who have built this business and I am working to develop data-driven strategies to support their experience and insight. I believe this is the way for our company to take our success to the next level and ensure many more years of strong market presence.

What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?

My biggest accomplishment in this industry so far has been leading the revival of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) Agriculture Tire Statistics Committee. This committee has been in place for years, but fell off the priority list for many manufacturers. When I joined Alliance, I immediately saw the value this committee could provide our industry. ■

MTD July 2017

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Your marketplace

Demand for passenger and LT tires increased modestly in May

A

ccording to the results of our survey, could lead to higher promotional activity across demand for passenger and light truck the supply chain if volumes did not accelerate replacement tires increased modestly in April and May. This concern has manifested in May. From a volume standpoint, the dealers itself through the end of May as many dealers reported they sold 0.8% more tires in May relative reported an uptick in volume-based promos to the previous year’s period. Despite the fact upstream and rebates and price investments that demand improved in May, sales trends were downstream. not significant enough to definitively change the narrative that demand trends have not met expecMonthly survey tations for the first half of 2017, which included By Nick Mitchell A number of independent tire dealers were three consecutive months of negative volumes. surveyed concerning current business trends.

While the tax refunds normalized in April, it is worth Except for tire prices and costs, the results of the May 2017 mentioning that some respondents continued to speculate survey are compared with those of May 2016. Read the that the late tax season resulted in consumers allocating complete survey results on www.moderntiredealer.com. more of their tax refunds to other big-ticket items and less to car repairs and tires, which could explain why the Volume trends improved in May but high inventories industry did not experience a sharp recovery in sell-out remain a problem trends in April or May. According to dealer reports, consumer demand for Dealers were encouraged by the upswing in trends in passenger and light truck replacement tires increased in May and many believe trends will continue to improve May compared to the prior year’s period. From a volume throughout the second half of the year. In fact, the majority standpoint, the dealers reported they sold 0.8% more tires of the dealers continue to speculate that underlying sales last month relative to the previous year’s period. May’s results are encouraging, but the positive performance is not a cure all for dealers after four consecutive months of weak volume trends.

Dealers reported mixed demand trends across the other Dealers JAN FEB MAR APR(R) MAY(P) MAY(16) tire categories in the period, with trends turning positive Passenger tire in the commercial truck category, and weaker results Will improve 25% 67% 33% 33% 33% 100% persisting in the retread channel.

How dealers view near-term business

Will worsen Will stay level

0% 75%

0% 33%

0% 67%

0% 67%

0% 67%

0% 0%

Truck tire Will improve Will worsen Will stay level

50% 25% 25%

40% 0% 60%

67% 0% 33%

67% 0% 33%

100% 0% 0%

25% 25% 50%

R-Revised

P-Preliminary

Dealer costs were higher vs. the prior year’s period The tire dealers who responded to the survey noted manufacturer pricing on value products was at about the same level as it was in the previous year’s period while branded products, on a net basis, increased 1%.

Repair sales declined slightly year-over-year in May trends should benefit from a stronger consumer due to low energy costs and a solid labor market; favorable miles driven trends over the past 24 months; and an expanding car parc, especially the number of cars entering the first replacement cycle. That said, dealers are still unable to point to any specific cyclical or secular developments that might have been pressuring sell-out trends during the beginning of the year.

From a pricing perspective, promotional activity remained high during May after the poor results in April left dealers with an uncomfortable level of inventory. Recall that in March we estimated that industry-wide sell-in trends outpaced sell-out trends during the first months of the year, and flagged the risk that rising channel inventories

20

The dealers who responded to the MTD survey indicated automotive repair sales trends deteriorated slightly in May which marks a change from the previous six months which saw increases in service revenues in five of the six months (February was flat). Specifically, these dealers indicated service sales, which accounted for a net 35% of total revenues, were down 2% on a year-over-year basis in May, which compared to increases of 5% or more from October through January, flat trends in February, and a 1.8% and 2% gain in March and April, respectively. ■

Nick Mitchell is managing director, research analyst, for Northcoast Research Holdings LLC based in Cleveland, Ohio. Mitchell covers a variety of subsectors of the automotive industry.

MTD July 2017

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NumbersThatCount

Relevant statistics from an industry in constant motion.

$100 million

Amount of money saved per year by the commercial and military aircraft industries by using retreaded tires.

Source: Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau

40%

WATER

Percentage of vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2020 that will have start-stop battery systems.

Share of the U.S. consumer tire retail market held by independent tire dealers.

Source: Johnson Controls Inc

Source: Modern Tire Dealer’s January 2017 Facts Issue.

$12,008 Average annual profit for dealers for tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) service.

Source: MTD research.

3x

The multiple by which drivers are less likely to check the condition of their tires during summer (despite heat being the enemy of tires).

Source: AAA

22

61%

70.5 $80,437

Liters of water which are required to manufacture one car tire.

Source: Michelin Groupe

Average annual profit for dealers for brake service.

Source: MTD research

150th

The milestone sesquicentennial birthday celebrated by Canada on July 1-2 with help from Goodyear’s Wingfoot Two blimp.

Source: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

MTD July 2017

LANDSAIL’S LIGHT TRUCK/SUV

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Puncture Guard Toughness. Three tough layers of polyester cord fabric and high strength steel belts guard against rock and debris punctures.

Super Stable Shoulder. The varying shapes of the shoulder blocks are optimized for improved handling and control on unpaved roads.

Wetland Optimized Grooves. Angled lateral and longitudinal groove structure promotes better drainage for improved braking and handling on wet, soggy ground.

High Stability Tread Corners. The special cutting corner on all borders of the groove pattern makes it more dimensional while promoting driving stability and comfort.

Zig-Zag Middle Block. The zig-zag middle tread pattern reduces noise while the sloped corner repels rocks and improves earth-grasping performance.

Special Shoulder Shape. The bench-shaped shoulder design provides excellent earthgrasping action for stable high-speed turns under dry and wet road conditions.

Noise-Reducing Shoulder. The closed shoulder design blocks noise from the middle of the tires for a quieter, more comfortable ride.

Optimal Middle Pattern. The consistent middle pattern and uninterrupted closed shoulder design improves stability.

Longitudinal Traction Grooves. The longitudinal groove design is optimized for effective drainage, faster braking, improved acceleration and stable turning on wet terrain.

3121 NW 125 Street | Miami, FL 33167 | Phone: 305.621.5101 | LandsailTires.com | Follow us @landsailtires |

feature

Brake system maintenance is essential to AEB technologies

By Ann Neal

T

he federal government had an opportunity to mandate w ith these new three types of automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems is that the technologies on all light vehicles last year. But in Janu- brakes are applied ary 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration automatically if the (NHTSA) said no. The agency explained AEB technologies driver fails to stop are already here, and its own rule making process would delay on time. “Whether the development of even better technologies for improving it is the driver or the vehicle safety.

Centric NHTSA denied a petition from Consumer Premium Watchdog, Center for Auto Safety, and Public Brake Rotors Citizen. The groups had asked NHTSA to mandate are manufactured using original equipment forward crash warning (FCW), crash imminent specifications and production braking (CIB), and dynamic brake support (DBS) processes to precisely restore in light vehicles. The agency explained why in the braking performance.

Jan. 25 edition of the Federal Register.

NHTSA noted that many modern vehicle safety technologies are relatively new and evolving quickly. computer-controlled on-board “Standard setting at this early stage of technological The new Raybestos Opti-Cal line of systems doing the braking, brake evolution must be undertaken with great care, given calipers are made with 100% newly system components need to be the risk of inadvertently stymieing innovation manufactured materials and do not engineered and manufactured to require a core return. and stalling the development and introduction of a very high standard to perform successively better versions of these technologies.” as expected when they are needed. Therefore, these new AEB is already in the marketplace. The agency attributed an automated braking technologies will not have a significant upturn in the rate of AEB installation to the rating programs of impact on well-made brake system components. The extra the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Consumer Reports, demands will really be placed on maintaining the system and and its own New Car Assessment Program. its components to ensure that they are functioning properly.”

NHTSA also pointed out that 20 vehicle manufacturers representing more than 99% of all light motor vehicle sales Diagnosis is more than a code in the U.S. made a voluntary commitment to installing FCW In the “old days” a driver would bring a car to a shop comand CIB technologies in March 2016. These manufacturers plaining of a squeal or a pull to the side when the brakes were have promised to make FCW and CIB standard on virtually applied. A sensor now alerts a driver to a malfunction. But all light cars and trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 8,500 diagnosis involves more than reading a code. lbs. or less by Sept. 2, 2022. FCW and CIB will be standard A technician should start with a road test to duplicate the on trucks with a gross vehicle weight between 8,501 lbs. and customer’s concern, followed by a visual inspection, accord10,000 lbs. by Sept. 1, 2025. ing to Marciniak. “Additionally, the technician should also connect a scan tool to see if any failure codes are present. In Reliable components needed many cases, a sensor that is out of specs can cause the brake AEB depends on reliable brake components as well as system to react in different ways and lead to problems such technology. Almost every aspect of the new safety technology as brake pulls, premature wear and brake drag of one wheel.” is directed to the brake system, according to Wally Marciniak, Ruiz says that even though the onboard diagnostic capabilities technical trainer at Brake Parts Inc. LLC, manufacturer of of automobiles have increased tremendously and will continue Raybestos brand brakes. to improve over the coming years, technicians will still need “Through electronics, the brake system can apply 15 to to thoroughly inspect for all possible malfunctions.

20 times per second without input from the driver. With “As automated and self-driving technologies become more that said, the integrity of brake components such as calipers, prevalent, most of the driver feedback will be removed from the brake pads, master cylinder, rotors and drums must be up equation for the most part, so technicians will need to know to the task to be able to control the direction and stopping what to look for when analyzing data and inspecting parts. In ability of the vehicle.” fact, technicians will likely have to be specifically trained and Steve Ruiz, vice president of engineering of CWD LLC, qualified to work using the new system’s analytical tools and which does business as Centric Parts, notes the only change inspection procedures.” ■

24

MTD July 2017

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#partsmatter ©2017 Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC. All trademarks shown are owned by Federal-Mogul LLC, or one or more of its subsidiaries, in one or more countries.

feature

Who is Wanli?

Industry analyst breaks down the Chinese company

By David Shaw

F

ollowing leaks from South Carolina in “comfort” models, along with early June that Orangeburg County is sport, SUV, run-flat and studless expecting an investment of $1 billion winter tires as well as truck and from a Chinese company named “Wanli,” bus tires. many in the tire industry wanted to know Wanli is the flagship brand more details. Chief among them was the name. The official company name question, “Who on earth is Wanli?” remains South China Tire & The investment, we now know, is for a tire Rubber, though this is in transimanufacturing plant. The answer to Wanli’s tion to the Wanli name. The paridentity — and what it might represent ent company is the State-owned globally — is more complicated.

Guangzhou Vanlead Group Ltd. Wanli Tire Corp. Ltd.’s profile has remained The company sells passenger car low, despite a number of appearances at the tires and truck tires in internaLas Vegas Specialty Equipment Market tional markets under brands Association (SEMA) Show and custom such as Wanli, Sunny and a new car expos. The company wants to improve export-only brand Aptani. It uses its name recognition in America, which will Zixin Liu, market planning director for brands including Diamond in involve creating new sales channels here, and Wanli Tire Corp., spoke at the 2017 Shangthe domestic Chinese market. now this new factory. But not everyone at hai International Auto Show. the company has gotten the message yet.

Domestic restructuring Since the revelations over the last few months, I have found Much of the transition is coming from Vanlead’s tie-in with it impossible to get hold of anyone from the company. When I JAC and JAC’s partner, Guangqi Honda Automobile Co. Ltd. asked to talk with Wanli representatives at the Latin American JAC and Wanli have jointly built a state-of-the-art truck tire & Caribbean Tyre Expo in Panama in mid-June, the response factory in Hefei, Anhui Province, and, despite contradictory was a standard stonewall that the relevant person was not claims by some other tire makers, the Hefei factory is seen available and any questions might take a few weeks to answer. within China as by far the This typifies the situation at Wanli. The company is in the best of the modern ‘Industry transition from an old-fashioned, State-owned enterprise to 4.0’ factories in the country. a modern, well-managed, globally minded company. Sales in It was designed by China’s 2015 were reportedly $520 million. acknowledged tire factory Fortunately, I have visited the company’s headquarters in master, Wang Auchun of The news about Wanli Tire Corp.

Guangzhou, China, a couple of times and spoken with their the EVE Rubber Research Ltd. is not all good. In May this executives on a number of occasions and also tracked their Institute in Qingdao. He has year, Bridgestone Corp. said it had progress, especially over the last two years of significant transi- designed many of China’s successfully fought an intellection, since they allied with the Anhui Jianghuai Automobile latest tire plants in China tual property court case against Group Co. Ltd ( JAC). and overseas.

Wanli. Bridgestone said Wanli The company was set up in 1988 as South China Tire & After a ground-breaking in had copied the tread pattern of Rubber and began developing its products under license from March 2015, the first phase its SUV tire, the Dueler A/T Revo2.

U.S.-based Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. of the Hefei plant came on The Shanghai Intellectual In 2014 the company said it had the capacity to produce 10 stream in November 2016 Property Court ordered Wanli to million radial passenger and light truck radials and 2 million with a nominal 1 million cease manufacturing and sales TBR tires annually at three factories in Panyu, Conghua units of TBR capacity per activities that are in violation of and the Huadu district of Guangzhou in China. In 2017 the year. This is expected to rise Bridgestone’s patent rights, discompany said it can produce 16 million tires a year, of which to an annual capacity of 2 pose of related molds, and pay 52% are exported. million truck/bus radials unspecified damages.

The company splits sales between the original equipment and by the end of 2017, with an replacement markets, with around 30% going to car producers investment of about $285 such as Dongfeng Motor Corp., Peugeot Citreon Automobile million. The second-phase Co., JAC and GAC Honda Automobile Co. expansion in Hefei will add annual capacity for 20 million Wanli Tire’s consumer tire products include high performance PCR tires, with an additional investment of $587 million.

Copyright infringement

26

MTD July 2017

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Wanli tire plant Almost all the equipment is sourced from Western companies, and the plant is highly automated with a full MES system, barcode materials tracking and some automatically guided vehicles.

Prior to the Hefei project, Wanli’s sister company, Guangzhou Fung Rubber Tire Co. Ltd., built a passenger car tire plant in Conghua City, Guangzhou, with capacity for 10 million tires per year. That came on stream in August 2015.

During 2016, Wanli closed its old factory at Panyu in Guangzhou and transferred production to the new unit in Hefei.

The Panyu factory was subject to pollution control notices. As the city of Guangzhou expanded, the factory, built in a remote location, became surrounded by residential buildings, and the residents complained of smells and pollution.

International expansion Over the last year and a half, Wanli has been on an aggressive international expansion program. This was launched at the 2016 Tokyo Motor Show with a series of exotic concept tires and an updated “W” logo to represent the company.

In February 2016 Wanli’s processes won accreditation to ECE R117.02 from TuV Rheinland for its Comfort H220, snow and SW211 tires.

At the Tokyo launch of the company’s global strategy, Wanli Tire Chairman Chen Miao said Wanli’s entry into the Japanese market will provide a foothold for a global expansion strategy.

There is more to the company’s latest plant announcement than the initial headlines of a large factory in the U.S. The facil-

28

ity initially will have a PCR capacity of some 6 million units, followed by a second phase investment with TBR capacity of up to 2 million units.

Wanli said it also expects to add a tech center in Akron, Ohio, and another in Europe, but did not give a time frame for either investment. There currently is no investment figure for these projects.

Wanli is said to be recruiting tire engineers from a range of established tire makers.

Environmental push In addition to running one of the most energy-efficient and water-efficient plants (the Hefei factory) in China, the company is exploring end-of-life tire recycling options. Vanlead and its Wanli tire subsidiary have signed a memorandum of understanding with Swedish company Enviro Tire Recycling.

Under the deal, Enviro will build a turnkey factory to make recycled carbon black from waste tires.

The new factory will be located in Guangdong, and will begin construction at the end of 2017. When it begins operation, the factory’s annual output is set to reach 30,000 tons of reclaimed carbon black. ■ David Shaw is owner of Shaw Information Services Ltd., which trades under the Tire Industry Research banner. As head of research, he has put together a massive report on “China’s Tire Industry 2015-2018.” He can be reached at david@ tireindustryresearch.com.

MTD July 2017

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Modern Tire Dealer 100 E-commerce versus brick-and-mortar:

Top 100 dealers find opportunities in traditional retailing

By Ann Neal

W

hile e-commerce is blamed for store closures throughout much of the retail sector, this year’s Modern Tire Dealer 100 has many examples of dealers who are opening stores. They are also expanding through acquisitions and investing in their existing brick-and-mortar locations while they participate in the digital revolution that is turning traditional retailing upside down.

Snider Tire Inc., which goes to market as Snider Fleet Solutions, is among the latest to extend its physical footprint with the acquisition of 27 commercial locations from Michelin North America Inc.’s Tire Centers LLC (TCi) subsidiary. The deal, which finalized in early July, puts Greensboro, N.C.-based Snider Tire in the No. 16 spot with 76 outlets.

At the end of June, McCarthy Tire Service Co. completed its purchase of P.J. Dooling Tire Co. of Philadelphia, Pa. Dooling Tire’s tire sales and service operations will be merged into McCarthy Tire’s commercial location in Trainer, Pa. It is McCarthy Tire’s second acquisition in two months. The company purchased the commercial division of Scranton-Dunlop Inc., known in the marketplace as Sandone Tire, in Scranton, Pa., in May. Sandone Tire’s truck tire sales and service operations were merged into McCarthy’s commercial location in Dickson City, Pa. In addition, McCarthy Tire relocated its combination commercialretail store in Reading, Pa., to a larger, 32,000-square-foot facility.

The company plans to increase commercial tire sales and services, and add fleet mechanical services, engine diagnostic work, and heavy-duty truck repair at the Reading store. A new Bandag retread plant in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., began production in September 2016 and represents a $3.5 million investment. At full capacity, the plant produces 1,000 retreads per day. McCarthy Tire’s 49 stores put it at No. 22 on the Modern Tire Dealer 100.

30

Dealers acquire, build and renovate At the very top of the Modern Tire Dealer 100, Reinalt-Thomas Corp. added 23 locations, all greenfield construction, for a total of 940 Discount Tire/America’s Tire outlets. In the No. 2 spot with 772 locations is TBC Corp., which added 13 NTB Tire & Service Centers and Tire Kingdom stores.

Monro Muffler Brake Inc. is ranked No. 3, unchanged from last year. In all, Monro acquired 37 stores and now operates 585 retail, commercial and wholesale tire locations. The company’s acquisitions include former list maker Clark Tire & Auto Inc.’s 24 retail outlets, two commercial stores, four wholesale locations and one retread plant. The acquisitions will continue. In a May 2017 earnings release, the company told investors it plans to acquire competitors at attractive prices and open 20 to 40 stores per year in existing markets.

Express Oil Change LLC grew through acquisitions and new construction, according to Josh Henderson, executive vice president of marketing. The company, which flies the Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers banner at the majority of its tire stores, added 39 outlets for a total of 185 stores and the No. 6 ranking.

In California, Rent A Wheel/Rent A Tire LP purchased five EZ Rims 4 Rent locations. Two of the stores were merged into existing Rent A Wheel outlets. The other three became new Rent A Wheel stores in Moreno Valley, Calif.; Crenshaw, Calif.; and Las Vegas, Nev. The Las Vegas outlet is the company’s third store in that city.

“Certainly in the last couple of years it’s been a more challenging business environment where we’ve had to market more aggressively to continue our growth. However, we’ve been able to achieve 15% same-store growth,” says President Matt Seaburn. The company is in the No. 7 spot with 141 stores.

No. 8 ranked Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. added two states to its

MTD July 2017

Commercial Tire says its newly built retail tire store in Eagle, Idaho, is the first in the Northwest to attach Valvoline Express Care bays to an independent full-service tire and automotive repair outlet.

geographic coverage through acquisition. The Potosi, Mo.-based company bought eight commercial stores operated by Phelps Tire Co. Inc. in Washington and Alaska.

No. 9 ranked Tire Discounters Inc. has 103 stores, having added seven outlets since the start of 2016. “This growth will allow us to service more customers and offer them a trusted, nearby expert whenever car care needs arise,” says Jamie Ward, president. “To account for the increasing demands on our infrastructure, we’ve hired a new chief technology officer and are implementing a state-of-the-art point-of-sale system to help us deliver an enhanced customer experience across the board.”

Tire Discounters plans to open one new location and remodel five existing stores in the Greater Cincinnati area; three stores each in both Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn.; and one new store in both Louisville and Lexington, Ky. The company is entering the Huntsville, Ala., market later this year, extending its footprint beyond Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and Georgia. “We are excited to introduce ourselves to the Huntsville community as we continue our rapid expansion across all markets,” says Ward. “Having opened or remodeled 29 locations in the past three years, we’re eager to continue that momentum and bring our high levels of customer service to more and more customers.”

In addition, the company says it’s open to partner with other family-owned and operated businesses with a customer-first philosophy as it expands.

“We want everyone to know that there are other choices than selling to some big faceless corporation,” says Ward. “We know that not everyone has a solid succession plan like we do, and we want family tire and service retailers considering options to sell to know they can trust us to take care of their customers and their hard-earned reputations.”

www.moderntiredealer.com

Ward says Tire Discounters is prepared for the challenges rapid growth brings. “We want to make sure we are continuing to bring a higher standard to our increasingly large number of customers.

Our new point-of-sale system is a step forward in this regard, which will continue to improve our shopping experience for our customers. We are also investing in new phone systems and new promotion tools to enable our growth.”

La Mirada, Calif.-based ATV Inc., which does business as American Tire Depot, added eight stores. The company has 99 stores and holds the No. 10 spot.

Green Bay, Wis.-based Pomp’s Tire Service Inc. expanded southward with the acquisition of Cross-Midwest Tire Co. in Kansas City, Kan. Pomp’s Tire gained 14 stores in the deal and is tied for the No. 11 spot on this year’s list with 97 outlets.

Tire Discounters opened a store in Ooltewah, Tenn., in August 2016 to expand its footprint in southern Tennessee. It is the company’s fourth store in the Chattanooga region.

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Modern Tire Dealer 100

Sullivan Tire Co. tries to remodel three stores a year, according to Joe Zaccheo, chief operating officer. The company refreshed its store in Somerville, Mass., last year.

Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire Distributors Inc. completed the merger of its commercial division with Tredroc Tire Services Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Ill., in October 2016. The “new” Tredroc has 27 commercial stores and is tied for No. 41 in the rankings.

Belle Tire’s retail operations, headed by Jack Lawless, were not part of the merger. The company operates 97 retail outlets, which ties it for No. 11 on the Modern Tire Dealer 100. Belle Tire says it plans to add five retail stores this year.

Town Fair Centers Inc. built new stores in Londonderry, N.H. (five bays), and Williston, Vt. (eight bays), and renovated vacant retail buildings in Manchester, Conn. (seven bays), and Littleton, N.H. (five bays). The new stores gave the dealership a total of 95 outlets and the No. 13 spot. The company “shoots for two to four” new stores a year, according to Mike Barbaro, senior vice president.

Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. recently acquired a 5,000-square-foot full automotive service and tire business in Westford, Mass. This acquisition brings the company’s store count to 83 outlets and the No. 14 spot in the rankings.

Sullivan Tire’s focus is on growth, remodeling and renovation to existing stores, upgrades to tire and auto equipment, and employee training and development, according to Joseph Zaccheo, chief

operating officer. He says the company is looking at a number of opportunities both through acquisition and ground up construction. Sullivan Tire recently completed five store renovations in the Maine and Massachusetts markets with plans to complete three more by the end of the year. The company plans three to five new stores in the New England area in the next 12 months.

No. 17-ranked Kauffman Tire Inc. opened five stores to bring it to 63 outlets. Four stores are in Georgia in the cities of Brunswick, Columbus, Rome and Macon. The fifth store is in Tallahassee, Fla. Plaza Tire Service renovated a former auto shop into its first outlet in Springfield, Mo. The 6,000-square-foot, six-bay store is the company’s 61st location overall. Plaza Tire opened three stores in Missouri (Moberly, O’Fallon and Warrenton) in 2016.

Plaza Tire holds the No. 18 spot in the rankings.

Black’s Tire Service Inc. added six Perry Brothers Tire Service Inc. stores in North Carolina through a partnership with the Perry family. The deal was announced in February 2017. In the fall of 2016, the company opened a store in Hickory, N.C. Black’s Tire Service renovated a former truck dealership into a 20,000-squarefoot retail and commercial outlet.

“We have a lot of great commercial customers that run in that area, and the Hickory store will help us expand our footprint to better serve their needs,” says Ryan Benton, general manager. For now, the company plans to focus on making its existing stores the best they can be, according to Benton. Black’s Tire Service is tied for No. 24 on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 with 43 stores.

‘Ideal for convenience seekers’

Commercial Tire Inc. added three stores for a total of 43 outlets and a tie for the No. 24 spot. The company’s newly built location in Eagle, Idaho, has six bays for mechanical and tire services, plus two Valvoline Express Care bays. “It’s gorgeous,” says Brady Hansen, marketing coordinator. “It’s truly a one-stop shop. The right tools are in place whether customers are looking for that 15- or 20-minute oil change and want to wait in their vehicle or they have extensive work to be done.”

The Valvoline Express Care bays are ideal for “convenience seekers,” according to Hansen. “We allocate those bays solely to Express Care. If they need tire work they come out and go into one of the six bays. So it is all about convenience and speed.”

The Eagle store’s shop employees are cross trained to work in both the oil change and mechanical bays. Commercial Tire is considering adding similar outlets, according to Hansen.

In late 2016, the company expanded into Ellensburg, Wash., with the purchase and renovation of a building for a three-bay commercial location. The Ellensburg facility also sells passenger and light truck tires but does not offer passenger or light truck mechanical or lube services.

Commercial Tire also purchased and renovated a building in Orem, Utah, into a single-bay commercial outlet.

The company has provided comPlaza Tire Service opened its first store in Springfield, Mo., and plans a late summer openmercial services to the Ogden, Utah, ing for its second store in the city, a greenfield site now under construction. market from a rented facility for the

32

MTD July 2017

last 19 years. In 2016, Commercial Tire built a larger facility, adding retail tire sales to its offerings in Ogden.

In addition to expanded service offerings and new locations, Commercial Tire has moved away from promotions based solely on price. “We’re not always the cheapest in the market. We pride ourselves in being a premium provider. So we carry premium brands, premium product across the board. It’s so tough to win the price war, so we aim to win by selling Commercial Tire,” says Hansen.

The most credible salespeople are customers themselves, and Commercial Tire has built a marketing campaign around testimonials. The campaign’s first two videos, each about three minutes in length, were posted to YouTube in March 2017. The videos tell the stories of a local family and a local business and their dealings with Commercial Tire.

“We let our customers do the talking for us. They attest to what we do more so than saying we guarantee the lowest price,” says Hansen. The testimonials are shared through numerous channels, from on-hold music to radio spots to printed inserts placed in the tires on the showroom floor to 35 roadside billboards. The company is also active in social media, where the testimonials, as well as sponsorships of community and charity events, are highlighted.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made with our online presence. Previously we kind of had that as a secondary avenue,” says Hansen. “The convenience market is growing so much that we know we have to be accessible after closing during the week, Sundays, and holidays. Plus we’ve become very transparent

online — we’re showing our prices and allow customers to request appointment times. We need to be available when it’s convenient for them.”

A pattern of steady expansion Bob Sumerel Tire & Service LLC, which does business as AAA/Bob Sumerel Tire & Service, opened its second store in Fairfield, Ohio. The company purchased and renovated a former auto service center into a six-bay retail store. The company also expanded its footprint around the Dayton, Ohio, area, where it built a new eight-bay store in Beaver Creek. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based dealership is tied for the No. 33 spot with 34 stores.

Bauer Built Inc. added a store in Mankato, Minn., to bring it to

Black’s Tire Service’s new retail-commercial store in Hickory, N.C., has a drive-through service bay design. Vehicles are serviced at work stations inside the building. The space is equivalent to roughly 12 bays in a traditional shop design.

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33

Modern Tire Dealer 100 34 stores and a tie for the No. 33 spot. No. 35-ranked Graham Tire Co. added a retail store in Sioux Falls, S.D., and a commercial store in Fremont, Neb. The dealership has 31 stores.

T.O. Haas Tire Co. Inc. completed two store remodels, installed new equipment in new locations and grew its 4x4 enthusiast market share by increasing inventory levels of lift kits, leveling kits and other 4x4 aftermarket products, according to Fred Knight, marketing manager. The Lincoln, Neb.-based dealership goes to market as T.O. Haas Tire & Auto and is tied for No. 44 with 25 stores.

Bore/MPC LLC, which goes to market as Big O Tires in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, opened a store in Fayetteville, Ark., on June 3, 2017, and is The new Chabill’s Tire Service store in Gonzales, La., is located at scheduled to open a store in Norman, Okla., in the the front of a remodeled shopping plaza. middle of July 2017. Along with new store openings, the company is refreshing its existing Big O Tires outlets. “With “We’re looking at both avenues: acquisitions and places to 17 stores, we are constantly remodeling facilities. In 2016, we build.” Northwest Tire is celebrating its 40th anniversary in spent $300,000 on a remodel of the office, showroom and 2017 and has 15 stores, which ties it for No. 69 on the Modern exterior of our oldest facility in Columbia, Mo.,” says Rusty Tire Dealer 100. The company also operates four warehouses, Coats, director of operations. The company is tied for No. 64 two retreading plants and an auto supply store. on the Modern Tire Dealer 100.

Steve Shannon Tire Co. Inc. will open its 18th store in Northwest Tire Inc. just broke ground for its fifth store in Lewiston, Pa., on Aug. 2. Construction is nearly complete on Bismarck, N.D., where the company is headquartered. The new the 12,000-square-foot, nine-bay store. Owner Steven Shannon retail store is scheduled to open in the spring of 2018. It will says plans are in the works to open two stores by the end of have six tire bays and two drive-through quick lube lanes. “We 2017. The Bloomsburg, Pa.-based dealership is tied for No. 64. are going to continue to expand,” says Dan Pearson, president.

Redburn Tire Co. opened single-bay commercial stores in

34

MTD July 2017

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Modern Tire Dealer 100 Gallup, N.M., and Flagstaff, Ariz. The Phoenix-based commercial dealership has 14 stores and is tied for No. 81 in the rankings.

Fairfield, Calif.-based East Bay Tire Co. opened a 4,000-squarefoot commercial outlet with one bay in Maui, Hawaii. The company, which tied for No. 88 with 13 stores, also moved its commercial facility in Stockton, Calif., to a larger location.

In May 2017, Free Service Tire Co. Inc. opened its second store in Johnson City, Tenn., and fourth store overall in the Tri-Cities area that encompasses Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol. The company renovated a former two-bay quick

oil change location into a nine-bay full service outlet. “We identified this site as an obvious location for growth,” says Dennis Pritchett, vice president of retail, who oversaw the remodel of the building.

The company’s original location, which opened 98 years ago this summer, is also located in Johnson City. Free Service Tire was founded by Dan Wexler Sr. in 1919. Today, Lewis Wexler Sr., Dan’s son, is CEO and his sons, Lewis Jr. and Harrison, oversee day-to-day management. The company is tied for No. 93 with 12 stores.

More wholesale capacity S&S Tire Firestone Inc. and Dunn Tire LLC expanded their wholesale operations. S&S Firestone, which is tied for No. 50 with 23 stores, opened its 11th distribution center in August 2016. Brian Quisenberry, marketing director, says the 80,000-square-foot facility will be a “model for efficiency, safety and technology as we expand in the future.” Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the new facility serves northern Kentucky, southeast Indiana and southwest Ohio.

Dunn Tire relocated from a warehouse in Henrietta, a Rochester suburb, to the larger 75,000-square-foot newly constructed facility, also in Henrietta and built to Dunn Tire’s specifications.

The leased facility can be expanded to 115,000 square feet. The new facility serves eight Dunn Tire retail stores in the Rochester area retail and hundreds of wholesale customers in central New York. The company’s wholesale division is branded Exxpress Tire Delivery.

Pittsburgh is a new market for Dunn Tire, according to David Simons, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Dunn Tire began delivering to the area from its Erie, Pa., warehouse following the sale of Terry’s Tire Town to American Tire Distributors Inc. in 2014.

“After studying the market, learning where the opportunities were and where relationships could be built, we leased a 60,000-square-foot warehouse that is part of a 500,000-square-foot facility in Cheswick, a suburb northeast of Pittsburgh.” The warehouse services western Pennsylvania south of Interstate 80 and nearby areas in Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland. Dunn Tire is tied for No. 36 with 30 retail stores.

Fort Pierce, Fla.-based St. Lucie Battery and Tire Co. counts a wholesale distribution center among its recent accomplishments. “In just the last six months, we have launched a wholesale

36

MTD July 2017

Modern Tire Dealer 100 distribution center, increased company profitability by 2%, and successfully advanced our safety program,” says Lindsey Concannon, corporate brand manager.

St. Lucie Battery and Tire, which is tied for No. 81 with 14 stores, opened its third store in Port St. Lucie in 2017 and will open a fourth store in that city in September.

“We are always working to make our online, and in-store, experiences very client-friendly,” says Concannon. “We constantly manage and update our website and social media platforms so that our customers can make informed decisions and have the most up-to-date information. Just this year, we added a complete tire catalog to our online platform.”

Investment in training pays off In October 2016, Chabill’s Tire Service LLC opened an

East Bay Tire moved its Stockton, Calif., facility to a 25,000-square-foot location. The company says it is growing its footprint throughout the 13 western states.

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Free Service Tire opened its second location in Johnson City, Tenn., the city where it was founded in 1919. A quick oil change outlet was renovated into a nine-bay store.

eight-bay, 8,000-square-foot retail store in Gonzales, La. It is the fourth Chabill’s Tire store in the Baton Rouge market, and the company “will continue to build there until we run out of possibilities,” says Charley Gowland, general manager.

The company remodeled its Houma, La., outlet in 2016. The Houma location was Chabill’s second store when it was built in the mid-1970s and it “really needed a makeover.”

The company is preparing to break ground for another store in the Baton Rouge area scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2018. Chabill’s Tire opened its first store in the Baton Rouge market in 2012.

Sales are up about 10% year-over-year, and Beth Barron, operations chief, attributes much of that to sales training for call center employees, managers and service advisors. A

MTD July 2017

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Modern Tire Dealer 100 consultant provides on-site training three times a year. “He has done a lot of training with us on our phone skills and customer experience training,” says Barron. “We feel the program has helped us gain market share, specifically in the tire area. We are selling more tires than we’ve ever sold. He helps us perfect that, and our retail sales supervisor reinforces the program on a day-to-day basis.”

Gowland says the company decided early on to commit to an ongoing sales training program. “The ability for us to really commit the resources is making a big difference in the way we go to market and what we are able to achieve now.”

He notes the company grew sales in the midst of falling oil prices. “This economy and a good part of the south Louisiana area that we occupy is not doing so well on the commercial side because of low oil prices. So we’ve been able to grow our business even with the sadness that’s out there in the oil fields.”

Chabill’s Tire directs about 2% of annual sales revenue to its advertising budget. This year’s advertising included local broadcast TV spots for the first time in several years. In addition, the company increased radio advertising and revamped its customer loyalty program. Social media accounts for about half of the advertising budget.

“Our suppliers are becoming our competitors and our competitors are getting fiercer,” says Gowland. “We have a small call center that provides a much better experience for our tire customers, and a minimal response time to online quote requests. Our tire prices are much sharper today than a year ago, as we model our pricing matrix to be slightly lower than our wholesale club competitors. We are trying to simplify our processes and create meaningful change in how we communicate with our customers and our employees. We’re doing everything that we can to improve the customer experience on the phone and in the stores.” Chabill’s Tire holds the No. 69 spot with 15 stores.

Alignment services added There are four RNR Tire Express and Custom Wheels franchisees on the Modern Tire Dealer 100. David Harrison, owner of No. 54-ranked Rental Concepts LLC, added three outlets for a total of 21 stores. Chris Raffo, owner of Rims USA LLC, added one store for a tie at the No. 81 spot with 14 RNR stores. Harrison plans to add six outlets and Raffo two outlets in 2017. The company which offers RNR franchises, SPF Management Co. LLC, is owned by Larry Sutton, whose 13 RNR stores tie for No. 88. Tied for No. 93 with 12 RNR stores is Shannon Strunk, owner of Gulf Coast L&P Inc. Sutton and Strunk each plan to open two additional stores in 2017.

Vince Ficarrotta, RNR’s vice president, says the franchise added 15 stores over the last year. “It’s the most we’ve grown

40

in a single year so far and it looks like we may double that in 2017.” All new stores offer alignments, and a majority of existing stores have added the service.

“Adding the alignment services has been a tremendous advantage for us,” says Ficarotta. “Our investment in the wheels and tires themselves is further enhanced through the additional services that we are able to provide our customers. I think that helped in the bigger picture of providing credibility and reputation to the consumers that we are a reputable tire dealer that does what tire dealers are expected to do, which is align wheels and tires.”

Rebranding and expanding The recent remodel of two Lamb’s Tire and Automotive outlets completely changed the look of the buildings, replacing Side-by-side comparisons show the new look of the Lamb’s Tire and Automotive store in Lake Creek, Texas, before rebranding (inset) and after the remodel.

The company replaced Goodyear graphics with colors and signage consistent with Lamb's Tire branding.

Goodyear branding with corporate branding, according to Jim Ramsey, president of Lamb Ventures LP. His company also added commercial services to its wholesale passenger and light truck tires division that serves car dealerships. Lamb’s now offers 24/7 fleet services as well as commercial truck sales.

In August, Ramsey will open a new Lamb's Tire store in Austin to give the company 16 outlets in central Texas. The new location is a renovation of an existing building and will be the dealership’s largest outlet with 10 bays and a four-bay stand-alone lube center and quick change oil lane.

“We’re just going to continue to look for opportunities; we’re going to continue to grow but not too fast. We feel the central Texas area still has tons of opportunity,” says Ramsey.

He participates in Goodyear and Michelin’s e-commerce programs in order to serve customers he would not otherwise meet.

“Our goal is when a customer comes in to get their the tires installed, we’re going to make the experience so good they are

MTD July 2017

Modern Tire Dealer 100 not going to think about going online to get the next tires. ‘We’re still a service industry’ We train our personnel with the idea that when they meet a Auto repair and maintenance represent 65% of Mountain customer who bought tires online, the next time they do not View Tire’s business. Mitsos doesn’t expect the digital revoluneed to go online.” tion in retailing to affect shopping behavior when it comes Mountain View Tire & Service began rebranding 25 retail to vehicle service. stores 18 months ago. Chris Mitsos, vice president, expects “It’s going to be a long time before you can get a car the project to be complete by the end of 2017. repaired on the internet. So the good news is that we’re “We were a traditional heritage Goodyear dealer for many still a service industry and people still have to come to us years,” says Mitsos, a son of company founder and family for the auto repair.” patriarch Nick Mitsos. “We used to say we bled blue and yellow.

Mountain View Tire is an installer for Goodyear’s e-commerce In the 1990s and early 2000s if you wanted a Goodyear tire, program. “Less than 25 tires a month get installed through you had to go to a Goodyear dealer, a Sears, or a Goodyear our organization on the e-commerce program,” says Mitsos. company-owned store. But once Goodyear opened up their “It’s about 70% new customers, 30% repeat customers. And distribution to the entire planet, it was no longer special to the repeat customers are the only ones who spend money on buy a Goodyear tire from a Goodyear dealer.” top of the tire installation.”

The company adopted a multi-brand strategy and has been Mitsos expects that all Tier 1 tires, i.e., Goodyear, Michelin, branding Mountain View Tire in the digital marketplace for Bridgestone, Pirelli and Continental, will eventually be sold the last five years. In 2015, the company turned its attention only through the internet and installed at independent tire to repackaging its buildings.

“It’s a painstaking operation because Mountain View Tire & Service’s of the approval process in each of rebranding initiative involved 25 the cities we are in. In the city of Los stores. The Rowland Heights, Calif., Angeles it takes almost 12 months store is shown before rebranding (inset) and after (below). to get a permit to change a sign,” says Mitsos.

The cost to rebrand the stores is about $600,000. The results proved worth the cost. “We’ve got a lot of positive feedback from associates, customers and vendors,” says Mitsos.

Plans for four new Mountain View Tire stores have been delayed by local approval processes. For example, Mitsos signed a lease on property in Chatsworth in December 2014. “It’s the summer of 2017 and we still don’t have a permit to build from the City of Los Angeles. It takes approximately 24 months to get the permit.”

All the stores are new construction.

Ground was just broken for a new store in Wildomar, which Mitsos expects to open this year. Construction of a store in Menifee shops. He foresees Tier 2, 3 and 4 tires to be marketed and should begin by September. The other stores will be built in sold at the brick-and-mortar locations.

Chatsworth and Murrieta. The stores will range from 5,600 “I believe that someday all Tier 1 products will be sold to 6,200 square feet and have seven or eight bays. online and it will be at that point business owners like us are In some cases, such as the Murrieta store, Mountain View going to have to make a decision on if we want to continue Tire believes there’s room for one more competitor. In other to participate in that,” he says. locations, like Chatsworth, the company is opening in an Compared to department stores, electronics chains and other underserved community. retail sectors, the effects of e-commerce on the replacement tire “You would think in a super developed place like Southern market have been relatively mild. Only about 6% of tire sales California that there would be no room for new development, are made online, according to Modern Tire Dealer estimates. but it’s not true,” says Mitsos.

“I’ll take my chances with the other 94%,” says Mitsos.

“There’s still room for more stores, there’s new communities “Someday it might be a higher percentage buying through the being built all over the place. As those communities get built internet, but we’re smart guys, we’ll figure it out.” and the infrastructure goes in place, we will continue to look Modern Tire Dealer 100 dealers provided more photos of for places to build stores.” their newly built and remodeled stores than could be printed Mountain View Tire is tied for No. 36 in the Modern Tire in this issue. Click through the images in the photo gallery at Dealer 100 rankings with 30 stores. www.moderntiredealer.com. ■

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MTD July 2017

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100

6

7

8

9

Reinalt-Thomas Corp., dba Discount Tire/America’s Tire Scottsdale, Ariz.

Bruce Halle, chairman www.discounttire.com TBC Corp., dba Tire Kingdom, Merchant’s Tire & Auto Centers, NTB Tire & Service Centers1 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Erik Olsen, CEO www.tbccorp.com

940

0

0

0

940

772

0

0

0

772

Monro Muffler Brake Inc., dba Mr. Tire, Tread Quarters Discount Tires, Autotire, Tire Warehouse, Tire Barn, Towery’s Tire and Auto Care, The Tire Choice, McGee Auto Services & Tires Rochester, N.Y. John Van Heel, CEO and president www.monro.com Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc.2 Bend, Ore. Dick Borgman, CEO www.lesschwab.com Mavis Tire Supply Corp., dba Mavis, STS Tire & Auto, Suburban Tire, Weldon Tire, and Mavis Discount Tire/Cole Muffler & Brake Millwood, N.Y. www.mavistire.com Stephen and David Sorbaro, owners Express Oil Change LLC, dba Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, Tire Engineers, Epperly Tire, Upton Tire, Trax Tire and Savannah Tire Birmingham, Ala. Ricky Brooks, CEO www.expressoil.com and www.tireengineers.com Rent A Wheel / Rent A Tire LP Los Angeles, Calif.

John Bowlin, Don Sabin and Matt Seaburn, partners www.rentawheel.com Purcell Tire & Rubber Co.3 Potosi, Mo. Roger Lucas, CEO www.purcelltire.com Tire Discounters Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio Chip Wood, chairman and CEO www.tirediscounters.com

576

9

0

4

585

0

409

0

0

409

Toyo, Dean, Federal, Falken, Hankook, Bridgestone, Cooper, Mastercraft, Pirelli

335

0

0

6

335

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Pirelli, Uniroyal, Yokohama and 185 others

185

0

0

0

185

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Cooper, Continental, General, Falken, Uniroyal, Fuzion, Dunlop, Kelly, Hankook, Kumho, Yokohama, Pirelli, Mastercraft, Blacklion, Laufenn

141

0

0

0

141

Nexen, Nitto, Toyo, Delinte, Landsail

27

33

50

2

110

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Hankook, Toyo, Solideal, Titan, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Samson, Yokohama, General, Uniroyal, Maxam

103

0

0

0

103

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Pirelli, Yokohama, Goodyear, Kelly, Nexen, Cooper, Bridgestone, Continental, Falken, Toyo, Nankang, Hemisphere, Goodride, Milestar, Vee, Westlake, Kenda, Starfire

www.moderntiredealer.com

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

5

WHOLESALE

4

COMMERCIAL

3

COMM./RETAIL

2

RETAIL

1

COMPANY

RANK

The top independent tire dealers in the United States

Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Pirelli, Continental, Yokohama, BFGoodrich, Dunlop, Nitto, Falken, Cooper, General, Kumho, Hankook, Carlisle, ProComp, Arizonian, Pathfinder, Road Hugger, GTRadial, Barum, Nankang Aspen, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Commodore, Continental, Cooper, Crosswind, Dunlop, Epic, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Jetzon, Kumho, Mesa, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, MudClaw, Nankang, Nexen, Nitto, Ohtsu, Performer, Pirelli, Sigma, Sumitomo, Towmax, Toyo, Uniroyal, Velozza, Vogue, Yokohama.

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Pirelli, Yokohama, Hankook, Toyo, Falken, Ohtsu, Autogrip, Blacklion, Achilles, Pantera, Atturo

43

COMMERCIAL

WHOLESALE

TOTAL OUTLETS

94

3

2

5

99

11

Belle Tire Distributors Inc. Allen Park, Mich.

Jack Lawless, CEO www.belletire.com

97

0

0

1

97

11

Pomp’s Tire Service Inc. Green Bay, Wis. Jim Wochinske, president www.pompstire.com Town Fair Tire Centers Inc. East Haven, Conn.

Neil Mellen, CEO and president www.townfair.com Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. Norwell, Mass.

Robert Sullivan, president www.sullivantire.com Southern Tire Mart LLC Columbia, Miss.

Thomas and James Duff, owners www.stmtires.com Snider Tire Inc., dba Snider Fleet Solutions Greensboro, N.C. John Snider, CEO and president www.snidertire.com Kauffman Tire Inc. Atlanta, Ga. Mark Kauffman, president www.kauffmantire.com Plaza Tire Service Inc. Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mark Rhodes, president www.plazatireservice.com VIP Tires & Service Corp.

Auburn, Maine John Quirk, CEO and president www.vipauto.com Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc., dba Gateway Tire & Service* Batesville, Miss.

Robert (Bob) Dunlap, chairman and CEO www.dktire.com Peerless Tyre Co., dba Peerless Tires 4 Less Denver, Colo.

Sam Forbes, president www.peerlesstyreco.com and www.buytires4less.com McCarthy Tire Service Inc. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. John McCarthy Jr., president www.mccarthytire.com

3

52

42

3

97

95

0

0

0

95

67

1

15

12

83

2

0

80

0

82

0

0

76

0

76

BFGoodrich, Continental, General, Longmarch, Michelin, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama

63

0

0

14

63

Goodyear, Michelin, Toyo, Cooper, Pirelli, Continental, BFGoodrich, Carlisle, Dunlop, General, Kelly, Kumho, Mastercraft, Starfire

0

61

0

1

61

56

2

0

1

58

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Summit, Nokian, Falken, Yokohama, Pirelli, Jetzon, Toyo, AutoGrip, Dick Cepek, Hankook, Kumho, Laufenn, Blacklion Multi-Mile, Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Pirelli, Bridgestone

0

57

0

16

57

Yokohama, Deestone, Toyo, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook, Kenda

56

0

0

0

56

Bridgestone, Firestone, Cordovan, Hankook, Fuzion, Laufenn

6

19

24

0

49

Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Continental, General, Dayton, Double Coin, Yokohama, Hankook, Titan, Trelleborg, Solideal, Alliance, Pewag, Fuller Brothers, Rimex, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Hercules

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

44

TIRE BRANDS

COMM./RETAIL

ATV Inc., dba American Tire Depot La Mirada, Calif.

Ara Tchaghlassian, president www.americantiredepot.com

COMPANY

10

RANK

RETAIL

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

Accelera, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Delinte, Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Mayrun, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Federal, Riken, Saffiro, Toyo, Tracmax, Windforce, Winrun, Achilles Bridgestone, Firestone, Continental, General, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Toyo, Mastercraft, Sumitomo, Kumho, Hankook, Falken, Pirelli, Kenda, Nexen, Ohtsu, Cooper, Uniroyal, Trailer King II Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion, Dayton, Hankook, Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Continental, General, Yokohama BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Pirelli, Toyo, Uniroyal, Yokohama, Mastercraft, Nexen, Falken Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Kelly, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Yokohama, Kumho, Continental, Double Coin, Hankook, Gladiator, Jetzon, Sailun, Sumitomo Bridgestone, Continental, Double Coin, Gladiator, Firestone, General, Duraturn, Dayton, Yokohama, Toyo, Roadone, Michelin, BFGoodrich, GT Radial

MTD July 2017

It’s a Winning Combination ‹‹ Congratulations to the top 100 ››

You’re the best in tires.

We’re the best in wheels.

Contact the industry leader for all of your OEM wheel, hubcap and center cap needs.

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• We stock the most complete OEM inventory available for immediate shipping nationwide.

• Order online 24/7 BlackburnsWheelFinder.com

800-981-8321 BlackburnWheels.com

28

28

30

30

32

33

33

46

0

3

42

0

45

Michelin, Yokohama, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly

0

45

0

4

43

6

29

8

1

43

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Cooper, Mastercraft, Roadmaster, Falken, Federal, BFGoodrich, Michelin, General, Continental, Mickey Thompson, Lexani, Alliance, Fierce, Greenball, ProMeter, Ohtsu, Starfire, Hankook Bridgestone, Firestone, Cooper, Starfire, Yokohama, ATG

17

22

3

1

42

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Cooper, Mastercraft, Alliance, Titan, Michelin

21

20

0

2

41

Cooper, Yokohama, Bridgestone, Firestone

40

0

0

0

40

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Falken, Jinyu

40

0

0

1

40

Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, Cooper, Dunlop, Cordovan, BFGoodrich, Sumitomo, Bridgestone

36

0

0

2

36

Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Mastercraft, Doral, Towstar

36

0

0

12

36

Continental, General, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Toyo, Yokohama, Nokian, Kumho, GT Radial, Nexen, Hemisphere, Mastercraft

35

0

0

0

35

Pirelli, Kumho, Hankook, Falken, Firestone, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Michelin, Geostar, Blacklion, Continental, Uniroyal, Nankang, General, Pantera, Nitto, BFGoodrich, Minerva, AutoGrip

0

14

20

0

34

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Continental, General, Hercules, Bridgestone, Firestone, Kumho, Uniroyal, Ameristeel, Constellation

34

0

0

0

34

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

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

27

WHOLESALE

26

COMMERCIAL

24

COMM./RETAIL

24

Service Tire Truck Centers Inc.* Bethlehem, Pa. Walter Dealtrey, chairman www.sttc.com Black’s Tire Service Inc./BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors Whiteville, N.C. Ricky Benton, president www.blackstire.com Commercial Tire Inc. Meridian, Idaho Bob Schwenkfelder, CEO www.commercialtire.com Nebraskaland Tire Co. Inc., dba Nebraskaland Tire, Kansasland Tire and Coloradoland Tire Lexington, Neb. Gary Wright, president www.thetirestore.com The Tire Guys Inc., dba Tire-Rama Billings, Mont.

David Wehr, CEO and president www.tirerama.com Certified Tire & Service Centers Inc.* Riverside, Calif.

Jeff Darrow, president www.certifiedtire.com Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc.* High Ridge, Mo. David Dobbs, CEO and president www.gotodobbs.com Conrad’s Tire Service Inc., dba Conrad’s Tire Express & Total Car Care Cleveland, Ohio Eric Turk, CEO and president www.econrads.com Jack Williams Tire Co. Inc. Scranton, Pa. Bill Williams, CEO www.jackwilliams.com AKH Co. Inc., dba Discount Tire Centers* Anaheim, Calif.

Andy Andonian, chairman/Sergio Andonian, president www.discounttirecenters.com Bauer Built Inc., dba Bauer Built Tire Durand, Wis. Jerry Bauer, chairman and CEO www.bauerbuilt.com Bob Sumerel Tire & Service LLC, dba AAA/Bob Sumerel Tire & Service Cincinnati, Ohio Craig Sumerel, president www.bsts.com

RETAIL

23

COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

MTD July 2017

41

41

43

44

44

48

TIRE BRANDS

38

TOTAL OUTLETS

38

WHOLESALE

38

COMMERCIAL

36

COMM./RETAIL

36

RETAIL

35

Graham Tire Co. Sioux Falls, S.D./Spencer, Iowa Bob and Tom Graham, owners www.grahamtire.com and www.grahamtire.net Dunn Tire LLC Buffalo, N.Y. Randall Clark, chairman www.dunntire.com

9

17

5

0

31

Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Hankook, Cooper, Titan

30

0

0

5

30

Mountain View Tire & Service Inc. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Nicholas Mitsos, CEO and president www.mountainviewtire.com Grismer Tire Co., dba Grismer Tire & Auto Service4 Dayton, Ohio John Marshall, president www.grismertire.com Christensen Enterprises, dba Action Gator Tire Stores Orlando, Fla. Fred Christensen, president www.actiongatortire.com Raben Tire Co. LLC Evansville, Ind. Scott Cisney, CEO www.rabentire.com Colony Tire Corp.

Edenton, N.C. Scott Creighton, president www.colonytire.com Tredroc Tire Services Inc. Elk Grove Village, Ill. Tom Bowman, president-commercial operations www.tredroc.com Golden West Tire Centers LLC, dba Big O Tires Los Alamitos, Calif.

Matthew Greco and Robert Curry, managing members and owners www.goldenwesttires.com and www.bigotires.com T.O. Haas Tire Co. Inc. Lincoln, Neb. George Hoellen, president and owner www.tohaastire.com Ben Tire Distributors Ltd., dba Neal Tire and Auto Service* Toledo, Ill. Terry Carlon, president www.nealtire.com (retail) and www.bentire.com (wholesale)

30

0

0

0

30

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Mastercraft, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Pirelli, Prometer, Sailun, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Yokohama Goodyear, Cooper, Dunlop, Kelly, Starfire, Nankang, Westlake

24

2

2

0

28

Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Nokian, BFGoodrich, Fuzion, Primewell, Uniroyal, Hankook, Pirelli, Carlisle

25

0

3

0

28

9

11

8

2

28

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Capitol, Continental, Bridgestone, Cooper, Dunlop, Falken, Federal, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodride, Goodyear, Hankook, Ironman, Kelly, Kumho, Nexen, Nitto, Omni, Pirelli, Regul, Westlake, Yokohama Michelin, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Kelly, Uniroyal, Dunlop, Fierce, Pirelli, Hankook, Kenda, GT Radial, Continental, General, Yokohama

1

18

8

4

27

Cooper, Falken, Mastercraft, Michelin, Yokohama, Toyo, BFGoodrich, Continental, Uniroyal, General, Cordovan, Sumic, Autogrip, Blacklion, Achilles

0

0

27

0

27

Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, General, Firestone, Yokohama, Roadmaster, American Omni, Toyo, Hankook, Falken, Dayton, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly

26

0

0

0

26

Big O Tires, Sumitomo, Cooper, Michelin, Nitto, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Yokohama, Goodyear, Dunlop, Hankook, Continental, Pirelli, General, Mickey Thompson

25

0

0

0

25

0

25

0

6

25

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Kumho, Nitto, Nexen, Hankook, Mickey Thompson, Dick Cepek, Continental, General, Prometer, Trazano, Durun, Timberland, Mazzini Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Yokohama, Cooper, Multi-Mile, Sumitomo, Michelin, Hankook

COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

MTD July 2017

Only MOOG ball studs are proven to be OE or better. ®

*

MAS, Centric and Mevotech Supreme claim “OE or better” but when put through independent metallurgical testing, they failed.

BALL STUDS TESTED THAT CLAIM TO BE OE OR BETTER Ford® F-150

Chevy vy® Silverado

Toyota y ® Camry

MAS Centric

N/A

Mevotech Supreme

When ball studs fail, bad things happen.

That’s why at MOOG we invest so much time and money to test the performance of MOOG and other chassis brands. MOOG ball studs meet or exceed the OE standard.

The difference is huge because inferior chassis parts may put your customers, and your reputation, at risk.

Don’t take chances.

Make it MOOG every time – the professionals’ choice. moogparts.com

#partsmatter

*Results shown are based on independent testing conducted by St. Louis Test Laboratories, Inc. and analyzed by Anderson & Associates, Inc. on studs in ball joints for the 2007 Toyota Camry, 2013 Ford F-150 and 2007 Chevrolet Silverado in accordance with ASTM 415-15, ASTM E340-15, and ASTM E18-16 standard test methods. MOOG, MAS, Mevotech Supreme and Centric ball joint stud metallurgy was compared to the OE (original equipment) stud metallurgy. Stud metallurgy was analyzed by evaluating chemical composition, heat treatment, shot peening and the impact of those factors on stud fatigue life. ©2017 Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC. MOOG and MOOG Go The Extra Mile are trademarks owned by Federal-Mogul LLC, or one or more of its subsidiaries, in one or more countries. All other trademarks shown are the property of their respective owners.

Catastrophic Failure

Dangerous Loss of Control

Accidents

Unwanted Repairs

50

50

53

54

54

56

56

50

Earl W. Colvard Inc., dba Boulevard Tire Center Deland, Fla. Earl Colvard, president www.boulevardtire.com Ziegler Tire & Supply Co. Massillon, Ohio William Ziegler, president www.zieglertire.com Flynn’s Tire Group, dba Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service West Middlesex, Pa. Joe Flynn III, president www.flynnstire.com Valley Tire Co. Inc. Charleroi, Pa. James Stankiewicz, president www.valleytireco.com Royal Tire Inc. St. Cloud, Minn.

Mick Pickens, president www.royaltire.com Kost Tire Distributors Inc., dba Kost Tire and Auto Service* Clarks Summit, Pa. Erwin Kost Sr., president www.kosttirepa.com S&S Firestone Inc., dba S&S Tire Lexington, Ky. Brooks Swentzel, president www.sstire.com

4

3

18

0

25

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Riken, Cooper, Starfire, Bridgestone, Firestone, Primewell, Kumho, Yokohama, Nitto, Continental, General, Dayton

8

17

0

2

25

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Continental, General, GT Radial, Mitas, Fuzion, Carlisle, Samsun

20

0

5

4

25

Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Yokohama, GT Radial, Nokian, Nexen, Hankook, Kumho, Bridgestone, Mastercraft, Pirelli, Vogue, Vanderbilt, Sumitomo, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Solideal, Ohtsu

9

4

11

0

24

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Continental, General, Yokohama, Sumitomo, Uniroyal, Firestone

8

0

15

0

23

23

0

0

1

23

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Cooper, Double Coin, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Kumho, Mastercraft, Nexen, Pirelli, Toyo, Yokohama Goodyear, Hankook, Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Cooper, Nitto, Toyo

3

0

20

11

23

Express Tire Auto Service Centers* Escondido, Calif.

Greta Waggoner, vice president www.expresstire.com Jensen Tire Co., dba Jensen Tire & Auto Omaha, Neb. Matthew Jensen, president/owner www.jensentireandauto.com Rental Concepts LLC, dba RNR Custom Wheels & Performance Tires Fayetteville, Ark. David Harrison, president www.rnrarkansas.com Big Brand Tire & Service Camarillo, Calif.

Greg Robinson, president www.bigbrandtire.com

22

0

0

0

22

21

0

0

0

21

Goodyear, Cooper, BFGoodrich, Cordovan, Michelin, Kelly, Dunlop, Fierce, Uniroyal, Toyo, Sumitomo

21

0

0

0

21

Bridgestone, BFGoodrich, Goodyear, Dunlop

19

0

1

1

20

Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Inc. Erlanger, Ky. Bob Sumerel, CEO www.bobsumereltire.com

1

9

10

0

20

Continental, Michelin, Goodyear, Kumho, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Dunlop, Falken, General, Pirelli, Yokohama, Hankook, Nokian, Uniroyal, Delinte, Nexen, ProComp, Accelera, Durun, Federal, Gladiator, Kingstar, Nitto, Wynstar, Republic, Bridgestone, Toyo Cooper, Goodyear, Firestone, Bridgestone, Michelin, Toyo, Continental, General, Yokohama

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

50

WHOLESALE

49

COMMERCIAL

44

COMM./RETAIL

44

RETAIL

44

COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion, Dayton, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Continental, General, Yokohama, Mastercraft, Cooper, Mastertrack, Titan, Carlisle, Sunfull, Comforser, Supercargo, Roadmaster, Pirelli, Alliance, Galaxy, Primex Goodyear, Kelly, Toyo, Cooper, Michelin, BFGoodrich

MTD July 2017

A MILLION LOADS. A MILLION JOB SITES. ONE TIRE BRAND.

Whether they’re working hard coast-to-coast, across town or on the jobsite, Sumitomo tires are trusted by more fleets and owner-operators than ever before. With tires for virtually every application, they deliver long mileage, excellent handling and dependable retreadability at a great price. And for tire dealers and distributors, they deliver profit you can count on. See why at SumitomoTire.com.

For what drives you.

Š2017 Hankook Tire America

Fit for your everyday journey

Ultra-high-performance all-season tire Touring performance all-season tire

Hankook Tire America Corp. 333 Commerce Street, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37201

www.laufenn.com

The ideal fit…

The tire of choice that meets the demands of a smart driver.

With a variety of performance choices, plus guaranteed ability and safety, your expectations will be blown away.

The only tire that ts your unique driving demands, Laufenn.

FIT FOR YOUR TASTE

FIT FOR YOUR EXPECTATIONS

61

64

64

66

66

66

69

54

3

12

4

6

19

Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Mastercraft, Michelin, Primewell

0

19

0

0

19

19

0

0

0

19

Michelin, Uniroyal, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Cooper, Continental, Goodyear, Firestone, General, Double Coin, Nokian, Greenball, Carlisle, Solideal, BKT, Trelleborg Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Multi-Mile, Hankook, Pirelli, Cooper

7

10

1

1

18

18

0

0

0

18

18

0

0

0

18

Michelin, Goodyear, Pirelli, BFGoodrich, Hankook, Yokohama

17

0

0

3

17

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Delta, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Yokohama, Sailun, Sumitomo

17

0

0

0

17

Big O, Yokohama, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Nitto, Sumitomo, Goodyear, Cooper, Continental

16

0

0

0

16

Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Landsail, Hankook, Yokohama, Continental, Pirelli

15

1

0

0

16

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Uniroyal, Sumitomo, Continental

1

14

1

2

16

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Westlake, Hankook, Double Coin, Bridgestone, Firestone, Summit

0

15

0

0

15

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Continental, General, Fuzion, Firestone, Dynatrac, Dunlop, Carlisle

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

61

WHOLESALE

61

COMMERCIAL

58

COMM./RETAIL

58

Southern Indiana Tire Inc., dba Southern Indiana Tire, Best One Tire & Service and Best One Fleet Service5* Princeton, Ind. Paul Weaver, president www.southernindianatire.com Pete’s Tire Barns Inc. Orange, Mass.

Peter Gerry, CEO and president www.petestire.com Tireman Auto Service Centers Ltd. Toledo, Ohio Randy Jones, president www.thetireman.com Appalachian Tire Products Inc.* Charleston, W. Va. Jennifer Dial, president www.apptire.com Allen Tire Co. Lakewood, Calif.

Fred Allen, president www.allentireco.com Evans Tire & Service Centers Inc., dba Evans Tire & Service Centers and TAG Motorsports Vista, Calif.

John Andonian, CEO www.evanstire.com and www.tagmotorsports.com Steve Shannon Tire Co. Inc., dba Steve Shannon Tire & Auto Centers Bloomsburg, Pa. Steve Shannon, CEO and president www.steveshannon.com Bore/MPC LLC, dba Big O Tires in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma Columbia, Mo. Mark Fenner, president www.mfaoil.com Ramona Tire Inc., dba Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers Hemet, Calif.

Don Digby, CEO www.ramonatire.com Delta World Tire Co. of N.O. Inc. New Orleans, La. Paul Bernstein, president www.deltaworldtire.com Stratham Tire Inc. Brentwood, N.H. Denise Littlefield, president www.strathamtire.com T&W Tire Inc.* Oklahoma City, Okla.

Co-owners www.tandwtire.com

RETAIL

58

COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

Goodyear, Michelin, Kelly, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Dunlop, Dynacargo, TBC Sumic GT, TBC Mirada Crosstour, TBC Grand Prix, TBC Turbo-Tech, TBC Wild Trac, TBC Mudclaw, TBC Trail Guide Michelin, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Toyo, Pirelli, Nexen, GT Radial

MTD July 2017

69

69

69

69

69

69

81

56

14

1

0

1

15

0

15

0

2

15

0

15

0

0

15

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

15

0

0

0

15

Toyo, Cooper, Falken, Bridgestone, BFGoodrich, Nexen, Primewell, Milestar, Nankang, Hankook, Kumho, Firestone, Fuzion, Yokohama, Continental, General, Michelin, Uniroyal, Pirelli,

0

15

0

1

15

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Continental, General, Ironman

15

0

0

0

15

Big O Tires, Cooper, Sumitomo, BFGoodrich, Michelin, Uniroyal, Continental, Yokohama

14

1

0

1

15

Cooper, Dean, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone, Hankook, Nexen, Toyo, Sumitomo, Continental, Yokohama

15

0

0

1

15

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Cooper, GT Radial, Toyo, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Mastercraft, Nexen

7

4

4

3

15

Bridgestone, Firestone, Nokian, Yokohama, Nexen, Delta, Titan, Goodyear, Toyo

14

0

1

0

15

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, GT Radial, Milestar, Westlake

7

8

0

0

15

Goodyear, Cooper, Nokian, Yokohama, Falken, Hankook, Summit

8

5

1

1

14

Toyo, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Cooper, Bridgestone, Carlisle, Centara, Continental, Firestone, General, Gladiator, Greenball, Milestar, Nokian, Riken, Roadmaster, Starfire, Westlake, ITP, Nanco

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

69

WHOLESALE

69

COMMERCIAL

69

COMM./RETAIL

69

P.R. Walker Inc., dba Tire Tracks Joliet, Ill. Frank Shipla, president www.tiretracksusa.com Wm. J. Cassidy Tire & Auto Supply Co., dba Cassidy Tire & Service* Addison, Ill. Ahern family members, owners www.cassidytire.com Custom Bandag Inc. Linden, N.J. Fred De Jesus Sr., CEO and president www.custombandag.com Morpheus Investments, dba Tire Works Total Car Care Las Vegas, Nev. Jeff and Roshie Weightman, owners www.tireworks.co Lamb Ventures LP, dba Lamb’s Tire & Automotive Austin, Texas Jim Ramsey, CEO and president www.lambstire.com Koldenhoven Enterprises, dba Big O Tires Colorado Springs, Colo.

Scott Koldenhoven, Mitch Beranek, Keith Blake and Mike Pryor, partners www.bigotires.com Western Tire Centers Inc., dba Jack Furrier Tire & Auto Care Tucson, Ariz.

Jack Furrier, president www.jackfurriers.com Paragon Enterprises Inc., dba Advanced Auto Service & Tire Centers Mesa, Ariz.

Paul Couture, owner www.advancedauto.com Northwest Tire Inc. Bismarck, N.D. Dan Pearson, president www.nwtire.com Chabill’s Tire Service LLC Morgan City, La. Charles Gowland, general manager www.chabillstire.com Nelson Tire Inc., dba Gill’s Point S The Dalles, Ore. Eric Gill, CEO and president www.pointstire.com St. Lucie Battery & Tire Co. Fort Pierce, Fla. Doug Miller, president www.slbatterytire.com

RETAIL

69

COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

Michelin, Bridgestone, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Uniroyal, Fuzion, Goodyear, Continental, Duck Commander, General, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Nankang, Nitto, Westlake Continental, General, Toyo, Kumho

MTD July 2017

81

88

88

88

88

88

93

93

58

6

4

4

0

14

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Cooper, Yokohama, Vogue, Starfire, BFGoodrich, Nitto, Kumho, Michelin, Continental

11

0

3

1

14

Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Hankook, Continental, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Pirelli

1

0

13

0

14

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dayton, Firestone, General, GT Radial, Michelin, Yokohama, Uniroyal

14

0

0

0

14

14

0

0

0

14

Hankook, Falken, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Ohtsu, Blacklion, Carlisle, Yokohama, Uniroyal, Dunlop, Firestone, Laufenn, Achilles Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, Kumho, Pirelli, Yokohama, Bridgestone, Firestone, Cooper, Dayton, Fuzion, Delta, Falken, GT Radial, Hankook, Kelly, Nankang, Nexen, Mastercraft, Nitto, Primewell

0

0

14

0

14

Bridgestone, Continental, Double Coin, Firestone, General, Michelin, Yokohama, Roadmaster, BFGoodrich, Dayton

9

4

0

0

13

Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Continental, General, Kumho, Aeolus

0

3

10

3

13

Alliance, Continental, General, Dawg Pound Tires, Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Mitas, Trelleborg, Toyo, Uniroyal, Duro, Maxam, BKT, Titan, Carlisle

1

2

10

0

13

Bridgestone, Firestone, Continental, General, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Yokohama, Dayton

13

0

0

0

13

BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Firestone, Fuzion, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin

13

0

0

0

13

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

10

2

0

4

12

12

0

0

0

12

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Hankook, Falken, Continental, General, Cooper, Yokohama, Pirelli, Nankang, Nokian, Jetzon, Milestar, Ohtsu, Vee Rubber, Linglong, Blacklion BFGoodrich, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Uniroyal, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Kelly, Kenda, Kumho, Mastercraft, MultiLine, Omni, Nexen, Pirelli, Radar, Sutong, Toyo, Yokohama

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

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WHOLESALE

81

COMMERCIAL

81

COMM./RETAIL

81

Daniels Tire Service Inc.* Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Douglas Daniels, chairman and CEO www.danielstireservice.com Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Centers Las Vegas, Nev. Ted Wiens Jr., president www.tedwiens.com McGriff Tire Co. Inc., dba McGriff Tire Pros and McGriff Tire* Cullman, Ala. Barry McGriff, president www.mcgrifftirepros.com and www.mcgrifftire.com CJ’s Tire and Automotive Service Inc.* Birdsboro, Pa. Skip Levengood, president www.cjtire.com Rims USA LLC, dba RNR Custom Wheels & Tires Spartanburg, S.C. Chris Raffo, owner www.rnrwheels.com Redburn Tire Co. Phoenix, Ariz.

J.D. Chastain, president www.redburntireco.com Warren Tire Service Center Inc.* Queensbury, N.Y. Robert Kellogg, president www.warrentiresvc.com East Bay Tire Co. Fairfield, Calif.

George Pehanick, CEO www.eastbaytire.com Callaghan Tire Inc.* Bradenton, Fla. Dan Callaghan, owner www.callaghantire.com Virginia Tire & Auto LLC Fairfax, Va. Mike Holmes, CEO www.vatire.com SPF Management Co. LLC, dba Rent-nRoll LLC, Sutton Adventures II LLC, SPFK LLC, SPFP LLC Tampa, Fla. Larry Sutton, president www.rnrwheels.com Free Service Tire Co. Inc. Johnson City, Tenn.

Lewis Wexler Sr., chairman and CEO www.freeservicetire.com F & F Tire & Service Co.* Janesville, Wis. Jeff DeVries, president www.tiredeals.com

RETAIL

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COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

MTD July 2017

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800-238-6469 | tbcbrands.com © 2017 TBC Brands. All Rights Reserved.

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93

93

12

0

0

2

12

12

0

0

0

12

0

0

12

0

12

Bridgestone, Michelin, Yokohama, Firestone, BFGoodrich, General, Continental, Double Coin, Titan, Solideal, Triangle, Gladiator

12

0

0

0

12

Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Toyo, Continental, Mastercraft, Capitol, Dynatrac, General, Uniroyal, Sumic, Sigma, Sutong, Hi-Fly, Trailcutter, Winter Claw

6

4

2

0

12

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

12

0

0

1

12

10

2

0

1

12

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Riken, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Continental, General, Hankook, Pirelli, Bridgestone, Firestone, Cooper, Nitto, Kumho, Hercules, Ironman, GT Radial, Doral Michelin, BFGoodrich, Toyo, Falcon, Nitto, Bridgestone, Firestone

1

11

0

1

12

1. TBC offers the following brands through its wholesale division: Cordovan, Crosswind, Delta, Duck Commander, Eldorado, Jetzon, National, Mirada, Multi-Mile, Sigma, Vanderbilt, Doral, Solar, Sailun, Sumic, Sumitomo, Harvest King, Power King, Akuret, Towmax STR II, Trailer King II ST, Dynacargo, Sentinel 2. Les Schwab’s store count does not include 63 member-affiliated dealers.

3. Purcell Tire & Rubber store total includes 28 stores located at mines.

TIRE BRANDS

TOTAL OUTLETS

93

WHOLESALE

93

COMMERCIAL

93

COMM./RETAIL

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Mock Beroth Tire Inc.* Winston-Salem, N.C. Carey Mock, president www.mockberothtire.com Gulf Coast L&P Inc., dba RNR Custom Wheels & Tires Moss Point, Miss.

Shannon Strunk, owner www.rnrwheels.com Parkhouse Tire Inc. Bell Gardens, Calif.

Jim Parkhouse, CEO www.parkhousetire.com Associated Tire Stores Inc., dba Discount Tire and Automotive, Plains Tire Co., and Bargain Tire Logan, Utah Christie Stock, president www.webtires.net, www.plainstire.com and www.bargaintire.net Heartland Tire Inc.* Blaine, Minn.

Dave Mitchell, owner www.heartlandtireservice.com Robertson Tire Co. Inc. Tulsa, Okla.

Mark Robertson, COO and president www.robertson-tire.com Pueblo Tires Ltd., dba Pueblo Tires & Service* McAllen, Texas Ricky Ivey, general manager www.pueblotires.com Action Tire Co. Forest Park, Ga. Rick Stewart, president www.actiontireco.com

RETAIL

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COMPANY

RANK

2017 Modern Tire Dealer 100: The top independent tire dealers in the United States

Michelin, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Bridgestone, Kumho, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Fuzion, Nexen, Continental, Kenda, Thunderer, Americus, Carlisle, Cooper, Dunlop, General, Mickey Thompson, Venezia, Yokohama Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, Kumho, Pirelli, Yokohama, Bridgestone, Firestone, Cooper, Dayton, Fuzion, Delta, Falken, GT Radial, Hankook, Kelly, Nankang, Nexen, Mastercraft, Nitto, Primewell

Toyo, Cooper, Goodyear, Double Coin, Michelin, Yokohama, Oliver Retreads

4. Includes Dayton Tire and Detroit Tire.

5. Southern Indiana Tire Inc. is part of Best-One Tire and Service, a group of independent tire dealers based in Monroe, Ind., and led by CEOs Larry Zurcher and Mark Zurcher. The group’s store count breaks down as follows: 63 retail, 58 commercial/retail, 83 commercial, and 51 wholesale outlets. * Estimated.

Independent tire dealers dominate... but these 8,743 outlets also sell tires Independent tire dealers account for 61% of the domestic replacement consumer tire market, a significant share, to be sure. However, that means 39% — 92 million tires based on last year’s shipments — are sold through other distribution channels.

On the commercial side, independent dealers represent 52% of the replacement truck tires shipped in the U.S., according to Mackay & Co. Of the remaining 48%, a small percentage is sold through truck stops, but that will increase this year. Travel Centers of America LLC is selling tires through its new TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network, and Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores continues to aggressively add stores.

The Modern Tire Dealer 100 list is representative of the independent side of retail and commercial tire sales. Here are some of the major tire sellers among mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, tire company-owned stores, auto parts chains and truck stops.

Mass merchandisers: Walmart Tire & Lube Express, 2,560 stores; Sears Auto Centers, 529 stores.

Warehouse clubs: Sam’s Club, 660 stores; Costco Wholesale, 510 stores; BJ’s Wholesale, 180 stores.

Company-owned stores: Bridgestone Retail Operations, 2,230 stores (Firestone Complete Auto Care, 1,650 stores; Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works, 580 stores); Goodyear Auto Service Centers, 600 stores.

Auto parts chains: Pep Boys, 800 stores.

Truck stops: Love’s Truck Tire Care centers, 267 stores; TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network, 244 stores.

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MTD July 2017

Counter intelligence

I got schooled by a school teacher Chemistry and confidence is a powerful combination

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hen I was a young district manager tech and a store manager when they are on the same in charge of 13 stores, life was crazy. I page. In this case, vehicle inspections remained always felt somewhat out of control, consistent, Ed continued to make convincing like I was missing something and, of course, I was. presentations, and sales and profitability steadily I always needed another service tech, a better improved. service tech, another salesman or a better store manager. It was like chasing a ghost. Every once Teaching customers pays off in a while, I would interview what I felt was the As often happens within an organization when best new candidate who later failed miserably. the word gets out about a store whose results have Proper staffing is an age-old problem in retailing. By Wayne Williams dramatically changed, fellow managers become As a young district manager, I soon found it suspicious. Next thing you know, the word is that wasn’t about filling all the positions, but filling the positions good ole Ed must be cheating customers. As the district properly. Chemistry inside of a store is critical; a team that manager, I visited Ed’s store, and I reviewed the daily can work together toward customer satisfaction and sales tickets. I found that Ed, like a good school teacher, was and profit goals. I became better and better at selecting doing a great job teaching customers about the condition the right team for each store, and I learned that it was my of their vehicles and presenting the material, you might say, primary objective. in a way that customers understood and felt comfortable spending money on.

Filling a vacancy I learned a lot as a young district manager during this As every district manager or business owner knows, period. I learned to be more open-minded and more sooner or later you must fire an under performing store attentive. First off, I fired the previous manager due to manager. From time to time, I selected and hired replacement poor results, but only after delaying the inevitable longer candidates who were less than I hoped for and sometimes than I should have. Zia, the service tech, had been telling more than I expected. me there were opportunities to do more business in the Once, against my store, but I wasn’t paying close enough attention. Many better judgement, I service techs complain that the work they recommend hired a former school doesn’t get sold, so I discounted Zia’s voice as just one teacher with limited of many complaining techs; however, he was correct. sales and automotive Secondly, my boss, the vice president, insisted that I fire background. Ed was the under performing store manager before I had found a pretty convincing a replacement. Creating the vacancy created a sense of guy, and I had created urgency. Had I still had a manager, I may not have hired an opening by firing Ed. He and Zia continued to work together for a number of a manager the week years, and the marginal location became a real contributor.

Years ago when I was a district manager, earlier. an unconventional hiring led to sales T h e l o c at i o n Unconventional approach worked magic and improved store profits. where I assigned Ed Another thing I learned was the power of chemistry was a neighborhood store with modest traffic count and and confidence. Zia and Ed had such great chemistry that only occasional profits. Ed was immediately spectacular. He their confidence grew, and as a result, the sales grew. As I began to sell what his veteran service tech recommended. continued to review individual daily sales tickets, I began Let me say it again, “Ed began selling what his service tech to see trends that I was able to communicate to other stores recommended.” Zia, the tech, was very thorough in his in my district, which improved my overall results. Ed and inspections and recommendations, and Ed sold the jobs Zia’s approach, in a variety of ways, was unconventional one right after another. and opened my mind. It changed the standard by which Like I’ve said a thousand times before, “There’s only we, as a company, measured some key categories. two problems you can have in a tire store, either you’re Bottom line, the service tech was right, and the teacher not getting enough cars, or you’re not selling enough on schooled me. None of us was as good as we thought we the ones you’re getting.” Ed’s conversation rate was high were. ■ and his ticket average climbed. By any measure, the two most important variables in any retail location is customer Wayne Williams is president of ExSell Marketing Inc., a count and average ticket. “counter intelligence” firm based in La Habra, Calif. He can You know, there’s magic that happens between a service be reached at exsellmkting@gmail.com.

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European notebook

A new era dawns for mobile tire fitting in Europe The unique MobileMech system has arrived

T

he season of tire and automotive shows to allow the possibility of communication to is now in full swing across Europe and designated control centers. I also was informed the general feeling in the market is that that the ECUBE is capable of handling even the there are now far too many events for competitive toughest passenger and motorcycle tires on the companies to either exhibit in or visit. market.

However, several long-established shows still stand head and shoulders above the rest First Europe, then the U.S. in terms of size, product variety and business I managed to get an exclusive interview with presentation including Autopromotec in Bologna, Ansgar von Haacke, head of MobileMech’s system Italy, which I recently visited over several days. By John Stone project, who pointed out that with the MobileFrom experience, this biannual event is always Mech vehicle and ECUBE system the company is an interesting source of new tire product launches and looking to immediately attract the attention of ambitious technology innovation. tire dealers in all European countries with an even more All the Autopromotec shows are extremely interesting versatile solution to their tire breakdown service. He also and well worth a visit, but every now and then a totally explained that before launching ECUBE, it was developed, new innovation is introduced to capture the enthusiastic designed, tested and approved by a number of the most imagination of a show’s audience. That is exactly what experienced tire service specialists in the industry. happened at Autopromotec 2017.

Being at the show with a very eye-catching booth and demonstration area enabled Delticom to explain the Mobile tire fitment solution benefits of becoming a MobileMech-appointed partner Leading up to any tire event you often read previews of new in their country to an ongoing source of interested comproducts, but when I came across one from Germany-based panies. Obvious benefits of the technically advanced and Delticom AG,I just knew I had to make a beeline for their professionally equipped Iveco Daily vehicle fitted with the booth at the event. Delticom is a leading online tire sales ECUBE unit include personalized software that provides equipment specialist who support in efficient data management as well as an optimized in partnership with Nether- route planning system and one week training course at the lands-based brand awareness MobileMech Academy in Germany. experts Technomarketing Delticom will be progressively looking to establish launched a revolutionary new MobileMech throughout Europe and in due course on a mobile tire fitment solution global basis as they currently operate an online tire sales — MobileMech. service in 41 countries. It was confirmed to me by von This completely unique Haacke that North America is very much in Delticom’s product that is already sights to launch the system at the earliest appropriate time. creating huge interest and I would not usually highlight a particular product or enthusiasm with progres- company in this column, but on this occasion I believe The new ECUBE service unit is sive-thinking tire dealers the MobileMech system is well worth being showcased. In used to help tire dealers perform throughout Europe is cen- my opinion, it represents a very important breakthrough on-road service calls. tered around a sleek, large development for international tire dealers to further and attractive-looking tire breakdown service vehicle improve their mobile tire breakdown service facilities. that is equipped with an amazing all-in-one ECUBE tire There is no doubt that mobile tire service will never be the service unit that is surprisingly compact and effectively same again once this totally innovative system establishes designed to take mobile tire service facilities to an even itself in Europe and beyond — which should not take superior level of capabilities and efficiency. long. And I will be closely monitoring its progress. ■ When I inspected the vehicle at the show it was clear that it could accommodate a large quantity of tires, wheels John Stone has been working within the global tire industry and will (in due course) also carry additional equipment for the past 26 years. In 2004 he launched his own consulting and tools to tire breakdowns which can be at the roadside, company, Sapphire Media Services, which caters to business office or home. Onboard are four components that form the media clients around the globe. Stone also writes for tire and ECUBE system: a tire changer, balancer, compressor and automotive-related publications in Europe, South Africa a power bank complete with advanced remote monitoring and Asia.

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MTD July 2017

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Business insight

Mapping out your road to success Give your employees tools to navigate toward your goals

T

hroughout the tire and service aftermarour employees have all the tools necessary to do ket, the offices and sales counters and a good job. (Owners, at all costs, must protect service shops are rampant with goals. the assets of the company. That is the people, the Number of units for the month, various sales property, equipment and inventory). A map is one targets, volume targets and spiffs. We are all very of those tools. How to get from point A to point good at telling our employees what the various B every month. We must all go beyond rattling metrics are that are needed to keep the business off numbers and statistics and dig a little deeper. going. One area that needs improvement is providAn effective approach in a meeting is to ask ing the road map to reach the goals. what each employee thinks they can do to conIt’s all well and good that the business needs By Dennis McCarron tribute specifically to reach your goal. You may to sell $100,000 a month to make payroll, pay be pleasantly surprised when given the chance the overhead, and put cash into the business to buy the to build the map how eagerly some offer their input. You next load of tires. And most employees are well versed in may also be surprised at some employees’ silence. They that number. What they may not know is how to actually aren’t necessarily being negative, they may not know how get there. to take action on a goal. These are the ones who need a It seems obvious to all of us that who have been in the map. As an example, your technicians may not realize industry for decades that A, B and C lead to X, Y and Z. But how important his or her thorough, accurate and honest for a newer employee, or someone who has moved from inspections are to reaching sales goals. the shop to showroom For ever y goal sales, it may not add up that is set in a shop, in their head. Here’s an there needs to be a example. map for how to get We hold a meetthere. What specific ing for our staff, and actions or behaviors let them know that are going to contribthe sales goal for the ute to the wind in the month is $100,000. The sails, pushing the ship aggressive sales person toward its destination. is going to try and hit Or should I say what that number as soon as actions contribute to possible. the wind in the sales He may even be so forceful that we pushing the shop toward its goals. lose some potential return visits We need to not only discuss the what (is the goal) but because the sales presentation was so also discuss the how (we get there). If you have a really pushy. Another employee sits back good team, you also can include in the discussion what and thinks to himself, “How in the is currently happening in the shop that is preventing you world are we going to do that? If I from reaching the goal. am one of the three sales people, For a short takeaway, start with a need (something the that means I have to do $35,000 business must do), identify the goal (end result, what myself and I haven’t done that success looks like) and then fill in the how (what each yet since coming on board. This employee must do and contribute to connect the need makes me nervous.” Maybe with the goal). there’s a technician in I can’t promise you with this advice that you will always the meeting thinking, reach your goal. I can promise you if you fill in the blanks “This is about sales, and include your teams in the how’s, the plan Bs, and ask it doesn’t concern each what they will contribute, you will at least get closer me, so I’m going to to financial success than ever before. ■ start looking at my phone messages.”

Dennis McCarron is executive director of Dealer Strategic As owners, as lead- Planning Inc., a company that manages multiple tire dealer ers, it is our ultimate 20 Groups in the U.S. (www.dsp-20group.com). To contact responsibility to make sure McCarron, email him at dennis@dsp-20group.com.

For a short takeaway: Start with a need, identify the goal and then fill in the how.

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Focus on industry

Sustainability is driving Michelin’s growth Futuristic products will be on the market in 10 years

By Joy Kopcha

S

ustainable mobility is the driving principle of Groupe Michelin’s global growth plan, and it’s not some far-off dream. The company says sustainability will play a key role in increasing both tire sales and services. By 2020 the company wants to increase revenue from tire sales by 20%.

Michelin took its sustainable vision to Montreal to host Movin’On, a two-and-a-half day conference that brought together leaders and innovators from all modes of transportation. From buses and bicycles to cars and robots, Movin’On featured leaders and speakers from technology companies, automobile makers, and government agencies. The event previously was known as the Challenge Bibendum, taking its name from the Michelin Man mascot.

“Sustainability and the digital revolution have created a new road map for all players in the mobility process,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, CEO of Michelin. “The Michelin Group is enthusiastically playing its part in designing the mobility of the future.

“Driven by the need to conserve energy and raw materials, we are also more connected. Michelin is not content to talk about the future and to organize the dialogue. Rather it is building the future by taking action.”

That action is embodied by Movin’On, and Michelin’s connections to partners, startups and academics, Senard said.

Those connections will play a part in Michelin’s growth. In addition to increasing revenue from tire sales, the company wants to double the revenue from its service activities. As tires are managed and fully optimized, the goal is to reduce “their environmental footprint while maintaining safety, productivity and cost controls.” The tire maker also wants to be a leader in “the high-technology materials segment.”

Movin’On offered some far-out looks at the transportation sector, such as a talk about airborne mobility by a former NASA engineer who now works for Uber Technologies Inc. During an interview with Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America Inc., Modern Tire Dealer asked why independent tire dealers should care about Michelin’s investment in this type of event and innovations which seem so far off.

Selleck acknowledged that as entrepreneurs, tire dealers have their heads down and are focused on the day-to-day operations of their businesses. He said it’s helpful to take a break and look up. “Many of the things you’ll see here will be in the market 10 years from now,” Selleck said.

Michelin believes the Vision tire — of which there’s only one in the world, so even mounting on a vehicle is so far impossible — could be reality in 10-15 years. The concept

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Terry Gettys introduced the Vision concept tire. It was created with a goal of combining connected technologies into the ultimate environmentally friendly product.

tire is airless and made of biodegradable materials. It’s connected, rechargeable, and much like the Tweel, it’s a tire and wheel all-in-one. It’s created not on an assembly line, but with a 3D printer.

Cyrille Roget, technical and scientific communication director for Michelin global, said the varying technologies in the concept tire offer different levels of maturity. “Some of them could be two years; others would take 10 years or more to come to life.”

During the tire’s introduction, Terry Gettys, executive vice president of research and development for Michelin, said the concept tire is the company’s vision of “a perfect solution for the future for sustainable mobility. It’s a system solution of products and unprecedented services.” Here are highlights: • It’s an airless tire made from completely recyclable material.

It’s lightweight, and because it’s never inflated, there are no flat tires, and thus for consumers, no downtime.

• It’s connected. “It’s a tire that’s connected to a vehicle that’s connected with drivers that are connected,” Gettys said.

• The tread is rechargeable. It can be rapidly reloaded and customized for the consumer’s path.

“You might be thinking well that’s a dream. And you’d be right. It’s a long-term concept which brings together all of our elements of sustainable mobility,” Gettys said. “We can proclaim it’s a very realistic dream because all of the components that I just described are the topics of current research projects at Michelin and we can project delivering on those solutions.” ■

MTD July 2017

Rotary now offers a full line of wheel service products.

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See our new line at rotarywheelservice.com/mtd

Focus on dealers

Tire dealers share how to attract and employ millennials The lessons learned apply to every customer

By Joy Kopcha

F

orget all the wisecracks made about millennials. This is not another one of those stories. Millennials are shaping how independent tire dealers operate their businesses. Clair & Dee’s Point S in Rexburg, Idaho, offers a laundry list of improvements made — all in the name of attracting and serving millennial customers. The best part is, those improvements serve every customer who walks in the door, no matter what his or her age.

Ryan Thueson is co-owner of Clair & Dee’s, and says the tire business has adapted its marketing, updated its point-of-sale system, invested in its waiting area and bought loaner vehicles for customers to borrow.

It drills all the way down to the kind of technicians he and fellow business owner Chris Cornelius hire.

“The biggest change for us is how we decide to go to market for these millennials, and that has gone from the type of mechanics we bring in — full service mechanics,” Thueson says. “(Millennials) want to come to one place, a one-stop shop. If you can service their oil change, put their tires on and rotate them and sell them new tires, and fix their timing belts, their water pumps, and their transmissions, if you can do all that, that’s what they really want, because time is key to them. They don’t want to waste the

time to go a lot of places. They can find information really fast on their phone, validate what you’re telling them, and then they just want to move on.”

Here are three more tips from Thueson.

Communication: This generation may get a bad rap for its dependence on cell phones, but Clair & Dee’s is leveraging that connection. Via text the tire dealership communicates everything from when a job is done to a reminder of an upcoming appointment. Improving the store’s point-of-sale system has made that possible, and sending invoices by email is another new option.

“If you’re not doing some of that stuff, you might want to think about it,” Thueson says. “Updating that point-of-sale system, that is probably one of the key things you can do.”

Waiting area: The television is no longer the star attraction of a customer waiting area. Thueson says the preference is for a customer to drop off the vehicle for service, but that’s not always an option. So Clair & Dee’s has created an internet bar, with free Wi-Fi, where customers can set up a laptop and work. “We’re finding they’re doing that more than they’re sitting there watching the TV you used to have in your showroom. You could almost do away with that and make it more interactive.”

Loaner vehicles: This is something Clair & Dee’s has offered for “a lot of years,” though it didn’t start marketing the service

Rory Tyler believes his tire business, Point S Creswell, has benefitted from its relationship with millennial customers, particularly on social media. “I wasn’t sure what Instagram was,” Tyler says, but after having a truck wrapped with the store’s name and logo he had customers tell him, “’I saw your truck on Instagram.’ It was out there before I even got the truck back to the shop.”

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until more recently. The tire dealership bought a couple Kia Souls and had them wrapped with the store’s name and logo. “Some stores say they’re not going to loan a car out to a 25-year-old, but for us, it’s worked really, really well. People call us all the time, ‘is the car available?’” The store takes no reservations, and the car is available on a first-come, first-served basis. “It’s so convenient for them; they absolutely love it.”

Rory Tyler is primary owner of Point S Creswell in Creswell, Ore. He likes to think about millennials the same way he thinks about tires. “Success working with millennials starts with knowing their distinctions, much like knowing your product line.”

Damon Nielson spoke during a panel discussion on millennials with fellow Tire Factory tire dealers, from left to right, Ryan Thueson, Ben Millar, Shane Vorderstrasse and Rory Tyler.

He also doesn’t think of starting a relationship with millennials; instead, he thinks of extending a relationship that already exists, one that began years before they even learned to drive. “We began our relationship when they were young children, visiting our store with their parents and grandparents. We spend time interacting with them, giving them soccer balls and footballs with our logo on them, and plenty of popcorn. We believe that the opportunity to be part of their buying decision starts very early.”

The relationship continues as the potential customers become students in the local school, and Point S Creswell donates uniforms, gives away water bottles and advertises in the school gymnasium.

“We understand millennials don’t have loyalty tendencies, and the internet is an obstacle. But with our many avenues of exposure I truly believe there is not a child in our town that is not familiar with Point S and the strong support we’ve given,” Tyler says. “I believe all of this exposure increases my chances of being able to explain to them the many benefits of buying locally.”

Beyond that, Tyler says hiring the right people helps draw in the right customer. “Hiring a key millennial as a salesperson is another step we’ve found to be able to grow that millennial base.

“We focus on top performing high school athletes when we’re looking to hire. We’ve found the work ethic it takes to become a top performing athlete can be utilized to become a top performing employee.”

Those employees are allowed to access their cell phones while

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at work, but Tyler says, “We limit it. We make sure they know it is a privilege and it can be taken away. We monitor it and make sure it doesn’t get abused, but I feel it’s made a difference in letting us build a stronger relationship.”

That cell phone use in the store has opened up new avenues to communicate with customers, Tyler says. Like Thueson, Point S Creswell is communicating with customers via text. It’s a “more consistent means of instant communication.” His team is sending photos of wheels and price quotes via text messaging, “and we get an instant response.”

Texting has become a key component of Damon Nielson’s business at Tire Factory Point S in American Fork, Utah. It may have started with millennials, but Nielson says it’s become a go-to tool for customers of all ages.

“Anyone in this day and age, you call them, you’ve got an estimate put together, you need to get ahold of them, and you call and it rings and rings and rings.” It might take hours for a customer to respond to a voice mail, but when Nielson sends a text message that says the estimate is ready, “the phone will almost always ring back within 30 seconds.” And those who can’t call back will reply via text. “We’ve found that since we’ve been using the texting, customers don’t even call us anymore. We get a text, ‘Hey, I need an appointment.’”

Nielson says it’s critical that a business establish policies with how to communicate with customers via text. Every incoming message is sent in duplicate to multiple members of the team to make sure someone responds quickly. And every time a customer drops off a vehicle, an employee asks, “How would you like us to communicate with you today?” The options: text messages, emails and phone calls.

Ben Millar says millennials deserve credit for using tools, and pushing others to use them, to work more efficiently. Millar owns Millar’s Point S Tire and Auto Service in Canby, Ore., and says older generations “are married to their jobs and feel the need to be there a lot.”

He doesn’t see that same trait in millennials, and wonders if the difference is “our generation hasn’t learned to work smart, and we are not as efficient in using the tools and systems millennials have already mastered.

“The bottom line is employers don’t have to break the way they have run their successful businesses, but they do have to open up to the millennials’ strengths.”

Shane Vorderstrasse, owner of Canaga Point S Tire and Automotive in Lebanon, Ore., identifies himself as a millennial, and says others might be surprised to learn his generation doesn’t place price at the top of its list of priorities. “They care about value.

“They want you to give them a fair price. If they’re going to come into your store, as long as you’re in the competitive price range, as long as you’re going to meet all of their needs at one time — that’s going to matter way more to them than the price,” he says.

“They do their research before they come, so that gives you the opportunity to validate that research, but also help them make a different decision based on the additional facts you discover when you do the diligence of asking the right questions. When you build that trust, you have the opportunity to build loyalty.” ■ These five tire dealers talked about their strategies during a training session, “Millennials are your future,” during the 2017 Tire Factory Inc. annual dealer meeting.

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TPMS

Kia Sorento 2011-2017 Ensure that wheels to be fitted are designed for the sensor mount SUBJECT VEHICLES: Kia Sorento 2011-2017 RELEARN PROCEDURE? Yes. SPECIAL TOOLS NEEDED? Yes, a Kia GDS (Global Diagnostic System) with the TPMS module scan tool.

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he tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) on the 2011-2017 Kia Sorento monitors the air pressure in the four road tires with wheel-mounted tire pressure sensors. To do this, the system uses a TPMS receiver, four radio frequency (RF) tire pressure sensors, two warning indicators on the instrument cluster, and a data circuit to perform system functions.

The tire pressure sensor operates in two modes: stationary/ rolling mode and sleep mode. In stationary/rolling mode, the sensor will measure pressure and temperature every four seconds, and measure acceleration every 60 seconds.

In sleep mode, the sensor enters a low current consumption state where no measurements are made in order to conserve battery power. All sensors are in this state when new. The sensor will not transmit unless requested to do so by the initiate command or when the vehicle accelerates to 15 mph (24 km/h).

Tire pressure monitor warning indicators When tire pressure is below the allowed threshold, the low pressure indicator on the instrument cluster will be illuminated. If the system detects a receiver or sensor fault, or if it detects a fault that is external to the receiver or sensor, the TPMS warning indicator on the instrument cluster will be illuminated. If the fault is considered “critical,” the light will stay on throughout the entire ignition cycle.

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Reset procedures NOTE: If a tire pressure sensor is replaced, it will need to be initiated. The TPMS is not affected by wheel and tire rotation.

The low tire pressure telltale illuminates when one or more tires is significantly underinflated. The indicator will go out after the tires are inflated to the specified pressure. Ensure the warning light goes off (this may take up to four minutes if the tire is not rapidly re-inflated).

Tire pressure sensor initiation

Auto-learn sensors 1) Every time the ignition is turned on, all sensor locations are verified and/or located.

2) If a sensor has been removed, the lack of response will cause it to eventually be removed from its list of active sensors (may take 10 minutes).

3) When new sensors are added, or the wheels are rotated, the system will automatically learn their new locations within 10 minutes after turning on the ignition if the vehicle is being operated at a speed of at least 15 mph (24 k/ph).

Manual sensor initiation NOTE: In the following procedure, a Kia GDS (Global Diagnostic System) with the TPMS module scan tool must be used.

1) Condition – Ignition ON and Engine OFF 2) Holding TPMS module within 3 inches (76 mm) of the sensor valve, read each tire pressure sensor ID in the following order: front left, front right, rear left, then rear right.

3) Press the ENTER button as each tire is illuminated on the screen.

MTD July 2017

be no other sensors in the vehicle since this could cause the system to monitor the wrong sensors or fail to learn a new sensor.

6) Modify any sensor ID and press the [OK] button.

Illustrations courtesy of Kia Motors America Inc.

Demounting/mounting procedures

Figure 1: Registering the tire pressure sensor (1 of 2).

CAUTION: The tire should be demounted from the wheel using the tire changer manufacturer’s instructions. Use the following information to avoid damage during the demounting/mounting procedures.

CAUTION: Ensure that the wheel to be fitted is designed for the sensor mount. There should normally be a mark to indicate this.

NOTE: If a tire pressure sensor is replaced, it will need to be initiated. See “Reset procedures.” The TPMS is not affected by wheel and tire rotation.

Tire pressure sensor CAUTION: Do not use puncture repair fluid, as this can cause the sensor pressure port to block and an incorrect warning to occur.

Figure 2: Registering the tire pressure sensor (2 of 2).

4) Press the WRITE button after reading all of the sensor IDs. 5) Connect GDS to Data Link Connector (DLC) located under the left side of the instrument panel. Register the four sensor IDs to the receiver (see Figures 1 and 2).

NOTE: The TPMS receiver will complete the learn procedure of the new sensor after the vehicle is driven up to 20 minutes at speeds over 15 mph (24 km/h).

NOTE: For the system to correctly monitor the tires for under-inflation, there should be a total of exactly four sensors, one on each of the four road wheel positions. There should

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Removal 1) Remove the wheel and tire assembly.

CAUTION: Avoid tire/tool contact with the valve while demounting the tire.

2) Deflate tire and remove balance weights. The tire bead should be broken about 90 degrees from the valve side of the wheel. The bead breaker should not be set too deep. Demount should end near the valve.

CAUTION: The valve nut should not be re-used.

3) While handling the sensor with care, remove the valve nut.

4) Discard the valve assembly.

Installation CAUTION: Avoid bringing the tire pressure sensor in contact with lubricant. Always handle the tire pressure sensor carefully.

1) Assemble the valve to the sensor, and turn the valve three times with the square part of the screw in the slot (see Figure 3).

CAUTION: Ensure the sensor feet are against the wheel throughout the remainder of the assembly process.

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TPMS

www.redi-sensor.com

You already have a TPMS tool.

You know how to do a factory relearn.

Do you really want to start over?

Don’t lose time cloning or programming blank aftermarket sensors. VDO REDI-Sensor is ready right out of the box!

• Pre-programmed and designed to follow OE vehicle relearn procedures • Works with all major TPMS scan tools • Reduces inventory and eliminates service delays • OE designed and validated For more information, visit: www.redi-sensor.com

2) Ensure that the valve hole and mating face of the wheel are clean. Mount the assembly to the wheel. The fit should not be tight (i.e., it should still be possible to easily adjust the valve angle).

CAUTION: Ensure the grommet remains in contact with the wheel.

3 ) Ti g h t e n t h e Figure 3: Installing the tire pressure sensor (1 of 2). washer and nut by hand until the valve thread meets the nut’s built-in calibrated stop (see Figure 4).

CAUTION: While tightening the nut, do not exceed the allowed torque. To avoid damage, do not use electric or pneumatic tools.

4) Using a torque wrench, tighten the nut to 35 in.-lbs. (4 N.m). It is normal to feel a break as the Figure 4: Installing the tire pressure sensor (2 of 2) 20 in.-lbs. (2.3 N.m) calibrated stop in the nut snaps and the torque falls. Increase the torque smoothly in order to achieve a clean break of the stop.

5) Lubricate the tire bead (not the rim). Do not use excessive lubrication.

6) Start tire mounting about 5.9 inches (15 cm) from the valve. Move the mounting tool away from the valve. Avoid tire/tool contact with the valve. Finish with the mounting tool near the valve.

7) Adjust the inflation pressure of all wheels. Install the valve cap.

8) If your are installing a new sensor, initiate the tire pressure sensor. See “Reset procedures.” ■ Torque specifications Component Wheel nut Tire pressure sensor valve nut

Ft.-lbs. (N.m) 65-86 (90-120) In.-lbs. (N.m) 1 35 (4)

It is normal to feel a break as the 20 in.-lbs. (2.3 N.m) calibrated stop in the nut snaps and the torque falls. Increase torque smoothly in order to achieve a clean break of the stop. Do not exceed allowed torque. Do not use electric or pneumatic tools.

VDO and REDI-Sensor – Trademarks of the Continental Corporation

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Information for this column comes from Mitchell 1’s “Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Guide” for domestic and import vehicles. Headquartered in Poway, Calif., Mitchell 1 has provided quality repair information solutions to the automotive industry for more than 80 years. For more information, visit www.mitchell1.com.

For archived TPMS articles, visit www.moderntiredealer.com.

MTD July 2017

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Products is available as an on-premise or hosted data center solution, enabling multi-site dealers and franchises to manage each store from a single, head-office location. At the same time, each location has its own independent application and database.

ASA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC. www.asaauto.com

New MiniLift mobile lifting systems series is available

VSG adds Rotary wheel balancers line Vehicle Service Group (VSG) has introduced a full line of Rotary branded wheel balancers ranging from a value-priced manual model to a 3D electronic wheel balancer with microprocessor.

The R180 Pro 3D Auto Wheel Balancer is equipped with automatic wheel dimension sonar and a laser rim profile scanner. The R155 Pro 3D Wheel Balancer is well-equipped and has interactive inputs that guide the operator during the full balancing process.

The R138 Shop 2D Wheel Balancer is an entry-level computerized balancer with a small footprint and low rotational speed. The R122 Hand Spin Wheel Balancer is a budget-minded wheel balancer the delivers precision balancing at low rotational speeds using a hand crank or by manually spinning the wheel.

VEHICLE SERVICE GROUP www.rotarylift.com/Wheel-Service/Wheel-Balancer

Pirelli releases Formula Driver II all-position tire The new Formula Driver II for long haul and regional all-position applications is designed to provide mileage, safety and durability. An optimized tread pattern featuring siping at the groove edges resists irregular wear. Large circumferential grooves combine with the optimized structure to provide better stability and handling on dry and wet conditions. The Formula Driver II is available now and is the first tire to be released in Pirelli’s Tier 2 Formula product line. Formula brand tires are supplied by TP Commercial Solutions LLC, a Pirelli business unit based in Rome, Ga. TP COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS LLC www.prometeon.com/en-ww

Equipment Supply Co. (ESCO) has added the MiniLift series of mobile lifting systems to its product offerings for the tire service and wheel handling market. The company says the MiniLift Classic (model #92050) is a uniquely designed portable lifting system that allows for easy lifting of the vehicle in any service or body shop environment using a pneumatic air inflated lifting system and support stands. Also available is the MiniLift Lift & Move (model #92055) that allows technicians to lift and sustain the load of the vehicle all while completely moving the vehicle on a trolley.

EQUIPMENT SUPPLY CO. www.esco.net

Cardone unveils new ride height sensors Cardone Industries Inc. has added new ride height sensors to its line of air suspension products. Featuring upgraded hardware and mounting points, Cardone Ride Height Sensors monitor proper vehicle height, which is a critical factor in maintaining a healthy air suspension system as well as a safe and comfortable ride for passengers. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, Cardone Ride Height Sensors are designed and tested to meet or exceed OE performance.

Plug-and-play installation allows for a quick repair.

CARDONE INDUSTRIES INC. www.cardone.com

Mahle has a new A/C service unit for R1234yf vehicles

ASA introduces the next-generation of TireMaster software New TireMasterGTX software from ASA Automotive Systems is point-of-sale and accounting software for mid-sized and enterprise-level retail/wholesale businesses in North America.

TireMaster GTX is the next-generation of ASA Automotive’s TireMaster software for multi-location tire and auto service dealers. The company says Windows-based TireMaster GTX

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The new ArcticPro ACX1250 air conditioning (A/C) service unit by Mahle Aftermarket’s Service Solutions division is designed to economically service R1234yf vehicles. The ACX1250 is designed to increase technician productivity due to its fully automatic program to recover, vacuum, leak test, and charge without command for ease of operation. An external refrigerant identifier minimizes costly refrigerant cross contamination risks. The ACX1250 recovers more than 95% of automobile A/C system refrigerant.

MAHLE AFTERMARKET INC. www.servicesolutions.mahle.com

MTD July 2017

Manufacturers/marketers

2017 MTD Buyers’ Guide A directory for equipment and services for your sales counter, office and service bays — plus associations!

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ooking for a new tire supplier? Want to contact an automotive parts manufacturer? Interested in a new computer system or mounting/balancing equipment? It’s easy to find contact information using Modern Tire Dealer’s updated Buyers’ Guide!

On the following pages you will find our directory of manufacturers and marketers serving the North American tire market. Included is contact information as well as product listings for companies offering tires, automotive service equipment, wheels, wheel weights, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, consulting services and much more. (Products are often broad categories, not specific goods or services.)

Also, following the manufacturers/marketers information you will find listings for state and provincial tire dealer associations and industry-related national associations.

ADVICS North America Inc. 1650 Kingsview Dr., Lebanon, OH 45036.

(800) 225-4081. FAX: (513) 563-5169 www.advics-na.com Products: brake products.

1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels 12078 Florence Ave., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. (562) 692-0109 or (800) 383-7974 RimPix: 951-RimText www.1-800everyrim.com Products: OEM wheels and accessories, wheel repair and chrome plating.

31 Inc.

Aeolus Tyre Co. Ltd.

100 Enterprise Dr., Newcomerstown, OH 43832. (740) 498-8324 or (800) 438-3302 FAX: (740) 498-8325 www.31inc.com Products: retreading materials, tire gauges, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

No. 48 South Rd., Jiaodong-Jiaozuo Henan Province P, China 454003. (443) 326-8240 or (855) 402-8473 www.globalvalueleader.com Products: OTR tires, ultra-high performance tires, high performance tires, touring tires, light truck tires, CUV/SUV tires, medium truck tires.

ACDelco 1-800 Radiator & A/C 4401 Park Rd., Benicia, CA 94510.

(707) 747-7400 or (800) 723-4286 www.1800radiator.com Products: cooling/air conditioning products, fuel system products, oil products and lubricants.

6200 Grand Pointe Dr., Grand Blanc, MI 48439. (800) 606-2350 www.acdelco.com Products: antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets and seals, belts and hoses, brake products, chemicals, cleaners and polishes, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, gloves, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, transmission/drive line products, wipers blades.

Achilles Tires USA, Inc. 20 Group – Dealer Strategic Planning 1 Michael Ct., Lake in the Hills, IL 60156 (630) 352-8918. FAX: (224) 241-8161 www.dsp-20group.com Products: consulting, tire dealer 20 Groups.

www.moderntiredealer.com

15791 Rockfield Blvd., Suite B, Irvine, CA 92618. (949) 445-1370 www.achillestiresusa.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance 2706 Treble Creek, Suite 100, San Antonio TX 78258. (210) 492-4868 or (800) 288-6825. FAX: (210) 492-4890 www.autovalue.com www.bumpertobumper.com Products: auto service parts and equipment, shop equipment, 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 and repair materials and equipment, steering components, suspension components, tire service and repair products and equipment, TPMS, truck and SUV accessories, wheels and accessories, compressors, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts and jacks, nitrogen inflation equipment, tire display racks, tools and tool accessories, roadside assistance programs, Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

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Manufacturers/marketers Altura Tyres

Airtech TPMS 17381 Nichols Lane, Suite M, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. (949) 274-TPMS (8767) FAX: (888) 418-7008 www.AirTechTPMS.com Products: tire pressure monitoring systems, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tools and tool accessories.

Akebono Brake Corp.

310 Ring Rd., Elizabethtown, KY 42701.

(866) 253-2666. FAX: (270) 234-5504 www.akebonobrakes.com Products: brake products.

4637 Allen Rd., Stow, OH 44224.

(330) 374-1000 or (800) 321-0941 FAX: (330) 374-0038 www.tyresinternational.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

AME Intl.

2324 Circuit Way, Brooksville, FL 34604.

(352) 799-1111 or (877) 755-4263 FAX: (352) 799-1112 www.ameintl.net Products: tire repair materials, lifts and jacks, service trucks and associated equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

American Omni Trading Co.

Akuret Tire 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.tbcbrands.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, radial and bias medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, OTR tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs.

Alliance Tire Americas Inc. 201 Edgewater Dr., Suite 285, Wakefield, MA 01880. (781) 321-3910 or (800) 343-3276 FAX: (781) 322-2147 www.atgtire.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, truck tires.

Alloygator North America 10780 Cambie Rd., Richmond, BC, Canada V6X 1K8. (855) 53-GATOR (42867) FAX: (604) 273-9663 www.thegatorgarage.com Products: rim protection system.

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15354 Park Row, Houston, TX 77084.

(281) 600-8473 or (800) 785-2702 FAX: (281) 600-8475 www.american-omni.com Products: ag/farm tires, antique/classic tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, tire exporter/importer.

ANCO®, a Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC brand 27300 W 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.

(248) 354-7700 www.ANCOwipers.com Products: ANCO® has for nearly a century been a leader in premium replacement wiper blades, refills, washer pumps and wiper arms. Our full line of wiper blades utilize exclusive designs and materials engineered with the latest technology to ensure maximum visibility and a clear streak-free wipe in any driving environment. From passenger cars to commercial vehicles ANCO offers a full line of beam, hybrid, conventional and rear style wiper blades, giving you the most comprehensive coverage for all vehicles. That’s why ANCO is The Clearest Choice® in wiper blades.

Andreoli & Associates Inc. 13801 Reese Blvd. W, Suite 200, Huntersville, NC 28078. (704) 895-2780, ext. 32, or (800) 438-4487, ext. 32. FAX: (704) 895-2985 Email: sales@aasys.com www.hitstiresoftware.com Products: POS/e-commerce hosted software.

American Tire Distributors 12200 Herbert Wayne Ct., Huntersville, NC 28070. (800) 632-1897 or (800) 222-1167 FAX: (704) 992-1280 www.atd-us.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, tire tubes, truck tires, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, wheel weights, wheels and accessories, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, insurance programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, Web and other online assistance.

Apollo Vredestein Tires Inc.

American Tourer

Arctic Claw

5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 906-6646. FAX: (888) 852-4152 www.omni-united.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires.

1175 Peachtree St. NE, 10th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30361. (770) 302-2163 or (800) 221-3422 FAX: (732) 549-2450 www.apollovredestein.com Products: ag/farm tires, antique/classic tires, passenger tires, tire tubes.

4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 Products: studdable passenger, SUV/light truck winter tires.

MTD July 2017

ARI Network Services Inc.

Autel Diagnostics

BFGoodrich, a brand of MNA, Inc.

See TCS Technologies, an ARI Company. www.tcstire.com

175 Central Ave., Farmingdale, NY 11735.

(855) 288-3587 www.autel.com; www.maxitpms.com Products: tire pressure monitoring systems, tire valves, diagnostics equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment

One Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615.

(864) 458-5000 www.bfgoodrichtires.com Products: passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires.

Arnott Inc. Air Suspension Products 100 Sea Ray Dr., Merritt Island, FL 32953.

(321) 868-3016 or (800) 251-8993 FAX: (321) 868-3703 www.arnottindustries.com Products: suspension components.

Autolite 1900 W Field Court, Lake Forest, IL 60045.

(855) 200-5200 www.autolite.com Products: spark plugs.

ASA Automotive Systems, Inc. 25 Manchester St., Suite 100, Merrimack, NH 03054. (603) 889-8700 or (800) 657-6409 FAX: (603) 880-3438 www.asaauto.com Products: TireMaster modular software systems with integrated accounting, POS, inventory, general management and marketing tools designed for independent tire dealers and automotive service providers in retail, wholesale, commercial and retreading enterprises. We also offer retailer support and loyalty programs, websites, and other online services and integrations to help businesses improve operations, reduce costs and increase profitability.

B&J Rocket America, Inc. 325 N Main St., Middlebury, IN 46540.

(574) 825-5802. FAX: (574) 825-7972 www.bj-rocket.com Products: retreading materials, tire repair materials, retreading equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

ASA Wheels 7015 Vorden Pkwy., South Bend, IN 46628.

(574) 287-2316 or (800) 445-0179 FAX: (574) 236-7700 www.trwholesalesolutions.com Products: tires, brake products, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheels and accessories, wiper blades.

ATE Premium Brake Parts 6755 Snowdrift Rd., Allentown, PA 18106.

(610) 289-0488 or (800) 564-5066 FAX: (610) 289-1766 www.ate-na.com Products: brake products, brake service equipment.

Atturo Tire Corp.

3250 N Oak Grove Ave., Waukegan, IL 60087. (224) 637-1110 or (855) 632-8031 FAX: (847) 589-8446 www.atturo.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

www.moderntiredealer.com

Big O Tires LLC 4280 Professional Center Dr., Unit 400, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.

(561) 383-3000 or (800) 321-2446 www.bigotires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, batteries, chemicals, fuel system products, oil products and lubricants, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, 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, nitrogen inflation equipment, oil/lubrication equipment, ride control/shocks and struts, suspension equipment, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, financing and credit programs, tire retailer support programs, Web and other online assistance.

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Bartec USA 44231 Phoenix Dr., Sterling Heights, MI 48314. Sales Toll Free: (855) 877-9732 Tech Support Toll Free: (866) 407-8767 FAX: (586) 323-3801 www.bartecusa.com www.whytpms.com www.revivecleaner.com Products: TPMS diagnostic and repair tools, tread depth inspection tools, quick service tools, Revive Turbo Cleaner.

Bee Line Co.

BKT USA, Inc. 2660 W Market St., Suite 100, Fairlawn (Akron), OH 44333. (330) 836-1090 or (888) 660-0662. FAX: (330) 836-1091 www.bkt-tires.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs.

2700 62nd St. Ct., Bettendorf, IA 52722.

(563) 332-4066 or (800) 728-7828 FAX: (563) 332-6517 www.beeline-co.com Products: alignment equipment, lifts and jacks, tire mounting and balancing equipment.

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Manufacturers/marketers Bridgestone Affiliated Retailer Nationwide Network

Blackburn OEM Wheel Solutions 1001 Paster Court, Macedonia, OH 44056.

(800) 981-8321 www.blackburnwheels.com Products: wheels and accessories, wheel repair and chrome plating.

Borbet Wheels 7015 Vorden Pkwy., South Bend, IN 46628.

(574) 287-2316 or (800) 445-0179 FAX: (574) 236-7700 www.trwholesalesolutions.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires, brake products, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheels and accessories, wiper blades.

Bosch Automotive Service Solutions 28635 Mound Rd., Warren, MI 48092.

(800) 533-6127 www.boschdiagnostics.com www.OTCTools.com www.Robinair.com Products: cooling and/air conditioning products, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts and jacks, oil/ lubrication equipment, suspension equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tools and tool accessories.

Branick Industries Inc. 4245 Main Ave., Fargo, ND 58103.

(701) 281-8888 or (800) 437-4394 FAX: (701) 281-5000 www.branick.com Products: brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, material handling equipment, nitrogen inflation equipment, retreading equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

535 Marriott Dr., P.O. Box 140990, Nashville, TN 37214-0990. (800) 543-7522 www.affiliatedretailer.net Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets and seals, belts and hoses, brake products, chemicals, cleaners and polishes, cooling/ air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, gloves, oil products and lubricants, personnel protection and safety products, 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, wheel weights, wiper blades, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hoses, reels, oil/lubrication equipment, suspension equipment, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, work benches, consulting, financing and credit programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. 535 Marriott Dr., Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 937-1000 www.bridgestoneamericas.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, retreading materials, tire repair materials, retreading equipment, tire repair equipment, roadside assistance programs.

Camso Inc. 2633 rue MacPherson, Magog, Quebec, Canada J1X 0E6. (819) 868-1500 FAX: (819) 868-0060 www.camso.co Products: OTR tires, specialty tires.

Cardone Industries 5501 Whitaker Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124.

(215) 912-3000 or (800) 777-4780 www.cardone.com Products: brake products, electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, steering components, suspension components.

CEAT Specialty Tires Inc. Email: CSTI@ceat.in www.ceatspecialty.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires.

Centric Parts 14528 Bonelli St., City of Industry, CA 91746.

(626) 961-5877 or (800) 758-3004 FAX: (626) 961-5877 www.centricparts.com Products: brake parts, steering components, suspension components.

Bridgestone Canada Inc. TireStarz Associate Program

Century Wheels

5770 Hurontario St., Suite 400, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5R 3G5. (416) 996-6237 or (800) 267-1318. FAX: (330) 572-7043.

Products: see listing for Bridgestone Affiliated Retailer Nationwide Network.

4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.powerkingtires.com/tires/specialty/wheels Products: steel truck and trailer wheels, aluminum truck wheels.

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions 535 Marriott Dr., Nashville, TN 37214.

(615) 937-1000 www.trucktires.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, truck tires, retreading materials, retreading equipment, tire repair equipment, roadside assistance programs.

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MTD July 2017

Clore Automotive 8735 Rosehill Rd., Suite 220, Lenexa, KS 66215. (913) 310-1050 or (800) 328-2921 FAX: (913) 310-1075 www.cloreautomotive.com Products: battery charging and testing equipment.

Champion®, a Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC brand 27300 W 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.

(248) 354-7700 www.ChampionAutoParts.com Products: From the iconic Champion brand that you’ve trusted for over 100 years.

Champion offers filters, wipers, batteries, lighting and spark plugs to support all of your light maintenance needs.

Chevron Lubricants 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon, CA 94583. (800) 822-5823 www.chevronlubricants.com Products: oil products, lubricants, fuel system products, antifreeze.

Chicago Pneumatic 1800 Overview Dr., Rock Hill, SC 29730.

(803) 817-7349 or (800) 624-4735 FAX: (800) 228-9096 www.cp.com Products: air compressors, tools and tool accessories.

China International Tire Expo (Shanghai) – CITEXPO Rm. 1702, Bldg. 6, SOHO New Town, Beijing, China 100022. +86-1085898181 FAX: +86-1085898180 www.citexpo.com.cn Products: trade show representation.

Coker Tire Co. 1317 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402.

(800) 251-6336. FAX: (423) 756-5607 www.cokertire.com Products: antique/classic tires, motorcycle tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, cleaners and polishes, tire gauges, tire valves, wheels and accessories, tire exporter/importer.

Continental Tire the Americas LLC 1830 MacMillan Park Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.

(704) 583-3900 or (800) 847-3349 FAX: (704) 583-3939 Facebook: www.facebook.com/continentaltire Twitter: @continentaltire Website: www.continentaltire.com Products: light truck tires, motorcycle tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, financing and credit programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation.

Continental Tire the Americas LLC – Commercial Vehicle Tire Div. 1830 MacMillan Park Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.

(704) 583-3900 or (800) 450-3187 FAX: (704) 583-8737 www.continental-truck.com www.continental-specialty-tires.us www.generaltire.com/tires/commercial Products: light truck tires, motorcycle tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, roadside assistance programs.

Cordovan Tires 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.cordovantires.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, high performance tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

Crosswind Tires 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.tbcbrands.com/tire-brands/crosswind.com Products: High performance tires, passenger tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, radial medium/heavy truck tires, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs.

Cypress Auto Lift Parts, Distributor for Hydra-Lift #114-15028 32nd Ave., Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V4P 1A3 (604) 560-2235 or (800) 387-5718 www.hydra-lift.com Products: lifts and jacks.

Cooper Tires

CIMS Tire Registration P.O. Box 1610, Akron, OH 44309-1610.

(330) 794-9190 or (855) 444-5120 FAX: (330) 784-6900 www.cimstireregistration.com Products: tire registration and recall systems for tire dealers, tire manufacturers and tire importers.

www.moderntiredealer.com

P.O. Box 550, Findlay, OH 45839-0550 (419) 423-1321 www.coopertire.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Dawg Pound Tires 2200 Huntington Dr., Unit C, Fairfield, CA 94533. (707) 437-4700 or (800) 831-8473 FAX: (707) 437-4800 www.dawgpoundtires.com Products: commercial truck tires, construction tires, material handling tires, agricultural tires, specialty tires, tire flaps and tire tubes.

81

Manufacturers/marketers Dealer Strategic Planning, Inc. – 20 Group

Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels

1 Michael Ct., Lake in the Hills, IL 60156.

(630) 351-8918. FAX: (224) 241-8161 www.dsp-20group.com Products: Consulting, tire dealer 20 Groups.

Delphi Product & Service Solutions

4600 Prosper Dr., Stow, OH 44224.

(330) 928-9092 or (800) 222-9092 FAX: (330) 928-0503 www.dickcepek.com Products: light truck tires, wheels and accessories.

5820 Delphi Dr., Troy, MI 48098.

(877) GO-DELPHI www.delphiautoparts.com Products: batteries, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, fuel system products, steering components.

Dill Air Controls

Delta Tire 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.deltatire.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/ CUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc. 3900 Via Oro Ave., Long Beach, CA 90810.

(310) 834-6352 or (888) 96-DENSO FAX: (310) 952-7526 www.densoautoparts.com www.densoaftermarket.com Products: electrical/ignition products, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, spark plugs, tire pressure monitoring systems, wiper blades.

1500 Williamsboro St., Oxford, NC 27565.

(919) 692-2300 or (800) 815-3455 (TPMS Tech Line). FAX: (919) 692-2304 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, tire inflation devices, TPMS, and hand tools. Dill is headquartered at 1500 Williamsboro St. in Oxford, NC 27565, with many products proudly made in the USA.

Double Coin 406 E Huntington Dr., Suite 200, Monrovia, CA 91016. (626) 301-9575 or (888) 226-5250 FAX: (626) 301-9579 www.doublecointires.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

Duraturn Tire 150 S Los Robles Ave., Suite 400, Pasadena, CA 91101. (626) 513-8989 FAX: (626) 513-2080 www.duraturntires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

Duro Tire and Wheel 14290 Lochridge Blvd., Covington, GA 30014. (770) 788-2060 or (866) 788-2060 FAX: (770) 788-2099 www.durotire.com Products: light truck tires, motorcycle tires, passenger tires, specialty tires.

East Bay Tire Co. 2200 Huntington Dr., Unit C, Fairfield, CA 94533. (707) 437-4700 or (800) 831-8473 FAX: (707) 437-4800 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, tire flaps, tire tubes, and wheels.

Eldorado Tire 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.

(866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www. eldoradotire.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, high performance tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

Emanuel Tire, LLC 1300 Moreland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21216.

(410) 947-0660 or (800) 445-1887 FAX: (410) 947-3708 www.emanueltire.com Products: casings, used tires, tire disposal/ recycling/shredding, tire exporter/importer.

DeRonde Tire Supply Inc. 2010 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14207.

(717) 897-6690 or (800) 227-4647 FAX: (716) 893-5716 www.etrucktire.com Products: OTR tires, truck tires, tire exporter/ importer.

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Falken Tire Corporation Dynacargo 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.dynacargotires.com Products: steer/all position, trailer, drive, mixed service tires, Web and other online assistance.

8656 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. (800) 723-2553 www.falkentire.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

MTD July 2017

Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC 27300 W 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.

(248) 354-7700 www.Fmmotorparts.com Products: steering components, suspension components, gaskets and seals, brake products, engine parts, chemical additives, spark plugs, filters/filtration systems, wiper blades and lighting products.

Federal Tire North America LLC 370 Amapola Ave., Suite 215, Torrance, CA 90501. (310) 328-1888. FAX: (310) 328-1188 www.federaltire.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, tire exporter/importer.

Federated Auto Parts/The Group 508 Greenville Ave., Staunton, VA 24401.

(540) 885-8460. FAX: (540) 885-7612 www.federatedautoparts.com Products: auto service equipment, garage equipment, gloves, oil products and lubricants, personnel protection and safety products, tire repair materials, tire valves, truck and SUV accessories, truck bed products, wheel weights, wiper blades, lifts and jacks, oil/lubrication equipment, shop heating/cooling equipment, suspension equipment, TPMS equipment, tools, welding equipment, work benches, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, online assistance.

Fel-Pro®, a Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC brand 27300 W 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.

(248) 354-7700 www.felpro-only.com Products: As “The Gaskets Professionals Trust™,” Fel-Pro has maintained nearly a 100-year heritage of engineering excellence through the highly innovative use of advanced materials, designs and production processes and our unique focus on developing products for the repair environment. In fact, Fel-Pro gaskets are the #1 choice of today’s professional technicians, engine rebuilders and stock car teams as well as NHRA and semi-pro race teams.

www.moderntiredealer.com

Fitment Group

General Tire

294 S Lake Ave., Suite 610, Duluth, MN 55802. (218) 722-3419 www.fitmentgroup.com Products: consulting, Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

1830 MacMillan Park Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.

(704) 583-3900 or (800) 847-3349 FAX: (704) 583-3939 Twitter: @generaltire Instagram: @general_tire Facebook: www.facebook.com/generaltire Website: www.generaltire.com Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, truck tires, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation.

Fleet Equipment Corp.

567 Commerce St., Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417.

(201) 337-7332 or (800) 631-0873 FAX: (201) 337-3294 www.fectrucks.com Products: air compressors, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, material handling equipment, service trucks and associated equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tools and tool accessories.

Goodride (Tires) 5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 906-6646. FAX: (888) 852-4152 www.omni-united.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Gabriel Ride Control

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

39300 Country Club Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48331. (800) 251-5932 FAX: (248) 247-7460 www.gabriel.com Products: suspension components.

200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316.

(330) 796-2121 or (800) GOODYEAR FAX: (330) 796-0528 www.goodyear.com Products: LT tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, truck tires, retread products.

Greenball Corp.

Gaither Tool Co. Inc. 2255 W Morton Ave., Jacksonville, IL 62650.

(217) 245-0545 or (800) 452-5010 FAX: (217) 245-0940 www.gaithertool.com; www.winntec.net Products: truck tires, lifts and jacks, tire handling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

222 S Harbor Blvd., Suite 700, Anaheim, CA 92805. (714) 782-3060 or (800) 946-9412 FAX: (866) 878-3802 www.greenball.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

GT Radial, a brand of GITI Tire (USA) Ltd. 10404 Sixth St., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. (909) 980-0968 or (866) GT-TIRES (488-4737). FAX: (909) 476-4028 www.gtradial-us.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Gates Corporation 1551 Wewatta St., Denver, CO 80202.

(303) 744-1911 www.gates.com Products: belts and hoses, cooling/air conditioning products, fuel system products.

GTC North America Inc. 4580 Stephen Circle NW, Suite 202, Canton, OH 44718. (330) 498-5000 FAX: (330) 498-5002 Products: truck tires, ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires.

83

Manufacturers/marketers Hankook Tire America Corp.

Heritage Tires/SURE Tire Co.

333 Commerce St., Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37201. (615) 432-0700. FAX: (615) 242-8709 www.hankooktireusa.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

935 Main Plaza Dr., Wentzville, MO 63385.

(636) 332-5100 or (866) 882-1612 FAX: (636) 327-5130 www.summittires.us Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires.

Harvest King 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.harvestkingtires.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, tire tubes, tire valves, TPMS, wheel weights, steel Ag wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs.

Horizon Tire 4818 4th St., Irwindale, CA 91706.

(323) 622-1920. FAX: (323) 622-1927 www.horizontire.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, snow tires, medium truck tires, OTR tires, AG tires, specialty tires, steel/aluminum wheels, tire tubes and flaps.

Hunter Engineering Co. Haweka USA/Allpart Supply 3508 Ave. F East, Arlington, TX 76011.

(866) 442-9352 or (800) 381-1330 FAX: (866) 770-3239 www.haweka-usa.com Products: lifts and jacks, tire mounting and balancing equipment.

11250 Hunter Dr., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

(314) 731-0000. FAX: (314) 731-1776 www.hunter.com Products: alignment systems, alignment lift racks, wheel balancers, tire changers, brake service and inspection lane equipment.

Hennessy Industries Inc. 1601 J.P. Hennessy Dr., LaVergne, TN 37086.

(800) 688-6359. FAX: (800) 688-3659 www.hennessyind.com Products: tire changers, wheel balancers, brake lathes, lifts and wheel weights.

Hercules Tire 1995 Tiffin Ave., Suite 205, Findlay, OH 45840. (419) 425-6400 or (844) 432-9729 www.herculestire.com Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

84

IMI 3183 Black Gap Rd., Chambersburg, PA 17202. (800) 233-7086. FAX: (717) 496-0608 www.imiproducts.com Products: Founded in 1973, IMI has been an industry leader in providing solutions to address truck tire and wheel efficiency and safety. Our goal at IMI is to deliver extra miles in extraordinary ways by providing high quality solutions and exceptional customer service. Products like EQUAL FLEXX, STS Tire Sealant, Checkpoint, and IMI Wheel Refinishing are leading the industry with rigorous testing and scientifically proven advantages to meet your challenges and make you more profitable.

Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG) 754 N U.S. Hwy. 1, Tequesta, FL 33469.

(561) 630-8737. FAX: (561) 630-8657 www.itdgusa.com Products: ag/farm tires, antique/classic tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, 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/drive line 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, Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

Independent Tire Sales 3150 Jacob St., Wheeling, WV 26003.

(304) 233-5700 or (800) 624-6908 FAX: (304) 233-5723 Products: light truck tires, passenger tires.

Italian Trade Commission 401 N Michigan Ave., Suite 3030, Chicago, IL 60611. (312) 670-4360. FAX: (312) 670-5147 www.italtrade.com/usa Products: LT, OTR, passenger, specialty and truck tires, auto service parts and equipment, shop equipment, cleaners and polishes, steering components, TPMS, tire repair materials, air compressors, alignment equipment, diagnostic equipment, tire display racks, tire handling equipment, tools and accessories, benches.

MTD July 2017

John Bean

MAHLE Service Solutions

309 Exchange Ave., Conway, AR 72032.

(501) 450-1500 or (877) 482-4866 FAX: (501) 450-2085 www.johnbean.com Products: tire service equipment.

10 Innovation Dr., York, PA 17402.

(717) 840-0678. FAX: (717) 755-8304 www.servicesolutions.mahle.com Products: cooling/air conditioning products, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, lifts and jacks, nitrogen inflation equipment, oil/lubrication equipment.

Kenda USA JohnDow Industries 151 Snyder Ave., Barberton, OH 44203.

(800) 433-0708. FAX: (330) 753-6419 www.johndow.com Products: brake products, chemicals, tire pressure monitoring systems, hoses, reels, oil/lubrication equipment, shop heating/ cooling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire handling equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment.

JS Products/STEELMAN Select TPMS 6445 Montessouri St., Las Vegas, NV 89113.

(702) 315-1498 or (800) 255-7011 FAX: (775) 898-8773 www.steelmanselecttpms.com Products: passenger tires, gloves, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire valves, brake service equipment, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories.

K&M Tire, Inc. 965 Spencerville Rd., P.O. Box 279, Delphos, OH 45833. (419) 695-1061 or (800) 686-1734 FAX: (419) 695-9519 www.kmtire.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, oil products and lubricants, tire gauges, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire valves, wheel weights, wheels and accessories, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, nitrogen inflation equipment, oil/lubrication 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, wheel repair equipment, consulting, financing and credit programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, Web and other online assistance.

www.moderntiredealer.com

7095 Americana Pkwy., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. (614) 866-9803 or (866) 536-3287 FAX: (614) 866-9805 www.kendatire.com Products: light truck tires, motorcycle tires, passenger tires, specialty tires.

Ken-Tool 768 E North St., Akron, OH 44305.

(330) 535-7177 or (888) 536-8665 FAX: (330) 535-1345 www.kentool.com Products: tire mounting and balancing equipment, tools and tool accessories.

Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. 133 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 2800, Atlanta, GA 30303. (800) 445-8646 www.kumhotireusa.com Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

KYB Americas Corp.

850 N Graham Rd., Suite C, Greenwood, IN 46143. (630) 620-5555 www.kyb.com Products: suspension components.

MAM Software Inc. Two Valley Square, 512 Township Line Rd., Suite 220, Blue Bell, PA 19422.

(610) 336-9045 www.mamsoftware.com Products: VAST Enterprise is a sophisticated point of sale and management system designed for both single and multi-location tire dealers and auto service shops. Its powerful yet easy-to-use features help to increase revenues and generate incremental profits, while enhancing customer service and productivity. The tire dealer software has been developed by specialists with many years’ experience of working with tire dealers, franchises, chains and independent service dealers. An integrated parts catalog and labor guide help to accelerate the estimating process while ensuring all jobs are profitable.

Lakin Tire West 15305 Spring Ave., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. (562) 802-2752 or (800) 488-2752 FAX: (562) 802-7584 www.lakintire.com Products: used tires, tire disposal/recycling/ shredding.

LingLong Americas Inc. 1484 Medina Rd., Suite 118, Medina, OH 44256. (330) 239-0404 FAX: (234) 248-4064 www.linglongtire.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

MaddenCo Inc. 4847 E Virginia St., Suite G, Evansville, IN 47715. (812) 474-6245 FAX: (812) 474-6254 www.maddenco.com Products: computers and software.

Marangoni Tread N.A. 708 Myatt Dr., Madison, TN 37115.

(615) 868-4050. FAX: (615) 868-0402 www.na.marangoni.com Marangoni Tread North America is a full service retread products and support provider to independent tire dealers and retreaders throughout the United States and Canada.

Products: RINGTREAD® (The Splice-Less Retread) and UNITREAD™ (Proudly made in the USA), retread supplies, fleet accessories, retread equipment, tire handling equipment and retread plant software. Services: Technical and commercial service.

Mastercraft Tires P.O. Box 550, Findlay, OH 45839-0550.

(419) 423-1321 www.mastercrafttires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires.

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Manufacturers/marketers Maxxis International – U.S.A.

Mitas Tires North America Inc.

545 Old Peachtree Rd., Suwanee, GA 30024.

(770) 962-5932 or (800) 4-MAXXIS FAX: (770) 962-7705 www.maxxis.com Products: light truck tires, motorcycle tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, trade show representation.

7400 Carmel Executive Park, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28226. (704) 542-3422 FAX: (704) 542-3474 www.mitasag.com Products: ag/farm tires.

McGard LLC

Midas

3875 California Rd., Orchard Park, NY 14127.

(716) 662-8980 or (888) 444-5847 FAX: (716) 662-8985 www.mcgard.com Products: security products, truck bed products, wheel accessories.

4280 Professional Center Dr., Unit 400, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (561) 383-3000 www.midas.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, 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, oil products and lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/drive line products, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, financing and credit programs, tire disposal/recycling, Web and other online assistance.

Merchant’s Tire & Auto Service Centers 4280 Professional Center Dr., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (561) 383-3000 or (800) 926-8473 www.MerchantsTire.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, 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, oil products and lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/drive line products, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, financing and credit programs, tire disposal/ recycling/shredding, Web and other online assistance.

Michelin, a brand of MNA, Inc. One Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615.

(864) 458-5000 or (800) MICHELIN FAX: (864) 458-9139 www.michelin-us.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels 4600 Prosper Dr., Stow, OH 44224.

(330) 928-9092 or (800) 222-9092 FAX: (330) 928-0503 www.mickeythompsontires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, wheels and accessories.

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moda wheels

Mighty Distributing System (Mighty Auto Parts) 650 Engineering Dr., Norcross, GA 30092.

(770) 448-3900 or (800) 829-3900 FAX: (770) 446-8627 www.MightyAutoParts.com Products: antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets and seals, belts and hoses, brake products, chemicals, cleaners and polishes, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, gloves, oil products and lubricants, steering components, suspension components, TPMS, tire repair materials, wheel weights, wiper blades, consulting, insurance programs.

7015 Vorden Pkwy., South Bend, IN 46628.

(574) 287-2316 or (800) 445-0179 FAX: (574) 236-7700 www.trwholesalesolutions.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires, brake products, suspension components, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, wiper blades.

Mohawk Lifts 65 Vrooman Ave., P.O. Box 110, Amsterdam, NY 12010. (518) 842-1431 or (800) 833-2006 FAX: (518) 842-1289 www.mohawklifts.com Products: lifts and jacks.

MOOG® Steering and Suspension, a Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC brand 27300 W 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.

(248) 354-7700. www.moogparts.com Products: As the automotive service industry’s trusted “Problem Solver®,” MOOG steering and suspension parts are engineered to deliver improved performance, longer component life and faster, easier installation. These advantages have made MOOG the number one choice of service professionals and the Official Steering & Suspension of NASCAR®. MOOG provides industry leading coverage for virtually any foreign-nameplate or domestic vehicle applications.

Morgan Marketing Solutions Inc. Mile-X Equipment Inc. 801 N 2nd St., Coldwater, OH 45828.

(419) 678-1442 or (800) 837-3818 www.mile-x.com Products: air compressors, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, hoses, reels, lifts and jacks, material handling equipment, nitrogen inflation equipment, oil/lubrication equipment, scrap tire disposal/recycling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, TPMS, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, wheel repair equipment, work benches.

16814 Park Hill, Dallas, TX 75248-1444.

(972) 931-7993 www.morganmarketingsolutions.com Products: consulting.

MRF Ltd. 4637 Allen Rd., Stow, OH 44224.

(330) 374-1000 or (800) 321-0941 www.tyresinternational.com Products: ag/farm tires, OTR tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

MTD July 2017

NAPA Auto Parts

Multi-Mile Tires 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.multimiletires.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, high performance tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

Myers Tire Supply Co. 1293 S Main St., Akron, OH 44301.

(330) 253-5592 or (800) 998-9897 FAX: (330) 761-6133 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.

www.moderntiredealer.com

2999 Wildwood Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30339.

(770) 934-5000 or (800) LET-NAPA FAX: (770) 956-2201 www.NAPAonline.com Products: 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, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/drive line 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, oil/lubrication equipment, shop heating/cooling equipment, shop maintenance equipment, suspension equipment, tire handling equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment, tools and tool accessories, welding equipment, wheel repair equipment, work benches, computers and software.

National Pronto Association/The Group 2601 Heritage Ave., Grapevine, TX 76051.

(817) 430-9449 or (800) 477-6686 FAX: (817) 430-9559 www.pronto-net.com Products: vehicle service products, garage tools and equipment, tire service tools and equipment, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, trade show representation, computers/software/ digital/Web.

National Tire 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.nationaltire.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV, industrial, lawn and garden, SUV/CUV/light truck, medium/heavy truck, bias light truck, OTR, passenger, trailer and specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

Net Driven 201 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

(877) 860-2005. FAX: (570) 300-2711 www.netdriven.com Products: Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

Nexen Tire America Inc. 21073 Pathfinder Rd., Suite 100, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. (909) 923-4011 or (800) 576-3936 (NEXEN) FAX: (909) 923-3991 www.nexentireusa.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, roadside assistance programs.

NitroFill LLC 1520 S Powerline Rd., Suite G, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. (954) 970-1691 or (877) 2GO-FILL. FAX: (954) 970-1695 www.nitrofillnow.com Products: tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, nitrogen inflation equipment, insurance programs, roadside assistance programs, Web and other line assistance, wheel repair and chrome plating.

Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. 5665 Plaza Dr., Suite 250, Cypress, CA 90630. (714) 252-0007 or (800) 648-8652 www.nittotire.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires.

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Manufacturers/marketers Omni-United USA 5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 906-6646. FAX: (888) 852-4152 www.omni-united.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Nokian Tyres, Inc.

Otto’s Tire Supply

P.O. Box 623, Essex Junction, VT 05453.

(800) 565-2525. FAX: (802) 662-8297 www.nokiantires.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

487 Highland Rd., Macedonia, OH 44056.

(888) 978-7431. FAX: (330) 319-7416 www.toolsbyotto.com Products: tire service products, vehicle service products, tire service tools and equipment, garage tools and equipment, computers/software/digital/Web.

Plus Sizing Guide 2537-D Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 330, Torrance, CA 90505. (310) 357-7293 www.plussizingguide.com Products: The Ultimate Wheel and Tire Plus Sizing Guide. Tire and wheel fitment information in print and digital formats.

Data for OE and Plus Size applications for both current and vintage vehicles. Tire Pressure Computer.

Point S Canada Pace Tire Supply

NTB Tire & Service Centers 4280 Professional Center Dr., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (561) 383-3000 or (800) 926-8473 www.NTB.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, 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, oil products and lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/drive line products, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, financing and credit programs, tire disposal/ recycling/shredding, Web and other online assistance.

P.O. Box 1103, Hudson, OH 44236.

(330) 653-5695 or (877) 540-7223 FAX: (330) 653-5693 www.pacetiresupply.com Products: tire service products, vehicle service products, tire service tools and equipment, garage tools and equipment, computers/software/digital/Web.

Patch Rubber Co. 100 Patch Rubber Rd., Weldon, NC 27890.

(252) 536-2574. FAX: (252) 536-4940 www.patchrubber.com Products: chemicals, retreading materials, tire repair materials, tire repair equipment.

235, rue J-A Bombardier, Boucherville, Quebec, Canada, J4B 8P1. (450) 449-0362 www.point-s.ca Products: ag/farm tires, antique/classic tires, casings, LT tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, automotive parts and equipment, shop supplies and equipment, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire identification, tire marking products, TPMS, tire repair and retreading materials, tire studs, tire valves, truck and SUV accessories, wheels and accessories, air compressors, nitrogen inflation equipment, oil/lubrication equipment, scrap tire disposal/recycling equipment, service trucks and associated equipment, shop heating/cooling equipment, display racks, tire handling equipment, tools and tool accessories, work benches, consulting, employment services, financing and credit programs, insurance programs, roadside assistance programs, tire exporter/importer, tire retailer support programs, Web and other line assistance, computers/software.

Patriot (tires) O.Z. Wheels 7015 Vorden Pkwy., South Bend, IN 46628.

(574) 287-2316 or (800) 445-0179 FAX: (574) 236-7700 www.trwholesalesolutions.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires, brake products, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, suspension equipment.

Ohtsu Tire 8656 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. (909) 466-1116 or (800) 723-2553 FAX: (800) 950-2561 Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

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5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 906-6646. FAX: (888) 852-4152 www.omni-united.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires.

Pirelli Tire North America 100 Pirelli Dr., Rome, GA 30161.

(800) PIRELLI. FAX: (706) 368-5832 www.us.pirelli.com Products: passenger tires, antique/classic tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires.

Power King 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.powerkingtires.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, ATV tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, OTR tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, aluminum truck wheels, 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.

MTD July 2017

Pro Comp Tires

Saffiro Tires

Snap-on Equipment

400 W Artesia Blvd., Compton, CA 90220.

(800) 776-0767 www.procompusa.com Products: light truck tires.

14350 Macaw St., La Mirada, CA 90638.

(562) 340-6252. FAX: (562) 677-3907 www.saffirotires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

309 Exchange Ave., Conway, AR 72032.

(501) 450-1500 or (877) 482-4866 FAX: (501) 450-2085 www.snaponequipment.com Products: garage service equipment and tire service equipment.

Radar Tires, an Omni-United brand 5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 906-6646. FAX: (888) 852-4152 www.radartires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Raybestos Brakes 4400 Prime Pkwy., McHenry, IL 60050.

(815) 363-9000 www.raybestos.com Products: brake products.

REGITAR USA Inc. 2575 Container Dr., Montgomery, AL 36109.

(334) 244-1885 or (877) REGITAR (734-4827) FAX: (334) 244-1901 www.regitar.com Products: electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, fuel system products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tools and tool accessories.

RoadLux (tires) 5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 906-6646. FAX: (888) 852-4152 www.omni-united.com Products: truck tires.

Sonil Ventilfabrik Sailun Tires 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.gosailun.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, passenger tires, performance tires, SUV/ light truck tires, radial medium/heavy truck tires, HD ST radial tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, 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.

2800 S 25th Ave., Broadview, IL 60155.

(708) 865-5200 or (888) 715-3616 www.boschautoparts.com Products: batteries, brake products, electrical/ignition products, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, spark plugs, steering components, wiper blades, battery charging and testing equipment.

Rotary Lift 2700 Lanier Dr., Madison, IN 47250.

(812) 273-1622 or (800) 640-5438 www.rotarylift.com Products: alignment equipment, lifts and jacks, shop maintenance equipment, tire mounting and balancing equipment, tools and tool accessories, wheel repair equipment.

Specialty Tires of America 1600 Washington St., Indiana, PA 15701.

(724) 349-9010 or (800) 622-7327 FAX: (724) 349-8192 www.stausaonline.com Products: ag/farm tires, antique/classic tires, OTR tires, specialty tires.

Schrader Performance Sensors 1940 Opdyke Court, Auburn Hills, MI 48326.

(800) 288-1804 or (800) 345-0578 FAX: (434) 369-6592 www.schraderinternational.com Products: tire pressure monitoring systems.

Sentury Tire Americas Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Aftermarket NA

B-48, GIDC Industrial Estate, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India 361004. +91 288-2560107 FAX: +91 288-2562891 www.sonil.co.in Products: tire valves, tire pressure monitoring system equipment.

3121 NW 125th St., Miami, FL 33167.

(305) 621-5101. FAX: (305) 624-7881 www.senturytiresusa.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires.

Shamrock Marketing Inc. 11206 Bluegrass Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40299.

(502) 266-7403 or (800) 354-4495 FAX: (502) 266-7405 www.shamrockmarketinginc.com Products: retreading materials, tire marking products, tire repair materials, wheel weights, lifts and jacks, retreading equipment, tire handling equipment, tire repair equipment.

Sumitomo Tires 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 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 and aluminum truck wheels, 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.

Summit Tires/SURE Tire Co.

Snap Finance

935 Main Plaza, Dr., Wentzville, MO 63385.

(636) 332-5100 or (866) 882-1612 FAX: (636) 327-5130 www.summittire.us Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires.

P.O. Box 26561, Salt Lake City, UT 84126.

(877) 789-7384. FAX: (866) 332-6617 www.snapfinance.com Products: financing and credit programs.

www.moderntiredealer.com

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Manufacturers/marketers Superior Tire & Rubber 40 Scientific Rd., Warren, PA 16365.

(800) 289-1456. FAX: (814) 726-0740 www.superiortire.com Products: specialty tires.

TA Truck Service SuperSprings International Inc. 505 Maple Ave., Carpinteria, CA 93013.

(805) 745-5553 or (800) 898-0705 FAX: (805) 745-5501 www.supersprings.com Products: suspension components, truck and SUV accessories.

SURE Tires Inc. 935 Main Plaza Dr., Wentzville, MO 63385.

(636) 332-5100 or (866) 882-1612 FAX: (636) 327-5130 www.summittire.us Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires.

24601 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake, OH 44145. www.ta-petro.com Products: casings, OTR tires, truck tires, used tires, antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets and seals, belts and hoses, brake products, cleaners and polishes, cooling/air conditioning products, electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, filters/filtrations systems, fuel system products, gloves, oil products and lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/drive line products, truck and SUV accessories, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, air compressors, alignment equipment, battery charging and testing equipment, brake service equipment, diagnostic equipment, oil/ lubrication equipment, service trucks and associated equipment, tire repair equipment, tools, consulting, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs.

TAF Management Inc. Synchrony Financial 950 Forrer Blvd, Kettering, OH 45420.

(866) 209-4457 www.synchronybusiness.com/new Products: Synchrony Car Care™ is an auto industry consumer credit card that provides easy and convenient financing for your customers to help them get the services and repairs they want and need.* Offering your customers the Synchrony Car Care credit card, with instant credit decisions, can help you drive repeat business and create customer loyalty. Enroll today! Call toll free: (866) 209-4457. *Subject to credit approval.

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8007 Captains Ct., Frederick, MD 21701.

(301) 662-7223. FAX: (301) 662-7224 www.tafmanagement.com Products: consulting, employment services.

TBC International 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.tbc-international.com Products: radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, high performance tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires.

TCF Equipment Finance Inc. 11100 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 801, Minnetonka, MN 55305. (952) 656-3231 or (800) 442-7811. FAX: (952) 656-5081 www.tcfbank.com Products: financing and credit programs.

TCS Technologies, an ARI Company 3313 Williams Enterprise Dr., Cookeville, TN 38506. (888) 449-8473. FAX: (888) 338-8473 www.tcstire.com Products: consulting, tire retailer support programs, Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

TASCO See TCS Technologies, an ARI Company

TBC Brands

Tech International

4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.tbcbrands.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, high performance tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, winter tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

200 E Coshocton St., Johnstown, OH 43031.

(740) 967-9015 or (800) 433-TECH FAX: (740) 967-3583 www.techtirerepairs.com Products: RFID, tools, tire repair materials, chemicals, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire marking products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire valves, wheel weights.

The Timken Co. 4500 Mount Pleasant St. NW, North Canton, OH 44721. (234) 262-3000 www.timken.com Products: bearings, gaskets and seals, transmission/drive line products.

MTD July 2017

The TireJobs Company 8007 Captains Ct., Frederick, MD 21701.

(301) 662-7223. FAX: (301) 662-7224 www.tirejobs.com Products: consulting, employment services.

Timberland Tires 5350 Birch Pointe Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643.

(855) 432-1386 Email: dealers@timberlandtires.com or info@timberlandtires.com www.timberlandtires.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires

Tire Centers, LLC (TCi) 310 Inglesby Pkwy., Duncan, SC 29334.

(877) 564-5562 www.tirecenters.com Products: ag/farm tires, casings, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, used tires, antifreeze, batteries, bearings, gaskets and seals, belts and hoses, brake products, chemicals, cleaners and polishes, cooling/ air condition products, electrical/ignition products, exhaust system components, filters/filtration systems, fuel system products, oil products and lubricants, retreading materials, steering components, suspension components, tire fills and sealants, tire gauges, tire identification, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire valves, wheel weights, wheels and accessories, wiper blades.

Tire Kingdom Service Centers 4280 Professional Center Dr., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (561) 383-3000 or (800) 926-8473 www.TireKingdom.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, 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, oil products and lubricants, spark plugs, steering components, suspension components, tire gauges, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire studs, tire valves, transmission/drive line products, wheels and accessories, wiper blades, financing and credit programs, tire disposal/ recycling/shredding, Web and other online assistance.

7500 NW 35th Terrace, Miami, FL 33122.

(305) 696-0096 or (855) TGI-TIRE FAX: (305) 696-5926 www.tiregroup.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, tire flaps, tire tubes, truck tires, 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.

www.moderntiredealer.com

3451 S 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040.

(602) 437-5020 or (800) 223-4540 FAX: (602) 437-5025 www.tsissg.com Products: Bead Seaters, Truers, Sipers, Shop Equipment, Tire Changers and more!

TIRECO Inc. 500 W 190th St., Suite 600, Gardena, CA 90248. (310) 767-7990 or (800) 227-8925 FAX: (310) 217-9267 www.tireco.com Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, motorcycle tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, tire flaps and tubes, wheels and accessories, tire exporter/importer.

Tire’s Warehouse, Inc. Tire Pros

Tire Group International LLC

Tire Service Equipment Mfg. Co., Inc./ Saf-Tee Siping & Grooving

12200 Herbert Wayne Court, Huntersville, NC 28078. (800) 632-1897 or (800) 222-1167 FAX: (704) 992-1280 www.TirePros.com Products: Tire Pros Francorp is a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, Inc. (ATD) with over 730 retail locations nationwide.

Positioned as the nation’s largest network of elite, independent tire dealers, the Tire Pros franchise program brings tire dealers together under a shared national brand and offers them dedicated retail sales consultation and marketing support, training, financial management, and additional buying enhancements to help them remain competitive in today’s fast-changing retail marketplace. Through their affiliation, independent tire dealers are able to offer an industry-leading warranty package featuring complimentary roadside assistance that is honored at over 30,000 service centers nationwide, among many other benefits.

To learn more, visit TirePros.com.

240 Teller St., Corona, CA 92879.

(800) 655-8851 www.tireswarehouse.net Products: ag/farm tires, light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires, consulting, financing and credit programs, roadside assistance programs, tire retailer support programs, Web and other online assistance.

Titan International, Inc. 2345 E Market St., Des Moines, IA 503177597. (515) 265-9200 or (800) USA-BEAR www.titan-intl.com Products: farm, antique/classic and OTR tires.

Towmax 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.towmaxtires.com Products: specialty tires, ST radial tires.

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Manufacturers/marketers Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

5665 Plaza Dr., Suite 300, Cypress, CA 90630. (714) 236-2080 or (800) 678-3250 FAX: (714) 229-6199 www.toyotires.com Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

FAX: (615) 610-5051 www.triangletireus.com Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires.

FAX: (404) 305-9397 www.veerubberusa.com Products: light truck tires, motorcycle tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Tyres International Inc.

Vogue Tyre & Rubber Co.

4637 Allen Rd., Stow, OH 44224.

(330) 374-1000 or (800) 321-0941 www.tyresinternational.com Products: ag, LT, truck, OTR and specialty tires, tire flaps, tubes, tire exporter/importer.

1101 Feehanville Dr., Mount Prospect, IL 60056. (800) 323-1466 www.voguetyre.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, wheels and accessories.

TR Wholesale Solutions

Uniroyal, a brand of MNA, Inc.

7015 Vorden Pkwy., South Bend, IN 46628.

(574) 287-2316 or (800) 445-0179 FAX: (574) 236-7700 www.trwholesalesolutions.com Products: light truck tires, passenger 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.

One Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615.

1-800-Uniroyal www.uniroyaltires.com Products: passenger tires, light truck tires, truck tires.

United Software & Design Inc. Augusta, ME 04330. (207) 512-4748 www.tire-dealer-software.com Products: computers and software.

Tracer Products 956 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, NY 11590.

(516) 333-1254 or (800) 641-1133 www.tracerline.com Products: cooling/air conditioning products, oil products and lubricants.

570 Trelleborg Dr., Spartanburg, SC 29301.

(866) 633-8473 www.trelleborg.com/wheels Products: ag/farm tires.

4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.vanderbilttires.com Products: advertising/marketing programs, radial and bias agricultural tires, ATV tires, high performance tires, industrial tires, lawn and garden tires, SUV/CUV/light truck tires, medium/heavy truck tires, bias light truck tires, off-the-road tires, passenger tires, trailer tires, specialty tires, tire tubes, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel weights, steel and aluminum truck wheels, trailer wheels, alignment equipment, brake service equipment, lifts and jacks, tire display racks, tire mounting and balancing equipment, Web and other online assistance, tire retailer support programs, roadside assistance programs.

TRI-ACE Tires

VDO TPMS Replacement Parts

1606 Greens Rd., Suite 100, Houston, TX 77032. (281) 869-4400 or (844) 887-4223 FAX: (844) 634-2148 www.tri-acetireusa.com Products: light truck tires, passenger tires, specialty tires, truck tires

6755 Snowdrift Rd., Allentown, PA 18106.

(610) 289-0488 or (800) 564-5066 FAX: (610) 289-1766 www.redi-sensor.com Products: cooling/air conditioning products, exhaust system components, fuel system products, tire pressure monitoring systems, tire repair materials, tire valves, tire pressure monitoring system equipment, tire repair equipment.

Triangle Tire USA

Vee Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd.

117 Seaboard Lane, Suite F100, Franklin, TN 37067. (615) 610-5050 or (888) 847-3745

924 Rama Road, Bangkapi, Huay Kwang, Bangkok, Thailand 10310. (404) 305-9396

Trailer King 4300 TBC Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. (866) 822-4968. FAX: (800) 467-4638 www.trailerkingtires.com Products: specialty tires, ST radial tires.

Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas, Inc.

92

Vanderbilt Tires

Wagner®, a Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC brand 27300 W 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.

(248) 354-7700 www.wagnerbrake.com Products: Wagner®, global leader in OE and aftermarket braking innovation, was first with IMI™ Technology, first to register a full line of low-copper brake pads, and now, first with Wagner® OEX designed to stop pickups, SUVs and CUVs sooner. Wagner sets industry standards with leading engineering expertise and a commitment to ensuring that our parts deliver superior braking performance. With comprehensive coverage, Wagner provides all the components necessary for a complete brake repair.

WECnology LLC 4 Chandler Ln., Amherst, NH 03031.

(603) 249-5530 www.wecnology.com Products: consulting, Web and other online assistance, computers and software.

Wheel Consultants Inc. See listing for Plus Sizing Guide

Yokohama Tire Corp.

1 MacArthur Place, Suite 800, Santa Ana, CA 92707. (714) 662-9500 or (800) 423-4544 FAX: (714) 870-3838 www.yokohamatire.com Products: light truck tires, OTR tires, passenger tires, truck tires.

Z C Rubber America Inc., CRA/Arisun 663 Brea Canyon Rd., Suite 4, Walnut, CA 91789. (909) 598-5585 or (855) 924-5678 FAX: (909) 598-5587 www.arisuntires.com Products: ag/farm, LT, motorcycle, OTR, passenger, specialty and truck tires, tubes.

MTD July 2017

Continental GOLD Program Creating partnerships with Independent Tire Dealers since 2005!

Continental recognizes the importance of independent dealers, which is why we have continued to invest in the GOLD program by adding an extra $4,000,000 in Volume Bonus Payouts for 2017. As a GOLD dealer you will have direct access to marketing support programs that reflect the needs of independent dealers: • Dash for the GOLD

• National consumer promotions

• Showroom displays

• RPM program

• Credit card program

• Marketing line rewards

• Engage360

• Total Confidence plan

• Volume bonus

• Elite Dealer Incentive Trip GOLD dealers who purchase more than 2,000 units before December 31, 2017will receive an invitation to Continental’s annual GOLD incentive trip.

2018 GOLD Welcome to Paradise

GOLD dealers who purchase more than 3,500 units before December 31, 2017 will receive a complimentary two day post trip extension for two.

DATES: April 10 th -14th, 2018 LOCATION: Paradisus Resort Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

To learn more about the 2018 GOLD trip visit: www.contilink.com CONTACT MADONNA CONROY (704) 583-8747 OR EMAIL MADONNA.CONROY@CONTI-NA.COM

State Associations Alabama Tire Dealers Association Cheryl Lentz, Sabrina Lentz Knop, Exec.

Dirs., 6096 County Rd. 434, Trinity, AL 35673 (256) 616-3587 Email: alatiredealers@cs.com www.alatiredealers.com President: Mike Craft, Chelsea Tire Pros, 347 Chesser Dr., Chelsea, AL 35043 (205) 678-4944 Dealer members: 128 Supplier members: 62

Arkansas Independent Tire Dealers Association Charles Eden, 2201 Miramonte Dr., Sherwood, AR 72120 (501) 940-5979 Email: Chuck1938@gmail.com www.aitda.net Dealer members: 50 Supplier members: 25

California Tire Dealers Association Dave Redfern, 803 Arlington Rd., Redwood City, CA 94062 (650) 357-0600 Email: exdirctda@gmail.com www.catiredealers.com President: Chris Barry, Independent Tire Dealers Group Members: 300

Georgia Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association Stacy Jarrett, Admin. Assist., P.O. Box 801378, Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 947-2323 Email: ga_tiredealers@bellsouth.net www.gtdra.com President: Larry Bush, Larry Bush’s Riverside Tire, 595 Second St., Macon, GA 31201 (478) 746-6924 Dealer members: 115 Supplier members: 30

Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma — Mid-America Tire Dealers Association Shawn Herrick, Exec. Dir., 7321 NW Rochester Rd., Topeka, KS 66617 (785) 286-1110 Email: herrick.shawn@gmail.com www.matda.org President: Tony Thompson, Thompson’s OK Tire, P.O. Box 563, Beloit, KS 67420 (785) 738-2283 Members: 180

94

Louisiana Independent Tire Dealers Association

Missouri Tire Industry Association

P.O. Box 82531, Baton Rouge, LA 70884 (225) 767-7640 or (800) 887-9806 Email: info@litda.org www.litda.org President: Chris Bonaventure, American Tire Distributors, P.O. Box 83908, Baton Rouge, LA 70884 Email: cbonaventure@aol.com Dealer members: 85 Supplier members: 40

David Overfelt, Exec. Dir.; P.O. Box 1326, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573) 616-2065 Email: dsoverfelt@gmail.com or motireindustry@gmail.com www.mtia4u.org President: Mike Diehm, Diehm’s Tire Service Inc., 1133 N Hwy. 65, Marshall, MO 65340 (660) 886-6856 Email: jdiehm1989@gmail.com Members: 125

Maryland — Chesapeake Automotive Business Association

Montana Tire Dealers Association (currently on hold)

Pat Moog, Exec. Mgr., 308 Crain Hwy., North, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 (800) 766-2292 Email: pat@caba.biz President: Rob Wilson, Admiral Tire and Auto Center, 16200 Branch Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 (301) 249-9476 www.caba.biz Dealer members: 100 Supplier members: 150

Bradley Griffin, Exec. VP, 1645 Parkhill, Suite 6, Billings, MT 59102 (406) 256-1005 or (800) 388-0236 Email: brad.griffin@mtretail.com www.mtretail.com President: Ryan Anderson, Montana Tire Distributors Inc., P.O. Box 3531, Billings, MT 59103 (406) 259-9877 Dealer members: 101 Supplier members: 20

Michigan Tire & Vehicle Service Association

New England Tire & Service Association

President: James Hallan, 603 S Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 372-5656 Email: jhallan@retailers.com www.retailers.com Dealer members: 300 Member businesses: 5,000

Minnesota — North Central Tire Dealers & Suppliers Association (encompasses Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota) Bonnie McCleary, Exec. Dir., 13304 Stone Rd., Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 544-6805 Email: bonniemccleary@northcentraltiredealers.com www.northcentraltiredealers.com President: Tom Wright Jr., Wright Tire Service, 710 W Main St., Anoka, MN 55303 (763) 427-5700 Dealer members: 100 Supplier members: 50

Dick Cole, Exec. Dir., P.O. Box 1012, Yarmouth, ME 04096 (207) 846-0986 Email: netsapros@aol.com www.netsa.org President: Tony DeSimone, 3 Lefevre Dr., Kingston, NH 03841 (603) 489-9206 Dealer/supplier members: 575

New Jersey State Tire Dealers Association Al Breese, Exec. Dir. & Pres., Jack Williams Tire Co., 1302 Pheasant Run, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 (732) 887-7281 Email: abreese@jwtire.com

New York Tire Dealers Association Inc. President: Ernie Caramanico, Amityville Firestone, 258 Broadway, Amityville, NY 11701 (631) 789-3373 Email: ecaramanic@aol.com www.nytda.com Members: 75

MTD July 2017

North Carolina Tire Dealers Association

Tennessee Tire Dealers Association

Reece Hester, Exec. Dir., P.O. Box 17046, Raleigh, NC 27619 (877) 784-0111 Email: reece.hester@nctda.com www.nctda.com President: Mike Erickson, Carroll Tire Co., 4281 Old Dixie Hwy., Hapeville, GA 30354 (561) 383-3000 x 7059 Dealer members: 375 Supplier members: 40

4002 Memorial Blvd., Springfield, TN 37172 (615) 669-0098 www.tktdra.org President: Chad Porter, 1735 Buffalo Trail, Morristown, TN 37814 Email: chad@porterstire.com Dealer members: 300 Supplier members: 77

Ohio Tire & Automotive Association Alex Boehnke, Exec. Dir., 50 W Broad St., Suite 1111, Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 221-7950 Email: info@ohiotire.org www.ohiotire.org President: Colin Gallagher, American Tire Distributors Inc., 23371 Aurora Rd., Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (440) 374-5211 Members: 190

Texas Tire and Automotive Association Charles Space, Exec. Dir., 4600 Spicewood Springs Rd., Suite 103, Austin, TX 78759 (512) 343-8604 or (800) 844-8748 Email: space@ecpi.com www.texastiredealers.org President: Jody Jarvis, Jarvis Tire, P.O. Box 8, Navasota, TX 77868 (936) 870-5492 Email: jjarvis350@aol.com Dealer members: 450 Supplier members: 75

Virginia Automotive Association Oregon and Washington — Northwest Tire Dealers Association Dick Nordness, Exec. Dir., 93705 E Grenada Court, Kennewick, WA 99338 (509) 948-2433 Email: rnordness@nwtiredealers.org www.nwtiredealers.org President: Ed Tuck III, T&T Tire Point S, 3711 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 475-6777 Email: tnttire@hotmail.com Dealer members: 440 Supplier members: 55

Pennsylvania — Tire Dealers Association of Western Pennsylvania Inc. Ron Fisher, Exec. Dir., Myers Tire Supply (412) 469-6269 Email: fish822@aol.com www.tdaofwpa.org President: Bill Schwartz, States Tire, 601 Lysle Blvd., McKeesport, PA 15132 Email: bill@statestire.com Members: 70

South Carolina Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association

Steve Akridge, Exec. Dir., 8016 Staples Mill Rd., Richmond, VA 23228 (804) 739-1400 Email: sakridge@vaauto.org www.vaauto.org President: Scott Brown, Cardinal Plaza Shell, 8334 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield, VA 22152 (703) 451-6232 Dealer members: 230 Supplier members: 40

Wisconsin Automotive Aftermarket Association Gary Manke, Exec. Dir., 5330 Wall St., Suite 100, Madison, WI 53718 (608) 240-2065 Email: gmanke@mseda.com www.wiaca.com President: Paul Marquardt, Northwoods Auto Techs, 5 E Monico St., Rhinelander, WI 54501 (715) 365-2972 Email: northwoodsauto@mechanicnet.com Dealer members: 127 Supplier members: 9

Canada Atlantic Tire Dealers Association Frank Connor, Exec. Dir., 93 Henderson St., Riverview, New Brunswick E1B 4B6 (506) 386-4306 Email: connorfrank57@gmail.com www.atda.ca President: Shane Sutherland, S+S Tire + Auto Service Ltd., 315 Brunswick St., Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 1H2 (506) 458-8262 Dealer members: 109 Supplier members: 16

Ontario Tire Dealers Association Bob Bignell, Exec. Dir., 22 John St. , Box 516, Drayton, Ontario N0G 1P0 (888) 207-9059.

Email: bbignell@otda.com www.otda.com President: Mike McClory, Remco Tire Distributors, 22 John St., Box 516, Drayton, Ontario N0G 1P0 (888) 207-9059 Members: 630

Tire Dealers Association of Canada Bob Bignell, Exec. Dir. 22 John St., Box 516, Drayton, Ontario N0G 1P0 (888) 207-9059 Email: bbignell@otda.com www.tdacanada.ca President: Richard Bender, Tire Discounter Group Inc., 22 John St., Box 516, Drayton, Ontario N0G 1P0 (888) 207-9059 Members: 1,800

Western Canada Tire Dealers Association Ray Geleta, Exec. Dir., 65 Woodbine Rd., Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4A7 (780) 554-9259 Email: rayg@wctd.ca www.wctda.ca President: Paul McAlduff, Tireland Performance Center Ltd., 300 E Esplande, North Vancouver, BC (604) 980-1578 Members: 700

Leigh Faircloth, Exec. Dir., P.O. Box 11635, Columbia, SC 29211 (803) 252-7128 Email: leigh@associationsplus.com President: Darrell Cobb, Cobb Tire & Auto Repair, 2101 Wade Hampton Blvd., Greenville, SC 29615 (864) 268-2588 Members: N/A

www.moderntiredealer.com

95

National Associations AERA Engine Rebuilders Association

Automotive Lift Institute Inc.

Battery Council International

876 Feinberg Court, Suite 106, Cary, IL 60013 (815) 526-7600 or (888) 326-2372 Email: info@aera.org www.aera.org Officers: Jim Rickoff, Pres.; Steve Fox, Oper. Mgr. Members: 2,100

P.O. Box 85, Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 756-7775 Email: info@autolift.org www.autolift.org Officers: R.W. (Bob) O’Gorman, CEO & Pres.

Members: 21 Associate members: 259

330 N Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 644-6610 Email: info@batterycouncil.org www.batterycouncil.org Officers: Mark Thorsby, Exec. VP Members: 200-plus

American Trucking Associations Inc. (ATA) 950 N Glebe Rd., Suite 210, Arlington, VA 22203-4181 (703) 838-1700 Email: media@trucking.org www.trucking.org Officers: Bill Graves, CEO & Pres.

Members: 50 affiliated state trucking associations

Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) 10 Four Seasons Pl., Suite 801, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9B 6H7 (416) 620-4220 Email: info@apma.ca www.apma.ca Officers: Flavio Volpe, Pres.

Members: 400-plus

Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association 170 Attwell Dr., Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5Z5 (416) 364-9333 or (800) 758-7122 Email: mnantais@cvma.ca www.cvma.ca Officers: Mark Nantais, Pres.

Members: 3 (FCA Canada Inc., Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd., General Motors of Canada Ltd.)

Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association

Car Care Council

7250 Heritage Village Plaza, Suite 201, Gainesville, VA 20155 (703) 968-2772 Email: info@apra.org www.apra.org Officers: Omar Cueto, Chmn.; Jay Robie, Vice Pres.; Tom Dunn, Treas.

Members: 1,000

7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814 (240) 333-1045 Officer: Rich White, (301) 654-6664 Email: rich.white@autocare.org www.carcare.org Source for “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign

7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 654-6664 Email: info@autocare.org www.autocare.org Officers: Bill Hanvey, CEO & Pres.; Larry Northup, Rich White, Liaisons Members: 2,000-plus member companies representing more than 150,000 businesses

Automotive Recyclers Association

Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network

9113 Church St., Manassas, VA 20110-5456 (571) 208-0428 Email: michael@a-r-a.org www.a-r-a.org Officers: Michael Wilson, CEO; R.D. Hopper, Pres.

Members: 4,500 direct and affiliated member auto recycling facilities

Auto International Association (AIA), a segment of the Auto Care Association

Automotive Service Association

3943-2 Baymeadows Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32217 (904) 737-2900 Email: info@cvsn.org www.cvsn.org Officers: Edward Neeley, Pres.; Andy Robblee, VP; Angelo Volpe, Exec. VP Members: 80-plus independent aftermarket distributors operating 700-plus locations

Association of Equipment Manufacturers 6737 W Washington St., Suite 2400, Milwaukee, WI 53214 (414) 272-0943 Email: aem@aem.org www.aem.org Officers: Dennis Slater, Pres.

Members: 950-plus

Auto Care Association

7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 654-6664 Email: info@autocare.org www.aiaglobal.org Officers: Angela Chiang, Rosemary Perry, AIA Liaisons

8209 Mid Cities Blvd., North Richland Hills, TX 76182-4712 (817) 514-2900 Email: asainfo@ASAshop.org www.asashop.org Officers: Dan Risley, Pres. & Exec. Dir.; Tony Molla, VP Members: Independent mechanical and collision repair shops across North America

Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association N83 W13410 Leon Rd., Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 (414) 386-0366 Email: info@afla.org www.afla.org Officers: Michael Bieger, Pres.

Members: 400

96

Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association, a segment of the Auto Care Association 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814 (240) 333-1022 Email: larry.northup@autocare.org www.awda.org Officers: Larry Northup, Exec. Dir. Members: 600-plus

Custom Automotive Network 79405 Hwy. 111, Suite 9 PMB 464, La Quinta, CA 92253 (760) 346-5647 Officers: JR Moore, Chmn.; Tracie Nunez, Pres.

Email: info@customautomotivenetwork. com www.customautomotivenetwork.com Members: 395

Equipment and Tool Institute Inc. 37899 W. 12 Mile Rd., Suite 220, Farmington Hills, MI 48331 (248) 656-5080 Email: jessiek@etools.org www.etools.org Officers: Brian Herron, Pres.; Jim Fish, VP Programs; Ken Fitzpatrick, VP Mktg.; Robert Vogt, Sec./Treas.; Jessie Korosec,

MTD July 2017

Mktg. and Events Mgr.; Rick Matz, Tech. Mgr.; Greg Potter, Exec. Mgr. Members: 110 member companies, 450 members

Global Automakers 1050 K St. NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 (202) 650-5555 Email: info@globalautomakers.org www.globalautomakers.org Officers: John Bozzella, CEO & Pres.

Members: 12 motor vehicle manufacturers and five suppliers

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) 10 Laboratory Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3966 (919) 549-4800 Email: syamartino@mema.org www.mema.org Officers: Steve Handschuh, Pres. & CEO; Wendy Earp, Sr. VP, Sec., Treas. & CFO; Paul McCarthy, Sr. VP, Strategy, Planning and Information Services; Rebecca Achurch, Chief Information Officer Members: 1,000-plus companies

NARSA - The International Heat Transfer Association 3000 Village Run Rd. Suite 103, #221, Wexford, PA 15090-6315 (724) 799-8415 Email: info@narsa.org www.narsa.org Officers: Wayne Juchno, Exec. Dir.; Mark Taylor, Chmn.; David Bienvenue, Pres.; Aaron Morrow, VP; Angelo Mioza, Treas.; Roland Ewert, Sec. Members: 500-plus

National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) 2220 CR 210 W, Suite 108-435, St. John’s, FL 32259 (855) 636-2783 Email: admin@nastf.org www.nastf.org Officers: Mark Saxonberg, Chmn.; Skip Potter, Exec. Dir. Members: 12,000

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) 1503 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE, Suite 401, Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 669-6600 Email: contactus@ase.com

Retread Tire Association (RTA)

Tire and Rubber Association of Canada

P.O. Box 6, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 (831) 620-5345 Officers: Jeffrey Parks, Mng. Dir. Email: info@retreadtire.org Jeffrey@retreadtire.org www.retreadtire.org Members: 360-plus

2000 Argentia Rd., Plaza 4, Suite 100, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5N 1W1 (905) 814-1714 Email: info@tracanada.ca www.tracanada.ca www.betiresmart.ca Officers: Glenn Maidment, Pres.

Members: 25

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) 1575 S Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765-0910 (909) 610-2030 Email: info@sema.org www.sema.org Officers: Christopher Kersting, Pres.; Ira Gabriel, VP Mktg.; Peter MacGillivray, VP Communications and Events; William Miller, Sr. VP Oper.

Members: 6,800-plus

Suppliers’ Council to the Canadian Tire Industry 100 Sleeman Ave., Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 6G4 (416) 271-2140 Email: info@sccti.org www.sccti.org Officers: Mauro DiTullio, Pres.; Al Rakla, VP; Peter Parik, Exec. Dir. Members: 18

The Tire Society Inc. 810 E 10th St., Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 865-9403 or (800) 627-0326.

Email: tst@allenpress.com www.tiresociety.org Officers: Randy Jenniges, Pres.; Jim McIntyre, VP; Yaswanth Siramdasu, Sec.; Rusty Adams, Treas.

Members: 200-plus

Tire and Rim Association Inc. 175 Montrose West Ave., Suite 150, Copley, OH 44321 (330) 666-8121 Email: tra@us-tra.org www.us-tra.org Officers: S. Lew, Pres.; R.E. Consolacion, Exec. VP Tire company members: 25 Rim and/or wheel members: 14 Allied part members: 4 Foreign corresponding members: 24 Total members: 67

Tire Industry Association (TIA) 1532 Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite G, Bowie, MD 20716-1883 (301) 430-7280 or (800) 876-8372 Email: info@tireindustry.org www.tireindustry.org Officers: Tom Formanek, Pres.; David Martin, VP; John Evankovich, Sec.; Mike Wolfe, Treas.

Staff: Roy Littlefield, Exec. VP; Kevin Rohlwing, Sr. VP of Training; Sandra Martinez, VP of Oper.; Christine Hoogenboom, Dir. of Training; LeAnn Harley, Dir. of Mktg. and Communications; Shawn Pease, Dir. of Automotive Tire Service Members: 8,000-plus

Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) 1013 Birch St., Falls Church, VA 22046 (703) 533-7677 Email: info@retread.org www.retread.org Officers: David Stevens, Mng. Dir.; Tim BeVier, Pres.; Phil Boarts, Sec.; Mike Berra, Treas.

Members: 500

Tread Rubber & Tire Repair Materials Manufacturers Group (TRMG) Officers: Bill Sweatman, Chmn., Marangoni Tread N.A. Inc., 708 Myatt Dr., Madison TN 37115 (615) 868-4050 Members: 16 company members Total members: 29

U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association 1400 K St. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 682-4800 Email: info@ustires.org www.ustires.org Officers: Anne Forristall Luke, CEO & Pres.; Tracey Norberg, Sr. VP Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel; Dan Zielinski, Sr. VP, Public Affairs Members: 8

www.ase.com Officers: Tim Zilke, Pres. & CEO

www.moderntiredealer.com

97

Ad index When you contact one of our advertisers please be sure to mention you saw their ad in Modern Tire Dealer

98

ADVERTISER

PAGE

website

31 Incorporated

39

www.31inc.com

AAPEX Show

67

www.aapexshow.com

Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc.

57

www.perfectstopsummerpromo.com

Atturo Tire Corporation

38

www.atturo.com

Bartec USA

72

www.bartecusa.com

BFGoodrich Tires

47

www.bfgoodrichtires.com

BKT USA Inc.

11

www.bkt-tires.com

Blackburn OEM Wheel Solutions

45

www.blackburnwheels.com

Camso

65

www.camso.co

CEAT Specialty Tyres Limited

9

www.ceat.com

Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

15

www.havoline.com

Continental Gold Retailer Program

93

www.contilink.com

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

35

www.coopertire.com

Dealer Strategic Planning Inc.

99

www.dsp-20group.com

Falken Tires

41

www.falkentire.com

Federal Tire

55

www.federaltire.com

Firestone Tire

13

www.firestonetire.com

Hankook Tire America Corporation

52-53

www.laufenn.com

K & M Tire Inc.

63

www.kmtire.com

Kenda Tire USA

IBC

automotive.kendatire.com

Kumho Tire USA Inc.

21

www.kumhotireusa.com

KYB Americas Corporation

7

www.kyb.com

Maxxis International-USA

61

www.maxxis.com

MOOG Steering & Suspension

49

www.moogparts.com

Nexen Tire America Inc.

IFC

www.nexentireusa.com

Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc.

OBC

www.nittotire.com

Omnicraft Auto Parts

27

www.omnicraftautoparts.com

Pirelli Tire LLC

33

www.us.pirelli.com

Reliable Int’l Exhibition Services Co. Ltd.

34

www.citexpo.com.cn

Rotary

69

www.rotarywheelservice.com/mtd

SEMA Show

75

www.SEMAshow.com

Sentury Tire Americas

23

www.landsailtires.com

STEELMAN Select TPMS, by JS Products

28

www.steelmanselecttpms.com

Sumitomo Tire

5

www.sumitomotire.com

Sumitomo Tire

51

www.sumitomotrucktires.com

Synchrony Financial

29

www.synchronybusiness.com/new

TBC Brands

19

www.tbcbrands.com

TBC Brands

59

www.tbcbrands.com

Tire Service Equipment Mfg. Company Inc.

37

www.tsissg.com

VDO TPMS Replacement Parts

74

www.redi-sensor.com

Wagner Brake Products

25

www.wagnerbrake.com

Yokohama Tire Corporation

17

www.yokohamatire.com

ZC Rubber America Inc.

36

www.arisuntires.com

MTD July 2017

You know about tires.

Now take your business to the next level.

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Register to visit a DSP 20 Group meeting.

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MTD Classifieds

Advertising information (330) 899-2217, FAX (330) 899-2209

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2017 ADVERTISING DEADLINES

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Call for more information (330) 899-2200, ext. 2217

100

MTD July 2017

Advertising information (330) 899-2217, FAX (330) 899-2209

MTD Classifieds

Tools & Equipment Tire Dealer Tools & Equipment Air Tools • Battery Chargers Compressors • Hose Reels Impact Sockets • Jacks Lube Equip • Tire Equip 5 gal. - 10 gal.

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Your turn

No problem! Dealers plan to adapt to autonomous vehicle service and sometimes it can come across as negative. I am encouraged as I’m seeing more and more of this segment engaged at local car shows. Their fascination and interest covers the entire gamut of cars — antiques, exotic, custom, rat rods, imports, domestic, etc., and they share the same interest as some of us old guys by wanting to save a buck and have the satisfaction of saying, “I did this or that.”

Jon Shields, Field Sales and Training Carroll Tire Co. Atlanta, Ga.

Each month we ask members of our National Advisory Council (NAC) a question or questions on a current hot topic. Recently we asked, “What do you think of autonomous vehicles? Do you think ‘self-driving’ or ‘driverless’ vehicles will catch on? If so, how soon?

How will they change your service department?”

Here are a couple of responses.

1. It’s too early to tell. I would imagine we would just have to adapt to repair these types of vehicles. One year ago I would have said this would happen well in the future, but after the progress in such a short time, I don’t think it will be very long.

2. Self-driving or driverless vehicles will catch on as we could be more productive during our commutes to work, or on trips we can take any stress out of driving — to an extent.

A component of this discussion also includes how vehicle ownership may decrease as well, which could raise some concern for our industry. By and large, driving and cars are an important part of the American culture and I would not expect to see the demise or vehicles or driverless vehicles take over a large segment of the market for this reason.

One segment of the population that may really benefit with this technology is the older or “graying” segment of our population as it offers another method of mobility when a license may not be an option. This segment of the population is growing exponentially, as well. Concerning the service of these types of vehicles, I do not anticipate any negative repercussions as these vehicles would need similar services and service intervals.

Truly, cannot help but wonder not if, but when, the tariff on medium commercial imports might be brought back to the forefront.

Tripp Lee, General Manager Frasier Tire Service Inc. Sumter, S.C.

I don’t understand how the large manufacturers are raising prices on commercial tires while the Chinese import prices are dropping very fast.

Bill Ziegler, President Ziegler Tire & Supply Co. Massillon, Ohio

Both Bridgestone Americas Inc. and Continental Tire the Americas LLC raised prices on their commercial tires twice so far in 2017. — Ed.

Comment from our website Re: The article on “Using ‘return on sales’ measurement to guide purchases” by Dennis McCarron (from the May issue of Modern Tire Dealer): This is a good article, but the math is flawed because it ignores the difference in fixed costs and variable costs.

Name withheld upon request

We also asked council members what was on their mind. Here are some responses.

You are right in that it “ignores” fixed and variable costs. It is intentional, though. It is meant as a guideline, or a starting point, in determining purchases/upgrades/expenses, not a rule, per se.

I would never apply this in a harsh way, it would be a conversation starter.

Good point to bring up, though!

Millennials seem to be getting a lot of attention in our industry

Dennis McCarron, Executive Director, Dealer Strategic Planning 20 Group

What’s on your mind?

Join Modern Tire Dealer’s National Advisory Council Each month, Modern Tire Dealer is guided and influenced by a select group of readers — members of our National Advisory Council. These members’ opinions are the heart of the monthly Your Marketplace column, compiled by industry analyst Nick Mitchell. If you’d like to join this prestigious group, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you. Contact Editor Bob Ulrich at Bob.Ulrich@bobit.com or call (330) 899-2200, ext. 11.

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MTD July 2017

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