After asking the White House to compile a report about the economic impact of Chinese consumer tire tariffs, the U.S.-China Business Council has more to say about the controversial subject.

Bill Trimarco, CEO and president of Hercules Tire & Rubber Co., doesn't mince words when discussing the 35% tariff levied on Chinese tire imports last fall. "When you have the government picking winners and losers, there are going to be winners and losers."

Certainly supply disruptions and price increases will be two consequences of the recent Chinese tariff decision. An increase in back orders with major domestic manufacturers may be another.

One point that seems to be lost on some proponents of Chinese tire tariffs is the probability that extra duties will force tire importers to start sourcing products from factories that don’t have the same quality control measures found at certain plants in China.

I came to several hours later. My head felt like it had been run over by a road service truck. Whoever K.O.’d me at Doc Plugenpatch’s lab wanted to knock me out of the park. Lucky for me, he only hit a triple.

Ralph the Bartender didn’t have to tell me about private brand tires. I knew all about ‘em. I once ran a set of Atlas Bulletproofs on the Lark. Worked like a million bucks.

The name’s Sipe…Sam Sipe, private tire investigator. You’ve never met me and never will -- if you’re lucky.