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Settlement in
‘Discount’ suit
Mavis to rebrand around 200 stores
By Bruce Davis
bdavis@crain.com
MILLWOOD, N.Y.
Mavis Tire Supply L.L.C. is pre-
paring to rebrand as many as 200
of its Mavis Discount Tire stores
throughout the South, Southeast and
Atlantic Seaboard as “Mavis Tires &
Brakes at Discount Prices.”
The move — announced by Mavis
in notifications on the web pages of
Tire Business photo by Kathy McCarron
parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts
and Pennsylvania, according to terms
of a “concurrent registration” agree-
ment the parties reached Aug. 27 re-
garding their respective trademarks
and which is filed with the U.S. Pat-
ent and Trademark Office.
Rebranding all of the Mavis Dis-
count Tire stores outside of the
Northeast/Middle Atlantic will cost
Millwood-based Mavis Tire millions

individual store locations in Alabama, of dollars, according to testimony in

Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississip-
pi, North and South Carolina and Tex-
as — is seen as linked to the settlement
of a trademark infringement suit filed
against it in late 2018 by Reinalt-Thom-
as Corp./Discount Tire.
Officially the two companies have
acknowledged only that they have
The current leaders of Ziegler Tire & Supply Co. include (from left) COO Nate Clements, President Bill Ziegler settled the suit but that the terms of
and Vice President John Ziegler Jr. the settlement are not being disclosed
publicly. Mavis Tire did not reply to
the case from Mavis Co-CEO David
J. Sorbaro.
Mavis did not indicate how long the
rebranding might take, although in
court documents the company indicat-
ed on a number of occasions it would
need up to 11 months to carry out a
rebranding completely and effectively.
Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Rein-
alt-Thomas filed suit against Mavis
Tire Supply on Dec. 26, 2018, in U.S.

100 YEARS AND COUNTING

Tire Business queries for comment. District Court for Northern Georgia,
At one point in the trial, the court accusing Mavis Tire of infringing on
issued a preliminary injunction di- its federally registered trademark, of
recting Mavis to stop using “Mavis engaging in unfair competition and
Discount Tire” for its stores in Flor- deceptive trade practices and of “tar-
Ziegler family steadily grows dealership, staff ida and Georgia, a ruling that Mavis
later appealed.
nishing and diminishing” the capacity
of its distinctive trademarks.
By Kathy McCarron Mavis Tire will be able to contin- After months of claims and coun-
kmccarron@crain.com ue using Mavis Discount Tire on its terclaims, the parties came to a private
MASSILLON, Ohio stores in New York, New Jersey and SEE MAVIS, PAGE 50
Ziegler Tire & Supply Co. owes its existence to Pro-
hibition.
It was 100 years ago that the 18th Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution was ratified, forcing the Ziegler
TIA president reflects
family to shut a tavern it operated. Then, brothers Ol-
iver and Harold Ziegler met Harvey Firestone, who on ‘challenging’ term
Ziegler Tire photo

encouraged them to open a Firestone tire dealership in

Canton, Ohio, in 1919. The rest, as they say, is history. By Miles Moore Mr. Evankovich said he was espe-
Oliver Ziegler later brought two other brothers to mmoore@crain.com cially happy with the growth in TIA
help operate the retail/commercial dealership. The BOWIE, Md. membership, which is up 14% for this
second, third and fourth generations now are working “It’s been a challenging year, but year, to around 13,500. He credited
at the Massillon-based company, which has grown to The first Ziegler tire store in Canton, Ohio. very fulfilling.” TIA’s comprehensive, state-of-the-
18 commercial tire outlets, six retail tire stores, two Rubber Co. after college for several years before join- That’s John Evankovich’s view of art training programs and its deep
truck tire retread plants, a wholesale center and two ing the family business. his tenure as Tire Industry involvement in government
distribution centers scattered around Ohio and stretch- His son, John III, is a regional commercial supervi- Association (TIA) president affairs for the increase.
ing into Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia. sor for Ziegler’s commercial stores. The fifth genera- for the past year. A native of upstate New
The company reported $130 million in sales last year. tion is still in diapers. Mr. Evankovich, director York, Mr. Evankovich start-
President Bill Ziegler, a second-genera- Ziegler Tire is the 18th largest U.S. commer- of Sam’s Club’s Tire & Bat- ed at Sam’s Club as a tire
Deale
tion dealership owner, first worked as an etail rs cial tire dealership, 21st largest U.S. com- tery Centers, traveled exten- technician in 1990 and
R h mercial tire retreader and the 48th largest sively across the U.S. in the worked his way up through
accountant at another company before
p

ip

joining the family business. 2019 retail tire dealership, according to Tire past year, meeting TIA mem- the ranks. As a longtime in-
To

“We didn’t have a choice. We were Tire Business Special Feature Business rankings. The company also
born into it,” he joked.
At age 71, he has cut back his work
week to 40 hours but has no plans to
bers at various events. The dustry veteran, he feels that
TopRetail operates one of the largest independent
wholesale operations in the Midwest,
mood of the members, he
said, could best be described
rapidly changing technol-
ogy is perhaps the greatest
Evankovich
Dealerships Mighty Tire Wholesale, generating as “cautiously optimistic.” of the many challenges that
To
s

retire anytime soon. His cousin Harold sales of $25.2 million in 2018. “There’s general agreement that tire dealers are facing.
ip

Pages 16-35
p

Re
Ziegler, 86, still comes into the office ev- tail
Dealer
sh The commercial side of the busi- the industry is going to grow,” he “The industry is becoming digital,
ery day. ness accounts for about 75% of sales. The said, “but we’re coming into a time and it’s changing how we serve the
Bill Ziegler’s son Pat and cousin John Jr., Zieglers said they have focused on expanding of political uncertainty, and that can market,” he said. “We have online sales
are the third-generation working in the business. John, the commercial business because that’s what they do have an effect on our overall busi- now and new vehicle technologies. Our
who is vice president, worked for Firestone Tire & SEE ZIEGLER, PAGE 46 ness.” SEE TIA , PAGE 50
 Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 3

IndustryNews
Bridgestone race tire plant to be on stream by 2020
By David Manley
david.manley@crain.com
AKRON
Bridgestone Americas Inc. is on track to start
making race tires at its new plant in Akron by
year-end 2020, after breaking ground on the
project recently.
The Bridgestone Advanced Tire Production
Center (ATPC), plans for which the company
disclosed in February, is being built near the
company’s Bridgestone Americas Technical
Center, the hub for the company’s innovations.
“Our plans for the facility include both
new construction and a full renovation of an
existing structure, and all has been moving
forward smoothly,” according to Cara Adams,
director, race tire engineering and production,
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and
Firestone Racing.
“We broke ground late this summer on the
new construction portion, and walls are al-
ready going up.
“Everything remains on schedule at this mo-
ment for the facility to produce its first Fires-
tone Firehawk race tires for testing in the NTT
IndyCar Series by the end of 2020.”
Ms. Adams said the project is a “transition
process over the next four years,” and that
Bridgestone’s team of race tire builders and
manufacturers will fully be in the new facility
by year-end 2022.
Bridgestone did not disclose its investment
in the new factory.
Bridgestone is the sole tire supplier to the
NTT IndyCar Series, and tire production at
the new plant will be for the series. In a deal
announced in February, Firestone will con-
tinue to be the race tire supplier to the open-
wheel race series, which includes the India-
napolis 500, through 2025.
“We take great pride in making world-class
tires for the fastest and most versatile racing
series in the world, and our experiences in this
racing will continue to drive innovation and
advance tire technology across our entire tire
portfolio for the foreseeable future,” Ms. Ad-
ams said.
Bridgestone has been IndyCar’s sole tire
supplier since the 2000 season.
“The new Bridgestone Advanced Tire Pro-
duction Center will continue a legacy of tire
manufacturing in Akron that began with the
founding of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
in 1900, as well as a proud tradition of success
in racing that dates back to the first Indy 500
in 1911,” Ms. Adams said.
The new plant will be over 80,000 square
feet and employ more than 50 race tire builders
and manufacturing professionals, who work in
the company’s current race tire plant, located
about a mile north in the original Firestone
Plant One building, Ms. Adams said.
“This new facility also will allow
SEE BRIDGESTONE, PAGE 50

Winners, losers in UAW,

GM tentative contract
Photo courtesy of Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant’s office

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (center) and Continental A.G Board Member Christian Koetz (far right)
By Michael Martinez ing open Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly,
Automotive News which was scheduled to close in January.
celebrate with local dignitaries and workers at the firm’s Clinton, Miss., truck tire plant.
DETROIT Workers there will get the opportunity

Conti’s Miss. truck tire plant

United Auto Workers (UAW) union mem- to build electric trucks, vans and battery
bers were scheduled to vote Oct. 25 on a tenta- modules, which represents a $3 billion
tive deal on a new labor contract with General commitment.
Motors Co. that covers wages and benefits for While the union has voiced concern

to start production next year

CLINTON, Miss.
Continental A.G. staged a ceremonial grand
opening Oct. 17 for its $1.4 billion truck tire plant
in Clinton, although production isn’t scheduled to
begin until early 2020.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Christian
Koetz, head of Continental’s Tire Division, were
on hand at the ceremony, along with 300 guests,
including state and local officials, community
members, customers and suppliers and 250 Con-
tinental employees.
“The completion of our new tire plant signifies
a major step in our global long-term growth strat-
egy for Continental Tires, called Vision 2025,”
Mr. Koetz said at the grand-opening ceremony.
“Mississippi is a critical part of this strategy,
providing the best options for us to grow the
tire business in the Americas region. We plan
to grow here together with our amazing team in
Clinton, and we appreciate the strong support
we have received from all involved.”
“Mississippi … looks forward to many years
of job creation and synergy” with Continental,
Mr. Bryant said. “This advanced facility helps
position our state and our people as champions
of manufacturing excellence.”
Continental broke ground in November 2016
on the 840,000-sq.-ft. plant, which is projected
to produce 750,000 truck and bus tires annually
in the first phase, Conti said, starting with ap-
proximately 500 employees.
The full projected employment of 2,500 won’t
be reached until 2028.
The new plant — the first factory Conti has
built that’s dedicated to truck tires — is located
on a 1,000-acre greenfield site in Hinds County,
approximately two miles west of Clinton and 20
miles northwest of Jackson.
Paul Williams, Conti’s executive vice presi-
dent, commercial vehicle tires, the Americas,
said the addition of this plant will help Conti sat-
isfy the “tremendous growth” it’s experiencing
for its truck/bus tires.
“The state of Mississippi, Hinds County and
the City of Clinton have been outstanding part-
ners to help us create this facility,” he added,
“which will provide excellent jobs for the years
and decades to come.”
The factory is Conti’s third tire plant in the
U.S. and second with truck tire capacity. Its oth-
ers are in Mount Vernon, Ill., and Sumter, S.C.
The opening of this factory comes just a few
weeks after Conti announced it is phasing out
the production of truck tires at a plant in Petal-
ing Jaya, Malaysia, as part of a corporate-wide
restructuring that will impact 20,000 jobs.
Operational since 1963 and acquired by Con-
ti in 2003, the Malaysian plant will continue to
make agricultural, earthmover and industrial
tires.
46,000 hourly workers after a 31-day national
strike against Detroit’s largest auto maker.
It was not immediately clear when the
work stoppage, the longest against GM
over electric vehicles, and while EVs re-
main a tiny portion of the market, the allo-
cation cements job security for up to 2,225
people at full capacity. If that doesn’t se-
since 1970, would end. cure their “yes” votes, nothing will.
Here is an overview of the potential
winners and losers in the proposed deal: Older workers at the three plants
slated to close:
Winners It’s never good when a company closes
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant: your plant. But if a company is going to
At the handshake ceremony to for- close your plant, the best you can hope for
mally open negotiations, UAW President is a generous buyout package, and that’s
Gary Jones demanded that GM CEO what they’re getting.
Mary Barra keep open four plants in the According to the tentative deal, workers
U.S. it had “unallocated” last November. displaced by the closure of the plants in
“We call on GM to keep these plants Ohio, Michigan and Maryland can elect a
open and allocate more products on $75,000 retirement incentive ($85,000 for
American soil,” Mr. Jones said in July. “It skilled trades), a buyout of up to $75,000
can be done.” depending on their level of seniority or
It was. To an extent. several other options.
While GM won the ability to close For someone weighing an early retire-
plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland, ment against the prospect of uprooting
the union secured a big win in keep- SEE GM, PAGE 50
VISIT TIREBUSINESS.COM: Check out the latest industry news.
LIVESTREAM: Tire Business is hosting several livestream sessions during the SEMA
Show, including one with the Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner.
Visit www.tirebusiness.com/SEMAlive to sign up.
SOYBEAN TIRES? Miss our story on Goodyear adding soybean oil to its tires? See it online.
Other online content:
STORIES • VIDEOS • PHOTOS • NEWS • LETTERS • PODCASTS

THE LATEST NEWS: Several tire makers have increased the price of tires in the last few months. Check our
website often to find the latest price hikes.
4 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS
IndustryNews
LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS
Tire Business to broadcast 10 livestreams at SEMA
By Don Detore
ddetore@crain.com
LAS VEGAS
Tire Business has expanded to 10 the num-
ber of livestream broadcasts it is planning to air
during the upcoming Specialty Equipment Mar-
ket Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.
Sensata Technologies Inc.’s Schrader Perfor-
mance Sensors will be hosting a livestream on
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Rob Tinson, director of North American sales,
and Anthony Ableman, national sales manager,
will discuss Schrader’s latest innovations in tire
pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), including
the EZ-sensorGO, and an OE-approved TPMS
sensor designed for the specialty three-piece af-
termarket wheels, EZ-sensor 90˚.
Tire Business will host the livestreams
from its booth (No. 42051) in the South Hall
of the Las Vegas Convention Center during
the first three days of the SEMA Show.
The livestream schedule includes:
Tuesday, Nov. 5
(all times Pacific Standard Time)
10 a.m. — Giti Tire (USA) Ltd: Jim May-
field, executive vice president of sales, and
David Poling, director of tire development
and product marketing at the Giti R&D center,
will be discussing the Singapore-headquar-
tered tire maker and its milestones, particu-
larly the value of having its North American
R&D and factory together in Richburg, S.C.
The company also will talk about one of its
brands, GT Radial, and share what’s new and
what to expect from the brand in 2020.
1 p.m. — TireConnect: Chance Harrington,
director, business development sales and market-
ing and co-founder of the company, will discuss
the changes in consumer buying habits and why
it’s imperative that today’s tire dealers change the
way they market and sell. Bridgestone Americas
Inc. acquired TireConnect in 2015.
4:30 p.m. — Humanitarian winner: Tire
Business will sit down with the 2019 Tire
Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
winner to discuss the dealer's philanthropic
work in his or her community.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
11:30 a.m. — Nexen Tire America Inc.:
Marketing director Megan Wentz will talk
SEMA petitions court to force
action on replica-car provision
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.
The Specialty Equipment Market Associ-
ation (SEMA) has filed a petition in federal
appellate court seeking to force the U.S. gov-
ernment to allow replica car manufacturers to
begin production immediately.
SEMA’s petition refers to a 2015 law —
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
(FAST Act) — which included provisions al-
lowing low volume auto makers to sell up to 325
replica cars each year that resemble production
vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago.
The FAST Act set a deadline of Dec. 4,
2016, for the U.S. Department of Transpor-
Volume. 37, No. 15—Tire Business (ISSN 0746-9071) is published bi-weekly by
Crain Communications Inc. at 2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000, Cuyahoga Falls,
Ohio 44221. Periodicals postage paid at Akron and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: Tire Business, Circulation Dept., 1155 Gratiot
Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48207-2912. Subscription rates: U.S., $79—one year; $148—
Tire Business Editor Don Detore (left) and special projects reporter Bruce Davis talk about the
Global Tire Report during a livestream in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Sept. 12.
Sign up for our livestreams at tirebusiness.com/SEMAlive.
about the South Korean tire maker’s growth
in the U.S. in 2020, including a look at new
products, updated pricing, dealer support with
its Next Level Program and other marketing
ventures, such as the Nexen Hero program.
1 p.m. — Bartec USA L.L.C: Officials
from the Sterling Heights, Mich.-based maker
of TPMS diagnostic tools will discuss some
their latest products, including the Rite-Sen-
sor, a programmable, single part, multi-fre-
quency replacement TPMS sensor. Executives
also will talk about service kits and replace-
ment valves; diagnostic and mechanical tools;
and tech and data management support.
2:30 p.m. — 1-800 EveryRim OEM
Wheels: President Billy Eordekian, along with
Operation Manager Vahe Michaelian, will share
tips with dealers on how to profit from the sale
of OEM wheels. Messrs. Eordekian and Michae-
lian will discuss how to identify damaged wheels
and engage the customer into making informed
decisions when purchasing wheels.
Thursday, Nov. 7
11:30 a.m. — Elgi Rubber Co. Ltd.: Bill
Mohler, president, and Ron Mohler, sales
and marketing manager of the Tamil Nadu,
India-based manufacturer of tire repair, re-
tation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
ministration (NHTSA) to issue any necessary
regulations to implement the law. The agency
has yet to take any action, SEMA said.
Prior to enactment of the FAST Act, the
U.S. had just one system for regulating auto-
mobiles, which was established in the 1960s
and designed for companies that mass-pro-
duce millions of vehicles, SEMA said.
This lack of regulatory flexibility prevented
small businesses from manufacturing turn-
key vehicles. According to SEMA, a number
of companies made capital investments and
took customer orders on the assumption that
2 years; group rates available. Surface delivery—to Canada, 1 year—$107 (includes
GST); to all other countries, $119 per year. Four weeks notice required for change
of address. Single copy—$4. Canadian Post International Publications Mail Product
(Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement #40012850, GST #136760444. Canadian
return address: 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A6J3. Printed in U.S.A.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
NEWS IN BRIEF
Porsche requests NHTSA
waiver for rim markings
WASHINGTON
Porsche Cars North America Inc. has
petitioned the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a deci-
sion of inconsequential noncompliance re-
garding mismarked wheel rims on roughly
230,000 Cayenne and Macan vehicles built
between June 1, 2007, and Sept. 21, 2018.
The rims on those vehicles do not contain
the symbol “E” as required by law desig-
nating that the rims’ published nominal di-
mensions emanate from the European Tyre
& Rim Technical Organisation, Porsche
told NHTSA.
The noncompliance is inconsequential,
Porsche said, because the rims bear a De-
partment of Transportation symbol demon-
strating they meet DOT standards.
Tire Business photo David Manley
Also, the lack of the “E” designation sym-
bol will not prevent owners from matching
the proper tires to the rims, Porsche said.
Other markings on the rims and the own-
ers’ manuals indicate the proper tire sizes,
it said.
SEMA urges
treading products and rubber reclaim, will
talk about some of the most important issues
involvement
affecting the industry. Some of the topics in-
clude Chinese products, tariffs, repair legisla-
tion, manufacturing/production automation,
on RPM Act
digital interfaces, training, market globaliza- WASHINGTON D.C.
tion and market saturation. U.S. Senators Richard Burr, R-N.C., and
1 p.m. — Schrader Performance Sensors: Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have reintroduced the
Messrs. Tinson and Ableman will talk about RPM Act, legislation that is designed to pro-
the new products as the company celebrates tect Americans’ right to convert street vehicles
its 175th anniversary and its 30-plus years in into dedicated racecars and the motorsports
TPMS development. parts industry’s right to sell products that en-
2:30 p.m. — Wegmann Automotive USA able racers to compete.
Inc.: Gregory Parker, national account sales, Originally introduced in 2016, the bipar-
marketing and product management director, tisan legislation — Recognizing the Protec-
will share the latest developments and prod- tion of Motorsports (RPM) Act — is poised
ucts from the international producer of wheel to become law in the 2019-20 Congress after
balance weights. Mr. Parker also will talk clearing several major legislative hurdles in
about the history as well as the future of the the previous Congress, according to the Spe-
brands, as well as offer tips for wheel balance cialty Equipment
and air control in the shop. Market Associa-
All livestreams are advertising-driven, ex- tion (SEMA),
cept the Nov. 5 broadcast with the Humani- which has
tarian Award winner, which is being put on championed
by the Tire Business editorial department. the bill from
Each livestream will be available at www. the outset.
tirebusiness.com to watch anytime. Viewers, The au-
however, must register in order to view them. tomotive
a f t er m a rket
banded to-
gether then in
response to language
in the Phase 2 “Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and
Heavy-Duty Engines” from the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) that SEMA
and others said they believed would prohibit the
conversion of on-road vehicles into race cars.
sales could begin in late 2016. The Phase 2 standards, published in July
“SEMA warned NHTSA in 2018 that it 2015, also would forbid the sale of certain
would file suit if companies could not begin products for use on converted on-road vehi-
production of turnkey cars as authorized by cles, SEMA said.
the FAST Act,” SEMA President and CEO “The EPA's new interpretation of the Clean
Christopher Kersting said. Air Act would essentially rewrite the law and
“SEMA has made every effort to work col- 46 years of policy and practice,” SEMA Presi-
laboratively with NHTSA for over three and dent and CEO Chris Kersting said at that time.
a half years, although the agency has taken no According to SEMA, motorsports competi-
action to implement the replica car law. Con- tion involves tens of thousands of participants
sequently, companies have not hired workers, and vehicle owners each year, both amateur
businesses have lost money, and consumers and professional, resulting in nearly $2 billion
have been denied their rights to purchase worth of retail sales of racing products.
replica cars.” SEMA estimates there are roughly 1,300
race tracks in the U.S. encompassing oval,
road, dirt and off-road events that feature con-
verted race vehicles that the EPA now consid-
ers to be illegal.
 *

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6 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS
OUR VIEW
Let’s make a
deal ... or build
on what we have
I
t’s beginning to sound like a worn-out song:
the big just keep getting bigger.
Our latest rankings of the Top Retail Deal-
erships in North America (see list on pages 20-22)
show that the mega-dealerships at the top keep
growing — led by Discount Tire (1,046 stores),
followed by TBC (733), fast-growing Monro Inc.
(703), Mavis Discount Tire (654), Icahn Automo-
tive Group L.L.C. (475 Pep Boys Service & Tire
outlets) and Les Schwab Tire Centers (436).
In the last year alone, Tire Business found that
as many as 160 stores have changed ownership in
a dozen separate transactions. That includes 69
acquisitions from the Greenbriar Equity Group,
a relative newcomer to the industry. New York-
based Greenbriar, which acquired nearly 30
stores in Texas alone, is expected to stay in a buy-
ing mode, according to a spokesman.
Discount Tire/America’s Tire, meanwhile, built
45 stores from the ground up and shows no sign
of stopping.
Research tells us that the “typical” larger-scale,
multi-store independent retail tire dealership in
North America operates 23 stores — down from
24 a year ago — and generates about $2.7 million
in revenue per outlet. Each also carries a dozen
tire brands.
If you’re an independent tire dealer, this news
can be heartening — tires and automotive service
are and will remain a viable industry. Don’t take
our word for it: The actions of investor Carl Icahn
and businesses such as Monro and Greenbriar
seem to be proof enough.
But this news can be just as disheartening for the
independent dealer — there’s a school of thought
that if the industry keeps going as it is, with the big
growing bigger, only powerful mega-dealerships
with deep pockets will survive.
We prefer to believe there is room for both in
a global market that continues to consume tires.
Four family-owned dealerships illustrate that
point.
Capital Tire (Toledo, Ohio); Lewis General
Tires (Rochester, N.Y.); Max Finkelstein Inc. (As-
toria, N.Y.); and Ziegler Tire & Supply Co. (Mas-
sillon, Ohio, featured on page 1 of this edition)
have survived and prospered for 100 years.
Think about all the changes in the industry that
have occurred during that time. Through the in-
vention and refinements of the automobile, to the
invention of the radial tire, through the Great De-
pression and the Great Recession, these dealer-
ships have persevered and are about to enter their
second century of business.
The Zieglers have a family joke: “You got to
start out with a lot of money,” said Bill Ziegler,
a second-generation owner. He said his Uncle
Ralph told the first-generation brothers: “I don’t
understand it. You’ve been losing money since
1919, and you’re still in business. You must have
started out with a hell of a lot of money!”
Will the big retail dealerships continue to gob-
ble up some of the little guys? Definitely.
As Baby Boomers retire, and family dynamics
change, it is inevitable.
But if a dealership truly is committed to stay-
ing independent — while working through some
of the potential fractious issues that have affected
each of the four centenarians listed above — there
is a place in the industry not for it to survive, but
to thrive.
And that’s good for everyone.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
Brennan Lafferty
V.P./group publisher
blafferty@crain.com • 313-446-6768
EDITORIAL STAFF
P:330-836-9180 F:330-836-2831
Donald J. Detore
Editor
ddetore@crain.com • 330-865-6126
David Manley
Managing editor
david.manley@crain.com • 330-865-6131
Bruce Davis
Special projects reporter
bdavis@crain.com • 330-865-6145
Miles D. Moore
Senior Washington reporter
mmoore@crain.com • 703-256-9275
Kathy McCarron
Reporter
kmccarron@crain.com • 330-865-6127
Michael McCrady
Art director/page designer
mmccrady@crain.com • 330-865-6148
Forum Don Loepp
Editorial director
dloepp@crain.com • 313-446-6767
Providing the tools to
INTERNET STAFF
Erin Pustay Beaven
Online content editor
ebeaven@crain.com • 330-865-6106
help shops, students
Mark McCarron
Digital coordinator
mmccarron@crain.com • 330-865-6123
PRODUCTION/IT STAFF
By Kathy McCarron about the jobs they could be trained for. Scott Merryweather
kmccarron@crain.com Media services manager
He said once they are privy to the infor-
T
smerryweather@crain.com • 330-865-6104
here has been much public discussion mation, many are interested in the program. Anthony DiPonio
about ways to help low-income fam- Word-of-mouth within the school also helps. Chief information officer
ilies rise out of the cycle of poverty. He said some students signed up for the adiponio@crain.com • 313-446-1605
And there has been much discussion in the program because they heard their friends SALES STAFF
tire/automotive aftermarket about talking about it. A lot of kids proud- P:330-836-9180 F:330-836-1005
Patrick Cannon
ways to encourage young people to ly wear their shop uniforms after Group sales director
pursue a career in an industry strug- school and at football games, he pcannon@crain.com • 313-916-1625
gling with a shortage of qualified said. Christine Zernick
Sales director
auto technicians With all the aid from Bridgestone, czernick@crain.com • 330-865-6108
Tire dealerships and auto repair its vendors, the local United Way Bruce Miller
shops could help with both issues just and the school system to bolster this Regional sales manager
bmiller@crain.com • 313-737-6665
by donating a little time — the pro- program with equipment and sup-
verbial one stone that kills two birds. plies, I asked Mr. Groom what assis-
John Hickey
Sales manager
I recently attended the first anni- tance he would like to have from tire jhickey@crain.com • 260-437-8502
versary celebration of Bridgestone McCarron dealers in the community. Peter Bianchi
Sales manager
Americas Inc.’s partnership with He echoed what auto shop in- pbianchi@crain.com • 312-265-6484
Akron Public Schools’ Automotive Tech- structors across the country have said time Brooke Stender
nology Center, which allows students to get and again: face-to-face interaction with the Classified sales representative
bstender@crain.com •330-865-6117
hands-on training in a functioning Firestone students, including visiting the classes, men- Lori DiFrancesco
Complete Auto Care center at one of its high toring and offering internships. Sales and conference coordinator
schools. Often students don’t really believe compa- ldifrancesco@crain.com • 330-865-6121
East Community Learning Center (Ak- nies or the community is invested in them, MARKETING & EVENTS STAFF
Sarah Arnold
ron’s fancy name for “school”) is one of the Mr. Groom said, so face-to-face contact
Marketing & events manager
district’s struggling high schools in a low-in- helps instill the idea that people care. sarnold@crain.com • 330-865-6169
come community. A lot of students struggle with poverty and Sally Dietz
Yet about 100 students are making an effort a lack of adult intervention. Offering men- Assistant trade show manager
sdietz@crain.com • 330-865-6112
to better their economic future by enrolling in torships, internships or helping in the class- AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
the auto tech courses for a four-year period. room, whether it’s at a local high school, Jennifer Mosley
The courses include technical instruction in vocational school or community college, can Group director, Audience development
jmosley@crain.com • 312-649-5312
automotive technology and business skills, go a long way in boosting students’ self-con-
along with the necessary soft skills, such as fidence and belief they can pursue a career For new subscriptions or change
of address write to:
how to interact with customers. that helps pull them out of poverty. Circulation Department, Tire Business
By senior year, they are ready to help run the Bridgestone’s Technical Center, a few miles 1155 Gratiot Ave.
Detroit, Mich. 48207-2912
on-campus Firestone store where they do basic from East CLC, has committed to 2,000 em- or call 877-320-1716 (U.S. and
maintenance on customers’ vehicles. The shop ployee volunteer hours over the next three Canada only) or 313-446-0450.
serviced about 50 vehicles last year, some of years to the automotive technology center.
FAX: 313-446-6777
email: customerservice-tb@crain.com
them belonging to teachers and school staff. A year ago at the ribbon-cutting of the
For single copy sales:
One student who graduated last year has school’s automotive center, Bridgestone’s email: singlecopysales@crain.com
already been hired at a Firestone store. Chief Technology Officer Nizar Trigui said: Reprints:
East CLC automotive teacher Chad “Our technical team wants to donate time, Lauren Melesio
Groom told me that students, especially and help, teach and mentor. Some of the stuff lmelesio@crain.com • 212-210-0707
from low-income families, need to buy in we do, we don’t learn in schools. We learn EXECUTIVE OFFICES
and invest in themselves to pursue a career. out of doing. Then we want to share that ex- 2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000,
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
Many students have to be introduced to perience with people who want to learn. It’s
automotive service careers because they are a great combination.” P:330-836-9180 F:330-836-2831
unfamiliar with them, he said. So the school The donation of time, he added, is a com-
CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC
invites junior high students for a walk- mitment to the community beyond just writ-
through of the auto shop, where they learn ing a check. Keith E. Crain Mary Kay Crain
Chairman Vice chairman
KC Crain Chris Crain
Letters to the Editor President Senior executive
vice president
Lexie Crain
Armstrong Robert Recchia
Tire Business encourages letters to the editor on any subject of interest to indepen- Secretary Chief financial officer
dent tire dealers. Send a letter to: Editor, Tire Business, 2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000, G.D. Crain Jr. Gertrude R. Crain
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221. Letters also can be emailed to tirebusiness@crain.com. Founder Chairman
Letters must be signed and may be edited for length and clarity. Please include a (1885-1973) (1911-1996)
daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters also may be published on TB’s
website: www.tirebusiness.com.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 7

AutomotiveService

Emergency auto repair spells trick instead of treat

By Dan Marinucci rush jobs is that they foment mis-
tirebusiness@crain.com takes, and mistakes breed costly

B
Dan Marinucci
eware, Halloween is nigh. is a freelance comebacks. Techs bear the brunt of
Solving a stranger’s automo- automotive the mistake by having to do the task
tive emergency may become service writer and over again — work they didn’t want
more trick than treat for kind-heart- former editor of to rush in the first place.
ed tire dealers and service shop op- two automotive Repeatedly I have seen capable
erators. service magazines. techs scale the proverbial wall to as-
What’s more, the root causes of sist faithful customers who are in a
the trick shouldn’t spook anyone. repair job may be a welcome treat jam, but many techs feel disrespect-
After all, they’re rooted in basic hu- when business is slow and techni- ed when a boss forces work on them
man nature. cians need work, but cramming a without providing adequate repair
First of all, one person’s perceived job into an already busy schedule time.
car emergency is not necessarily becomes a counterproductive trick. Furthermore, a hasty assignment
your emergency. Nonetheless, some For one thing, competent and is a trick when the beneficiary is
motorists believe they’re entitled conscientious techs hate rush jobs some stranger the crew may never
to exceptional service even though — rightfully so. Some of the worst see again.
they’ve done nothing to earn it. shop injuries seem to occur during So, bosses, weigh jobs carefully
This breed of customer is a total rush jobs. — trick or treat?
stranger who appears at your business Injured technicians aren’t produc-
unannounced, yet he or she still be- tive ones, so both the tech and the Dan can be reached via e-mail at tire
haves like a long-time, faithful cus- business suffer. business@crain.com. His previous columns Cramming a job into a busy schedule can be counterproductive, and costly
tomer. Another reason good techs hate are available at www.tirebusiness.com. mistakes can happen when technicians are rushed.
However, this car owner does
something your regular customers
usually do not: He expects you to
drop everything and fix a vehicle
ahead of regularly scheduled patrons.
Predictably, this stranger’s attitude
quickly begins grating on your staff.
Second, this vehicle’s problem may
be minor or major. (It’s more like- PROGRAMMABLE UNIVERSAL TPMS
ly to be serious — clouds of steam
coming from the grille and coolant
dripping below the car.)
COMBINE BOTH FREQUENCIES
Sometimes the symptom suggests
minor trouble, but what truly mat-
ters is that the car owner believes
the ailment is an urgent one.
Mind you, the car’s problem may
have existed for a long time, but
once the car owner decides that it
warrants attention, look out. This self-
ish motorist wants solutions.
Third, these personalities and the
awkward situations they create are old
news to veterans of a service business.
With all due respect to my read-
ers and colleagues, selfish motor-
ists are anything but new or recent
phenomena.
In the later 1960s, I watched these
car owners’ antics when I worked in
traditional, full-service gas stations.
Sadly, I have continued seeing them
throughout my travels around the
country.
Some service personnel may be- OE QUALITY SENSOR
lieve that these over-demanding mo-
torists appear only during a full
moon. Experience has shown,
however, that they may arrive, try- COMBINE BOTH FREQUENCIES
ing to take advantage of you during
the busiest times of the year.
Prepare yourselves mentally to be 99% VEHICLE
COVERAGE
unfailingly polite to selfish motor- RUBBE R / ALUMINUM
ists. That said, be equally steadfast
about saying “no” — and saying so
repeatedly. MEMBER
Fourth, don’t let a potential treat ®

sway your judgment when people

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demand instant action on a car prob-
lem. This treat is the warm, fuzzy S O L U T I O N
feeling service personnel get when ONLY PRODUCES TPMS TOOLS & SENSORS
they fix a problem that a competitor MORE COMPATIBLE & E ASY TO USE • MOST CURRENT VEHICLE COVER AGE

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© 2019 Autel Intelligent Technology Corp., Ltd., All Rights Reserved
8 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

AutomotiveService

German group launches U.S. garage equipment line

COPLEY, Ohio
Stargate Capital G.m.b.H., a Ger-
man investment capital company
with holdings in the tire/wheel-ser-
vicing equipment sector, is plan-
ning to enter the U.S. market with
the Beissbarth, Sicam and Werther
brands being sold under the Ac-
cu-turn name.
Munich, Germany-based Star-
gate Capital has established a U.S.
sales company, BASE USA in Co-
pley, in partnership with McCourt
Consultant Group, which will han-
dle importing and logistics and is in
the process of setting up a sales/dis-
tribution network, according Chuck
McCourt, president of
both companies.
Stargate Capital
has been building its
tire/wheel servicing
equipment groups
since early 2018 when
it acquired Werther In-
ternational S.p.A., a Reggio Emilia,
Italy-based producer of vehicle lifts
and associated equipment.
The process continued through-
out 2018 and concluded in October
with the purchase of Beissbarth
G.m.b.H. and Sicam S.r.l. from
Bosch Corp.
Beissbarth is a Munich-based
producer of a range of auto service/
repair equipment, while Corregio,
Italy-based Sicam is a producer of
tire-changing equipment.
The company settled on using
the Accu-turn name as the umbrel-
la brand name as more internation-
ally recognizable. It also belonged
to Beissbarth and was part of the
deal with Bosch.
The Accu-turn name has been
active in the market since the early
1980s, primarily in the brake-lathe
sector.
BASE (Beissbarth Automotive
Service Equipment) USA will offer
a range of wheel servicing equip-
ment under the Accu-turn name,
including:
• Tire changers; wheel balancers;
brake lathes; lifts (low raise; two
post; four post); headlight calibra-
tion; flash tread tire management;
and wheel alignment (easy CCD;
easy 3D; touchless).
“Our goal is to establish and
promote the brand recognition of
Beissbarth, Sicam and Werther
products in the U.S. marketplace to
the prominent level they currently
hold in Europe by leveraging the
legacy and market identity of the
Accu-turn name,” Mr. McCourt
said.
“BASE USA will provide more
services than any other equipment
supplier in the market, as part of its
value-added package provided to
its customers,” he added.
Accu-turn/BASE USA will be
exhibiting at the upcoming SEMA
Show, Nov. 5-8 in Las Vegas, booth
No. 42321.

Integration
streamlines
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MAXXIS
TIRES DISTRIBUTOR TO GET shipments
SIGNED UP TODAY
Autopart, ShipEngine
aim for easier rate
shopping for dealers
BLUE BELL, Pa.
MAM Software has announced a
new integration between Autopart
and ShipEngine to streamline ship-

ASSOCIATE DEALER PROGRAM

ping processes.
ShipEngine, the technology that
powers ShipStation and other plat-
forms, supplies shipping application
programming interfaces (APIs) and
solutions. A subsidiary of Stamps.
com, ShipEngine was designed to
A Powerful new Program to ACCELERATE Profits solve the logistics problems that arise
as businesses scale.

With the Maxxis Accelerate program working for you, your business will gain a
strong competitive edge in a marketplace that rewards value. A brand born of
performance, Maxxis supports your ability to build profit with a product line The integration provides Autopart
users the ability to perform shipment
you can be proud to offer. rate shopping across multiple carri-
ers, provide customers with upfront
As a Maxxis Accelerate dealer, you will have unlimited access to the support of shipping costs and then to generate
the shipment labels and tracking
a Global Tire Manufacturing leader. Sign up and accelerate your success today! numbers directly from Autopart.
With a ShipEngine account config-
ured, users can retrieve shipping rates
• Dealer Locator from most major shipping companies,
• Monthly and Quarterly Retail Promotions including FedEx, UPS and USPS.
With users able to check rates for
• Maxxis Branded Point of Sale materials delivery services in real time and
• Quarterly and Annual Bonus rewards to select a rate, generate a shipping
label and ship items in just a few
• Maxxis Wearables and promotional Items clicks, this integration allows for
streamlined shipping processes and
reduced shipping costs, all while in-
www.maxxisaccelerate.com creasing the level of service to their
customers, the company said.
“It’s always satisfying when
ShipEngine can help partners like
MAM Software provide enhanced
services or new features to their
own users,” said Eric Abrahams of
ShipEngine. “We are looking for-
ward to this opportunity to connect
Autopart’s users with the ability to
solve shipping for their businesses.”
“ShipEngine has proven to be a
major player in multi-carrier shipping
and logistics. We are happy to have a
0000 0000 0000 0000 working relationship with them and
to offer our Autopart customers the
Maxxis Authorized Dealer ability to streamline their shipping
processes through this integration,”
said Ben Stanley, director of product
management at MAM Software.
BRAND’EM UP AND
SHOW’EM OFF
Be on the safe side.
Inflate and go.

Fits Fits
ze ze
tire si 4" tire si 4"
25" - 4 25" - 4
OD OD

TBR OR SUPER DISPLAY FOR

SINGLE DISPLAY TBR TIRES
$269 $569
MTBRD MTTTD

Practical and lean design. Adjustable Insert the specification sheet of your
height allowing to display TBR or super tires on the header board and dress it
single tires. Made in steel to ensure up in your own colors. Made in steel
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YOUR TIRE
EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURER
INFLATION INFLATION PIT STOP
Max.
BARRIER - TBR tire si
ze 174
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Set the pressure you want, seat your tire and
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SEATING AND INFLATING Alread n

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ENLIGHTEN YOUR
ORGANIZATION
The easiest and most
cost-effective way for companies
to gain unlimited access to
Tire Business is through a
corporate subscription for 10+
users.

With a corporate subscription,

you and your organization will
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www.tirebusiness.com/corporatesubscontact
10 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

AutomotiveService
Tire changer, lift racks among latest tools
Hofmann monty 1675 Swing Arm
Tire Changer
Snap-on unveils tire
changer to Hofmann line
CONWAY, Ark.
Snap-on Inc. has unveiled the
Hofmann monty 1675 Swing Arm
Tire Changer for servicing passen-
ger car, light truck and high-perfor-
mance wheel and tire assemblies.
“The ergonomic design and
safety-enhancing features of the
new Hofmann 1675 tire chang-
er provides the user a safe work
space when changing a variety
of tires,” Adam Brown, direc-
tor of product management for
Hofmann, said.
“The 1675 is easy to set up, sim-
ple to use and offers a large range of
capacity.”
The Hofmann swing-arm tire
changer features the patented smart-
Speed technology to minimize the
risk of damage to tires. The tech-
nology optimizes the torque applied
to the wheel and sets the maximum
rotation speed of the wheel.
The 1675 offers variable speeds
from 7 to 18 rpm for maximum pro-
ductivity, the company said.
The monty 1675 features pre-
cision-cast and machined shoes
with cast jaws and the heavy-duty
pneumatic valves offer intuitive
functionality.
The electric motor generates
1,200 Newton/meters of torque to
the table top to mount stiff, difficult
tires.
The tire changer also features a
newly designed bead breaker control
that is simple to operate and prevents
the technician from having to strad-
dle the assembly during bead break-
ing, the company said.
An integrated pressure limiter
helps stop air flow once pressure has
reached 55 psi, preventing accidental
tire over-inflation.
The 1675 model is one of 14 mod-
els in the monty tire changer series.
Hunter debuts harsh-duty
variant of RX lift rack
ST. LOUIS
Hunter Engineering Co. has re-
leased an optional harsh-duty varia-
tion for its standard RX scissor-lift
racks that feature stainless-steel slip
plate top surfaces and turnplates.
Hunter said the racks provide a
solution for challenges that occur
with brine solutions being used more
commonly in place of, or along with,
road salt in wintry conditions, which
can harm automobiles and automo-
tive shop equipment.

Hunter RX scissor-lift
The lift rack has a zinc-rich prim-
er base coat and powder top coat that
covers lift runways, ramps and bases,
providing two layers of protection.
The rack also features epoxy-caulked
joints, preventing salt seepage be-
tween adjoining pieces of metal.
“Today’s brine solutions used on
many roads are challenging auto
makers and equipment manufactur-
ers alike,” Hunter Vice President of
Marketing Pete Liebetreu said.
“These solutions are so aggres-
sive, that we decided to offer our
customers additional options to keep
their Hunter equipment in great con-
dition for a long time to come.”
Hunter said its scissor lift fam-
ily offers maximum capacity in a
low-profile compact package, with
extra-wide runways and a hydraulic
system to lower descent time.
Hunter recently announced an in-
tegration partnership with Dealer-FX
and its ONE platform service, a dash-
board that provides workflow control
for car dealerships.

Snap-on John Bean V2380

Snap-on introduces
John Bean aligner
CONWAY, Ark.
Snap-on Inc. has unveiled the
John Bean V2380 wheel alignment
system that it claims reduces the
amount of training and experience
needed to operate.
“The new John Bean V2380 is a ver-
satile aligner that features the latest XD
target and camera system, while at the
same time, offering the most intuitive,
easy-to-operate, industry-leading soft-
ware that John Bean has ever provid-
ed on an aligner,” said Adam Brown,
product manager for John Bean.
“Shops that utilize the new V2380
will move their alignment business
in a new, positive direction.”
SEE TOOLS, PAGE 13
 Since 1991, we have been building relationships with independent tire retailers to provide world-class
tire brands, industry-leading supplier programs and modern turn-key retail marketing programs.
All designed to attract more customers, drive profitability and give you more time to…

ENJOY LIFE.
To find out more, visit www.affiliatedretailer.net
 Discoverer
AT3 LT
TM

Stops on average at
least 10 feet shorter
on wet roads.*

IF STOPPING
DISTANCE IS,
YOU KNOW,
IMPORTANT
TO YOU,
THEN GO
WITH THE
COOPERS.
—Uncle Cooper
Uncle to Everyone

*Wet stopping distance based on the results for the Discoverer AT3XLT™ LT275/70R18 in comparative wet braking testing against four select competitor tires, April 2018.
Individual on-road results may vary. © Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 13

AutomotiveService
Tools
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
The new alignment system features:
• Touchless AC400 wheel-clamping
system designed to make no contact
with the wheel with a single fast-action
knob and no accessories needed to ac-
commodate a full range of tire sizes.
In addition, the XD targets are lighter
and take up less space than previous
designs, the company said.
• Wheels-off mode eases hard-to-
reach adjustments;
• Integrated, fast audit check; and
• New user interface to streamline
work flow for improved productivity
and alignment repair information.
In addition, high-resolution cam-
eras produce alignment readings and
diagnostic data. The camera beam
follows automatically as the vehicle
is raised by tracking the targets, and
the cameras constantly monitor the
alignment, providing information to
ensure the job is performed correct-
ly, the company said.
Snap-on Triton-D8 diagnostic tool
• Navigation screen that guides
technicians through the diagnos-
tic workflow, from pinpointing the
problem to finding the fix;
• Technical Service Bulletins
(TSB) to access fault codes and ve-
hicle specific OEM TSBs;
• Smart Data function, which au-
tomatically configures the display to
show vehicle parameters relevant to
the fault code;
• SureTrack function, which pro-
vides top repairs and real fixes for
the specific vehicle and diagnostic
trouble code, providing access to in-
formation from thousands of shops
that have solved the same problem;
• Functional tests and resets pro-
cedures to help complete the repair;
• Built-in scope, a guided com-
ponent test meter that helps techni-
cians to pinpoint issues.
Bosch unveils Robinair
refrigerant analyzers
WARREN, Mich.
Bosch Automotive Service Solutions
has introduced the Robinair R-ID and
R-ID Plus Refrigerant Analyzers to
help vehicle service technicians deter- of air in pure R-1234yf and R-134a
mine the refrigerant purity of a vehi- refrigerants, the company said.
cle’s air-conditioning (A/C) system. The tools are certified to the SAE
The R-ID (#16990) and R-ID J2912 standard and can connect di-
(#16995) Plus Refrigerant Analyzers rectly to any SAE J2843 or J3030
are designed for use on vehicles with A/C service machine with an exter-
either R-134a or the newer R-1234yf nal USB port, Bosch said.
refrigerant. Each device features
Powered by an internal a large color display that
lithium ion battery, the R-ID shows analysis results and
and R-ID Plus measure the helps technicians to deter-
percentage of R-1234yf, mine the next step of an
R-134a, R-12 refrigerants, as A/C system service.
well as R-22 and hydrocar- The R-ID Plus Refriger-
bon contaminants. ant Analyzer is equipped
An optional R-12 hose is with the same features and
required for technicians to be functionality as the R-ID
able to test R-12 refrigerant. Refrigerant Analyzer but
The analyzers also Bosch Robinair R-ID Plus adds an internal printer
measure the percent refrigerant analyzer to print final test results.

ESCO introduces hub/

stud/wheel cleaner
BROOKSVILLE, Fla.
ESCO (Equipment Supply Co.)
has introduced its Stud Kleen Hub,
Stud & Wheel Cleaning Tool (Mod-
el 50170).
The cleaning solution is designed
to clean the vehicle hub and stud
at the same time with an internal
stainless-steel stud cleaning system,
the company said, to completely rid
the rim, wheel face, studs and brake
drum of any debris or contaminates
that would affect the overall tire/
wheel system.

ESCO Stid Kleen Hub,Stud & Wheel

Cleaning Tool
The highly dense abrasive clean-
ing pad is designed to last for more
than 800 wheel cleanings, the com-
pany said.
The Stud Kleen tool can be used on
a ½-inch impact gun (air or electric).
One size fits most applications for
automotive, SUV and light truck.

Snap-on introduces
diagnostic tool
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.
Snap-on Inc. has introduced the
Triton-D8 diagnostic tool to help
technicians save time, boost pro-
ductivity and make more money by
guiding them to the problem while
filtering out unnecessary steps.
The Triton-D8 is positioned be-
tween the Apollo-D8 and Zeus tools
in Snap-on’s line of Intelligent Di-
agnostics products to suit the needs
and budgets of professional repair
technicians.
Accessing the Intelligent Di-
agnostic functions on the Snap-
on Triton-D8 requires a software
agreement, which will keep the tool
updated with the latest informa-
tion and functionality available, the
company said.
Triton-D8’s features include:
14 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS
AutomotiveService
Hunter plant produces 30,000th RX Scissor Lift Rack
DURANT, Miss.
Hunter Engineering Corp. has
reached a milestone, producing its
30,000th RX Scissor Lift Rack in
July at the firm’s manufacturing
plant in Durant.
Hunter’s RX Scissor Lift, in its
third iteration, is used in an array of
shops in more than 100 countries.
The first rack was produced in 2001,
and all of Hunter’s alignment racks
have been made in Durant since
1976.
The RX Scissor Lift Rack is
available in various capacities, in-
cluding 10,000, 12,000, 14,000 and
16,000 pounds.
Hunter’s Durant, Miss., plant recently produced its 30,000th RX Scissor Lift Rack.
According to St. Louis-based
Hunter, the rack has a low-profile
compact package with extra-wide
runways and a hydraulic system to
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
“Hunter keeps reinvesting in our
plant and our people,” Mr. Bowl-
ing said. “We are fortunate to have
both dedicated employees who have
Hunter Engineering Corp. photo
contributed to Hunter’s strong man-
ufacturing presence in the USA, and
30,000-plus customers who believe
the technology, durability and value
of RX racks are worth it.”
Hunter recently released a
harsh-duty variation for RX Lift
Racks, which features powder-coat-
ing on runway-style racks that the
lower descent time by 50%. company said offsets the challenges
Durant Plant Manager Wayne of brine solutions that have become
Bowling said the plant is proud of harmful to automobiles and auto
reaching the milestone. shop equipment.
ASA launches
podcast series
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas
The Automotive Service Associ-
ation (ASA) has launched a weekly
podcast, “What’s Now, What’s New
and What’s Next?” an initiative in-
tended to keep ASA members and
the auto service industry at large
abreast of the latest news in auto
service and collision repair.
Hosted by ASA Vice President
Tony Molla, the podcast will pro-
vide ASA members and industry
professionals with necessary infor-
mation quickly, easily and cost-ef-
fectively, according to ASA Execu-
tive Director Ray Fisher.
“We’ve been listening to our mem-
bers and asked for their feedback on
what they liked and felt would im-
prove their association,” Mr. Fisher
said. “One message that came through
loud and clear was a desire to hear
more about what ASA is doing to ad-
vance the service and repair industry.”
The podcast premieres with an
interview of Jeff Buckley of My Fa-
ther’s Shop Certified Auto Repair in
Midlothian, Texas, and Frank Lautz
of Desert Car Care in Chandler,
Ariz., the ASA said. They will dis-
cuss the value of the latest commu-
nication technology available to auto
care professionals to engage with
their customers.
Mr. Molla also is coordinating with
ASA Washington Representative
Robert L. Redding to use the podcast
to deliver timely legislative news to
ASA members.
The weekly podcast is widely
available for download.
BPI adds tech
portal to site
MCHENRY, Ill.
Brake Parts Inc. L.L.C. (BPI) has
added an training portal to its Ray-
bestos brake brand website that al-
lows professional repair technicians
to access a range of premium con-
tent, including application-specific
repair procedures and how-to videos.
The password-protected feature —
dubbed Brake Solutions & Training
Online Portal (STOP) — is designed to
provide a “frequently updated, infor-
mative venue for technicians to expand
their technical knowledge and learn
about the features of Raybestos brake
products in order to help them grow
their brake businesses,” Kriston Grons,
marketing manager for BPI, said.
“The website also provides an in-
teractive forum where technicians
can share best practices for solving
application-specific issues they may
be experiencing.”
Among resources available via the
portal are: how-to videos, technical
service bulletins, tips and tricks, cus-
tomer resources and application-spe-
cific repair procedures, BPI said,
along with a tool to help technicians
find local distributors that carry Ray-
bestos brake products.
To access the Raybestos Brake
STOP, register brakepartsinc.com.
Raybestos offers a range of brake
components, including friction, ro-
tors, drums, calipers and hydraulic
products.
16 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Top Retail Dealerships Based on company-owned stores

Max Auto
Discount Tire retains Randy
Supply Co.#

dealership dominance Katz

President
113 stores
1,046 stores
Michael $4.78 billion
Monro, Greenbrier continue growth through acquisitions N.A.
Zuieback By Bruce Davis tomotive & Tire of greater Phoenix (11). Toledo, Ohio
Scottsdale, Ariz. 13
CEO bdavis@crain.com Greenbriar, which has created GB Au-
AKRON tomotive in Tucson, Ariz., to manage the
1 It’s beginning to sound like a broken businesses, is expected to keep growing, a
record, but M&A — mergers and acquisi- spokesman for the a New York-based pri-
tions — again influenced business devel- vate equity group said. (See page 18 for sep-
opment in the North American retail tire arate story on Greenbriar/GB Automotive.)
and auto service sector over the past year. In addition, Bridgestone Americas dipped
Among the top 100 or so top retailers, as into the independent dealers’ realm, acquir-
many as 160 stores changed hands in a doz- ing Express Tire & Auto Service in San Di-
en separate transactions that erased a hand- ego (20 stores) in the fourth quarter of 2018
Christian 116 stores
Seem
ful of industry stalwarts from the rankings. to strengthen its presence in Southern Cal- Frank N.A.
The most aggressive in terms of M&A ifornia. More recently, it closed 13 of its 14 Kneller
Division VP since September 2018 were Monro Inc. and Salt Lake City-area Firestone Complete Car Tuscon, Ariz.
CEO
733 stores∆ Greenbriar Equity Group, which added 73 Care outlets after failing to negotiate a lease
and 69 stores, respectively, by acquisition renewal on the locations.
12
$3 billion+*
and have plans to continue growing via the At the same time, Goodyear converted
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. acquisition path. its 14 Dallas-area Goodyear Auto Service
At the same time, Reinalt Thomas Corp. stores to its Just Tires brand in an effort to
— Discount Tire/America’s Tire — added reach out to consumers looking for predict-
Bill 45 greenfield stores to expand its network ability and quick service. Goodyear said it
Shull to 1,046 stores in 35 states and retain its selected Dallas for this trial because it is
Division VP spot atop the Tire Business Top 100 inde- a “vibrant city with consumers known as
2 pendent retail dealerships ranking. first adaptors of new services.” John
Greenbriar’s acquisitions of the past Goodyear operates 82 other Just Tires 120 stores
year were: Evans Tire & Service Centers outlets in the U.S., predominantly in a
Bowlin
$120 million*
Inc. of San Diego (17 stores); Lamb’s Tire handful of metro areas, including Don
& Automotive Centers of Austin, Texas 36 in the Los Angeles area, 21 in Sabino Los Angeles
(18); Driver’s Edge Complete Tire the Chicago area and 10 in the Co- CEOs
& Automotive of Dallas/Forth Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
Worth (11); and Wilhelm Au- SEE DEALERSHIPS, PAGE 48 10T
703 stores†∆
$1.2 billion
Brett
Ponton Rochester, N.Y.
President, CEO
3

120 stores
7 8 Jack $400 million
Lawless
CEO Allen Park, Mich.
10T
6
r
Stephen
Sorbaro Turn to page 26 fo 3

the complete Top

10T 4
5
Co-CEO
100 ranking.
13
654 stores∆ 9
N.A.
Millwood, N.Y. 10T 12
126 stores
1
Chip N.A.
David Wood
Sorbaro Cincinnati
Chairman
Co-CEO
4 2 9

436 stores∆ 212 stores 160 stores

Daniel 475 stores†∆ Jack $1.57 billion
Robert $525 million* Brent $252 million
Ninivaggi $2.86 billion Cuniff Foord Hesje
President, CEO CEO Bend, Ore. President Vernon, British Columbia CEO Edmonton, Alberta
Southfield, Mich.
5 6 7 8

/Michael McCrady
Source: Tire Business research Sales data are for fiscal 2018 retail-related revenue * Estimate †Tire-focused stores only ∆Company also has associate or franchise stores #Midas franchisee
18 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature TopRetailDealerships

Greenbriar strategy: Build
unmatched pool of talent
By Bruce Davis
bdavis@crain.com
TUCSON, Ariz.
Two years ago, GB Auto Service
was a non-entity in the U.S. tire scene.
Today it’s the 10th largest retail
tire and auto service dealership in the
U.S., with 116 outlets spread among
four states.
GB Auto Service is part of Green-
briar Equity Group L.P., a Rye,
N.Y.-based private equity firm with
holdings in the transportation and
related sectors.
While the company’s first acquisi- ATD, starting as chief financial of-
tion in the automotive aftermarket — ficer in 2006 and advancing to ex-
Brake Max Car Care Cen-
ters of Arizona — was in
2017, the group began eval-
uating the sector for invest-
ment possibilities in 2015
when it hired David Dyck-
man, a former American
Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD)
executive, who was tasked
with evaluating potential in-
vestment opportunities.
Mr. Dyckman spent nine years at Works Total Car Care (15 stores);
ecutive vice president and
COO by 2012, before being
recruited by Greenbriar,
which was an ATD investor
prior to 2010.
Since that first acquisi-
tion, Greenbriar has accu-
mulated six more assets
in the sector — Califor-
Kneller nia’s Ramona Tire Inc. (17
stores); Nevada-based Tire
Evans Tire & Service Centers Inc. of
San Diego (17 stores); Lamb’s Tire &
Automotive Centers of Austin, Texas
(18); Driver’s Edge Complete Tire &
Automotive of Dallas/Forth Worth
(11); and Wilhelm Automotive &
Tire of greater Phoenix (11).
Greenbriar has not disclosed its
investment in any of the purchases,
but in general the company targets
companies with enterprise values
ranging from $100 million to $1 bil-
lion or more and invests $75 million
to $150 million of equity capital in
each transaction.
As for the firm’s vision moving
forward, Frank Kneller, CEO of GB
Auto Service since late last year,
said Greenbriar believes the DIFM
(do it for me) segment of the after-
market is a large and growing mar-
ket with “favorable secular trends
and cycle-resistant characteristics.”
Bearing this in mind, Mr. Kneller
said Greenbriar feels that great man-
agers who are supported by the ben-
efits of a larger platform can drive
“attractive and repeatable store re-
sults.” Thus Greenbriar’s strategy is
to assemble a “pool of talent that we
feel is unmatched.”
To this end, he added, Greenbriar
management believes the company
can offer an “attractive and differ-
entiated exit alternative” for owners
looking to preserve their brand/legacy
while ensuring their employees will
become part of a “larger but support-
ive and nimble team organization.”
A former vice president of Sears
Automotive (2010-14), Mr. Kneller
brings 30-plus years of executive ex-
perience to GB Automotive, including
25 at Service Master and several in
the solar-power generation industry.
Greenbriar’s activity in the sector
has focused on established business-
es with clear brand identities in the
Southwest/West Coast, a pattern that
reflects the firm’s belief in the growth
prospects for large markets with at-
tractive demographics.
Since establishing its footprint in
Arizona, Nevada, Southern Califor-
nia and Texas, GB Auto has focused
on “in-market or adjacent acquisi-
tions” and greenfields to drive re-
gional density, Mr. Kneller said.
Greenbriar has retained its ac-
quired dealerships’ brand identities
in their respective markets — and is
keeping each brand’s website active
— but it recognizes the “importance
of having a cohesive platform behind
the scenes, and to that end we have
tightly integrated our acquired busi-
nesses across a variety of dimensions
including operational best-practices,
product and service screens, POS

TRAIL BLADE X/T

and reporting systems, and employ-
MULTI-TERRAIN ee compensation and benefits struc-
tures.” Mr. Kneller said.
GB Auto also tries to retain the staff
— including management — at each
dealership it buys in order to “provide
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obsessed. Featuring aggressive sidewall tread lugs with a smooth road feel, this hybrid said, adding, “One of the major keys to
tire can chew through muddy trails in the morning and then drive you downtown for a our success is our people.”
Moving forward, GB Auto has
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gy that involves both acquisitions and
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20 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature

LargestIndependentRetailers
Listed alphabetically by company Stores (As of September 2019) Fiscal 2018 Percentage
Company corporate sales retail/commercial/ Affiliation/
Company/Location Top executive(s) owned! Other Total ($ millions) wholesale Website: www.
U.S. Dealerships
4 Wheel Parts / Transamerican Auto Parts 1
Stephen Eastman 85^ 0 85^ 889.0 N.A.
Compton, Calif. President, Aftermarket 4wheelparts.com
AAA Club Alliance Craig Sumerel 83 0 83 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 C-G
Wilmington, Del. President bobsumereltireandservice.com
Adirondack Tire Corp. Larry O’Shea 12 0 12 18.0 80 / 10 / 10 M-AP
Colonie, N.Y. Owner adirondacktire.com
AKH Co. Inc. Andy Andonian 36 0 36 N.A. N.A.
Anaheim, Calif. Chairman discounttirecenters.com
Allen Tire Co. Fred Allen 17 0 17 N.A. 90 / 00 / 10 C-G / T-D
Lakewood, Calif. President allentire.com
Associated Tire Stores Inc. Christie Stock 13 0 13 N.A. N.A.
Logan, Utah President plainstire.com; webtires.net
A.T.V. Inc. / Am. Tire Depot Ara Tchaghlassian 103 0 103 *133.0 95 / 02 / 03 MAST
Cerritos, Calif. President americantiredepot.com
Bauer Built Inc. Jerry M. Bauer 12^ 0 12^ 246.1 08 / 80 / 12 Bs-AF / AV-BB / CQ / NAPA
Durand, Wis. Chairman, CEO bauerbuilt.com
Belle Tire Distributors Inc. Jack Lawless 120 0 120 400.0 100 / 00 / 00
Allen Park, Mich. CEO belletire.com
Ben Tire Distributors Ltd. Terry Carlon 25 0 25 N.A. N.A.
Toledo, Ill. President bentire.com / nealtire.com
Best-One Tire & Service Larry & Mark Zurcher 110^ 0 110^ 1,400.0 15 / 33 / 52 Best-One Tire
Monroe, Ind. Co-CEOs bestonetire.com
Big Brand Tire Co. Greg Robinson 20 0 20 N.A. 85 / 05 / 10
Camarillo, Calif. President bigbrand.com
Black’s Tire Service Ricky Benton 47^ 0 47^ N.A. 40 / 20 / 40 C-G / C-M / FK-F / G110 / G-T&S /
Whiteville, N.C. President HK-1 / MAST / P-F / AV-BB / NAPA
blackstire.com
BREX Inc. Jim Isabell 18 0 18 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Car-X Tire & Auto
St. Louis President carx.com/st-louis
Bruneel Point S Craig Bruneel 10 0 10 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Point S
Boise, Idaho Owner bruneel.com
Burt Brothers Tire & Service Ron & Wendel Burt 11 0 11 N.A. N.A. G-T&S
Bountiful, Utah co-founders burtbrothers.com
Cassidy Tire & Service Jim Ahern 15 0 15 N.A. N.A.
Chicago President cassidytire.com
Central Arizona Auto Group L.L.C. Tony Williams 11 0 11 26.0 100 / 00 / 00 Big O
Chandler, Ariz. Managing Member bigotires.com
Chabill’s Tire Service L.L.C. Beth Barron 17^ 0 17^ *17.0 75 / 25 / 25 M-AP
Morgan City, La. CEO chabillstire.com
Christensen Enterprises Fredrick L. Christensen 20 0 20 N.A. N.A.
Orlando, Fla. President actiongatortire.com
CJ’s Tire & Automotive Services Paul Levengood Jr. 18 0 18 N.A. N.A. M-AP
Birdsboro, Pa. President cjtire.com
Colony Tire Corp. Charles A. Creighton 17^ 0 17^ N.A. N.A.
Edenton, N.C. CEO colonytire.com
Commercial Tire Inc. Bob Schwenkfelder 44^ 0 44^ N.A. 40 / 58 / 02
Meridian, Idaho CEO commercialtire.com
Conrad’s Tire Service Inc. Eric Turk 38 0 38 N.A. 82 / 00 / 18 Bs-AF/ C-G / C-M / G-T&S / G110 / NAPA-AC
Cleveland, Ohio President, CEO econrads.com
Delta World Tire Co. Paul Bernstein 16^ 0 16^ 29.6 96 / 01 / 03 MAST / M-AP
New Orleans President deltaworldtire.com
Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc. David Dobbs 40 0 40 112.0 100 / 00 / 00 G-T&S
High Ridge, Mo. President, CEO gotodobbs.com
Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc. Robert H. Dunlap 54 0 54 728.5 35 / 00 / 65
Batesville, Miss. Chairman, CEO dktire.com
Dunn Tire L.L.C. Randall Clark 28 0 28 *100.0 35 / 00 / 65 C-G / Cp-M / HK-1 / K-F / MAST / Nx-N /
Buffalo, N.Y. President P-F / Y-Adv
dunntire.com
Express Partners L.L.C. Doug Levene 12 0 12 N.A. N.A. Tire Pros
Birmingham, Ala. Owner havolinetirepros.com
F&F Tire World & Service Co. Jeff Devries 12 0 12 10.0+ 100 / 00 / 00 C-G / Cp-Md / HK-1 / K-F / M-A /
Janesville, Wis. President MAST/ Nx-N / P-F / T-1 / M-AP
tiredeals.com
Flynn’s Tire Group Joe Flynn III 22 0 22 N.A. N.A.
Mercer, Pa. President flynnstire.com
GB Auto Service Inc.2 Frank Kneller 116 0 116 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 BS-AF / G-110
Tucson, Ariz. CEO Ramonatire.com; Tireworks.com; brakemax.com
Golden West Tire Centers L.L.C. Rob Curry 24 0 24 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Big O
Huntington Beach, Calif. President bigotires.com
Gorrepati Service Systems Inc. Ranga Gorrepati 28 0 28 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Car-X
Forest Park, Ohio Chairman, Exec. V.P. carxcincy.com; carxindy.com
Graham Tire & Auto Service Inc. Tom & Bob Graham 35^ 0 35^ 154.0 50 / 20 / 30 G-T&S / HK-1 / Nx-N / TAG / M-AP
Sioux Falls, S.D./Spencer, Iowa co-owners grahamtire.com; grahamtire.net
Grismer Tire Co. Charles L. Marshall II 26^ 0 26^ N.A. 70 / 20 / 10 Bs-AF / ITDG / T3
Dayton, Ohio President grismertire.com
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 21

Tire Business Special Feature

LargestIndependentRetailers
Listed alphabetically by company Stores (As of September 2019) Fiscal 2018 Percentage
Company corporate sales retail/commercial/ Affiliation/
Company/Location Top executive(s) owned! Other Total ($ millions) wholesale Website: www.
Gulf Coast L&P Inc. Shannon Strunk 12 0 12 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 RNR
Moss Point, Miss. Owner rnrtire.com
Heartland Tire David Mitchell 16^ 0 16^ 28.9 60 / 40 / 00 C-G / Cp-M / G110 / G-TS / MAST / Y-A / NAPA
Ramsey, Minn. Owner heartlandtireservice.com
Icahn Automotive Group L.L.C. Brian Kaner 464 504 968 2,856.0 100 / 00 / 00
Southfield, Mich. Service Unit CEO pepboys.com
Jack Williams Tire Co. Inc. Bill Williams 36 0 36 N.A. 35 / 00 / 65 MTS
Scranton, Pa. Chairman, CEO jackwilliams.com
Jensen Tire & Auto Matthew D. Jensen 21 0 21 N.A. 97 / 00 / 03 G110 / T3
Omaha, Neb. President, CEO jensentire.com
Koldenhoven Enterprises Scott Koldenhoven 8 0 8 22.0 100 / 00 / 00 Big O / MAST / T3 / M-AP / NAPA
Colorado Springs, Colo. President bigotires.com
Kost Tire & Auto Care Erwin Kost Jr. 26 0 26 N.A. 70 / 20 / 10
Clarks Summit, Pa. Vice President kosttirepa.com
Leeds West Groups3 Judd Kyle Shader 102 0 102 100.0 100 / 00 / 00 Big O / Midas
Greenwood Village, Colo. CEO leedswest.com
Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. Jack Cuniff 436^ 55^ 491^ 1,903.4 82 / 18 / 00
Bend, Ore. CEO lesschwab.com
Mavis Discount Tire David & Stephen Sorbaro 649 123 772 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00
Millwood, N.Y. Owners mavistire.com; expressoil.com
Max Auto Systems Inc. Randy Katz 113 0 113 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Midas
Toledo, Ohio President
McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc. John D. McCarthy Jr. 23^ 0 23^ 371.5 05 / 95 / 00
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. President mccarthytire.com
Meekhof Tire Sales & Service Inc. Calvin Meekhof 10 0 10 N.A. N.A. T-3
Grand Rapids, Mich. President meekhoftire.com
MFA Oil Co. Ed Harper 17 0 17 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Big O
Columbia, Mo. VP-Retail Operations mfaoil.com
MJG Development L.L.C.4 Mark Goldner 10 0 10 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Car-X
Des Moines, Iowa President carxdesmoines.com
Mock Beroth Tire & Automotive Carey Mock; T. Beroth 14 0 14 N.A. 60 / 10 / 30 G-T&S / K-F / M-A / MAST / Nx-N / TP
Winston-Salem, N.C. President mockberothtire.com
Modica Brothers Tire & Wheel Center J.C. Modica 10 0 10 N.A. N.A.
Beaumont, Texas Owner modicabros.com
Monro Inc.
> Monro Auto Care5 Brett Ponton 650 559 1,209 1,200.2 100 / 00 / 00
Rochester, N.Y. President, CEO monro.com
> Car-X Tire & Auto — 53 98 151 -- 100 / 00 / 00
Schaumburg, Ill. carx.com
Mountain View Tire & Service Inc. Nicholas Mitsos 31 0 31 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 G110 / HK-1 / Nx-N / P-F / Y-A
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. CEO, President mountainviewtire.com
Nebraskaland Tire Inc. Gary K. Wright 40^ 0 40^ N.A. N.A. G-110 / G-T&S / N.R.T.N. / Mighty-AP
Wichita, Kan. President, CEO thetirestore.com
Nelson Tire Inc. / Gill’s Point S Eric Gill 15 0 15 N.A. 100 / 00 /00 Point S
The Dalles, Ore. Owner gillspointstire.com
Nevada Tire Holdings L.L.C. Rich Warburton 17 0 17 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 G-T&S
Santa Ana, Calif. G.M. superior-tire.com
Northwest Tire Inc. Anthony Vetter 15^ 0 15^ N.A. 40 / 35 / 25 Bs-AF / ITDG / Nx-N / Tag / T-D / M-AP
Bismarck, N.D. CEO nwtire.com
Peerless Tyre Co. Sam Forbes 56 0 56 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00
Denver President buytires4less.com
Pete’s Tire Barns Inc. Peter Gerry 14^ 0 14^ 92.0 20 / 65 / 15 Bs-AF / C-G / M-A / Nx-N /
Orange, Mass. President petestire.com
Plaza Tire Service Inc. Mark Rhodes 67^ 0 67^ N.A. 80 / 05 / 15 TAG / M-AP
Cape Girardeau, Mo. President plazatireservice.com
Pomp’s Tire Service Inc. Jim Wochinske 53^ 0 53^ *310.0 07 / 75 / 18
Green Bay, Wis. President pompstire.com
P.R. Walker Inc. / Tire Tracks Frank Shipla 15 0 15 N.A. N.A. Bs-AF
Joliet, Ill. President tiretracksusa.com
Pueblo Tires & Service Richard Ivey 13^ 0 13^ *19.0 70 / 20 / 10 Bs-AF / TAG
McAllen, Texas Owner pueblotires.com
Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. Roger Lucas 30^ 0 30^ 230.0 10 / 85 / 05 purcelltire.com
Potosi, Mo. President, CEO
Raben Tire Co. Inc. Thomas Raben 25^ 0 25^ N.A. N.A. G110 / GY-T&S
Evansville, Ind. President rabentire.com
Reinalt Thomas Corp. / Discount Tire6 Michael Zuieback 1,046 0 1,046 4,784.0 100 / 00 / 00
Scottsdale, Ariz. CEO discounttire.com; americastire.com
Rent-A-Wheel / Rent-A-Tire John Bowlin & Don 120 15 135 *120.0 100 / 00 / 00
Van Nuys, Calif. Sabino rentawheel.com
Co-CEOs
Rental Concepts L.L.C. J. David Harrison 25 0 25 N.A. N.A. RNR
Jacksonville, Ark. President rnrarkansas.com
Rims USA L.L.C. Ken Mashburn / 18 0 18 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 RNR
Taylors, S.C. Partner facebook.com/RNRCarolinas
RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels Larry Sutton 15 110 125 162.5 100 / 00 / 00 Fk-F / Nx-N / T-D / Y-A
Tampa, Fla. President rentnroll.com
22 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature

LargestIndependentRetailers
Listed alphabetically by company Stores (As of September 2019) Fiscal 2018 Percentage
Company corporate sales retail/commercial/ Affiliation/
Company/Location Top executive(s) owned! Other Total ($ millions) wholesale Website: www.
Robertson Tire Inc. Mark Robertson 13 0 13 26.3 94 / 00 / 06 C-G / MAST / Nx-N / P-F / T-D / Y-A / NAPA-AC
Tulsa, Okla. President, COO robertson-tire.com
SF Tire & Service Central Inc. Chris Monteverde 27 0 27 N.A. N.A. Big O
San Francisco Owner bigotires.com
Springfield Tire & Auto Service Pete Kearing 12 0 12 N.A. N.A. G-T&S
Springfield, Mass. Principal springfieldtire.net
St. Lucie Battery & Tire George D. Miller 15^ 1 16^ 36.0 50 / 46 / 04 Bs-AF / C-G / ITDG
Fort Pierce, Fla. President slbatterytire.com
Steve Shannon Tire Co. Inc. Steven H. Shannon 20^ 0 20^ N.A. 45 / 05 / 50 Bs-AF / C-G / G110 / K-F / P-F / NAPA-AC
Bloomsburg, Pa. President steveshannon.com
Stratham Tire Inc. Denise Littlefield 12^ 0 12^ 27.0 40 / 50 / 10 MAST / NAPA-AC
Brentwood, N.H. President strathamtire.com
Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. Robert D. Sullivan 73 0 73 *325.0 50 / 30 / 20 Bs-AF / C-G / G110 / G-T&S / K-F / Y-A
Norwell, Mass. President sullivantire.com
TBC Corp.:
> TBC Retail Bill Schull; Christian Seem 733 0 733 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Division V.P ntb.com; tirekingdom.com
> Big O Tires Inc. John Kairys 0 458 458 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Big O
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. V.P., G.M. bigotires.com
> Midas International Will Helton 0 1,197 1,197 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Midas
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. V.P., G.M. midas.com
Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Centers Ted Wiens Jr. 11^ 0 11^ N.A. N.A. Bs-AF / ITDG / M-A
Las Vegas President, CEO tedwiens.com
Telle Tire & Auto Center Aaron Telle 10 0 10 N.A. N.A.
Brighton, Mo. President, CEO telletire.com
Tire Discounters Inc. Chip Wood 126 0 113 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00
Cincinnati Chairman tirediscounters.com
Tire Guys Inc. David Wehr 42 0 42 N.A. N.A. NAPA-AC
Billings, Mont. President, CEO tirerama.com
Tireman Auto Service Centers Randy Jones 20 0 20 52.0 100 / 00 / 00 Bs-AF / C-G / Cp-Md / G-T&S / MAST
Toledo, Ohio President , CEO tireman.com
T.O. Haas Tire Co. Inc. George Hoellen 25 0 25 N.A. 95 / 00 / 05 M-A
Lincoln, Neb. President tohaastire.com
Town Fair Tire Centers Inc. Neil Mellen 98 0 98 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00
East Haven, Conn. President townfair.com
United Tire & Service Greg Mynaugh 13 0 13 24.1 99 / 00 / 01 C-G / Cp-Md / F-F / G-T&S / K-F / M-A /
Downington, Pa. President MAST / Nx-N / P-F / NAPA-AC / AV-BB
mainlinetire.com
VIP Inc. John P. Quirk 59 0 59 80.0 90 / 00 / 10 Bs-AF / C-G / G-T&S / M-A / P-F
Lewiston, Maine Chairman, CEO vipauto.com
Virginia Tire & Auto Michael Holmes 15 0 15 43.4 100 / 00 / 00 BS-AF / C-G / G-T&S / M-A / M-AP
Fairfax, Va. CEO vatire.com
Warren Tire Service Center Inc. Robert Kellogg 14^ 0 14^ 21.0 85 / 07 / 08 G-T&S
Queensbury, N.Y. President warrentiresvc.com
Western Automotive Group Mark Rhee 52 0 52 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Big-O
Las Vegas CEO, President bigotires.com
Western Tire Centers Inc. Jack Furrier 20^ 0 20^ 30.4 80 / 05 / 15 ITDG / M-A
Tucson, Ariz. President jackfurriers.com
Whalen Tire Inc. Tom Whalen 10 0 10 N.A. N.A.
Butte, Mont. President whalentire.com
Ziegler Tire William Ziegler 24^ 0 24^ 130.0 07 / 73 / 20 BS-AF / C-G / F-F / MAST / Nx-N / TAG / T3
Massillon, Ohio President zieglertire.com

CANADIAN Dealerships
Active Tire & Auto Centre Inc. Ralph Chiodo N.A. N.A. 67 N.A. 100 / 00 / 00 Green+
Toronto, Ontario President activegreenross.com
Benson Tire Group Marty Benson 30^ 0 30^ N.A. N.A. Goodyear
Cornwall, Ontario President bensontire.com; beverlytire.com
Coast Tire & Auto Service Ltd. Ron Outerbridge 20^ 0 20^ N.A. N.A. Goodyear
Saint John, New Brunswick President, CEO coasttire.com
Fountain Tire Corp.7 Brent Hesje 160^ 0 160^ 526.2# 48 / 43 / 09 GY-T&S / NAPA-AC
Edmonton, Alberta CEO fountaintire.com
Kal Tire Robert Foord 212^ 37^ 249^ 1,298.0# N.A.
Vernon, British Columbia President kaltire.com
Les Pneus Robert Bernard Gerard Bernard 17^ 0 17^ N.A. 15 / 85 / 00 Point S / NAPA-AC
St. Paul d’Abbotsford, Quebec President robertbernard.com
Pneus Belisle Inc. Daniel Belisle 10 0 10 N.A. N.A.
Boucherville, Quebec President pneusbelisle.com
Pneus Ratte Stephane & Charlyne Ratte 12 0 12 N.A. N.A. Point S
Quebec City, Quebec Owners pneusratte.com
Tirecraft Canada Inc. Todd Richardson 54 5963 650 N.A. N.A. BS-Af / C-G / Cpr-Md / Fk-F / G110 /
Ingersoll, Ontario President HK-1 / P-F / T-D / Y-Adv / NAPA-AC / CQ
tirecraft.com; signaturetire.ca
! franchises, affiliates, associates, etc.; numbers may include combination Big O franchisee Monteverde Group. Gold; Cp-M = Cooper Medallion; ITDG = Independent Tire Dealers Group;
retail/commercial outlets, where applicable. 4 — Mark Goldner also owns Fast Tire in Des Moines, with two outlets. FK-F = Falken Fanatic; G110 = Goodyear G110; G-T&S = Goodyear Tire &
* = estimated; ^ = some stores may be commercial/retail outlets. 5 — Co-owned stores are Monro’s Tire Group stores only; the others are Service; M-A = Michelin Alliance; MAST = Michelin Americas Small Tires;
# converted from Canadian dollars at the average 2018 rate. Monro-badged stores. Mighty-AP = Mighty Auto Parts; NAPA-AC = NAPA AutoCare; N.R.T.N. =
1 — 4Wheel Parts also has seven stores in Canada. 6 — Sales figure includes revenue from discounttire.com. National Retail Tire Network; Nx-N = Nexen Next; P-F = Pirelli FasTrak; TAG
2 — Holding company for Brake Max Car Care; Driver’s Edge; Evans Tire; 7 — Goodyear Canada owns 49% of Fountain Tire; Fountain shares owner- = Tire Alliance Groupe; T-D = Toyo Driven;T3 = NTW’s T3 program; Y-Adv =
Lamb’s Tire: Ramona Tire; Tire Works; and Wilhelm Automotive. ship of its retail stores 50-50 with local managers. Yokohama Advantage
3 — Store count includes eight stores in Texas co-owned 50/50 with fellow Affiliations: Bs-AF = B-O = Big O Tires; Bridgestone Affiliated; C-G = Conti
# L A N D S A I LT I R E S
24 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature

TopRetailDealerships Ranked by total retail outlets

stone

stone
drich

drich
Coope l

Coope l
enta

enta
ear

ear
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ne
lin

lin
ok

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al

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Firesto

Firesto
Bridge

Others

Bridge

Others
BFGoo

BFGoo
Goody

Goody
Contin

Contin
Hanko

Hanko
Pirelli

Pirelli
Miche

Miche
Gener

Gener
Dunlo

Dunlo
Rank Company Outlets Rank Company Outlets
1 TBC Corp. 2,388 42 Purcell Tire & Rubber 30 • • • • • Hk,Lf,Ts,Un
>Midas International 1,197 • • • • • • • • • Ni,Su,Un,Yo 44 Dunn Tire 28 • • • • • • • • • • • Fz,Hk,Ku,Lf,Mc,Mt,
>TBC Retail 733 • • • • • • • • • • Co,Cw,Hk,Ku,Mm, Nx,Sa,Su,Yo
Ni,Nx,Oh,Su,To 44 Raben Tire Co. 28 • • • • • • • Ca,Gt,Hk,Ke,Un,Yo
>Big O Tires 458 • • • • • • • • • BO,Fk,Nk,Mt,Ni,Su, 46 Grismer Tire Co. 26 • • • • • • • Ca,Fz,Hk,Ni,No,Un
Un,Yo 46 Kost Tire & Auto Service 26 • • • • • • • • Ni,To
2 Monro Inc. 1,360 48 T.O. Haas Tire 25 • • • • • • • • • • Ca,Cp,Dc,Fz,Hk,
> Mr. Tire, Monro Auto 1,209 • • • • • • Ach,Bl,Fk,Hk,Lf, Ku,Mt,Ni
Care,etc. Pa,Yo 49 Ziegler TIre 24 • • • • • • • Ca,Da,Fk,Fz,Ku,Mc,
> Car-X (franchises) 151 • • • • • Ku,Mc,Nx Nx,No,Su
3 Discount Tire/America’s Tire 1,046 • • • • • • • • • Fk,Gt,Hk,Ku,Ni,To, 50 McCarthy Tire & Automotive 23 • • • • • He,Un
Un,Vo,Yo Centers
4 Icahn Automotive / Pep 1,012 • • • • • • • Co,Df,Fk,Fu,Hk,Ku, 51 Flynn Tire Group 22 • • • • • • • • • Gt,Hk,Ku,No,Sa,Su,
Boys-Service & Tires Mx,Mt,Ni,Un Un,Va,Vo
5 Mavis Discount Tire 815 • • • • • • • • • • • Fz,Hk,Un,Yo 51 Jack Furrier’s Western Tire 22 • • • • • • • Gt,Mt,Nx,Sa,Sf,To,
6 Les Schwab Tire Centers 491 • • • • • • • Fk,To, Centers Un,Yo
7 OK Tire Stores Inc. 300 • • • • • Bl,Gi,Ku,To 53 Jensen Tire Co. 21 • • • • • • Co,Hk,Su
8 Tirecraft Group 265 • • • • • • • • • • • Dc,Fk,Gt,H- 54 Action Gator Tire Stores 20 • • • • • Un
k,Mt,To,Un,Wl,Yo 54 Coast Tire & Auto Service 20 • • • Nk,Sa
9 Kal Tire 249 • • • • • • Fk,Gt,Ku,m,Ni, 56 Tireman Auto Service Centers 20 • • • • • • • • • • Hk,Ku,Mm,Sm,Su,Va
Nk,Sa,To,Un,Yo 56 Big Brand Tire Co. 20 • • • • • • • • • • Ach,Fk,Hk,Nx,
10 Point S Canada 222 • • • • • • • Ca,Fk,Gt,Hk,Lf,Mt, Pa,To,Un
Nx,Cf,To,Un,Yo 56 Steve Shannon Tire & Auto 20 • • • • • • • • De,Gt,Hk,He,Sa,Sf,Su,
11 Fountain Tire 160 • • • Ku,Sa,To Centers
12 Rent-A-Wheel/Rent-A-Tire 135 Fk,Ni,Nx 59 Allen Tire Co. 18 • • • • • De,Gt,Lx,To,Vo
13 Tire Discounters 126 • • • • • • • • Gt,Hk,Ke,Ku,Mc,Ms, 59 CJ’s Tire & Automotive 18 • • • • • • • • • • • Ach,Bl,Ca,Hk,Ku,Lf,Nk
Nk,Ni,Nx,Sf,Su,To,Yo 59 Perfection Tire & Auto Service 18 • • • He,Fz,Nx,Sf
14 RNR Custom Wheels & Tires 125 • • • • • • • • • • • Am,De,Fk,Fz,Hk,Ku, 62 Nevada Tire Holdings L.L.C. 17 • • • • • • • • • • • Ca,Dc,Dy,Fk,Fr,He,Hk
Lx,Ni,Th,Un,Vo,Xf,Un ,Ku,Mc,Ms,Mt,Ni,Nx,
15 Belle Tire Distributors 120 • • • • • • • • • • • Fa,Fz,Hk,Ke,McMs, Sa,To,Un,We
Nk,Nx,Sf,Su,To 62 Les Pneus Robert Bernard 17 • • • • • • • Hk,Nk,To
16 GB Auto Service 116 • • • • • Ms,Vo 62 Chabill’s Tire Service L.L.C. 17 • • • • • • • • • • Ar,Do,El,Fk,Gs,Gt,Hk,
17 Best-One Tire & Service 110 • • • • Ca,Fk,Kz,Hk,Mc, Mc,Ms,Nk,Sa,To,Un,Yo
Nx,To,Un 62 Colony Tire Corp. 17 • • • • • • Ach,Bl, Co,Mc,Fk,
18 Integra Tire & Auto Centres Ltd. 105 • • • • • • • • • • • Fk,Gt,He,Hk, Oh,To,Un
Ku,To,Un,Yo 66 Delta World Tire 16 • • • • • De,To,Un
19 ATV/American Tire Depot 103 • • • • • • • • • • • Ac,At,Dc,Fk,Ir,Ku,Le, 66 Virginia Tire & Auto 16 • • • • • • • • • • • Hk,Un
Lx,Mt, Ni,Nx,Sa,To,
Wf,Wr,Yo 66 Heartland Tire Service 16 • • •
20 Town Fair Tire Centers 98 • • • • • • • • • • • Ed,Fk,Fz,Gt,Hk,Ku, 69 Cassidy Tire & Service 15 • • To
Mc,Ms,Nk,Ni,Nx, 69 Tire Tracks 15 • • Fz,Nk
No,Su,To,Un,Vo,Yo
69 St. Lucie Battery & Tire 15 • • • • • Ca,Ms,Mx,Nk,To,Un,Yo
21 4 Wheel Parts 92 • • • Dc,Dy,Fk,Fy,Mt,
72 Northwest Tire Inc. 14 • • • • • De,No,Nx,To,Yo
Pc,Ra,To,
72 Mock Beroth Tire & 14 • • • • • • • Da,Fz,H-
22 AAA Club Alliance 83 • • • • • • Ku,Nx,Ot,Sf
Automotive k,He,Ku,Ni,Nx,Su,Un
23 Sullivan Tire 73 • • • • • • • • • • Fz,Jz,Ku,No,Nx,
72 Pete’s Tire Barns 14 • • • • • • • • • Ca,No,Un,Yo
Sa,Su,Un,Yo
72 Warren Tire Service Centers 14 • • • • • • Ke,Ku,Mc
24 Active Tire & Auto Centre 67 • • • G+,Un,Yo
76 Associated Tire Stores Inc. 13 • • • • • Ca,De,Dy,Mt,Mm,Ni,
24 Plaza Tire Service 67 • • • • • • Ach,Bl,Ca,Dc,Fk,Hk,Ke,
Sa,Sm,Su,To,Un
Ku,Lf,Nk,Pa,Sm,Un
76 United Tire & Service 13 • • • • • • • • • • • Ca,Fk,Fz,He,Ku,Mc,
26 V.I.P. Parts, Tires 59 • • • • • • • • • Nk,Mm,Ni,No,Su,
Ni,Nx,Su,To,Un
Un,Yo
76 Robertson Tire Co. 13 • • • • • • • • • • • Ca,co,Fk,Fz,Hk,He,Ke,
27 Peerless Tyre 56 • • Co,Fz,Hk
Ku,Mc,M ,Mt,Ms,Mm,
28 TreadPro Tire Centres 55 • • • • • • Ca,Ce,De,Fk,Gr, Nx,Ni,Sa,Su,To,Un,Yo
Hk,Ku,Su
79 Bauer Built 12 • • • • He,Ku,Un
29 Dunlap & Kyle 54 • • Ca,Ds,Ke,Mx,Nx,
To,Yo 79 F&F Tire & Service 12 • • • • • • • • • • • Ca,Dc,Fk,Fe,Fz,He,
Hk,Ku,Mc,Ni,Pc,
30 Pomp’s Tire Service 53 • • • • • • • • Hk,Un,Vo,Yo Pw,Sn,Un,Yo
31 Black’s Tire Service 47 • • • • • • • • • Am,Fe,Fk,Hk,McMt, 79 Springfield Tire & Auto 12 • • • • Fk,Ke,Oh
Ms,Nk,Sf,Un,Vo
79 Stratham Tire 12 • • • • • Hk,Kl,Nk,Sm,Un
32 Commercial Tire Inc. 44 • • • Da,Yo
79 Adirondack Tire Co. 12 • • • • • • • • • • • Ca,Co,De,El,Fz,Hk,
33 Tire Guys / Tire-Rama 42 • • • Yo Mx,Mm,Nx,Ni,Sa,
34 Nebraskaland/Kansasland Tire 40 • • • • Mc,Ms Su,To,Un,Yo
34 Dobbs Tire & Auto 40 • • • • • • • • • • Hk,Mm,Su 79 Pueblo Tires 12 • • • • • • • • Ca,Dc,Dy,Fk,Hk,He,Hr,
Ku,Mt,Ni,Nx,Sm,Sc,
36 Conrad’s Tire Express & Total 38 • • • • • • De,Mc,Mm To,Un
Car Care
85 Burt Brothers Tire 11 • • • • • • • • Fz,Hk,Ks,Un
37 AKH Co. 36 • • • • • • • • Ag,Bl,Fk,Gs,Hk,Ku,
Mi,Ni,Nk,Pa,Un 85 Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Service 11 • • • • • • • • • Hk,Un
37 Jack Williams Tire 36 • • • • • • • • • • Gt,Hm,Ku,Mc,Nx,Un 87 Meekhof Tire & Sales 10 • • • • Un
37 Ben Tire Distributors 36 • • • • • Mm,Mt,Su,Yo 87 Modica Brothers 10 • • • • • Hk,Mx,Nx,Su,To
40 Graham Tire Co. 35 • • • • Hk,Ku,Lf,Nk 87 Pneus Belisle Inc. 10 • • • Mxt,To,Un,Yo
41 Mountain View Tire 31 • • • • • Hk,Nx,Sf,Wl 87 Telle Tire & Auto Service 10 • • • • • • • Hk,Un
42 Beverly Tire 30 • • Ks,Sa 87 Whalen Tire 10 • • • • Co,Un,Yo

Brands: Ach=Achilles; Ar=Armstorng; Au=Autogrip; BO= Big O; Bl = Black Lion; Cp=Capitol; Ca=Carlisle; Ce=Centara; Co=Cordovan; Da=- Mc=Mastercraft; Mz=Mazzini; Mi=Minerva; Mm=Multimile; Ms=Milestar; Mx=Maxxis; Mt=Mickey Thompson; Na=National; Ni=Nitto; Nk=Nan-
Dayton; Dc=Dick Cepek; De=Delta; Df=Definity; Do=Doral; Du=Durun; Fe=Federal; Fi=Fierce; Fk=Falken; Fz=Fuzion; G+=Green+; Ga=Gateway; kang; No=Nokian; Oh=Ohtsu; Om=Omni; Pc=ProComp; Pw=Primewell; Pm=Pro Meter; Ru=Runway; Sa=Sailun; Sf=Starfire; Sm=Summit;
Gs=Geostar; Gl=Gladiator; Gr=Goodride; Gt=GT Radial; He=Hercules; Ir=Ironman; Jz=Jetzon; Jy=Jinyu; Ke=Kenda; Ku=Kumho; Lf=Lauffen; Su=Sumitomo; St=Sutong; To=Toyo; Tr=Triangle; Un=Uniroyal; Ve=Vee; Vo=Vogue; Wl=West Lake; Yo=Yokohama; Zx=Zeetex
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 25

Tire Business Special Feature TopRetailDealerships

Monro closes deals on 8 more stores in La.

Moran Family of Brands photo
Tim and Laura Rodifer operate a Milex/Mr
Transmission shop in Johnson City, Tenn.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Monro Inc. has completed its acquisition of
eight retail tire outlets in Louisiana, boosting the
network of Tire Choice-rebadged stores in the
Pelican State to 20.
Monro moved into Louisiana for the first time
earlier this year, with the acquisition of Allied
Discount Tire & Brake Inc. It rebadged the La-
fayette, La.-based dealership’s 12 retail loca-
tions in southern Louisiana with its Tire Choice
brand.
The additional stores acquired more recently
operated under four names and ownerships:
• Atlas Tire & Auto in Covington — Jim Birch;
Zimmerman;
• Twin Tire & Automotive in Hammond, Harvey
• T-Boys Tire & Auto in Lafayette (two stores)
and Youngsville — Richie and Rick Zimmerman.
Collectively, the eight stores more recently ac-
quired represent $12 million in annualized sales,
split 50/50 between auto and tire service, accord-
ing to Monro, which disclosed the pending acquisi-
tions in its fiscal 2020 first quarter earnings report.
According to information posted online,
Twin Tire & Auto Care was established in 1973
in New Orleans by twin brothers Dennis and
James Richard Sr. — hence the name Twin Tire.
Background information on the other dealer-
ships acquired was not readily available.
Monro did not reply to a query from Tire

Milex honors
• Scotty’s Tire & Auto in Kenner — Scott and Marrero — Dennis and Jimmy Richard; and Business requesting more information.

Tennessee
franchisees
WASHINGTON
Tim and Laura Rodifer, owners of
a Milex Complete Auto Care fran-
chise in Johnson City, Tenn., have
been named the Milex franchisees
of the year by Milex franchisor Mo-
ran Family of Brands.
The Rodifers have owned their

PA N A M A
Milex/Mr. Transmission shop in John-
son City since 2010 and owned a pair
of Mr. Transmission stores for several

J U LY
years before selling both in 2006. This
R E P U B L I C O F PA N A M A

A MA D O R
is the couple’s second time being so
honored; the first time was in 2013.
Mr. Rodifer worked in the Moran
franchisee support center for four
years after the couple sold their Mr.
CONVENTION CENTER
2 0 2 0
Transmission stores before returning
as a franchise owner nine years ago.
Midlothian, Ill.-based Moran also
named franchisees of the year for its
other brands:
Scott Hester, transmission divi- INCREASE YOUR SALES
sion, owner of a Mr. Transmission
shop in Decatur, Ga.; and
in Latin America and
Randy Durham, Alta Mere fran- the Caribbean!
chise division, owner of an Alta
Mere/Automotive Outfitters store in
Plano, Texas, since 2003. 400+ Tire and
Franchisees eligible for the award Auto Part Exhibitors
RESERVE YOUR
must have demonstrated Moran’s core
values of D.R.I.V.E. (Dedication, Re-
spect, Integrity, Vision, Enthusiasm),
65,000+ m2
the franchisor said, and exhibit “out-
standing service” to their customers
and provide support for fellow fran-
chisees and the entire system.
Construction Area
25,000 Visitor Capacity BOOTH TODAY
www.latintyreexpo.com
Voting for the awards was done
by Moran franchisees.
“We would like to congratulate
each of our franchisee of the year
winners,” Peter Baldine, president of
info@latintyreexpo.com
Moran Family of Brands, said.
“They are all longtime and suc- +1 786-293-5186
cessful members of the Moran sys-
tem who have provided guidance and
support to our other franchise own-
ers. The selection from their peers is
a testament to the value and leader-
ship they provide to the other Moran
franchisees.”
Franchisee of the year winners
received an all-expense paid trip to
Washington to attend the Internation-
al Franchise Association (IFA) Fran-
chisee of the Year Award Dinner on
Sept. 9. Moran franchisees received
their awards at the IFA ceremony and
had an opportunity to meet with their
congressional representatives while
in Washington to discuss issues con-
cerning their franchised businesses
in their local districts.
26 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature

TopRetailDealerships Ranked by company-owned outlets

Changes Changes Changes
Rank Company Outlets vs. ’18 Rank Company Outlets vs. ’18 Rank Company Outlets vs. ’18
1 Reinalt Thomas Corp.1 1,046 45 36 Graham Tire Co. 35 0 69 Virginia Tire & Auto 16 2
2 TBC Corp. - Retail2 733 2 37 Mountain View Tire 31 1 72 Cassidy Tire & Service 15 1
3 Monro Inc.3 703 66 38 Beverly Tire & Auto20 30 0 72 Nelson Tire Inc.28 15 0
4 Mavis Discount Tire4 654 5 38 Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. 30 0 72 P.R. Walker Inc.31 15 0
5 Icahn Automotive5 475 11 40 Dunn Tire L.L.C 28 -2 72 RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels24 15 0
6 Les Schwab Tire Centers6 436 15 40 Gorrepati Enterprises Inc.21 28 0 72 St. Lucie Battery & Tire 15 1
7 Kal Tire 212 3 42 Brex Inc.21 27 0 77 Northwest Tire Inc. 14 -1
8 Fountain Tire7 160 0 42 SF Tire & Service Central Inc.13 27 8 77 Mock Beroth Tire & Automotive 14 0
9 Tire Discounters Inc. 126 13 44 Ben Tire Distributors22 26 1 77 Pete’s Tire Barns 14 0
10 Belle Tire Distributors 120 20 44 Grismer Tire23 26 0 77 Warren Tire Service Center Inc. 14 0
10 Rent-A-Wheel / Rent-A-Tire8 120 -4 44 Kost Tire & Auto Care 26 0 81 Associated Tire Stores Inc.32 13 1
12 GB Auto Service9 116 69 47 Raben Tire Co. 25 0 81 Robertson Tire Co. 13 -1
13 Max Auto Supply 10 113 0 47 Rental Concepts L.L.C.24 25 4 81 United Tire & Service33 13 -4
14 Best-One Tire & Service / Zurcher Group11 110 2 47 T.O. Haas Tire Co. 25 0 84 Adirondack Tire Corp. 12 0
15 A.T.V. Inc.12 103 -4 50 Golden West Tire13 24 2 84 Bauer-Built 12 0
16 Leeds West Group10,13 102 5 50 Ziegler Tire 24 0 84 F&F Tire World & Service Co. 12 0
17 Town Fair Tire Centers 98 1 52 McCarthy Tire & Automotive Centers 23 3 84 Gulf Coast L&P Inc.24 12 0
18 4 Wheel Parts14 92 3 53 Flynn’s Tire & Service Centers 22 0 84 Express Partners L.L.C.34 12 0
19 AAA Club Alliance15 83 5 54 Jensen Tire & Auto 21 0 84 Pueblo Tires & Service 12 -1
20 Sullivan Tire Co. 73 2 55 Action/Gator Tire Stores25 20 -9 84 Springfield Tire & Auto Service35 12 1
21 Plaza Tire Service 67 4 55 Big Brand Tire Co. 20 0 84 Stratham Tire Inc. 12 -1
22 V.I.P. Parts, Tire & Service 59 1 55 Coast Tire & Auto Service Ltd. 20 1 92 Active Tire & Auto Centre Inc.36 11 0
23 Peerless Tire Co. 56 0 55 Jack Furrier’s Western Tire Centers26 20 0 92 Burt Brothers Tires 11 1
24 Dunlap & Kyle16 54 0 55 Steve Shannon Tire & Auto Centers 20 0 92 Central Arizona Auto Group L.L.C.13 11 2
24 Tirecraft Group17 54 4 55 Tireman Auto Service Centers 20 0 92 Pneus Ratte28 11 0
26 Pomp’s Tire Service 53 0 61 CJ’s Tire & Automotive Services 18 1 92 Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Centers 11 0
27 Western Automotive Group13 52 0 61 Rims USA L.L.C.24 18 5 97 Bruneel Point S28 10 0
28 Black’s Tire & Auto Service 47 2 63 Allen Tire Co. 17 0 97 Car-X Des Moines21 10 0
29 Commercial Tire Inc. 44 0 63 Chabill’s Tire Service L.L.C. 17 0 97 Meekhof Tire Sales & Service Inc. 10 0
30 Tire Guys18 42 2 63 Colony Tire Corp. 17 0 97 Modica Bros. Tire & Wheel Centers 10 1
31 Dobbs Tire & Auto 40 0 63 MFA Oil Co.13, 27 17 0 97 Pneus Belisle 10 0
31 Nebraskaland/Kansasland Tire 40 3 63 Les Pneus Robert Bernard28 17 1 97 Telle Tire & Auto Service 10 3
33 Conrad’s Total Car Care & Tire Centers 38 1 63 Nevada Tire Holdings L.L.C.29 17 0 97 Whalen Tire Inc. 10 0
34 Jack Williams Tire 36 0 69 Delta World Tire Co. 16 0
34 AKH Co.19 36 0 69 Heartland Tire30 16 2
1 — d.b.a. Discount Tire in all states except California and Oregon, where it uses “America’s Tire”; AKH parts and tires and autos service stores. 14 — Transamerican Auto Parts subsidiary; 85 stores in the U.S.; 7 in Canada. 25 — Owned by Christensen Enterprises.
Co. (No. 34) uses “Discount Tire Centers” in California. 6 — There also are 55 associate dealer stores operating under the Les Schwab name. 15 — dba: Bob Sumerel Tire; AAA. 26 — dba: Jack Furrier’s, Desert Rat, Ultra Performance.
2 — dba: National Tire & Battery (NTB) and Tire Kingdom (Florida only). TBC opened 18 stores in 2018- 7 — Fountain outlets are 50-50 partnerships with store managers; Goodyear has 49% ownership stake in Fountain. 16 — dba: Gateway Tire; Hesselbein Tire. 27 — also operates 8 Jiffy Lube stores.
19 but closed/sold 16 others; also controls the Big O Tires and Midas International franchise businesses. 8 — Rent-A-Wheel’s business model is tire and/or wheel leasing to own; company also has 16 17 — Store total shown here represents stores owned/operated by Tirecraft’s principal owners; the group 28 — Point S member.
3 — Tire Group stores only. dba: Mr. Tire, Tread Quarters, Autotire, Tire Warehouse Central, Tire Choice, franchised locations. also has 596 affiliated dealers under Tirecraft and Signature Tire signage. 29 — dba, Superior Tire.
Car-X, etc. Monro acquired 73 retail stores in the past year in seven deals, including Allied Discount Tire 9 — Holding co. for Brake Max (15 stores), Drivers’ Edge (14), Evans Tire (18), Lamb’s Tire (22), 18 — dba: Tire-Rama. 30 — dba: Heartland Tire; Galaxy Tire.
(12 stores), Certified Tire (40 stores), and Rick Johnson Tire (13 stores). Monro also operates 559 auto Ramona Tire (17), Tire Works (15) & Wilhelm Automotive (11). 19 — dba: Discount Tire Centers in California. 31 — dba: Tire Tracks.
repair & parts stores and has 98 affiliated Car-X franchised outlets. 10 — Midas franchisee. 20 — also operates stores under Benson Tire name. 32 — dba: Plains Tire in Wyoming; Discount Tire & Automotive in Utah; Bargain Tire in Idaho.
4 — dba:Mavis Discount TIre; Cole Muffler; Dekalb Tire; Express Oil/TIre Engineers; STS Tire; Savannah 11 — Best One comprises more than two dozen independent dealerships with common ownership under 21 — Car-X Tire & Auto franchisee. 33 — formerly Main Line Tire & Service and affiliated dealers, now operating under United Tire banner.
Tire; etc. Also oversees dozens of Express Oil franchised locations, which are adopting the Tire Engineers the Zurcher family; also has 74 commercial-only outlets. 22 — dba: Neal Tire & Auto Service. 34 — dba: Havoline Tire Pros.
identity; Oncap Group of Canada owns 49% ownership stake. 12 — dba: American Tire Depo.t 23 — dba: Grismer Tire; Dayton Tire; Detroit Tire. 35 — dba: Chesterfield Tire; Springfield Tire; Holyoke Tire; Webster Square Tire; etc.
5 — Pep Boys Service & Tire Centers stores only. Pep Boys also operates 567 Pep Boys-badged auto 13 — Big O Tires franchisee. 24 — RNR TIre franchisee. 36 — Also franchises 50+ Active Green+Ross stores in Ontario.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 27

Tire Business Special Feature

TopRetailDealerships Ranked by 2018 retail sales

(Based on company-owned outlets, year-end 2018)

2018 2018 % 2018 2018 %

Retail Sales $ Sales / Breakdown Retail Sales $ Sales / Breakdown
Rank Company ($millions) outlet tires/service/other Rank Company ($millions) outlet tires/service/other
1 Discount Tire / America’s Tire 1
4,784.0 $4,784,000 100 / 00 / 00 24 Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. *25.0 $891,778 50 / 45 / 05
2 TBC Retail Group *3,000.0 $4,137,931 N.A. 25 Robertson Tire Inc. 24.8 $1,907,692 60 / 40 / 00
3 Icahn Automotive 2,856.0 $2,112,426 N.A. 26 Western Tire Centers 24.3 $1,217,200 50 / 16 / 34
4 Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. 1,565.4 $3,590,366 N.A. 27 United Tire & Service L.L.C. 24.1 $1,853,846 28 / 72 / 00
5 Monro Inc. 1,200.2 $1,002,673 50 / 50 / 00 28 Koldenhoven Enterprises 21.0 $2,625,000 60 / 40 / 00
6 4 Wheel Parts1,2 889.0 $9,877,778 N.A. 29 Lex Brodie’s Tire Co. 19.9 $3,980,204 47 / 53 / 00
7 Kal Tire *525.0 $2,333,333 N.A. 30 Bauer Built Inc. 18.4 $1,533,333 75 / 25 / 00
8 Belle Tire Distributors Inc. 400.0 $4,000,000 65 / 35 / 00 31 Adirondack Tire & Service 18.0 $1,500,000 N.A.
9 Fountain Tire Ltd. 253.0 $1,581,250 66 / 32 / 02 31 St. Lucie Battery & Tire Co. 18.0 $1,285,714 55 / 35 / 10
10 Best-One Tire & Service / Zurcher Group 210.0 $1,875,000 50 / 50 / 00 31 Warren Tire Service Center Inc. 18.0 $1,285,714 65 / 35 / 00
11 Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. *162.5 $2,321,428 46 / 54 / 00 34 McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc. 17.5 $760,870 35 / 65 / 00
12 Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc. *150.0 $2,777,778 65 / 35 / 00 35 Heartland Tire Inc. 17.0 $1,295,238 50 / 50 / 00
13 ATV Inc./ American Tire Depot *133.0 $1,278,846 65 / 35 / 00 36 Pete’s Tire Barns Inc. 16.4 $1,366,667 96 / 01 / 03
14 Rent-A-Wheel / Rent-A-Tire *120.0 $1,000,000 85 / 15 / 00 37 Direct Tire & Auto Service *14.0 $3,500,000 45 / 55 / 00
15 Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc. 112.0 $2,800,000 35 / 65 / 00 38 Pueblo Tires & Service *13.3 $110,833 70 / 30 / 00
16 Leeds West Group 100.0 $980,392 25 / 75 / 00 39 Martin Tire Co. 13.0 $1,843,374 70 / 25 / 05
17 Graham Tire Co. 85.0 $2,428,571 40 / 50 / 10 40 Wilks Tire & Battery Service Inc. 12.0 $2,400,000 60 / 40 / 00
18 VIP Inc. 80.0 $1,355,932 40 / 60 / 00 40 Bruneel Point S Tire *12.0 $1,200,000 35 / 65 / 00
19 Tireman Auto Service Centers 52.0 $2,600,000 45 /45 / 10 42 Stratham Tire Inc. 10.8 $900,000 N.A.
20 Virginia Tire & Auto 46.4 $3,314,286 23 / 77 / 00 43 F&F Tire World *10.0 $833,333 40 / 60 / 00
21 Pomp’s Tire Service *29.5 $556,604 N.A. 44 Ziegler Tire 9.1 $364,000 30 / 70 / 00
22 Delta World Tire 28.4 $1,775,000 65 / 34 / 01 45 Raffield Tire Master *8.7 $1,450,000 N.A.
1 — Online sales revenue skews average store sales figure upwards. *estimate
23 Central Arizona Auto Group 26.0 $2,534,090 39 / 61 / 00 2 — Heavily skewed toward performance auto parts; tires, wheels make up just a small percentage.

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 LargestDealershipsByRegion
Mountain Northwest Central
3,669 tire stores 4,454 tire stores
22.3 million vehicles 21.1 million vehicles
Big O Tires ............... 225 Firestone stores1 ......... 145 Upper Midwest
Discount Tire ............. 200 Quick Lane .................. 82 7,388 tire stores
Firestone stores1 ......... 129 Big O Tires .................. 67 42.7 million vehicles
Les Schwab ............... 132 Discount Tire .............. 57 Firestone stores1 ......... 307
New England
1,537 tire stores
Tire Pros .................. 102 Tire Pros .................... 51 Monro2 ..................... 218 12.5 million vehicles
Icahn / Pep Boys ......... 100 Monro/Car-X Tire .......... 44 Discount Tire ............ 140 Monro1............................. 143
Quick Lane .................. 65 Plaza Tire ................... 43 Belle Tire.................. 120 Town Fair.................... 98
Costco ....................... 62 Dobbs Tire ................. 33 Quick Lane ................ 117 Sullivan Tire ................ 71
Point S Tire ................. 52 Nebraskaland/Kansasland 31 Car-X Tire ................... 98
28 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS

Firestone stores2 ........... 61

Tire Business Special Feature

Peerless Tyre ............... 39 Graham Tire ............... 26 Goodyear .................... 95 VIP Tire ...................... 58
1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire. 1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire. Best One Tire ............... 92 Quick Lane .................. 35
TBC Retail / NTB ........... 92 Goodyear stores ........... 18
Icahn / Pep Boys .......... 66 Icahn/Pep Boys............. 21
Pacific 1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire,
6,380 tire stores 2 – dba: Monro, Mr. Tire, AutoTIre, Tire Barn,
TBC Retail / NTB ........... 14
43.7 million vehicles Costco ....................... 14
1 – dba: Monro, Mr. Tire, Tire Warehouse Central.
Les Schwab ............... 363 2 – dba: Firestone Complete Car Care, Expert Tire.
Firestone stores1 ......... 266
America’s Tire /
Discount Tire ............. 185
Costco ..................... 180
Icahn/Pep Boys........... 165
Tire Pros .................. 111
Big O Tires ................ 106
Middle Atlantic
4,687 tire stores
Am. Tire Depot ........... 103 30.0 million vehicles
Goodyear .................... 83 Mavis Discount........... 363
Quick Lane Tire ............ 78 Monro1 ..................... 336
1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire. Firestone stores2 ......... 158
Icahn / Pep Boys ......... 152
Goodyear ................... 92
Quick Lane .................. 77
Costco ....................... 49
Jack Williams Tire ........ 35
Tire Pros .................... 30
Dunn Tire.................... 30
1– dba: Monro, Mr. Tire, TreadQuarters.
2 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus.

South Atlantic
5,388 tire stores
28.9 million vehicles
Monro1 ..................... 242
Firestone stores2 ......... 208
TBC Retail / NTB ......... 207
Goodyear .................. 100
Tire Pros .................. 100
Quick Lane .................. 74
Southwest Central Pep Boys .................... 67
5,787 tire shops Southeast Central Southeast Discount Tire .............. 62
29.6 million vehicles 3,506 tire stores Black’s Tire ................. 47
14.0 million vehicles 6,411 tire stores
Firestone stores1 ......... 318 31.0 million vehicles Mavis Discount............. 37
Discount Tire ............ 268 Firestone stores1 ......... 125 1– dba: Monro, Mr. Tire, TreadQuarters.
Firestone stores1 ......... 415 2 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire.
Icahn / Pep Boys ......... 105 Tire Pros .................... 66
TBC Retail2 ............... 244
TBC Retail / NTB ........... 98 Tire Discounters ........... 55
Icahn / Pep Boys ......... 227
Tire Pros .................... 92 Goodyear ................... 51
Goodyear .................. 142
Quick Lane .................. 81 Monro ....................... 48
Mavis Tire / Express Oil .. 128
Goodyear .................... 59 Gateway / Hesselbein ..... 42
Monro........................ 99
Rent-A-Wheel/Rent-a-Tire 55 Quick Lane .................. 42
Quick Lane .................. 97
Costco ....................... 31 TBC Retail / NTB ........... 36
Sears ........................ 87
GB Auto ..................... 29 Big O Tires .................. 29
Tire Pros .................... 76
1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire. Icahn / Pep Boys ........... 29
1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire.
Discount Tire ............... 67
1 – dba:Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus, Expert Tire.
2 – dba Tire Kingdom, NTB.
TopRetailDealerships
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 29

Tire Business Special Feature TopRetailDealerships

Jiffy Lube, Midas head Franchise Times’ rankings
MINNEAPOLIS Big O Tires was No. 6 in the automotive category (and No. 106 Oil Change up 9.9%, SpeeDee Oil Change up 7.5% and Jiffy
For the second year running, Jiffy Lube, Midas International overall) with estimated sales of $846.5 million and 458 locations. Lube up 3.3%.
and Valvoline Instant Oil Change claimed the top three spots on Big O, Midas and Tuffy Tire & Auto Service (16th among auto The auto repair franchise systems in the ranking are:
Franchise Times’ Top 200+ ranking of fran- franchises and 286th overall) were singled Franchise Rank Sales U.S. outlets
chise systems, automotive category. out as the fastest-growing auto service-re- • Jiffy Lube 75 $1,700M 1,919
Jiffy Lube International Inc. was ranked lated franchise programs over the past year. • Midas Intl. 81 $1,505M 1,050
No. 1 in the magazine’s auto repair category The magazine pegged Big O’s and Tuffy’s • Big O Tires 106 $847M 458
with systemwide sales of $1.7 billion gener- sales growth at 7.2% and 3.6%, respectively. • Meineke Car 141 $538M 759
ated by 1,919 U.S. franchised stores, accord- Otherwise the automotive repair franchise • AAMCO 176 $414M 605
ing to Franchise Times’ ranking. Jiffy Lube sector generated little in the way of business • Christian Bros. 216 $275M 173
was 75th overall on the list of franchise programs, unchanged growth, with only AAMCO Transmissions, Meineke Car Care, • RNR Tire 271 $163M 118
from 2018. Midas and Mr. Transmission registering growth. • Tuffy Tire 286 $143M 174
Midas is No. 2 in the automotive category (and 81st overall) Overall, the magazine pointed out the health/medical and per- Franchise Times said its annual ranking of the largest franchise
with systemwide sales of just over $1.5 billion and 1,050 U.S. sonal services categories exhibited the fastest growth, at 14.5% systems in the U.S. is based on a five-month research process that
outlets, according to the magazine’s estimate, while Valvoline and 14.3%, respectively. looks at companies’ voluntary reports and publicly available data,
Instant Oil Change was No. 3 (and 91st overall) with revenue of The leading oil change franchises, by contrast, recorded mea- including the franchises’ most recent franchise disclosure docu-
$1.17 billion and 1,198 locations. surable growth — Grease Monkey up 12.5%, Valvoline Instant ments and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

A LONG WAY
James Bull (left), division vice president
for Big O Tires, joins Big O franchisees
Tina and Les Forster (right) as they
present a donation to a representative
from the American Legion Women’s
Auxiliary of Gardner, Kan.
TOGETHER
Kansas Big O
franchisees
hit milestone
GARDNER, Kan.
Kansans Les and Tina Foster
marked their 20th year in business as
Big O Tires franchisees recently by
donating $800 to the American Le-
gion Women’s Auxiliary in Gardner.
To mark the occasion, the Fosters
agreed to donate $20 for every set
of Big O Tires sold for two weeks in
late September/early October to the
American Legion auxiliary.
“Representing the Big O Tires
brand in Gardner throughout the last
20 years has been such a positive ex-
perience for me, Tina and our entire
team,” Mr. Foster said.
“We have truly enjoyed serving the
Gardner community; our 20 years
in business is a true testament to the VISIT US AT
great customers we serve each and
every day as well as the Big O Tires
organization.”
Gardner is a community of about
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
19,000 located 30 miles southwest
of Kansas City, Kan. The Fosters’
store is one of 18 Big O locations in
November 5 - 8, 2019
Booth #41109 LOOKING BEYOND THE HORIZON
the Kansas City metro area.
John Kairys, vice president and BKT’s extensive product portfolio comprises specific cutting-edge tire ranges to cater for the most demanding needs
general manager for Big O Tires,
lauded the couple, saying: “Exceed-
in a variety of fields such as agriculture, construction, and OTR, as well as transport and agro-industrial applications.
ing customer expectations has always
been a priority for Les, Tina and the
entire Gardner team. They exemplify BKT USA Inc.
the team you trust and we are hon- 2660 West Market St., Suite 100
ored to celebrate their 20th anniver- Fairlawn (Akron) - OH 44333
sary alongside of them and the Gard- Toll free: (+1) 888-660-0662
ner community.” Office: (+1) 330-836-1090
Fax: (+1) 330-836-1091
30 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS
Tire Business Special Feature
Meineke, Tirebuyer.com earn top marks in ‘best’ brands report
NEW YORK
Newsweek magazine has named Meineke
Car Care Centers the nation’s best automo-
tive repair chain and Tirebuyer.com the best
online tire and wheel “manufacturer,” ac-
cording to its 2020 America’s Best Customer
Service brands report.
Rounding out the top three in the auto re-
pair category are O’Reilly Auto Parts and
Goodyear Auto Service Centers, while Tir-
erack.com and Discount Tire Direct are run-
ners-up in the online category, according to
Newsweek.
Newsweek partnered with analytics firm
Statista Inc. to survey more than 20,000 U.S.
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customers who have either made purchases,
used services or gathered information about
products or services in the past three years.
The results provided information about
brick-and-mortar stores, online retailers and
service providers from 160 categories. The
awarded brands each received on average
Ross Hoek
Pro 4 #10
Chad Rayford
Pro Light #29
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
TopRetailDealerships
close to 100 evaluations from customers,
Newsweek said.
The surveys were conducted during July
and August and took an average of nine to
11 minutes to complete, Newsweek said. The
final assessment and rankings were based on
the Net Promoter Score and five evaluation
criteria.
Fred Thomas, vice president and general
manager, Goodyear Retail, said the award is
a “testament to the friendly atmosphere, at-
tentive service and expert tire and automo-
tive care our Goodyear Auto Service associ-
ates strive to provide every day.”
Goodyear operates nearly 600 Goodyear
Kyle Kleiman
Pro 2 #42
Kenda KLEVER M/T
Series: 85, 75, 70, 65, 60
Sizes: 22, 20, 18, 17, 16, 15
Load Range: C, D, E
3ply sidewall in select sizes
OWL & RWL available
Kenda KLEVER R/T
Series: 80, 75, 70, 65, 55
Sizes: 22, 20, 18, 17, 16
Load Range: D, E, F
Speed Ratings: R
Studable
Stylized Black Sid
Sidewall
Triple Threat 3-ply sidewall
Auto Service locations throughout the U.S.,
which it describes as full-service tire and au-
tomotive repair stores.
Neither Meineke nor O’Reilly has com-
mented on the Newsweek rankings.
Newsweek disclosed its 2019 Best Custom-
er Service brands just eight months ago, when
its research showed TBC Corp.’s Midas Inter-
national franchise business as the top automo-
tive repair brand and Discount Tire Direct as
the top online tire/wheel “manufacturer.”
Midas finished ahead of Icahn Automotive’s
AAMCO franchise business and Bridgestone
Americas Inc.’s Firestone Complete Auto Care
retail business.
Sullivan opens
Mass. store,
eyes another
NORWELL, Mass.
Sullivan Tire and Auto Service
has opened a location in Massachu-
setts and has plans to open another in
the state sometime in November.
That will bring the number of re-
tail locations for the Norwell-based
automotive and commercial tire
dealership to 73, including 45 in
Massachusetts.
Sullivan Tire opened a 5,000-sq.-
ft. facility in Canton, Mass., on June
10 after it acquired the assets of Da-
vid’s Tire & Auto. Sullivan has done
some minor renovations to the fa-
cility, but the location has remained
open during that time. Sullivan
plans to complete larger renovations
in the spring.
Sullivan Tire said that many of the
existing David’s Tire staff will be
retained as Sullivan Tire employees,
and more employees will be added.
Meanwhile, Sullivan is preparing
a location to open later this year in
Reading, Mass., at a former Meineke
facility. The 4,354-sq.-ft. location
has six bays. According to Sullivan,
the location, which has been closed
for major renovations, will reopen in
November.
“We are excited about our contin-
ued growth in New England,” Paul
Sullivan, vice president of marketing
at Sullivan Tire, said. “Canton and
Reading both fit perfectly into our
expansion plans, and we are thrilled
to serve both of these communities.”
Sullivan Tire’s retail locations reach
into five states. The company also op-
erates 13 wholesale, three tire retread,
two Liftworks and two distribution
centers throughout New England.
Sullivan acquired Montvale Tire
Car Care Centers, a 50-year-old
dealership with stores in the north-
ern Boston suburbs of Melrose and
Woburn, Mass., a year ago.
 Going to SEMA? Wish you were going to SEMA?
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Several times each day, Tues., Nov. 5 – Thurs., Nov. 7, key exhibitors and industry leaders will be
livestreaming from the Tire Business booth at SEMA. Each livestream session will be unique to the
individual sponsor and each livestream will have a unique registration link so you can keep track of
the sessions that most interest you by registering with the personalized link. Once registered, we will
remind you about your specific selections before they happen.

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Schrader
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PLUS, see Don Detore, editor, Tire Business and

the 2019 Humanitarian Award winner talk live! Tire Business Tire Dealer
Humanitarian Award
www.tirebusiness.com/HumanitarianAward

Stop by the Tire Business booth #42051 to see what people are talking about.

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Contact Christine Zernick I Sales Director, 330.865.6108 I czernick@crain.com
32 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature TopRetailDealerships

Pep Boys locations to collect
donations for Toys for Tots
PHILADELPHIA
Icahn Automotive Group L.L.C.’s Pep Boys
chain has become a national sponsor of Toys
for Tots, the U.S. Marines charity that dis-
tributes toys to children in need during the
Christmas holidays.
Starting Nov. 4, Toys for Tots donation bins
will be set up in service waiting areas of Pep
Boys locations throughout the country where
customers can donate new, unwrapped toys.
Customers who donate at the stores will re-
ceive 25% off their purchase of parts, acces-
sories or service, the company said.
Pep Boys corporate offices and distribution
centers also will have bins so the company’s
22,000 employees can also participate, Icahn
said.
“Pep Boys has long been a part of our lo-
cal communities and a supporter of our na-
tion’s military. As a national service network,
a partnership with the Marine Toys for Tots
Program was a perfect fit to contribute to the
community and bring joy to children during
the holiday season,” Brian Kaner, Service
CEO, said.
“Having toy collection bins in their nearly
1,000 locations across the country will pro-
vide an opportunity for even more donors to
find a location in their neighborhood to assist
children-in-need,” said Ted Silvester, vice
president, marketing and development, for
Toys for Tots and a retired Marine colonel.
“Pep Boys community service efforts cer-
Toys for Tots donations bins will be set up in
Pep Boys locations.
tainly align with those the Marine Corps has
promoted for over 72 years through our Toys
for Tots program and their support will enable
us to fulfill the Christmas holiday dreams of
less fortunate children.”
As a corporate sponsor, Pep Boys has com-
mitted a $25,000 donation and, over the next
two months, employees will work with dedi-
cated U.S. Marines and Toys for Tots volun-
teers in their areas to collect and distribute
toys. Pep Boys teams will be holding local do-
nation drives and events, including car shows
and cruise-ins where admission will include a
Toys for Tots donation.
Icahn opens Pep Boys tire/auto
service outlets in Calif., Ga., N.Y.
PHILADELPHIA
Icahn Automotive Group L.L.C. opened four
Pep Boys Service & Tire Centers in key metro
areas in California, Georgia and New York, in
September, expanding the network of Pep Boys
outlets to 969 in 36 states and Puerto Rico.
The new locations are in Lawndale and
Rocklin, Calif., LaGrange, Ga., and Astoria,
N.Y., serving the metro centers of Los Ange-
les, Sacramento, Atlanta and New York City,
respectively, Icahn Automotive said.
The locations were selected for their prox-
imity to both individual and fleet customers
that need convenient, local shops for service
to reduce the time they’re without their vehi-
cles, the company said.
Icahn/Pep Boys did not disclose informa-
tion about the stores’ size, bay count or em-
ployees, nor say what it spent to open, buy
and/or convert the stores to Pep Boys signage.
The Rocklin store is a greenfield construc-
tion, while the Astoria, Lawndale and La-
Grange locations are conversions of acquired
properties; Astoria previously was Runway
Tire; Lawndale was Purrfect Auto Service; and
LaGrange was a Meineke Car Care Center.
“The demand for quality service is high,
but so is the demand for convenience, and Pep
Boys is a one-stop shop that can provide both
for our customers,” Brian Kaner, CEO-Ser-
vice, said.
“As automotive technology continues to evolve
at a rapid rate, investments to expand our capa-
bilities and our network, especially in densely
populated areas, will enable us to provide better
service to more customers. At the same time, it is
the goal of every one of our shops to get to know
their neighbors and become a trusted member of
their local community.”
The company is marking each opening lo-
cally with offers, events and other opportuni-
ties for customers to meet the new team and
experience the updated service bays equipped
with the latest technology.

Let your customers

experience growth
in motion.
All our Ag radial tires sold in North America are
backed with our confidence-building 7-year
warranty and offer a triple advantage – Low
Compaction, High Traction and High Roadability.

For more information, visit www.ceatspecialty.com/US

Distributed in USA by Tyres International Inc.
For further inquiries, call 800-321-0941
or email us at csti@ceat.com or sales@tyres1.com
CEAT Specialty Tires Inc., 525 N.Tryon Street
Suite 1600 Charlotte, NC 28202. Tel: 704-331-3928
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 33

Tire Business Special Feature TopRetailDealerships

Distribution Stox expands into Ontario

with Provincial Distributors acquisition
BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec of 19 distribution centers throughout rience of both groups,” Distribution Stox
Distribution Stox, a partnership of sev- Quebec and controlled over 100 delivery President and CEO Bruno Leclair said.

Stox Distribution photo

eral large Quebec tire distributors, has
acquired Provincial Tire Distributors
Inc., a Barrie, Ontario-based company in
business for more than 30 years.
The partnership said the acquisition is
part of its growth strategy and adds a new
province in its distribution network.
Distribution Stox was formed in 2016
by Pneus Unimax Ltd., Distribution Pne-
us RT Ltd., Distribution DSP and Distri-
bu-Pneus, which combined the operations
vehicles.
Today the company said it operates 18
distribution centers in Quebec with a fleet
of more than 140 delivery vehicles.
Provincial Tire Distributors, previous-
ly owned by Alexa and Peter Labrecque,
has distribution facilities in Barrie and
Sudbury, Ontario.
“Over the coming weeks and months,
we will work closely on a transition plan
to synergize the strengths and the expe-
“The addition of new product lines, the
implementation of new management tools
and the sharing of expertise are examples
of stimulating projects that make Distri-
bution Stox confident about the future.
“Our main objective is to maintain the Finalizing the acquisition of Provincial Tire Distributors are
highest level of customer satisfaction with (from left) Claude Picard, of Miller Thompson; Martin Labrec-
operational effectiveness and best busi- que, vice president and CFO, Stox Distribution; Bruno Leclair,
ness practices with the cooperation of a president and CEO, Stox; Alexa Labrecque and Peter Labrec-
dedicated team of over 300 employees in que, co-owners, Provincial Tire Distributors; and Robert
17 cities.” Sullivan of Sullivan Law.

LWG acquires
6 Big O stores
in New Mexico COUNT ON PROVEN EXCELLENCE.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.
Leeds West Groups (LWG) has ac-
quired six Big O Tires locations in New
Mexico from a long-time Big O fran-
COUNT ON SUMITOMO.
chise group, extending its reach into
New Mexico and expanding its net-
work of Big O and Midas stores to 102.
The acquisition builds LWG’s Big
O Tires’ network to 23 locations in
three states — Colorado, New Mex-
ico and Texas.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Entering into the New Mexico mar-
ket was a no brainer for LWG,” Leeds
West CEO Judd Kyle Shader said. “It
allows us to build out the states sur-
rounding Colorado continuing to create
consolidation and large expansion op-
portunities for us along the I-25 corri-
dor and the Mid-West region.”
Mr. Shader also said LWG is com-
mitted to shifting its “acquisition fo-
cus to larger-scale growth opportuni-
ties” and said this deal aligns with the
firm’s growth objectives and opera-
tional strengths under Chief Operat-
ing Officer Derek Wessels and James
Gould, Big O Division vice president,
who will oversee the new stores.
“We look forward to filling in the
Colorado to New Mexico corridor,
along with our expected fast paced
growth in the Midwest region,” Mr.
Shader added.
The six stores are in the Albuquer-
que, N.M., area. In all, there are 16
Big O Tires stores in New Mexico.
LWG took over the stores from
BBAC Group, a franchise group
consisting of Keith Blake, Michael
Pryor, Mitch Beranek and Scott
Koldenhoven that also operates 11 Becoming an outstanding commercial tire brand requires excellence in all areas, not just one.
Big O stores in Colorado.
Mr. Koldenhoven is a second-gen- Sumitomo’s product quality, application coverage and fill rate were ranked in the Top 3 by
eration Big O Tires owner and win- nearly 600 dealers in the last 3 Tire Review annual surveys.* Count on proven excellence,
ner of the franchise group’s Point of
Light award in 2015 and Big O/IFA count on Sumitomo. Learn more at SumitomoTruckTires.com.
franchisee of the year in 2014.
This is LWG’s second transaction *Survey conducted by Marketplace Insights on behalf of Tire Review
the past couple of months involving Big for its 2018 Brand Study (August 2018 Sourcebook issue).
O stores. In late July LWG agreed to go
into partnership with Big O franchisee
Monteverde Group to co-own eight for-
mer NTB Tires & Service Center out-
lets in Texas that Monteverde had con-
verted to Big O stores earlier this year.
This latest acquisition boosts For what drives you.
LWG’s employment to 950, the Green-
wood Village-based company said.
 34 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Tire Business Special Feature TopRetailDealerships

Jiffy Lube franchisees in
Ind., Pa. add Mighty to mix
VIP Tires & Service photo

NORCROSS, Ga.
A pair of Mighty Distributing System fran-
chisees in Indiana and Pennsylvania that also
are Jiffy Lube franchisees have added Mighty
VIP Tires & Service employees cut a ribbon to reopen the Brunswick, Maine, location that
franchise locations to their company portfolios.
underwent a major renovation to add 5,000 square feet to the existing location.
Midwest Distribution Group L.L.C. of In-

VIP Tires celebrates reopening

dianapolis has added a second location in the
Hoosier State, in Fort Wayne, and Multi-Man-
agement Inc. of York, Pa., a second franchise
in the Keystone State, in the Philadelphia met-

of renovated location in Maine

BRUNSWICK, Maine
VIP Tires & Service expanded and remod-
eled its Brunswick location, hosting a reopen-
ing celebration on Sept. 11.
VIP added 5,000 square feet to the existing
location. The store added three services bays
and now has seven, as well as new shop equip-
ment, storage inside for up to 2,000 tires and an
improved and expanded customer area that is
five times larger than the previous one.
The Auburn, Maine-based company has
been identifying and renovating the customer
waiting spaces in several of its 59 older stores.
“We value our customers and believe in giv-
ing them an outstanding in-store experience,”
VIP President and CEO of Tim Winkeler said.
“In order to deliver on that, it’s important we
not only provide our customers with exception-
al auto care service by highly trained techni-
cians, but also with friendly and knowledgeable
store staff, and a place where they can work or
relax while they wait.”
VIP added laptop bars for working, a coffee
and drink station and large windows into the
service bays so customers can see the work be-
ing done on their vehicles.
Mr. Winkeler also noted with more on-site
storage space, VIP can offer customers more
variety.
At the reopening event, VIP launched its Oil
Changes for Education. Through Nov. 15, VIP
is offering $10 oil changes to all customers at
its renovated Brunswick store with all of the
proceeds benefiting local public schools. The
program began more than a year ago at sev-
eral VIP locations. To date, the dealership has
raised more than $12,000 for local schools in
Williston, Vt., and Framingham, Maine.
Family-owned VIP operates 59 locations
throughout New England, including 35 in
Maine, 19 in New Hampshire, four in Massa-
chusetts and one in Vermont.
ro area.
For Midwest Distribution Group, the Fort
Wayne distribution center is its fifth such facil-
ity, to go with 48 Jiffy Lube and six Tuffy Auto
Repair center locations. The business, which
has been a Mighty Auto Parts franchise since
2006, also has parts distribution centers in Do-
than, Ala., and Orlando and Pensacola, Fla.
The newest center will serve customers
throughout northeast Indiana, Mighty said.
Midwest Distribution Group President
Steve Sanner said the new location will al-
low it to service not only its Tuffy Auto Re-
pair and Jiffy Lube franchises in northeast
Indiana more effectively, but also will allow
it to focus on expanding outside business. To
that end, the company has hired a salesper-
son dedicated to the territory.
The business was Mighty’s Franchise of
the Year in 2017.
In Pennsylvania, Multi-Management has
established a second franchise, Mighty of
Eastern Pennsylvania, to service customers
in Greater Philadelphia.
Led by President Bob Falter, Multi-Man-
agement operates 60 Jiffy Lubes in Penn-
sylvania and is considered a Top 5-ranked
Mighty franchise.
“The opportunity to acquire a contiguous
market such as Philadelphia was one that cer-
tainly made sense for us at this time,” Mr. Fal-
ter said. “Our Mighty team is energized and
ready to conquer this market. We look forward
to a mutually beneficial partnership for years to
come.”
Mighty CEO Ken Voelker added: “It is
gratifying to have two of our leading Jiffy
Lube partners add new Mighty franchises to
their business portfolios. … Their decision
to expand and invest in additional franchises
validates the benefits of Mighty’s quick ser-
vice program.”
In business since 1963, Norcross-based
Mighty Distributing System supports 100
franchised distributors in 44 U.S. states and
five international markets.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 35

Love’s reaches 500 Meineke entices prospective

Company achieves milestone
with openings in Ohio, Mich.
OKLAHOMA CITY
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened trav-
el stops in Edon, Ohio, and St. Clair, Mich., in recent
weeks, expanding its network of stores to 500 in 41 states.
Both locations — on Ohio State Route 49 and Inter-
state 94, respectively — have a Speedco tire and vehicle
service facility on site, are open 24/7 and have over 100
truck parking spots.
To mark the openings, Love’s is donating $2,000 to
the Four County Career Center in Edon and $2,000
to the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service
Agency in St. Clair.
Tom Love, founder and executive chairman of Love’s
Travel Stops, called the opening of the 500th travel stop
a “huge milestone” for the Oklahoma City-based com-
pany, which opened its first store in 1964.
Love’s Travel Stops has opened 40 Travel Stops so
far this year — including more than 30 that will have a
Love’s Truck Tire Care or Speedco unit on site — along
with its fifth Oliver Rubber-system retread plant, in Lar-
edo, Texas.
The company also disclosed plans to set up a tire re-
tread and distribution facility in Milan, Tenn.
Love’s Travel Stops acquired the Speedco business
in November 2017 from Bridgestone Americas Inc.
The company offers Aeolus, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone,
Dayton, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin and Yokohama tire
franchisees with reduced fees
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Meineke Car Care Centers
franchisor Driven Brands Inc., in
a bid to “get the wheels turning”
for prospective franchisees to join
the Meineke network, is offering
reduced royalty fees for a year for
those who sign up before Dec. 31.
“At Meineke, we are vested in
the growth of our system and the
success of our franchise owners,”
Jon Gaiman, Driven Brands’ chief
development officer, said.
“This limited-time reduced roy-
alty offer is an investment we make
in helping new franchise owners
realize their entrepreneurial dreams
that much sooner.”
The deal reduces the royalty fees
for the first year of ownership by an
undisclosed amount. The standard
franchise agreement sets those fees
at 3% to 7% of sales, depending on
the identified category of autho-
rized products and services.
The company also disclosed plans to set up a tire
retread and distribution facility in Milan, Tenn. “When we tell people who are
looking at our franchise concept
brands — along with Love’s own retread line — at its about the size of the market, the
Speedco locations. average age of vehicles on the road,
and the Meineke playbook, they can
see the potential,” John Moreau, vice
a concept that is recession-resilient.”
In its promotional literature,
Meineke stresses that the automo-
tive aftermarket is “one of the most
recession-resilient” businesses, even
“if the economy becomes a little
bumpy.”
Meineke pegs the value of the
U.S. automotive aftermarket at
$287 billion and states on average,
Meineke stores generate $708,000
in gross revenue, with 44% of stores
operating above the average.
Meineke recommends interest-
ed parties be prepared to make
an initial investment for a leased
Meineke location of $123,121 to
$572,411. The sign-up fee ranges
from $7,500 to $35,000.
Meineke is seeking single-unit
and multi-unit franchise owners
to expand the brand’s footprint.
To learn more about franchise
opportunities with Meineke, visit
meinekefranchise.com.
There are over 850 Meineke lo-

Love’s adding Hankook brand president of franchise development

for Meineke, said. “They appreciate
cations throughout the U.S., Can-
ada and Mexico.

to portfolio at 350+ locations ‘When we tell people who are looking at

our franchise concept about the size of
OKLAHOMA CITY Hankook said this partnership Travel Stop and opened a fifth re- the market, the average age of vehicles
Love’s Travel Stops & Country represents a “fundamental step” in tread plant, in Laredo, Texas. Love’s on the road, and the Meineke playbook,
Stores is adding Hankook-brand its strategy to grow the Hankook has opened 40 Travel Stops so far
truck tires to the portfolio of tires brand to become a Tier 1 brand and this year, including more than 30 they can see the potential.’
available at the 350-plus Love’s serve key fleets across the country. that will have a Love’s Truck Tire John Moreau, vice president of franchise development for Meineke
Travel Stops and Speedco locations Love’s recently opened its 500th Care or Speedco unit on site.
across the U.S. that have on-site
Truck Tire Care service.
Love’s Travel plans to stock
Hankook’s e3 range of radial
truck/bus tires — the e3 MAX

Carlisle TyrFil
AL21 steer, e3 MAX DL21 drive
and e3 MAX TL21 trailer tires —
to complement its current range of
tire brands: Aeolus, BFGoodrich,
Bridgestone, Dayton, Goodyear,

We keep the world rolling.

Kelly, Michelin and Yokohama,
along with Love’s own Oliver Rub-
ber system retreads.
To help introduce the brand to
Love’s customers, the two compa-
nies are offering savings of up to
$110 on a set of two Hankook steer
No flats, smoother ride, more protection.
tires and up to $240 on a set of eight
Hankook drive and trailer tires. The
steer-tire purchase includes a tire
balance.
Rob Williams, senior director of
TBR sales, Hankook Tire America
Inc., said Hankook is “thrilled” to
be part of Love’s nationwide net-
work and noted that all three e3
products are SmartWay verified for
Flatproofing Sealant Conditioner
reduced rolling resistance.
Hankook said the e3’s durable TyrFil TM
ReSeal TM
TLC TM

casing and “optimized” bead pro-

file enhance the tires’ retreadabil-
Polyurethane material that replaces air, Seals punctures up to ½” Conditions wheels
ity while specific design elements eliminates flats and provides a smoother, safer ride. in diameter, prevents flats. and rims, extends tire life.
affecting rolling resistance and
weight distribution combine with
compounding technology to im-
prove fuel efficiency and traction Carlisle TyrFil offers a complete line of tire flatproofing, wheel/tire conditioner and tire sealant
properties. products that keep your equipment running by reducing downtime. These tire technologies
“We continually strive to provide

.
customers with the best options to help provide a smoother safer ride for your operators and lower operating costs. Contact us to
fit their needs,” said Dan Jensen,
Love’s director of tire sales and ser- discover which products are right for you. (800) 821-4147 www.CarlisleTyrFil.com
vices, calling Hankook one of the
industry’s “premier” tire brands.
36 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Third Nexen Hero campaign kicks off

DIAMOND BAR, Calif.
Nexen Tire America Inc. and The Purple
Heart Foundation again are partnering to hon-
or a U.S. military veteran with a new Jeep.
For “Nexen Hero III,” veterans from all
branches of the U.S. armed forces may be nom-
inated to receive a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlim-
ited Rubicon 4x4, equipped with 37-inch Nexen
Roadian MTX Xtreme off-road tires.
Previous Nexen Hero campaigns were re-
served for Purple Heart medal recipients. This
time, Nexen Tire has decided to open the pro-
motion to all veterans to share their stories for
a chance to win.
Nexen Tire also will match donations made
to the Purple Heart Foundation at NexenTire-
USA.com/NexenHero during the giveaway
period, up to $30,000.
The nomination period runs until Dec. 3
and the recipient will be announced live on
national TV on the week of Dec. 16.
For this year’s build, Nexen Tire has part-
nered with Jeep aftermarket parts specialists
to help transform the Nexen Hero Jeep Wran-
gler Rubicon into an off-road-ready warrior.
Southern California Jeep builder All J
Products in Big Bear Lake was tasked with
modifying the Nexen Hero Jeep Wrangler
Rubicon. All J Products selected aftermarket
Jeep parts from Rugged Ridge and the exteri-
or received an extensive makeover featuring
one-of-a-kind Nexen Tire graphics designed
to honor a well-deserving veteran.
“After the remarkable success of our previ-
ous Nexen Hero campaigns, we’re excited to
announce we are going even bigger this time
and expanding our reach to all veterans,” said
John Hagan, executive vice president of sales
for Nexen Tire America, Inc. “In addition to
incredibly inspiring Purple Heart recipients,
our U.S. veterans continue to contribute to
their communities after returning from duty,
which is why we decided to open the nomina-
tion process to all veterans across the country.
Through this program, we continue to honor
heroes of our communities, because of their
selfless service to provide security and stabili-
ty for the nation and around the world.”
To be eligible, nominees must be honorably
discharged veterans from a U.S. armed service,
subject to verification by the nominees’ DD-214
form and must be willing to consent to a back-
ground check. The Nexen Hero Jeep Wrangler
Rubicon recipient will be selected by Nexen Tire
America representatives in collaboration with
The Purple Heart Foundation based on a variety
of factors, including their overall military service
and ongoing commitment to their community.
“We’re thrilled to continue working with
Nexen Tire for the third installment of its Nex-
en Hero program. For more than 60 years, The
Purple Heart Foundation has supported com-
bat-wounded veterans and honored the sacri-
fices they have made,” said Stephen Ruckman,
chief executive officer for The Purple Heart
Foundation.
“Aligning ourselves with partners like Nex-
en Tire further supports our mission to create
incredible opportunities for our veterans. By
opening the campaign to all veterans across the
country, we are able to expand our reach and
help even more voices be heard.”
To nominate a veteran, make a donation
to The Purple Heart Foundation and for of-
ficial giveaway rules, visit nexentireusa.com/
nexenhero.
For more information on The Purple Heart
Foundation, visit purpleheartfoundation.org.

GRI partnering with Al Dobowi Group in Middle East/Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
Specialty tire manufacturer Glob-
al Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd. (GRI)
has formed a business partnership
covering the Middle East and Afri-
ca with Al Dobowi Group, a global
systems and solutions provider for
tire management, power storage,
industrial rubber, material handling
and fluid management industries.
Al Dobowi Group, founded in
1976, has a presence in more than
60 countries, focusing on manufac-
GRI photo
Dobowi marked the collaboration
during a gala dinner in Dubai.
Surender Kandhari, chairman and
founder of Al Dobowi Group, said
the partnership was born out of suc-
cessful business relations over the
last decade and a half.
“Al Dobowi and GRI share the
same business principle based on
providing high quality products to
its customers,” Mr. Kandhari said.
GRI Managing Director Prabhash
Subasinghe called Mr. Kandhari a
Group, said his firm “will have the
capacity and operational backing to
provide exceptional products to the
market, that will deliver assured per-
formance and exceptional value to
the specialty tire industry.”
As part of the ceremony, GRI un-
veiled its Grip Ex R400 tire, devel-
oped for the construction industry.
GRI called it “ideal” for difficult
working conditions in construction
or other industrial applications.
Al Dobowi handles 20 other tire

turing and distribution. The compa- “personal friend” and “truly a plea- brands in the Middle East, including
nies will work together on shared sure” to do business with. Alliance, Continental, General, Han-
Surender Kandhari (left), chairman and founder of Al Dobowi Group, and GRI synergies. Jasjeev Kandhari, managing direc- kook, Kumho and Trelleborg, along
Managing Director Prabhash Subasinghe unveil a tire during a ceremony in Dubai. Representatives of GRI and Al tor and vice chairman of Al Dobowi with its own brand, Eternity.

Nokian extends deal with

Providing NHTSA compliant systems for:
Manufacturers • Tire Dealers • Importers • Auto Dealers • Distributors POWDR vacation resorts
PARK CITY, Utah
Nokian Tyres P.L.C. has expand-
Tire Registration... ed its partnership with ski area
operator POWDR Adventure Co.,

IT’S THE LAW!

Nokian Tyres P.L.C. photo
extending an agreement for three
years that originally was signed in
April 2017.
As the official tire of POWDR’s
nine resorts, Nokian said it will re-
The ceive new opportunities for resort
CIMS - THE INDUSTRY LEADER IN Nokian recently expanded its partner-
ELECTRONIC TIRE REGISTRATION! Trusted Name guests to learn about the benefits
ship with POWDR.
the tire. The Nokia, Finland-based
for nearly tire manufacturer will interact with in a statement. “We are gratified to

www
50 years more skiers and snowboarders, it
said, through appearances at special
events, contests and giveaways, as
well as during consumer experienc-
Point-of-Sale Mail Online Mobile/Tablet es at POWDR resorts.
Resorts included in the partner-
ship are:
Point-of-Sale & Digital E-Tire Registration • Copper Mountain and Eldora in
Colorado;
• Killington Resort and Pico
Mountain in Vermont;
• Mount Bachelor in Oregon; and
• Snowbird in Utah.
POWDR reports that its resorts
Since 1971
attract more than 3.5 million visitors
annually.
cimstireregistration.com “Our partnership with POWDR
has allowed us to share our mis-
sion of safety and sustainability
with skiers and riders throughout
Visit us at SEMA booth 44230
North America,” Nokian Director
of Marketing Hans Dyhrman said
expand the relationship, because we
believe POWDR guests share our
values and truly benefit from our
premium products.”
During the collaboration, Noki-
an has appeared at resort events to
teach guests about tire safety, hosted
product launches at POWDR resorts
and had giveaways for resort guests.
Steve Metcalf, POWDR vice
president of partnerships, called
Nokian “a great and complementa-
ry partner to POWDR’s mountain
resorts in our pursuit to enable the
adventure lifestyle.”
Nokian said it is using the relation-
ship to reach out to drivers through-
out North America and inform them
of Nokian’s all-weather tires.
Nokian dedicated its first North
American tire plant in early October
in Dayton, Tenn.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
Making the Federal case
Tire maker touts looks, quiet ride, price of Xplora R/T
By Don Detore
ddetore@crain.com
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif.
Call it the Federal case for rein-
venting the light truck tire market.
Federal Corp., the Taiwanese tire
maker promoting an increasing em-
phasis on the American market, re-
cently unveiled the Xplora R/T, a
rugged-terrain product that offers the
look of a mud-terrain tire while pro-
viding a quiet, comfortable ride and
an aesthetically pleasing sidewall de-
sign.
A recent ride-and-drive event at-
tended by around 80 people, includ-
ing 54 dealers and distributors from
across the U.S. and Canada, comes
just nine months after the tire maker
launched the Xplora MTS, a hybrid
product that is a cross between a
mud-terrain tire and a directional,
ultra-high-performance tire.
The Xplora R/T is one of eight
products in the Xplora line that either
are in the market or soon will be, as
the company continues to phase out
its Couragia light truck line.
“This R/T market is here to an-
swer the majority of consumers who
are looking for that look, that side-
wall aesthetics, the good strong trac-
tion, but with lower noise levels and
a little more riding comfort than the
MT market,” Steve Hutchinson, an
adviser to Federal Chairman Jamie
Ma, said.
“With the growth of the light-
truck market, we see a lot of interest
in the R/T tire.”
Mr. Hutchinson said independent
tests found that the tire compared fa-
vorably with an industry-leading com-
petitor in wet braking, wet handling,
noise, dry braking and dry handling.
“This is a very, very strong perfor-
mance tire from independent evalua-
tors,” Mr. Hutchinson said. “It means
that we’re going up against the premi-
um tire ... and it delivered great value to
the consumer at about 30% less cost.”
The tire will be produced in Tai-
wan and priced in the range of $280-
$300.
Dealers who participated in the
ride-and-drive like what they saw
and experienced.
“We liked the innovative tread
design,” said Rick Benton II, vice
president of Black’s Tire Service
Inc. Mr. Benton’s brother, Jeremy,
vice president of sales and market-
ing at BTS, also tested the tire.
“A lot of consumers are looking
for better performance but still like
the traction,” Rick Benton said. “The
new R/T will give traction similar to
the MT but rides much quieter for a
nice highway ride.”
The Bentons have been selling
Federal products for 18 years.
Tom Hofmann, CEO and presi-
dent of Corona, Calif.-based Free-
dom Tire Distributing, also was im-
pressed with the product.
“The on- and off-road capabili-
ty were both extremely good,” Mr.
Hofmann said. “It rode really nice. It
TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 37
start next spring and summer, with the
seemed like it cornered well, handled
and braked well, and surprisingly, I product becoming available by year-end
think the noise level was very re- 2020.
spectable for the type of tire it is. The Two on-road light truck prod-
noise level was very respectable.” ucts, the Xplora F/X and the Xplora
Mr. Hofmann said when his whole- XUV, also are slated for production.
sale company first ordered Federal “Federal is always about innova-
products a little more than three years tion,” Mr. Ma told dealers. “We want
ago, it ordered one container. to deliver something unique so you
can sell different to your customers.”
Mr. Hutchinson assured dealers
that the big value the tire provides
will translate into big volume.
Tire Business photos Don Detore
“That big value market has a lot
more volume to it, so the pricing com-
bined with the performance, along
with the aesthetics of the tire, I think
we’re going to have a huge run,” Mr.
Hutchinson said. “I’ve told this to
our team: Get ready. Get production
Federal Chairman Jamie Ma shows off the Xplora R/T at an event in Big Bear increased. This thing is going to sell
Lake, Calif. At top: The rugged landscape at Big Bear Lake. very, very, very well.”
Hutchinson
Today, he said, they average be-
tween 10 and 11 containers per month.
“It’s doing very well for us,” Mr.
Hofmann said of the tire.
The features of the Xplora R/T
include:
• Optimized tread-pitch variation,
with tread sipes and tread blocks that
Federal said reduce noise and pro-
vide a more comfortable, smooth and
quiet ride;
• Stone ejectors that prevent stone
retention and thus premature wear;
• A fatigue-resistant tread com-
pound that protects the tire from Premium truck tire
chips, cuts, rocks and other debris,
adding longevity to the product;
• Open-shoulder grooves that help
the tire evacuate water, mud and off-
road debris while providing traction;
and
• Linear tread blocks that enhance
on-road straight-line stability for im-
proved handling and comfort.
In addition, the product has an
impact-resistant, extra strong tread-
wall — shaped like double “L’s” —
that provides off-road traction and
helps prevent cuts and chips.
Each tire has a small American
flag embossed in the sidewall.
Initially, five Q-rated sizes are avail-
able in 17-, 18- and 20-inch rim diam-
eters. Eventually, Federal plans to add
10 more sizes covering 15-to 20-inch
rim diameters. Mr. Ma said 22-inch
offerings may be added as well.
Targeted vehicle applications in-
clude the Chevrolet Silverado/Colo-
rado series; Ford F series; GMC Can-
yon/Sierra series; Jeep Cherokee/ Made in Thailand
Grand Cherokee/Wrangler series; Visit us @Lowersouth Verified
Ram pickup; Nissan Frontier/Titan; Booth No.43211
and the Toyota Tacoma/Tundra. November 5-8, 2019
Las Vegas Convention Center
“Federal uses our heart, our time Las Vegas, NV
and our research to cover the most
complete light truck lineup to cover
every person we can think of in the
ARISUN tires are specially designed and produced for the demand of North American market covering all different applications, Long haul,
market,” Mr. Ma said.
Regional and Mixed Service. Any road surface or any truck application shall we supply suitable tires to you.
The next tire to be launched will
be the Xplora A/T, which will be
unveiled at the Specialty Equipment ZC RUBBER AMERICA INC.
Market Association Show (SEMA)
Nov. 5-8 in Las Vegas. Tel: 909-598-5585 Toll Free: 855-924-5678 Fax: 909-598-5587 E-mail: Info@zcrubberamerica.com
Production of the Xplora A/T will
38 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Sailun, NTW pitch Sailun as ‘value brand’ answer

By Bruce Davis
bdavis@crain.com
HAMPTON, Ga.
It’s a bit of “déjà vu all over again”
for Sailun Tire Americas and TBC
Corp.
Six years after rolling out a strate-
gy to establish the Sailun brand as a
solid “value line” option in the U.S.,
TBC and Sailun are trying again —

Tire Business photos by Bruce Davis

this time with tires sourced from
Vietnam instead of China.
TBC’s value-line launch of mid-
2013 was interrupted two years
later by the U.S.’ imposition of el-
evated import duties on passenger/
light truck tires from China, duties
that effectively derailed a number of
Chinese brands, including Sailun.
Since then Sailun’s parent company,
Sailun Jinyu Tire Co. Ltd. — the No.
18 tire maker worldwide with annual
sales of $2.01 billion — built a plant in
Vietnam and shifted nearly 100% of its
North American-dedicated consumer
tire production to that facility.
In 2013, TBC was in the process
of ramping up the Sailun brand with
additional Atrezzo passenger prod-
uct lines and expanded size ranges
in the Terramax SUV line.
In the intervening six years, Sailun
SPONSORED BY:
Sailun International execs, from left, Mark Pereira, Christine Rouleau and Brian
Mielko are spearheading the relaunch of the Sailun brand in North America.
has overhauled the product range
extensively and is adding an all-sea-
son touring tire, the Inspire, as the
newest addition.
To get the message out — and re-
cruit some new customers — TBC,
Sailun and NTW (National Tire
Wholesale) invited a few dozen deal-
ers and media representatives to the
Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton
in late September to test the Inspire
and the Terramax HLT all-season LT/
Sailun Inspire
SUV tire against Tier 1 products. Sailun business unit responsible for
Sailun’s overriding message to po- the brand in North America.
tential customers is “value” — Tier 1 The Terramax HLT is available in
quality at Tier 4 prices. 35 metric sizes covering 15- to 20-
TBC/Sailun are launching the inch rim diameters and 13 LT sizes
Inspire in 48 sizes covering 14- to covering 16- to 20-inch sizes, Sailun
19-inch rim diameters and back- said, with a 22-inch size to be added
ing it with a 75,000-mile warranty. in 2020.
Sailun has up to 20 more sizes in In the U.S., it’s distributed exclu-
preparation, according to Chris- sively by NTW, the Palm Beach Gar-
tine Rouleau, director of sales with dens, Fla.-based distribution company
Sailun International in Toronto, the formed last year by the integration
of TBC’s wholesale distribution as-
sets with those of Michelin North
America Inc.’s Tire Centers Inc. (TCi)
wholesale business.
TBC/NTW have reserved the
Sailun brand for independent deal-
er customers — i.e., it’s not sold
through TBC’s NTB (National Tire
Battery) or Tire Kingdom retail net-
works nor through Big O Tires fran-
chised locations, according to Dja-
na Delibegovic, director, consumer
product marketing for TBC, who’s in

O R I A L- D R I V EN charge of the Sailun brand in the U.S.

EDIT N G
Sailun’s pitch to independent deal-

I
ers is relatively straightforward: It of-

S T R E A M
LIVE
fers a quality product with broad cov-
erage of the key aftermarket segments
at a price measurably below that of
name-brand Tier 1 and/or 2 products
November 14, 2019 and backed by warranties covering
• 2PM EDT between 40,000 miles (Atrezzo SVA/
SVR) and 70,000 miles (Inspire).
The company is striving to have

T H E P L AY B O O K F O R A W I N N I N G T E A M
market coverage broad enough to
allow dealers to focus solely on the
So how does your team measure up to some of the best places to work Sailun brand as their entry-level tire
offering, Ms. Rouleau said, noting that
in the industry? Join Don Detore and Kathy McCarron discuss today’s Sailun estimates the “value brand”
segment represents as much as 19%
workforce, from Millennials to Boomers and beyond. of the U.S. passenger tire aftermarket.
To help dealers with the brand,
TBC and Sailun are offering a pack-
age of trade marketing initiatives
and event/sponsorship offerings.
During the Atlanta ride-and-drive,
Sailun had participants drive cars
and SUVs equipped with the Inspire
Don Detore Kathy McCarron and Atrezzo HLT, respectively, as
well as comparative tires from a Tier
Editor, Tire Business Reporter, Tire Business 1 supplier, both with the sidewalls
buffed off to provide as close to a
blind comparison as possible.
The tests were a mix of slalom
Register Now and wet and dry braking tests. The
results supported Sailun’s contention

TireBusiness.com/PlaybookLive that its products are competitive per-

formance-wise with Tier 1 products.
 Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 39

Goodyear switching tire brand

ID for U.K. race car series BTCC
Bridgestone Americas Inc. photo

BRANDS HATCH, England

Goodyear plans to switch its support
of the KwikFit British Touring Car
Championship (BTCC) to the Goodyear
brand from Dunlop, which has been the
BTCC’s sponsor and tire supplier since
Celebrating the Bandag facility’s 50th anniversary are (from left) Mark Averette, former Oxford plant 2003, thus ratcheting up its return to the
manager; Tim Painter, executive director, process engineering development, BSAM; Chris Daniel, exec- European racing scene.
utive director, Bandag manufacturing; Greg Harris, vice president, commercial manufacturing, Bridge- Goodyear said it chose the BTCC for
stone Americas Manufacturing Group; Mark Highland, current Oxford plant manager; Marshall Tanner, the second step of its racing comeback
former Oxford plant manager; Barry Owens, senior vice president, Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing as the series provides a strong platform
Group; Steve Sutherland, vice president of marketing, commercial group, Bridgestone Americas Tire
for demonstrating tire technologies on a
Operations; and Scott Damon, group president, operations, BSAM.
wide range of sedans as well as provid-

Bridgestone’s Bandag plant ing the right marketing platform to reach
high-performance car enthusiasts in the
United Kingdom.
Goodyear plans to switch its support of
the KwikFit British Touring Car Cham-
pionship (BTCC) to the Goodyear brand
from Dunlop.

celebrates golden anniversary

OXFORD, N.C.
Bridgestone Americas Inc.’s Bandag tread rubber
plant in Oxford marked 50 years of production re-
cently in the company of past and current employees,
Bridgestone corporate executives and invited guests.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedica-
tion of our employees in Oxford and their continued
commitment to making mobility more efficient for
commercial customers,” according to Eric Higgs,
president, truck, bus and retread tires, U.S. and Can-
ada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations L.L.C.
During its 50 years in operation, the Oxford plant
has received several certifications for quality man-
agement and environmental responsibility, includ-
ing ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
The plant also obtained Carolina Star Certifica-
tion, which recognizes employers who have imple-
mented safety and health management systems to
reduce employee injury rates and is patterned after
the federal Occupational Safety and Health Admin-
istration Voluntary Protection Program.
Originally opened by Bandag Inc. in 1969, the
facility is one of four tread plants Bridgestone oper-
ates in North America to service its retreading fran-
chisees. The others are in Chino, Calif.; Griffin, Ga.,
and Abilene, Texas. Bridgestone took over the plant in
2007 as part of its $1.05 billion purchase of Bandag.
The 225,000-sq.-ft. facility and 135,000-sq.-ft. ware-
house in Oxford employ nearly 200 in the production
of pre-cured rubber tread, cushion and chemical mate-
rials used in the retreading process, Bridgestone said.
Employees at the Oxford facilities participate
in community volunteer projects with the United
Way and the Granville Public Schools Reading
Buddies program. In addition, the Oxford plant
is a Vance Granville Community College schol-
arship sponsor, Bridgestone said.
In recognition of the 50th anniversary, em-
ployees made a monetary/philanthropic dona-
tion to a local food bank and the local chapter of
the Boys and Girls Club.
At a ceremony Sept. 26, Mark Highland, plant
manager at Oxford, thanked employees for their
“continued dedication to engineering products that
are reliable, profitable and sustainable” and the
Oxford community for its “ongoing support.”
The KwikFit BTCC is the premier street-
car-based racing series in the U.K., running
up to 30 races a year at circuits throughout
the British Isles. The series, which started
in 1958, attracted 17 teams campaigning
32 cars this past season. Among the brands
represented were BMW, Ford, Honda, MG,
Subaru, Toyota and Vauxhall (GM).
“The BTCC is one of the best-loved,
most famous motor racing champion-
ships in the world and it will provide a
great opportunity for Goodyear to get
close to the hearts and minds of motor-
sport enthusiasts,” Ben Crawlyey, motor-
sport director at Goodyear, said.
Neither Goodyear nor the BTCC dis-
closed the length of Goodyear’s com-
mitment to the series nor any financial
information regarding the deal, which
supersedes the tire maker’s last Dun-
lop-brand supply agreement, which the
parties had extended in 2015.
Goodyear said the decision comes with
a view to enhancing the Goodyear brand
in the motorsport and ultra-ultra-high-per-
formance (UUHP) tire segments.
Goodyear’s first move in this direction
came in June, when it disclosed plans to
switch its race tire supply affiliation with
the FIA World Endurance Champion-
ship (WEC) to the Goodyear brand from
the Dunlop brand.
That agreement will put the Goodyear
brand back center stage in the interna-
tional sports-car racing scene, including
the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour race,
which is part of the WEC.
The racing moves are expected to help
promote Goodyear’s return to the ul-
tra-UHP segments with the launch ear-
lier in 2019 of its Eagle F1 SuperSport.
BTCC CEO Alan Gow said Good-
year’s return to the U.K. motorsports
scene will provide the tire maker the
“ideal opportunity to further increase its
brand awareness via the U.K.’s largest
motorsport championship.
“They provide knowledge from a
global program of racing experience,”
he added, “making them a strong partner
for the championship going forward.”

California governor
signs data privacy bill
SACRAMENTO. Calif.
California Gov. Gavin New-
som has signed into law AB 1146,
which carves out an exception to
a new state data privacy law set
to take effect in January, so that
auto makers and dealers can noti-
fy customers about warranties or
recalls.
The exemption would allow
auto makers and dealers to share
vehicle and owner information
— including the vehicle identifi-
cation number, make and model,
odometer reading and the name
and contact information of the
registered owner — only in the
Newsom
event that the vehicle is subject to
warranty or recall repairs. sumer Privacy Act and set four
That exemption will be added public hearings for December.
to the California Consumer Priva- Written comments are due Dec. 6.
cy Act, which takes effect Jan. 1. While the privacy act takes ef-
The law gives consumers the right fect in January, the state attorney
to request that a business share general’s office has until July 1 to
the personal data collected about adopt rules for businesses that will
them, as well as the reasons for need to comply with the new law.
collecting it, the right to opt out of “Our personal data is what
having their information sold and powers today’s data-driven econ-
the right to request that a business omy and the wealth it generates.
delete their data. It’s time we had control over the
California Attorney General use of our personal data. That
Xavier Becerra released draft reg- includes keeping it private,” Mr.
ulations for the California Con- Becerra said in a statement.
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Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
Hidden gem for
studded tires?
Garnetread champions garnets for
better winter traction, less road wear
By Miles Moore
mmoore@crain.com
POWELL BUTTE, Ore.
With the use of studded tires
being restricted or even banned
increasingly from roads, inventor
James Scheller has what he believes
is the ideal alternative: garnets.
Garnets, semi-precious silicate
stones that come in a range of col-
ors, are best-known for use in cos-
tume jewelry, especially when the
stones are red.
However, Mr. Scheller — owner
of Garnetread, a business based in
Powell Butte — long has champi-
oned industrial-grade garnets as a
way to greatly improve tire traction
and control when added to tread
rubber, without the damage to road
surfaces that studs can cause.
In April 1978,
Mr. Scheller ob-
tained a patent on
the Garnetread
technology and ap-
plied in April 2019
for a second patent
that includes a for-
mula to improve the
adhesion of garnets
to tread rubber. Scheller
“The garnets
become part of the tire itself,” Mr.
Scheller said.
“Testing shows less wear on pave-
ment and concrete and better traction
and stopping distances than (with)
regular rubber and studs,” he said.
According to Mr. Scheller, he
got the idea for Garnetread after he
graduated from Washington State
University and was driving a truck
for his family business.
At that time, he met John Cook, a
professor emeritus and research en-
gineer at WSU. Mr. Cook was work-
ing on a technology to add industri-
al-grade garnets to paving materials
to resist damage from tire studs. Mr.
Scheller — who has extensive experi-
ence with driving a truck over icy and
snow-covered roads — thought that
adding garnets to tread rubber would
create a tire with excellent traction
that would not damage roads.
Road testing
Tires made with Garnetread have
been independently tested by WSU
on dry, wet, snowy and icy pavements,
according to the Garnetread website.
They have also been tested by the U.S.
Department of Transportation and by
other independent testing groups in
Washington and Oregon, it said.
“Vehicles equipped with Garn-
etread tires stop on ice in a short-
er distance than the same vehicle
equipped with studded tires while
facilitating positive control,” the
website said.
Washington, Oregon, Michigan
and Minnesota have designated
tires using the Garnetread technol-
ogy as approved traction devices,
according to Mr. Scheller.
“To the best of our knowledge,
all 50 states have had Garnetread
rubber truck precure on their road
TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 41
CROSSOVER
TO A
BETTER
RIDE
VALUE MATTERS,
GTX DELIVERS
SNOW-GRIP
EQUIPPED
70,000 MILE
TREAD WARRANTY
COVERS OVER 90%
To date, more than 100,000 tires OF CUVS AND SUVS
have been manufactured using
Garnetread’s technology. VISIT US AT
systems,” he said. OUTDOOR
Garnetread has also contacted SILVER LOT
the Federal Aviation Administra- #61012 & #62123
tion about the process for certifying THE ALL NEW, ALL SEASON
aircraft tires using Garnetread, ac- TIRE FOR CUVS & SUVS
cording to Mr. Scheller.
To date more than 100,000 tires
have been manufactured using Garn-
etread’s technology, according to Mr.
Scheller. The process involves mix-
ing garnets with rubber in the mill Read the latest news. Check out the digital edition.
and then cutting the tread rubber to
size for precure molds, he said. Watch livestreams and videos. See our photo galleries ... and more!
Oliver Rubber Co. made retread-
ed tires using the Garnetread pro-
cess before the company was sold to
All on TIREBUSINESS.com
Michelin, according to Mr. Scheller.
Oregon Tread Rubber Co. of Eu-
gene, Ore., also made some tires for
Garnetread, he said.
Garnetread has received offers from
China to make tires there, but the com-
pany has no interest in tire manufac-
turing, according to Mr. Scheller.
“We don’t want to make or sell
tires,” he said. “Our goal is to li-
cense and sell and technology, and
act as advisers.”
At this time, Eastern Tire Service
of Nova Scotia and Treadwright
Tires of Texas make tires using Gar-
netread technology for Garnetread’s
own testing and use, according to
Mr. Scheller.
Garnetread for sale
Garnetread is offering itself
for sale. The company is seeking
$150,000 plus 15 cents for every tire
sold that uses Garnetread technol-
ogy, according to Peter J. Poullos,
Garnetread vice president of busi-
ness development.
The sale price includes all patent
rights, the company website, product
training, formula process informa-
tion, raw materials supply sources and
supplier details, Mr. Poullos said.
“We feel the successful impact of
Garnetread’s innovative technology
on the tire industry and is reflected
in the price,” he said.
“It is our belief that existing tire
industry manufacturers, with their ex-
isting, expansive market access, strate-
gic alliances and financial resources,
would enable the rapid use of Garne-
tread’s technology,” Mr. Poullos said.
42 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
New OE fitments coming to market
Bridgestone’s Ecopia Bridgestone gets OE
spec’d on Ford Escape fitments on BMW X5, X7
NASHVILLE, Tenn. NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Ford Motor Co. has specified the BMW A.G. has selected two
Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus versions of Bridgestone’s Alenza
as an original equipment fitment all-season tire as an OE fitment for
on select models of the 2020 Ford the fourth generation X5 and newly
Escape SUV. developed X7 luxury sport activity
Ford is vehicles and specified the Bridge-
fitting the stone Blizzak as a recommended
Ecopia H/L winter tire option for both vehicles.
422 Plus The contract covers 15 sizes and
— a pre- patterns from the Alenza and Bliz-
mium tire zak tire lines, Bridgestone said.
built for en- “The design and application of
hanced fuel a tire plays an important role in
efficiency ensuring a vehicle performs to its

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. photo

— as stan-
dard equip-
ment on the
Titanium
and Titani-
um Hybrid Ecopia H/L 422 Plus
models of the
Escape in size
225/55R19 and is offering it as an
upgrade option on the SE Hybrid
and SEL models, Bridgestone said.
The redesigned 2020 Escape
offers four engine/propulsion
choices — a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder
EcoBoost; a 2-liter, 4-cylinder
EcoBoost; and a pair of hybrid op-
tions using the 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder
motors — and up to 37.5 cubic feet
of cargo space, thanks to sliding
second-row seats.
12’ Tire Service Truck (other sizes available) | Work lights | Strobes in front and rear | Hose reel
(2)36” and (2)48” Toolboxes | 1600lb Tire rack liftgate | Champion gas air compressor
www.smyrnatruck.com I 855-269-5347 I fmier@smyrnatruck.com
maximum capability,” said Shan-
non Quinn, Bridgestone’s presi-
dent, consumer OE tires, U.S. and
Canada.
BMW offers two powertrain
options for the four-door, five-pas-
senger, all-wheel-drive X5 hatch-
back — a 335 hp 3-liter turbo in-
line-six for the xDr40i variant and
a 456hp 4.4-liter turbo V8 for the
xDr50i model. Both engines are
mated to an eight-speed automatic.
Despite a curb weight of roughly
5,000 pounds, the X5 offers 0-60
mph acceleration of 5.3 seconds for
the xDr40i and 4.6 seconds for the
V8 model.
BMW has spec’d two run-flat sizes
of the Alenza Sport A/S (265/50R19
110H and 275/45R20 110H) and
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has selected a 32-inch version of the Firestone Destination M/T2 tire as the exclusive OE
fitment on the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Willys, a special edition model geared to off-roading.
two run-flat sizes of the Alenza 001
(275/45R20 and 305/40R20 front
and rear, respectively) for the X5
as well as one regular version of the
Alenza 001 (265/50R19).
BMW has approved three sizes of
Blizzak LM001 winter tire for the
X5 — 255/55R18, 265/50R19 and
275/45R20, the latter two in run-flat
F E AT U R E S
configuration.
The X7 is a three-row SUV that
seats six or seven people and offers
a lounge-like experience to drivers
and passengers alike. The X7 sits on
a 122.2-inch wheelbase and overall
is 10 inches longer than the X5.
The Bridgestone fitments for the
X7 are: Alenza Sport A/S RFT —
275/50R20 and 285/45R21; Alenza
001 RFT — 275/50R20; and Alenza
Sport A/S — 285/45R21. The rec-
ommended winter tire is the Blizzak
LM001 RFT in sizes 255/55R20 and
285/45R21.
The standard tire fitment on
the X7 is 275/40R22 front and
315/35R22 rear. An optional fitment
is the Pirelli P Zero performance
summer tires.
BMW assembles the X5 and X7
at its plant in Spartanburg, S.C.
Firestone tires secure
OE on Jeep ‘Willys’
DETROIT
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)
has selected a 32-inch version of the
Firestone Destination M/T2 tire as
the exclusive OE fitment on the 2020
Jeep Wrangler Willys, a special edi-
tion model geared to off-roading.
The Jeep Wrangler Willys edition
is equipped with a limited-slip rear
differential, Rubicon rock rails and
shocks and heavy-duty brakes to
maximize its off-roading capabili-
ties and appeal.
These features, together with
Jeep’s Command-Trac 4x4 part-
time, two-speed transfer case with a
2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, pair up
with the traction-optimized Desti-
nation M/T2 tires to bolster the ve-
hicle’s off-road capability.
The OE size, LT255/75R17
mounted on black aluminum wheels,
has an outside diameter of 32 inch-
es, a fact featured prominently in
Jeep’s promotional literature for this
model.
Featuring an aggressive tread de-
sign and specially designed sidewall
construction, the Firestone Destina-
tion M/T2 tire is built for extreme
off-road traction and performance,
according to Bridgestone Americas
Inc.
Additionally, the Firestone Des-
tination M/T2 has biting edges for
better grip on slick, wet surfaces and
in snowy conditions.
The special edition Jeep Wrangler
Willys is available in showrooms
now. Suggested retail prices start at
$33,990 for the two-door model and
$37,490 for the four-door version,
according to FCA.
This is the second OE fitment for
Bridgestone in recent months on
special-edition Jeep models. Earlier
Jeep disclosed a pair of Bridgestone
Dueler fitments on the 2020 Jeep
Gladiator midsize pickup truck.
Hankook Ventus OE
on Porsche Cayenne
NÜRBURGRING, Germany
German luxury/sports car maker
Porsche A.G. has selected 21-inch
versions of the Hankook Ventus S1
evo 3 SUV as an OE fitment on its
Cayenne four-door all-wheel-drive
hatchback SUV.
The fitment — sizes 285/40 ZR 21
(109Y) XL front axle and 315/35 ZR
21 (111Y) XL rear axle — started with
the 2019 Cayenne and will continue
on the redeveloped, third-generation
2020 Cayenne, according to Hankook
Tire & Technology Co. Ltd.
This is the South Korean tire
maker’s second OE contract with
Porsche. The first was four years
ago on the Macan, the Cayenne’s
smaller SUV sibling.
SEE FITMENTS, PAGE 43
 Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
Fitments
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42
Porsche A.G. photo
German luxury/sports car maker
Porsche A.G. has selected 21-inch
Audi G.m.b.H. photo
versions of the Hankook Ventus S1
evo 3 SUV as an OE fitment on its
Cayenne four-door all-wheel-drive
hatchback SUV.
The 2020 model is the first Cay-
enne with staggered front/rear tire/
wheel fitments, Porsche said, a
change made to enhance agility, sta-
bility, driving dynamics and com-
fort.
Hankook said the Ventus evo3
UHP tire delivers “high steering pre-
cision and very sporty handling” in
both wet and dry conditions, thanks
to a design that is based on technol-
ogy derived from its motorsports
engagement with the DTM German
Touring Car Championship.
Hankook Kinergy OE
on 2020 Ford Explorer
DEARBORN, Mich.
Ford Motor Co. has spec’d the
Hankook Kinergy GT all-season
grand-touring tire as an OE fitment
on the 2020 Ford Explorer XLT,
extending Hankook’s growing OE
relationship in North America with
Ford.
The Explorer has been redesigned
and re-engineered for 2020, and
comes with a variable terrain man-
agement system along with added
cargo space fitting up to seven pas-
sengers. It’s powered by a 3-liter
EcoBoost V6 mated to a 10-speed
automatic gearbox.
Ford has spec’d the Kinergy GT
in size 265/65R18 for the Explorer
XLT trim level, which is considered
the base model.
Hankook launched the Kinergy
GT in 2016 and since has gained a
number of other OE fitments with it,
including the 2020 Toyota Corolla,
2019 Nissan Altima, 2019 BMW X3
hatchback “sport activity vehicle”
and 2018 Honda Accord.
Hankook also supplies tires to the
Ford F-150 and new-for-2019 Rang-
er small pickup.
Audi picks 3 Hankook
tire lines on Q8 SUV
SEOUL, South Korea
German car maker Audi G.m.b.H.
has selected three Hankook tires —
two summer and one winter — as
OE fitments for the Audi Q8 four-
door SUV Coupe.
Audi has spec’d the Hankook’s
Dynapro HP 2 Plus — in sizes
275/50 R20 113H X, 285/45 R21
113H XL and 285/40 R22 110H XL
— for models sold in North Amer-
ica, and the ultra-high-performance
summer and winter tread Ventus S1
evo 3 SUV and Winter i*cept evo 2
SUV, respectively — in sizes 285/45
R21 113 Y XL and V XL, for mod-
German car maker Audi G.m.b.H. has selected three Hankook tires — two
summer and one winter — as OE fitments for the Audi Q8 four-door SUV
Coupe.
els sold in Europe.
The redesigned Q8 is considered
the new face of Audi’s Q family of
SUVs, the German car maker said.
Its “brawny” radiator grille stands
upright and, together with the spoiler
that has been drawn toward the front
and the large contoured air inlets,
emphasizes the self-confident look.
For U.S. markets, the Dyna-
pro HP2 is Hankook’s light SUV
(and light truck/crossover) touring
all-season tire. Designed to combine
ride comfort, long tread wear and
low rolling resistance to promote
vehicle fuel economy, the Dynapro
HP2 tire also offers all-season trac-
tion in dry, wet and wintry condi-
tions, according to the company.
While the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
and Winter i*cept evo 2 SUV mod-
els will be initially released for
European markets, they will be
launched in the U.S. in early 2020.
Hankook Kinergy GT
OE on 2020 Corolla
SEOUL, South Korea
Toyota Motor Corp. has begun fit-
ting Hankook Kinergy GT premium
grand-touring all-season tires on its
2020 Corolla as an OE fitment.
The contract extends Hankook
Tire Co. Inc.’s OE supply relationship
with Toyota, which began in 2013
with the Corolla, Hankook said, and
was broadened in 2017 with a con-
tract to supply the Kinergy GT on
“select” 2018 Camry models.
Hankook said the strengthened
partnership with Toyota will help it
expand its influence in North Amer-
ica, embodying its vision to grow as
a leading global tire company.
“We hope this growing relation-
ship will foster our global expan-
sion of OE fitments and reinforce
our global recognition as a premium
brand,” Hyunjun Cho, head of Han-
kook’s OE division, said.
The reconfigured 2020 Corolla
sedan, which went on sale in the
U.S. in March, features a new de-
sign with improved agility, comfort,
refinement as well as advanced stan-
dard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 tech-
nology, such as pre-collision safety
system. The upgraded sedan will
use a 2-liter Dynamic-Force engine
that provides higher power and im-
proved fuel efficiency.
Hankook’s tire fitment is size
205/55R16 91H H436, which is
the size spec’d for the L and LE
versions. Other sizes listed for the
BMW A.G. photo
vehicle are: P195/65R15 for the L
version and P225/40R18 tires on the
SE 6MT, SE CVT and XSE models.
This marks the first 18-inch rim di-
ameter fitments ever on the Corolla,
Toyota said.
The Kinergy GT also is OE on
the 2019 Nissan Altima, in sizes
215/60R16H and 235/40R19V.
Nexen secures OE on
new Hyundai Venue
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.
South Korean auto maker Hyund-
ai Motor Co. has selected Nexen Tire
America Inc.’s grand-touring all-sea-
son tire, the N’Priz AH8, as original
equipment for the new Hyundai Venue.
The Venue, the seventh SUV in
the Hyundai lineup, will be avail-
able to consumers later in 2019 and
will come equipped with the N’Priz
AH8 in size 205/55/R17.
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TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 43
BMW A.G. has selected a pair of 20-inch Pirelli P Zero UHP tires as OE
fitments on the 2020 M8 Coupé, Competition Coupé, Convertible and
Competition Convertible.
According to Nexen, this marks 4.4-liter V8 biturbo gasoline en-
the 13th OE fitment for the N’Priz gines, tuned to generated 625 horse-
AH8 in the U.S. market, as well as power, capable of powering these
the 39th fitment overall in the U.S. models to top speeds of 155 mph.
Nexen said the N’Priz AH8 excels The tire fitments are BMW-spe-
in all types of terrain and has im- cific models of the tire maker’s P
proved snow performance over its Zero UHP tires, sizes 275/35 ZR 20
predecessor, the CP672. making it (front axle) and 285/35 ZR 20 (rear
ideal for the Venue. axle), Pirelli said.
In order to adapt the P Zero’s
performance characteristics to the
Pirelli secures P Zero driving characteristics of BMW
fitment on BMW M8 vehicles, Pirelli engineers modified
the tread pattern of the tire, among
MUNICH, Germany other things, in order to optimize
BMW A.G. has selected a the rolling noise level while also
pair of 20-inch Pirelli P Zero ul- offering improved dry grip and “ex-
tra-high-performance tires as OE cellent” wet performance.
fitments on the 2020 M8 Coupé,
Competition Coupé, Convertible
To achieve the best possible bal-
ance between the front and rear
and Competition Convertible.
The Coupé and Competition
axles, the engineers used different
layer constructions in the carcass-
Coupé models are more powerful es for the front and rear tires. The
and luxurious version of the M8 front tire has a symmetrical carcass
high-performance sports car, offer- structure, while the rear tires have
ing exclusive driving experiences on an asymmetrical structure.
the road and on the racetrack, Pirelli This type of fitment reflects Pire-
said, while the M8 Convertible and lli’s “Perfect Fit” philosophy of tun-
Competition Convertible are avail- ing its tires to the targeted vehicle in
able for open-drive enthusiasts. concert with the car maker’s devel-
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44 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com

Michelin adds mower products to Tweel line
LOUISVILLE, Ky.
Michelin North America Inc. is adding three turf
products for mowers to its Tweel airless radial line,
the company announced at the Green Industry Expo in
Louisville.
The new products are the 15-inch ZTR caster design
for larger commercial diesel mowers; the 22-inch Turf
size for ZTR mowers for the “prosumer” market; and a
hub for electric ZTR mowers made by Mean Green.
“We continue to work with commercial mower manu-
facturers to supply the Tweel no-compromise solution for
larger and heavier commercial mowers as well as smaller
mowers for the ‘prosumer’ market,” Justin Brock, mar-
keting manager for the construction and Tweel segment
in North America, said.
To accompany large diesel ZTR mowers that use a 26-
inch drive tire, the 15-inch X Tweel Turf will debut in
2020. The 15x6N6 size configuration is designed to pro-
vide enhanced performance and more stability with its
flat, smooth-rubber tread design and is able to fit a large
range of mowers, including the John Deere Z997R Diesel.
The tire has a load capacity of 370 pounds and a 16
mph speed rating.
ZTR mower operators will be able to buy the X Tweel
Turf airless solution using 22-inch, rear tire/wheels with
4x4 or 5x4.5-inch bolt-pattern hubs for their “prosumer”
mowers in the first quarter of 2020.
The 4x4-inch bolt pattern has a 529-pound load capaci-
ty, while the 4x5.4-inch bolt pattern has a 727-pound load
capacity. Available on original equipment or aftermar-
ket, the 22-inch, black-hub version will fit: Bad Boy Elite
(4x4), Grasshopper 700 series (5x4.5), Hustler Raptor
SDX & FasTrac (4x4) and Kubota SZ Stand-On & Z100
(4x4).
Targeting customers who use the electric-powered
Mean Green Rival mower with 52- or 60-inch mow-
er-deck options, Michelin has engineered a green-wheel
hub for 24x12N12 turf tires. The hub will have a 5x6.5-
inch bolt pattern and a 1.7-inch offset and will be avail-
able starting in the second quarter of 2020.

Michelin, partners to build Michelin earns SmartWay

large bio-butadiene plant Excellence Award from EPA
PARIS
Michelin Group and its industri-
al partners in France are moving
their “BioButterly” bio-butadiene
research project to the next phase,
agreeing to build an industrial-scale
prototype plant at a Michelin site in
France.
Launched in late 2012, the
$70-million BioButterfly project is
a 10-year scheme aiming to produce
butadiene from plant-based ethanol,
to be used for the production of en-
vironmentally friendly synthetic
rubber. Michelin’s partners are IFP
Energies Nouvelles and Axens, an
IFP research unit.
The facility is being built at Mi-
chelin’s synthetic rubber plant in
Bassens, near Bordeaux in south-
western France, where the tire
maker already produces petro-
leum-based butadiene for making
synthetic rubbers.
Construction will start later this
year and is set for completion in late
2020.
After several years of laboratory
tests, which yielded a few grams
of the material, followed by the
development of pilot production
at IFPEN-Lyon (manufacturer of
hundreds of grams), Michelin said
the industrial prototype plant being
built at Bassens must “validate the
complete chain of steps.”
The prototype plant will devel-
op the technological and econom-
ic viability for mass production of
bio-butadiene at volumes of 20,000
to 30,000 metric tons per year.
Once validated, industrial pro-
duction could ramp up to 100,000
tons a year, Michelin added.
The plant will test the use of etha-
nol from all kinds of biomass, includ-
ing 2G ethanol – second generation,
non-competing-with-food ethanol
made from forest or agricultural res-
idues such as straw, woodchips, etc.
The products will support Miche-
lin in meeting its target of having
80% sustainable raw materials in its
tires by 2050.
“We expect bio-butadiene to rep-
resent approximately 20% of this
objective,” the tire maker said.
SAN DIEGO
Michelin North America Inc.
earned a SmartWay Excellence
Award recently from the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) for
outstanding environmental perfor-
mance and leadership.
Michelin was one of 17 shipper
and logistics companies — and only
tire company — to receive this dis-
tinction at the American Trucking
Associations’ (ATA) recent Man-
agement Conference & Exhibition in
San Diego.
The award — which recognizes
the best environmental performers
among SmartWay’s 3,700 partners
— is the EPA’s highest recognition
for leadership in freight, supply
chain, energy and environmental
Adam Murphy, Michelin North Ameri-
ca’s (MNA) vice president of marketing,
B2B segments (left), and Alexis Garcin,
MNA chairman and president, receive
the EPA SmartWay Excellence Award.
performance, achieved by improving
freight efficiency and contributing
to cleaner air throughout the supply
chain.
“At Michelin, we innovate pas-
sionately to make road mobility
safer, more convenient and environ-
mentally friendly in all areas of our
business,” MNA Chairman and Pres-
ident Alexis Garcin said.
This is the second time Michelin
has earned the SmartWay Excellence
Award for outstanding environmen-
tal performance leadership.
As part of its sustainability efforts,
Michelin said it continually analyzes
shipping routes to optimize freight
flow and reduce empty miles and has
developed the Michelin Environmen-
tal Footprint indicator, which helps
the company reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, water and energy con-
sumption, and material impacts on
the environment.
Michelin said it strives to reduce
power consumption, optimize the lay-
out and favor multimodal solutions at
each factory and warehouse to reduce
the impact on the environment.
The companies selected for the
award this year are the top 2% of
environmental performers among
all SmartWay Partners, according
to Sarah Dunham, EPA director of
the Office of Transportation and Air
Quality.
“They are redefining best practices
for freight transport by reducing fuel
costs and improving the public health
of the communities they serve.”
On the product side, Michelin
makes a portfolio of SmartWay-ver-
ified tires and retreads as well as
the new EnergyGuard aerodynamic
trailer system, allowing the trans-
portation industry to operate more
efficiently.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 45

Prometeon, GreenRoad OnTheMove

to enrich PRO-Services
MILAN, Italy
Prometeon Tyre Group S.r.l. and
GreenRoad Technologies Inc., a pro-
vider of fleet drivers’ safety and per-
formance solutions, have agreed to
work together to help Prometeon en-
rich its PRO-Services fleet services
portfolio.
Under the new agreement, Pro-
meteon is adding “PRO Drive,” a
fleet-management solution based on
GreenRoad know-how and expertise,
according to the companies.
PRO Drive will help fleets improve
their drivers’ behavior, resulting in
“significant” savings in fuel consump-
tion and a reduction in incident rates,
leading to a new level of efficiency in
total cost of ownership, Austin, Tex-
as-based GreenRoad said.
Prometeon said it will roll out PRO
Drive in Europe early in 2020 and
then deploy it in stages worldwide.
“This partnership with GreenRoad
allows us to offer its leading fleet-per-
formance management solution to our
customers throughout the world,” Alain
Versace, Prometeon’s head of global
truck services, said.
“This is a further confirmation of
Prometeon’s commitment to support
its customers with cutting-edge tech-
nology applied to their daily business.”
Milan-based Prometeon is the pro-
ducer of Pirelli-brand truck, farm,
OTR and industrial tires. It was es-
tablished in 2017 as part of Pirelli
& C. S.p.A.’s revamp into a “pure
consumer” tire company following
China National Chemical Corp.’s ac-
quisition of Pirelli in 2015.
GreenRoad CEO David Ripstein
added: “This agreement is in line
with GreenRoad’s strategy of pene-
trating into new markets via strategic
partners. There is a strong synergy
between the technologies of our two
companies, and we are proud to work
together to bring value to Prome-
teon’s customers.”
Graber to succeed
retiring Gaetz at Toyo
commercial tires in September 2018.
Mr. Gaetz has spent more than
41 years in the tire industry, joining
CYPRESS, Calif. Toyo in September 2013. During his
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has pro- time at Toyo, the company said it
moted Michael Graber to vice presi- has seen unit sales increase by more
dent of sales, effective Jan. 1, as part than 50% and dealer points of sale
of the company’s succession plan have more than doubled. He also
following the retirement of Senior helped relaunch Toyo’s U.S. truck
Vice President Randy Gaetz. and bus tire business.
Toyo President and CEO Roy
Bromfield said Mr. Gaetz “has
spearheaded initiatives which have
resulted in our exceptional growth
the last six years.”
Hung-A names Kim
to lead U.S. office
COLLEGE PARK, Ga.
Graber Johnston South Korean off-the-road (OTR)
and commercial tire producer Hung-A
Mr. Graber is director of sales Co. Ltd. has hired Jack Kim to man-
for commercial tires, a position he’s age its U.S. office in College Park, a
held since July 2018. suburb of Atlanta.
He joined Toyo as a truck tires Hung-A, which goes to market pri-
sales manager in September 2013, marily under the Tiron brand name,
and in March 2015 was named se- said Mr. Kim
nior manager, product planning and brings 16 years
technical services. of international
Mr. Graber business experi-
will be suc- ences — includ-
ceeded by Dave ing 10 in spe-
Johnston as di- cialty tires and
rector of sales rubber tracks
for commercial — to his new
tires, effective job. Hung-A did
Jan. 1. Mr. John- Kim not identify Mr.
ston has spent Kim’s previous employers.
18 of the last 19 Hung-A opened its Atlanta office
Gaetz years with Toyo and warehouse in 2016, in order to
Tires Canada, shore up its supply line of tractor
where he began as regional sales tires for OEM customers in the U.S.
manager and then served as national Gyeongsangham-do, South Ko-
director of the commercial division. rea-based Hung-A was established in
ment and forklift manufacturers in
South Korea, Japan and the U.S.
It manufactures at plants in Ko-
rea and Indonesia. Hung-A sells the
Hung-A and Tinga brands in other
markets.
CMA selects three to
Double Coin posts
MONROVIA, Calif.
CMA L.L.C. has hired David
Misbrener to be the national OEM
manager for its Double Coin brand
tire business.
Misbrener Abel
The company also promoted Tim
Abel, previously regional sales man-
ager, to national truckstop manager
and named Adriaan Van Niekerk to
regional manager for the Southwest
region, where he will be responsible
for creating and growing business
for Double Coin tires.
Prior to taking on his new role at
CMA’s Double
Coin division, Mr.
Misbrener worked
as district sales
manager for Con-
tinental Tire the
Americas. He will
be responsible for
supporting Double

Vogue Tyre sees red

Mr. Johnston came to the U.S. and 1951. A major part of its business is Coin’s OTR and in-
became senior product manager of tires for tractor, construction equip- Van Niekerk dustrial tire line.

in limited-edition tire
MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill.
Vogue Tyre & Rubber Co. is having a “throwback” moment to
mark its 105th anniversary with a limited-edition Red Stripe ver-
sion of its classic whitewall-design tires.
The Red Stripe SKUs — which have red sidewall stripes instead
of the firm’s signature gold stripe — pay homage to tires Vogue
Tyre sold in 1950s that had the company’s logo in red over the
whitewall, according to Vogue Tyre President Greg Hathcock.
“One hundred and five years in business is something to cele-
brate. With our legacy of providing the most distinctive tires, we
wanted to do a special edition tire that tied into our storied heri-
tage,” Mr. Hathcock said.
The special models are available in two passenger sizes and
tread designs, 235/55R17 and 245/40R20, and one SUV size and
tread design, 285/45R22. The 20- and 22-inch models carry XL
NOT ALL SENSORS ARE CREATED EQUAL!
Non-OE manufactured TPMS does NOToperate the same as
Schrader’s OE manufactured TPMS, often leading to:
• Slower Auto-Location and Auto-Learn operation, • Incorrect messages when using the OBD
displaying incorrect warnings and information module, due to lack of Controller Area Network
(CAN) system knowledge. In certain cases, there
• Slow Tire Fill Alerts, causing over-inflation is limited communication between TPMS
sensors and the vehicle
• Slow or incorrect communication from the
sensor to the vehicle, causing slower detection • Interference with other systems on the vehicle
of pressure loss/ change in temperature, (trunk, lights, etc.), causing user annoyance and
leading to tire damage possible Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)
• Incorrect or missing OEM specific information, • Inaccurate pressure readings, sensors can
causing the light to illuminate prematurely transmit less often than an OE manufactured
sensor

QUALITY
load ratings.
“Most of the tires have been spoken for by our wholesale part-
ners already, and we expect sell-through to happen very quickly,”
said Kevin Goyak, executive vice president.

Bridgestone extends LIMITS LIABILITY

www.SchraderSensors.com

arena naming rights

NASHVILLE, Tenn.
The Nashville Predators National
Hockey League franchise has extend-
ed the naming rights agreement with
Bridgestone Americas Inc. for the
Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nash-
ville for five more years, through 2030.
The Bridgestone-Predators partner-
ship began in 2010 and was extended
two years ago through 2025 in con-
junction with the opening of the firm’s
EZ-sens r
Americas headquarters across the street
from the arena.
“Extending our relationship for the
next eleven years represents the longest
sports partnership commitment in our Quality and coverage is OE VERIFIED
company’s history, which is a reflection because we are the OE MANUFACTURER
of our belief in the middle Tennessee
community and the incredible vision November 5-8, 2019
of our hometown hockey franchise,” VISIT OUR BOOTH:
Bridgestone Americas CEO and Presi- SEMA: 40089 AAPEX: 2843
dent Gordon Knapp said.
46 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS
Ziegler
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
best, ever since the Firestone Tire
founder, an advocate of ship-by-truck
commerce in the early days of the au-
tomobile, encouraged the Zieglers to
get into the truck tire business.
Secret to success
So what is the family’s secret to
its longevity and success?
“You got to start out with a lot of
money,” quipped Bill Ziegler, voicing
an ongoing family joke. He recalled
how his Uncle Ralph once comment-
ed to the first-generation brothers:
“I don’t understand it. You’ve been
losing money since 1919, and you’re
still in business. You must have start-
ed out with a hell of a lot of money!”
But, he said, Oliver Ziegler had
his family to buoy up the company.
“When Oliver started, he had
Harold. … He had his family, which
he didn’t have to pay too much — or
for free. ... He ran it very lean.”
He said he looked at some of the
old financial reports, “and they were
scary! But a lot of it was because of
family. Family would work cheap.
If things got bad, the family would
work for free probably, and just have
enough to live on. And it’s still that
way to a certain extent.
“We all live on the philosophy:
If the company makes money, we’ll
make money. If it makes less, we
make less. If it makes more, we
make more. So we’re really trying to
instill that everybody’s important.”
John Ziegler recalled how that
philosophy played out during the
Great Recession of 2007-09.
“It was probably one of the few
times I remember we actually had
pretty serious layoffs. We proba-
bly laid off 10% of our total staff,
which was really tough. ... It was one
of those ‘tighten up the chinstrap.’
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Top: Ziegler Tire shops used to sell
gasoline along with myriad other
products. Right: Today the store fo-
cuses on tires and automotive ser-
vice.
Ziegler Tire photos
We obviously survived that, but it
was a tough lesson,” he said, not-
ing that management also took pay
cuts. Once things turned around, the
company hired back staff and con-
tinued to expand.
“It all comes down to having good
people,” Bill Ziegler said. “Good
people in the management. Good
people in the field. Good people in
the stores. You can have all the fixed
assets you want, the buildings and
all those kind of things, but it’s the
employees that make the difference.
We battle to find good employees.”
The original four brothers in-
stilled that family attitude in busi-
ness, John Ziegler added.
“A lot of independent tire dealers
that are in the tire business, with a
family that has been around a long
time, there is a lot of similarities.
The work ethic was there, and they
instilled that in the employees. And
for the employees (the company)
was part of their families as well.”
While the dealership deals with
turnover in some job positions, it
also has veteran employees who
have been with the company for as
long as 50 years.
“There’s a two-way loyalty kind
November 19, 2019 • 2PM ET/11AM PT
of thing with the employees,” John
Ziegler said.
“Our biggest accomplishment is
seeing our people grow, develop and
being able to retire,” Bill Ziegler
said. “We started a foundation
where we help our employees’ chil-
dren go to college with scholarships
every year. That’s the thing I’m most
proud of is watching the growth of
some of our people.”
COO Nate Clements, who has
been with the company for 14 years,
said loyalty between the company
and its 380 employees also extends
to its suppliers and customers.
“Over 100 years, there were a
lot of bad times for a lot of custom-
ers, and we tried to stand by them
through their rough times. So when
we go through rough times, they
stand by us,” he said.
And it was getting through dif-
ficult economic times that was the
company’s greatest challenge, ac-
cording to Bill Ziegler, particularly
during the Great Depression.
“My Uncle Oliver expanded quite
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
The Ziegler family opened a tire dealership after being forced to abandon
its tavern business when Prohibition was initiated.
a bit after he started and then the
Depression came and that had a pro-
found effect on him. He pretty much
went into his shell and didn’t expand
anymore. He was just trying to keep
what he had. And it was that way
from the ‘20s until the ‘60s,” he said.
Under Bill Ziegler’s leadership,
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the dealership began to grow steadi-
ly through acquisitions of one- or
two-store dealerships in Ohio and
surrounding states. Its largest acqui-
sition to date was a three-location
business in Wester, Pa.
Acquisitions were made of same-
kind businesses selling anything
from a wheelbarrow tire to an
earthmover tire. He described it as a
lot of organic growth with small op-
erations so the company could man-
age the influx of new business and
employees and make changes that it
wanted to make to the new stores.
The Zieglers said they always are
looking for growth opportunities
that will extend their footprint.
Another challenge for the compa-
ny is finding good employees.
“Finding people who want to
work, who want to come to work
every day and want to be trained,
because we’re looking to train them
the right way, to train them safely.
And someone who can grow with
us,” Mr. Clements said.
“We’re always interviewing,” he
added, “because if we find good
people, even if we may not have a
spot for them at that time, we may go
ahead and start the training process,
because we believe they can grow
with us. So we’re always looking for
good people out there. We’re not ever
going to stop. That is the best thing
we can do. … Some of our best peo-
ple just walked in off the street.”
Bill Ziegler said there are several
success stories of employees who start-
ed out in entry-level positions, moved
to different positions in the company,
and eventually managed a store.
“We’ve tried to concentrate on the
core people that you want to grow.
You know that person can help the
business be more successful,” he
said, noting there is not a lot of turn-
over at the management level.
“I think it’s attributed to us trying
 Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
Ziegler Tire photo
Members of the Ziegler family pose in front of a Ziegler Tire semi tractor trailer that depicts the business. Ziegler
Tire celebrated its centennial anniversary Sept. 18 with an event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
to recognize how important these
people are to us and do whatever we
need to keep them growing with us,”
he said.
“I think it’s important, too, that
over the years the Zieglers have built
a company that if something hap-
pens to Bill or to John or to myself,
the ship is going to sail on,” Mr. Cle-
ments said. “The company is going
to continue to run.”
That strategy was tested recently
when Bill Ziegler experienced health
issues in May that kept him away
from the business for several months.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, the com-
pany will continue on,” Mr. Clements
said. “People step up, and our employ-
ees have stepped up very nicely.”
Bill Ziegler acknowledged it is
tough operating a family-run tire
dealership.
“You’re trying to keep people do-
ing what they’re good at, trying to
help everybody get better, trying to
bring younger ones up, whether they
are family or not. ... I’ve always be-
lieved that it’s good to get some out-
side experience first. Learn in the
real world where you have to actually
listen to a boss and do what you’re
supposed to do and you learn how to
manage on someone else’s dime.”
Mr. Clements added: “Anytime
you have a family-owned compa-
ny and multiple family members,
there’s always going to be some
challenges amongst the family. ...
But these guys have proven they can
do it over the years. The four broth-
ers managed and then these guys
have continued.”
“One thing that we learned is I
think you’re harder on family than
anybody,” Bill Ziegler said. “I re-
member when I was young listening
Ziegler Tire’s 24/7 commercial roadside service is a major part of its commercial business.
to my dad and uncles argue. You’d
have thought if they had a gun, they
would shoot each other. But they
would do anything for each other.
And I get on John’s butt all the time.
My dad was on mine. It’s probably
harder on the family than anybody.”
John Ziegler first worked in the
family business when he was 13.
“I always remember my Uncle
Norm, when I was working at a
truck stop, saying, ‘Being a Ziegler
you know you got to work harder
than all the other people because
you have got to set a good example
for them,’” he recalled.
Business expansion
Bill Ziegler said a lot of the com-
pany’s growth in recent years has
involved adding to the operations
and the infrastructure of its exist-
ing stores.
For instance, the dealership added
fixed bays at some of its commercial
locations in recent years so it could
offer light mechanical service on
truck trailers and tractors. It relo-
cated some Ohio service centers to
improve mechanical service to fleets
in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and
Canton.
“We prefer (to expand) through
an acquisition if we get the choice
because part of that reason is, ob-
viously, if you acquire somebody
they have the business and the peo-
ple side of it,” Mr. Clements said.
“Chances are if there’s a successful
business, they have some long-term
employees who have the knowledge,
and we want to make sure we take
advantage of that.”
The company is experiencing grow-
ing competition from truck stops and
tire manufacturers that are trying to
delve into more direct sales to fleets.
“They’re going after the same busi-
ness we are. I think we have to make
sure we focus on what has made us
strong over the years, which is strong
service,” Mr. Clements said.
“And relationships with those
customers,” Bill Ziegler added.
While the commercial locations
are spread around to cater to region-
al and national fleets, Ziegler Tire’s
retail locations are clustered around
the Canton, Ohio, area.
“With retail, we’ve been more
close to home, I guess. So we’re al-
ways looking for opportunities there
as well,” Bill Ziegler said.
The biggest change the dealership
experienced was in its retread busi-
ness when it converted to the Mi-
chelin Retread Technologies (MRT)
system in 1999 from the Bandag
Inc. system, becoming one of the
first MRT licensees in the country.
The dealership installed a hybrid
plant that manufactures precure and
mold-cure retreads. It now is one of
seven hybrid shops left, according to
the Zieglers.
Ziegler Tire began retreading in
1938 with the Firestone Tempatred
precure and mold cure processes.
Then the company converted in the
1980s to Bandag for about 13 years
and expanded to four retread plants.
When Michelin North America
Inc. got into the retreading business,
it signed up Ziegler Tire, which built
a plant in Massillon to house the
MRT equipment.
“That caused a lot of issues. Ban-
dag was mad at us for switching to
MRT. That was a tough time,” Bill
Ziegler recalled.
Because of territory issues, Ziegler
Tire had to reduce its operations to
Ziegler Tire photo
TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 47
John Ziegler Jr. (center) accepts a gift from Michelin during a milestone celebra-
tion. Ziegler uses the Michelin Retread Technologies system in its retread business.
the one retread plant. The compa-
ny opened a second MRT plant in
Monroe, Ohio, in 2005.
100 years and beyond
The Zieglers recently held a cel-
ebration of the company’s 100-year
anniversary, joining an elite group
of family-owned companies that
have survived a century.
“It’s not something you set a goal
for, but I think that is obviously a
major accomplishment. You don’t
see many companies that are 100
years old that still have the second
generation working in the business.
That’s something to be said, and
then with the second through fourth
generation still active is really nice,”
Mr. Clements said.
The four Ziegler brothers proba-
bly had no idea their business ven-
ture would survive a century.
“I don’t think Oliver said to his
brothers (after the first year in busi-
ness), ‘OK, 99 to go! We got to keep
on charging!’” Bill Ziegler joked.
While many a tire dealership has
disappeared through acquisitions,
Ziegler Tire hopes it can continue as an
independent family-owned company.
“We constantly get phone calls
from people wanting to acquire us,
but the problem is, if you want to
sell it, the bigger you get the more
difficult it is for someone to buy it.
... At this point in my life, I just as
soon keep the company going,” Bill
Ziegler said.
“My philosophy was I didn’t put
any money into the company. It was
basically my uncles and my dad that
put the sweat in to begin with. There’s
no reason I should need to have a
bunch of money out of it. I’d rather see
the company go on,” he said.
“And you have a lot of families
counting on us,” John Ziegler add-
ed. “Obviously we count on them.”
Ziegler Tire sells nearly every type
of tire, but the family wants to focus
on its commercial truck business.
“We want to do what we’re good
at,” Bill Ziegler said. “We know we’re
good at the tire business, especially the
commercial business with service, so
we want to expand upon that. Maybe
tweak it a little bit, like when we added
on light mechanical which, probably
10 years from now, will represent prob-
ably 10% of our sales.”
As for the challenges Ziegler Tire
faces for the next 100 years: “I think
it’s just staying on top of the changes
in the industry, whether it’s the re-
tail industry, the commercial indus-
try, the wholesale industry,” John
Ziegler said.
There have been a lot of changes
Tire Business photos by Bruce Davis
in truck service over the years.
“It used to be as long as you could
get the truck back up and running
or the trailer up and running so they
could get back on the road as quick
as possible, that was the main thing,”
Mr. Clements said. “Now you have
to take the right pictures with the
smartphones. You have to track how
fast the roll time is. … Some of our
customers have the ability to live-
track the calls, so they can log in and
see the status of the call.”
With consolidation on the fleet
side of the business, the surviving
fleets are using information and
technology to reduce costs, accord-
ing to John Ziegler.
“Tires are a big part of the ex-
pense. So they are looking for us to
be their consultant, to be cost-reduc-
ing, efficient but cost effective.”
Tire life also has expanded over
the years. “When I started, if a fleet
got 60,000 miles on a steer tire,
they were happy,” Bill Ziegler said.
“Then radials came along, and there
were improvements. ... You sell less
units (now) and are probably not
making any more money per unit,
so that’s a challenge.
“Our way to overcome that is to
get bigger. Find more customers. Be
more aggressive. Unfortunately, if
someone is a small dealer, it’s hard
for him to compete with us or any
large dealer for that matter.”
Mr. Clements said the challenge
going forward is “maintaining what
the Zieglers have built as far as with
our goals and the loyalty side of it.
You remain loyal to your people, to
your customers and they give that to
you in return. I think that’s a good
foundation for maintaining and con-
tinuing to grow in the future.”
48 • October 28, 2019, TIRE BUSINESS
Tire Business Special Feature
AND THE SURVEY SAYS...
Business stayed steady with a slight dip as the big got bigger
By Bruce Davis
bdavis@crain.com
AKRON
The “typical” larger-scale, multi-store
independent retail tire dealership in
North America operates 23 stores, gen-
erates about $2.7 million in revenue per
outlet and carries a dozen tire brands.
That’s the picture gleaned from Tire
Business’ survey of the North American
tire retailing sector this past year.
The dealership size of 23 stores is the
median of the 103 dealerships profiled in
this year’s report. That’s down from 24 a
year ago.
The average size of a Top 100 dealer-
ship edged up by one to 74 stores, reflect-
ing a series of acquisitions covering hun-
dreds of outlets by companies near the
top of the list. The cutoff to make the Top
100 this year was 10 stores, down from 11
a year ago.
In addition, Tire Business research
reveals there are 53 more dealerships
just outside the top 100 collectively op-
erating nearly 450 stores — 13 with nine
stores, 18 with eight and 22 with seven.
The average sales revenue of a store
— based on data from 48 companies that
supplied sales information — was near-
ly $2.7 million, down slightly from the
$2.85 million reported a year ago, while
the median store sales of the companies
that reported revenue was $1.65 million,
up roughly 19% from a year ago.
The typical large dealership derived
53% of its sales from tires and related
services, 45% from automotive ser-
vice and 2% from other, miscellaneous
sources, according to information de-
rived from the 41 dealerships that shared
that information with Tire Business.
The share of a dealership’s sales rep-
resented by automotive service ranges
from zero (Discount Tire) to 85% for
Rent-a-Tire/Rent-a-Wheel.
Dealerships
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
TBC Corp.’s retail group was No. 2
again this year with 733 NTB National
Tire & Battery and Tire Kingdom outlets.
TBC opened 18 NTB and Tire Kingdom
stores in the past year, but sold or closed
16 others for a net gain of two stores.
Moving up steadily behind TBC is
Monro, which grew by a net of 69 stores
versus a year ago to 703 tire-centric lo-
cations under the Mr. Tire, Autotire, Tire
Choice, Ken Towery’s Tire, Tire Barn
Warehouse, Tire Warehouse, Treadquar-
ters and Car-X brands. Monro also op-
erates 559 Monro Auto Service & Tire
Center locations and oversees 98 Car-X
franchised stores.
Monro’s big move in the past year was
to the West Coast, where it bought Cer-
tified Tire & Service Centers, with 40
stores in and around San Diego, Los An-
geles and San Francisco.
It has rebranded those stores with the
Tire Choice identity it uses in Florida and
a few other Southern markets.
Monro’s other key acquisitions of the
past year were Allied Discount Tire &
Brake Inc. of Lafayette, La., 12 stores;
and Rick Johnson Auto & Tire of Naples,
Fla., 11 stores, by Monro Inc.
Monro also moved to leverage its grow-
ing store network by agreeing to become a
tire installation servicing partner of Ama-
The average size of
a Top 100 dealership
edged up by one to
74 stores, reflecting a
series of acquisitions
covering hundreds of
outlets by companies
near the top of the list.
The typical Top 100 tire dealership
offers a dozen brands — six to seven
flag, three to four import and one to two
private — with Michelin, BFGoodrich
and Bridgestone the dominant brands,
carried by 69, 69 and 66 dealerships, re-
spectively, of the 103 that make up this
year’s ranking, followed by Goodyear
(65); Continental (62); Firestone (56);
Dunlop and General (53 each); Pirelli
(51); Uniroyal (50); Cooper (49); Han-
kook (47); Kelly (44); Yokohama (32);
Toyo (35); Kumho (34); and Falken (29).
All but two of the 103 dealerships pro-
filed this year are privately owned, in-
cluding Max Auto Supply Inc. and Ben
Tire Distributors Ltd., which are em-
ployee-owned.
The two firms publicly owned or con-
trolled by outside financial holdings —
TBC Corp. and Monro Inc. — are the
second and third largest dealerships.
In addition, two dealerships — Mavis
Tire Supply and Raben Tire Co. — have
outside investors as minority sharehold-
ers. GB Auto Service, in its second year
on the Tire Business Top 100, is con-
trolled fully by Greenbriar Equity Group.
In Canada, Goodyear owns minority
stakes in Coast Tire & Auto Service Ltd.
and Fountain Tire Corp.
Eighteen of the ranked dealerships
zon.com. That agreement now encompass-
es over 800 Monro locations in 21 states.
The Rochester-based retailer intends to
keep adding retail locations to the program
throughout fiscal 2020.
Mavis Tire Supply (654 stores), Icahn
Automotive Group L.L.C. (475 Pep Boys
Service & Tire outlets) and Les Schwab
Tire Centers (436 stores) hold the Nos. 3,
4 and 5 spots.
Of these, Icahn is in the midst of a
major restructuring, announcing a plan
in August to split into independent after-
market “Parts” and “Service” companies
to focus on unique strategies, customers
and business opportunities better.
The Service company will include the
automotive repair and maintenance busi-
nesses of Icahn’s captive Pep Boys chain
and its AAMCO and Precision Tune Auto
Care franchise businesses, as well as sev-
eral regional service centers the company
has acquired.
The company has as yet not disclosed
how many stores will be grouped under
the two business units nor discussed the
financial implications of the move. The
Icahn automotive businesses generated
$2.86 billion in sales last year.
Brian Kaner, the former Sears Auto-
motive president who joined Icahn Auto-
motive/Pep Boys in November 2017, will
be CEO of the Service unit.
Besides Discount Tire/America’s Tire,
a handful of other dealerships grew their
are Goodyear Tire & Service affiliated,
comprising 663 outlets, including two
in Canada (190 stores), plus there are 10
that are part of Michelin’s Alliance pro-
gram, with 195 stores, and five with Tire
Alliance Groupe (TAG), representing
154 outlets.
Three dealerships — Associated Tire
Stores Inc., Logan, Utah; Chabill’s Tire
& Service L.L.C., Morgan City, La.; and
Stratham Tire Inc., Brentwood, N.H.
— have female top executives, Christie
Stock, Beth Barron and Denise Little-
field, respectively.
Plus, Charlayne Ratté is co-owner of
Pneus Ratté, a Point S affiliated dealer-
ship in Quebec City, Quebec, and Julie
Holmes is president of Virginia Tire &
Auto alongside her husband and CEO
Michael Holmes.
Looking at the market geographically,
Bridgestone Americas’ retail network —
Firestone Complete Car Care, Tires Plus
and Wheel Works — is the most prevalent,
with a presence in all 10 of the regional
areas profiled by Tire Business, including
being the largest in five regions: Southeast,
Upper Midwest, Southeast Central, South-
west Central and Northwest Central.
TBC Retail shows up in six of the 10
regions with its National Tire & Battery
and Tire Kingdom brands, and also is
No. 1 in the Mountain region via its Big
O Tires franchise network.
Discount Tire/America’s Tire, No. 1
nationally with 1,046 outlets, has a pres-
ence in seven of the 10 regions, however
it is not No. 1 in any one of them.
Monro is present in six regions, in-
cluding being No. 1 in New England and
the South Atlantic.
American Tire Distributors Inc.’s
Tires Pros network has only one dealer
among the Top 100, but collectively Tire
Pros dealers are among the largest deal-
er groups in eight of the 10 regions.
footprints organically with greenfield store
openings. Heading that list are Belle Tire
Distributors of Allen Park, Mich., (20 new
stores); Les Schwab Tire of Bend, Ore. (15
new stores) and Tire Discounters Inc. of
Cincinnati (up 13 stores).
Both Belle Tire and Tire Discounters
were particularly active in Indianapolis,
a market both have targeted for growth.
The makeup of the league of large retail
dealerships also is shifting more and more
toward franchised business groups.
A total of 23 dealerships in the U.S.
among the 103 ranked are part of a fran-
chise group, collectively accounting for
600-plus of the 7,200 stores operated by the
leading group:
• Big O Tires — seven franchisees with
176 stores among them;
• RNR Tire Express — four franchi-
sees with 70 stores;
• Car-X Tire & Auto — three indepen-
dent franchisees, with 56 outlets com-
bined;
• NTW’s TCi-T3 program — three
dealers comprising 71 outlets;
• Midas International — two franchi-
sees with 190 stores between them;
• Point S Tire — two dealers with 25
stores between them; and
• Tire Pros — one dealer with a dozen
stores.
Car-X franchisor Monro Inc. also op-
erates 53 Car-X outlets as corporate-held
franchised locations.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
TopRetailDealerships
Monro lowers
year-end fiscal
earnings outlook
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Monro Inc. posted slightly lower operating in-
come for the quarter ended Sept. 28 on higher sales,
prompting management to lower the full fiscal-year
earnings outlook.
Monro President and CEO Brett Ponton said man-
agement was “disappointed” in the second-quarter
results, which he said were tied to gross-margin
pressures related to higher-than-expected tire and
labor costs.
Mr. Ponton added, however, that the firm took ac-
tion to rectify the margin pressures in the near-term
and is implementing initiatives to drive margin ex-
pansion moving forward.
“… we remain confident our transformation is cre-
ating a sustainable platform for long-term value cre-
ation,” he said, calling the second-quarter results a
“low water mark” for the Rochester-based company.
Operating income for the second quarter was $33.4
million, or 10.3% of sales, as compared with $34.5
million, or 11.2% of sales in the prior-year period.
Sales for the quarter increased 5.5% to $324.1
million, with the increase driven completely by sales
from new stores, including recent acquisitions.
Comparable store sales were flat, Monro said, re-
flecting a 1% increase for brakes and maintenance
services, flat for tires and front end/shocks and a de-
crease of 1% for alignments.
The company added 13 stores and closed two
during the quarter and now has 1,262 company-oper-
ated stores and 98 franchised locations.
For the six-month period, operating income rose
3.1% to $69.7 million, or 10.9% of sales, which grew
6.3% to $641.2 million. Net income for six months
edged up slightly to $42.9 million.
At the same time, Monro said it has a pending
agreement to buy 14 stores in Nevada, nine in Cali-
fornia and four in Idaho. Nevada and Idaho would be
new states for Monro.
These locations are expected to add approximately
$45 million in annualized sales
Monro also has “substantially completed” the
re-imaging of approximately 120 stores across a
number of markets, representing a “significant step
forward” in the company’s store refresh program,
which is a critical component of the firm’s “Monro.
Forward” strategy.
Mr. Ponton said the store refresh initiative “under-
pins our ability to drive sustainable growth, as evi-
denced by the double-digit increase in comparable
store sales our pilot stores have generated following
the completion of their re-image.
“While the disruption at the stores being re-im-
aged this quarter was more than anticipated, we
believe the larger base of refreshed stores will be
instrumental in driving comparable store sales im-
provement as we progress through the remainder of
fiscal 2020 and beyond.”
Monro also remains committed to executing on
“attractive acquisition opportunities,” he said, as
evidenced by the continued expansion to the West
Coast.
To reflect the impact of the second quarter perfor-
mance, the company now anticipates reporting dilut-
ed earnings per share of $2.45 to $2.55, versus the
previous range of $2.55 to $2.75.
This guidance compares with diluted earnings per
share of $2.37 in fiscal 2019, Monro said.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, October 28, 2019 • 49

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Mavis
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
settlement — terms of which are not
being disclosed — covering the use
of the word “Discount” in their re-
spective store names.
Reinalt-Thomas’ suit specifical-
ly referenced Mavis Tire stores in
Florida and Georgia — primarily
those that Mavis Tire had acquired
in January 2018 from Kauffman
Tire Inc. and converted to the Mavis
Discount Tire identity.
In addition to the 69 Kauffman
stores, Mavis has acquired rough-
ly 100 stores over the past couple of
years in Alabama, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, North and South Carolina and
Texas and rebranded most of them
with the Mavis Discount Tire identity.
Reinalt-Thomas filed its suit 11
months after Mavis Tire’s purchase
of Kaufmann Tire’s retail business
in Georgia and Florida and sub-
sequent additional acquisitions in
Georgia, South Carolina and Texas,
most of which were converted to the
Mavis Discount Tire identity.
It also came 18 months after Rein-
alt-Thomas said it was planning to open
Discount Tire stores in Pennsylvania,
where Mavis Tire already operates.
The trademark registration agree-
ment the companies signed does not
Bridgestone
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Bridgestone to expand its capabilities
related to future innovation and man-
ufacturing projects, which could re-
sult in additional jobs for this region
at a later date,” she added.
The new plant is being built on land
adjacent to an existing tire-testing fa-
cility, located a few blocks west of the
company’s seven-year-old Americas
Technical Center in south Akron.
The project involves a contract
extension with the city of Akron
to keep the race tire unit operating
GM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
their family or drastically increasing
their commute to another facility, it’s
certainly an attractive option. It might
be safe to assume most workers at
these plants will vote to reject the deal,
but older employees mulling their fi-
nancial future might add a few “yes”
votes to the tally.
Mexico:
GM in 2018 became Mexico’s larg-
est producer of automobiles. The coun-
try accounted for more than a quarter
of all the company’s estimated North
American production, according to the
Automotive News Data Center.
It’s likely to retain that title this year.
The union, predictably, thought that
was no bueno and sought to return pro-
duction to this side of the Rio Grande
over the course of the 2019 contract. In
that regard, it failed. There’s no men-
tion of any product returning from
Mexico in either the union’s contract
highlights or full white book.
To add insult to injury, GM’s pro-
duction numbers in Mexico are like-
ly to grow in 2019, thanks to a full
year’s worth of production of the
Chevrolet Blazer. If workers vote
“no,” this is likely to be at the top of
their list of grievances.
Losers
Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler Au-
tomobiles:
Detroit’s other two auto makers
Mavis is announcing its rebranding online, in a simple message on the web
page for each of the 200 or so stores included in the rebranding program, as
shown in this screen shot of the Mavis Discount Tire store in Brandon, Miss.
spell out what name Reinalt-Thomas
would be allowed to use in the territo-
ries now specified in the document’s
geographic separation description.
Reinalt-Thomas/Discount Tire has
used Discount Tire from its founding
in 1960 and was granted a federal
trademark registration on the Dis-
count Tire Co. Inc. name “in connec-
tion with retail auto and light truck
tire store services” in 1985, accord-
ing to the suit.
For its part, Mavis said it has
been operating stores using the Ma-
vis Discount Tire name since 1992
and owns federal trademark regis-
in the old Firestone headquarters
building. The city at one time was to
raze the structure, but city and coun-
ty officials said earlier this year they
are evaluating a number of differ-
ent options for the 750,000-sq.-ft.,
five-story structure.
Ms. Adams said the engineering
used to create race tires is essential
to creating a better tire, especial-
ly ultra-high-performance offerings
such as the Bridgestone Potenza and
Firestone Firehawk 500 line.
“We are always in a constant,
competitive battle to provide the
best possible dry and wet grip, cou-
likely aren’t pleased with GM’s deci-
sion to capitulate on health-care costs,
allowing the union to keep current
benefits, which allow members to pay
3% of costs, without any changes. Ford
has warned that health-care costs will
top $1 billion next year, and all three
companies identified health care as a
prime opportunity to find some finan-
cial relief.
Beyond health care, the bonuses and
wage rates GM negotiated will sting
a little more at Ford, which has more
overall workers, and at Fiat Chrysler,
which has a higher amount of in-pro-
gression workers.
Both companies likely will tweak
their respective contracts in a number
of areas, but the lead company usually
comes out with the most favorable deal.
New hires:
The union secured a win for all
current workers, who will be making
top wages of $32.32 by the end of
the current deal. But the fate of new
hires is a little less clear.
All current full-time temporary
employees with at least three years
of continuous service (layoffs up to
30 days don’t count) will become
permanent employees in 2020.
New temporary workers hired after
the date of the contract, however, start at
$16.67 per hour. There is no language
about pay raises or promises to move di-
rectly into full-time employment. In fact,
a section from prior deals saying they’d
be considered for regular job opportuni-
ties has been crossed out. Instead, part-
tration applications for the stylized
Mavis Discount Tire marks. Rein-
alt-Thomas filed an opposition with
the Trademark Trial and Appeal
Board as part of its original suit.
Mavis Tire Supply also argued in
documents filed in connection with
the suit that hundreds of retail tire
establishments across the U.S. use
“discount” in their name.
In California, Reinalt-Thomas uses
“America’s Tire” throughout most of
the state, where in 1991 AKH Co. Inc.
defended its Discount Tire Centers
trade name in a lawsuit against Dis-
count Tire Co. Inc.
pled with excellent wear life, which
are similar developmental targets
for our race tires,” Ms. Adams said.
“In addition to driving our future
innovation, racing is a unique and
valuable opportunity for our engi-
neers to learn new skills in a fast-
paced, high-pressure environment. “
She said the feedback drivers and
teams provide “creates a continuous
learning environment that is always
pushing us forward. While it might
take years to truly know if a new
passenger tire is a success in the
marketplace, a new race tire can be
judged in one race weekend.”
time temps will only be considered for
full-time temp jobs, with the opportunity
for permanent employment after serving
two years as a full-time temp.
The union will say this is a win,
noting that the process before didn’t
have set rules or time frames and
there’s now a defined pathway. But
the more complicated process might
be a tough sell to members, if only for
the section that eliminates the direct
jump out of temporary employment.
It’s also unclear whether new full-
time hourly employees would be
placed on the new, condensed four-
year grow-in to top wages that cur-
rent full-time employees won.
President Trump:
The decision to shut the Lords-town
plant in Ohio is a setback for Pres-
ident Trump, who in 2017 told a
crowd assembled for a rally in nearby
Youngstown, Ohio, to not sell their
homes. The tweeter-in-chief has cast
himself as a savior of middle-class
manufacturing jobs.
To be sure, GM has committed to
create (or keep) 9,000 jobs in the U.S.
over the next four years, and Lordstown
could still be sold to an electric-vehicle
maker that would create 400 jobs, but
GM’s ability to close two other plants
and the union’s inability to secure prod-
uct back from Mexico flies in the face
of Mr. Trump’s promises. That could
be costly during the 2020 election
for a president who relied heavily on
blue-collar workers to deliver him to the
White House in 2016.
Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com
TIA on issues of mutual interest, espe-
cially tire registration and recall.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The unity of the TIA message
job is keeping our members pre- over the past few years has been a
pared to handle that technology as great benefit to the organization,
they see it.” according to Mr. Evankovich.
Of the accomplishments complet- “Before, when you had a new
ed during his TIA presidency, Mr. president, you also had a new mes-
Evankovich said he is proudest of re- sage,” he said. “But the last few
activating the Environmental Action years we’ve all been with the same
Committee (EAC), which is tasked program and the same message.”
with providing guidance on advisory Mr. Evankovich said he has
services, educational programs and talked several times with Brian
government assistance that promote Rigney, president of Dill Air Con-
environmental aware- trols Products L.L.C.
ness, economic viabili- and incoming TIA
ty and sustainable best president, and he feels
practices. TIA is in safe hands
“I’ve been passion- with Mr. Rigney.
ate about that for many “Brian is well pre-
years,” he said. pared for the role, and
Mr. Evankovich is also passion- he will be outstanding at it,” he said.
ate about the International Forum Asked what advice he would give
planned for the Global Tire Expo Mr. Rigney, Mr. Evankovich said he
in November 2020, which he had a should not be afraid of challenging
major role in creating and planning. the status quo.
“We’ll be bringing people from “We shouldn’t do things just be-
all over the world,” he said. “We’ll cause they’ve always been done that
have presentations on subjects such way,” he said. “Also, I learned as
as service life, regulations and re- president to organize my time well.
calls. Some countries may have It’s important to carve out time to
adopted standards and regulations decide what your approach is.”
that could be very useful for those Once he leaves office, Mr. Evan-
of us in the U.S.” kovich said, he will continue to be
TIA’s association with the U.S. Tire active in TIA issues that are the
Manufacturers Association (UST- most important to him, such as the
MA) also continues to grow and deep-
en, according to Mr. Evankovich.
International Forum and the EAC.
He also will continue to work with
“That’s an accomplishment that the USTMA on registration and re-
continues to move forward,” he said. call issues.
TIA has established an excellent At Sam’s Club, Mr. Evankovich
rapport with the USTMA executive said he would focus on the second
board, he said, and the organiza- phase of Sam’s Group. “It’s a huge
tions are working together closely project for us,” he said.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP,
MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION
(Act of August 12, 1970: Section 15. Extent and Average Actual no.
3685, Title 39, United States Code) nature of no. copies of copies of
circulation each issue single issue
1. Title of Publication: Tire Business
during published
2. Publication number: 711-610
3. Date of filing: September 30, 2019
preceding
12 months
nearest to
filing date
4. Issue frequency: Bi-weekly. A. Total No. Copies Printed 34,424 34,140
(Net Press Run)
5. Number of issues published annually: 26
B. Paid Circulation
6. Annual subscription price $79.00
1. Mail Subscriptions 26,094 25,134
7. Location of known office of publication: Crain Com-
2. Paid In-County Subscriptions 0 0
munications Inc., 1725 Merriman Road, Suite 300,
Akron, Summit County, Ohio 44313-9006. 3. Sales through Dealers and
Carriers, Street Vendors 549 728
8. Location of headquarters or general business offices
of the publisher: Crain Communications Inc., 1725 4. Other Classes Mailed
Merriman Road, Suite 300, Akron, Summit County, Through and Counter Sales
Ohio 44313-9006. the USPS 4 4
9. Name and address of the publisher: Brennan Lafferty,
C. Total Paid and/or Requested
Crain Communications Inc., 1725 Merriman Road,
Circulation 26,646 25,866
Suite 300, Akron, Summit County, Ohio 44313-9006; D. Free Distribution by Mail;
editor, Don Detore, Crain Communications Inc., 1725 Samples, complimentary, and
Merriman Road, Suite 300, Akron, Summit County, other free copies
Ohio 44313-9006; 1. Stated on Form 3541 7,106 7,689
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address must be stated and also immediately there- Through the USPS 0 0
under the names and addresses of stockholders own- 3, Nonrequested Copies
ing or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of
stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and
Distributed Through the
USPS by Other Classes
addresses of the individual owners must be given. If of Mail 0 0
owned by a partnership or other unincorporated firm,
4. Free Distribution Outside
its name and address, as well as that of each individu- the Mail (Carriers or Other
al must be given.): Crain Communications Inc., 1155 Means) 62 15
Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997; K.E. Crain,
1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48207-2997 E. Total Free Distribution
(Sum of D and E) 7,168 7,704
11. Known bondholders, mortgages and other security
F. Total Distribution
holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total (Sum of C and F) 33,815 33,570
amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None.
G. Copies not distributed 609 570
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to mail at special rates (Section 424.12, DMM only):
Should equal net press run
Does not apply.
shown in A) 34,424 34,140
13. Publication Title: Tire Business I. Percent Paid and/or Requested
Circulation 78.80% 77.05%
14. Issue date for circulation data in item 15: September
30, 2019. 17. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and
complete. Brennan Lafferty, V.P./Group Publisher
 ©2019 Hankook Tire America
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