BKT (USA) Inc. has a strategy for growth that has helped it increase sales rapidly in North America. The company exceeded its original forecast by over 30% in 2010 and by 25% in 2011. And through the first quarter of this year, it was at 39% of its goal for the whole year. In fact, the company achieved its five-year growth objective of $100 million in sales in North America in just four years.

Tags: Balkrishna Industries Ltd., BKT USA, Farm tires

Offering nitrogen inflation service is one way to bring new and existing customers into your shop — and to keep them coming back.

Tags: Branick, Gardner Denver, NitroFill, Nitrogen, Nitrogen inflation, Parker Hannifin, PCL Air Technology

Coming off a record year financially, Yokohama Tire Corp. shook things up a little in 2011. First it promoted Dan King to senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Tags: Dan King, Going green, Light truck tires, Orange Oil Technology, Passenger tires, Salem, Va., Yasushi Tanaka, Yokohama, Yokohama Tire Corp.

The numbers don’t lie. The 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show was a huge success. A record 132,000 people attended the event, according to the Tire Industry Association (TIA), which sponsored the show’s Global Tire Expo section. There also were 61,000 buyers, also a record and close to 19% higher than last year.

Tags: ASA, CIMS, Cooper, Falken, Hercules, Landsail, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, R.L. Polk & Co., Schrader, SEMA Show, SEMA Show 2011, TIA, Vee Rubber

Any NASCAR fan knows. What’s the official tire of NASCAR? Goodyear. And it will remain that way at least for the next five years. In October 2011, Goodyear and NASCAR signed an extended agreement for Goodyear to continue as the exclusive tire used in NASCAR’s top three racing series for the next five years.

Tags: Goodyear, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., NASCAR, Racing

Light trucks, sport-utility vehicles (SUV) and crossover utility vehicles (CUV) are on the move in more ways than one. As they shift from traditional body-on-frame construction to passenger car chassis derivatives, there is increasing demand for them — and tires that offer ride quality, durability and fuel economy.

Tags: CUV Tires, Light truck tires, SUV tires

What started as a ban in the European Union has become a movement in the U.S. It is a movement away from lead. Lead-free wheel weights are sweeping the U.S. marketplace, and manufacturers and dealers are taking a new look at this often-overlooked part of tire maintenance and service.

Tags: Going green, Lead-free wheel weights, Wheel weights

Nick Mitsos, CEO and president of Mountain View Tire & Service Inc. in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is Modern Tire Dealer’s 19th Tire Dealer of the Year.

Tags: MTD TIre Dealer of the Year, Nick Mitsos

Nick Mitsos, CEO and president of Mountain View Tire & Service Inc., gave this advice to his three sons while they were growing up: “Never lie, always respect your elders, and do well in school.” They listened and obeyed.

Tags: MTD TIre Dealer of the Year, Nick Mitsos

Touring tires fit a unique category of consumer tires. While they combine a performance tire’s low-profile handling with a premium tire’s softer ride, they also have all-season capabilities. Because of this, they are often called performance touring tires.

Tags: Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Falken Tire Corp., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., TBC International, Touring tires