August 2023

Darrin Mallett, president at the Kilgore Tire Services, says he is the only one at his dealership utilizing AI, but wants to implement the software in his shop as technology progresses.

Aug. 15, 2023

Three dealers share how they're using AI today and their plans for tomorrow.

Eastern Tire & Auto Service Inc. in Rockland, Maine, joined the ranks of employee-owned tire dealerships earlier this year. Alvin Chase Jr. called the transfer of stewardship “a natural progression. Because of this transaction, we know the company will prosper and thrive for future generations, while continuing its culture of commitment.”

ESOPs Are an Exit Alternative

Aug. 14, 2023

It’s estimated that 70% of private businesses in the U.S. never have a successful exit. While overall M&A activity among tire retailers, wholesalers and commercial tire dealerships...

'Remember, a consumer in our industry has three main concerns: they want their vehicle to start, stop and be comfortable,' says McCarron.

Retail

Embrace These Changes to Ensure a Profitable 2023

Dennis McCarron

Aug. 14, 2023

We are now into the second half of the year. By most accounts, tire sales have been flat, but have been offset by rising auto service work. So what changes are you planning for...

“When I started, we were spending our marketing dollars going after consumers,” says Canada Tire CEO Gabriel Granatstein. “I realized that wasn’t an effective spend. The guy or girl behind the sales counter” at tire dealerships “really controls the purchase.”

Wholesale/Distribution

Constant Investment Helps Canada Tire Seize Opportunities

Mike Manges

Aug. 10, 2023

“I see more opportunities for growth in our future," says Gabriel Granatstein, CEO of Canada Tire Inc.

“The accepted knowledge is that 11% of vehicles on the road have the check engine light on,” says Jim Fish, chief marketing officer of Opus IVS, the intelligent vehicle support division of Opus Group.

Service

How To Keep Diagnostic Work In-House

Madison Gehring

Aug. 8, 2023

“The accepted knowledge is that 11% of vehicles on the road have the check engine light on,” says Jim Fish, chief marketing officer of Opus IVS, the intelligent vehicle support...

When it comes to working on expensive tire and wheel combinations, the basics still apply, according to Jason Alexander, store manager at American Wheel & Tire in Houston, Texas.

Retail

Mounting Mistakes Can Cost You Big-Time

Mike Manges

Aug. 7, 2023

What process does your dealership use when mounting expensive, high-end tire and wheel combinations?

Bill Morgan Tire Co. opened a ContiLifeCycle retread shop in Lexington, Ky. Bill Morgan III, right, owns the business, and followed his father, Bill Morgan Jr., left, into the tire industry. They posed with the plant’s first retreaded truck tire.

Commercial Business

Retreading Completes Bill Morgan Tire

Joy Kopcha

Aug. 4, 2023

Bill Morgan III has been around tires and the tire industry his entire life. Both of his parents worked in the industry, and after his father retired and sold his business, the...

Brian Chase, Rice Tire’s president, says it takes lots of “vigilance and constant attention” to keep the dealership’s service truck technicians safe.

Commercial Business

Service Truck Safety Takes 'Vigilance,' Says Rice Tire

Madison Gehring

Aug. 2, 2023

Brian Chase, president of Rice Tire Co., says it takes lots of “vigilance and constant attention” to keep the dealership’s service truck technicians safe.

Retail

Tire Sellout Is ‘Becoming Less Bad’

John Healy

July 31, 2023

While still negative on a year-over-year basis, our view is that retail sellout sales have begun to slowly inch closer to flat. June represents a seventh consecutive month of ...

“With the growth of the EV segment and a lot of” performance demands associated with “those EVs, I think you are finding that internal combustion engine (ICE vehicle) tires are not delivering the true (benefits) to EV owners,” says Rob Williams, president at Hankook.

Retail

Hankook Focuses on Longer Mileage With New iON EV Tire

Madison Gehring

June 27, 2023

Hankook Tire North America recently highlighted its electric vehicle tires, the iON evo A/S (SUV) and the iON evo icept (SUV) during a ride-and-drive event.