Tire Rack founder Peter Veldman has died at the age of 87. Located in South Bend, Ind., Veldman founded the Tire Rack (www.tirerack.com) in 1979, and it since has established itself as a major leader in the direct-to-consumer tire business.
Veldman was inducted into the Tire Industry Association (TIA) Hall of Fame in 2012. When accepting the award, the industry veteran said he was initially skeptical about starting a mail-order tire company, but saw a need for customers to acquire specialty tires easily and efficiently.
Veldman's forward thinking ensured Tire Rack would be one of the first tire companies to have an online presence in 1996. Today the site provides 50 million annual website visitors the test results, tire selection, reviews and fast shipping options they need to make an informed tire purchase.
Veldman immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands in 1949. In 2009 Veldman was featured with his wife, Wilma, in a book titled “Peter Veldman, Dutch Immigrant, American Entrepreneur” by Andrea Midgett. For more information or to order a copy, click here.
