Bob Ulrich

Editor

Bob Ulrich was named Modern Tire Dealer editor in August 2000. He joined the magazine in 1985 as assistant editor, and has been responsible for gathering statistical information for MTD's "Facts Issue" since 1993. He has won numerous awards for editorial and feature writing, including five gold medals from the International Automotive Media Association. Bob earned a B.A. in English literature from Ohio Northern University and has a law degree from the University of Akron.

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News you can use from the Bridgestone Invitational

By: Bob Ulrich

I know, the Bridgestone Invitational is a golf tournament. But during a media breakfast held at Firestone Country Club Friday, Aug. 8, I got the chance to see Tiger Woods play and talk with a number of Bridgestone representatives about the state of the aftermarket.

We still find ourselves in a recession, but their comments (the Bridgestone people's, not Tiger's) were encouraging.

Mark Emkes, chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Inc., was optimistic about the second half of the year. He told me the market finally "has a pulse," and that June and July were strong sales months.

Bill Pransky, region general manager for consumer tire sales for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC, said "Every month, it's getting better." He added that dealers in Rust Belt states like Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin were having a tougher go of it than dealers in the northeastern and western states (Pransky manages the northern half of the country).

Phil Pasci, vice president of consumer marketing for Bridgestone Americas, said the company will "introduce many new products" in 2010. "Both brands (Bridgestone and Firestone) will be very well represented."

I also ran into our old friend, Dave Wehr, CEO and president of Tire Guys Inc. in Billings, Mont. The last time we talked with Wehr, his company had just acquired Alton's Tire & Automotive, a 13-store chain based in Spokane, Wash.

Tire Guys does business as Tire-Rama Inc. in Montana, Wyoming, Washington and Idaho; it is the 23rd largest independent tire dealer on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 with 45 stores, and sells the Bridgestone, Firestone and Yokohama brands in addition to it's main line, Cooper.

He said tire sales have stabilized. "We see signs of recovery here and there. We had a good July, and August is starting out strong."

Brandon Sowell, golf ball marketing manager for Bridgestone Golf Inc., said the company has brought Lee Trevino into its stable of golfers. Trevino joins Fred Couples, Nick Price, Charles Howell III (who is competing in the Bridgestone Invitational this week), Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, Will MacKenzie and Kevin Chappell as Bridgestone Golf spokesmen.

Oh, and I did see Tiger birdie the 667-yard 16th hole with a 15-foot putt. Old sports reporting habits die hard.

Related Topics: Mark Emkes, Modern Tire Dealer 100, Tire-Rama