Let's hear it for Steve Case, vice president of Case Tire In Gastonia, N.C., who came in first place in his "Dancing for Future Stars" dance contest! The big winner was the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston, which netted $20,000 from the charity event.

The "smart tire" concept has been around for a number of years. Intelligent tires have electronic sensors embedded in them that can transmit data about the tire's performance, tracking heat, mileage, repairs, etc., to optimize performance.

There have been a lot of changes in the tire industry since I started writing about it in 1979.

Since a AAA club based in Cincinnati, Ohio, recently acquired 30 retail tire stores, I find myself looking at AAA's press releases e-mailed to me in a new light. As I see it, they're now offering a glimpse into the business philosophy of a retail tire dealer -- not just an automobile club.

Years ago when I volunteered for my local zoo, we were asked to save the cardboard rolls from paper towels so they could be re-used in animal-enrichment projects on Earth Day.

So what if its involvement in a run at a Guinness World Record didn't pan out? Stokes Tire Pros still comes out a winner.

Dave Cuza, co-owner of Big O Tires of Cathedral City, Calif., is dealing with the current economic downturn in his own way. "I choose not to participate in the recession," he says.

The trend of "tire stretching" was just brought to my attention. That's where people are stretching a narrower tire over a wider wheel, making the sidewalls stretch outward to hit the wheel lip.

Here's something of note, especially if you live in New York. According to the East Hampton Town News, the Suffolk County (N.Y.) legislature last week passed a bill that would forbid retailers from selling tires that are more than six years old. Any company caught doing it could face a $500 fine per each violation.

The editorial staff of Modern Tire Dealer loves its National Advisory Council members. Their monthly front-line insights help us keep our fingers on the pulse of the tire industry.